Determining a Suitable Research Problem, Essay Example

In order for a problem to constitute as a researchable problem, it is important for the issue to be well-defined and researchable. Furthermore, the researchable problem should consist of one key idea, although it could be broken into several smaller concepts that could be proven individually and then united to answer the main question being asked. Overall, it is important for the research question to be based off of comprehensive research. This research provides the researcher with important information about the topic that ultimately allows him or her to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the field. Based on this information, the individual can then think critically about this information to determine which questions have yet to be answered by a professional using this method. The best scientific questions are therefore those that are grounded in evidence and contribute something new to a field.

According to the authors of Framework of Problem-Based Research:

A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem, developing a research problem is one of the most challenging components of the research process (Ellis & Levy., 2008). Despite this difficulty, it is the most important parts of research. Creating a strong research question is necessary because this is the aspect that guides the rest of the research project. If the research question is not strong, it is reasonable to assume that the hypothesis, procedure, and results will not be strong either. Thus, it is important to conduct thorough research during this step of the process to ensure that the research problem can sufficiently guide the researcher through the remainder of the research design process.

There are several characteristics that constitute a good research problem. First, a good research problem is compelling (Leedy & Omrod, 2013). The research problem being asked must be either important to the individual that is conducting the research, his or her field, or the larger community. In addition, it must be a problem that is interesting and motivates the researcher to solve. If both of these requirements are true, then it is likely that the answer to the research problem will contribute to progress in some form. If there is no benefit from conducting research on a particular question, then it is not reasonable to complete the project. Next, the research question must support multiple perspectives. Since the answer to a research question is not known, it must be phrased in a manner in which there are many possible answers. In addition, it should not be biased to defend one answer over the other. Next, a good question must be researchable. If it is not possible to answer the research question based on scaffolding the present knowledge of the field, then a different question should be asked. Last, large complex problems could be answered by breaking up these questions into smaller, more manageable pieces.

A theoretical framework is necessary to demonstrate the need for a study because it draws from knowledge that currently exists in the field to show the gaps in knowledge that exist. It also functions as a rationale for the study. Therefore, the theoretical framework is essentially a collection of interrelated concepts that helps guide research, allows the researcher to assess what the project will and can reasonably measure, and what relationships will be explored in the data. As such, it is reasonable to include a form of literature review in the theoretical framework that will help the reader gain an understanding of present research in the field of interest. The work will be compiled in a manner that will allow the individual to understand the work that has been done in the field in addition to the work that has yet to be done. This allows the researcher to convey his or her own unique understanding of the problem to the audience in a manner that allows them to understand the important implications for this research.

To determine the theoretical framework, it is first important to assess a strong research question to guide this process. Once this is selected, it is possible to complete the theoretical framework to assess what the research might uncover. It is important to consider that the research process is followed in both the development of the research question and the design of the theoretical framework. For the results of a research project to be meaningful, both the research question and the theoretical framework must be designed within the context of existing knowledge in the field. It is important for the research to use this basis of knowledge as a guidance for the duration of the project so the data generated can be synthesized into the existing understanding of the topic, allowing a future researcher to build upon this knowledge if necessary. Ultimately, each component of the research process is closely linked, so it is important for each aspect of the design to be strong. However, since the research problem is selected first, it is important for the researcher to take this development under careful consideration to ensure that the remainder of the project will be successful.