This document discusses research problems and their formulation. It begins by defining a research problem as an area that needs inquiry to improve understanding or find a solution. Some key points: - Research problems can come from various sources like personal/practical experience, literature review, theories, social issues, etc. - A good research problem is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant (FINER criteria). It should benefit the field and be original. - Formulating a research problem involves selecting a research area, reviewing literature, delimiting the topic, evaluating the problem statement, and including necessary components. - Components of a well-formulated problem statement include the research design, variables, population,

1. UNIT – 2
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.
• The word “ question” and quest are derived from the Latin word “ quaerere” which
means “ to seek”

3. DEFINITION
• A research problem is an enigmatic, troubling area or topic that needs an enquiry to get
better understanding or ultimate solution.
• E.g. – solution of female feticide in India could be enigmatic or troubling topic of the
present time, and it could become one of the important research problem.
• According to Kerlinger - A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks
what relation exists between two or more variables.
• Research problem is an area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge based
needed for professional practices.

4. SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE
PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE
CRITICAL
APPRAISAL OF
LITERATURE
PREVIOUS
RESEARCH
EXISTING
THEORIES
CONSUMER
FEEDBACK

5. PERFORMANCE
IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES
SOCIAL ISSUES BRAINSTORMING
INTUITION FOLKLORES
EXPOSURE TO FIELD
SITUATIONS

6. • PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Day to day personal experience of a researcher may serve as a good source of ideas.
E.g. A researcher observed domestic violence suffered by wives of alcoholic husband.
• PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Every curious nurse has several questions to be answered that are encountered during
clinical experience.
E.g. A nurse finds that unrestricted visiting hours in surgical wards reduced the analgesic
demands among post – operative patients.

7. • CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF LITERATURE
Pertinent questions may arise in mind when one critically study books and articles relating
to subject of interest.
E.g. a nurse reads an article on the prevalence of pin site infection among patients with
external fixators.
• PREVIOUS RESEARCH
Research reports which are published in journals may indirectly stimulate the researcher’s
thinking.

8. • EXISTING THEORIES
Nurses use many theories from other disciplines in their practices.
• CONSUMER FEEDBACK
Research problems may be generated from the result of the activities aimed to solicit patient
feedback.
E.g. At the time of discharge of patient after angiography , a nurse obtained a feedback from
the patient.
• PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES
It is also known as quality improvement activities , are used to improve processes and
outcomes to meet regulatory requirements .

9. • SOCIAL ISSUES
Topics can be suggested by more global contemporary social or political issues of relevance
to the health care community. E.g. HIV/ AIDS, female feticide.
• BRAINSTORMING
In it an intensified discussion among interested people of profession is conducted to find
more ideas.
• INTUITION
It is believed that reflective mind is a good source of ideas.
• EXPOSURE TO FIELD SITUATIONS
During field exposure, researchers get variety of experiences, which may provide plenty of
ideas to formulate research problem.

10. .
• CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS
Experts are believed to have sound experience in their respective field, that may suggest a
significant problem to be studied.
• FOLKLORES
Common beliefs could be right or wrong.
E.g. it is generally believed that studying just before the test decrease the score.

11. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD RESEARCH
PROBLEM
A good research problem or question is FINER
• F – Feasible
• I- Interesting
• N – Novel
• E – Ethical
• R - Relevant

12. • Significance to nursing profession
It should benefits nursing profession and patients , nurses and health care fraternity through
the study.
• Originality
It should make original contribution.
• Feasible
Feasibility of research problem in reference to time , availability of subjects , facilities ,
equipment and money and ethical considerations should be checked.

13. • Solvable / Researchable
It should be solvable
• Current
It should be based on the current problems and needs of a profession
• Interesting
It should be interested for the nurse researcher itself.

14. FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Selection of a
research area
Initially a researcher selects a broader area for study, such
as Healthcare Associated Infection ( HAI)
STEPS EXAMPLE
Reviewing the
literature and
theories
An extensive review of literature and theories is done to
know what already has been done
1
2

15. Delimiting the
research topic
3
Evaluating the
research problem
4
Researcher proceeds from a general research area of interest
to more specific topic of research to conduct study.
E.g. HAI is very broad area , so at this stage researcher
delimits the topic from Healthcare Associated Infections to
incidence of VAP
Researcher evaluates the research problem for feasibility ,
substantive, methodological and ethical dimensions

16. • It could be in interrogative or Declarative format
• Declarative format – E.g. A descriptive study on prevalence of bedsores among
unconscious patients admitted in ICU of PGIMER , Chandigarh
• Interrogative format – Stated in question form
• E.g. 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 ?
Formulating the final
problem statement of the
research problem
5
A statement of problem is formulated keeping in mind the
basic components of research problem.
E.g. “ A descriptive study on incidence of VAP among
patients on Mechanical ventilator admitted in ICU of
AIIMS , Rishikesh”

