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Book No. – 28 (Sociology)
Book Name – Research Methodology of Sociology
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Problem Formulation
1.1. The Importance of Formulating a Research Problem
1.2. Sources of Research Problems
1.3. Considerations in Selecting a Research Problem
1.4. Steps in formulating a Research Problem
1.5. Conclusion
2. Review of Literature
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Function
2.3. Types- Review of literature
2.4. Steps to Writing a Review of Literature
2.5. Conclusion
3. Research Question
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Research Questions
3.3. Types of Research Questions
3.4. Conclusion
4. Objectives
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Objectives
4.3. Characteristics of Objectives
4.4. Formation of Research Objectives
4.5. Classification of Objectives
4.6. Common Errors
4.7. Conclusion
5. Hypothesis
5.1. Definitions of Hypothesis
5.2. The Functions of a Hypothesis
5.3. The Testing of a Hypothesis
5.4. The Features of Good a Hypothesis
5.5. Types of Hypothesis
6. Concepts
6.1. Categories of Concept
6.2. Features of Good Concept
6.3. Types of Concepts
6.4. Characteristics of concepts
7. Variables
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Why Variables?
7.3. Types of Variables
7.4. Conclusion
8. Conceptual and Theoretical Framework
8.1. Introductions
8.2. Conceptual Framework
8.3. What is a Theoretical Framework?
8.4. Conclusion
9. Research Design
9.1. Definition
9.2. Functions of Research Design
9.3. Types of Research Design
9.4. Conclusion
10. Proposal
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Characteristics of Proposal Documents
10.3. Functions of Research Proposal
11. Synopsis
11.1. Introduction
11.2. Steps in Synopsis
11.3. Conclusion
12. Preparation of Research Proposal
12.1. How to make a proposal
12.2. Conclusion
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Prologue to Social Research
Topic – 2
Problem Formulation
The formulation of a research problem is the most important step in the research process.
It serves as the foundation on which the entire study design is built.
Any question you want answered or any assumption/assertion you want to challenge can become a research problem or topic.
Not all questions can be transformed into research problems, and some may be extremely difficult to study.
Potential research questions may arise frequently, but formulating them meaningfully is challenging.
It requires considerable knowledge of the subject area and research methodology.
Closer examination reveals the complexity of turning an idea into a researchable problem.
The problem must withstand scrutiny regarding the procedures needed for investigation.
Considerable time and thought should be invested in formulating the problem carefully.
The Importance of Formulating a Research Problem
The formulation of a research problem is the first and most important step in the research process.
It is like identifying a destination before a journey; without a destination, finding a route is impossible.
Without a clear research problem, a clear and economical research plan cannot be made.
The research problem acts as the foundation of a research study; a well-formulated problem leads to a good study.
To solve a problem, one must clearly know what the problem is.
You must have a clear idea of what you want to find out, not just what you think you should find.
A research problem can range from very simple to very complex.
The formulation of the problem determines almost every subsequent step:
type of study design,
type of sampling strategy,
research instrument to be used or developed,
type of data analysis to be conducted.
The formulation of the problem is the ‘input’ to the study, and the quality of research output depends entirely on it.
The validity of associations or causation established in the research report relies on how well the problem is formulated.
Sources of Research Problems
Most research in the social sciences revolves around four Ps:
People
Problems
Programmes
Phenomena
Most research studies are based on at least a combination of two Ps.
Researchers may select a group of individuals or a community (people) to:
examine the existence of certain issues or problems related to their lives,
ascertain their attitude towards an issue (problem),
establish the existence of a regularity (phenomenon),
evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention (programme).
Considerations in Selecting a Research Problem
Interest should be the most important consideration when selecting a research problem, as research is usually time-consuming, involves hard work, and may face unforeseen problems; lack of interest can reduce motivation and effort.
Magnitude requires sufficient knowledge of the research process to visualize the work involved in completing the study.
Measurement of concepts: For studies using concepts (especially quantitative), be clear about the indicators and their measurement.
Level of expertise: Ensure you have an adequate level of expertise for the proposed research task.
Relevance: Choose a topic relevant to you as a professional, which adds to existing knowledge, bridges gaps, or is useful in policy formulation to sustain your interest.
Availability of data: Confirm that the data will be available and in the desired format before finalizing the topic.
Ethical issues: Consider the ethical issues involved in formulating the research problem.
Steps in formulating a Research Problem
The formulation of a research problem is the most crucial part of the research journey, as the quality and relevance of the entire project depend on it.
Every step in the research process depends on how well the research problem is formulated.
Step 1: Identify a broad field or subject area of interest; choose a field you want to work in long-term after your studies, which helps in finding an interesting research topic.
Expertise in the chosen discipline helps in formulating a research problem (e.g., sociologists focus on social problems like pandemics, unemployment; economists focus on economic issues like opportunity cost, inequality).
Step 2: Dissect the broad area into subareas; consult your supervisor and define specific subareas to narrow down the field (e.g., urban problems can include homelessness, pollution, infrastructure).
Breaking down helps to identify specific areas and causes of the problem.
Step 3: Select what is of most interest to you; research in all subareas is impossible, so focus on your curiosity and exclude unrelated sub-sectors to maintain confidence and motivation.
Step 4: Raise research questions; formulate specific terms of inquiry either as research questions or guiding hypotheses.
Types of research questions (Sharma, S.L):
Originating question: What you want to know, ranging from facts to explaining patterns.
Question of rationale: Why the question is worth asking and its impact on knowledge or practice.
Specifying questions: Conditions that guide possible answers to the originating question.
Step 5: Formulate objectives; clearly state basic and sub-objectives derived from research issues.
Step 6: Assess your objectives in terms of time, expense, money, and technological skills; analyze study questions and expected results to ensure feasibility and potential long-term impact.
Step 7: Double-check your interest in the study and confirm you have adequate resources to undertake it.
Conclusion
Identification and formulation of a problem represent the starting point in the research process.
The meaning of the entire research depends heavily on the appropriate selection or formulation of the research problem.
The success of the research process mainly depends on the appropriate formulation of the research problem.
Improper formulation of the research problem can create unexpected difficulties for the researcher later on.