How to Identify Your Research Problems?

A research problem is always a primary concept of the research work. Identifying the research problem is the next stage after selecting a research topic. It also includes the specific problem, the unclear nature of the research, the gaps in the information, and the insights that need to be discussed. It serves as the framework for the entire study procedure and helps in reducing the problem to a manageable level so that research may be done. However, it might not be an easy task to identify their research problems precisely, especially for students. Don’t worry! The experts at All Assignment Help have compiled a detailed blog to help students in defining research problems.

What is a Research Problem?

A research problem is a concise, precise declaration or expression of the problem that needs to be solved or the issue that needs to be addressed in theory, literature, or practice in the chosen area of concern. An identified research challenge suggests the need for a thorough examination. It doesn’t specify how to proceed, thus a researcher shouldn’t pose a crucial question or put up a wide research agenda.

The three major goals of defining a research problem are as follows:

• It highlights the significance of the original study subject.
• To correctly establish the investigation’s parameters, it assists the researcher in situating the issue in a particular setting.
• It offers a framework that may be useful for future results presentations.

Finding logical solutions to research problems is necessary to come to the best research conclusions. However, students might find it difficult to conclude. Hence, they can take research paper writing services online from professionals. 

Read Here: Types of Research Papers: Power-Up Your Skills!

Core Features of a Research Problem

Developing a research inquiry requires an understanding of the features of a research problem. Here are the five essential features of a research problem:

• New: A perfect research problem adds something new to the domain of current knowledge by presenting an original viewpoint. It should address open-ended questions or fundamental information while offering fresh perspectives.
• Significant: A problem should be important if it can affect theory, practice, policy, or our understanding of a specific phenomenon. It needs to tackle an important theoretical problem, a knowledge gap, a practical problem, or something else important to the field of study.
• Feasible: A research problem is considered feasible if it is practically researchable with the time, money, and competence at hand. It must be measurable in terms of its variables and results, and it must neither be too wide nor too limited to be successfully explored.
• Clear and specific: There should be no opportunity for uncertainty in a well-defined research problem. It should be explicit and easy to understand. Furthermore, making the problem specific guarantees that it is not unclear, that it is focused, and that it targets a specific component of the larger topic.
• Based on proof: An effective research problem rejects material that cannot be verified and instead depends on reliable facts and proof. It must also take ethical standards into account, protecting the rights and welfare of any participants in the study, be they people or groups.

These features make it easy for an individual to choose a research problem effectively. Moreover, these features are applicable while identifying research problems for an argumentative research paper as well.

 

Types of Research Problems

There are 3 types of research problems. The utilization of research and statistical methodologies is also dependent on the type of the problem. The three research problems are listed below in detail.

Descriptive Research Problems

Descriptive research problems concentrate on queries like “What is?” with the primary goal of describing the circumstance, status, or existence of a certain specific phenomenon. They aim to represent what currently exists within a group or population. 

There can be no manipulation of the variables or hypotheses while a researcher is working on a descriptive research problem because they are often non-directional.

Relational Research Problem

According to this research problem, some kind of relationship between two variables needs to be examined. The goal is to look at the traits or qualities that are related in some way.

For example, a questionnaire cannot determine whether a student’s opinion drove them to read a particular magazine or whether their opinion caused them to read a particular magazine. Therefore, this kind of research problem necessitates the use of multiple variables to demonstrate their relationship.

Causal Research Problems

The main goal of causal research problems is finding the scope and type of cause-and-effect relationships. These research issues help to figure out the effect that various modifications will have on the norms and procedures in place. They can thus recognize patterns in the interactions between various elements.

Consider the question, “How does online education affect students’ learning capacity?” The most common method of gathering first-hand information in such circumstances is through experiments. The hypothesis is typically directed in this situation, i.e., it explains how one thing influences the behavior of another.

However, if you face any issues while going through any of these research problems, it is advised to hire assignment experts online for guidance or assistance. 

Also Read: Academic Research: Its Importance & Ways to Conduct

Research Problem Identification – Steps to Define a Problem

The research problem is the first step in knowing exactly what you’ll do and why, whether you’re planning your thesis, beginning a research paper, or writing a research proposal. 

Below some tips are given to identify the research problems without any difficulties.

Discover a Similar Problem

Finding new topics, issues, and themes to study is the most important phase in every particular research. Your search for areas that need to be filled by your work. 

Reading reports, checking up on earlier research, and speaking with others who work in the industry or organization in question can all help you find an issue if you are conducting practical research.