17. A well formulated research problem have the following components :
• Research study type/design
• Variables
• Population
• Research setting
E.g. A descriptive study on the prevalence of pin site infection among patients with external
skeletal fixation admitted in orthopedic wards of Nehru Hospital, PGIMER , Chandigarh
Research study design : Descriptive
Variables : One research variable “ prevalence of pin site infection”
Population : Patients with external skeletal fixation
Research settings: Orthopedic wards of Nehru hospital , PGIMER , Chandigarh

18. CLASS ASSIGNMENT
• FORMULATE A RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT

19. Components of problem statement
1. RELEVANCE OF STUDY
2. TITLE OF STUDY
3. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
4. OBJECTIVES
5. DELIMITATIONS
6. SCOPE & LIMITATION

20. EXAMPLE
1. Study to determine reasons for recurrent wave of covid 19 infection despite safety
measures among people living in ……
2. Study to assess the factors influencing the use of FPM in the rural community of
East Sikkim
3. Study to assess the factors affecting self management in patients with diabetes
4. Study to assess the factors impacting nutritional status of elderly population

21. 5. study to assess the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patient
with COPD
6. Study to assess the factors affecting performance of a nursing staff working in
hospitals of Sikkim

22. TERMINOLOGY
1. Abstract: A clear, concise summary of the study that communicates the essential
information about the study. In research journals, it is usually located at the
beginning of an article.
2. Data: Units of information or any statistics, facts, figures, general material,
evidence, or knowledge collected during the course of the study.

23. 3. Variables: Attributes or characteristics that can have more than one
value, such as height or weight. In other words, variables are qualities,
quantities, properties, or characteristics of people, things, or situations
that change or vary.
4. Dependent variables: Variables that change as the independent
variable is manipulated by the researcher sometimes called the criterion
variables.

24. 5. Independent variables: Variables that are purposely manipulated or
changed by the researcher also called manipulated variables.
6. Research variables: These are the qualities, properties, or characteristics which
are observed or measured in a natural setting without manipulating establishing
cause--effect relationship

25. 7. Demographic variables: The characteristics attributes of the study
subjects are considered demographic variables, for example, age,
gender, educational status,
religion, social class, marital status, habitat, occupation, income,
medical diagnosis, so on.
8. Extraneous variables: Extraneous variables are the factors that are
not the part of the study but may affect the measurement of the study
variables.

26. 9. Operational definition: The way by which a researcher clarifies defines
the variables under investigation. In addition, the researcher must also
specify how the variables will be observed measured in the actual
research situation.
10. Assumption: Basic principle that is accepted as being true on the
basis of logic or reason, without proof or verification.

27. 11. Hypothesis: A statement of the predicted relationship between two
or more variable in a research study an educated or calculated guess by
researcher.
12. Literature review: A critical summary or research on a topic of
interest, generally prepared to put a research problem in context or to
identify gaps/weaknesses in prior studies so as to justify a new
investigation.

28. 13. Limitations: Restrictions in a study that may decrease the credibility
generalization of the research findings.
14. Manipulation: An intervention or treatment introduced by the
researcher in an experimental or quasi-experimental study the
researcher manipulates the independent variable to assess its impact
on the dependent variable.

29. 15. Population: The entire set of individuals or objects having some common
characteristics selected for a research study (eg patients admitted in
intensive care units) sometimes referred to as the universe of the research
study.
16. Target population: The entire population in which the researchers are
interested to which they would like to generalize the research finding.
17. Accessible population: The aggregate of cases that conform to
designated inclusion or exclusion criteria that are accessible as subject of the
study.

30. 18. Research study setting: The study setting is the location in which the research is
conducted it could be natural, partially controlled, or highly controlled.
Natural or field setting is an uncontrolled real-life situation.
In a partially controlled situation, environment is partially modified to control
extraneous variables, while in highly controlled situations, study environment is fully
controlled to combat the effect of extraneous variables.
19. Sample: A part or subset of population selected to
participate in research study.

31. 20. Representative sample: A sample whose characteristics are highly
similar to that of the population from which it is drawn.
21. Sampling: The process of selecting sample from the target
population to represent the entire population.

32. 22. Pilot study: Study carried out at the end of the planning phase of
research in order to explore test the research elements to make
relevant to make modification in research tools methodology.
23. Analysis: Method of organizing, sorting, scrutinizing data in such a
way that research question can be answered or meaningful inferences
can be drawn.

33. •Research objectives

34. MEANING
• Clear, concise, declarative statement which provides direction to investigate the
variables.
• Ways to measure variables (eg identify, describe etc)
• Results sought by researcher at the end of research process
• Summarizes what is to be achieved by the study

35. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound)
• Relevant, feasible, logical, observable, unequivocal, unambigous
• Should summarize what is to be achieved by a study

36. A quasi-experimental study to assess the effects of ginger on morning sickness
among pregnant women in selected cities of Kerala
Objectives:
1. To determine the prevalence of morning sickness in pregnant women
2. To compare the severity of morning sickness in primigravida and multigravida
3. To compare the effects of ginger on morning sickness in multigravida &
primigravida women
4. To identify the association of morning sickness with selected demographic
variables

37. THANK YOU