In the course of writing a research paper, one of the most critical pillars is the Research Problem. So what is a research problem? It is that statement of a certain issue that merits a research study.
It is a fuel that drives the scientific process. This is achieved by laying a foundation of the research method and experimental design right from actual experiment all the way to the case study. The article will shed more light on what a research paper is all about as well as the element it has.
A well-stated research problem will make appropriate suggestions of possible investigations.
By generally looking at any scientific paper, you will quickly see a research problem written the same way as a statement of intent. The first element that defines a research problem is defining it. Secondly, state the quality of answers as well as the extent to which research method can be used.
Formulating research problem begins with clearly stating your scientific process. A good way of generating the start of your research problem is by looking at areas where other researchers created impressive results but failed to follow up. It could also be deduced from an area of interest where other people have not fully explored.
This is the conceptual definition of a problem statement. Its fundamental significance is that it will give an overview of the problem in question.
One should determine the scalar properties of the variables. Whenever a researcher measures abstract concepts like intelligence, subjective responses, and emotions, the system that is making statistical measurement has to be established. Creating an operational definition of your research problem can allow statistical analysis, and it’s replication.
How can you Define a Research Problem?
Many times, research could require you to derive your problem statement through deductive reasoning. For instance, a researcher in anthropology can discover references to a tribe in Guinea. By application of deductive reasoning, the researcher will arrive at a research problem by asking:
“how do these New Guinea People survive and what is the effect of their culture to the nearby tribes?”
This is tracing a gap in knowledge, and the researcher above is only trying to seek ways of filling the gap. The researcher will thus use a qualitative case study that has no hypothesis.
As discussed above, in all research projects, defining and delineating a research project is inevitable. Not just defining it, but doing so clearly.