A research problem is a specific issue or gap in existing knowledge that you aim to address in your research.

1. RESEARCH PROBLEM
PREPARED BY NAVDEEP KAUR

2. DEFINITIONS
A research problem is an enigmatic, troubling area or topic that
needs an inquiry to get better understanding or ultimate solution.
For example, solution of female feticide in India could be an
enigmatic or troubling topic of the present time, and it could
become one of the important research problems.
According to Kerlinger, ‘A problem is an interrogative sentence or
statement that asks what relation exist between two or more
variables’.

3. COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH STATEMENT
1.Relevance of the study
2.Title of the study
3.Operational definitions of the study
4.Objectives of the study
5.Delimitations of the study
6.Scope and limitation of the study

4. IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
• It is the first and most important step in the research process.
• This step of research process is considered as the most difficult and
challenging, and needs a lot of time because the whole research
process is based on research problem as if we choose the research
topic in which we are interested in lead us to better outcomes and
offers better recommendations.
• The ideas, a researcher collects to identify a research problem are
influenced by various sources.

5. SOURCES OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES
PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE
CRITICAL
APPRAISAL OF
LITERATURE
EXPOSURE TO
FIELD
SITUATIONS
SOCIAL ISSUES
INTUITIONS
EXISTING
THEORIES
PREVIOUS
RESEARCH
BRAINSTORMING
CONSULTATIONS

6. 1. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
If you are an experienced teacher or have a long experience
of learning skills or observing existing educational habits,
you will probably have to deal with many problems,
imperfections, inconsistencies, puzzles or some spaces.
Through your communication with people and equipment
in your professional experience, you can find areas where
knowledge is lacking and the answers need to be found.

7. 2. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Nurses get plenty of ideas to formulate research problems from their clinical
experiences. Every curious nurse has several questions to be answered that
are encountered during clinical experience. For example, a nurse finds that
unrestricted visiting hours in surgical wards reduced the analgesic demand
among postoperative patients. Such clinical experiences could be rich sources
of ideas to identify a significant research problem.

8. 3. CRITICALAPPRAISAL OF
LITERATURE
When we critically study books and articles relating to the subject of our interest, including
research reports, opinion articles and summaries of clinical issues, pertinent questions may
arise in our mind. These may strike the reader’s mind indirectly by stimulating imagination
and directly by stating what additional research is needed. For example, a nurse reads an
article on the prevalence of pin site infection among patients with external fixators. While
reading this article, she learns that there is lack of consensus about pin site care. This
information may serve as a basis to formulate a research problem.

9. 4. Previous research
A body of knowledge should be developed on a sound foundation
of research findings. Usually, at the end of a research, further
research problems are suggested, based on the shortcomings of
previous research, which can be investigated. In nursing
profession, not much research has been done yet; therefore, this
profession needs researchers who are willing to replicate or repeat
other studies on different samples and settings where all the
essential elements of the original study are held intact.

10. 5. EXISTING THEORIES
Research is a process of theory development
and theory testing. Nurses use many theories
from other disciplines in their practice. If an
existing theory is used in developing a
researchable problem, a specific statement
from the theory must be isolated.
Generally, a part /parts of theory are
subjected to testing in the clinical situation.
The testing of an existing theory is
definitely needed in nursing; therefore, they
serve as a good sources of research
problems.

11. 6. CONSUMER FEEDBACK
Research problems may be generated from the results of activities aimed
at solicit patient feedback.
For example, at the time of discharge of patient after angiography, a nurse
obtained a feedback from the patient. The patient verbalized that it was a
wonderful experience except the discomfort faced during the removal of
pressure dressing at the femoral puncture site. This feedback provided a
concept for nurse to research on efficacy of available alternative means
of dressing at puncture site to minimize the discomfort among patients.

12. 7. PERFORMCE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES
These are also known as quality
improvement activities, used to
improve processes and outcomes
to meet regulatory requirements.
In the process of these activities,
several issues immerge that
require answers through
research. Thus, these activities
also serve as an important source
of research problems.

13. 8. SOCIAL ISSUES
Sometimes, topics are suggested by more global contemporary
social/political issues of relevance to the health care community. For
example, HIV/AIDS, female foeticide, sexual harassment, domestic
violence, and gender equality in health care and in research are some of
the current social issues/political issues of concern for health care
professionals. An idea for a study may stem from a familiarity with
social concerns or controversial issues.

