1. Chapter 3
The Research Process - The Broad Problem Area and Defining the Problem Statement – (Stage in Research Process)
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2. Stage 1: The Broad Problem Area
Examples of broad problem areas that researchers (economists) could observe:
1- Government expenditures on health are improving medical equality.
2- The government subsidies of a product are not helping to reduce the inflation.
3- The introduction of flexible work hours has created more problems than it has solved in many government units.
4- Reduction in oil prices creates budget deficit in Kuwait.
5- Reducing tariffs among GCC states are not enhancing bilateral trade among them.
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3. Recall the Research process:
Broad problem area
Problem statement
Theoretical Framework
Generation of hypotheses
Data collection:
Data analysis: if Yes go to 7 ( if No go to back!!!)
Report Writing( Interpretation of results)
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4. Preliminary Information Gathering
Nature of information needed to be gathered:
Background information of the problem.
(Why this problem?)
Prevailing knowledge on the topic. (How??)
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5. Step One: Why this Problem
Job Research
Interests
Hot Topic
Others
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6. Step Two: Literature Review
A good literature survey:
Ensures that important variables are not left out of the study.
Helps the development of the theoretical framework and hypotheses for testing.
Ensures that the problem statement is precise and clear.
Enhances testability and replicability of the findings.
Reduces the risk of “reinventing the wheel”.
Confirms that the problem is perceived as relevant and significant.
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7. A. Data sources Textbooks Academic and professional journals Theses
Conference proceedings
Unpublished manuscripts
Reports of government departments and corporations
Newspapers
The Internet
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8. B. Searching for Literature
Most libraries have the following electronic resources at their disposal:
Electronic journals
Full-text databases
Bibliographic databases
Abstract databases
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9. C. Conducting the Literature
Based on the specific issues of concerns (raised in the literature) and factors (variables( identified, the literature review needs to be done on these variables.
Make sure that the identified published/unpublished papers are available (or can have access to them) on the topic of interest.
Gathering the relevant ones.
Be ready to write the literature section after finishing this step.
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10. Stage 2: The Problem Statement
After reading into the literature, the researcher now can narrow down the problem from the original broad.
The question( problem) does not necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong.
The problem (question) could indicate an interest in an issue, where finding the right answers might help to improve an existing situation.
Thus, the problem statement is a clear, precise, and brief statement of the question to be investigated with the goal of findings an answer or solution.
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11. The Research Proposal Key elements: Purpose of the study
Specific problem to be investigated.
Scope of the study
Relevance of the study
Research design:
Sampling design
Data collection methods
Data analysis
Time frame
Budget
Selected Bibliography
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