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Selecting, Refining and Defining

Research Problems

Ethiopian Civil Service University

A higher Degree. A higher Purpose

Definition
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Research Topic: The broad general area

expected to investigate. It is a broad idea or
concept from which many problems may be
delineated.
Research Problem: A situation or circumstance
that requires a solution to be described,
explained, or predicted. It is an unsatisfactory
situation that wants you to confront.

Definition
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If there is a knowledge gap in an area that

need to be investigated, the research problem
identifies this gap.
Where as the research topic is simply a broad
area of interest, the research problem
identifies what is problematic about that topic.
Problem Statement: A statement specifies
exactly what is being studied.

Problem Statement
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The problem statement should include six

elements:
1.

Information about the research topic that provoked the study

2.

The scope of the problem (e.g.. how many people are

affected by it).

3.

Why it is important to study the problem

4.

How your field would be influenced by the study

5.

General characteristics of the population of interest

6.

The overall goal or aim of the study or the question to be

answered.

Problem Statement (Cont.)

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Problem Statement should include the following

four required parts:
1.

Start with a general problem identifying the need for the study. E.g. The
problem of this study is ..

2.

State the specific problem proposed for research. (Use citation & usually
a number to make it clear to the reader. E.g. 30% of the organizations
have been affected by brain drain

3.

Introductory words describing Methodological approach (i.e. Research

Design) are given and are appropriate to the specific proposal problem.
E.g. This Case Study Qualitative study will explore . Or this Case Study
Qualitative study will examine .

4.

General population group of proposed study is identified. E.g. Small scale

professionals in affected location will be surveyed to determine

Sample Qualitative Problem Statement

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Brain drain is increasing (GENERAL PROBLEM). Every year about 50 professional

migrate abroad due to unsatisfactory working condition (SPECIFIC PROBLEM
WITH NUMBER and supported with a citation).
This brain drain is different from previous shortages., because it involves not only
fresh graduates but also seasoned professionals (quote).
This crisis in the professionals industry requires innovative solution. One
innovative solution may be a less structured leadership style, such as steward
leadership (quote).
This Qualitative Case Study (DESCRIPTION OF STUDY TYPE) will explore
perception of professionals in Africa (POPULATION BEING STUDIED) about
steward leadership as a strategy to alleviate or reduce factors contributing to the
brain drain among professionals in Eastern Africa region (GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION OF STUDY).
The data to be gathered in this study may provide leaders with information
related to how they may address or mitigate factors contributing to the current
brain drain.

Research Purpose Statement

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Research Purpose Statement is the specific

aim or goal hope to be accomplished. It reflects
why the problem is being studied
Example:

The purpose of this study is to examine the

relationship between professionals job
satisfaction and tendency to leave.

Research Question
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Research Question is a direct rewording

of the statement of the purpose phrased
interrogatively rather than declaratively

Questions that are simple and direct invite an

answer and help to focus attention on the kinds of
data needed to provide that answer.
Example of a research question:
What is the relationship between the professionals
job satisfaction and their tendency to leave the
work setting?

Sources of Research Problems

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Where do ideas for research problems

come from?

Social issues
Ideas from external sources
Research priorities
Experience
Literature

Development of a Research Problem

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Step 1: Selection of the research topic:

Write down general areas of interest

At this stage, it doesnt matter if the terms used are

broad or specific, abstract or concrete., The important
point is to put ideas on papers.
Then a list of ideas can be classified into Interesting
topics.
Familiar topics.
confusing topics
Feasible/not feasible topics
And then, choose the most suitable one to work in.

Development of a Research Problem

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Step 2: Weigh up the ideas : then explore the

phenomena by examining the following
eight areas
1. The topics, situations problems causing
factors.
2. How it is exactly viewed or perceived by
the researcher.
3. What are the responses of others who are
involved in the situation?
4. The personal involvement in the situation.

Development of a Research Problem

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5. Emotions felt.
6. Values and biases inherent in or
related to the topic/situation.
7. Risk factors associated with searching
this topic/situation/problem.

8. What contribution the research would

offer.

Development of a Research Problem

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Step 3: Narrowing the topic

1. Once a research topic has been specified and
contemplate, the researcher must then narrow it
down in order to develop a research problem.
2. This is done through generating questions from the
research topic.
3. List of questions can be developed from the research
topic, and then investigated in relation to its
feasibility to research.

