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Identification of research problem

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Monika Timbadiya

The document discusses identifying and selecting a good research problem. It notes that identifying a research problem is the first and most challenging step of the research process. A good research problem should be significant, original, feasible, solvable, current, and interesting. The document provides examples and criteria for selecting a research problem, as well as common sources that researchers draw from in identifying problems, such as personal experiences, literature reviews, previous research, and social issues.

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IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
INTRODUCTION  A research problem is a question that a researcher wants to answer or a problem that a researcher wants to solve.  Identification and formulation of a research problem is the first step of research process. It is the most challenging and difficult phases of any research project.  Good research studies need lots of time for selection of a research problem.
DEFINITION  “A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variables. The answer to questions will provide what is having sought in the research”. -Kerlinger  In other words, ‘A research problem is an area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for professional practices’.
COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH STATEMENT
• Relevance of the study • Title of the study • Operational definition of the variables • Objectives of the study • Delimitations of the study • Scope and limitation of the study A research problem has six components.
IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM  Identification of a research problem is the first and most important step in the research process. Generally, a broad area is selected and then a broad topic is delimited or narrowed down to a specific one-sentence statement of the problem.  This step of the research process is considered as the most difficult and challenging, and needs lots of time.
SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. Personal experience 2. Practical experience 3. Critical appraisal of literature 4. Previous research 5. Existing theories 6. Consumer feedback 7. Performance improvement activities 8. Social issues 9. Brainstorming 10. Intuition 11. Folklores 12. Exposure to field situations 13. Consultations with experts
1.Personal experiences: Day-to-day personal experience of a researcher may serve as good source of ideas to formulate a research problem. For example, a researcher observed domestic violence suffered by wives of alcoholic husbands. This experience may provide ideas to identify several research problem related to domestic violence against women. 2.Practical experience: Nurses get plenty of ideas to formulate research problem from their clinical experiences. For example, a nurse finds that unrestricted visiting hours in surgical wards reduced the analgesic demand among postoperative patients. Such clinical experiences could be rich sources of ideas to identify a significant research problem.
3. Critical appraisal of literature: When we critically study books and articles relating to the subject of our interest, including research reports, opinion articles, and summaries if clinical issues, pertinent questions may arise in our mind. These may strike the reader’s mind indirectly by stimulating imagination and directly by stating what additional research is needed.  For example, a nurse reads an article on the prevalence of pin site infection among patients with external fixators. While reading these articles, she learns that there is lack of consensus about pin site care. This information may serve as a basis to formulate a research problem.
4. Previous research: A body of knowledge should be developed on a sound foundation of research findings. Usually, at the end of a research, further research problems are suggested, based on the shortcomings of previous research, which can be investigated. 5. Existing theories: Research is a process of theory development and theory testing. If an existing theory is used in developing a researchable problem, a specific statement from the theory must be isolated. Generally, a part or parts of the theory are subjected to testing in the clinical situation. The testing of an existing theory is definitely needed in nursing; therefore, they serve as good sources of research problems.
6. Consumer feedback: Research problems may be generated from the results of activities aimed to solicit patient feedback. For example, at the time of discharge of patient after angiography, a nurse obtained a feedback from the patient. The patient verbalized that it was a wonderful experience except for the discomfort during removal of pressure dressing at the femoral puncture site. This feedback provided a concept for nurse to research on efficacy of available alternative means of dressing at puncture site to minimize the discomfort among patient undergoing angiography.
