CHAPTER TWO

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS

November 14, 2024

 2.1. Research Problem: the difference between
exiting problem and research problem

What is the research problem mean?

A research problem, refers to some difficulty which a researcher

experiences in the context of either a practical or theoretical
situation that calls for an investigation.

Formulating research problem entails asking a previously unanswered

questions(s) for which an answer is sought.

 A good research problem should be one that is socially and

scientifically important to investigation.

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2.1.1. Sources of research problems

Research problem may arise from the following sources:

1. Personal Experience of Practical Situation-one’s day to day

experience and observation of the sounding real phenomena may
suggest the need for a research to provide solution to previously
existing unresolved issue, or to unravel or manage a new situation.

 There are a lot of such issues in our surrounding environment, that

need solution, and/or that enhances our knowledge and/or help to

develop new theories, if researched.

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2. Previous Research and Related Literature–reading research
articles and journals, books, magazines and other research outputs
and literature bodies on the area of interest gives the researcher an
insight into various issues that could be studied.

From such reading, one may also identify research gaps which
appear to justify additional research.

Moreover, deductions from existing theories may also suggest the

need for a research to unravel or mange a new situation.

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3. Current Social and Political Issues-Contemporary debates, concerns or
movements may lead to a research.

Changes are inevitable in the social, economic, political, cultural …etc

life of a society.

Such changes might be accompanied by new phenomena of life which

might create problem to a society at least until they are adopted.

Hence, the need to know the impact or influence and the implication of
such changes for the life of different sections of a society could be an
important research problem that justify further research endeavor in the
area.
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 Cont. …
4. From Discussions with Peoples – peoples can make discussions with
their friends, students, neighbors, workers of different organizations, and
with different members of the society, of course on various socio-
economic, political, and other issues related to their life.

Listening at such discussions can give us an important insight to many

important research problems.

5. Personal Motivation – an individual research may develop an interest to

know certain phenomena or events from different perspectives and/or in
detail.

 This could give the researcher, an insight to a number of research

problems and/or questions, whose solution or answer trigger research

endeavors. November 14, 2024
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6. Lack of Information – Policy-makers, in order to formulate policy in
various issues; and decision–makers, in order to make various
decisions; obviously need sufficient and relevant information for their
respective purposes.

However, if there is no sufficient and/or relevant information available

at hand, then, this problem necessitates research endeavor that could
come up with the necessary information before dealing with the
purpose at hand.

November 14, 2024

2.1.2. Criteria of research problems
 A research problem is one which requires a researcher to find out the

best solution for the given problem. Hence, in a given research problem;

1. There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or

problem.

2. There must be some objective(s) to be attained. If one wants nothing,

one cannot have a problem.

3. There must be alternative means (or courses of action) for obtaining the
objective(s) one wishes to attain.

4. There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard
to the selection of alternatives.

5. There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.

November 14, 2024
 Selection of Research Problem
 The following points may need to be observed by a researcher in selecting a

research problem or a subject for research.

1. 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.

2. Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher.

3. Too narrow or too vague(unclear) problems should be avoided.

4. The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the
related research material or sources of research are within one’s reach.

5. The importance of the subject, the qualifications of a researcher, the costs

involved, and the time factor are few other criteria that must also be considered
in selecting a problem.

6. When the field of inquiry is relatively new, the selection of a problem must be
preceded by a preliminary study. November 14, 2024
 The research topic to be selected should be:

a. The one in which the researcher has an interest.

b. The one that the researcher has the background knowledge to

research.

c. The one that address felt needs.

d. The one on which enough materials could be obtained to ensure

thorough coverage.

e. Above all, the one whose selection is justifiable on social,

scientific or policy grounds.

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 Techniques of Defining a Research Problem

The research problem should be defined in a systematic manner,

giving due attention to all relating points.

The technique for this purpose involves the following general steps.
These are:

i. Statement of the problem in a general way (choice of research topic)

ii. Understanding the nature of the problem;

iii. Surveying the available literature;

iv. Developing ideas through discussions; and

v. Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.

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 Cont. …
E.g.
• “Why is productivity in Japan so much higher than in India”?

“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?”

“To what extent did labour productivity in 1971 to 1980 in Japan

exceed that of India in respect of 15 selected manufacturing industries?

