RESEARH PROBLEM DEFINITION

SA Prathapar
Research Methodology

Why define the Research Problem?

Defining your destination before

beginning a journey.
It determines,

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what you will do,

will it withstand scientific scrutiny,
how you will do it, and
what you may achieve!

Research Proposal Development

How is a research problem selected?

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Researchers interest in a topic

National or agency priorities
Urgency of an issue
Availability of research funds
Availability of supervision

Research Proposal Development

Steps in defining research problems

1.

2.

3.
4.

Identify a broad topic

Identify a narrow topic within the
broad topic
Raise questions
Formulate objectives

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Use action-oriented words - To

demonstrate; To evaluate; To measure

Research Proposal Development

Identifying Broad Topics

Think of the BIG PICTURE

Pick one based on:

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What is the problem you are trying to solve?

Think of something you like to learn more
about
Consult text books, journal or your supervisor
Interest and relevance
Magnitude of work involved
Level of expertise
yours and your advisors

Research Proposal Development

Examples of Broad Topics

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Optimizing productivity of land and

water resources
Ensuring Food Safety & Security
Sustaining Agricultural & Marine
Environments

Research Proposal Development

From Broad Topic to Narrow Topic

Examples of a narrow topic:

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Liver disease in Goat

Greenhouse Agriculture
Milk Quality
Greywater reuse potential in Oman

When selecting a narrow topic think

how it can contribute towards
solving the BIG PROBLEM!
Research Proposal Development

Problem Tree Keep asking Why?

Unskilled Labor

Inefficient Irrigation

Unsuitable Climate

Inefficient Water harvesting

Water Scarcity

Lack of crop varieties

adapted to climate

Unsuitable Crops

Farming Patterns do not

Return nutrients

Low Labor
Productivity

Food Insecurity

Low Land
Productivity

Farmers cant afford fertilizers

Poor Soil
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Research Proposal Development

Farmers unaware of
best practices

Proposal Writing

Sections

Title
Introduction

Objectives
Materials & Methods

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additional sub sections if necessary

additional sub sections if necessary

A tentative time table

A budget .
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Title

Specific & Short

This forms the first impression
about your research

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If vague Reader will be cynical

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Introduction

Convince the reader that you have identified a

research problem, worthy of investigating.
Start very general Broad Topic
Highlight

Reduce it to a narrow topic by

Raising questions, and

Stating answers from literature for most.

Establish Rationale:

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the concept
Practical significance

Research is necessary questions for which there is

no answer yet.

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Objectives

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Provide a clear statement of the

overall question- General objective
Follow it with action oriented tasks Specific objectives.
If more than one specific objective
state them sequentially

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Methodology

State it explicitly
Enough detail for the reader to follow
First give an overall summary of your study design and
methodological approach.
Then provide the methodology for each specific
objective.
Describe

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the specific design (what will you do and how, number of

replicates, etc.),
the materials and techniques that will be used, and
the feasibility of these techniques.
Use literature to support design, materials & techniques
Need not repeat standard procedures but give a
reference.

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References

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List all references

In alphabetical order

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GANTT Chart (Time line)

Task

Quarter
1

Quarter
2

Quarter
3

Quarter
4

Survey
Test GWT
Analyze data
Write Thesis
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Budget
SUMMARY OF FUNDS REQUESTED (RO)
Year 1
Capital Equipment

Year 2

Year 3

7500

TOTAL
7500

Recurrent Items

8000

6000

16000

30000

Use of University Facilities

1000

1000

1000

3000

Local Travel Costs

1000

1000

1000

3000

Publication Costs

500

500

2500

2600

2000

2000

2000

6000

12500

18000

22500

53000

Miscellaneous
TOTAL

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Research Proposal Development

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