Module 5 Writing A Research Proposal: Identifying Research Problem, Formulating the

Research Topic and Formulating the Research Objectives/Statement of the

Problem

Introduction

In this module, research topic focuses a study to a defined, manageable size. It

provides structure for the steps in the scientific method and it is discussed in many ways by
identifying the research problem, the research question and the purpose of the research.

Learning Outcomes

It is expected that after learning the contents of this module, you can demonstrate the
following competencies:
1. Explain the importance of literature review in identifying a research problem;
2. Develop a research topic and its objectives/statement of the problem; and
3. Write Chapter 1 of the research proposal.

Learning Contents

You are going to learn the following topics in this module:

1. Identifying Research Problem;
2. Formulating the Research Topic; and
3. Formulating the Research Objectives/Statement of the Problem

Teaching and Learning Activities

How to Identify an Appropriate Research Problem

The research problem is the heart of a study. It is a clear, definite statement of the area of concern
or investigation and is backed by evidence (Bryman, 2007). It drives the research questions and processes and
provides the framework for understanding the research findings. To begin, you will need to know where to look
for your research problem and how to evaluate when a research problem for success.

Where to Find a Research Problem

Ideas for a research problems tend to come from two sources: real life and the scholarly
arena. First, identifying a research problem can be as simple as observing the complications and
issues in your local workplace. You may encounter ongoing issues on a daily basis in your
workplace or observe your colleagues struggle with major issues or questions in your field. These
ongoing obstacles and issues in the workplace can be the catalyst for developing a research
problem.
 Alternatively, research problems can be identified by reviewing recent literature,
reports, or databases in your field. Often the section of “recommendations for the future studies”
provided at the end of journal articles or doctoral dissertations suggest potential research problems.
In addition, major reports and databases in the field may reveal findings or data-based facts that
call for additional investigation or suggest potential issues to be addressed. Looking at what
theories need to be tested is another opportunity to develop a research problem.

How to Evaluate a Research Problem

Once you find your potential research problem, you will need to evaluate the problem
and ensure that it is appropriate for research. A research problem is deemed appropriate when it is
supported by the literature, and considered significant, timely, novel, specific, and
researchable. Stronger research problems are more likely to succeed in publication, presentation,
and application.

Supported by the Literature

Your research problem should be relevant to the field and supported by a number of
recent peer-reviewed studies in the field. Even if you identify the problem based on the
recommendation of one journal article or dissertation, you will still need to conduct a literature
search and ensure that other researchers support the problem and need for conducting research to
further address the problem.

Significant

Your research problem should have a positive impact on the field. The impact can be
practical, in the form of direct application of the results in the field, or conceptual, where the work
advances the field by filling a knowledge gap.

Timely

Your research problem should be related to the current needs in the field and well-suited for the
present status of the issues in your field. Explore what topics are being covered in current journals
in the field. Look at calls from relevant disciplinary organizations. Review your research center
agenda and focused topics. For example, the topics of the Research Labs at Center for Educational
and Instructional Technology Research including critical thinking, social media and cultural
competency, diversity, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in higher
education are representative of the current timely topics in the field of education. Identifying a
current question in the field and supporting the problem with the recent literature can justify the problem
timeliness.
Novel

Your research problem should be original and unique. It should seek to address a gap in
our knowledge or application. An exhaustive review of literature can help you identify whether
the problem has already been addressed with your particular sample and/or context. Talking to
experts in the research area can illuminate a problem. Replication of an existing study warrants
discussion of value elsewhere, but novelty can be found in determining if an already-resolved
problem holds in a new sample and/or context.

Specific and Clear

Your research problem should be specific enough to set the direction of the study, raise research
question(s), and determine an appropriate research method and design. Vague research problems may not be
useful to specify the direction of the study or develop research questions.

