Dr.

Asif Mahmood,
University of Management & Technology, Lahore
asif.mahmood@umt.edu.pk


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Professional Practice
Research Problem, Variables
and Measurement Scales
Chapter 07
Research for Managers
Research Problem
Any question that you want answered and any
assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or
investigate can become a research problem or a
research topic for your study
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STEPS IN FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
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Identify a broad
field or subject
area of interest to
you.
Dissect the broad
area into sub-
areas.
Select what is of
most interest to you.
Raise research
questions
Formulate objectives
Assess your
objectives
Double-check
STEP 1: Identify a Broad Field or Subject Area of Interest to
you:
Find an interesting topic and one which may be of use to you in the future.
Step 2: Dissect the Broad Area into Sub-areas:
The broad areas identified in step 1 can be dissected into sub-areas. In
preparing this list of sub-areas you should also consult others who have some
knowledge of the area and the literature in your subject area.
Step 3: Select What is of most Interest to you:
It is neither advisable nor feasible to study all sub-areas. Go through your list and
delete all those sub-areas in which you are not very interested. Continue deleting
until you are left with something that is manageable keeping in mind the time
factor and resources available.
Step 4: Raise Research Questions:
Within your chosen sub-area, first list whatever questions you want to find
answers to.
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STEPS IN FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Step 5: Formulate Objectives:
Objectives inform a reader of what you want to achieve through the study. Hence
it is extremely important to word them clearly and specifically. Objectives should
be listed under two headings:
Main Objectives
Sub-objectives.
Step 6: Assess your Objectives:
Examine your objectives to ascertain the feasibility of achieving them through
your research endeavour.
Step 7: Double-Check:
Go back and give final consideration to whether or not you are sufficiently
interested in the study and have adequate resources to undertake it. If not then
re-assess your objectives.
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STEPS IN FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Identifying variables
A concept or perception that takes on different values and
that can be measured is a variable. It is something that varies.
Types of variables
Independent variables (they are responsible for bringing about
change in a phenomenon, situation)
Dependent variables (effects of a change variable, the outcome of
the changes brought about by changes in an independent variable)
Extraneous variables (other factors that affect the changes bring
about by independent variables)
Intervening variables (those that link the independent and dependent
variables)
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Types of Variables
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Concepts versus variables
Concept is a mental image or
perception
Subjective Impression-No uniformity of understanding-
Not measurable
TRANSLATION

Variable is a property that takes
on different values
Measurable but degree of precision varies
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Concepts versus variables
Concepts

Effectiveness
Satisfaction
Impact
Excellent
High achiever
Self-esteem
Rich
Domestic violence
etc.
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Variables

Gender (male/female)
Attitude
Age (x years, y months)
Income ($ __ per year)
Weight ( __ kg)
Height ( __ cm)
Religion (Catholic, protestant,
Jew, Muslim)
etc.
Types of measurement scale
4 types of measurement scales:
1.Nominal or classificatory scale
2.Ordinal or ranking scale
3.Interval scale
4.Ratio scale
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Nominal or classificatory scales
A nominal scale enables the classification of
individuals, objects or responses based on a
common/shared property or characteristic
Examples of nominal variables might include:
Gender (male, female)
Eye color (blue, brown, green, hazel)
Political Parities (PML, PPP, PTI)
Blood type (A, B, AB, O)

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Ordinal or ranking scales
A ordinal scale enables the classification of
individuals, objects or responses based on a
common/shared property or characteristic and it ranks
the subgroups in a certain order.
Examples of ordinal variables might include:
Stage of cancer (stage I, II, III, IV)
Education level (elementary, secondary, college)
Pain level (mild, moderate, severe)
Satisfaction level (very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neutral, satisfied, very
satisfied)
Agreement level (strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly
agree)


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Interval scales
It uses a unit of measurement that enables the
individual responses to be placed at equally
spaced intervals in relation to the spread of the
variable.
Examples of interval variables:
Intelligence (IQ test score of 100, 110, 120, etc.)
Pain level (1-10 scale)
Body length in infant

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Ratio scales
Variables have equal intervals between values, the zero
point is meaningful, and the numerical relationships
between numbers is meaningful.
Examples of ratio variables:
Weight (50 kilos, 100 kilos, 150 kilos, etc.)
Pulse rate
Respiratory rate

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