Lecture 2

RESEARCH
METHODOLOG Identifying and

Formulating the Research
Y Problem
Dr. Shabeela Malik

Dept. of Mathematics
NUML Islamabad
1
Introduction
 The first and most important step of a research is
formulation of research problems
 It is like the foundation of a building to be constructed
 If the foundation is shaky the entire project is doomed
to failure
 Novice researchers must be very careful in the initial
stages of a research project
 Professional researchers could easily identify a
research problem because they have been quite
familiar with their field of study
2
 By considering the phenomena which include
 a difficulty or deficiency to be overcome
 a condition to be improved upon
 a gap in knowledge that exists in scholarly
literature that is to be filled
 a theory that requires meaningful understanding
Professional researchers could easily recognize

suitable problem to study.
3
Research Field, Area of Interest, Topic and
Problem
4
Research Field
 Research field refers to the whole areas of research
undertaken in a specific scientific discipline
 Factors to be Considered:
 Professional and personal interest
 Capabilities and the academic captivity of the research

area
5
Professional and Personal Interest
 Professional interest should be made the first priority because one’s
research area should relate to his future career path and must contribute to
the achievement of his career objectives
 Personal interest is also very important because conducting a study requires

one to get himself involved in it for months or sometimes even a full year. If
he works on a subject he is really interested in, he will be motivated to work
consistently with passion and the quality will be awesomely great
6
Capabilities and Academic Captivity
 Capabilities (knowledge and skills) also play a great
role in carrying out a study. Conducting a study on a
new topic in which one does not have good
knowledge requires him to be ready to invest much
more time and energy in it. The best way to finish a
research project in less time with better quality is to
select an area of one’s expertise
 Academic captivity of a research area is also very

important to consider. Producing a research which is
captivating to many people in the field is certainly
very exciting
7
Area of Interest
A research area is a specific part or section of a research
field. A research area covers many topics researchers can
study in the context of a scientific discipline
8
Area of Interest
Answer the following questions suggested by UR Office of
Arizona University (2018) to map your research interest:
1.What subjects covered in my field(s) of study interest me
the most? (do this for each major/minor you have)
2.Which class or classes have been the most interesting,
what specifically made them interesting, and what
questions did I still have after the class finished?
3.What questions or problems am I most interested in
exploring and/or solving?
4.What other topics, areas, or fields am I interested in
outside of my major/minor?
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Area of Interest
5. What research topics relate to that field or sector I want
to end up in and/or what interests me in that field?
6. What (if any) research topics relate to my hobbies,
personal interests, or extracurricular activities?
7. What skills am I interested in developing which aren't
addressed by my major/minor?
10
Research Topic
A research topic is “the broad subject matter addressed in
a study” (Creswell, 2012, p. 60).
To identify and select a topic based on your interested
research area, follow these three steps:
Broaden and deepen your understanding about the
research area
Make a list of possible topics to study based on the
research area
Use the eleven considerations proposed by Reis (1999)
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1. Can it be enthusiastically pursued?
2. Can interest be sustained by it?
3. Is the problem solvable?
4. Is it manageable in size?
5. Will it lead to other research problems?
6. Is it worth doing?
7. What is the potential for making an original contribution to the
field?
8. If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by
scholars in your field?
9. Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it?
10. By solving it, will you have demonstrated independent skills in
your discipline?
11. Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or
promise for the future?
12
Research Problem
 A research problem is the issue being addressed in a study
 The issue can be a difficulty or conflict to be eliminated; a
condition to be improved; a concern to handle; a troubling
question, a theoretical or practical controversy (or a gap)
that exists in scholarly literature
 It helps in narrowing the topic down to something that is
reasonable for conducting a study
13
According to Whitney
‘‘To define a problem means to put a fence around it, to separate it by careful
distinctions from like questions found in related situations of need.’’
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Sources of the Problem
 The classroom, school, home, community and other agencies
of education are obvious sources
 Social Development and technological changes are
constantly bringing forth new problems and opportunities for
research
 Research abstract, research bulletins, research reports,
dissertations and many similar publications are rich sources
of research problems
 Classrooms discussions, seminars and exchange of ideas with
faculty members and fellow scholars will suggest many
stimulating problems to be solved
15
Sources of the Problem
 Questioning Attitude: A questioning attitude towards
prevailing practices and research oriented academic
experience will effectively promote problem awareness
 The most practical source of problem is to consult
supervisor, experts of the field and the most experienced
persons of the field
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RESEARCH

METHODOLOG Identifying and

Dr. Shabeela Malik

Professional researchers could easily recognize

 Professional and personal interest

 Capabilities and the academic captivity of the research

 Personal interest is also very important because conducting a study requires

 Academic captivity of a research area is also very

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