November 14, 2024

2.2. Evaluation of the Research problem

Before the final decision is made on the investigation of the

problem, the feasibility of the problem has to be tested with
the following criteria:
1. Is the problem researchable?
Some problems cannot be effectively solved through the
process of research. For example, research cannot provide
answers to philosophical and ethical questions that do not
show the relationship existing between two or more variable
vividly.
 Therefore, the problem must be stated in workable
research question that can be answered empirically.

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2. Is the problem new?

As much as possible, the research problem needs to be new.
To be safe from such duplication, the researcher has to go
through the record of previous studies in a given field.
However, there are times where by a problem that has been
investigated in the past could be worthy of study.
 A researcher may repeat a study when he wants to verify its
conclusion or to extend the validity of its findings in situation
entirely different from the previous one.

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3.Is the problem significant?
The question of significance of the problem usually
relates to what a researcher hopes to accomplish in a
particular study.
The findings should become a basis for theory
generalization, or principles and should lead to new
problems which brings further research.

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4. Is the problem feasible?
The feasibility of the research problem should also be
examined from the point of view of the researcher’s personal
aspects as stated here under.
 Researcher Competence: The problem should be
in an area in which the researcher qualified and
competent.
 Interest and enthusiasm: The researcher has to
make sure that the problem really interests him.
 Financial consideration: Research is an expensive
endeavour, which requires a great deal of money to
invest.
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 Time requirement: Research should be undertaken within a
given scope of time, which was allocated, with careful analysis
of the prevailing situation.
 Administrative consideration: The researcher has to pay
to all administration matters that are necessary to bring his
study to its full completion

November 14, 2024

 2.3. Hypothesis and its advantage
A hypothesis is a tentative proposition relating to certain
phenomenon, which the researcher wants to verify
when required.
Hypothesis would mean a theory, which is not fully reasoned
out.
Hypotheses are a set of suggested tentative solution of a
research problem, which can be or may not be a real
solution.
In establishing a hypothesis, variables must be
clearly specified and measurable by some techniques we
know.
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 2.3. Hypothesis and its advantage…
Importance of Hypothesis
A well-grounded hypothesis provides the following
advantages:
Represents specific objective, which determine the
nature of the data needed to test the proposition.
Offer basis for selecting the sample, the research
procedure, and the statistical analysis needed.
Keeps the study restricted in scope thereby preventing
it from becoming too broad.
Sets a framework for reporting the conclusion of the
study.
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Characteristics of Hypothesis

It should be clear and precise.

It should be capable of being tested.
It should state relationship between variables.
It should be limited in scope and must be specific.
Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple
terms. So that the same is easily understandable by all.
Hypothesis should be consistent and derived from the
most known facts.
Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within a
reasonable time.
Hypothesis must explain the facts that gave rise to the
20 need for explanations.
 Cont. …

Some examples of Hypothesis,

Hypothesis: 1

Political participation Increases with education

↓ ↓ ↓
Variable one (DV) relationship Variable two (ID.V)
Hypothesis: 2

Alienation increase with poverty

↓ ↓ ↓
Variable one (DV) Relation Variable two (ID.V)
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 Forms of Hypothesis
Statement of research hypothesis can take a declarative
(positive) form, negative form, the null form, or the
question form.
i. Positive:
Students who learn in small class size will perform
significantly better in mathematics test than those who
learn in large class size.
ii. Negative:
Students who learn in small class size will not perform
significantly better in math’s test than those in large class size.

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iii. Null Form:
There is no significant difference between students
who learn in small class size and those who learn in
large class size in their mathematics performance.
iv. Question Form:
Is there significant difference between students who
learn in small class size and those in large class size
in their math’s performance?

November 14, 2024

  Sources of Hypothesis
The major sources of hypotheses are given
below:
Specialization of an educational field.
Program of reading: Published studies, abstracts of
research journals. Hand books, seminars on the issue,
current trends on the research area.
Investigation of the area studied.
Considering existing practices and needs.
Extension of the investigation.
Offshoots of research studies in the field
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 Hypothesis can be derived from many sources
1. Theory: Theory on the subject can act as a source of
hypothesis
2. Observation: In this method we use observed
behaviour to infer the attitudes.
3. Past experience: researcher goes by past experience to
formulate the hypothesis.
4. Case studies: Case studies published can be used as a source
for hypothesis.
5. Similarity: This could be with respect to similarity in
activities of human beings. Example: Dress, food habits or any
other.

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A poorly chosen or poorly worded hypothesis can
prevent:
The obtaining of enough pertinent data,
The drawing of conclusions and generalizations, and
 The application of certain statistical measures in the
analysis of the result.

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