Characteristics of Research Problems

2230 Words5 Pages

This paper will discuss what constitutes a researchable problem. Also discussed will be the components of a well-formed problem statement. In addition, this publication will explain what constitutes a reasonable theoretical framework for the needs of the study. In addition, this paper will also explore an actual application of a possible theoretical framework based on a specific research topic.
What constitutes a researchable problem?
A researchable problem is one for which a viable solution has not yet been developed. Researchable problems are problems, in many cases, that are developed from topics that are of interest to the novice researcher. According to Leedy and Ormrod (2013), a researchable problem is one that requires more than a yes or no answer, it is a problem for which there is a gap between the available information about the problem determined from a review of the available literature and a solution to the problem, and it ideally stems from a question that has not been asked before. Additionally, and according to Ellis and Levy (2008), “How can something be considered a problem if one cannot identify something that is going wrong, or at the very least, not as well as it should” (p.22)? This same source, Ellis and Levy (2008), mentions the fact that personal observations based on a chosen topic can also lead to the development of a researchable topic as well as associated sub-problems that can add to the quality of the research and lead to a solution to the problem. Again, finding something that is going wrong can be the first step in developing a researchable problem. It must be kept in mind, however, that not every problem is in need of a solution, so one must be able to justify the need for a solution.
...

... middle of paper ...

...lements the innovation. Finally, the confirmation stage is the point at which the individual looks for positive support regarding his decision to use the new technology. It is important to keep in mind that the distribution of adopters is a normal curve, and depending on where an individual falls on that normal curve, he may wait for quite a while before adopting a new technology. Finally, many people may not get past the Persuasion stage, at least initially, and Rogers attempts to explain this fact by emphasizing that the factors that play into the adoption process include the following: (1) Compatibility with existing values (2) complexity of the technology (3) Trialability of the technology as the more that the technology is used, the faster the adoption, and (4) Observability or the extent to which peer pressure is a motivating factor to use the technology.

Open Document