Rm chapter 2 report
- 1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Chapter 2 Defining the Research Problem SHEFNA SALIM MPHIL COMPUTER SCIENCE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCES
- 2. Chapter 2 Defining the Research Problem “A research problem refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or conceptual situation and wants a solution for it” “A Research problem exists when the individual or the group, having one or more desired outcomes, are confronted with two or more courses of action that have some but not equal efficiency for desired objective(s) and are in doubt about which course of action is best” A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same. Usually we say that a research problem does exist if the following conditions are met with: (i) There must be an individual (or a group or an organization), let us call it ‘I,’ to whom the problem can be attributed. The individual or the organization, as the case may be, occupies an environment, say ‘N’, which is defined by values of the uncontrolled variables, Yj . (ii) There must be at least two courses of action, say C1 and C2 , to be pursued. A course of action is defined by one or more values of the controlled variables. For example, the number of items purchased at a specified time is said to be one course of action. (iii) There must be at least two possible outcomes, say O1 and O2 , of the course of action, of which one should be preferable to the other. In other words, this means that there must be at least one outcome that the researcher wants, i.e., an objective. (iv) The courses of action available must provides some chance of obtaining the objective, but they cannot provide the same chance, otherwise the choice would not matter. Thus, if P (Oj | I, Cj , N) represents the probability that an outcome Oj will occur, if I select Cj in N, then PO I C N PO I C N 11 12 b gb g | | ,, ,, ≠ . In simple words, we can say that the choices must have unequal efficiencies for the desired outcomes. Over and above these conditions, the individual or the organisation can be said to have the problem only if ‘I’ does not know what course of action is best, i.e., ‘I’, must be in doubt about the solution. Thus, an individual or a group of persons can be said to have a problem which can be technically described as a research problem, if they (individual or the group), having one or more desired outcomes, are confronted with two or more courses of action that have some but not equal efficiency for the desired objective(s) and are in doubt about which course of action is best.
- 3. Components of a research problem o There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem. o There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. -If one wants nothing, one cannot have a problem. o There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at least two means available to a researcher for if he has no choice of means, he cannot have a problem. o There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard to the selection of alternatives. o This means that research must answer the question concerning the relative efficiency of the possible alternatives. There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains. Selecting the problem • The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected. • The task is a difficult one, although it may not appear to be so. The process of selecting the problem is the most difficult and crucial step in the entire research process. The following steps are suggested: Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light on it. Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher. Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided. The subject should be familiar and feasible so that the related research material or sources are within reach. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.
- 4. However, the following points may be observed by a researcher in selecting a research problem or a subject for research: Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in such a case. Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher. Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided. The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the related research material or sources of research are within one’s reach. Even then it is quite difficult to supply definitive ideas concerning how a researcher should obtain ideas for his research. For this purpose, a researcher should contact an expert or a professor in the University who is already engaged in research. He may as well read articles published in current literature available on the subject and may think how the techniques and ideas discussed therein might be applied to the solution of other problems. He may discuss with others what he has in mind concerning a problem. In this way he should make all possible efforts in selecting a problem. The importance of the subject, the qualifications and the training of a researcher, the costs involved, the time factor Whether he is well equipped in terms of his background to carry out the research? Whether the study falls within the budget he can afford? Whether the necessary cooperation can be obtained from those who must participate in research as subjects? If the answers to all these questions are in the affirmative, one may become sure so far as the practicability of the study is concerned. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study. This may not be necessary when the problem requires the conduct of a research closely similar to one that has already been done. But when the field of inquiry is relatively new and does not have available a set of well-developed techniques, a brief feasibility study must always be undertaken. Necessity of defining the problem Quite often we all hear that a problem clearly stated is a problem half solved. This statement signifies the need for defining a research problem. The problem to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for that will help to discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant ones. A proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the track whereas an ill-defined problem may create hurdles.
- 5. Questions like: What data are to be collected? What characteristics of data are relevant and need to be studied? What relations are to be explored? What techniques are to be used for the purpose? and similar other questions crop up in the mind of the researcher who can well plan his strategy and find answers to all such questions only when the research problem has been well defined. Thus, defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study and is a step of the highest importance. In fact, formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution. It is only on careful detailing the research problem that we can work out the research design and can smoothly carry on all the consequential steps involved while doing research. Technique involved in defining a problem Let us start with the question: What does one mean when he/she wants to define a research problem? The answer may be that one wants to state the problem along with the bounds within which it is to be studied. In other words, defining a problem involves the task of laying down boundaries within which a researcher shall study the problem with a pre-determined objective in view. How to define a research problem is undoubtedly a herculean task. However, it is a task that must be tackled intelligently to avoid the perplexity encountered in a research operation. The usual approach is that the researcher should himself pose a question (or in case someone else wants the researcher to carry on research, the concerned individual, organisation or an authority should pose the question to the researcher) and set-up techniques and procedures for throwing light on the question concerned for formulating or defining the research problem. But such an approach generally does not produce definitive results because the question phrased in such a fashion is usually in broad general terms and as such may not be in a form suitable for testing. Defining a research problem properly and clearly is a crucial part of a research study and must in no case be accomplished hurriedly. However, in practice this a frequently overlooked which causes a lot of problems later on.
