How to Design a Research Problem

Designing a research problem is a precise and critical undertaking. How it is designed will determine the parameters or scope of the research. If it is a quantitative design, then it will rely on deductive reasoning to discover a hypothesis that can be repeatedly tested with the same results. If the design is qualitative, then inductive reasoning will consider the finds of the subjects or cases studied and draw a conclusion.

Things You'll Need

  • A clear vision of your methodology
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Instructions

    • 1
      Structuring the research problem is a critical step.

      Structure your research problem. If, for example, you are studying a particular group of people and wondering how they interact with members of a different group, you are designing a problem requiring inductive reasoning to arrive at a qualitative result: "How does Group A interact with Group B?" If, on the other hand, you have anecdotal evidence that Group A is behaving negatively, you may use deductive reasoning to hypothesize that "Members of Group A are behaving negatively due to the influences of Group B." You then design an experiment or study to test your hypothesis.

    • 2
      Delineate your methodology.

      Discuss your methodology. Essentially answer two key questions: 1) How was the data gathered or produced? 2) How was it analyzed? This demonstrates exactly how you collected your results, an important facet of research because how data is obtained or generated influences the results. Additionally, you need to spell out why you selected this particular approach in addressing the problem since other researchers may want to replicate your study, and they must know that your methodology was appropriate for the purpose. Also, the reader needs to know that the data was gathered in a reliable manner.

    • 3
      Detail your research process.

      Detail your research process since methods can influence outcomes. People reading your research will probably be well-versed in the subject and consequently understand many of the underlining procedures and related research. However, they will want to know how you went about it.

    • 4
      Discuss problems encountered and how they were resolved.

      Include problems encountered when you were collecting or generating your information. Record major impediments and detail how you overcame them. This is an important facet of the research methodology. How you resolved obstacles can illuminate your process and offer a pragmatic picture of your methods.

    • 5
      A discussion of your results is vital.

      Present your results and discuss them. For example, if you have done a case study, provide background: the present conditions, as well as environmental connections of one or more subjects -- institutions, communities, groups, individuals, etc. -- that were studied to determine phases as related to external and/or internal pressure. A questionnaire or survey will discuss the convictions, actions and opinions that have been identified, given an account and analyzed.

    • 6
      In you conclusions be sure to answer all of the important questions.

      Offer your conclusions. Has your research problem been resolved or deciphered? Have you achieved your intended results? Are there deficiencies in the methodology or in the research? What have you learned from this research, and how can the knowledge you have gained be used?

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