Techniques involved in defining a research problem

Techniques involved in defining a research problem

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  OVERVIEW OF TECHNIQUESINVOLVED IN DEFINING A RESEARCH PROBLEM Presented by Dr.SANGEETHA R Assistant Professor Department of Commerce with International Business Hindusthan College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore
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  TECHNIQUES INVOLVED INDEFINING A PROBLEM ❖ As a researcher, you must have often read that defining a problem is the first step in a research process. ❖ Defining a problem, simply means that the researcher has to lay down certain boundaries within which he/she has to study the problem with a pre-defined objective in mind. ❖ Defining a problem is a difficult task, and this must be done intelligently to avoid confusions that arise in the research operation.
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  The following arethe steps that should be followed systematically in defining a problem. State the problem in a general way Understand the nature of the problem Survey the available literature Go for discussions for developing ideas Rephrase the research problem into a working proposition
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  I. State theproblem in a general way How to define a problem in general way? ❖ Study the related subject thoroughly ❖ Do preliminary survey or pilot survey Define the problem in general way Ex: Does negative news interest people more than positive news? ❖ Narrow it down by rethinking over the problem in operational terms. Ex: Does negative news such as robbery, corruption interest people more than positive news like country economic growth ?
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  II. Understand thenature of the problem ❖ The researcher needs to discuss the problem with those related to the subject matter in order to clearly understand the origin of the problem, its nature, objectives and the environment in which the problem is to be studied.
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  III. Survey theavailable literature ❖ Survey all the research which are already undertaken in related problem. It helps to : ❖ Narrow down the problem ❖ To identify research gaps ❖ Gives new ideas in related area ❖ Helps for research design
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  IV. Go fordiscussions for developing ideas ● Discussion always produces useful information. ● Various new ideas can be developed through such an exercise. ● Researcher must discuss his/her problem with his/ her colleagues and others who have enough experience in the same area or in working on similar problems. This is known as experience survey.
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  v. Rephrase theresearch problem into a working proposition ❖ Initial research question: Why is productivity in Japan so much higher than in India? ❖ After, the problem has understood, available literature has taken place and discussion over the problem has taken place, the question has rephrased. ❖ Rephrased Research question: What factors were responsible for the higher labor productivity of Japan’s manufacturing industries during the decade 1971 to 1980 relative to India’s manufacturing industries?”
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  In addition towhat has been stated above, the following points must also be observed while defining a research problem: ❖ Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the problem, should be clearly defined. ❖ Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be clearly stated. ❖ A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria for the selection of the problem) should be provided. ❖ The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must also be considered by the researcher in defining the problem. ❖ The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied must be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.