Problem identification in research methodology

1. Dr. Shishma Kushwaha
Assistant Professor
JEMTEC School of Law
(Affiliated to GGSIPU, New Delhi)

2. Research Problem: An Introduction
 A research problem is a problem that every researcher
should try to solve.
 This is the first step in the research process.
 It should try to explain:
 What
 Why
 How
 Where
 Who

3. Conditions of research problem
 There must be an individual to whom the problem can
be attributed.
 There must be two variables i.e. controlled and
uncontrolled.
 There must be atleast two possible outcomes.

4. SOURCES OR ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM
 Personal Experience
 Review of educational research journals
 Newspaper readings
 Text books, white papers
 Suggestions from previous work

5. Points to remember (Problem-identification)
 Over-researched topics should be avoided
 Controversial subject should be avoided.
 Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided
 The subject selected for research should be familiar
and feasible
 The importance, qualification and training of
researcher and cost should be considered
 Problem should be preceded by preliminary study.

6. Techniques for Problem identification
 Statement of problem in general way
 Understanding the nature of the problem
 Surveying the available literature
 Developing the ideas through discussions
 Rephrasing the research problem

7. Points to be remember
 Technical terms/ words/ phrases should be explained
in clearly.
 Basic assumptions/postulates should be clearly
mentioned.
 Criteria for selection of problem should be mentioned.
 The suitable time-period and data sources should also
be mentioned.
 The scope/limitation of the research problem should
also be clearly defined in the project.