Unit – IIResearch Problem QuestionResearch Problem Question

Mrs. S. Andal, M.Sc(N).,

Professor cum Research Co-ordinator

Faculty of Nursing

INTRODUCTION

It is a question that a researcher wants toanswer or a problem that a researcher wants tosolve.

Selection of a research problem dependson several factors such as researcher’sknowledge, skills, interest, expertise,motivation and creativity with respect to asubject of inquiry.

Definition

A problem is a interrogative sentenceor statement that asks what relation existsbetween two or more variables. The answerto questions will provide what is havingto questions will provide what is havingsought in the research.

- Kerlinger

Cont…

A situation for which we have noready & successful response by instinct orby previous acquired habit. We must findby previous acquired habit. We must findout what to do.

– R.S. Woodworth

Sources/IDENTIFICATION of Research Problem AREA

• Personal experiences

Day to day personal experiences of theresearcher may serve as good source of ideasto formulate a research problem.to formulate a research problem.

• Practical experiences

Nurses get plenty of ideas to formulateresearch problem from their clinicalexperience.

Cont…

• Critical Appraisal of LiteratureWhen we critically study books and articlesrelating to the subject of our interest, includingsubject reports, opinion articles and summaries ofclinical issues. These may strike readers mindindirectly by stimulating imagination and directlyindirectly by stimulating imagination and directlyby stating what additional research is needed.

• Previous ResearchA body of knowledge should be developed on asound foundation of research findings. Furtherrefinement of the previous studies by made in theexperimental treatments or more appropriateoutcome measures may be identified.

Cont…

• Existing Theories

Research is a process of theory development andtheory testing. The testing of an existing theoryis definitely needed in nursing, to testing in theclinical situation.clinical situation.

• Social issues

Sometimes, topics are suggested by more globalcontemporary social or political issues ofrelevance to the health care community. An ideafor a study may stem from a familiarity withsocial concerns or controversial social issues.

Cont…• Brainstorming

It is a good techniques to find new questions,where an intensified discussion among interestedpeople of the profession to find more ideas toformulate a good research problem.formulate a good research problem.

• Intuition

Intuitions are believed that the reflective mind isa good sources of knowledge/ideas to find newresearch problems.

Cont…• Folklores

Folklore is the expressive body of culture shared by aparticular group of people; it encompasses the traditionscommon to that culture, subculture or group. Researcherscan conduct a research study to find more ideas aboutculture.

• Exposure to field situation• Exposure to field situation

During field exposure, researchers get variety ofexperiences , which may provide plenty of ideas toformulate research problem.

• Consultation with experts

Experts may help in finding a current problem of disciplinefor formulation of research problem.

Criteria for Selecting Good Research Problem

• Significance to Nursing Profession• Original• Feasible to time, cost, equipment and supply,

administrative support, peer’s support,administrative support, peer’s support,availability of subjects, Researcher’scompetence and ethical consideration.

• Solvable / Researchable• Current• Interesting

Formulation of Research Problem

• Selection of Research Area

• Reviewing Literature and Theories

• Delimiting Research problem• Delimiting Research problem

• Evaluating Research Problem

• Formulating final statement

Cont…• Selection of Research Area

Formulation of research problem begins withselection of board research topic from personalexperience, literature, previous research andtheories in which researcher is interested.

• Reviewing Literature and Theories

Literature is reviewed to know what hasalready been done I this selected area ofresearch. Therefore researcher can plan aresearch topic to further expand the existingbody of knowledge in respective area ofresearch.

Cont…

• Delimiting Research problem

In this researcher proceeds from a generalresearch area of interest to more specifictopic of research to conduct a study.

• Evaluating Research Problem

Once researcher is clear about the specificresearch problem that must be carefullyevaluated for its significance,researchability and feasibility.

Cont…• Formulating final statement

After establishing significance, researchability andfeasibility, the researcher finally formulates a finalstatement of a research problem. A statement ofresearch Problem could be in declarative orinterrogative format.

Formulation of research problem is preferable if itFormulation of research problem is preferable if itfulfills the following features

Research Problem is clearly, precisely andconcisely articulated.

It clearly states the variables, population andresearch settings under study.

Variables are expressed in measureable terms.The type of study also may be included in the

statement of research problem.

Problem statement

• Evaluate the effectiveness of structuredteaching program [STP] on knowledgeregarding effects of psychoactive substance useamong adolescent patients in selectedamong adolescent patients in selectedpsychiatric hospital at Chennai.