14. 9. BRAINSTORMING
These sessions are good techniques to find new questions, where an
intensified discussion among interested people of the profession is
conducted to find more ideas to formulate a good research problem.
For example, ideas for studies my emerge from reviewing research
priorities by having brainstorming sessions with other nurses,
researchers or nursing faculty.

15. 10. INTUITION
Traditionally, intuitions are
considered good sources of
knowledge as well as
sources to find new research
problems. It is believed that
the reflective mind is a good
source of ideas, which may
be used to formulate a good
research problem.

16. 11. FOLKLORES
“Common beliefs could be right or wrong”.
For example, it is generally believed that studying just
before a test decreases the score. We believe, we should
not study just before test to relax our mind. Researchers
can conduct a research study on whether one should
study before the test or not.

17. 12. Consultations with experts
Experts are believed to have sound
experience in their respective field; they may
suggest a significant problem to be studied.
In addition, experts may help in finding a
current problem of discipline to be solved,
which may serve as basis for formulation of
research problem.

18. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
 One commonly used acronym: “FINER”
Feasible
Interesting
Novel Ethical
Relevant

19. 1. FEASIBLE: It is an essential consideration of
any research project. Feasibility of research
problem should be checked regardless of its
significance; it will help the researcher to decide
whether selected problem is appropriate or not
and study can be actually carried out or not.
The problem should be feasible to:
 Time
 Cost
 Equipment and supplies
 Administrative support
 Peer support
 Availability of subjects
 Researcher’s competence

20. 2. INTERESTING:
A research problem can only be considered as
good if it is accordance with researcher’s field of
interest. A research problem must be as per the
motivation of the researcher and should be
fascinating to the researcher, so that research is
conducted with full enthusiasm and not merely for
its accomplishment.

21. 3. NOVELTY
It is fundamentally considered that every
research problem should be new and
unique in itself. Therefore, it is the key
responsibility of a researcher that an
innovative knowledge is used for
selecting a problem, so as to extend the
growth of existing body of knowledge in
a profession.

22. 4. ETHICAL
A researcher must ensure that the research
problem can be considered by the ethical
committee without undue hurdles. A very
important topic of research cannot be
considered feasible unless it is in
accordance with ethical guidelines.

23. 5. RELEVANT
1. Benefits nursing profession and patients, nurses, and health
care fraternity through the study. A problem that is selected
should have significance/relevance with nursing profession. A
research problem could be considered significance to nursing
profession if it fulfills the following criteria:
1. Improves clinical nursing practices through the results.
2. Promotes nursing theory development or testing.
3. Provides solutions of current nursing practice needs.
4. Generates information to get practical implications for nursing
profession.

24. FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Selection of a
research area
Reviewing literature
and theories
Delimiting the research
topic
Evaluating problem
Formulating final
statement of problem

25. 1. SELECTION OF RESEARCH AREA
The first step in writing a research problem is to select a specific topic of
interest within your field of study. This topic should be relevant, and
meaningful, and have the potential to contribute to existing knowledge. For
example, study on female feticide.
2. REVIEWING LITERATURE AND THEORIES
Before formulating your research problem, conduct a thorough
literature review to understand the current state of research on your
chosen topic. This will help you identify gaps, controversies, or
areas that need further exploration.

26. 3. DELIMITING THE RESEARCH TOPIC
In this step, researcher proceeds from general area of interest to more specific
topic of research to conduct the study. For example, initially a researcher
decides to conduct a study on female feticide, later, in this stage, the researcher
limits it to specific research topic. A study on perception of women about
causes and prevention of female feticide in selected rural communities of
district Amritsar.
4.EVALUATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Once researcher is clear about the specific research problem, next
the research problem must be carefully evaluated for its significance,
research ability and feasibility.

27. 3. FORMULATING THE FINAL STATEMENT
After evaluating research problem, the researcher finally formulates a final
statement of research problem. A research problem could be in declarative or
interrogative format.
• Declarative format: In this, a research problem is stated in declarative
statement. For example:
 A descriptive study on prevalence of bedsores among unconscious patients
admitted in ICU’s of PGIMER, Chandigarh.
 An exploratory study on contributing factors of maternal mortality in selected
rural communities of district Amritsar.
• Interrogative format: In this, a research problem is stated in question form.
For example:
 What is the influence of the level of haemoglobin on pin site infection among
patients with external skeletal fixation admitted in orthopaedic wards?
 What is the effect of ginger on morning sickness symptoms on pregnant
women in selected urban communities?

28. NAVDEEP KAUR