RESEARCH PROBLEM, objectives, operational definitions, variables

UNIT-II: RESEARCH PROBLEM/ QUESTION

OUTLINE OF CHAPTER
IDENTIFICATION OF
RESEARCH AREA/
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
CRITERIA OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
PROBLEM
WRITING
OBJECTIVES

RESEARCH PROBLEM
INTRODUCTION:
A Research Problem is a specific issue or question that a researcher
would like to investigate. It is the beginning phase of any project. It is
important to define the research problem clearly, as it will provide
guidance and focus for the rest of the research project.
Identification and formulation of a research problem is the first step of
research process. The research problem should be something that can be
addressed through research, and it should be narrow enough to be
manageable. Once the research problem has been identified, the
researcher can begin to develop a research question, which will guide the
rest of the project.

• However , it is considered as one of the most challenging and difficult
phases of any research project. It is believed that selection of a good
research problem is a discovery in itself.
• Selection of a research problem depends upon several factors, such as
researcher’s knowledge, skill, interest, expertise, motivation and
creativity with respect to the subject of inquiry.
• It is believed that most of the good research studies need lots of time
for selection of a research problem. Initially every researcher faces the
predicament of identifying , selecting, and formulating a good research
problem.

Research problem vs research statement
• The research problem and research statement are frequently seen as synonymous ,
but these two aspects are really quite different. A problem statement is not merely
a research problem or purpose of the study , but it is a well structured formulation
of what actually the problem is, what is not well understood and what is lacking,
which is to be discovered to solve the problem.
• Problem statement has six components:
• Relevance of the study
• Title of the study
• Operational definitions of the variables
• Objectives of the study
• Delimitations of the study
• Scope and limitation of the study

Research Problem / Question Examples
Here are some examples of research problems that have been studied in the past:
• How does stress affect health?
• How can we improve reading comprehension in elementary students?
• What are the causes of bullying in schools?
• How effective is the United Nations in preventing war?
• What are the causes of environmental pollution?
• How does social media use affect teenagers’ emotional well-being?
• what are the most effective methods for teaching reading to elementary school
students?
• What factors contribute to job satisfaction among nurses?
• How does stress affect college students’ academic performance?
• What are the effects of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy on children with autism?

Research statements
• A quasi-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of progressive muscle
relaxation on pain among cancer patient in selected hospital of Shimla.
• A descriptive study on the prevalence of varicose veins and its contributing
factors among ICU nurses from selected Hospitals, of Shimla, with a view to
prepare an information booklet on prevention of varicose veins.
• A quasi-experimental study on the Effect of Music Therapy on Pre-operative
anxiety of cataract patients undergoing cataract surgery in selected hospitals
of Shimla.
• A descriptive study to assess the impact of social media use among
teenager’s emotional well-being in selected schools of Shimla.
• A descriptive study to assess the factors contribute to job satisfaction among
nurses in selected hospitals of Shimla.

DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
“A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation
exists between two or more variables. The answer to question will provide
what is having sought in research.”
According to Kerlinger
Research problem as ‘a situation for which we have no ready and successful
response by instinct or by previously acquired habit. We must find out what
to do, i.e. the solution can be found out only after an investigation.
R.S. Woodworth

IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
• Identification of a research problem is the first and most important
step in the research process. Generally , a broad area is selected and
then a broad topic is delimited or narrowed down to a specific one
–sentence statement of the problem.
• This step of research process is considered as the most difficult and
challenging , and needs lot of time.

How to Define a Research Problem
• The first step in solving a research problem is to define it. This may seem
like a simple task, but it can be quite difficult. There are a few things to
keep in mind when defining a research problem:
• First, consider the nature of the problem. Is it something that can be solved
with research? If not, it may not be a good research problem.
• Second, think about what you want to learn from researching the problem.
What information do you hope to gain?
• Finally, consider what resources you have available to solve the problem.
Do you have access to data? Expertise? Time? Once you have considered
these factors, you should have a better idea of how to define your research
problem.

SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS
SOURCES OF
RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
Personal
experience
Practical
experience
Critical
appraisal
of
literature
Exposure
to field
situations
Social
issues
Intuitions
Existing
theories
Previous
research
Brainstorming
Consultations,
folklores

Criteria for selecting a good research problem /
characteristics of a research problem
• Acronym to define the criteria for a good research problem or question is FINER,
where F stands for feasible, I stands for interesting, N for Novel, E for Ethical, and R
for relevant.
• Some other factors that should be considered while deciding credibility of a
particular research question for a scientific investigation are as follows:
• Significance to nursing profession
• Original
• Feasible –in terms of time cost, equipment and supplies, administrative support, peer
support, availability of subjects, researcher’s competence, ethical considerations.
• Solvable / researchable
• Current
• Interesting

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Formulation of research problem
is a complex and long process,
which includes following steps.
• Selection of a research area / problem
• Reviewing literature and theories
• Delimiting the research topic
• Evaluating the research problem
• Formulating the final statement of the
research problem

RESEARCH PROBLEM, objectives, operational definitions, variables

1.Selection of a research area
Formulation of a research problem begins with selection of a broad research topic
from personal experience, literature, previous research, and theories in which
researcher is interested and has significance for nursing profession.
For example: A researcher gets an idea to conduct a study on the female feticide.
Therefore, he/she initially begins with a broad research topic.
2. Reviewing literature and theories:
After getting a broad idea for research, he or she needs to review the nursing literature
and theories. Literature is reviewed to know what has already been done in this
selected area of research. Therefore, a researcher can plan a research topic to further
expand the existing body of knowledge in respective area of research. It helps to plan
a research problem to contribute towards either testing or development of a theory /
conceptual model.

3. Delimiting the research topic:
• In this step, researcher proceeds from a general research area of interest
to more specific topic of research to conduct a study.
• For example: initially a researcher decides to conduct a study on female
feticide; later in this stage, the researcher limits it to a specific research
topic. ‘A study on perception of women about causes and prevention of
female feticide in selected rural communities, Chandigarh.’
• In this stage, researcher clearly identifies variables, population, and
setting of research study. Furthermore, at this stage, the researcher is
quite clear about the phenomenon to be studied where, and on whom.

4. Evaluating the research problem
• Once researcher is clear about specific research problem, next the
research problem must be carefully evaluated for its significance ,
researchability, and feasibility. Feasibility should be evaluated in
terms of time, cost, availability of subjects, and resources,
administrative and peer support, ethical considerations, researcher’s
competence and interest.

5. Formulating the final statement of the research
problem
• After establishing the significance, researchability, and feasibility ,
the researcher finally formulates a final statement of the research
problem. A statement of research problem could be in declarative and
interrogative format.
• Declarative format: in this format, a research problem is stated in
declarative statement.
• For example:
• A descriptive study on prevalence of bedsores among unconscious patients
admitted in intensive care units of PGIMER, Chandigarh.
• An exploratory study on contributing factors of maternal mortality in selected
rural communities of district, Ludhiana, Punjab.

• Interrogative form: in this format, a research problem is stated in
question form.
• For example:
• What is the influence of the level of haemoglobin on pin site infection among
patients with external skeletal fixators admitted in orthopaedic wards of
AIIMS, New Delhi?
• What is the effect of ginger on morning sickness symptoms on pregnant
women in selected urban communities of district Hisar, Haryana?

Example of a well- formulated research statement
• ‘A descriptive study on the prevalence of pin site infection among
patients with external skeletal fixators admitted in orthopaedic wards of
Nehru hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
• It is an example of declarative form of statement of problem, where it is
precisely and concisely stated and includes most of the required
components of a research statement.
• Some of the components are listed below:
• Research study design- descriptive
• Variable (s)- it has only one research variable ‘ prevalence of pin site infection’.
• Population: patients with external skeletal fixation
• Research setting- orthopaedic wards of Nehru hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Identification of variables
• Variables are anything that has quantity and quality that varies. In other words ,
variables are qualities, properties, or characteristics of person, things, or situations that
change or vary.
• Types of variables:
1. Independent and dependent variables: these are two variables that are interrelated
and mainly observed in correlational, interventional, quasi-experimental and
experimental research studies.
• An independent variable: it is a presumed cause, stimulus or activity that is
manipulated or varied by the researcher to create the effect on the dependent variable.
It is also known as ‘manipulated or treatment variable’ in experimental studies.
• A dependent variable: it is a presumed effect /outcome or response due to the effect
of the independent variable , which researcher wants to predicts or explain. In non-
experimental research, it is termed as ‘outcome’ or criterion variable.

