Defining a Research Problem - What Exactly Should You Investigate

2/24/2015 DefiningaResearchProblemWhatexactlyshouldyouinvestigate?

https://explorable.com/definingaresearchproblem 1/9

Home Research Methods Defining a Research Problem

Martyn Shuttleworth 401.1K reads 13 Comments

This article is a part of the guide:

ScientificMethod

Discover 18 more articles on this

topic

Don't miss these related articles:

1 Overview

2 Null Hypothesis

3 Research Hypothesis

4 Test Hypothesis

5 Selecting Method

Browse Full Outline

1 Scientific Method

2 Formulate a Question

2.1 Defining a Research Problem

2.1.1 Null Hypothesis

2.1.2 Research Hypothesis

2.2 Prediction

2.3 Conceptual Variable

Defining a Research Problem

Defining a research problem is the fuel that drives the scientific process, and is the

foundation of any research method and experimental design, from true

experiment to case study.

It is one of the first statements made in any research

paper and, as well as defining the research area,

should include a quick synopsis of how the hypothesis

was arrived at.

Operationalization is then used to give some

indication of the exact definitions of the variables, and

the type of scientific measurements used.

This will lead to the proposal of a viable hypothesis. As

an aside, when scientists are putting forward

proposals for research funds, the quality of their

research problem often makes the difference between

success and failure.

Structuring the Research Problem

Look at any scientific paper, and you will see the

research problem, written almost like a statement of

intent.

Defining a research problem is crucial in defining the

quality of the answers, and determines the exact

research method used. A quantitative experimental

design uses deductive reasoning to arrive at a testable

English

https://explorable.com/operationalizationhttps://explorable.com/scientific-method?gid=1577https://explorable.com/null-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/conceptual-variables?gid=1577https://explorable.com/users/martynhttps://explorable.com/research-hypothesis?gid=1577https://explorable.com/print/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/course/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/research-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/research-methodologyhttps://explorable.com/hypothesis-testinghttps://explorable.com/prediction-in-research?gid=1577https://explorable.com/https://explorable.com/different-research-methodshttps://explorable.com/research-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/write-a-research-paperhttps://explorable.com/research-methodologyhttps://explorable.com/what-is-a-thesis-statementhttps://explorable.com/scientific-measurementshttps://explorable.com/research-basicshttps://explorable.com/quantitative-research-designhttps://explorable.com/null-hypothesis?gid=1577https://explorable.com/defining-a-research-problem?gid=1577https://explorable.com/printmail/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/how-to-write-a-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/hypothesis-testinghttps://explorable.com/https://explorable.com/deductive-reasoninghttps://explorable.com/printpdf/defining-a-research-problem



3 Collect Data

4 Test Hypothesis

5 Conclusion

6 Overview

Save this course for later

Don't have time for it all now? No

problem, save it as a course and

come back to it later.

Add to my courses

hypothesis.

Qualitative research designs use inductive reasoning

to propose a research statement.

Defining a Research Problem

Formulating the research problem begins during the first steps of the scientific process.

As an example, a literature review and a study of previous experiments, and research, might throw

up some vague areas of interest.

Many scientific researchers look at an area where a previous researcher generated some interesting

results, but never followed up. It could be an interesting area of research, which nobody else has

fully explored.

A scientist may even review a successful experiment, disagree with the results, the tests used, or

the methodology, and decide to refine the research process, retesting the hypothesis.

This is called the conceptual definition, and is an overall view of the problem. A science report will

https://explorable.com/hypothesis-testing?gid=1577https://explorable.com/research-methodology?gid=1577https://explorable.com/steps-of-the-scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/research-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/user/register?destination=courses%2F1577%2Ftake-coursehttps://explorable.com/statistically-significant-resultshttps://explorable.com/what-is-a-literature-reviewhttps://explorable.com/qualitative-research-designhttps://explorable.com/writing-a-research-paperhttps://explorable.com/drawing-conclusions?gid=1577https://explorable.com/inductive-reasoninghttps://explorable.com/research-methodologyhttps://explorable.com/hypothesis-testinghttps://explorable.com/research-paper-question



Previous Article

"Scientific Method"

Back to Overview

"Scientific Method"

Next Article

"Null Hypothesis"

generally begin with an overview of the previous research and real-world observations. The

researcher will then state how this led to defining a research problem.

The Operational Definitions

The operational definition is the determining the scalar properties of the variables.

For example, temperature, weight and time are usually well known and defined, with only the exact

scale used needing definition. If a researcher is measuring abstract concepts, such as intelligence,

emotions, and subjective responses, then a system of measuring numerically needs to be

established, allowing statistical analysis and replication.

For example, intelligence may be measured with IQ and human responses could be measured with

a questionnaire from 1- strongly disagree, to 5 - strongly agree.

Behavioral biologists and social scientists might design an ordinal scale for measuring and rating

behavior. These measurements are always subjective, but allow statistics and replication of the

whole research method. This is all an essential part of defining a research problem.

Examples of Defining a Research Problem

An anthropologist might find references to a relatively unknown tribe in Papua New Guinea.

Through inductive reasoning, she arrives at the research problem and asks,

How do these people live and how does their culture relate to nearby tribes?

She has found a gap in knowledge, and she seeks to fill it, using a qualitative case study, without a

hypothesis.

The Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment is a good example of using deductive reasoning to arrive at a

research problem and hypothesis.

Anecdotal evidence showed that violent behavior amongst children was increasing. Bandura

believed that higher levels of violent adult role models on television, was a contributor to this rise.

