Formulating A Research Problem: Identify A Broad Field or Subject Area of Interest To You

 

Formulating a research problem

1- Steps in the formulation of a research problem 2- Example 3- Considerations in selecting a research problem Formulating a research problem

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Refers to identifying what it is that you want to find out about. 

Steps in the formulation of a research problem •

Identify a broad field or subject area of interest  to you.

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 Dissect  the broad area into subareas.

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 Select  what is of most interest to you.

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 Raise research questions.

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Formulate objectives

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 Assess your objectives

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Double-check 

Step 1: Identify a broad field or subject area of interest  to  to you.  Ex: If you are studying marketing you might be interested in researching consumer behavior  (customer satisfaction). Step 2: Dissect the broad area into subareas. 1- Profile of satisfied customers 2- Antecedents of customers c ustomers satisfaction 3- The effect of customer satisfaction on consumer related outcomes 4- Measurement of customer satisfaction Step 3: Select  what is of most interest to you. 

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It is neither advisable nor feasible to study all subareas.

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Go through your list and delete all those subareas in which you are not very interested.      select:  select: Antecedents  Antecedents of customers satisfaction satisfaction

Step 4: Raise research questions   1- What is the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction? 2- What is the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction? 3- What is the effect of word of mouth communication on customer satisfaction?

Examples of research ideas (topic) and their derived focus research questions Step 5: Formulate objectives

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Your objectives grow out of your research questions. The main difference between objectives and research questions is the way in which they are written. Resear Res earch ch qu quest estion ionss are are obviou obviousl sly y that thatquestio questions. ns. Objectives transform Objectives transform these questions questions into behavioral behavioral aims by using action-oriente action-oriented d words such as 'to find find out', out', 'to determine', determine', 'to ascerta ascertain' in' and 'to examine examine, to measure measure, to explore explore.

 

Some examples To describe the types of incentives provides by five star hotels in Colombo to their employees.  

To find out  the opinion of the employees about the medical facilities provided by five star hotels in Odihsa.

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To ascertain the impact of training on employee retention.

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To compare the effectiveness of different loyalty programmes on repeat clientele.

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To ascertain if an increase in working hours will increase the incidence of drug abuse.

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To demonstrate that the provision of company accommodation to employees in hotels will reduce staff turnover. Example: 1- To determine the effect of customer expectation expe ctation on customer satisfaction 2- To find out the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction 3- To identify how word of mouth communication impact on customer satisfaction Paraphrasing research questions as research objectives Research Question Research Objective

Why have organizations introd introduce uced d early early reti retirem rement ent ? retirement schemes.

To identify organizations object objective ivess for for intro introduc ducing ing

What are the consequences of early retirement schemes ?

To describe the consequences of Early recruitment for employees. To explore the effects of early retirement for the organization.

Step 6: Assess your objectives

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Examine objectives to ascertain the feasibility them in the light of the time, resources your (financial and human) and technical ex pertiseofat achieving expertise your disposal.

Step 7: Double-check 

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1 that you are really interested in the study

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2 that you agree with the objectives

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3 that you have adequate resources

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4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study

Considerations in selecting a research problem

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interest,

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measurement of concepts,

magnitude,

 

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level of expertise,

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relevance, availability of data, ethical issues.