This document discusses identifying and formulating a research problem. It begins by defining a research problem as a question or issue that needs further inquiry or a solution. Selecting a good research problem depends on factors like the researcher's knowledge and interests. The document then discusses various sources that can provide ideas for research problems, such as personal and practical experiences, literature reviews, previous research, theories, feedback, and discussions with experts. Formulating a clear problem statement is also an important part of identifying a research problem.

1. Research Problem
By- Salman khan
Lecturer
Integral University

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 that
selection of a good research problem is a
discovery in itself

3. Continued…
• 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 &
implication for his or her profession as well as it
should be a suitable, feasible, testable and
solvable research problem.

4. Continued…
• It is believed that most of the good research
studies need lots of time for selection of a
research problem.
• Initially, every researcher faces the
predicament of identifying, selecting and
formulating a good research problem.
• This chapter will answer these pertinent
questions.

5. Definitions
• A research problem is an enigmatic, troubling
area or topic that needs an enquiry to get
better understanding or ultimate solution.
• Ex- solution of female feticide in India could
be an enigmatic or troubling topic of the
present time, and it could become one of the
important research problems; however, there
could be many more such problems that
researcher may consider to study.

6. Continued…
• A problem is an interrogative sentence or
statement that asks what relation exists
between two or more variables. The answer to
questions will provide what is having sought in
the research.
- Kerlinger

7. Continued…
• ‘A situation for which we have no ready and
successful response by instinct or by previous
acquired habit. We must find out what to do’,
i.e. the solution can be found out only after an
investigation.
- R. S. Wordworth

8. Continued…
• A research problem is an area of concern
where there is a gap in the knowledge base
needed for professional practices.

9. Continued…
• The research problem and problem statement
are frequently seen as synonymous, but these
two aspects are really quite different.
• A problem statement is not merely a research
problem or purpose of the study, but it is a
well-structured formulation of what actually
the problem is, what is not well understood,
and what is lacking which is to be discovered
to solve the problem.

10. Continued…
• Problem statement, especially in quantitative
studies, generally has six components:
1. Relevance of the study
2. Title of the study
3. Operational definitions of the variables
4. Objectives of the study
5. Delimitations of the study
6. Scope & limitation of the study

11. Continued…
• The problem statement actually articulates
the problem to be addressed and indicates the
need for a study through the development of
an argument.
• In other words the problem statement
presents the topic under study, provides a
rational for the choice of topic, represents a
synthesis of fact & theory and directs the
selection of design.

12. Identification of Research Problem
• Identification of a research problem is the first
and most important step in research process.
• Generally, a broad area is selected and then a
broad topic is delimited or narrowed down to
a specific one sentence statement of the
problem.
• This step of the research process is considered
as the most difficult and challenging, needs
lots of time.

13. Continued…
• This step of the research process is considered
as the most difficult and challenging, and
needs lots of time.
• A research problem may come from several
sources; however, basically it depends on the
interest of the researcher.
• It is generally believed by researchers that
their research topics are to be thought of by
themselves.

14. Continued…
• A researcher problem may come from several
sources; however, basically it depends on the
interest of the researcher.
• It is generally believed by researches that their
research topics are to be thought of by
themselves.
• However, that is not true; since no one lives in a
vacuum, we would expect that the ideas a
researcher collects to identify a research problem
are influenced by variety of sources.

15. Sources of Research Problem
• The common sources from which a researcher
may find ideas to identify and formulate a
research problem include:
Personal experiences
Practical experience
Critical appraisal of literature
Previous research
Existing theories

16. Continued…
Consumer feedback
Performance improvement activities
Social issues
Brainstorming
Intuition
Folklores
Exposure to field situations
Consultation with experts

17. Personal experiences
• Day to day personal experience of a
researcher may serve as good source of ideas
to formulate a research problem.
• Ex- A researcher observed domestic violence
suffered by wives of alcoholic husbands.

18. Continued…
• This experience may provide ideas to identify
several research problems related to domestic
violence against women.
• There may be so many such life experiences of
a researcher which could be used to develop a
research problem.

19. Practical experience
• Nurses get plenty of ideas to formulate
research problems from their clinical
experiences.
• Every curious nurse has several questions to
be answered that are encountered during
clinical experience.

