PRE-WRITING : REPORT

PRE-WRITING : ANALYTICAL REPORTS

IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM AND SELECTING A TOPIC

How to define a research problem

A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge that you will aim to address in your research

A knowledge gap

Is a difference between what is known and what should be known.

It is discovered through reading previous studies to identify what is missing in either methodology, theory and literature in general.

Contd.

A researcher might look for practical problems aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problems aimed at expanding knowledge

Multiple Choice

Research problems are contradictions, difficulties and issues that is very specific

• True

• False

Fill in the Blanks

Theoretical problem aims to

the knowledge.

Contd.

The type of research problem you choose depends on your broad topic of interest and the type of research you want to carry out

Why is the research problem important?

• You are likely to end up with an unfocused and unmanageable project

• You might be repeating what other people have already said, trying to say too much, or doing research without a clear purpose and justification

• You need a problem in order to do research that contributes new and relevant insights.

Contd.

When writing research proposal you will have to formulate the research problem as a problem statement and/or research questions.

Multiple Choice

The research problem is the first step towards knowing exactly what you will do and why.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The type of report is determined by justification.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

In proposal writing, research problem is stated as...

• justification

• introduction

• problem statement

• research proposal

Multiple Select

Without well defined problem statement, your research will end up

• unfocused

• too much to say

• repeating the same idea

• undefined research

• to be manageable

Step 1: Identify a broad problem area

Look for under-explored aspects and areas of concern, conflict or controversy

Your goal is to find a gap that your research project can fill.

Contd.

If you are doing practical research, you can identify a problem by reading reports, following up on previous research, and talking to people who work in the relevant field or organization. 

You might look for:

• Issues with performance or efficiency in an organization

• Processes that could be improved in an institution

• Areas of concern among practitioners in a field

• Difficulties faced by specific groups of people in society

Multiple Select

As you explored about the possible area or topic for your research pay attention to:

• proposal

• conflict

• controversy

• gap

• areas of concern

Fill in the Blanks

---------- research involves reading previous research, reports and interviews with people with relevant banckground.

Step 2: Learn more about the problem

Find out what is already known about the problem, and pinpoint the exact aspect that your research will address.

Ask yourself these questions:

•  Who does the problem affect?

• Has it been an issue for a long time, or is it a newly discovered problem?

• What research has already been done?

• Have any solutions been proposed?

• What are the current debates about the problem, and what do you think is missing from them?

And more specific questions:

• What particular place, time and/or people will you focus on?

• What aspects will you not be able to tackle?

• What will be the consequences if the problem is not resolved?

• Whose will benefit from resolving the problem (e.g. the management of an organization or future researchers?

Multiple Choice

Have any solutions been proposed?

What research has already been done?

Who does the problem affect?

These are questions to be answered by other people.

• True

• False

THAT IS ALL!

So was your score?