What is a Research Problem?

A research problem is simply the topic of a study that the researcher intends to explore. In social sciences, a research problem can be:

• A disturbing situation that needs to be solved – a social problem
• A question that requires an answer
• A concept the researcher wants to understand
• A cause-effect relationship in a social context that the researcher wants to explore

Choosing a researchable topic for study generally involves a two-step process, as summarized below:

1. Identification – You first recognize and define a broad area of interest. This involves looking at social problems, themes, or topics that you find meaningful, relevant, and researchable. At this stage, you are not committing to a specific research topic; you are simply mapping the landscape of possibilities.
2. Selection – After identification, you narrow down the broad area into manageable sub-areas and then choose a specific research topic. Selection depends on feasibility, specificity, and the research objectives.

So it follows a sequence: identify a broad area → explore its sub-areas → select a specific, feasible research topic.

    Identification of a Research Problem

The identification of a research problem involves recognizing a significant social issue, phenomenon, or concept that merits scholarly investigation. Researchers accomplish this by applying their observational skills, domain knowledge, interest factor, research expertise and their general awareness of the social, cultural, economic, political, and religious issues with modern relevance.

A researcher needs strong research skills along with keen awareness of social, cultural, political, economic, and religious contexts to identify pressing and meaningful issues. This combination ensures the chosen problem is relevant, significant, and capable of generating insights that address real-world challenges.

There can be many researchable areas in social sciences. Common example include the following:

• Social, Economic & Demographic Issues: Unemployment, poverty, income inequality, overpopulation, migration, aging population, youth issues, labor rights, informal economy, education access, illiteracy, school dropout rates.
• Crime, Justice & Safety: Crime (juvenile, organized, cyber), domestic violence, human trafficking, substance abuse, mental health, policing, justice system efficiency, social unrest, terrorism, peace and security.
• Family, Culture & Society: Family problems, divorce, child abuse, elderly care, gender roles, religious fragmentation, cultural identity, minority rights, social cohesion, modernization, urbanization, social media influence, mass media effects.
• Environment, Technology & Health: Environmental degradation, climate change, pollution, energy crises, renewable energy, technology impact, digital divide, AI ethics, public health, epidemics, lifestyle diseases, nutrition.
• Politics, Governance & Business: Corruption, political accountability, governance policies, democratization, civil movements, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, labor markets, globalization, trade policies, urban planning, infrastructure.

The researcher may choose one of the above or any other area for research. The identification of a research area is generally based on the following factors:

1. Subject area and expertise of the researcher
2. Researcher’s interest in the area
3. A unique area that has not been studied sufficiently
4. The urgency to address the problem
5. Significance of the topic and modern relevance
6. Resource availability – time and monetary resources
7. Availability of enough data – for initial theoretical understanding
8. Feasibility of the methodology in the specific context
9. Ethical considerations of the topic in order to conduct research without harming the participants

    Selection of a Research Problem

Once a broad area is selected by the researcher, it is to be narrowed down to make it a researchable topic. It generally involves breaking the broad area into sub-areas and selecting one of them as a feasible research topic. This is because the chosen broad area may have multiple dimensions which cannot be covered in one study, resulting in emphasizing some aspects while neglecting others that are equally important. Likewise, the chosen broad area may have blurred boundaries which need to be specified so they can be systematically explored. Therefore, the broad area is divided into clearly definable sub-areas having specified boundaries, which helps in building clear research questions and objectives.

For example, a researcher identifies a broad area: “Domestic Violence.” This broad area can be divided into the following sub-areas:

• Types of families in which domestic violence occurs
• Socioeconomic characteristics of perpetrators
• Causes of domestic violence
• Types of domestic violence
• Impacts on the family
• Impacts on children
• Extent of domestic violence in a community
• Rehabilitation services for victims
• Effectiveness of these services

Each of the sub-areas outlined above represents a manageable and feasible research topic. Any one of these sub-areas can be selected as a research topic because they are specific and clearly defined, making it easier to determine what you want to investigate and how you can explore it (e.g., which methodology can be used). You can also combine two related sub-areas to form a research topic. For example, from the above sub-areas, one could develop the topic: “The Causes of Domestic Violence and Its Impact on the Family.”

The selection process may also involve defining your research objectives for establishing clear boundaries. The best way of writing your research objectives is to first make your research questions and then transform these questions into objectives. A researcher may ask himself what he wants to explore about the topic. This helps in devising the research questions. For example, for the topic “The Causes of Domestic Violence and Its Impact on the Family”, a researcher may devise the following research questions:

Research Questions:

• What are the primary causes of domestic violence in different family settings, including socio-economic, cultural, and psychological factors?
• How does domestic violence affect family members, especially children, spouses, and the family structure as a whole?
• What coping mechanisms and support systems are available to victims of domestic violence, and how effective are they?
• What roles do community, legal, and social institutions play in preventing and addressing domestic violence?
• What policies or interventions can reduce domestic violence and lessen its impact on families?

Once the research questions are devised, they can be transformed into research objectives by writing them with aim-oriented words such as to examine, to analyze, to explore, etc. For instance, the above research questions can be transformed into the following research objectives:

Research Objectives:

1. To identify the primary causes of domestic violence within different family settings, including socio-economic, cultural, and psychological factors.
2. To examine the impact of domestic violence on family members, particularly children, spouses, and the overall family structure.
3. To analyze the coping mechanisms and support systems available to victims of domestic violence.
4. To assess the role of community, legal, and social institutions in preventing and addressing domestic violence.
5. To provide recommendations for policies and interventions aimed at reducing domestic violence and mitigating its effects on families.