Sources for problem selection
Sources for Problem Selection
As noted above, it is important that a researchable area has been selected first before locating a research problem or research topic. Four important sources which can facilitate this have been underlined by Koul (2007) discussed as follows.
Professional Literature
One needs to locate the most authentic professional literature in one’s discipline and the area of research. In every discipline and/or area of research, the experienced professors and researchers are aware of the most authentic reference and research literature, and the sources of their availability. These include reference work/books; experiential notes available as monographs or occasional papers or simply teacher notes available at university website; research work published in refereed journals, available as OER, or as research monograph, and problem-based accounts written by teachers, researchers, students, graduates, among others and available as blogs, web postings or experiencial papers published in journals and newspapers. The major sources of such literature include various Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Survey of Educational Research (CASE, MSU/NCERT), Dissertation Abstracts, OER Search Engines. Some of the sites for authentic OER include those of UNESCO and MERLOT, among others. A survey of these literature facilitates location of ‘suggestions for further research’ in those literature which can further ignite the mind of the researcher to ponder over possible research problem and research title. While examining the related research studies, the researcher may also locate and jot down the limitations of research design, sampling procedure as also any contradictory findings which necessitate to re-examine the phenomenon/research problem in different contexts.
Theories
While examining the related and authentic reference works, the researcher may examine description and analysis of theoretical and/or conceptual frameworks which could have been drawn from cognate disciplines of philosophy, psychology, sociology, and the field of education itself. These theoretical frameworks may also suggest and motivate the researcher to proceed exploration of a particular variable or problem area.
Personal Experience
It is all the more essential that the researcher interacts with teachers, peers, and even students to obtain if some area of research or some type of research problems are worth examining further. The researcher may personally encounter sparkling ideas while engaged in various tasks and problems relating to curriculum design, teaching-learning, assessment and evaluation, among others. This could, at the least, lead to conduct of some action-research which every teacher is required to undertake as a reflective practitioner/reflective professional. One’s own developmental work as also those of others get further disseminated in seminars and conferences which one should attend from time to time and tap recent development in the chosen field of research. Another source of encountering authentic and practical experience is interaction with the community and ascertaining any constraints faced by them. This may lead to further crystalisation of a research problem and research investigation.
Socio-Economic-Political-Technological Changes
As we remain alert in respect of what is happening around us, in our country as also globally, we encounter significant changes in social dynamics/social order, emergence of new social issues, economic upheavals in local markets as also in international trade, changes in political dynamics leading to changes in educational policies and regulations, and also changes in technology and especially ICT and social technologies and social networks. These changes both provide for ample research problems to further investigate as also enlighten and motivate the researcher to proceed to conduct a piece of research
Sources of Research Problems
Ideas for research problems or topics can arise from a range of sources such as personal or professional experience, a theory, the media, or other research studies.
Personal or professional experience
Everyday personal or professional experience may lead us to identify a problem for which we would like a solution. Alternatively, we may encounter a question or questions that we would like to try and answer.
For example, on a personal level, you may prefer the taste of organically produced vegetables and thus wonder if people in general prefer the taste of organically produced vegetables to those produced non-organically. The research topic is a study into taste preferences and the question ‘do people in general prefer the taste of organically produced vegetables to those produced non-organically?’ Alternatively, for example, as a professional nature reserve warden you may want to encourage the establishment and spread of a particular plant species because you know it is a food source for a rare butterfly. The research problem may be, 'how do I encourage the spread of the plant species of interest?’
Theory
Theories are ideas about how things relate to each other. Theories may be general, commonly held beliefs (such as, domestic cats are the cause of a decline in bird numbers in UK gardens) or more technical ideas (for example, that global warming is causing a change to the timing of the seasonal responses of the flowering cherry tree in the UK).
There are many ways of expressing theories, some are very formal, others are informal. Here are some examples:
• Keynes’ statement that … 'men are disposed as a rule and on average, to increase their consumption as their income increases, but not as much as the increase in their income …’ is a theory.
• The idea that distance learners have different needs than on-campus students is a theory.
• A hunch that crossing two particular strains of maize will produce a more drought-tolerant variety is a theory.
• The assumption that every species has a fundamental niche, is a theory.
Theories may be useful in suggesting interesting questions and generally guiding fieldwork, but should not restrict us from exploring alternative explanations. The end result of the research process is knowledge.
Literature and the media
There are many sources of literature, such as books, journal articles, and newspapers. When searching and reading literature it is possible to encounter gaps in information and knowledge, and problems for which there is currently no solution. These may provide a good basis for research. We are also flooded with information presented by the media, such as television, which again might give rise to research ideas.
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