Professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay Ustad Alauddin Khan Professor of Instrumental Music Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata

 Problem formulation in qualitative research begins with selecting a general topic and methodology (ethnographic research or an analysis of historical documents).  The topic and methodology are interrelated and are selected interactively rather than in separate steps.  Most qualitative research interests come from personal experiences and a long interest in a topic developed from accidents of current biography and personal history.

 Ethnographic Questions  Historical Questions  Legal Questions [generally not applicable to our area of researches.]

 Qualitative research, in contrast to quantitative research, employs primarily inductive reasoning.  Qualitative research problems are reformulated several times after the researcher has begun data collection. [In contrast, quantitative research problems are stated before data collection.]  The research problem is stated initially in planning for the study, reformulated during beginning data collection, and reformulated as necessary throughout data collection.  The continuing reformulation of the research problem reflects an emergent design.

 This emergent design allows qualitative research to build the findings from the data by analyzing and presenting data in increasingly abstract and synthesized forms.  Reformulation of a research problem relates to changing data collection strategies to acquire the "totality" of the phenomena and then to study some aspect in greater depth. The specific research problem emerges and is condensed toward the end of data collection.  The condensed version of the research problem in most publications often is not the exact same problem statement which initiated the research.  1. Foreshadowed problems;  2. Condensed problems.

General Research Problem  Does the statement of the general research problem imply the possibility of empirical investigation?  Does the problem statement restrict the scope of the study?  Does the problem statement give the educational context in which the problem lies?

Is the significance of the problem discussed in terms of one or more of the following criteria?  Develops knowledge of an enduring practice;  Develops theory  Can be Generalized;--that is, expands knowledge or theory  Provides extension of understandings;  Advances methodology;  Is related to a current social or political issue;  Evaluates a specific practice at a given site;  Is exploratory research.

 Do the foreshadowed problems or the condensed problem statement indicate the particular case of some phenomena to be examined?  Is the qualitative methodology appropriate for description of present or past events?  Is the inductive logic of the research reasonably explicit?  Does the research purpose (understanding of a social situation or grounded theory ) indicate the framework for reporting the findings?

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