However, if your research work is related to a job or internship, it will be crucial for you to choose a research question that tackles particular problems faced by the company.

Set Research Objectives

You must create a plan outlining the goals of the research you need to conduct. The research questions are identified with the help of the research study’s objectives.

However, the research topic and the research objective are distinct from one another. The writing style makes a difference. Typically, research questions have an inquisitive tone. The study objectives, on the other hand, are goal-oriented. These words include inspecting, investigating, exploring, and finding out among others.

Understanding the Research Problems

The next step is to determine what is already known about the issue and identify the precise area that your research will focus on. Your problem context and background should include some relevant questions such as who is the issue affecting? What studies have already been conducted? What are the current discussions surrounding the issue, and what do you feel is missing?

Moreover, your Uniqueness and Worthiness include the questions like What particular area, period, and/or population will be the focus? Are there any elements of the study that you might not be able to handle? What worries would there be if the issue wasn’t fixed?

Examine the Specifics of the Problem

Why is it important to examine the research problem nature? You can create workable solutions with the use of this information. Consider focus groups and other relevant data to provide the necessary insight into a certain subject to gain a thorough understanding of all dimensions.

Various variables and their relationships determine how simple or hard a research problem is. While some of them may be directly related to certain study issues, others may not even be relevant to your research at all.

Identify the Links Between the Various Variables

To ensure the success of your research, you must put a lot of effort into defining and testing every type of environmental variable. This stage might assist you in determining whether the key findings of your study will produce enough information to justify consideration.

This stage might assist you in determining whether the key findings of your study will produce enough information to justify consideration. 

Five Sources of a Research Problem

The type of research problem you want to look into should satisfy two requirements from a research standpoint. First, the problem must be original and unexplored by previous extensive research by

other researchers. Second, a research paper should address specific concerns raised by the problem. Having said that, the following five sources can lead to a research problem:

Interviews

The method allows you to participate in both formal and casual conversations with people who can add valuable context to your research and increase the relevance of your results for additional research.

Talking with professionals in the area you want to research could be beneficial. Talking with these professionals can help you find real-world problems that academic students have either overlooked or understudied.

Personal Experiences

Research problems can be derived from your everyday life experiences. Any challenge can serve as the basis for a personal experience-based research problem. However, you must consider it thoughtfully when considering a problem that impacts your community, family, or personal life.

For instance, you can use seemingly unusual occurrences or interactions within the society that challenge explanation to create a research question.

Deductions from Theory

A deduction from theory is a conclusion drawn by a researcher from broad hypotheses about living in an established society. You can look for research problem examples drawn from deductions of theories.

A researcher formulates a theory-driven research topic and hypothesis that suggests certain conclusions based on specific empirical data after taking the deduction and placing it in an empirical framework.

Interdisciplinary Perspective

You must look at academic movements and scholarship from areas other than your primary field of study if you use an interdisciplinary approach to develop a research study problem. This is a conceptual process that necessitates reading relevant literature to identify original lines of inquiry and analysis.

Furthermore, this method gives you the chance to quickly understand complicated topics which is an advantage when choosing a research problem for your research paper project.

Relevant Literature

Reviewing research in your field of interest is the first step in creating a research problem from appropriate information. By doing this, you can identify knowledge gaps in the topic and quickly determine how little is known about your field of interest.

Information gathered from relevant research is important since it closes knowledge gaps based on a particular study. Also, it analyzes whether recent study findings may have an impact on future research into the same topic.

These sources are also helpful if you are working on a research paper and looking for a research problem for your topic. However, you can also hire an online class helper if your topic is too complex to choose a research problem.

Also Read: Guidelines to Conduct Effective Academic Research Using the Internet

Final Thoughts!

The research topic, problem, purpose, and questions are only a few of the substeps that make up the first phase of any research project. The research question(s) is/are the primary emphasis of the first components of a study, while the topic is the most general aspect of the investigation. This procedure’s goal is to focus on and shape a study to make it realistic and meaningful.

All these above techniques are extremely efficient and can bring you better results later on for the researcher in the selection of the research problem and the way to solve it. If you need any assistance with your research problems, you can always count on us. We also provide research paper editing services to students who need editing services for their research papers or problems. 

FAQs

Q: What do research problem statements serve? A: In research, a problem statement aims to do the following: I) Describe the topic’s significance in the research proposal. II) Place the issue in the proper setting. III) Set up a structure for the analysis and reporting of results.

Q: What benefits can be obtained from developing a research problem? A: Understanding the research process, deciding on the research objective, designing the research process, and laying the groundwork for research are some benefits of creating a research problem.