For example:
• ‘a quasi-experimental study on the effect of 4-hourly chlorhexidine
mouth wash on prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
among patients admitted in selected ICUs of DMCH, Ludhiana ,
Punjab.’
• In this study, 4-hourly chlorhexidine mouth wash is an independent
variable and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among
patients admitted is the dependent variable.

2. Research variable
• Research variables can be defined as qualities, attributes, properties, or
characteristics that are observed or measured in a natural setting with
manipulating and establishing cause-and – effect relationship.
• For example: ‘an exploratory study on factors contributing to sleep
disturbance among patients admitted in selected ICUs of AIIMS, New
Delhi’.
• In this research study, factors contributing to sleep disturbance is a
research variable, which is observed in natural setting without
manipulating it.

3. Demographic variables
• In most research studies, researchers make the attempt to study the
sample characteristics and present them in research findings. In
addition, sometimes researchers even try to establish relation of the
demographic variables with the research variables. These
characteristics and attributes of the study subjects are considered as
demographic variables. Common demographic variables are age,
gender, educational status, religion, social class, marital status, habitat,
occupation, income, medical diagnosis etc.

4. Extraneous variable
• Extraneous variables are the factors that are not the part of the study but
may affect the measurement of the study dependent or outcome
variables. These are commonly known as ‘confounding variables’ or
confounders. These variables are usually recognized and controlled by
researchers in quasi-experimental, experimental studies, however in
correlational, case control, cohort studies, and analytical crossectional
research studies also the researcher may do as much as possible.
• Generally random sampling techniques, specific research design, and
strict sample inclusion and exclusion criteria are used to control the
influence of extraneous or confounding variables.
• The confounding variables could be, endogenous or exogenous.

For example
• ‘a study is conducted to assess the effect of two different pin site care protocols
on prevention of pin site infection among patients with external skeletal fixation.’
• In this study, pin site care protocols are independent variables and pin site
infection is the dependent variable. However , the dependent variable , pin site
infection may also be influenced by some of the other factors, such as low
haemoglobin level, or higher blood sugar level among these patients; these
factors are considered as extraneous variables, which may have unwanted effect
on dependent variables or research variables.
• In this instance extraneous variables may be controlled by excluding the
patients with anaemia or diabetes or randomly distributing these cases in both the
groups, so that homogeneity between the groups can be ensured.

• Research studies may have one, two, or many variables under study;
based on the number of variables under study, research studies are as
follows:
1. Univariate study: In descriptive and comparative studies, a single
variable is studied. In these studies , this variable is called research
variable. For example: ‘a descriptive study on biophysical profile of
nursing personnel working in outpatient department of selected hospitals
of Bangalore’. This is a univariate study, which includes only one
research variable (biophysical profile) .
2. Bivariate study : Correlational, interventional studies generally include
two variables in research. For example: ‘ a prospective cohort study on
smoking and lung cancer among families in urban slums of city
Kolkata’. This correlational study is a bivariate study because it included
two variables , one independent (smoking) and other dependent ( lung
cancer).

3. Multivariate study:
In these studies , more than two variables are studied together.
Qualitative studies are usually multivariate studies, which are becoming
increasingly common in nursing research studies.
For example: ‘ a study on factors contributing to noncompliance of
treatment among tuberculosis patients in selected rural communities of
district Patiala, Punjab.’ here the researcher considers more than two
variables that are responsible for noncompliance among tuberculosis
patients.

