According to Tuckman (1972) some characteristics of a problem in research are outlined as follows: -
From these you must note that every research topic must have two more variables that can be
measured or manipulated or controlled. The research problem must ask for the relationships between the variables contained in it. E.g. what is the relationship between the socio-economic status of parents and the intelligent quotient of their children? A problem must be researchable i.e. testable through empirical methods of field or laboratory observation and collection of data. You should try as much as you can to avoid value prepositions, ideals and moral judgments that are expressed by words like good, bad, best, desirable, reliable etc when writing research problems. It is very difficult to realistically collect data on human judgment and its moral imperatives which by all standards are highly subjective.
Remember that your research problem should be an empirically testable proposition stated in a
question form containing two or more measurable or manipulative variables whose relationships are sort for in the problem statement itself. As a researcher, you are required to state your research problems in accordance with some principles. These principles listed by Egon Guba (1973) are as follows: -
and hospitality industries, etc, lend themselves to investigations. You can see that today we are having technological changes and developments. These are constantly bringing forth new problems and new opportunities for research.
The whole area of computer education and literacy provide avenue for a good number of research topics through the internet and websites. You can also get topics through international abstracts typed for computer processed.
Classroom lectures, class discussions, seminar reports and out of class exchanges of ideas with
fellow students and lecturers can suggest many stimulating problems for solution. When you read assignments, journal articles, textbooks, research report, term paper, etc can also suggest additional area of needed research.
Some research topics can be selected on the basis of their use in verifying and testing a particular theory. You know that every research has some implications for existing theory. Therefore some research topics are selected specially for the purpose of testing some aspects of a given theory. In your exploration in an area, you may come across additional problems that need resolving. Most of these problems are often theoretically framed.
Another fruitful source of research problem is prior research. All research projects have limitations, new questions may be raised by the findings, research reports have discussions of weakness and limitations of the research, including suggestions for further research, so focusing on these unanswered questions or expending on previous research is a good way to find research problems. Again, if you have any reason to doubt or question the results of an original study or you wish to replicate another research study, it gives you the opportunity of having a research problem.
In his own contribution, Okpala (1995) insists that in selecting a topic, all effort should be
made to ensure that it:
- It should ask about a relationship between two or more variables
- It should be stated clearly and unambiguously, usually in question form
- It should be possible to collect data on it so as to answer the question(s) asked.
- It should not represent a moral or ethnic position indicating bias or feeling of preference.
From these you must note that every research topic must have two more variables that can be
measured or manipulated or controlled. The research problem must ask for the relationships between the variables contained in it. E.g. what is the relationship between the socio-economic status of parents and the intelligent quotient of their children? A problem must be researchable i.e. testable through empirical methods of field or laboratory observation and collection of data. You should try as much as you can to avoid value prepositions, ideals and moral judgments that are expressed by words like good, bad, best, desirable, reliable etc when writing research problems. It is very difficult to realistically collect data on human judgment and its moral imperatives which by all standards are highly subjective.
Remember that your research problem should be an empirically testable proposition stated in a
question form containing two or more measurable or manipulative variables whose relationships are sort for in the problem statement itself. As a researcher, you are required to state your research problems in accordance with some principles. These principles listed by Egon Guba (1973) are as follows: -
- State the problem in terms intelligible to someone who is generally sophisticated but who is relatively uninformed in the are of the problem
- Define and delimit the specific area of the research.
- Fore-shadow the hypothesis to be tested or the questions to be raised in the problem statement.
SOME SOURCES OF SUITABLE RESEARCH PROBLEMS
Most of the problems confronted in the school system, the community, banking industry, hoteland hospitality industries, etc, lend themselves to investigations. You can see that today we are having technological changes and developments. These are constantly bringing forth new problems and new opportunities for research.
The whole area of computer education and literacy provide avenue for a good number of research topics through the internet and websites. You can also get topics through international abstracts typed for computer processed.
Classroom lectures, class discussions, seminar reports and out of class exchanges of ideas with
fellow students and lecturers can suggest many stimulating problems for solution. When you read assignments, journal articles, textbooks, research report, term paper, etc can also suggest additional area of needed research.
