Problem

Definition

October 11, 2019

 2
Achieved √

Step 1: Ascertain the Step 2: Understand the Step 3: Identify the

Decision Maker’s Background of the Problem
Objectives Problem • Familiarize yourself
• Decision makers’ • Judge Situation with the decision
objectives (analyze) area.
• Goals expressed in • Gather background •√
measurable terms. information
•√ •√
“The formulation of
the problem is often
more essential than
its solution.”

Albert Einstein
Why Define The Research
Problem?

– Define your destination before any

journey
– Determine
– What you will do
– Will it withstand scientific scrutiny
– How you will do it
– What you may achieve!
 Importance of Proper
Problem Definition

– The right answer to the wrong

question may be absolutely worthless.
– Problem definition (decision
statement) is the indication of a
specific business decision area that
will be clarified by answering some
research questions.
 Defining Problem Results in
Clear Cut Research Objectives
Symptom Detection

Analysis of the Situation

Exploratory
Research
Problem Definition (Optional)
(Decision Statement)

Statement of
Research Objectives
Develop A Research
Question
7 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=mrWeLJZydUU
Ask things like

How will ….

Why is this important

What’s the idea (to investigate)

So what ……

How does this benefit….

 You’re at
this stage

TOTI
EMUL
ESTOF
ENCE
 Next Step
Use Introduction

Develop constructs
Work on propositions
Identify variables (workable number)
 Most likely
 Most favorable
 Most controllable
Research Purpose
 Most important
Research Question
Problem Definition
11
Step 4
Determine the Unit of
Analysis (Respondents)
– Individuals, households,
organizations, etc.
– In many studies, the family rather
than the individual is the appropriate
unit of analysis.
 Step 5: Determine the Relevant Variable(s)
12
A variable is anything that may assume different
numerical values

Dependent Categorical Continuous Independent

variable variable variable variable

is a variable that
is a criterion or a is any variable that
is any variable that is expected to
variable that is to has a limited
has an infinite influence the
be predicted or number of distinct
number of values.
values. dependent
explained.
variable.

Child/Teenager/Adult Satisfaction
hi/low/poor Its value may be
Male/Female
Study element/ Performance changed or altered
Buy/did not buy
object/ interest Customer/ non
exceptional/good independently of
/bad /average any other variable.
customer /excellent /poor
Step 6
State Research Objectives &
Define Questions
 Research objective (decision statement) is the
purpose of the research in measurable terms;
what the research should accomplish
 Proposition is a possible solution to a problem
& is empirically testable
 Hypothesis is an assumption that tentatively
explains assumed certain facts or phenomena
 Variables are the units of measurements
 Problem Tree – Keep asking Why?

Unskilled Labor Inefficient Irrigation

Low Labor
Productivity

Unsuitable Climate Inefficient Water harvesting

Water Scarcity Lack of crop varieties

adapted to climate
Food Insecurity

Unsuitable Crops Farming Patterns do not

Return nutrients

Low Land Farmers can’t afford fertilizers

Productivity

Poor Soil Farmers unaware of

best practices
 Purpose & Objective
RQ /DS /Problem Definition
Exploratory research
(optional)

Broad Research Objectives

Specific Specific Specific

Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3

Research Design Results

Proposal
 Business Problems
Translated into
Research Objectives

EXAMPLES
 Problem Definition
Should the organization offer
outplacement?
Which of the services should be
offered?
Severance pay?
New employment assistance?
Personal counseling?
Job contracts?
Should the services be provided by
in-house personnel or outside
consultants?
Do employees with ten or more
years of service have different
awareness levels, etc. than
employees with less than ten years
of service?
Research Questions
Are managers aware of
outplacement services?
How concerned are managers about
outplacement services?
How do managers evaluate the need
for severance pay?
New-employment assistance?
Personal counseling?
Job contracts?
What are the benefits of each
outplacement service?
Would managers prefer in-house
personnel or outside consultants?
How much would each alternative
cost?
Do the answers to the above
questions differ by employee’s years
of service?
Research Objectives
To determine managers’ awareness
using aided recall
To measure managers’ satisfaction
with existing personnel policies
To obtain ratings and ranking of the
various outplacement services
To identify perceived benefits and
perceived disadvantages of each
outplacement service
To measure managers’ perceived
benefits and disadvantages of in-
house versus outside consultants
To measure managers’ preference of
alternative if discharge occurred
To identify costs associated with
each alternative
To compare, using cross-tabulations,
levels of awareness, evaluations,
etc., managers with ten or more
years of service with managers with
less than ten years of service.
NEXT TOPIC

What Is A
Research
Proposal?