This was expanded into a hypothesis, and operationalization of the variables, and scientific

measurement scale, led to a robust experimental design.

https://explorable.com/course/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/case-study-research-designhttps://explorable.com/null-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/operationalizationhttps://explorable.com/inductive-reasoninghttps://explorable.com/statistics-tutorialhttps://explorable.com/research-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/scientific-measurementshttps://explorable.com/course/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/survey-research-designhttps://explorable.com/bobo-doll-experimenthttps://explorable.com/research-variableshttps://explorable.com/null-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/how-to-write-an-introductionhttps://explorable.com/operationalizationhttps://explorable.com/scientific-measurementshttps://explorable.com/deductive-reasoning



Tweet

2 4

Article Actions: Print Share by Email PDF Share Link Cite this article

Related articles

1 Overview

2 Null Hypothesis

3 Research Hypothesis

4 Test Hypothesis

5 Selecting Method

Found this article useful? Share it!

Search over 500 articles on psychology, science, and experiments.

Search

Allcontent

How to cite this article:

Martyn Shuttleworth (Oct 2, 2008). Defining a Research Problem. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015

from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/defining-a-research-problem

Want to stay up to date? Follow us!

6

Like

https://explorable.com/null-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/print/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/printmail/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/printpdf/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/hypothesis-testinghttps://explorable.com/users/martynhttps://explorable.com/#https://explorable.com/research-hypothesishttps://explorable.com/defining-a-research-problemhttps://explorable.com/#https://explorable.com/research-methodologyhttps://explorable.com/different-research-methods



Follow@ExplorableMind 382followers

13Comments Explorable.com Login

SortbyBest Share

Jointhediscussion

Reply

mark 2yearsago

itsgreat3

Reply

claire 9monthsago

Thankyou,greatwork1

Reply

alireza 2yearsago

itssowell1

Reply

erata61 4monthsago

ilikeit.iwantandroidappsplease.

Reply

OskarBlakstad 4monthsagoMod >erata61

Thanks!TheAndroidAppwillbeoutinafewweeks:)

Reply

erata61 4monthsago>OskarBlakstad

Goodnews.

Reply


Hi!TheAndroidAppisnowout!

Youcangetithere:https://play.google.com/store/...

Reply


hi,thereisa"yourcode"choiceinprogram'sleftside.isitforusandwherecouldigetmycode?thanks,

Recommend

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Explorable.com

2,537Like



Construyeunelectroimn1comment2yearsago

opedeportugazayudamiesposomemaltrataayudaaaaaaaaaaa

Experimentodelapiladefruta1comment2yearsago

PedroPoloRecuerdoque2015eselAoInternacionaldelaLuzylastecnologasbasadas

Experimentodelespectadoraptico1comment2yearsago

EduardoJimnezMehagustadoelartculo.Explicamuybienloquequisereflejaren

Experimentodelglobomgico2comments2yearsago

OskarBlakstadMuchasgracias,Juandi!Megustaquelespuedenutilizar:)

ALSOONEXPLORABLE.COM

Reply

Reply


Hi,thecodeisforHospitalsandResearchersthatweworkwithithelpsthemdistributesomepartoftreatment/research.Itanonymisestheparticipant,whiletheyknowwhoitis.

Reply


Thankyouforapp.

Reply

frida 2yearsago

wellexplained

Reply

Farhad 2yearsago

thankusomuch

Reply

elia 2yearsago

welldone

WHAT'STHIS?

Subscribe AddDisqustoyoursited Privacy

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share



Explorable App

Like Explorable? Take it with you wherever

you go.

Download Explorable Now!

Get all these articles in 1 guide

Want the full version to study at home,

take to school or just scribble on?

Whether you are an academic novice, or

you simply want to brush up your skills,

this book will take your academic

writing skills to the next level.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/explorable/id916587976?ls=1&mt=8



Links

About

FAQ

Terms

Privacy Policy

Contact

Site Map

Explorable App

Like Explorable? Take it with you wherever you

go.

A to Z of PhD ResearchSynopsis, Research Design, Analysis Implementation, Journal Papers

Get PDF

Download electronic versions:

- Epub for mobiles and tablets

- For Kindle here

- PDF version here

https://explorable.com/site-contacthttps://gum.co/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/sitemaphttps://gum.co/scientific-methodhttps://explorable.com/terms-and-conditionshttps://gum.co/scientific-methodhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C79ATI0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C79ATI0&linkCode=as2&tag=experiresour-20https://explorable.com/frequently-asked-questionshttps://gum.co/scientific-method-epubhttps://explorable.com/abouthttps://explorable.com/privacy-policy



Download Explorable Now!

Thank you to...

Innoventus

Innovation Norway

The Research Council of Norway

Subscribe / Share

Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Pin us on Pinterest

Founder:

Oskar Blakstad Blog

Oskar Blakstad on Twitter

Explorable.com - Copyright 2008-2015. All Rights Reserved.

Wilson Mizner: "If you steal from one author it's plagiarism; if you steal from many it's research." Don't steal, do

research.

http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Home_page/1177315753906http://www.innoventus.no/http://pinterest.com/explorable/http://explorable.com/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/explorable/id916587976?ls=1&mt=8http://oskarblakstad.com/http://twitter.com/osibvhttp://explorable.com/rss.xmlhttp://twitter.com/osibvhttp://www.innovasjonnorge.no/Contact-us/

Defining a Research Problem - What Exactly Should You Investigate

Documents

Transcript of Defining a Research Problem - What Exactly Should You Investigate