Researchable

Research problems are solved through the scientific method. This means research-ability,
or feasibility of the problem, is more important than all of the above characteristics. You as the
researcher should be able to solve the problem with your abilities and available research methods,
designs, research sites, resources, and timeframe. If a research problem retains all of
aforementioned characteristics but it is not researchable, it may not be an appropriate research
problem.

https://research.phoenix.edu/blog/how-identify-appropriate-research-problem

You may also open the link below for your farther reading.

https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185918

https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/researchproblem
Identifying a Research Topic

Identifying a topic for your research is one of the most difficult tasks in the research
process. It involves a lot of reading, understanding, and thinking. It needs a set of skills and is quite
a time consuming process. However, once you are clear about your interests and goal, the process
becomes interesting and involving.

Your research topic needs to be focused and narrow, yet broad enough to get information
and work on specific factors.

Steps in identifying a research topic

Identify broad areas of interest

Your first step is to identify your research area and list down topics that interest you within
your subject area / specialization. It needs to be the kind of topics that you are passionate about
and yearn for in depth knowledge. For example, topics for what you need more information or
would like to look at from different perspectives. Alternatively, topics that you like to probe for
sharing with others or for simply adding to a body of existing knowledge. More importantly, it
needs to be researchable topics. However, be careful in choosing research topics that are feasible,
and within your scope of knowledge and abilities. Another important factor in identifying a
research topic is to consider how significant and useful it will be to other academicians,
professionals, and leaners.

Once you have broadly listed down the topics based on your interest, make a thorough
analysis of the topics in terms of availability of literature, trends, unexplored areas, need for the
study, and your approach to the topic, outcome of the study and so on. Moreover, avoid topics that
are common, popular, outdated, local, irrelevant to your geographical location, culturally
offensive, unrealistic or very recent.

Once you have identified few topics, write down the keywords and concepts to develop
from a research point of view.
Collect Information

The next step is to collect information on the topics identified. Background research is
important for you to understand the feasibility and relevance of proceeding with a research topic.
Browse for available literature, research findings, and facts. Discuss with experts and scholars to
know more about the topics. Brainstorm with research supervisor, friends, and professionals to get
their viewpoint. Essentially, read varied journals, news articles, magazines and engage in
productive internet browsing to get a focused view of the topics. The idea is to get a realistic picture
for undertaking the research topic.

Narrow down your topic

Having a broad topic will be cumbersome and unrealistic. Furthermore, conducting

research on a broad area will result in losing your focus and satisfying the outcome of the research.
Therefore, you need to have a topic that is precise and definable. You need to make sure that the
topic is relevant and relative to your location, timespan, field of study, and target group.

For example, if your area of interest is Organizational Climate, it will be too broad and out
of focus to carry out a study as such. Therefore, consider narrowing it down to address specific
concerns. Such as based on -

Location – How does organizational climate influence job satisfaction of employees in South
America?

Timespan – Has organizational climate changed in IT sectors over the past 10 years?

Field of Study – What are the entrepreneurial factors affecting the organizational climate of a
SME?

Target Group – How does organizational climate factors influence the performance of teachers
and nurses?

Keep the topic simple, clear, and focused. When you come across key terms and related
concepts note them down. Also, be prepared to modify your topic if you do not get enough
literature or if the topic has been studied widely. Keep searching for information. If there is an
information overload, then you need to narrow down the topic. In case you do not get much
information, then you need to broaden the topic.
Research for more Information

Intensive review of literature is required once you have identified a topic for research.
Collect in-depth information about the topic from different sources. This will help you to identify
unexplored areas or gaps in the available research. Furthermore, intensive study of existing
literature will help you to understand commonly focused areas and if similar research topics as
yours are already available. As a result, you will be able to select an original topic. Remember to
collect information from authentic sources, library resources, and reputed journals.

Decide appropriate Research Questions

Based on the topic, develop few research questions that you will address in the research
process. Writing down the research questions will help you to have a direction in the research
process. It will help you to set the objectives and the hypothesis of the research.

