THE RESEARCH PROCESS: THE BROAD PROBLEM AREA AND DEFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

CHAPTER 3

Objectives• Identify problem areas that are likely to be studied in

organization• Discuss how problem areas can be identified in work

settings• State research problems clearly and precisely• Explain how primary and secondary data help the

researcher to develop a problem statement• Develop relevant and comprehensive bibliographies for

any organizational research topic.• Write a literature review on any given topic,

documenting the references in the prescribed manner

Objectives• Develop a research proposal• Apply all you have learned to a group project that might

be assigned.

Broad Problem Area• Problem: Any situation where a gap exists between the

actual and the desired ideal situation• Examples:

- Effectiveness of a training program- Sales - Career advancement for selected group of people- IT system- Flexible working hours etc, etc.

Preliminary Information Gathering• Nature of information to be gathered• Background information on the organization• Prevailing knowledge on the topic

Nature of information to be gathered

• Primary data (interviews: structured and unstructured, review existing source of information, observation of people, events, objects, questionnaire etc.).

• Secondary data (company web-site, published records, statistical bulletins, government publications etc.

Background Information on the Organization

• The origin and history of the company – when it came into being, business it is in, rate of growth, ownership and control, and so on.

• Size in terms of employees, assets or both• Charter – purpose and ideology• Location – regional, national or other• Resources – human and others• Interdependent relationships with other institutions and

the external environment• Financial positions (5 to 10 years)• Information on structural factors• Information on the management philosophy

Prevailing knowledge on the topic• Literature review• Builds on foundation of existing knowledge• No important variables are ignored

Literature Review• All important variables are included in the study• Develop the theoretical framework (the importance of

the research, why and how) and hypotheses testing• The problem statement can be made with precision

and clarity• Enhance testability and replicability of the research• Does not “reinvent the wheel”. • The problem investigated is perceived by the scientific

community as relevant and significant

Literature Review - Why• All important variables are included in the study• Develop the theoretical framework (the importance of

the research, why and how) and hypotheses testing• The problem statement can be made with precision

and clarity• Enhance testability and replicability of the research• Does not “reinvent the wheel”. • The problem investigated is perceived by the scientific

community as relevant and significant

Literature Review – Conducting the Literature Review• Data sources (books, journals, theses, conference

proceedings, published/unpublished manuscripts etc, the Internet, newspapers)

• Searching the literature (electronic journals, full-text databases, bibliographic databases, abstract databases)

• Evaluating the literature (tittle, abstract, article’s introduction, problem statement, research questions, and/ or research objectives, table of content and the first chapter of a book)

• Documenting the literature review (APA, 2001; Chicago Manual of Style (2003); Turabian’s Manual for Writers (2007)

Defining the problem statement• Defined as a clear, precise and succinct statement of a

specific issue that a researcher wishes to investigate. Problem statement should be relevant, feasible and interesting.

• Relevant

Managerial perspective

- a problem that currently exists in an organizational setting- an area that a manager believes needs to be improved in the organization

Defining the problem statement• Relevant

Academic perspective - Nothing is known about the topic- Much is known about the topic, but the knowledge

is scattered and not integrated- Much research on the topic is available, but the

results are (partly contradictory, or - Establish relationships do not in certain situations

Defining the problem statement• Feasible

Able to answer the research problem statement within the restrictions of the research project, ex time and money, availability of respondents, the expertise of the researcher.

• Interesting

to be genuinely interested in the problem statement and be motivated

The Topic

• is introduced in the first paragraphs.• includes the general subject matter.• must be introduced so that the reader can relate to it.

• http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Topic Selection Consideration

• Personal interest• Organizational support• Ethical issues• Relevance of the study• Contribution to the field• Time constraints• Breath and scope• Economic factors

http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Sources of Topic Selection

• ERIC, PsycINFO, Medline• Journals, books, and dissertations in your field• Conferences, workshops, presentations• Recommendations about future research• Courses• Workplace• Expert consultations• Online library services

http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Why the problem statement is important

• It establishes the importance of the topic.• It creates reader interest.• It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add

to the literature.

