Formulating a research problem

Broadly speaking, any question that you want answered and any assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate can become a research problem or a research topic for your study. However, it is important to remember that not all questions can be transformed into research problems.

Learning Objectives 1-Sources of research problems 2- Steps in the formulation of a research problem 3- Example 4- Considerations in selecting a research problem 1-2

sources of research problems People (a group of individuals, organizations,communities) Broblems (an issue, needs, situations) Programmes (contents, structure, outcomes) Phenomenon (cause and effect, relationships)

Formulating a research problem 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. Dissect the broad area into subareas. Select what is of most interest to you. Raise research questions. Formulate objectives Assess your objectives Double-check

Step 1: Identify a broad field or subject area of interest 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 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. It is neither advisable nor feasible to study all subareas. Go through your list and delete all those subareas in which you are not very interested.  select: Antecedents of customers 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 Your objectives grow out of your research questions. The main difference between objectives and research questions is the way in which they are written. Research questions are obviously that—questions.

Step 5: Formulate objectives Objectives transform these questions into behavioral aims by using action-oriented words such as 'to find out', 'to determine', 'to ascertain' and 'to examine‘, ‘to measure’, ‘to 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 Colombo. To ascertain the impact of training on employee retention. To compare the effectiveness of different loyalty programmes on repeat clientele. To ascertain if an increase in working hours will increase the incidence of drug abuse. To demonstrate that the provision of company accommodation to employees in hotels will reduce staff turnover.

Step 5: Formulate objectives Example: 1- To determine the effect of customer expectation 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 To identify organization’s introduced early retirement ? objectives for introducing retirement schemes. What are the consequences To describe the consequences of of early retirement schemes ? Early recruitment for employees. To explore the effects of early retirement for the organization.

Step 6: Assess your objectives Examine your objectives to ascertain the feasibility of achieving them in the light of the time, resources (financial and human) and technical expertise at your disposal.

Step 7: Double-check 1 that you are really interested in the study 2 that you agree with the objectives 3 that you have adequate resources 4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study

1- Identify Consumer behavior Customer satisfaction 2- Dissect 1- Profile of satisfied customers 2- Antecedents of customers satisfaction 3- The effect of customer satisfaction on consumer related outcomes 4- Measurement of customer satisfaction 3- Select Antecedents of customers satisfaction

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? 5- formulate objectives 1- To determine the effect of customer expectation 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

6- Make sure Assess your objectives in the light of: 1 work involved 2 time available to you 3 financial resources available 4 your technical expertise in the area 7- Double-check 1 that you are really interested in the study 2 that you agree with the objectives 3 that you have adequate resources 4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study

Considerations in selecting a research problem interest, magnitude, measurement of concepts, level of expertise, relevance, availability of data, ethical issues.