2Problem Identification and Research Problem

Problem Identifcation

Problem Identifcation

and Research Problem

and Research Problem

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM

• A research problem in !eneral re"ers to some di#c$lt%

&hich a researcher e'periences in the conte't o" either a theoretical or practical sit$ation and &ants to obtain a sol$tion "or the same

IMPORTANCE OF PROBLEM DEFINITION

+) ,The "orm$lation o" the problem is o"ten more essential than its sol$tion)- .Albert Einstein/

0) Ho& the problem is "ramed determines &hat sol$tion is obtained

1) The research problem dri*es s$bse2$ent sta!es o" the research process

3) Proper problem defnition ens$res that the research res$lts &ill meet decision

The Process of Problem

Denition

.(/ 7nderstand the b$siness sit$ation 8 identi"% the 4e% s%mptoms Identi"% .Isolate/ the problems "rom s%mptoms Write mana!erial decision statement and correspondin! research p$rpose 9etermine $nit o" anal%sis 9etermine rele*ant *ariables State research 2$estions:ob6ecti*e s and:or h%potheses

The Process of Problem Denition: 1 !n"erst#n" the B$siness Decision

• Researcher needs to $nderstand;

() the decision ma4er5s ob6ecti*es .i)e) desirable end<states that the decision ma4er hopes to achie*e &ithin a "$t$re time "rame/ "or

cond$ctin! the research

+) the b$siness conte't in &hich the decision ma4er operates ob6ecti*es

• Can be achie*ed b% cond$ctin! a sit$#tion

#n#l%sis < in"ormal !atherin! o" bac4!ro$nd in"ormation to "amiliari=e the researcher and mana!er &ith the decision<ma4in! en*ironment sit$ation)

• 7se"$l !$idelines are;

() 9e*elop man% alternati*e problem statements +) Thin4 abo$t potential sol$tions to the problems

T e Process o Pro

em

Denition:

& Isol#te '%m(toms from

Problem

• '%m(tom 8 the si!n .indicator/ that

somethin! is &ron! .e)!) sales decline/

• Problem 8 the act$al reasons .possible

ca$ses/ "or the discrepanc% bet&een &hat is .c$rrent sit$ation/ and &hat is desired .e)!) lac4 o" moti*ation amon! salespeople/

• Tac4lin! the s%mptoms ma% not necessaril%

sol*e the problem the real .root/ ca$ses m$st be identifed and tac4led

Isol#tin) Problems from

'%m(toms

Problem Definition

Organization Symptoms Based on Symptom Probable True Problem Twenty-year-old neighborhood swimming association seeks research help •Membership has

been declining for years

•!ess fre"uent usage

among members

•#ncreased

attendance at new water park with wa$e pool and water slides that mo$ed into town a few years ago

%eighborhood residents prefer the water park

Demographic changes&

• Swim facility is

outdated and does not appeal to younger families

• 'ounger families and

children ha$e negati$e image of the pool • Older residents no longer swim anywhere

e rocess o

ro

em

Denition:

* +rite M#n#)eri#l Decision

't#tements #n" Corres(on"in)

Rese#rch Ob,ecti-es

• Decision st#tements capt$re the

researcher5s $nderstandin! o" the decision ma4er5s ob6ecti*es .reasons/ "or see4in! the research

• Essentiall% in*ol*es statin! the in"ormation

that is needed to help ma4e the decision

• 9ecision statements m$st then be

translated into research ob6ecti*es .the deli*erables o" the research/

The Process of Problem

Denition:

 . Determine !nit of An#l%sis

• !nit of An#l%sis 8 The tar!et pop$lation

"rom &hom data needs to be collected to ser*e the research ob6ecti*es

• These co$ld be;

• Indi*id$als .ma%be e*en "$rther classifed b%

demo!raphics !eo!raphic location etc/

• Ho$seholds

• Or!ani=ational c$stomers .e)!) retailers

&holesalers/

• Competitors • Etc

e rocess o

ro

em

Denition:

/ Determine Rele-#nt

0#ri#bles

• 0#ri#ble < An%thin! that ma% ass$me

di>erent *al$es amon! members o" the tar!et pop$lation e)!) a!e le*el o"

satis"action etc

• ?ariables can be ;

• Cate!orical or contin$o$s • 9ependent or independent

• ?ariable classifcations ha*e implications

"or data anal%sis

The Process of Problem Denition:

 't#te Rese#rch 2$estions #n"

