2 – Research Problem

Introduction

Research is essential in all organisations to support decision-making, such as analysing circulation records to determine if financial allocations should be adjusted. A manager exists in three different time dimensions: the past, the present, and the future. The past specifies what was accomplished and what was not, but the present determines what is being achieved. The future temporal dimension, on the other hand, indicates what management should achieve.

Research is utilised to provide information about the first two, which support decisions that will affect the future. These decisions are made based on data or information gathered. The significance of the choices and their effects on the organization will determine the research’s value.

“A well-defined problem is half solved,” as the adage goes. This is especially important in market research because the objectives will be unclear if the problem is not articulated clearly. Data collection becomes pointless if the goal is not clearly defined.

A research difficulty is a condition that makes a researcher anxious, unpleasant, and puzzled. It thoroughly examines the problem area, including who, what, where, when, and why the problem exists.

2.1 Research Issue

A research problem is a problem that an organisation is experiencing and would like to find a solution to.

When conducting research, it is critical to define the topic since “a problem that is properly described is half-solved.” This demonstrates how crucial it is to “identify the problem appropriately.” It should be remembered that the definition should be explicit. If the problem definition is confusing, the researcher will not know “what data should be collected” or “what approach should be employed,” and so on.

“Find out how much sales have dropped recently” is an imprecise definition. Assume the research problem is described broadly: “Why is productivity in Korea substantially greater than in India?” There are several ambiguities in this type of question, such as:

• What type of productivity is to be stated—human, machine, or material?
• What industry is productivity associated with?
• In what time frame are we looking at productivity?

An example of a clear definition: On the contrary, a problem will be: “What are the variables responsible for higher labour productivity in Korean textile manufacturing industries relative to Indian textile industries between 1996 and 2007?”

The first and most crucial phase in the research process is to select and adequately define a research problem. A researcher must identify and phrase the problem so it can be investigated. To correctly characterise a problem, a researcher must first understand what a problem is.

2.2 Selection of the Problem

The research problem that will be studied must be carefully chosen. Although it may not appear to be so, the task is challenging. In this regard, a research guide can be of assistance. Nonetheless, each researcher must develop his or her unique solution because research problems cannot be borrowed. A challenge must emerge from the researcher’s thoughts as a plant emerges from its seed. If our eyes require glasses, the number of lenses we need is not solely determined by the optician. By engaging with him, we must see ourselves and allow him to prescribe the appropriate number for us. As a result, a research guide can only assist a researcher in selecting a topic.

Choosing a problem is invariably arbitrary, peculiar, and personal. Avoid picking the first problem you come across. Choose the most intriguing and personally rewarding option from two or three options. The problem selection should be important to you. You should be energetic and eager.

A good topic should be small enough to allow for a thorough examination while also being large enough to offer exciting results.

You may want to contact potential periodical editors to see if they would be interested in publishing an article on your study topic.

In some circumstances, such as with a thesis or dissertation, preliminary research may be required to determine whether the problem and study are possible and to identify potential roadblocks. A pilot study of this type can be highly beneficial.

Criteria for Selection

• Your genuine interest in the issue.
• An average researcher should not choose a controversial topic.
• The extent to which this problem’s research benefits the profession and society.
• The extent to which research on this topic will help you achieve your professional and career goals.
• Problems that are too specific or too broad should be avoided.
• The extent to which this research will pique the interest of superiors and other field leaders.
• The extent to which the research expands on your prior experience and expertise.
• Ease of access to the population is to be investigated, as the possibility of cooperation affordability.
• Probability of publishing.
• Relationship to field theories or accepted assumptions
• The extent to which ethical issues are implicated.0
• The extent to which the research is unique or fills a significant gap in the literature.
• The extent to which the research improves on and extends current knowledge

Before deciding on a project, a researcher should ask oneself the following questions:

1. Is he well-equipped in terms of background to conduct the research?

2. Does the study fit within his financial constraints?

3. Is securing the essential cooperation from those who must participate in research as subjects possible?

2.3 Understanding the Problem

Once the problem has been chosen, it must be well understood before being reframed in relevant terms from an analytical standpoint. The formulation of the problem is the initial stage in research. A company that manufactures television sets may believe it is losing sales to a foreign competitor. A quick example exemplifies how such a situation can be misconceived. A company’s management thought that a reduction in sales was due to poor product quality. Research was conducted to increase the product’s quality. However, despite an increase in quality, sales did not increase. We can claim that the problem is ill-defined in this scenario. The real explanation was poor sales advertising. As a result, the issue must be correctly identified.