Development of a Research Problem

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Step 4: Reviewing the related literature at this

stage may throw light on:

Theoretical framework.
Research methods.
Data collection methods.
Data collection tools

Development of a Research Problem

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Data collection techniques.

Sampling methodetc.
Review of literature will also help to identify
what is known and what is not known about
the research problem. Therefore, the
research problem could be specified and
stated at this point.

Development of a Research Problem

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Step 5: Writing the statement of the research

problem :

Expressed in a statement
This statement serves as a guide to
the researcher in the course of
designing the study.

Development of a Research Problem

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The problem statement should have the following

characteristics:
Identify the key variables in the study.
Express a relationship between two or more
variables. (If not descriptive).
Specify the study population.
Imply the type of the research.
Identify the study setting.

Development of a Research Problem

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The problem statement could be done in

two forms:
Declarative: The relationship
between the teachers job satisfaction
and tendency to leave work
Interrogative: Is there a

relationship between the nteachers

job satisfaction and tendency to leave
work?

Evaluation of the Research Problem

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Time: enough time will be available for the various

steps of the research.

Timing :When the timing requirement of a task do not

match

Money : the researcher should ask the following

questions:
Will I have enough money to complete this research?
Will be any sources for funding the research?
Does the anticipated cost outweigh the value of the
expected findings?

Development of a Research Problem

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Availability of research participants:

Ethical consideration
Facilities and equipment
Co operation of the others
Researchability
Qualifications and experience of the
researcher
Significance of the problem

Research Hypothesis
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Hypothesis is the researchs prediction of the

outcome of the research study. That is the
expected relationship between the study
variables.

Thus, Research Hypothesis translates the

research purpose into a clear prediction of the
expected results or outcome of the study

Research Hypothesis
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Importance of Research Hypothesis are:

Provides direction for the type of
research (i.e. design, sampling, data
collection .. etc.).
Suggests the type of statistical analysis
to be used in the study.
Identifies the variables to be
manipulated and/or measured

Research Hypothesis
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How to state a Research Hypothesis

Research hypothesis should be stated
clearly, concisely, measurably, and in
the present tense.

For a hypothesis to be stated clearly,

concisely, and measurably, three
criteria should be considered:

Research Hypothesis
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Three criteria should be considered:

1. A relationship should be addressed in
each hypothesis.
2. The variable/condition/relationship
must be testable or measurable.
3. The aim of the research guides what
is included in the research
hypothesis.

Research Hypothesis
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When the research aim is to describe, the

Research Hypothesis will include the target
population and study variables.
When the research aim is to explore, the
Research Hypothesis makes prediction about
population and the relationship among study
variables.
When the research aim is to predict, the
Research Hypothesis concentrates on the
population and independent variables.

Types of Research Hypothesis

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I. Simple

Simple Hypothesis predicts the relationship between

one independent variable and one dependent
variable.
Example:
Newborns of smoking mothers (I.V) have lower
birth weight (D.V.) than those of non-smoking
mothers.
Lower levels of exercise postpartum (I.V) will be
associated with greater weight retention (D.V )

Type of Research Hypothesis

(Cont.)

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II.Complex

Complex Hypothesis predicts the relationship between

2 or more I.V. and 2 or more D.V.
Example:
Structured preoperative support (IV). is
more effective in reducing surgical patients
perception of pain (D.V) and request of
analgesics (D.V) than structured post operative
support (I.V.)

Type of Research Hypothesis

(Cont.)

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III. Associative

It predicts an association between the I.V. and the

D.V. without specifying either a directional or causal
relation.
Example:
Maternal age (I.V.) is associated with
pregnancy complications (D.V.)

Type of Research Hypothesis

(Cont.)

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IV. Causal

It predicts a cause-and effect relationship between

the I.V. and D.V.
Example:

Older mothers (I.V.) give birth to

newborns with lover (D.V.) than those of
younger mother (I.V.)

Type of Research Hypothesis

(Cont.)

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V.

Null

It predicts no relationship between I.V. and D.V.

It is used when statistical testing procedures are
applied to the data.

Example:
There is no relationship between
maternal smoking and newborns birth
weight.

Type of Research Hypothesis (Cont.)

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VI. Alternative
It is the opposite of the null hypothesis. So, it
predicts a relationship between the I.V. and D.V.
Example:
All the previous examples are alternative
hypotheses.