Problem Formulation PPT Specific

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PROBLEM
Formulation

By: Dr Noriza Mohd Jamal
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What is Research?
The researcher asks a question.

The researcher collects data.

The researcher indicates how the data
answered the question.

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Importance of Research

Research adds to our knowledge.

o Addresses gaps in knowledge
o Expands knowledge
o Replicates knowledge
o Adds voices of individuals to knowledge
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Importance of research (contd)
Research helps improve practice.

new ideas.
new insights into approaches.
connect with other researchers.
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Problems with Research Today
Contradictory or vague findings
Questionable data
Unclear statements about the intent of the study
Lack of full disclosure of the data collection procedure
Inarticulate rendering of the research problem

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The Process of Research
Identify the
Research
Problem
Review the
Literature
Specify a
Research
Purpose
Collect Data
Analyze and
Interpret
Data
Report and
Evaluate
Research
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The Process of Research:
Identify the Research Problem
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The Process of Research:
Specify a Research Purpose
Identify the purpose statement

The major intent of the study
The participants in the study
The site of the study
Narrow the purpose statement

Quantitative: Write research questions and/or hypothesis
Qualitative: Identify a central phenomenon and write
subquestions.
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Scientific Research Process
Identification of
problem area
Analysis of
data
Interpretation
of data
Refinement of theory
(pure research)
Or
Implementation
(applied research)
Observation
Theoretical framework or
Network of associations
Hypotheses
Constructs
Concepts
Operational definitions
Research
design
Data
collection
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1. Choice of
research
topic
2a. Problem
presentation
3. Research
design
4. Measurement
5. Data
6. Sample/
respondents
7. Analysis
8. Writing
(completing the
report/thesis)
9. Action
2. Research
problem
Literature Review
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Research topic
Research
problem
From research topic to research problem
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Research topic and
problem
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
and purpose
RESEARCH
STRATEGIES
Basic research
Applied research
What questions
Why questions
How questions
Inductive
Deductive
Explore
Describe
Understand
Predict
Change
Evaluate
Assess impact
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Choose a topic and
search the literature
Review the literature and
define the research
problem/research
questions
Design the research
and write the
proposal
Collect the
research data
Analyse and
interpret the
research data
Write the
dissertation,
thesis or research
report
Overview of the
research process
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Students experience some difficulty in narrowing
down their general interest.
Often referred to as defining the research
problem and leads on to setting the research
question(s).
The classic way is to consider the literature and
identify any gaps, as these indicate original area
to research.
Many academic articles incorporate suggestions
for further research in their conclusions.
The Research Problem
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You will need to focus your ideas, decide the scope
of your research and set parameters. For example,
perhaps your study will investigate a broad
financial issue, but focus on a particular group of
stakeholders, size of business, industry,
geographical area, or period of time.
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A Problem Statement is a description of a difficulty or
lack that needs to be solved or at least researched to see
whether a solution can be found. It can also be described
as either a gap between the real and the desired or a
contradiction between principle and practice.
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The ultimate goal of a problem statement is to
transform a generalized problem (something that
bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-
defined problem one that can be resolved through
focused research and careful decision-making.
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Writing a Problem Statement should help you clearly
identify the purpose of the project you will propose.
Often, the Problem Statement will also serve as the basis
for the introductory section of your final proposal,
directing your readers attention quickly to the issues that
your proposed project will address and providing the
reader with a concise statement of the proposed project
itself.
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A persuasive problem statement consists of three parts: 1) the ideal, 2) the
reality, and 3) the consequences.
Part A the ideal: Describes a desired goal or
ideal situation; explains how things should be.
Part B the reality: Describes a condition that prevents the
goal, state, or value in Part A from being achieved or realized
at this time; explains how the current situation falls short of the
goal or ideal.
Part C the consequences: Identifies the way
you propose to improve the current situation
and move it closer to the goal or ideal.
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Part A
According to the XY university mission statement, the
university seeks to provide students with a safe,
healthy learning environment. Dormitories are one
important aspect of that learning environment, since
55% of XY students live in campus dorms and most of
these students spend a significant amount of time
working in their dorm rooms.
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Part B
Students living in dorms A B C, and D currently do
not have air conditioning units, and during the hot
seasons, it is common for room temperatures to
exceed 80 degrees F. Many students report that they
are unable to do homework in their dorm rooms.
Others report problems sleeping because of the
humidity and temperature. The rooms are not only
unhealthy, but they inhibit student productivity and
academic achievement.
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Part C

In response to this problem, the study proposes to
investigate several options for making the dorms
more hospitable. The study plans to carry out an all
inclusive participatory investigation into options for
purchasing air conditioners (university-funded;
student-subsidized) and different types of air
conditioning systems. The research will also consider
less expensive ways to mitigate some or all of the
problems noted above (such as creating climate-
controlled dorm lounges and equipping them with
better study areas and computing space).
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Step 1 (Statement 1)
The government of Malaysia has a goal to
industrialize by the year 2030 (quote). In this regard it
has encouraged growth oriented micro and small
enterprises (MSEs) that should graduate into medium
and large enterprises capable of contributing to the
industrialization goal. There are several sessional
papers (quote/cite) that contain specific measures to
encourage and support MSEs.
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Step 2 and 3 (Statement 2)
Despite the said government efforts there is slow
growth of micro into small enterprises and even
slower growth of small into medium scale enterprises
(quote, show statistics). The government has officially
acknowledged that there exists a missing middle in
Malaysia meaning that there is a gap between small
and large enterprises in the country (cite, quote).
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Statement 3

