Activity 3: “The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process”



Activity 3: “The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process”

Introduction

The term 'research' is loosely used to refer to multiple activities such as the collection of information, investigating different theories, and finally producing new and useful products. It is of utmost significance that a practitioner or a student starting the embarking on the wonderful journey of research, whether practical or academic, has developed a clear understanding of the concept or idea that what the word research really constitutes and means and removes any misconception or misunderstanding of the term that may be caused by word's general usage in public. Therefore, the concept or idea is worth giving a serious thought in order to find out how the word is used in general language for the purpose of understanding the collection of activities known as research, which, in real meaning, does not constitute a valid academic or practical research.

A true research, according to the Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary, can be defined as the 'systematic investigation into the study of materials, sources etc. in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions' (OEED, 1991, p. 1228). It can also be understood as systematic and organized attempt to discover new or refine old concepts and / or facts by means of conducting a scientific study into the subject or by doing activities aimed at critically investigating the matter in hand (OEED, 1991, p. 1228). This paper aims at discussing the characteristics of a research problem, while attempting to find out what really constitutes a researchable problem. The paper also attempts to explore the different components of a well formed statement of research problem and the components of a reasonable theoretical framework for the need of the study.

Discussion

Characteristics of Research Problem

The identification process of a suitable issue for the research of a doctoral program may be a reorganization matter even though a lot of planning and unique creative steps also need to be used. Majority of the students of doctoral programs already know about the common topic which they wish to write on but still shifting from a topic to a proper issue needs precision. Those students who enroll in doctoral programs might begin from lots of pointers in regards to the preparation of dissertation writing. In a few cases however it can be a possibility to draft a proper issue which is focused on the correct problem by adding a study which exists and is similar, with a change in the groups or settings or other important variables. A few of the fields are relevant and fertile enough to have or want huge researches which might highlight the important aspects of the complete topic. Still it is not practical. In most cases the current study or one's research modeling on anything that already exists (Welman & Kruger, 2007).

Still knowing of the research that is already done is the foundation because the doctoral researches are expected to be ground breaking. This is a criterion to be ...