Formulate a Problem Statement

The next step is to formulate a problem statement based on the research questions that you
have identified. A problem statement is a concise and logical statement about the research focus
and describes what exactly you will be proving / analyzing / answering as an outcome of the
research process. It explains the purpose of the research.

http://questmeraki.com/identifying-a-research-topic/

You may also visit this link for your wider understanding.

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/systematic-literature-review/0/steps/89021

https://elon.libguides.com/research/identify
A Quick Review: Five Steps to Effective Topic Development

1. Develop some topic ideas

2. Background research to find out more about topic ideas. As you do background research you
may add ideas to your topic or you may change your topic entirely.
3. Once you have your topic idea, it is useful to form a research question related to your topic
that can be answered.
4. In-depth research on your topic in order to answer your research question. Keep in mind that
at this juncture you can still change your topic or further develop your research question.
Research is a dynamic process and you should remain open to exploring your interests as you
gather more information.
5. Formulate your thesis, the major claim you'll make in your paper. Think of your thesis as the
answer to your research question.

You should be sure to do some background research on your topic to help create this
concept. Feel free to consult the Internet, an encyclopedia, course readings, or even a librarian to
help explore a topic. It may be through this background research that you will stumble upon a gap
that you want to explore! Remember, research is not linear. You will often circle back to previous
steps in the research process in order to come up with well-formed research question.
What'sNext?

Once you have mapped your topic, you’ll want to start thinking of how to represent this
topic and your approach to the exploration of this topic in a clearly defined research statement
or question. You’ll want to consider how broad or narrow your topic is. If a topic is too broad
you’ll find a lot of information and too many issues to cover within your paper. If your topic is too
narrow, you’ll have difficulty finding sources, or the sources you do find lack depth. It is a healthy
research approach to begin with a topic that is broader in scope, and narrow this topic as you
find sources that are of interest to you. As you consult sources to answer your research question,
consider what you want the reader to walk away with? What is the final claim you are making and
how well do the sources support this claim? This will be your thesis statement that should drive
the reader to read your paper to understand how existing research supports this statement.

https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/910043/pages/developing-a-topic-and-formulating-a-research-
question?module_item_id=5869490

Formulation of Research Question – Stepwise Approach

INTRODUCTION
A good research question (RQ) forms backbone of a good research, which in turn is vital
in unraveling mysteries of nature and giving insight into a problem.[1,2,3,4] RQ identifies the
problem to be studied and guides to the methodology. It leads to building up of an appropriate
hypothesis (Hs). Hence, RQ aims to explore an existing uncertainty in an area of concern and
points to a need for deliberate investigation. A good RQ helps support a focused arguable thesis
and construction of a logical argument. Hence, formulation of a good RQ is undoubtedly one of
the first critical steps in the research process, especially in the field of social and health research,
where the systematic generation of knowledge that can be used to promote, restore, maintain,
and/or protect health of individuals and populations.[1,3,4] Basically, the research can be classified
as action, applied, basic, clinical, empirical, administrative, theoretical, or qualitative or
quantitative research, depending on its purpose.[2]
 Research plays an important role in developing clinical practices and instituting new
health policies. Hence, there is a need for a logical scientific approach as research has an
important goal of generating new claims.[1]
Go to:

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION

“The most successful research topics are narrowly focused and carefully defined but are
important parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem.”
A good RQ is an asset as it:
 Details the problem statement
 Further describes and refines the issue under study
 Adds focus to the problem statement
 Guides data collection and analysis
 Sets context of research.
Hence, while writing RQ, it is important to see if it is relevant to the existing time frame and
conditions. For example, the impact of “odd-even” vehicle formula in decreasing the level of air
particulate pollution in various districts of Delhi.

A good research is represented by acronym FINERMAPS

 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant
 Manageable
 Appropriate
 Potential value and publishability
 Systematic.