20. Continued…
• Ex- a nurse finds that unrestricted visiting
hours in surgical wards reduced the analgesic
demand among postoperative patients.
• In another instance, a nurse observed that
application of ice at the site of heparin
injection reduced the chances of ecchymosis.
• Such clinical experience could be rich sources
of ideas to identify a significant research
problem.

21. Critical appraisal of literature
• When we critically study books and articles
relating to the subject of our interest,
including research reports, opinion articles &
summaries of clinical issues, pertinent
questions may arise in our mind.
• These may strike reader’s mind indirectly by
stimulating imagination and directly by stating
what additional research is needed.

22. Continued…
• Ex- A nurse reads an article on the prevalence
of the pin site infection among patient with
external fixators.
• While reading this article, she learns that
there is lack of consensus about pin site care.
• This information may serve as a basis to
formulate a research problem.

23. Continued…
• Another type of literature that acts as a source of
good research ideas is the requests for proposals
(RFPs) that are published by government agencies
and some companies.
• Typically, the RFPs describe the problems that
need addressing, the contexts in which they
operate, the approach they would like you to take
to investigate and to address the problem, and
the amount they would be willing to pay for
research.

24. Previous Research
• A body of knowledge should be developed on
a sound foundation of research findings.
• Usually, at the end of a research, further
research problems are suggested, based on
shortcomings of previous research, which can
be investigated.

25. Continued…
• In nursing profession not much research has
been yet done therefore, this profession
needs researcher who are willing to replicate
or repeat other studies on different samples
and settings where all the essential elements
of the original study are held intact.
• Further refinements may be made in the
experimental treatments, or more appropriate
outcome measures may be identified.

26. Existing Theories
• Research is a process of theory development
and theory testing.
• Nurses use many theories from other
disciplines in their practices.
• If an existing theory is used in developing a
researchable problem, a specific statement
from the theory must be isolated.

27. Continued…
• Generally, a part or parts of the theory are
subjected to testing in the clinical situation.
• The testing of an existing theory is definitely
needed in nursing; therefore, they serve as
good sources of research problems.

28. Consumer feedback
• Research problems may be generated from the
results of activities aimed to solicit patient
feedback.
• Ex- At the time of discharge of patient after
angiography, a nurse obtained a feedback from
the patient. Patient verbalized that it was a
wonderful experience except discomfort during
removal of pressure dressing at the femoral
puncture site.
•

29. Continued…
• This feedback provided a concept for nurse to
research on efficacy of available alternative
means of dressing at puncture site to
minimize the discomfort among patient
undergoing angiography.

30. Performance improvement activities
• The performance improvement activities, also
known as quality improvement activities, are
used to improve processes and outcomes to
meet regulatory requirement.
• In the process of performance activities,
several issues may immerge the require
answers through research.

31. Continued…
• Thus performance improvement activities also
serve as an important source of research
problem.

32. Social Issues
• Sometimes, topics are suggested by more
global contemporary social or political issues
of relevance to the health care community.
• Ex- HIV/AIDS, female feticide, sexual
harassment, domestic violence & gender
equality in health care & in research are some
of the current social and political issues of
concern for health care professionals.

33. Continued…
• An idea for a study may stem from a
familiarity with social concerns or
controversial social issues.

34. Brainstorming
• Brainstorming sessions are good technique to
find new questions, where an intensified
discussion among interested people of the
profession is conducted to find more ideas to
formulate a good research problem.
• Ex- ideas for studies may emerge from
reviewing research priorities by having
brainstorming session with other nurses,
researchers or nursing faculty.

35. Intuition
• Traditionally, intuitions are considered good
sources of knowledge as well as sources to
find new research problems.
• It is believed that the reflective mind is a good
sources of ideas, which may be used to
formulate a good research problem.

36. Folklores
• Common beliefs could be right or wrong.
• Ex- It is generally believed that studying just
before the test decreases the score.
• We believe we should not study just before
test to relax our mind.
• Researchers can conduct a research study on
whether one should study before the test or
not.

37. Exposure to field situations
• During field exposure, researchers get variety
of experiences which may provide plenty of
ideas to formulate research problems.
• Ex- While working in a field, a researcher
observed a specific traditional practice for
cure of a disease condition, which can be used
as research problem to investigate its efficacy.

38. Consultation with experts
• Experts are believed to have sound experience
of their respective field, which may suggest a
significant problem to be studied.
• In addition experts may help in finding a
current problem of discipline to be solved,
which may serve as basis for formulation of
research problem.