A research problem refers to a difficulty that a researcher experiences and wants to solve in a theoretical or practical situation. For a problem to exist, there must be: 1) an individual or group with the problem, 2) at least two possible courses of action to address the problem with different outcomes, and 3) some uncertainty about which course of action is best. Selecting a research problem requires considering factors like the problem's importance, the researcher's qualifications, available resources, and conducting a preliminary study. Defining the research problem properly involves generally stating it, understanding its nature, reviewing prior work, developing ideas through discussion, and refining it into a clear proposition.