Operational definitions
• In a research study, each variable or concept must be operationally defined. An
operational definition of a variable provides the theoretical or conceptual
meaning of variable under study.
• For example: in research problem, ‘a quasi experimental study on the effect
of ginger on morning sickness among pregnant women’. In this problem
statement, there are two variables , ginger and morning sickness, which need
to be operationally defined. However, sometimes researchers also make an
attempt to operationally define the population of study, such as pregnant
women in this problem statement.
• An operational definition is based on the observable characteristics of an
object or phenomenon and indicates what to do or what to observe in
order to identify these characteristics.

Example of Conceptual vs operational definitions of constipation

Essential characteristics of operational
definitions
• Stated in measurable and observable terms: an operational definition
must denote the distinctive characteristics of a variable in measurable
and observable terms.
• For example: A Nurse: is a person who has completed a professional
diploma or degree programme in nursing, has registered with the state
nursing council and is currently practicing as a bed-side nurse.
• Nonambiguous language: an operational definition should not be
circular and ambiguous. In other words , it should not describe
something by the same concept.
E.g. : an impatient person should not be defined as a person who lacks
patience.

• Stated positively: an operational definition should be stated
positively, expressing the properties possessed by the variable rather
than characteristics lacked by the variable. E.g.: a book cannot
adequately be described as being an object without specific colour and
weight.
• Clear and precise: an operational definition should be stated
precisely, clearly with unequivocal terms to avoid different
interpretation.
• Valid : the operational definition should be valid as per the fact.
• Reliability: the operational definition must also have reliability
characteristic, so that there will be consistency in interpretation of the
operational definition by all those who have to use it.

WRITING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• Research is an organized investigation of a problem in which there is an
attempt to gain a solution of a problem. To get right solution of a right
problem, clearly defined objectives are very Important. Clearly defined
objectives enlighten the way in which the researcher has to proceed.
• Therefore clearly defined objectives are an important feature of a good
research study without which the researcher is aimless, and directionless
in conducting the study, resulting in wastage of resources.
• Objectives formulated in quantitative and qualitative studies are quite
similar, however, objectives formulated in qualitative studies are broad
and include variables that are more complex and abstract in nature.

Meaning of research objectives
• ‘A research objective is a clear, concise, declarative statement, which
provides direction to investigate the variables’. Generally, research
objectives focus on the ways to measure the variables, so as to identify
or describe them.
• Research objectives are the results sought by the researcher at the end
of the research process, that is what the researcher will be able to
achieve at the end of the research study.’
• Objectives of a research project summarize what is to be achieved by
the study. Objectives should be related to the statement of the problem.

Characteristics of research objectives
• A well-worded objective will be SMART, that is Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Realistic, and Time bound.
• Research objective should be relevant, feasible, logical, observable,
unequivocal and measurable.
• Objective is a purpose that can be reasonably achieved within the
expected timeframe and with the available resources.
• The objective of research project summarizes what is to be achieved by
the study.
• The objectives include obtaining answers to research questions or
testing the research hypothesis.

Characteristics of research objectives
Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic
Time-bound Relevant Feasible Logical
Observable Unequivocal Specific

Need of research objectives
• The formulation of research objectives will help the researcher to:
• Focus
• Avoid
• Organize
• Directions

Types of research objectives
• The research objectives are of two types:
• General objectives: are the broad goals to be achieved. The General
objectives of the study states what the researcher expects to achieve by the
study in general terms. General objectives are usually less in number.
• Specific objectives : are for short term and narrow in focus. General
objectives can be broken into small logically connected parts to form
specific objectives. General objective is met through accomplishing all the
specific objectives. The specific objectives are more in number and they
systematically address various aspects of problems as defined under the
statement of problem. They should specify what the researcher will do in
the study, where and for what purpose.

Example of general and specific objectives

Method of stating objectives
While stating the objectives of the study, the following guidelines must
be taken care of:
• The objectives should be presented briefly and concisely
• They cover the different aspects of the problem and their contributing
factors in a coherent way and in a logical sequence.
• They should clearly phrased in operational terms , specifying exactly what
researcher is going to do, where, and for what purpose.
• They should realistic considering local conditions.
• They use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated.
• Example of action verbs are as follows:

A researcher should always keep in mind
that when the project is evaluated, the
results will be compared to the objectives.
If the objectives have not been answered
clearly and completely, the project can not
be considered complete.

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