What are the main issues in formulating a research problem?
Andrew Campbell
Updated on December 28, 2025
Consider 5 ways to formulate the research problem:
- Specify your research objectives;
- Review its context or environment;
- Explore its nature;
- Determine variable relationships;
- Anticipate the possible consequences of alternative approaches.
What is research problem define the main issues which should receive the attention of the researcher in formulating the research problem give suitable examples to elucidate your points?
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.
Which should receive the attention of the researcher in formulating the research problem?
What is a Research Problem and State the main issue which should receive the attention of the researcher. β Main function is to decide what you want to find out about. β The way you formulate a problem determines almost every step that follows. Phenomena- to establish the existence of regularity.
What is formulation of research problems?
Formulation of a research problem means to state the problem in a way that is researchable. It means to shape the research topic in a manner that it becomes ready for scientific investigation. A research problem is simply the research topic.
Why is it important to develop a good research problem?
A research problem helps you formulate that sequence. Research problem also helps you avoid unnecessary steps during the research. A research problem can help you identify each and every step of the research process: the study design, sampling strategy, research instrument and research analysis.
What are the characteristics of a good research problem?
A good research problem should have the following characteristics:
- It should address a gap in knowledge.
- It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research.
- It should lead to further research.
- The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data.
Why is it important to develop good research problem?
Why is formulation of research problem so important?
Formulating your research problem enables you to make a purpose of your study clear to yourself and target readers. Focus your paper on providing relevant data to address it. A problem statement is an effective and essential tool to keep you on track with research and evaluate it.
What is the research problem example?
For example, if you propose, βThe problem in this community is that it has no hospital.β This only leads to a research problem where: The need is for a hospital. The objective is to create a hospital.
What are the characteristics of good research problem?
What are the 5 characteristics of research problem?
Characteristics of a good thesis research problem
- The problem can be stated clearly and concisely.
- The problem generates research questions.
- It is grounded in theory.
- It relates to one or more academic fields of study.
- It has a base in the research literature.
- It has potential significance/importance.
What is an example of a research problem?
What are characteristics of a good research problem?
A good research problem should have the following characteristics: It should address a gap in knowledge. It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research. It should lead to further research.
What are the common sources of research problems?
Three Sources of Research Problems
- Knowledge gaps.
- Omitted groups.
- Conflicting findings.
What are the sources of a good research problem?
Ideas for research problems or topics can arise from a range of sources such as personal or professional experience, a theory, the media, or other research studies.
What is research problem and formulation of research problem?
A research problem is simply the research topic. A researcher needs to refine the topic and clearly state what is intended to be explored about the topic. This is called formulation of the research problem which involves narrowing down a broader research area into a specific research topic and devising the objectives.
What are the steps of research problem?
7 Basic Steps in Formulating a Research Problem
- Identify the Broad Study Area. This is a great idea to thinking about the subject area of your interest.
- Dissect the Broad Study Area into Subareas.
- Mark-up your Interest.
- Study Research Questions.
- Set Out Objectives.
- Assess your Objectives.
- Check Back.
What are the 3 major sources of research problems?
What are the steps in formulating a research problem?
7 Basic Steps in Formulating a Research Problem
- Identify the Broad Study Area.
- Dissect the Broad Study Area into Subareas.
- Mark-up your Interest.
- Study Research Questions.
- Set Out Objectives.
- Assess your Objectives.
- Check Back.
What is research problem example?
What are the steps in the formulation of research problem?
Steps of the research process
- Step 1: Identify the Problem.
- Step 2: Review the Literature.
- Step 3: Clarify the Problem.
- Step 4: Clearly Define Terms and Concepts.
- Step 5: Define the Population.
- Step 6: Develop the Instrumentation Plan.
- Step 7: Collect Data.
- Step 8: Analyze the Data.
Can a question be considered a research problem?
These questions can become a research problem or research topic for your study. However, most importantly, keep in mind that not all questions can become a research problem. Someone can find some research questions extremely difficult to study.
Which is the process of formulating a research problem?
It is obviously the formulating of a research problem or selecting your research topic. This is because the quality & relevancy of your research work completely depends on it. The process of formulating a research problem requires a series of steps. Look at 7 basic steps in formulating a research problem.
What is the relevance of a research problem?
Relevance: Ensure that your study adds to the existing body of knowledge, bridges current gaps and is useful in policy formulation. This will help you to sustain interest in the study. 6. Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that data are available.
How are research problems formulated in social science?
Many social scientists hold that research problems should be formulated by carefully analyzing as much of the relevant research literature as possible, formally stating the problem and the major hypotheses that the literature suggests, and only then collecting the data.