Some research topics can be selected on the basis of their use in verifying and testing a particular theory. You know that every research has some implications for existing theory. Therefore some research topics are selected specially for the purpose of testing some aspects of a given theory. In your exploration in an area, you may come across additional problems that need resolving. Most of these problems are often theoretically framed.
Another fruitful source of research problem is prior research. All research projects have limitations, new questions may be raised by the findings, research reports have discussions of weakness and limitations of the research, including suggestions for further research, so focusing on these unanswered questions or expending on previous research is a good way to find research problems. Again, if you have any reason to doubt or question the results of an original study or you wish to replicate another research study, it gives you the opportunity of having a research problem.
This is possible because of numerous opportunities for errors or biases to influence research results.
Programme evaluation and practice effectiveness evaluation can form important activities for
research purposes. Other sources of problem selection include political issues. Some of these may attract financial sponsorship from external interests like the government or its agencies, non-governmental organizations, private research organizations etc.
Consultation with your supervisor or advisor may be helpful in providing research problems for your study. A very important function of your supervisor is to help you clarify your thinking, achieve a sense of focus and develop a manageable problem from one that may be vague, complex or not researchable.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE I
Enumerate 5 sources of research problems.
process. This statement of fact is not in anyway intended to discourage you. However, we are going to discuss some appropriate guidance to make it easier for you. According to Best and Khan (1995) one of the most difficult phases of the graduate research project is the choice of a suitable problem. This is because most students often select problems that are too broad in scope. Of course, they do this because they lack the understanding of the nature of research and systematic problem-solving ability. Sometimes, they are so enthusiastic to solve an important problem quickly. But you have to understand that research is often very tasking, slow and rarely spectacular.
Because it is the search for truth and solution to very important problems, it takes a great deal of
time and energy. It takes intensive application of logical thinking. You should therefore follow
some guiding principles to aid you in your problem identification and selection in research
encounters. The most important and controlling point of view in selecting a research problem for
your study should be that the problem should contribute to the overcoming of obstacles in your
area of study. According to Good et al (1945) you should painstakingly select your problem of
study upon these considerations: -
Programme evaluation and practice effectiveness evaluation can form important activities for
research purposes. Other sources of problem selection include political issues. Some of these may attract financial sponsorship from external interests like the government or its agencies, non-governmental organizations, private research organizations etc.
Consultation with your supervisor or advisor may be helpful in providing research problems for your study. A very important function of your supervisor is to help you clarify your thinking, achieve a sense of focus and develop a manageable problem from one that may be vague, complex or not researchable.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE I
Enumerate 5 sources of research problems.
SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM
Selecting a research problem is one of the most difficult tasks you have to face in the researchprocess. This statement of fact is not in anyway intended to discourage you. However, we are going to discuss some appropriate guidance to make it easier for you. According to Best and Khan (1995) one of the most difficult phases of the graduate research project is the choice of a suitable problem. This is because most students often select problems that are too broad in scope. Of course, they do this because they lack the understanding of the nature of research and systematic problem-solving ability. Sometimes, they are so enthusiastic to solve an important problem quickly. But you have to understand that research is often very tasking, slow and rarely spectacular.
Because it is the search for truth and solution to very important problems, it takes a great deal of
time and energy. It takes intensive application of logical thinking. You should therefore follow
some guiding principles to aid you in your problem identification and selection in research
encounters. The most important and controlling point of view in selecting a research problem for
your study should be that the problem should contribute to the overcoming of obstacles in your
area of study. According to Good et al (1945) you should painstakingly select your problem of
study upon these considerations: -
- Novelty (newness) of the problem.
- Your interest in the problem
- Practical value of the research on the problem to you and others in the society.
- Your special qualification to handle the problem
- Availability of data on the problem
- The cost of doing the investigation on the problem.
- The time required and available for the completion of the study.
In his own contribution, Okpala (1995) insists that in selecting a topic, all effort should be
made to ensure that it:
- Falls within the discipline (i.e. in time and space)
- Is not a duplication of an existing work?
- Conveys some reasonable information on the nature of the research problem, the
- variables and how they are matched. It is not too lengthy
- It is not vague
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