7. Performance improvement activities: The performance improvement activities, also known as quality improvement activities, are used to improve processes and outcomes to meet regulatory requirements. In the process of performance activities, several issues immerge that require answers through research. Thus performance improvement activities also serve as an important source of research problems.
8. Social issues: Sometimes, topics are suggested by more global contemporary social or political issues of relevance to the health care community. For example, HIV/ AIDS, female feticide, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and gender equality in health care and in research are some of the current social and political issues of concern for health care professionals.
9.Brainstorming: Brainstorming sessions are good techniques to find new questions, where an intensified discussion among interested people of the profession is conducted to find more ideas to formulate a good research problem. For example, ideas for studies may emerge from reviewing research priorities by having brainstorming sessions with other nurses, researchers, or nursing faculty.
10.Intuition: Traditionally, intuitions are considered good sources of knowledge as well as sources to find new research problems. 11.Folklores: Common beliefs could be right or wrong. For example, it is generally believed that studying just before a test decreases the score. We believe we should not study just before test to relax our mind. Researchers can conduct a research study on whether one should study before the test or not.
12. Exposure to field situations: During field exposure, researchers get variety of experiences, which may provide plenty of ideas to formulate research problems. For example, while working in field, a researcher observed a specific traditional practice for cure of a disease condition, which can be used as research problem to investigate its efficacy.
13. Consultations with experts: Experts are believed to have sound experience in their respective field; they may suggest a significant problem to be studied. In addition, experts may help in finding a current problem of discipline to be solved, which may serve as basis for formulation of research problem
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
Criteria of good research problem Feasible Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant
1. Significance to nursing profession:  A problem that a researcher is selecting should have significance to nursing profession or it will not serve any purpose.  A research problem could be considered significant for nursing profession if it fulfills the following criteria:  Benefits nursing profession and patients, nurses, and health care fraternity through the study.  Improves clinical nursing practices through the results.  Promotes nursing theory development or testing.  Provides solutions of current nursing practice needs.  Generates information to get practical implications for nursing profession.
2. Original: It is fundamentally considered that every research problem should be new and unique in itself. Therefore, it is key responsibility of a researcher that an innovative knowledge is used for selecting a research problem, so as to extend the growth of existing body of knowledge in a profession.
3. Feasible: Feasibility is an essential consideration of any research project. It will help the researcher to decide whether selected problem is appropriate or inappropriate and study can be actually carried out or not.  Time  Cost  Equipment & supplies  Administrative support  Peer support  Availability of subjects  Researcher’s competence  Ethical consideration
4. Solvable/ researchable:  Problem selected is considered good only if it is solvable so that chances of insolvability of problem should be minimized. This will enhance relevant results. For examples, a researcher selects a research problem to know the existence of God in this universe. These sorts of problems are ambiguous and impossible to solve. Therefore, the researcher must ensure that a research problem selected for study is solvable. 5. Current:  A good research problem must be based on the current problems and needs of a profession, so that results generated will be of more use. Furthermore, more professionals will be interested in research conducted on the current issues of their profession.
6. Interesting:  A research problem can only be considered good if it is in accordance with researcher’s field of interest. A research problem must be as per the motivation of the researcher and should be fascinating to the researcher, so that research is conducted with full enthusiasm and not merely for its accomplishment.
Identification of research problem

