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L-02 Defining The Research Problem

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L-02 Defining The Research Problem

Uploaded by

xx69dd69xx
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methods

Prof. Aditya Suresh Kasar


Research Process
1. Define
Research
8.
Problem
2.
Interpret
Reviewing
and
Literature
Report

7.
Analysing 3.
Data (Test Formulate
hypothesis Hypothesis
if any)

6. Data 4. Design
Collection Research
5. Deciding
on the
Sample
Design

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Defining the Research Problem
❑ What is a Research Problem?

❑ Selecting the Problem

❑ Necessity of Defining the Problem

❑ Techniques Involved in Defining the Problem

❑ An Illustration

❑ Conclusion

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3 12-01-2024
What is a Research Problem?
❑ A Research Problem is a question that researcher wants to answer or a
problem that a researcher wants to solve.
❑ Usually a Research Problem does exist if the following conditions are met
with:
i.There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the
problem.
ii.Theremust be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing,
one cannot have a problem.
iii.There must be at least two possible outcomes.
iv.The choices must have unequal efficiencies for the desired outcome.

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Selecting the Problem
❑ Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a
difficult task to throw any new light in such a case.
❑ Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average
researcher.
❑ Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
❑ The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible.
❑ The importance of the subject, the qualification, the cost involved, the time
factor are some of the factors that must be considered.
❑ The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.

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Necessity of Defining the Problem
❑ The problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.

❑ A well defined problem discriminates relevant data from irrelevant one.

❑ Keeps the researcher on a right track.

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Techniques Involved in Defining the Problem
❑ Statement of the problem in a general way.

❑ Understanding the nature of the problem.

❑ Surveying the available literature.

❑ Developing the ideas through discussion.

❑ Rephrasing the research problem.

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An Illustration
❑ Research Problem:

“Why is productivity in Japan so much higher than in India?”

❑ The ambiguities in the above question are:

1.What sort of productivity?

2.With what industries the same is related?

3.What is time period?

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An Illustration
❑ After rethinking and discussion the refined Research Problem:

“What factors were responsible for the higher labour productivity of Japan’s
manufacturing industries during the decade 1971 to 1980 relative to India’s
manufacturing industries?”

❑ The above problem statement is definitely an improvement over its earlier


version.

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9 12-01-2024
An Illustration
❑ After further rethinking and rephrasing the refined Research Problem is:

“To what extent did labour productivity in 1971 to 1980 in Japan exceed that
of India in respect to 15 selected manufacturing industries? What factors were
responsible for the productivity differentials between the two countries by
industries?”

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10 12-01-2024
Conclusion
❑ Initially the Problem is stated in a general way.

❑ The ambiguities are resolved leading in refining the problem statement.

❑ Thinking and rethinking process eventually results in a more specific


problem.

❑ A well defined research problem is meaningful from operational point of view.

❑ It also enables for the development of working hypothesis and for means of
solving the problem.

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11 12-01-2024
Activity 1: (Problem Statement)
Brainstorming Session

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12 12-01-2024

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