• Difficulty-related issues
• Opportunity-related issues

While the first group produces adverse outcomes, such as a loss of market share or sales, the second produces positive outcomes.

A problem definition can relate to a real-life scenario or a group of opportunities. Market research issues or opportunities will develop in the following situations:

(1) Unexpected change

(2) Change that is planned. Many environmental elements might cause problems or opportunities. Thus, demographic, technical, and regulatory developments impact the marketing function. The challenge now is how the corporation will respond to new technologies or products introduced by competitors and manage lifestyle changes. It may be a problem, but it could also be considered an opportunity. To do research, the problem must be precisely stated.

While formulating the problem, make sure to include the following details:

• Who is the focal point?
• What is the topic of the research?
• To what geographical territory/area does the problem refer?
• To what period does the study apply?

“Why does the upper-middle class of Bangalore shop at Life-style during the Diwali season,” for example.

All four of the aspects above are addressed here. We may be interested in various factors influencing our shop in a given location. The researcher may be interested in

(1) the lifestyle options available.

(2) Promotional discount supplied;

(3) Ambience at lifestyle; and

(4) Personalized service is provided. In some circumstances, the reason for the problem is evident, and in others, it is not. The apparent causes are the products’ declining sales. Not-so-obvious causes could include a poor first impression for the buyer.

2.4 Necessity of Defined Problem

A thorough definition of a research problem is a precondition for any study and is a critical stage. A well-defined problem is half solved. Defining the problem is often more important than solving it because, once the problem is specified, a suitable technique may be used to develop potential solutions. This phrase denotes the requirement for defining a research problem.

The problem to be investigated must be specified unambiguously to distinguish relevant data from irrelevant data. When you define a research problem, you’re attempting to narrow the scope of a response. When you mention “marketing research,” the obvious question is how to target more clients to whom I can sell my product. You’re looking for particular answers, such as “What type of soda do all foreign-born males aged 25–35 drink?” This is how the problem is defined. What do you think about foreign-born men? Soda—what exactly is it? This is significant because businesses and sales organisations try to “target” their market rather than taking a shotgun approach. The first step is to ensure that any information you acquire is credible and comes from a respectable institution. Then, dissect the problem and look for discrepancies in your study endeavour. The formulation of problems is essential to the research process. A researcher’s definition of problem formulation is transforming a management problem into a research problem. To obtain clarity, the manager and researcher must communicate clearly to understand each other fully.

What sources of problem identification are there?

To detect difficulties, research students can use the following methods:

• Previously published research findings might be used to define a specific problem.
• To identify the problem, seek the assistance of any research organisation that handles many company projects.
• Professors from reputable academic institutions can serve as problem-solving guides.
• Employees and rivals of the company can help discover difficulties.
• Cultural and technical shifts can be used to identify research problems.
• Seminars/symposiums/focus groups can be a good source of information.

2.5 Self-Questioning by Researcher while Defining the Problem

• Is the research question adequately defined?
• Is it possible to solve the research problem?
• Can meaningful data be acquired through the marketing research process?
• Is the research problem significant?
• Can the research be carried out within the constraints of the available resources?
• Is the time allotted to accomplish the job adequate?
• What are the specific challenges and obstacles will need to be overcome before the study can be carried out?
• Am I qualified to carry out the research?

Managers frequently want research findings to match their expectations and completely fulfill them. However, if one examines the questionnaire thoroughly, one will notice that the respondents’ responses are often stereotypical.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

• The objective of research problems must be clearly defined to prevent meaningless data collection. Can you discuss this with suitable examples?
• Cultural and technological changes can serve as sources for identifying research problems. Why or why not?
• Properly defining a research problem is essential as a prerequisite for any study. Why?
• What precautions should be taken when formulating a problem?
• If you were tasked with researching a problem for a client, what sources would you use to identify it?
• A problem can be seen as both a problem and an opportunity. Why or why not?
• In some cases, a preliminary study may be necessary. Which cases are being referred to and why?
• “A problem well defined is half solved.” Could you comment on this statement?
• When defining a research problem, what are you trying to achieve?
• Why do specialists suggest avoiding selecting the first problem you encounter?