Applied Research Method

1. TOPIC:
PROBLEM DEFINITION AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL

2. TOOBASHAFIQUE
NIMRA SHAIKH
GROUP MEMBERS

3. IMPORTANCE OF STARTING WITH GOOD
PROBLEM
• DEFINITION:
When client fails to understand their situation or insists
on studying an irrelevant problem, the research is very
likely to fail, even if it is done perfectly.

4. A DECISION STATEMENT
• It is a written expression of the key question(s) that a research user
wishes to be answered.
• It is a reason that research is being considered for.
• It must be well stated and relevant.

5. PROBLEM DEFINITION
• A research problem is a question that
a researcher wants to answer or a
problem that a researcher wants to
solve.

6. SYMPTOM DETECTION
ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION
PROBLEM DEFINITION
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES

7. PROBLEM COMPLEXITY

8. SITUATION FREQUENCY
pricing problem in
airline industry.
CYCLICAL
EXAMPLE
AIRLINE
FAIRS

9. DRAMATIC CHANGES
 A dramatic change or event happens suddenly
and is very noticeable and surprising.
 Sudden changes are easier to identify than slow
changes

10. SCATTERED SYMPTOMS
Isolated symptoms point out to single
problem.
It is difficult to identify problem if
symptoms are more scattered.
Car production (Handling Problem)EXAMPLE
Production and Retail outlet
atmosphereEXAMPLE

11. SYMPTOM AMBIGUITY
So Many
Problem Non
Have Clear.
EXAMPLE

12. GAP
It is a gap
between current
condition and
expected
conditions

13. EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM/GAP
• Business performance is worse than expected business
performance (Sales of previous year v/s current year)
•Actual business performance is less than possible business
performance (Opening new business market)
•Expected business performance is greater than possible business
performance (Launching of new product and its failure)

14. 1. Understand the Situation – identify the
key symptoms
2. Identify the Problem From symptoms
3. Write Managerial decision Statement
and Corresponding research objectives
4. Determine the unit of analysis
5. Determine Relevant variables
6. Write research questions and/or
research hypotheses
THE PROBLEM-DEFINITION
PROCESS STEPS

15. 1
UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION –
IDENTIFY THE KEY SYMPTOMS
Interview
Situation
Analysis
Identifying
Symptoms
(Probing
Technique)

16. 2
IDENTIFY THE RELEVANT ISSUES
FROM THE SYMPTOMS
Research must attack
the actual problem
rather the superficial
symptoms Low advertising
budget, low brand
awareness, wrong
brand image, use of
the wrong media
EXAMPLE
Advertising
Effectiveness
Possible Symptoms ….
But which is actual
problem?

17. WRITE MANAGERIAL DECISION STATEMENT AND
CORRESPONDING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
3
Situation Analysis is end
once research have a clear
idea of the managerial
objectives from the
research effort.

19. R.Obj R.Que Hypotheses
Situation Symptom Problem Decision Statement
Decision Statement

20. R.Obj R.Que Hypotheses
Situation Symptom Problem Decision Statement
Decision Statement

21. 4
DETERMINE THE UNIT OF ANALYSIS
This determines that who will be investigated and
collected data
Individual or Household or Organization or Department or
Geographical area or Objects
E.g. Buying a house
Husband and Wife

22. 5
DETERMINE RELEVANT
VARIABLES
Variable
Random Variable
(e.g. Holds random values
between18 to 80 )
Constant
Types of variables
Continuous Variable
Categorical or Classificatory
Dependent Variables
Independent Variables

23. 6
WRITE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
AND/OR RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
At the end of Problem –definition stage both
the Managers and the researcher as a result
expects the clear set of research objectives,
research questions, hypotheses, and
variables of the study.

25. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A research proposal is a document
written by a researcher that provides a
detailed description of the proposed
program.
It is like an outline of the entire
research process that give s a reader a
summary of the information discussed
in a project.