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Identification of research problem

  • 2. INTRODUCTION  A research problem is a question that a researcher wants to answer or a problem that a researcher wants to solve.  Identification and formulation of a research problem is the first step of research process. It is the most challenging and difficult phases of any research project.  Good research studies need lots of time for selection of a research problem.
  • 3. DEFINITION  “A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variables. The answer to questions will provide what is having sought in the research”. -Kerlinger  In other words, ‘A research problem is an area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for professional practices’.
  • 5. • Relevance of the study • Title of the study • Operational definition of the variables • Objectives of the study • Delimitations of the study • Scope and limitation of the study A research problem has six components.
  • 6. IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM  Identification of a research problem is the first and most important step in the research process. Generally, a broad area is selected and then a broad topic is delimited or narrowed down to a specific one-sentence statement of the problem.  This step of the research process is considered as the most difficult and challenging, and needs lots of time.
  • 8. 1. Personal experience 2. Practical experience 3. Critical appraisal of literature 4. Previous research 5. Existing theories 6. Consumer feedback 7. Performance improvement activities 8. Social issues 9. Brainstorming 10. Intuition 11. Folklores 12. Exposure to field situations 13. Consultations with experts
  • 9. 1.Personal experiences: Day-to-day personal experience of a researcher may serve as good source of ideas to formulate a research problem. For example, a researcher observed domestic violence suffered by wives of alcoholic husbands. This experience may provide ideas to identify several research problem related to domestic violence against women. 2.Practical experience: Nurses get plenty of ideas to formulate research problem from their clinical experiences. For example, a nurse finds that unrestricted visiting hours in surgical wards reduced the analgesic demand among postoperative patients. Such clinical experiences could be rich sources of ideas to identify a significant research problem.
  • 10. 3. Critical appraisal of literature: When we critically study books and articles relating to the subject of our interest, including research reports, opinion articles, and summaries if clinical issues, pertinent questions may arise in our mind. These may strike the reader’s mind indirectly by stimulating imagination and directly by stating what additional research is needed.  For example, a nurse reads an article on the prevalence of pin site infection among patients with external fixators. While reading these articles, she learns that there is lack of consensus about pin site care. This information may serve as a basis to formulate a research problem.
  • 11. 4. Previous research: A body of knowledge should be developed on a sound foundation of research findings. Usually, at the end of a research, further research problems are suggested, based on the shortcomings of previous research, which can be investigated. 5. Existing theories: Research is a process of theory development and theory testing. If an existing theory is used in developing a researchable problem, a specific statement from the theory must be isolated. Generally, a part or parts of the theory are subjected to testing in the clinical situation. The testing of an existing theory is definitely needed in nursing; therefore, they serve as good sources of research problems.
  • 12. 6. Consumer feedback: Research problems may be generated from the results of activities aimed to solicit patient feedback. For example, at the time of discharge of patient after angiography, a nurse obtained a feedback from the patient. The patient verbalized that it was a wonderful experience except for the discomfort during removal of pressure dressing at the femoral puncture site. This feedback provided a concept for nurse to research on efficacy of available alternative means of dressing at puncture site to minimize the discomfort among patient undergoing angiography.
  • 13. 7. Performance improvement activities: The performance improvement activities, also known as quality improvement activities, are used to improve processes and outcomes to meet regulatory requirements. In the process of performance activities, several issues immerge that require answers through research. Thus performance improvement activities also serve as an important source of research problems.
  • 14. 8. Social issues: Sometimes, topics are suggested by more global contemporary social or political issues of relevance to the health care community. For example, HIV/ AIDS, female feticide, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and gender equality in health care and in research are some of the current social and political issues of concern for health care professionals.
  • 15. 9.Brainstorming: Brainstorming sessions are good techniques to find new questions, where an intensified discussion among interested people of the profession is conducted to find more ideas to formulate a good research problem. For example, ideas for studies may emerge from reviewing research priorities by having brainstorming sessions with other nurses, researchers, or nursing faculty.
  • 16. 10.Intuition: Traditionally, intuitions are considered good sources of knowledge as well as sources to find new research problems. 11.Folklores: Common beliefs could be right or wrong. For example, it is generally believed that studying just before a test decreases the score. We believe we should not study just before test to relax our mind. Researchers can conduct a research study on whether one should study before the test or not.
  • 17. 12. Exposure to field situations: During field exposure, researchers get variety of experiences, which may provide plenty of ideas to formulate research problems. For example, while working in field, a researcher observed a specific traditional practice for cure of a disease condition, which can be used as research problem to investigate its efficacy.
  • 18. 13. Consultations with experts: Experts are believed to have sound experience in their respective field; they may suggest a significant problem to be studied. In addition, experts may help in finding a current problem of discipline to be solved, which may serve as basis for formulation of research problem
  • 19. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
  • 21. 1. Significance to nursing profession:  A problem that a researcher is selecting should have significance to nursing profession or it will not serve any purpose.  A research problem could be considered significant for nursing profession if it fulfills the following criteria:  Benefits nursing profession and patients, nurses, and health care fraternity through the study.  Improves clinical nursing practices through the results.  Promotes nursing theory development or testing.  Provides solutions of current nursing practice needs.  Generates information to get practical implications for nursing profession.
  • 22. 2. Original: It is fundamentally considered that every research problem should be new and unique in itself. Therefore, it is key responsibility of a researcher that an innovative knowledge is used for selecting a research problem, so as to extend the growth of existing body of knowledge in a profession.
  • 23. 3. Feasible: Feasibility is an essential consideration of any research project. It will help the researcher to decide whether selected problem is appropriate or inappropriate and study can be actually carried out or not.  Time  Cost  Equipment & supplies  Administrative support  Peer support  Availability of subjects  Researcher’s competence  Ethical consideration
  • 24. 4. Solvable/ researchable:  Problem selected is considered good only if it is solvable so that chances of insolvability of problem should be minimized. This will enhance relevant results. For examples, a researcher selects a research problem to know the existence of God in this universe. These sorts of problems are ambiguous and impossible to solve. Therefore, the researcher must ensure that a research problem selected for study is solvable. 5. Current:  A good research problem must be based on the current problems and needs of a profession, so that results generated will be of more use. Furthermore, more professionals will be interested in research conducted on the current issues of their profession.
  • 25. 6. Interesting:  A research problem can only be considered good if it is in accordance with researcher’s field of interest. A research problem must be as per the motivation of the researcher and should be fascinating to the researcher, so that research is conducted with full enthusiasm and not merely for its accomplishment.