Steps in The Formulation of The Research Problem

Steps in the Formulation of the Research
Problem
The research problem or the research
questions should be formulated in a
sequential manner. This will reduce the
chances of ambiguities to a minimum. There is
no hard and fast rule for formulating the
research problem. One can adopt a logical
manner to reach the desired research
problem, objectives and research questions.
Distinguish the subject area of interest:
• The first step in the formulation of the research problem is to
decide on a broad subject area on which you have thorough
knowledge. Your knowledge in that particular subject area will
enable you to decide about the research problem. It will also
help you to carry out the overall research. The subject area can
be selected with the help of your adviser if you are a student.
When you are doing an independent research you can consult
some senior researchers in your particular field. Distinguishing
or selecting the subject area is the first step in the research
problem formulation.
Example:
• For example you have to select the research
problem for your university thesis. You should
first consider your major and the subject areas
that you are studying in your university. You
can select one subject area among all of them
and that will be of your interest. Your major is
a Nutrition and you want to select childhood
nutrition as the particular subject area for
your thesis.
Dissect the subject area into sub-areas:
• The subject area of your interest will be broad

and you need to dissect it into small areas. In
this way you will be able to select one of your
interest and convenience. You can get help of
an experienced person in this regard.
Example:
• Childhood nutrition is still a broad subject area and you need

to dissect it more. You can dissect it into childhood
development series, malnutrition in children, child
immunization, childhood diseases, childhood mortality and
childhood vaccines. There can be many other categories and
you can select a category or sub area among all of them. The
research problem will revolve around that subject area. For
example you have selected malnutrition in children as your
sub-area of the research problem. This process will help you in
becoming more directional. It will lead you to the formulation
of the research problem.
Decide about an area:
• Select an area among all the sub-areas, one

that interests you most. This will help you in
creating the research problems among which
you have to choose one. During all these steps
you need to constantly look at the possibilities
of further narrowing down the subject area in
order to become more specific.
Example:
• You have already selected childhood
malnutrition as your sub-area to formulate the
research problem.
Generate research questions:
• Generate as many research questions as possible,
from these questions you have to choose those
questions that you want to answer through your
research. You should take as much time as possible
to generate many questions so that you have plenty
of choices. Research questions should be such that
can be answered using scientific techniques and
research procedures. Suppose does God exists is a
question that you want to be answered but this
question cannot be answered using current scientific
techniques therefore such questions should be
avoided.
Decide about the objectives:
• Objectives are the possible answers to the
research question or the research problem
that you have formulated. They should be
formulated in a clear manner. Objectives make
you specific, as you conduct your study
around the objectives that you have decided.
The objectives need to be specific in nature
but you can also generate general objectives.
General objectives and specific objectives
both will have their own importance in the
research.
• In the last step you need to analyze your
research questions and objectives again so as
to minimize any confusion. Take as much time
as you have to create the research problem
and objectives, you should become fully
satisfied before starting your research. You can
get assistance from someone who has
experience in conducting research. You can
also get help from a statistician to know
whether the research problem and hypothesis
is one that can be statistically analyzed or not.

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Steps in the Formulation of the Research

• The subject area of your interest will be broad

• Childhood nutrition is still a broad subject area and you need

• Select an area among all the sub-areas, one

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