FINERMAPS

Feasible
Feasibility means that it is within the ability of the investigator to carry out. It should be
backed by an appropriate number of subjects and methodology as well as time and funds to reach
the conclusions. One needs to be realistic about the scope and scale of the project. One has to have
access to the people, gadgets, documents, statistics, etc. One should be able to relate the concepts
of the RQ to the observations, phenomena, indicators, or variables that one can access. One should
be clear that the collection of data and the proceedings of project can be completed within the
limited time and resources available to the investigator. Sometimes, a RQ appears feasible, but
when fieldwork or study gets started, it proves otherwise. In this situation, it is important to write
up the problems honestly and to reflect on what has been learned. One should try to discuss with
more experienced colleagues or the supervisor so as to develop a contingency plan to anticipate
possible problems while working on a RQ and find possible solutions in such situations.

Interesting
This is essential that one has a real grounded interest in one's RQ and one can explore this
and back it up with academic and intellectual debate. This interest will motivate one to keep going
with RQ.

Novel
The question should not simply copy questions investigated by other workers but should
have scope to be investigated. It may aim at confirming or refuting the already established findings,
establish new facts, or find new aspects of the established facts. It should show imagination of the
researcher. Above all, the question has to be simple and clear. The complexity of a question can
frequently hide unclear thoughts and lead to a confused research process. A very elaborate RQ, or
a question which is not differentiated into different parts, may hide concepts that are contradictory
or not relevant. This needs to be clear and thought-through. Having one key question with several
subcomponents will guide your research.

Ethical
This is the foremost requirement of any RQ and is mandatory to get clearance from
appropriate authorities before stating research on the question. Further, the RQ should be such
that it minimizes the risk of harm to the participants in the research, protect the privacy and
maintain their confidentiality, and provide the participants right to withdraw from research. It
should also guide in avoiding deceptive practices in research.

Relevant
The question should of academic and intellectual interest to people in the field you have
chosen to study. The question preferably should arise from issues raised in the current situation,
literature, or in practice. It should establish a clear purpose for the research in relation to the chosen
field. For example, filling a gap in knowledge, analyzing academic assumptions or professional
practice, monitoring a development in practice, comparing different approaches, or testing theories
within a specific population are some of the relevant RQs.
Manageable (M): It has the similar essence as of feasibility but mainly means that the
following research can be managed by the researcher.
Appropriate (A): RQ should be appropriate logically and scientifically for the community
and institution.
 Potential value and publishability (P): The study can make significant health impact in
clinical and community practices. Therefore, research should aim for significant economic impact
to reduce unnecessary or excessive costs. Furthermore, the proposed study should exist within a
clinical, consumer, or policy-making context that is amenable to evidence-based change. Above
all, a good RQ must address a topic that has clear implications for resolving important dilemmas
in health and health-care decisions made by one or more stakeholder groups.
Systematic (S): Research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a specified sequence in
accordance with the well-defined set of rules though it does not rule out creative thinking.
Example of RQ: Would the topical skin application of oil as a skin barrier reduces
hypothermia in preterm infants? This question fulfills the criteria of a good RQ, that is, feasible,
interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant.

Types of research question

A RQ can address different formats depending on the aspect to be evaluated.[6] For example:
 Existence: This is designed to uphold the existence of a particular phenomenon or to rule
out rival explanation, for example, can neonates perceive pain?
 Description and classification: This type of question encompasses statement of uniqueness,
for example, what are characteristics and types of neuropathic bladders?
 Composition: It calls for breakdown of whole into components, for example, what are
stages of reflux nephropathy?
 Relationship: Evaluate relation between variables, for example, association between tumor
rupture and recurrence rates in Wilm's tumor
 Descriptive—comparative: Expected that researcher will ensure that all is same between
groups except issue in question, for example, Are germ cell tumors occurring in gonads
more aggressive than those occurring in extragonadal sites?
 Causality: Does deletion of p53 leads to worse outcome in patients with neuroblastoma?
 Causality—comparative: Such questions frequently aim to see effect of two rival
treatments, for example, does adding surgical resection improves survival rate outcome in
children with neuroblastoma than with chemotherapy alone?
 Causality–Comparative interactions: Does immunotherapy leads to better survival
outcome in neuroblastoma Stage IV S than with chemotherapy in the setting of adverse
genetic profile than without it? (Does X cause more changes in Y than those caused by Z
under certain condition and not under other conditions).

