Selection of Research Problem

Dr. N. AUDINARAYANA
Professor and Head.
Dept. of Sociology & Population Studies
Director, School of Social Sciences
Bharathiar University
COIMBATORE – 641 046
E-mail: audi_bu@ymail.com
 RESEARCH PROBLEM

 Research is an activity undertaken for

generating fresh (New) knowledge and/or
verifying the existing prepositions

 Its principal goal is description,

prediction, control and understanding
the nature and the human beings –
individuals as well as groups
 Selection of A Research Problem
 Some unresolved problem can be a topic for
research

 A researcher is expected to identify a problem

suitable for research, define it, submit a plan of
research to the sponsoring agency / higher
authority and obtain its approval before
proceeding further in the direction

 A research problem in general refers to some

theoretical or practical situation requiring
solution. However, every situation may not be
suitable for research
Selection of A Research Problem, Continued…
 A research problem should offer one or more
possible courses of action and possibly one or
more outcomes, which may be pursued to
achieve the desired objective

 A research problem should be selected very

carefully

 The subject matter of research should be of

Researcher’s Interest,
Educational Background and
Experience of Work
being the main consideration
Selection of A Research Problem, Continued…
 In the search of a suitable topic:
- the literature available on the subject
may be surveyed
- suggestions and guidance may be
sought from scholars
- co-workers and research supervisor

However, in the ultimate analysis the

researcher is expected to make a final
decision in the matter
 Sources of Problems
Reading: of books, articles relating to the subject
matter of interest

Academic Experience: Classroom Lectures /

Discussions / Seminars –
Discussion with Profs.
etc.

Daily Experience: Daily we learn new things and

undergo new experiences

Exposure to Filed Visits: Field visits, internship

training and extension
work, etc.
 Sources of Problems, Continued…
Consultations: Discussions with experts,
researchers, administrators, etc.

Brain Storming: Intensified discussions with a

group of interested persons

Research: Research of one problem may suggest

for further research

Intuition: Sometimes new ideas may strike to

one’s mind like a flash
 Process of Identification of Problems
 Selection of the Discipline and Field of
Specialization
 Identifying two or more specific topics in the
selected broad area
Criteria of Selection
Internal Criteria: Researcher’s Interest,
Researcher’s Competence,
Researcher’s Own Resources –
finance and time
External Criteria: Setting, Sample, etc.
Process of Identification of Problems, Cont…
 Researchability
 Importance and Urgency
 Novelty or Originality
 Feasibility
 Facilities
 Usefulness and Relevance
 Research Personnel
The overall guideline would be:
Select a feasible and researchable problem which is
interesting to you and within your competence and
manageable within the available time and resources,
and at the same time has some importance and social
relevance, and for which facilities are available.
Points to be borne in mind while Selecting the
Research Problem
 Subject overdone should not be normally chosen
 Controversial subject should be avoided
 Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided
 The subject selected for research should be familiar
and feasible
 The importance of the subject,
the qualifications and the training of a researcher,
the costs involved, and
the time factor should considered before selecting
 The selection of the problem must be preceded by a
preliminary study.