The document discusses research problems, including defining a research problem, identifying sources of research problems, criteria for a good research problem, and the steps involved in formulating a research problem. Specifically, it states that a research problem is a question to be answered or problem to be solved through research. It also notes that selecting a good research problem is challenging but important, as it forms the foundation of the research study. Finally, it outlines the 5-step process for formulating a research problem: 1) selecting a research area, 2) reviewing literature and theories, 3) delimiting the topic, 4) evaluating the problem, and 5) formulating the final problem statement.

1. RESEARCH PROBLEM

2. INTRODUCTION
A research problem is a question that a researcher wants to
answer or a problem that a researcher wants to solve.
Identification and formulation of a research problem is the
first step of the research process. However, it is considered
as one of the most challenging and difficult phase of any
research project. It is believed that selection of a good
research problem is a discovery in itself.
Questions are the heart of research. The research problem
serves as the foundation of a research study. If it is well
formulated, one can expect a good study to follow.

3. Selection of a research problem depends on several factors
such as researcher’s knowledge , skills, interest, expertise,
motivation, and creativity with respect to the subject of
inquiry. In addition, a researcher needs to ensure that a
selected problem has high significance and implication for
his or her profession as well as it should be a suitable,
feasible, testable and solvable research problem.
It is believed that most of the good research studies need lots
of time for selection of a research problem.

4. DEFINITION
A research problem is an enigmatic, perplexing or troubling
condition. The primary purpose of research is to solve the
problem or to contribute to its solution by accumulating
relevant information.
A problem statement is a clear, concise description of the
issues that need to be addressed by the researcher and
should be presented or created by the researcher, before
he/she tries to solve the problem.
Research questions are the specific queries researcher wants
to answer in addressing the research problem.

5. SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. Experience
The nurses everyday experience provides a rich supply of
problems for investigations.
2. Nursing Literature
Ideas from studying books and articles related to the subject of
interest may trigger pertinent questions in our mind.
3. Social Issues
Global social issues of relevance to the health care community
suggest the problem area, e.g., domestic violence, gender
inequity
4. Political Climate
The political climate which places emphasis on cost
containment and improving the standards of health has
provided many avenues for research.

6. 5. Theories
Verification of an untested nursing theory provides a relatively
uncharted territory from which research problems can be derived.
6. Ideas from external sources
Researchers, administrators, nurses, nursing faculties or field visits will
help a researcher to identify meaningful problems for research.
7. Intuition
Sometimes new ideas may strike to one’s mind like a flash. Reflective
mind is a spring of knowledge.
8. Research
Research on one problem may suggest problems for further research.

7. 9. Brainstorming
Intensified discussion with a group of interested persons may
often been a means of identifying pertinent questions and of
developing new ideas about a problem.
10. Practical needs
Clinical practice provides a wealth of experience from which
research problems can be derived.

8. 11. Empirical interest
Sudden awareness or insight of something that has not been
noticed or noticing things in a different way is another
source of research.
12. Popular conceptions.
While taking care of health, certain traditional practices have
been practiced according to their cultural belief or certain
old practices of the new world. Numerous beliefs guide
nursing practice, and they need to be examined through
research.

9. Criteria Of A Good Research Problem
1. Significance to nursing profession: A problem which a researcher
is selecting should have significance to nursing profession or it will
not serve any purpose.
2. Original: It is fundamentally considered that every research
problem should be new and unique in itself.
3. Feasible: It is an essential consideration of any research project.
Regardless of how significant or researchable a problem may be,
the feasibility of research problem in reference to time, availability
of subjects, facilities, equipment and money, and ethical
considerations should be checked. It will help the researcher to
decide whether selected problem is appropriate or inappropriate ad
study can be actually carried out or not.

