How to find a research gap in particular research area?

1. PROBLEM FORMULATION
GENG702: RESEARCH METHODS
Presented by
Mohammed Hamza Nazir
Imtisal Zahid
Mirza Belal Beg

2. ■ Defining and scoping out the research
problem is one of the most important
task
■ Few questions must be asked to yourself
before formulating the research
problem.
– What is the specific goal of your problem?
– Why you want to pursue that goal?
– How do you intend to do it?
– Where does it fits into your overall research
goal?

3. Steps in Formulating a Research
problem
identify the main subject area and divide into sub areas
Select sub areas of most interest
Raise research questions
Formulate objectives
Assess objectives and double check

4. 10-80-10 vs 40-40-20 Rule
■ Problem Formulation - Solution Efforts - Dissemination
■ Efforts on Problem Formuations Guides to solutions.
■ More Efforts on Problem formulations opens avenue for other
innovations.
■ Dissermination(writing and presnting) your research is very
important; Otherwise, It won’t quality as your contributions.

5. Critical Suggestions
■ Methods are tools
– Use them, don’t let them use you.
■ Think on your clean slate
– To think outside of the box, you need to step outside the box also.
■ Questions yourself
– About why are you doing? what are you doing?

6. Questions
■ Problem statement should clearly identify the research variables in measuresable
terms?
■ Problem have to flow from prior scientific information/experience in the topic area?
■ You cannot modify your problem statement later?