The document discusses key aspects of developing a research problem including identifying a problem area, formulating a problem statement, and writing research objectives. It provides criteria for selecting a good research problem such as being feasible, interesting, novel, ethical and relevant. Guidelines are presented for writing measurable objectives using action verbs to focus the study and organize data collection. Differentiating between research problems, questions, statements and topics is also covered.

1. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

2. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

3. Any guesses
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

4. CONTENT OUTLINE
IDENTIFICATION
OF PROBLEM
AREA
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
CRITERIA OF A
GOOD
RESEARCH
PROBLEM
WRITING
OBJECTIVES
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

5. INTRODUCTION
Researcher wants
to answer or a
problem that a
researcher wants
to solve.
Selection depends on
researcher's
 knowledge,
 skills,
 interest,
 expertise,
 motivation
 creativity
Every researcher
faces the
predicament of
identifying,
selecting, and
formulating
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

6. DEFINITION
“A problem is an interrogative sentence or
statement that asks what relation exists between two
or more variables. The answer to questions will
provide what is having sought in the research.”
Kerlinger
Problem statement and the research problem are
really quite different.
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

7. What are the components of problem statement in
quantitative studies?
Relevance of study( )
Title of the study( )
Operational definitions of the variables( )
Objectives of the study( )
Delimitations of the study( )
Scope & limitations of the study( )
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

8. Personal
experience
Practical
experience
Critical
appraisal
Previous
research
Existing
theories
Consumer
feedback
Social
issues Brainstorming
Intuition
Folkroles
Exposure
to field
situations
Consultati
on with
experts
Performance
improvement
activities

9. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD
RESEARCH RPOBLEM
F • FEASIBLE
I • INTERESTING
N • NOVEL
E • ETHICAL
R • RELEVANT
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

10. : It fulfills the
following criteria:
New & Unique
In reference to
4)
5)
6)
Benefits-patients, nurses, health care
fraternity
Improves clinical nursing practices
Promotes nursing theory or testing
Practical implications for nursing profession
Time Cost
Equipments
& Supplies
Administrative
support
Peer
support
Availability
of subjects
Researcher’s
competence
Ethical
considerations
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

11. Selection of a research topic
Reviewing the literature and theories
Delimiting the research topic
Evaluating the research problem
Formulating the final statement of
the research problem
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

12. Example of formulating research problem
Topic: Breast feeding
Review the literature related to breast feeding
Delimits the topic of breast feeding: Breast massage technique to
increase quantity of BF
Evaluate the Breast Massage technique for ‘FINER’
Finally, a study to assess effectiveness of Oketani Breast Massage
technique to improve breast milk production among post natal
mothers in selected gyneac wards, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

13. A well formulated research problem
components are
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

14. PICOT Format For Summarizing
Research Question
P • POPULATION
I • INTERVENTION
C • COMPARISON
O • OUTCOME
T • TIME
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

15. Difference between research problem,
research question, problem statement &
research topic
Research problem Research question Problem statement Research topic/title
Pain among cancer
patients
Does music therapy
has an influence on
pain among cancer
patients?
An experimental
study to determine
the effectiveness of
music therapy on
pain among cancer
patients admitted in
a tertiary care
hospital
Effectiveness of
music therapy on
pain among cancer
patients
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

16. variables
Qualities
Properties
characteristics
Person
Things
situations
That
change or
vary
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

17. Types of research variables
Types
Independent
Variables
Dependent
variables
Research
variables
Demographic
variables
Extraneous
variables
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

18. Independent Variable Dependent Variable
It is a stimulus or activity that is manipulated or
varied by the researcher to create the effect on
the dependent variable
It is the outcome or response due to the effect
of the independent variable, which researcher
wants to predict or explain.
Example: A study to evaluate the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Stress among
Nursing Students in a Selected Nursing College.
Independent variable: Progressive Muscle relaxation
Dependent Variable: Stress
Research Variable Demographic variables
Variables are observed or measured in natural
setting as they exist, without manipulating or
imposing the effect of intervention or treatment.
Characteristics and attributes of the study
subjects are considered as
Example: An exploratory study to assess the belief bias regarding climate change among high
school students
Research variable: Belief bias regarding climate change
Demographic variables: Age, gender, education, income etc
Univariate Bivariate Multivariate
Single variable is studied Two variables are studied More than two variables are studied
together.
Extraneous variable: Factors that are not the part of the study but may affect the measurement of
the study variables.

19. A correlation study on eating gutka and oral cancer
among slum dwellers of city, Nellore.
IV DV
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

20. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

21. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

22. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

23. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

24. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

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26. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

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30. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

31. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

32. Essential characteristics of
operational definitions
Characteristics
Stated in
measurable
& observable
Non
ambiguous
language
Stated
positively
Clear &
precise
Valid
Reliability
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

33. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

34. Is a clear, concise,
declarative statement
which provides direction
to investigate the
variables
The results sought by the
researcher at the end of
the research process
What is to be achieved
by the study. It is closely
related to the statement
of the problem.
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

35. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

36. Need of research objectives
Focus
• Narrowing down the study to its essentials
Avoid
• Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly necessary
Organize
• Organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases
Directions
• Will facilitate the development of research methodology
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

37. Types of Research Objectives
General Objectives Specific objectives
Broad goals to be achieved and what the researcher
expects to achieve by the study in general terms
Short term and narrow in focus. General objectives
can be broken into small logically to form specific
objectives.
Are usually in less number Should specify what the researcher will do in the
study, where and for what purpose.
Example
Research Statement: A study to assess effectiveness of Saline Mouth Wash Vs Sodium Bicarbonate
Mouth Wash on Oral Mucositis among patients admitted in hospitals, Nellore
To assess the effectiveness of Saline Mouth Wash
Vs Baking soda Mouth Wash among patients.
•To assess the level of oral mucositis among patients
undergoing radiation therapy
•To evaluate the effectiveness of Normal saline
mouth wash in experiment 1 and sodium
bicarbonate mouth wash in experiment 2.
•To compare the effectiveness between Saline
Mouth Wash Vs Sodium Bicarbonate Mouth
Wash
•To associate the level of oral mucositis among
patients with selected demographic variables.

38. Guidelines of stating objectives
Briefly Concisely
Logical
sequence
clearly
Operational
terms
Realistic
Action
verbs
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

39. List of action verbs used to formulate
research objectives
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

40. Review
Column I Column II
1. Dependent variable a. Variables, population, study setting
2. Variables effect on the measurement of
study but not part of study
b. Variables
3.Component of research problem c. Concise statement to investigate variables
4. Characteristics of values or categories d. Problem stated in declarative statement
5. Research objectives are e. Stated in question form
6. Declarative format f. Researcher’s own experience
7. Interrogative format g. Changes due to action of another variable
8. Source of research problems h. Extraneous variable
Match the following
PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar

41. PRATIMA VUYYURU, M. Sc(N) , MSW,MF in ELNEC, Ph.D Scholar