How to develop a research question

 Begin by identifying a broader subject of interest that lends itself to investigate, for
example, hormone levels among hypospadias
 Do preliminary research on the general topic to find out what research has already been
done and what literature already exists.[7] Therefore, one should begin with “information
gaps” (What do you already know about the problem? For example, studies with results
on testosterone levels among hypospadias
 What do you still need to know? (e.g., levels of other reproductive hormones among
hypospadias)
 What are the implied questions: The need to know about a problem will lead to few
implied questions. Each general question should lead to more specific questions (e.g.,
how hormone levels differ among isolated hypospadias with respect to that in normal
population)
 Narrow the scope and focus of research (e.g., assessment of reproductive hormone levels
among isolated hypospadias and hypospadias those with associated anomalies)
 Once question has been framed, one should evaluate it. This is to realize if these would
be effective RQs or if they need more revising
 Is RQ clear? With so much research available on any given topic, RQs must be as
clear as possible in order to be effective in helping the writer direct his or her
research
 Is the RQ focused? RQs must be specific enough to be well covered in the space
available
 Is the RQ complex? RQs should not be answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or
by easily found facts. They should, instead, require both research and analysis on
the part of the writer
 Is the RQ one that is of interest to the researcher and potentially useful to others?
Is it a new issue or problem that needs to be solved or is it attempting to shed light
on previously researched topic
 Is the RQ researchable? Consider the available time frame and the required
resources. Is the methodology to conduct the research feasible?
 Is the RQ measurable and will the process produce data that can be supported or
contradicted?
 Is the RQ too broad or too narrow?
 Create Hs: After formulating RQ, think where research is likely to be progressing? What
kind of argument is likely to be made/supported? What would it mean if the research
disputed the planned argument? At this step, one can well be on the way to have a focus
for the research and construction of a thesis. Hs consists of more specific predictions
about the nature and direction of the relationship between two variables. It is a predictive
statement about the outcome of the research, dictate the method, and design of the
research[1]
 Understand implications of your research: This is important for application: whether one
achieves to fill gap in knowledge and how the results of the research have practical
 implications, for example, to develop health policies or improve educational
policies.[1,8]

Brainstorm/Concept map for formulating research question

 First, identify what types of studies have been done in the past?
 Is there a unique area that is yet to be investigated or is there a particular question that may
be worth replicating?
 Begin to narrow the topic by asking open-ended “how” and “why” questions
 Evaluate the question
 Develop a Hypothesis (Hs)
 Write down the RQ.

Writing down the research question

 State the question in your own words
 Write down the RQ as completely as possible.
For example, Evaluation of reproductive hormonal profile in children presenting with
isolated hypospadias)
 Divide your question into concepts. Narrow to two or three concepts (reproductive
hormonal profile, isolated hypospadias, compare with normal/not isolated hypospadias–
implied)
 Specify the population to be studied (children with isolated hypospadias)
 Refer to the exposure or intervention to be investigated, if any
 Reflect the outcome of interest (hormonal profile).

Another example of a research question

Would the topical skin application of oil as a skin barrier reduces hypothermia in preterm infants?
Apart from fulfilling the criteria of a good RQ, that is, feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and
relevant, it also details about the intervention done (topical skin application of oil), rationale of
intervention (as a skin barrier), population to be studied (preterm infants), and outcome (reduces
hypothermia).

Other important points to be heeded to while framing research question

1. Make reference to a population when a relationship is expected among a certain type of
subjects
2. RQs and Hs should be made as specific as possible
 3. Avoid words or terms that do not add to the meaning of RQs and Hs
4. Stick to what will be studied, not implications
5. Name the variables in the order in which they occur/will be measured
6. Avoid the words significant/”prove”
7. Avoid using two different terms to refer to the same variable.
Some of the other problems and their possible solutions have been discussed in Table 1.