• http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Why the problem statement is important

• It establishes the importance of the topic.• It creates reader interest.• It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add

to the literature

http://www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Stating the research problem

• State the problem in the opening paragraph (i.e., something that needs a solution)

• Identify an issue

–Research-based research problems

–Practical problems

• Reference the problem using the literature• Common pitfall: defining the problem based on the

solution• www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/fi

les/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

How the problem statement differ from other parts of research

• A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study.

• A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study.

• A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.• Research questions are those that the researcher would

like answered or addressed in the study.

www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Justifying the problem statement

• Justification based on what other researchers have found• Justification based on personal or workplace experiences• Justification based on the experiences that others have

had in the workplace

www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/ARC_Doc/from_problem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Example 1

According to business marketing theory, businesses are more likely to succeed if they utilize marketing management approaches or techniques. For example, the marketing concept, a cornerstone of business marketing thought, stresses the importance of determining the needs and wants of consumers and delivering the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than competitors (Kotler, 1986). Philosophies from marketing management have recently been applied to almost every industry from insurance to travel and hospital services, but not often to farming. Concerns have been raised about the distinction which appears to exist between agricultural and business marketing theory (Bartels, 1983; Bateman, 1976; Muelenberg, 1986).

Defining the problem statement

For the above problem statement identify the following:- The general research area- The specific research area- The research gap- The problem which the research intend to investigate.

(note: sometimes this can be in terms of research question)

Example 2

Live online sessions may be delivered in virtual classrooms from Adobe Connect, Elluminate, GoToMeeting, Wimba, or other software programs Many authors such as Offir, Lev, and Bezalel(2008) found the interaction level in a synchronous class, also known as web conferencing, to be a significant factor in the effectiveness of online class. Other researchers describe “the power of a synchronous online system to empower students in conversation and expression (McBrien, Jones, & Cheng, 2009). However, online learning calsses are only effective if students attend these calsses. Many studies have been conducted on online classes (Kenning, 2010; Lavolette, Venable, Gose, & Huang, 2010 ) but few specifically studied why students do or do not attend. According to Skylar(2009), “research concerning the use of newer multimedia technologies, such as interactive synchronous web conferencing tools, is in its infancy and needs further and continued study” (p. 82). McBrien, Jones, and Cheng (2009) stated that “more studies are needed to explore students’ perceptions of the synchronous learning experience.” Thus the central question this research intend to study is, “What are students’ attitudes regarding non mandatory synchronous sessions in a southern university?”

Defining the problem statement

For the above problem statement identify the following:- The general research area- The specific research area- The research gap- The problem which the research intend to investigate.

(note: sometimes this can be in terms of research question)

Example 3

Live online sessions may be delivered in virtual classrooms from Adobe Connect, Elluminate, GoToMeeting, Wimba, or other software programs. Regardless of the software used, student attendance at live online sessions, especially optional ones, can be unpredictable at best. It is a common complaint among the online faculty at a university in the south that many, oftentimes most, of their students do not attend the live online sessions. This study will address the problem of low student attendance at non mandatory virtual classroom meetings in online college courses.

Defining the problem statement

For the above problem statement identify the following:- The general research area- The specific research area- The research gap- The problem which the research intend to investigate.

(note: sometimes this can be in terms of research question)

Compare Ex 1, Ex 2 and Ex 3. What is (are) the main difference (s) between them?

Defining the problem statement

For the above problem statement identify the following:- The general research area- The specific research area- The research gap- The problem which the research intend to investigate.

(note: sometimes this can be in terms of research question)

Compare Ex 1, Ex 2 and Ex 3. What is (are) the main difference (s) between them?

The research proposal

1. The purpose of the study

2. The specific problem to be investigated (Problem statement)

3. The scope of the study

4. The relevance of the study

5. The research design offering details on:- The sampling design- Data collection methods- Data analysis

6. Time frame of the study including information on when the written report will be handed over to sponsors

7. The budget, detailing the costs with reference to specific items of expenditure

8. Selected bibliography

Other issues

1. Managerial Implications

2. Ethical issues in the preliminary stages of investigations

Discuss