- 6. Hence, the research problem should be defined in a systematic manner, giving due weightage to all relating points. The technique for the purpose involves the undertaking of the following steps generally one after the other: (i) statement of the problem in a general way; (ii) understanding the nature of the problem; (iii) surveying the available literature (iv) developing the ideas through discussions; and (v) rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition. (i) Statement of the problem in a general way: The problem should be stated in a broad general way, keeping in view either some practical concern or some scientific or intellectual interest. In case of social research, it is considered advisable to do some field observation and as such the researcher may undertake some sort of preliminary survey or what is often called pilot survey. Then the researcher can himself state the problem or he can seek the guidance of the guide or the subject expert in accomplishing this task. ii) Understanding the nature of the problem • Understand its origin and nature clearly. • To discuss it with those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem originally came about and with what objectives in view. • A discussion with those who have a good knowledge of the problem concerned or similar other problems. • The researcher should also keep in view the environment within which the problem is to be studied and understood. (iii) Surveying the available literature: All available literature concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined
- 7. • It will be well-conversant with relevant theories in the field, reports and records • to find out what data and other materials, if any, are available for operational purposes. “Knowing what data are available often serves to narrow the problem itself as well as the technique that might be used.” • If there are certain gaps in the theories, or whether the existing theories applicable to the problem under study are inconsistent with each other, or whether the findings of the different studies do not follow a pattern consistent with the theoretical expectations and so on. • for indicating the type of difficulties that may be encountered in the present study as also the possible analytical shortcomings. At times such studies may also suggest useful and even new lines of approach to the present problem. (iv) Developing the ideas through discussions: • Often produces useful information. • Various new ideas can be developed • Discuss his problem with his colleagues and others who have enough experience in the same area or in working on similar problems. This is quite often known as an experience survey. • People with rich experience are in a position to enlighten the researcher on different aspects of his proposed study and their advice and comments are usually invaluable to the researcher. They help him sharpen his focus of attention on specific aspects within the field. (v) Rephrasing the research problem: • To rephrase the research problem into a working proposition. • Rephrasing the problem into analytical or operational terms is not a difficult task. • Through rephrasing, the researcher puts the research problem in as specific terms as possible so that it may become operationally viable and may help in the development of working hypotheses.
- 8. Points :: Defining a research problem The following points must also be observed while defining a research problem: a) Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the problem, should be clearly defined. b) Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be clearly stated. c) A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria for the selection of the problem). d) The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available e) The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem. AN ILLUSTRATION Let us suppose that a research problem in a broad general way is as follows: “Why is productivity in Japan so much higher than in India”? In this form the question has a number of ambiguities such as: What sort of productivity is being referred to? With what industries the same is related? With what period of time the productivity is being talked about? In view of all such ambiguities the given statement or the question is much too general to be amenable to analysis. Rethinking and discussions about the problem may result in narrowing down the question to: “What factors were responsible for the higher labour productivity of Japan’s manufacturing industries during the decade 1971 to 1980 relative to India’s manufacturing industries?”
- 9. Further rethinking and rephrasing might place the problem on a still better operational basis as shown below: “To what extent did labour productivity in 1971 to 1980 in Japan exceed that of India in respect of 15 selected manufacturing industries? “What factors were responsible for the productivity differentials between the two countries by industries?” With this sort of formulation, the various terms involved such as ‘labour productivity’, ‘productivity differentials’, etc. must be explained clearly. The researcher must also see that the necessary data are available. In case the data for one or more industries selected are not available for the concerning time- period, then the said industry or industries will have to be substituted by other industry or industries. The suitability of the time-period must also be examined. Thus, all relevant factors must be considered by a researcher before finally defining a research problem. CONCLUSION The task of defining a research problem, very often, follows a sequential pattern —the problem is stated in a general way, the ambiguities are resolved, thinking and rethinking process results in a more specific formulation of the problem so that it may be a realistic one.
- 10. BIBILOGRAPHY • Priyanka Tripathy, Pradip Kumar Tripathy, Fundamentals of Research, A Dissective View (2017) • Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, Third Edition, CR Kothari, Gaurav Garg