How to Identify a Research Problem For Your Dissertation

Defining a research problem forms the base of any dissertation. Once you’re done selecting the research topic, it’s time to formulate the research problem that clearly highlights your chosen area of concern. It can either be a contradiction, difficulty, specific issue, or a knowledge gap that you’re aiming to feature in your research.

While formulating your research problem, you might look for either theoretical or practical problems, depending on the type of research work you want to do. Ideally, a research problem focuses on one problem type, but some research work may involve both.

Finding the Research Problem

Identifying and presenting the precise issues you’ll address in your dissertation isn’t as simple as it sounds. Many Dissertation candidates find it difficult and spend days thinking, exploring, and studying, trying to find the right questions/problems to start with.

If you choose a vague research problem, you may end up with an unmanageable and unfocused project. To save you from wasting hours, this article shows you some practical ways that are sure to help you pick the right research problem.

Get ready to develop a strong research base that has a clear purpose and justification by following two simple steps listed below.

Step 1: Address a Broad Problem Area

As you begin exploring your selected research topic, start looking for important areas of concern that are yet to be explored or are under-explored. You can also dig deep into a controversy or conflict to come up with a problem that is less discussed and deserves peoples’ attention. Irrespective of how you choose to identify a broad problem area, always keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to identify a gap that your dissertation can fill.

Considering some dissertation candidates may be doing practical research and others may be interested in doing theoretical research, let’s discuss the process of defining a broad problem area in both cases.

Identifying Research Problem in a Practical Research

Dissertation candidates doing practical research can identify a problem by reading reports, talking to relevant people working in the select field, or following up on previous research.

You should also start looking for performance-related issues in an organization, persistent concerns being faced by practitioners working in a select field, or difficulties faced by a particular section of the society.

If you’re researching on a job or internship, make sure to define a research problem that has practical relevance. Otherwise, the dissertation won’t serve the purpose.

To help dissertation candidates get a crystal clear idea of what practical research problems look like, let’s look at some examples.

• Section A of society fails to overcome the poverty line, in contrast to the remaining society sections.

• A startup is facing a funding gap resulting in the halting of its operations.

• Researchers failing to come up with a vaccine that eradicates a specific deadly disease

Identifying Research Problem in a Theoretical Research

Theoretical research primarily focuses on developing a better understanding or expanding knowledge rather than directly contributing to a positive change.

To identify a theoretical research problem, you can start by reading recent research or theory that throws light on the broad research problem. You can also check out recent debates around your selected research topic and identify a gap that needs to be filled.

Some actionable steps can include researching an event that is yet to be closely studied, a troubling question or problem with no definite solution, a contradiction between various perspectives, or a relationship not well understood by many.

Though theoretical problems have practical consequences, these are not primarily aimed at bringing an immediate solution or solving an issue.

Let’s check out some examples of theoretical research problems to understand them better.

• The long-term effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on people of different ages and health conditions is not well known.

• The relationship between income inequality and gender concerning the upcoming Gen Z gig economy is yet to be properly researched.

• A segment of workers disagreeing that automation will take away their jobs.

Step 2: Dive Deeper Into the Problem

Once you complete step 1, it is time to find out the known facts about the selected problem. Doing so will help you pinpoint the exact problem that your dissertation will address.

When exploring the problem more, make sure to gather as much information as possible. You can start by preparing a list of questions that you can use as a reference for further digging down into the problem.

The list should have all the possible questions that make you think about the “how,” “what,” “whose,” “why,” and more aspects. To make your work easy, a sample list of questions has been prepared. Take a note of the questions shared below, and start finding a specific research problem.

• Is this a new problem? If yes, is some research work being done on it?

• Who is being affected by the problem?

• Is there any research-backed solution to tackle the problem?

• What is the current state of the problem, and how much is known about it? Is there a void in the current research that can be filled?

• What will happen if no proven solution is found for the problem? How will it affect the different sections of society?

• Who will benefit the most from the solution of this problem?

• Where should you focus first, and what part of the problem can you deal with?

You can add more questions to this list based on your research work and understanding.

If you diligently follow the two steps shared in this article, creating a problem statement or research questions won’t be difficult.