Aravali college of Engineering and Management, Faridabad (11)

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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
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INTRODUCTION

• Problem identification is the first and foremost
  step to initiate a journey.
• Know your destination first.
• Confusion is the beginning of gaining clarity.

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Selecting the Research Problem depends on

• Expertise of researcher in Research Methodology.
• Knowledge of researcher about the subject area.
• Understanding of issues to be examined.
• Predetermining the focus of researchers study.

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Sources of Research Problem

• Research in Humanities revolve around 4Ps
• People
• Problems
• Programmes
• Phenomena
• Most research studies are based on a combination
  of 2Ps.
• e.g. Person and problem , Phenomenon and
  programme.

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Considerations in selecting a research problem

• Interest of researcher
• Magnitude of the subject under selection.
• Measurement of concepts
• Level of Expertise
• Relevance
• Availability of Data
• Ethical Issues

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Steps in selecting a research problem

• Identify a broad field or subject area of
  interest to researcher
• Ask Yourself
• What interests me?
• What is the use of research in future?

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II- Dissect the broad area into sub areas

• Read literature to gain knowledge.
• Consult others who have more knowledge in the
  subject area.
• Continue developing an exhaustive list of
  subareas.

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III- Select what is of most interest to you

• Your most passionate area.(Process of
  Elimination)
• Examine if manageable ?
• Review time which is available?
• Examine availability of resources at your
  disposal.
• Your credibility and expertise in the area.
• Cross check-passion, Manageability, available
  time and other resources

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IV- Raise Research Questions

• Ask yourself What is it that I want to find out
  about in the chosen subarea?
• Make a list of measurable research questions.
• List all questions which you want to answer.

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V- Formulate Objectives Set Goals

• Based on Research Questions, formulate main
  objective and sub objectives
• Main Objective reflects main thrust of the study
• Sub objectives reflect the specific aspects of
  the topic under investigation within the main
  frame of research study.
• Objectives should include different action
  oriented phrases in the beginning of sentences.
  E.g. To find out, To determine, To ascertain, To
  examine etc.
• Objectives should be S(specific),M(Measurable),A(A
  chievable),R(Reliable) and T(Time bound)

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VI- Double Check All The Steps

• Review all steps again and ask these questions
• Are you sufficiently interested?
• Do you have adequate resources?
• Are you enthusiastic in undertaking the research?
• Do you have the required technical expertise?
• Do you have the required time at your disposal?

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Scope of the Study

• Decision regarding the study population
• Decide who will constitute your study population?
• e.g. If you have to ascertain the needs of
  adolescents living in an urban slum you must
  decide
• Who is an adolescent?
• Which urban slum are you talking about?
  (Geographical Area)

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Establishing Operational Definitions

• Operationalize all the terms in the title as well
  as objectives. Simplify till you are able to
  understand them yourself.
• Operationalization Defining or establishing a
  set of rules, indicators or yardsticks to
  establish clearly the meaning of all concepts
  whose meaning may vary from respondent to
  respondent. It is very important to obtain
  information from the respondents in a uniform
  and unambiguous manner. It could also be
  different from legal , census or dictionary
  definition depending on the requirements of the
  research study.
• e.g. Children below poverty line. The definition
  of poverty line needs to be decided.

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Aravali College of Engineering And
Management Jasana, Tigoan Road, Neharpar,
Faridabad, Delhi NCR Toll Free Number 91-
8527538785 Website  www.acem.edu.in