Ob,ecti-es

• Research Ob6ecti*es

• @oals that the research is desi!ned to achie*e • Research $estions

• $estions "or &hich the research is desi!ned to

pro*ide ans&ers

• The researcher5s translation o" the mana!erial

.mar4etin!/ problem into a specifc in2$ir%

• Research 2$estions and research ob6ecti*es o"ten

di>er onl% in terms o" phrasin! .&hether as a 2$estion or a statement/

• Research ob6ecti*es sho$ld be stated both in broad

and specifc terms to !i*e;

T3E RE'EARC3

PROPO'AL

• A &ritten statement o" the research desi!n

.strate!% bl$eprint/ that o"ten also incl$des • a statement e'plainin! the p$rpose o" the st$d%

.in the "orm o" research ob6ecti*es or deli*erables/

• a defnition o" the problem .o"ten in the "orm o"

a decision statement/

• the partic$lar research methodolo!% that &ill be

emplo%ed

• details o" proced$res that &ill be $sed d$rin!

Contents of the Rese#rch Pro(os#l

() P$rpose o" the research

•  The !eneral p$rpose

• Specifc research ob6ecti*es to be achie*ed &ith the st$d%

.incl$din! clear specifcation o" *ariables in*ol*ed/

+) Research 9esi!n

• Specifc research method .or methods/ to be $sed •  $stifcation "or choice o" methods

0) Meas$rement

• Ho& *ariables &ill be meas$red • Sample 2$estions

1) Sample 9esi!n

• What the tar!et pop$lation &ill be • Ho& the sample &ill be selected • What si=e o" sample &ill be $sed

Contents of the Rese#rch Pro(os#l

4 Contin$e"

3) 9ata !atherin!

• Ho& the data &ill be collected and b% &ho)

) 9ata Processin!:Anal%sis

• Ho& the data &ill be processed

• What anal%sis techni2$es &ill be $sed "or specifc

research ob6ecti*es

D) Presentation o" Res$lts

• Ho& res$lts &ill be presented • Written report

• Oral presentation

) Time Sched$le

•  Time sched$le "or completion o" the st$d%

F) B$d!et

• O*erall cost o" the st$d% .incl$din! brea4do&n o"

F$nctions of # Rese#rch Pro(os#l

For M#n#)ement 5the client6:

() E*al$ation

• It helps the client to e*al$ate the abilit% o"

the research to accomplish its ob6ecti*es

+) Choosin! research s$ppliers

• Client 6$d!es 2$alit% o" di>erent research

s$ppliers "rom their proposals

0) $d!ment standard

• It is a standard "or determinin! i" the research

G$nctions o" a Research Proposal

For the Rese#rcher: () Thin4in! ahead

• It "orces the researcher to thin4 thro$!h the di>erent

sta!es o" the research process

+) Biddin! doc$ment

• It ser*es as the researcher5s bid to o>er a specifc

ser*ice

For Both P#rties: 0) Comm$nication

• It ser*es as a means o" comm$nication bet&een the

researcher and the client .decision ma4er/

1) Written Contract

• It ser*es as a &ritten contract that can al&a%s be

SELECTI@ THE PROBLEM

• S$b6ect &hich is o*erdone sho$ld not be normall% chosen • Contro*ersial s$b6ect sho$ld not become the choice o" an

a*era!e researcher

•  Too narro& or too *a!$e problems sho$ld be a*oided • The s$b6ect selected "or research sho$ld be "amiliar and

"easible so that the related research material or so$rces o" research are &ithin one5s reach

• The importance o" the s$b6ect the 2$alifcations and the

trainin! o" a researcher the costs in*ol*ed the time "actor are "e& other criteria that m$st also be considered in selectin! a problem

SELECTI@ THE PROBLEM

• S$b6ect &hich is o*erdone sho$ld not be normall% chosen

• Contro*ersial s$b6ect sho$ld not become the choice o" an

a*era!e researcher

•  Too narro& or too *a!$e problems sho$ld be a*oided

• The s$b6ect selected "or research sho$ld be "amiliar and

"easible so that the related research material or so$rces o" research are &ithin one5s reach

• The importance o" the s$b6ect the 2$alifcations and the

trainin! o" a researcher the costs in*ol*ed the time "actor are "e& other criteria that m$st also be considered in

selectin! a problem

• The selection o" a problem m$st be preceded b% a

 TECHI7E I?OL?E9 I 9EGII@

A PROBLEM

• Statement o" the problem in a !eneral &a% • 7nderstandin! the nat$re o" the problem • S$r*e%in! the a*ailable literat$re

• 9e*elopin! the ideas thro$!h disc$ssions • Rephrasin! the research problem