This document provides guidance on formulating research problems and questions. It discusses identifying a research problem, developing research questions, and selecting a topic. Key points include: - Research starts by addressing a question or problem and requires unbiased data collection and analysis. - Good research questions are clear, specific, answerable, and interconnected to be substantially relevant. - Steps for identifying a research problem include drawing from experience, reviewing literature, and identifying paradoxes or areas for improvement. - Factors to consider when selecting a topic include relevance, current knowledge, emerging areas, and feasibility of conducting the research.

1. RESEARCH PROBLEM
AND
QUESTIONS
FORMULATION
DR. SHIVAJI VISHWAS SHINDE
Department of Accountancy
D.A.V.Velankar College of
Commerce, Solapur.

2. You Cannot Make Everybody
Happy

3. What is Research?
• Starts with a question or problem
• Accepts certain basic assumptions
or theories
• Requires unbiased data collection
and analysis
• Expects critical interpretation
• Needs articulated documentation
and presentation
• Leads to further research

4. Research Focus
 Generating novel but useful ideas.
 Learning to challenge the existing
knowledge.
 Using creative capacity to discover
or invent something new including
theory and interpretation.
 Bringing a new creation to fruition.
 Diversifying as far as possible,
particularly, latter in the career.

5. Research Aims
1. To understand the properties of the
social phenomenon. (voter-behaviour)
2. To understand relationships between
variables. (existence of causal links)
3. To predict the outcome. (use of theory)
4. To replicate research for validation.
(confirm or refute)
5. To develop new algorithms or
instruments. (implementation and testing)
6. To produce a theory. (ultimate goal)

6. Research Process
 It is a systematic linear process with a
few parallel activities along side
 It is transparent
 It is confined to the study of a well
defined problem
 It involves in-depth analysis & validation
 Its outcome is to be interpreted within
the data limits, but critically
 It provides clear verdict on the problem
 It is often cumulative in nature

7. Types of Research
• Extension or generalisation of
the currently available results
• Explanatory (why), finding the reasons
by building theories & hypotheses and
testing them
• Descriptive (what, where, who & how),
leading to prescription
• Benchmarking study
contd….

8. Types of Research
• Predictive
(estimating future values)
• Evaluation study
(effect of TV on reading habits)
• New / Improvement of process
or product or service

9. Impact Assessment Study
• Economic: wages, employment, land
values
• Demographic: sex ratio, age structure
• Fiscal: sales tax, property tax
• Community: demand for services,
housing, transport
• Social: displacement, quality of life

10. Strategy
Hypothesis
Problem
Data Collection, Data Analysis
Design of Experiment
Critical Interpretation
Checking for Validity
Publication
Writing
Ethics Followed at Every Step
Research Methodology Framework

11. Research Steps
Identify the Research Problem
Prepare a Research Plan
Gather the Data
Analyse & Interpret Data
Prepare the Research Report
Select the Research Strategy
Establish Research Questions
S-1
S-2
S-3
S-4
S-5
S-6
S-7
Research Proposal
Preliminary
Research Activities
[continuous
literature search
is expected]
Approval

12. Starting Point
• Curiosity
• Cause Effect relationship study
• To generalise the available results
• Dissatisfied with the existing
product or process
or explanation
• To test an unorthodox idea

13. Locating a Problem
• Paradox and contradiction:
By focusing on such phenomenon
new opportunities can be explored –
treat them as leverage points
(e.g. bumper crop, but starvation
continues)
• Perspective and scale:
Building different perspectives from
different observation points helps
(e.g. managerial competence from feminine
perspective)
• Reengineering option:
Considering this approach to a
situation often provides new

14. Problem Identification
 The problem is the aspect the researcher
- worries about,
- thinks about, and
- wants to find a solution for.
 The purpose is to solve the problem,
i.e. find answers to the question/s.
Examples:
1) Suicides in recent years by the farmers in Maharashtra (why?)
2) Commercialisation of education in India (what are the impacts?)
3) A digital divide prevails in the Indian society (how to bridge it?)
4) Social capital in the urban areas helps the migrants (how?)

15. Ways for Problem Identification
 Drawing on life experience
 Historical incidence
 Item in the news
 Eye-witness
 Local issues
 Country or region specific
 Guide’s research programme
 Cyber inspiration

16. Initiation
Outline the general context of the
problem area
Highlight key theories, concepts and
ideas current in this area
Enlist basic underlying assumptions
of the problem area
Write down the identified important
issues
Focus on what is to be solved or
resolved

17. Idea Development
Literature Search:
 Use different libraries; take notes
(Refer Sociological Abstracts, Dissertation
Abstracts)
 Do the Internet search; scan pertinent
blogs; note the URLs & date of browsing
 Locate major authors and institutions
active in the area (get in touch with them)
Actions-Interactions:
 Crystalise your ideas, frame the
objective and prepare first draft of your
proposal

18. Problem Background
• Are there issues about this problem
to which answers have not been
found up to the present?
• Why are these identified issues so
important?
• What needs to be solved?
• What are the underlying
assumptions?
• How far is it relevant in the Indian
context?

19. Problem Statement
 Grammatically correct
 Complete, unambiguous and well
articulated
 All the technical terms are suitably
defined
 Division in sub-problems for better
management of the study & further
translation into research questions

20. Research Questions
• To be researchable, a research problem
has to be translated into one or more
research questions.
Types of Research Questions:
• What questions require a descriptive
answer (describing the features of a social
phenomenon)
• Why questions ask for the causes or
reasons for the observed features
(seeking to understand the relations between social
processes)
• How questions are concerned with
bringing about change
(suggesting possible interventions and outcomes)

21. Research Question Forms
• A research question is a logical
statement that progresses from what is
known and factual to that which is
unknown and needs validation.
• Two forms of research questions:
- central question
- associated or sub-questions
Ex.:- How can the quality of Indian research be raised?
Which are the governing factors?
What is to be changed in the education system?
What could be the incentives?

