This document discusses key aspects of defining a research problem, including: 1. A research problem is an issue, controversy, or concern that guides the need for a study, and represents a gap between expectations and reality. 2. Potential sources of research problems include personal experience, theory, previous research, and scientific discussions. 3. A good research problem is significant, interesting to the researcher, feasible to study, and researchable using available methods and data. The problem should also be clearly identified and limited in scope. 4. Research problems are typically stated as questions and form the basis for hypotheses, research design, and the overall study title. The problem statement should be clear, concise and imply

1. Group 2
Research Problems

2. Definition of research problem
• Research problem is the educational issue
controversy, or concern that guide the need for
conducting a study. (John W.Creswell)
• Research problem is exactly that a problem that
someone would like to research. (Jack r. frankael
& Norman E. Wallen)
• “research problem is the condition in which
there is a gap between the expectation and the
fact happened in the field. A research also
means the topic you would like to address,
investigate, or study, whether descriptively or
experimentally” (Sukardi)

3. Sources of research problems
• Personal experience and interest
• Theory
• Previous/Current researches
• Scientific discussion or workshop

4. Characteristics of research
problem
• Significant
it is worth investigating because it will contribute
important knowledge
• Interest
suitable with researchers’ interest and filed of study
• Feasible and researchable
Feasible: the data and method should be available.
The equipment and the condition should support
Researchable: researched can be examined
empirically, it must be suitable with researchers’
ability, and there is available data.

5. Research problem identification
• In identifying the research problem,
researchers must identify problem that can
be solved or answered depended on the
ability, knowledge gain, and research
approach chosen.
• Researchers also identify whether problem is
researchable or unresearchable.
• Identify if it is feasible, relevant and
significant.

6. Research problem limitation
There are several criteria that must be present in
limiting the problem, they are:
• Limiting the number of variables related to the
alternative solution
• Limiting the population as an object of study
• Limiting the place of the research
• Limiting sample of the study
• Limiting the time of the study
• Limiting the cost of research
• Available resources or rules underlying the research

7. Research problem statement
1. The forms of research problem statement
• Descriptive
example: how is the implementation of porto-folio based
evaluation in learning English at SMPN 1 Tangerang?
• Comparative
example: how is the comparison of students’ academic
achievement between the students who join tutor
outside formal class and students who do not join tutor?
• Associative
example: how is the relationship between students’
parents’ educational background and the students’
academic achievement in MTSN 2 Banyuwangi?

8. 2. Ways to state the problem
• Problems are usually formulated in the form of
a question
• Should be clear and concise
• Should consist of the implication of existing
data to solve problem
• Must be basis in making hyphotesis
• Must be basis for creating title of research

9. Significance of research problem
• The problem is significant and central role in
the research
• There will not a research without problem
• (Tuckman,1988).(best and Khan,2006)
say, “ one of the most difficult phase the
research is the choice of a suitable problem”

10. We can justify the important of your
problem by citing evidence from:
• Other researcher and expert as reported in
the literature
• Experiences others have had in the work place
• Personal experiences