A presentation by Prof. Raj Somadeva @ PGIAR

1. Basic Research Questions
1. What are you going to do?
2. Why are you going to do it?
3. How are you going to do it?
4. When are you going to do it?

2. What are you going to do?
The title and the aim of the research will summarize the answer to this
question. Clarity is essential.
Why are you going to do it?
The answer to this question involves an analysis of the current situation in
the area of intended research and argument to support the reason why
the research is necessary.
How are you going to do it?
Research is a very practical occupation, however much brainwork lies
behind it. A plan of action must be laid out that shows how the problems
will be investigated, what information will be collected using which
methods, and how this information will be analyzed in order to come to
conclusions.
When are you going to do it?
Programming your time is essential as time is so limited and the
possibilities so huge. The practicality of the project can be demonstrated
by a chart showing exactly what will be done when.

3. Study theoretical
background
Review your Investigate Write proposal to Investigate
Gained
subject area to problem area to explain the problem area to
approval to
find problem define a research research project define a research
continue
area problem and its timing problem
Investigate relevant
research methods
Carry out
Finalize research secondary
Carry out primary methods for
Disseminate research. Data research to
primary research refine
results collection and and check ethical research
analysis issues problem

4. How to focus on a research problem?
1. Find an interest in a broad subject area
2. Narrow the interest to a plausible topic
3. Question the topic from several points of view
4. Define a rationale for your project

5. While developing a specific research problem, keep in mind the skill
which you will require to carry out the research posed by the
problem.
Five types of skills you may need are;
1. Research design
2. Instrumental development
3. Data collection
4. Data analysis
5. Research writing

6. Questions used to define sub research problems
1. What are the parts of your topic and what larger whole is it a part of?
2. What is its history and what larger history is it a part of?
3. What kind of categories can you find in it, and to what larger categories of
things does it belong?
4. What good is it? What can you use it for?

7. Models & Concepts
Model – This is a term used to describe the overall framework that we use to
look at reality, based on the philosophical stance.
Concept – The idea derived from particular model are called concept. A
concept is the relationship between the word and an idea.