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RESEARCH PROBLEM Moazzam Ali
Research Problem • A research problem is a statement or a set of statements about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.
Selecting a Research Problem • There are a number of considerations to keep in mind which will ensure the success of your research work. • Interest • Expertise in the Area • Researchable Concepts • Scope of the Study & Relevance • Research Needs • Adequate Resources • Ethical Considerations
Formulating a Research Problem A research problem may be formulated in the following two ways: • Problem Statement • Research Questions Moreover, sometimes problem statement can be further explained in the form of more specific research questions
The Purpose of a Problem Statement & a Research Question • Formulating a problem statement/research question is the central element of both quantitative and qualitative research • It makes the theoretical assumptions in the framework more explicit, indicating what the researcher wants to know the most.
Formulating a Research Problem: Problem Statement A problem statement is a brief piece of writing that usually comes at the beginning of a report or proposal to explain the problem or issue the document is addressing to the reader. In general, a problem statement will outline the basic facts of the problem, explain why the problem matters, and pinpoint a possible solution as quickly and directly as possible.
Characteristics of a Problem Statement A good Research Problem Statement should include: • A clear statement of the problem that exists • Evidence that supports the existence of the problem • Evidence of an existing trend that has led to the problem • Definitions/Explanation of major concepts and terms • A clear description of the settings • Probable causes related to the problem • A specific and feasible statement
Example of a Problem Statement If you ask a random group of teenagers and adults, they will most likely say that the planet is more polluted than it was 25 years ago: the oceans and rivers are dirtier, the soil contaminated by chemicals, the air less healthy. In fact, because of legal reform and increased awareness, the earth's water and soil and air are actually cleaner. By refusing to see the state of the planet for what it is, we live in a state of fear and pessimism that really isn't necessary. We have been led to believe that the environment is in danger as part of a left-wing conspiracy to fund environmental groups that thrive on an imaginary crisis.
Formulating a Research Problem: Research Question • A research problem leads to research hypothesis and/or research question (RQ). • A Research Question is a question that identifies the phenomenon to be studied • It is one of the first methodological steps the investigator has to take when undertaking a research
Characteristics of a Research Question • The research question should: • be evocative and interesting • address the contemporary social or theoretical concerns • Take a distinctive approach (new methodology, sample, design, etc.) • be relevant and researchable • be lucid and clear • have measureable concepts or variables
Examples: Research Question • What is the relationship between paradigmatic choices of address terms and Tenor dimensions? • What aspects of sociocultural milieu contribute to the growth of Ideal and Ought-to L2 Selves in the rural setting? • How does Chengez vacillate between the blasé and non-blasé attitudes in The Reluctant Fundamentalist?
Things to Remember • To develop a strong research question/problem statement, the researcher should ask him/herself the following: • Do I know the field and its literature well? • What are the important issues in my field? • What areasneed further exploration? • Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding? • Has a great deal of research already been done in this topic area? • Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement? • Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or is it becoming obsolete? • What type of information do I need to answer/address the research question/problem statement? • Most importantly, will my study have a significant impact on the field?
DEVELOPING A RESEARCH QUESTIONIs it Researchable? 1. Does McDonald's or Burger King make a better burger? Answer: This question is not researchable as it is worded, since it has no concrete meaning. What does "better" mean? Better in terms of nutrition? Better tasting? Better value? Fewer calories? Better for making your kids happy? This question could become researchable only if you define its terms 2. Is Prozac a good way to treat clinical depression in certain cases? Answer: This question is researchable. Researcher would have to sift through a lot of information, both pro and con, valid and invalid, in order to choose the best information to answer the research question and support his/her own point of view, but the point is that there is at least enough information to sift through
DEVELOPING A RESEARCH QUESTION 1. Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with more developed skills? Answer: This question is too broad since it focuses on all skills (e.g., language, social, small motor skills, large motor skills, etc). One would have to gather too much diverse information to answer question 1. 2. Do children sent to day care or preschool start kindergarten with larger vocabularies? Answer: There may or may not be enough information to answer this question. The researcher would need to find more than just one or two studies. If he/she feels that there are enough sources dealing with vocabulary only, then he/she could choose to pursue question 2. 3. Is there a link between hours of television viewing and violent behavior in children aged 8-14? Answer: This question is also researchable. The researcher would have to sift through a lot of information, both pro and con, valid and invalid, in order to choose the best information to answer the research question.
Activity: Problem StatementsIdentify the Topic & R. Questions • Stephen King writes that people naturally crave horror movies as a way of expressing their inner violent emotions. There's only one problem with this theory: many people hate horror movies. Once we see the real attraction to scary films, we'll be able to understand American culture better. People who watch horror movies are not driven by natural instincts, but by the violence of the world around them.
Activity: Problem StatementsIdentify the Topic & R. Questions • In a competitive food marketplace, food companies must satisfy stockholders by encouraging more people to eat more of their products. They seek new audiences among children, among members of minority groups, or internationally. They expand sales to existing as well as new audiences through advertising but also by developing new products designed to respond to consumer “demands.” In recent years, they have embraced a new strategy: increasing the sizes of food portions. Advertising, new products, and larger portions all contribute to a food environment that promotes eating more, not less.
Activity: Formulate Research Questions from the given Topics • Gender Differences in the use of Politeness Strategies for Making Requests among Punjabi/Urdu and English Bilinguals at UoG. (Ansa Ahsan) • Exploring The Patterns of Language Learning Strategies Among Pakistani Students At Higher Secondary Level (Rana Rashid Rafique)
Negotiating Gendered Identities: A Feminist Reading of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini (Safoora Batool Syed) • The Cognitive Analysis of the Metaphors used in the Selected Children Literature by Iqbal: an SFL Perspective. (Mahnoor) • Exploring the Effects of Language Identity on English Language Learning among Bilinguals at UoG. (Shumaila)
