1. Formulating a Research Problem
Anil Kumar Bharti Assistant Professor Department of Economics Central University of Jammu

2. The Research Problem
In the beginning is the problem: “The scientist is a man with a problem or he is nothing’’.
A problem is an intellectual stimulus calling for an answer in the form of scientific inquiry.
However, not all intellectual stimuli can be empirically studied, and not all human behaviour is guided by scientific knowledge.
According to Powers, Meenaghan and Twoomey(1985) ‘Potential research questions may occur to us on a regular basis, but the process of formulating them in a meaningful way is not at all an easy task’.
Formulating a research problem requires considerable knowledge of both the subject area and research methodology.

3. Importance of Formulating a Research Problem
Formulation means translating and transforming the selected research problem into a scientifically researchable question.
The formulation of a research problem is the first and most important step of the research process.
It is like the identification of a destination before undertaking a journey.
The problem selected for research may initially be vague. The question to be studied may not be clear. Why the answer/ solution is wanted also may not be known.
The formulation of a problem is like the ‘input’ to a study and the ‘output’(quality of the contents and validity of the associations or causation established) is entirely dependent upon it.

4. Sources of Problems
The sources from which one may be able to identify research problems or develop problem awareness are:
Reading
Academic experience
Daily experience
Exposure to field situations
Consultations
Brain storming
Research
Intuition

5. Considerations in Selecting a Research Problem
Interest
Magnitude
Measurement of Concepts
Level of Expertise
Relevance
Availability of Data
Ethical Issues

6. Formulation Process
The process of formulation involves the following steps:
Developing Title: The title should be carefully worded. It should reflect the real intention of the researcher and show on what is the focus.
Building a Conceptual Model: On the basis of the theoretical knowledge of the phenomenon under study, the nature of the phenomenon and their inter-relations should be identified and structured into a framework.
- it gives an exact idea of the research problem and shows its various properties and variables to be studied.
- it also serves as a basis for the formulation of the objectives and the hypothesis to be tested.

7. Continued...
Defining the Objectives: The objectives are derived from the conceptual model.
- The objectives may aim at description or explanation or analysis of causal relationship between variables, and indicate the expected results or outcome of the study.
- The objectives may be specified in the form of either statements or questions.
Setting Investigative Questions: Sub-questions are set up for each of the major research objectives/ questions.

8. Continued...
-These specific questions guide the details of the research efforts, including the development of concepts, operational definitions and measurement devices.
- There may be several sub-levels of the investigative questions, each being progressively narrower in scope and more specific.
Formulation of Hypothesis: The hypothesis are tentative answers to research problems. They are expressed in the form of a relation between independent and dependent variables.
- Hypothesis can be derived deductively from theories, directly from observations, intuitively, or from a combination of these.
- research hypothesis share four common characteristics: they are clear, value free, specific, and amenable to empirical testing with the available research methods.

9. Continued...
- Hypothesis also indicates the type of data required and the type of methods of data analysis to be used.
Operational Definition of Concepts:
- A concept is an abstract symbol representing an object, a property of an object or a certain phenomenon.
-If concepts are to serve the functions of communication, sensitization of experience, generalization, and theory construction, they have to be clear, precise, and agreed-upon.
- The title of the research problem, the objectives of the study, the investigative questions and the hypothesis consists of concepts.

10. Continued...
- It is the definition of concepts that determine the information needs of the study.
- An operational definition is a set of procedures that describe the activities one should perform in order to establish empirically the existence or degree of existence of a concept.
Delimiting the Scope of the Study: This means demarcation of the scope and dimensions of the study.
- A researcher should take a close view of the implications and dimensions of the selected problem and keep the scope of its study within manageable limits.
- the purpose of delimitation is to avoid confusion and superficiality and promote clarification and successful completion within time limits and available resources.

11. Continued... The various aspects that may be delimited are:
- The objectives of the study
- The geographical area to be covered by the study
- The reference period
- The magnitude of the study
The delimitation can be done from the standpoint of
- Aims and interests of the research worker or sponsor
- Availability of relevant information
- The extent and scope of previous research
- The amount of finance and time available
- Other facilities available

12. References
Kothari, C.R.( 2nd revised edition), Research Methodology-Methods and Techniques, New Age Internationals.
Krishnaswami, O R., and Ranganatham M. Methodology of Research in Social Sciences, Himalaya Publishing House
Kumar, Ranjit. Research Methodology, Sage Publications
Nachmias, D., and Nachmias C. Research Methods in Social Sciences, St. Martin’s Press, New York