10. 4. Time: A nurse might be interested in studying sibling relationships
among quintuplets.
5. Cost: All research projects cost money. The researcher must consider
realistically the financial resources available.
6. Equipment and supplies: All research projects require some type of
resources. Therefore, before making the final decision to conduct a
study, an accurate determination of the needed equipment and
supplies should be ensured.
7. Administrative support: Many research projects require
administrative support. The nurse researcher may find it very difficult
to conduct research independently. Financial as well as psychological
support from administration is very helpful.

11. 8. Peer support: Many research ideas have never been
developed because

12. • The problem should be stated clearly and unambiguously either
in a declarative or interrogative form.
• The problem should express the relationship between two or
more variables.
• Controversial subject should not become the choice of an
average researcher.
• The problem should be interesting for the researcher himself.
His interest should be purely intellectual and should not be only
for a reward or material benefit.
• Every research activity needs the patronage of a guide and the
approval and sanction of competent authority. There should be
possibility of guidance from experts.

13. Steps in the formulation of A research problem
Selection of a research
topic
Reviewing the literature
and theories
Delimiting the research
topic
Evaluating the research
problem
Formulating final statement
of research problem

14. 1. SELECTION OFA RESEARCH AREA
It begins with selection of a broad research topic from
personal experience, literature, previous research and
theories in which researcher is interested and has
significance for nursing profession. For example, a
researcher gets an idea to conduct a study on the
female feticide. Therefore, he or she initially begins
with such broad research topic.

15. 2. Reviewing literature and theories
After getting a broad idea for research, he or she needs
to review the nursing literature and theories. Literature
is reviewed to know what has already been done in
this selected area of research. Therefore, a researcher
can plan a research topic to further expand the existing
body of knowledge area in respective area of research.

16. 3. Delimiting the research topic
In this step, researcher proceeds from a general research area
of interest to more specific topic of research to conduct a
study. For example, initially a researcher decides to conduct a
study on female feticide, later in this stage researcher limits it
to specific research topic ‘ a study on perception of women
about causes and prevention of female feticide in selected
rural communities of district Shimoga, Karnataka. In this
stage, a researcher clearly identifies variables, population, and
setting of research study. Furthermore, at this stage, a

17. 4. Evaluating the research problem
Once researcher is clear about the specific research
problem, next the research problem must be carefully
evaluated for its significance, researchibility and
feasibility. Feasibility of the research problem should
be evaluated for time, cost, availability of subjects and
resources, administrative and peer support, ethical
consideration and researchers competence and interest.

18. 5. Formulating final statement of research problem
After establishing the significance, reserachibility and
feasibility, then researcher finally formulates a final
statement of a research problem.
A statement of research problem could be in declarative or
interrogative format.
1. DECLARATIVE FORMAT:
A descriptive study on prevalence of bedsores among
unconscious patients admitted in intensive care units of
PGIMER, Chandigarh.
An exploratory study on contributing factors of maternal
mortality in selected rural communities of district
Ludhiana, Punjab.

19. 2. INTERROGATIVE FORMAT:
What is the influence of the level of haemoglobin on pin site
infection among patients with external skeletal fixators
admitted in orthopaedic wards of AIIMS, New Delhi?

20. FORMATS OF FORMATTING PROBLEM
It can be formatted in three ways as:
1. Declarative statement
2. Interrogative statement
3. Hypothetical statement

21. 1. DECLARATIVE STATEMENT
It includes information about what the researcher
intends to do (describe) the settings of the study and
the subject of the study, e.g., A study to describe the
effect of guided imagery on reducing pain for
postoperative clients in the hospital setting.

22. 2. INTERROGATIVE STATEMENT
It is written as a question. So the purpose of the study
is to answer the questions. E.g., What is the
relationship between the dependency level of CABG
clients and their rate of recovery?

23. 3. HYPOTHETICAL STATEMENT
It is stated in a testable form and that predicts a particular
relationship between 2 and more variables, e.g., Primi woman
who receive individualized instruction on breastfeeding will
have significantly more successful breastfeeding experience in
their home setting, than woman who receive structured group
instruction on breastfeeding.