22. A Research Question Feature
• Research Questions should be Well
Grounded.
• Well grounded means that they are
searchable questions.
• Well grounded questions are not too
narrow, too broad, nor too challenging.
• In practice it implies inclusion of key
words or terms, one can use to search
information resources (both online & print)
to know more about research done in
that area.

23. Problematic Questions
Too Narrow:
• Does India have a social security system?
• When was Emergency declared in India?
These questions have a “Yes” or “No” answer, or can be
replied by one word answer.
Too Broad:
• What is the history and value of Philosophy?
This question cannot be covered in the scope of single
work.
Too Challenging:
• Why is the Indian college education so lopsided?
This question is too opinionated and is based upon
people’s feeling and would need a very large study.

24. Example of a Research Question
Topic: A Study of Mid-Day Meal Scheme
in the Municipal Schools in Solapur
Research Question: What are the health
and academic benefits of mid-day meal
scheme in primary, and middle school
sections of the Municipal Schools in
Solapur?

25. Sub-questions
• Sub-questions are narrower questions
that answer research questions.
Example:
Research Question: What are the health and academic
benefits of mid-day meal scheme in primary, and middle school
sections of the Municipal Schools in Jalgaon?
Sub-questions:
1. What are the standards for health and academic performance
adopted by the concerned public authorities in Jalgaon?
2. Is there a difference made by the mid-day meal scheme in the
health and academic performance of elementary and middle
school sections of the Municipal schools in Jalgaon?
3. Does mid-day meal supply a certain amount of nutrition value?
4. How does mid-day meal scheme operate and in what way can it
be strengthened and expanded?

26. Types of Research Questions
 Existence [Do senior citizens suffer from general
slowing?]
 Description and Classification [What are the
characteristics of span of attention? Is it constant or variable?]
 Composition [What are the factors that make IQ?]
 Relationship [Is saving directly related to income?]
 Descriptive-Comparative [Are instruction
booklets with text and graphics more effective than those with
text alone?]
 Causality [Does dividing attention degrade performance?]
 Causality-Comparative [Is swimming better than
cycling to build the physical stamina?]

27. Good Questions
• Clear
• Specific
• Answerable
• Interconnected
• Substantially relevant
Sub-questions could be converted in
hypotheses, if justified

28. Research Problem
Social Phenomenon:
Housing shortage is a
chronic problem in
urban India
Research Problem:
What are the nature, causes and consequences
of housing shortage in a given urban area?

29. Research Problem: What are the nature, causes and
consequences of housing shortage in a given urban area?
Research Questions:
What is the extent of housing shortage?
(data on population, family size, housing stock…)
What are the consequences of housing shortage?
(slum proliferation, abnormal rents…)
Why does the shortage exit or what is the root
cause of the shortage?
(shortage of land, high construction cost,…)
How can the shortage be removed?
(promoting LIG house-building schemes, policy of increasing FSI…)

30. Topic Selection
(Academic Research)
Factors to be considered:
• Relevant to the institution and time
• State of the current knowledge
• Emerging research area (future oriented)
• Data expediency can largely be ensured
• Availability of guidance & facilities
• Personal confidence

31. Select Leads
Some triggering event observed or
learnt about
Own experience or the experience
of others
Literature review to notice that a
certain field or types of problems
are not covered
Shortcomings of the existing theories
Fancy for some topic or concept
arising out of the study say, during the
M.A. or M.Phil. stage

32. Select Leads (2)
Research can thus be aimed at
clarifying or substantiating an existing
theory
clarifying contradictory findings
correcting a faulty methodology
correcting the inadequate or unsuitable
use of statistical techniques
reconciling conflicting opinions
solving existing practical problems
Developing better algorithms or methods

33. Variety
• Prepare exhaustive list of factors
associated with a design situation
• Solicit inputs from as many
participants and stakeholders as
possible using different means
[Aim is to build the maximum possible
variety in design to counter the variety
in tune with Ashby’s law of requisite
variety]

34. Checklist
1. Is the problem of interest for both
current and future?
2. Is the research question put in clear,
concise and argument form?
3. How does its study would contribute?
4. Will it lead to new research?
5. Will it be practical to conduct the
research?

35. Checklist (2)
6. Can the research be completed within a
reasonable time say, three years?
7. Is it possible to obtain reliable data?
8. Are you qualified or trained to handle
the problem?
9. Will there be serious ethical issues
involved in the conduct and
presentation of the research?
Answers to most of these questions should be
affirmative to commence the research

36. Researcher’s SWOT Analysis
(with respect to the research topic)
Strengths:
• qualifications
• experience
• reputation
Opportunities:
• novel problem
• new computer tools
• multidisciplinary work
Weaknesses:
• inadequate facilities
• analytical tools
• writing skills
Threats:
• strong competition
• time limit
• Internal hostility

37. SMART(ER) Principle
 Specific: Articulate objective/s
 Measurable: Quantifiable results/output
 Achievable: Realizable in practice
 Relevant: Possible applications in sight
 Timely: Avoid abnormal delay
 Evaluated: Acceptable i.e. flawless
 Recorded: Widely noted and cited
 Aim to submit your Ph. D. Thesis within three years
 Work should result in at least two research papers
in the top class journals in the field – more are welcome!

38. Research Tips
Read and think constantly about your
topic and prepare notes for reference
Write weekly research memo
Stick to your research design
Collaborate with a Statistician
for designing the experiments
Write and present your Thesis Chapters
periodically to your Guide
Discuss your work with different
subject experts
Enjoy the research activity