Should the missing middle gap persist then
the industrialization goal may be difficult to
achieve. Need therefore arises to investigate
why despite government efforts there is a
persistent missing middle
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Statement 1
In order to accomplish their missions public
universities need motivated workforces.
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Statement 2
There are however frequent and severe
disciplinary actions, absenteeism as well
as various forms of unrests in public
universities which affect the
accomplishment of the set missions. Our
preliminary investigation reveals to both
non-management and management staff
are not adequately motivated.
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Statement 3
Without effective motivational packages
and procedures the said vices are likely to
continue and retard the achievement of the
universities missions.
Need arises to examine the public
universities motivation systems and
procedures hence this proposed research.
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Statement 1
The Ministry of Youth is dedicated to allocating
enterprise development funds to both the youth and
women. These funds are made available in order to
start entrepreneurial ventures that create and expand
employment. (provide relevant statistics and quote)
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Statement 2
One of the main focuses of the ministry is consistency.
Unfortunately, consistency is allocating in allocating
funds to the next generation of recipients requires prior
knowledge of previous allocations and established
practices. The current continuous disbursement method
does not allow for adequate analysis of previous
disbursements before a current disbursement is done.
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Statement 3
Continuing with this current disbursement method
prevents consistency and causes decisions to become
grossly political, which in turn inhibits the achievement
of the goals of the funds. Developing a more informed
disbursement system could help better implement the
consistency focus of the ministry better monitor and
evaluate its funds.
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Statement 4

This proposed research aspires to explore options for
a new funds disbursement system that would focus
on consistency. To do this, the researcher will carry
out a full stakeholder analysis and use it to propose
appropriate policy interventions.
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A Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study
2. The population being studied
3. The testability of the question

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Variables in Research
Independent
variable:
has a presumed
effect on the
dependent variable
(outcome)
May or may not be
manipulated
Dependent
variable:
Something that
varies with a
change in the
independent
variable
Outcome variable
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Examples of Good Research Problems
(in the form of questions)
Does client-centered therapy produce more satisfaction in clients than
traditional therapy? (experimental design)

Does behavior modification reduce aggression in autistic children?
(single-subject experimental design)

Are the descriptions of people in social studies discussions biased?
(grounded theory design)

What goes on in an elementary school classroom during an average
week? (ethnographic design)

Do teachers behave differently toward students of different genders?
(causal-comparative design)

How do parents feel about the school counseling program? (survey
design)

How can a principal improve faculty morale? (interview design)
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Your Research Problem
What is your area of interest?

Where could you look for help in deciding upon a
specific research problem?

What criteria will you apply when deciding upon a
specific research problem?

How could you narrow down your research problem?

How might your value-judgments (preconceived ideas)
affect your research endeavors?
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What is a Research Question?
~ is a statement that identifies the
phenomenon to be studied

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REASONS WHY RESEARCH QUESTIONS
ARE CRUCIAL
GUIDE YOUR LITERATURE SEARCH
GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS ABOUT THE KIND OF
RESEARCH DESIGN TO EMPLOY
GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS ABOUE WHAT DATA
TO COLLECT AND FROM WHOM
GUIDE ANALYSIS OF YOUR DATA
GUIDE WRITING-UP OF YOUR DATA
STOP YOU FROM GOING OFF IN
UNNECESSARY DIRECTIONS

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Steps in Formulating the Research
Questions
Ask these questions
Do I known the field and its literature well?
What are the important research questions in my field?
What areas need further exploration?
Could my study fill a gap? Or lead to greater understanding?
Has a great deal of research already been conducted 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?
Will the study have a significant impact on the field?

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Research Questions and
Hypotheses
A process of asking a question, or a series
of related questions, and then initiating a
systematic procedure to obtain valid
answers to that question.
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Formulating Research Question /
Hypotheses
A well-thought-out and focused research question
leads directly to your hypotheses.
Hypotheses are more specific predictions about the
nature and direction of the relationship between two
variables.
Hypotheses,
Gives insight into a research question
Are testable and measurable by the proposed
experiments
Each hypothesis is matched with a specific aim and
has rationale.

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Directional vs. Non-Directional Hypotheses
Directional hypothesis
Specifies the direction of the relationship
between independent and dependent
variables
Non-directional hypothesis
Shows the existence of a relationship
between variables but no direction is specified

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Research Objectives
The research objectives pursued in order
to answer the research questions.

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Scope of Research
Masters vs PhD
Amount of research work
Standard of writing
Level of independency
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Expected Outcome of Research
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
State clearly why this research is important, what the
benefits will be and how your work will contribute to
knowledge in your field. This may include commercial
benefits, changes in current practice, a new perspective on
an old issue or other benefits to the community. You need
to
indicate why it is significant and how it advances
understanding of the issues under discussion.

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Summary Points
Preliminary steps in the
research process include
forming a research
problem, questions and
hypotheses
A hypothesis attempts to
answer the question
posed by the research
question
Research questions
illustrate a relationship
between variables,
identify independent and
dependent variables,
include a population, and
imply that a problem is
testable

Problem Formulation PPT Specific

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