Research problem:
A research problem is a specific issue,
difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge that you will aim to
address in your research. You might look for practical problems
aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problems aimed at
expanding knowledge.
Bear in mind that some research will do
both of these things, but usually the research problem focuses on
one or the other. The type of research problem you choose depends
on your broad topic of interest and the type of research you want to do.
A research problem is defined as an
area of concern that requires a meaningful understanding of a
specific topic, a condition, a contradiction, or a difficulty. So
what is research problem? A research problem means finding answers
to questions or strengthening existing findings to bridge the
knowledge gap to solve problems.
What is the purpose of a Research problem
statement?
A problem statement in
research seeks to achieve the following:
1. Introduce the
importance of the topic in the research proposal.
2. Position the problem
in an appropriate context.
3. Provide a framework
to analyze and report results
Basic
characteristics in corporate organizations
perspective:
- Covers the essential needs or
issues: The
researcher must have a specific problem statement in research.
Unless you don’t address the crucial issues, the research will not
carry much weightage.
- The problem is stated logically and
clearly: If
you can’t state the problem logically or clearly in the research
proposal, the problem likely is a weak one or probably a
non-problem. To test this, consolidate the specific problem into a
paragraph and ensure it makes sense and covers all the crucial
points.
- The research is based on actual facts
and evidence (non-hypothetical): There is a difference between beliefs
and facts. Keep fiction out of this. Research must be based on
actual facts and not beliefs. Hypothetical events will not do the
research any good.
- The research problem generates and
encourages research questions: The research must create multiple
questions. These questions should be more specific to the research
that highlights different components or aspects of the
problem.
- It fits the budget and time
frame: Ensure that the research activity is
doable within the budget and time frame. Consider the logistical
factors to ensure successful research.
- Sufficient data can be
obtained: Research is based on facts and findings
and there must be multiple cases or findings to prove the research.
A research that is based on limited data will do no good to test a
theory or satisfy it. If data is unavailable to do research, it
does not make sense to go ahead with the
research.
- The problem has an unsatisfactory
answer or is a new problem: Ensure that there exists very little or
no research on the topic. If the problem already has an existing
answer to the problem, and this answer is tried and tested, it’s
probably best to move on and not waste time finding what has
already been found extensively.