The document discusses the significance of formulating a research problem, various sources and considerations for selecting a problem, and steps involved in the formulation process. Key aspects include the relevance, feasibility, and ethical implications of the research problem, which lays the foundation for the research study. It also outlines the objectives, emphasizing the importance of clear and specific goals to guide research design and methodology.

1. GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
TATVA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES
“ Formulating the Research Problem ”
Research Skills (2710001)
Guided By: Presented By:
Dr. H. R. Varia Bhavya S. Patel (170900713008)
Prof. J. K. Bihola
Department of Civil Engineering
M.E. Transportation Engineering Semester 1
December 2017

2. Topic Learning Outcomes
• Importance of formulating a research problem
• Sources of research problems
• Considerations in selecting a research problem
• Steps in formulating a research problem
• How to formulate research objectives ?
• Operational definitions

5.  Any question that you want answered and any
assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or
investigate.
 However,
◦ not all questions can be transformed into research
problems.
◦ the process of formulating them in a meaningful way is not
at all an easy task.
◦ it requires considerable knowledge of both the subject area
and research methodology.

6.  A research problem is a perceived gap between
what is and what should be.
 Research problem arise from;
◦ Evolution of theories.
◦ Peers and supervisors etc.
◦ Published research (literature review).
◦ Day-to-day experience

8. RESEARCH PROBLEM IS THE
FOUNDATION OF THE RESEARCH
STUDY

9. Clear research problem would result
in clear and economical research
plan.

10. The way we formulate the research problem
determines every step that
follows;
• type of study design that can be used
• type of sampling strategy that can be employed
• research instrument that can be used or developed
• type of analysis that can be undertaken

12. Sources of research problem

13. Aspects of research problem

14.  Interest
 Magnitude
 Concept measures
 Expertise
 Relevance
 Data availability
 Ethics

15.  Relevance
o How important?
o Size, Severity, health & Social consequences?
 Duplication
o Is the answer already available from other studies?
 Feasibility
o Feasible to carry out remedial actions?
o Are the manpower, time and resources available?
 Applicability
o Potential solution is effective under ideal conditions?

16.  Cost effectiveness
o Are the resources invested worth the outcome?
o Will the solution be too expensive to implement?
 Timeliness
o Will the answer come quick enough?
 Ethics
o Will the project be acceptable to the respondents?
 Political acceptability
o Will the managers and community accept the results?

17. Steps in formulating research problem
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3
Identify broad
field
Dissect to sub-
areas
Select interested
sub-area
STEP 5
STEP 6 STEP 4
Formulate
objectives
Assess objective Raise questions
STEP 7
Double check

18.  What is an ‘objective’?
◦ Aclear and specific goals you set out to attain in your study.
 Two types of objectives;
◦ Main objectives
 Overall statement of the thrust of your study.
 It is also a statement of the main associations and relationships that you seek
to discover or establish.
◦ Sub objectives
 The specific aspects of the topic that you want to investigate within the main
framework of your study.
 One sub-objective contains one aspect only

19.  Sub-objectives should be numerically listed.
 Worded clearly and unambiguously.
 Use action-oriented words or verbs when writing your
objectives.
 E.g. start with;
◦ ‘to determine’, ‘to find out’, ‘to ascertain’, ‘to measure’,
‘to explore’
 the wording of your objectives determines the type of
research design you need to adopt to achieve them.

20.  Focus the study (narrowing it down to
essentials).
 Avoid the collection of data which are
not strictly necessary for understanding and
solving the problem you have identified.
 Organize the study in clearly defined parts or
phases.

22.  Working definitions or operational definitions are pre-
defined concepts that you plan to use either in your
research problem and/or in identifying the study population
in a measurable form.
 Used only for the purpose of your study and could be
quite different to legal definitions, or those used by others.
 Working definitions will inform your readers what exactly
you mean by the concepts that you have used in your study
to avoid ambiguity and confusion.