Table 1
Potential problems and solutions while making research question

Go to:

Appropriate statistical calculations are instituted to generate sample size. The subject inclusion,
exclusion criteria and time frame of research are carefully defined. The detailed subject
information sheet and pro forma are carefully defined. Moreover, research is set off few
examples of research methodology guided by RQ:
 Incidence of anorectal malformations among adolescent females (hospital-based survey)
 Risk factors for the development of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum in pediatric patients
(case–control design and cohort study)
 Effect of technique of extramucosal ureteric reimplantation without the creation of
submucosal tunnel for the preservation of upper tract in bladder exstrophy (clinical trial).

CONCLUSION
A good RQ needs thorough literature search and deep insight into the specific area/problem to be
investigated. A RQ has to be focused yet simple. Research guided by such question can have wider
impact in the field of social and health research by leading to formulation of policies for the benefit
of larger population.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322175/

The basics of writing a statement of the problem for your research proposal

The first and most important step in any research is to identify and delineate the research
problem: that is, what the researcher wants to solve and what questions he/she wishes to answer.
A research problem may be defined as an area of concern, a gap in the existing knowledge, or a
deviation in the norm or standard that points to the need for further understanding and
investigation. Although many problems turn out to have several solutions (the means to close the
gap or correct the deviation), difficulties arise where such means are either not obvious or are not
immediately available. This then necessitates some research to reach a viable solution.

A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that outlines the problem
addressed by a study. The statement of the problem briefly addresses the question: What is the
problem that the research will address?

What are the goals of a statement of the problem?

The ultimate goal of a statement of the problem is to transform a generalized problem

(something that bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-defined problem; one that
can be resolved through focused research and careful decision-making.
Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly identify the purpose of the
research project you will propose. Often, the statement of the problem will also serve as the basis
for the introductory section of your final proposal, directing your reader’s attention quickly to the
issues that your proposed project will address and providing the reader with a concise statement
of the proposed project itself.
A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one page is more than enough for a good
statement of problem.

What are the key characteristics of a statement of the problem?

A good research problem should have the following characteristics:
It should address a gap in knowledge.
It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research
It should lead to further research
The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data
It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources
The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical

What is the format for writing a statement of the problem?

A persuasive statement of problem is usually written in three parts:
Part A (The ideal): Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains how things should be.
Part B (The reality): Describes a condition that prevents the goal, state, or value in Part A from
being achieved or realized at this time; explains how the current situation falls short of the goal or
ideal.
Part C (The consequences): Identifies the way you propose to improve the current situation and
move it closer to the goal or ideal.

https://www.editage.com/insights/the-basics-of-writing-a-statement-of-the-problem-for-your-
research-proposal
References
Books:
1. Bueno, David C. Practical Qualitative Research Writing. Quezon City: Great Books
Trading, 2016.
2. Bondoc, Victoriana P. et al. Action Research Made Easy (A Practical Guide to the
Preparation of Action Research in Education) Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
2014.
3. Aquino, G.V. Fundamentals of Research. Mandaluyong City. National Book Store, Inc.
1992.
4. Barley, K.D. Methods of Social Research. London Collier McMillan Publishing. 1987.
5. Best, J.W. and Khan, J.V. Research in Education. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989.
6. Calderon, J.F. and Gonzales, E.C. Methods of Research and Thesis Writing. Metro
Manila: National Book Store, Inc. 1993.
7. Padua, R.H. Elements of Research. Quezon City: MMM Books, Inc. 1995.
8. Reyes, Milagros Z. Social Research: A Deductive Approach. Manila: Rex Book Store.
9. Sanchez, C.A. Methods and Techniques of Research, Manila: Rex Book Store, 1980.
10. Slavin, R.E. Research Methods in Education: A Practical Guide. Metro Manila: National
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11. Posecion, Ofelia T. et al.Language Research: Principles and Applications. Quezon City:
Lorimar Publishing Inc.