RM 302, 2010-2011

Chapter 4:
Formulating a Research Problem
Roger Nault
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1. The research problem
2. The importance of formulating a research
problem
3. Sources of research problems
4. Steps in the formulation of a research
problem
5. The formulation of objectives
6. Establishing operational definitions
Chapter 4: Formulating a Research Problem
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Decide what it is you want to learn about,
and from whom you want to learn it.
Provides a roadmap
Further decisions such as study design
(study population, sampling methods
etc) are determined by the problem.
The Research Problem:
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If one wants to solve a problem,
one must generally know
what the problem is.
-- Kerlinger (1986)
Clear idea of what it is you want to find
out about, and not what you think you
must find.
The importance of a research problem:
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The importance of a research problem:
? ? ? ? ?
Confusion
Open, fair, challenging
group discussion
Clarity
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You may select a group of individuals
(people), either to examine the existence
of certain issues or problems relating to
their lives,
to ascertain attitude of a group of people
towards an issue (problem),
to establish existence of a regularity
(phenomenon), or
to evaluate the effectiveness of an
intervention (program).
Sources of research problems:
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Sources of research problems: p. 42
Aspect
of study
About Study of
Study
Pop
People Individuals,
organizations,
groups,
communities
You collect
info from or
about them
Subject
area
Problem Issues, situations,
associations,
needs, pop
profiles etc.
Info that you
need to
collect to find
answers to
your research
questions
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Sources of research problems: p. 42
Aspect
of study
About Study of
Subject
area
Program Contents,
outcomes,
attributes,
satisfaction,
consumers,
service providers

Info that you

need to
collect to find
answers to
your research
questions
Phenomenon Cause-and-effect,
study of
phenomenon
itself
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Interest of all group members
Magnitude requires focus
Measurement (& definition) of concepts
effectiveness: tie to literature review
Level of expertise group members and
advisor
Relevance
Availability of data top 10 student
studies
Ethics
Considerations in selecting a research problem:
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1. Identify a broad field or subject area of
interest to your group
2. Dissect the broad area into sub-areas
3. Select what is of most interest to you
4. Raise possible research questions
5. Formulate objectives
6. Assess your objectives
7. Double-check
Steps in formulating a research problem: p 44-49
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As you go through the steps narrowing
your research problem your study
population should become obvious.
Steps in formulating a research problem: p 44-49
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Objectives set out the goals of your study
They are essentially a transformation of
your questions made as statements i.e.:
To find out
To determine
To examine
To better understand
To identify
Formulating Objectives:
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How we state our objectives are worded
also determines how our research will be
classified, i.e.:
Descriptive
Correlational or experimental
Formulating Objectives:
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Examples of descriptive objectives:
To describe the types of treatment program
provided by [name of org.] to alcoholics in PP
To find out student opinions of English
language training services at IFL.
Note how wording drives peculiarity and thus
limits the generalisability of your study.
Formulating Objectives:
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If correlational, objective needs
variables being correlated. i.e.:
To ascertain the impact of migration on
family roles.
Compare the effectiveness of different
teaching methods on the comprehension
of students.
Formulating Objectives:
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If testing a hypothesis, objective needs
to indicate the direction of the
relationship between the variables being
correlated. i.e:
To ascertain if an increase in youth
unemployment will increase the
incidence of street crime.
Formulating Objectives:
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Define key terms used in your research
question, and
Provide indicators in order to clearly
establish the meaning of such words or
concepts.
How do you define & how will you
measure key terms / concepts? i.e.:
Effectiveness of teaching
High performing students
Establishing Operational Objectives:
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In defining the key terms, it is said that
there are no rules, BUT remember you
must justify others of the choice of your
definition and indicators.
Literature review should be a key
source.
Establishing Operational Objectives: