THE RESEARCH PROBLEM Theoretical Levels of Problems for Research: 1. Problems whose aim is to increase knowledge 2. Problems whose prime purpose is to make life better Selecting a Research Problem funneling process - working-up and narrowing down

Sharpening Skills for Discovering and Identifying a Problem 1. Reading a lot of literature in your field of concentration and being critical of what you read. 2. Attending professional lectures. 3. Being close observant of situations and happenings around you. 4. Thinking out the possibility of research for most topics or lessons taken in content courses.

5. Attending research colloquiums and seminars. 6. Conducting mini-researches and noting the obtained findings closely. 7. Compiling researches with special emphasis on content and methodology. 8. Visiting various libraries for possible discovery of researchable topics. 9. Reading/subscribing to journals in your field and in research. 10. Building-up a library of materials in your field.

Specific Considerations in Choosing a Problem 1. WORKABILITY Is the contemplated study within the limits of your resources and time constraints? Will you have access required sample? Is there reason to believe you can come up with an answer to the problem? Is the required methodology manageable and understandable?

2. CRITICAL MASS Is the problem of sufficient magnitude and scope to fulfill the requirement that motivated the study in the first place? Are there enough variables? Enough potential results? Enough to write about? 3. INTEREST Are you interested in the problem area, specific problem, and potential solution? Does it relate to your background? To your career interests?

Does it enthuse you? Will you learn useful skills from pursuing it? 4. THEORETICAL VALUE Does the problem fill a gap in the literature? Will others recognize its importance? Will it contribute to advancement in your field? Does it improve upon the state of the art? Is it publishable?

5. PRACTICAL VALUE Will the solution to the problem improve management practice? Are practitioners likely to be interested in the results? Will business management be changed by the outcome? Will your management practices be likely to change as a result?

Luke 14:28 – “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?” Some Questions to be Answered Before Deciding on the Topic 1. Do I have the necessary sources to do this research? 2. Am I qualified to do this research? (thorough knowledge of a specific area) 3. Do I have enough time to complete the research of this topic by the due date?

4. Does this research demand finances I do not have? Characteristics of a good problem 1. The topic should be of great interest to you. 2. It is useful for the concerned people in a particular field. 3. It possesses novelty. Avoid unnecessary duplication. 4. It can be completed in the allotted time desired. 5. It does not carry ethical or moral impediments.