1. Formulating a research problem3
Formulating a research problem

2. Learning Objectives 1- Steps in the formulation of a research problem
2- Example
3- Considerations in selecting a research problem
1-2

3. Formulating a research problem
refers to identifying what it is that you want to find out about.

4. Steps in the formulation of a research problem
Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you.
Dissect the broad area into subareas.
Select what is of most interest to you.
Raise research questions.
Formulate objectives
Assess your objectives
Double-check

5. Step 1: Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you.
Ex: If you are studying marketing you might be interested in researching consumer behavior (customer satisfaction).

6. Step 2: Dissect the broad area into subareas.
1- Profile of satisfied customers
2- Antecedents of customers satisfaction
3- The effect of customer satisfaction on consumer related outcomes
4- Measurement of customer satisfaction

7. Step 3: Select what is of most interest to you.
It is neither advisable nor feasible to study all subareas.
Go through your list and delete all those subareas in which you are not very interested.
 select: Antecedents of customers satisfaction

8. Step 4: Raise research questions
1- What is the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction? 2- What is the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction? 3- What is the effect of word of mouth communication on customer satisfaction?

9. Examples of research ideas (topic) and their derived focus research questions

10. Step 5: Formulate objectives
Your objectives grow out of your research questions.
The main difference between objectives and research questions is the way in which they are written.
Research questions are obviously that—questions.

11. Step 5: Formulate objectives
Objectives transform these questions into behavioral aims by using action-oriented words such as 'to find out', 'to determine', 'to ascertain' and 'to examine‘, ‘to measure’, ‘to explore’.

12. Some examples…
To describe the types of incentives provides by five star hotels in Colombo to their employees.
To find out the opinion of the employees about the medical facilities provided by five star hotels in Colombo.
To ascertain the impact of training on employee retention.
To compare the effectiveness of different loyalty programmes on repeat clientele.
To ascertain if an increase in working hours will increase the incidence of drug abuse.
To demonstrate that the provision of company accommodation to employees in hotels will reduce staff turnover.

13. Step 5: Formulate objectives
Example: 1- To determine the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction 2- To find out the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction 3- To identify how word of mouth communication impact on customer satisfaction

14. Paraphrasing research questions as research objectives
Research Question Research Objective
Why have organizations To identify organization’s
introduced early retirement ? objectives for introducing retirement schemes.
What are the consequences To describe the consequences of
of early retirement schemes ? Early recruitment for employees.
To explore the effects of early retirement for the organization.

15. Step 6: Assess your objectives
Examine your objectives to ascertain the feasibility of achieving them in the light of the time, resources (financial and human) and technical expertise at your disposal.

16. Step 7: Double-check 1 that you are really interested in the study
2 that you agree with the objectives
3 that you have adequate resources
4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study

17. 1- Identify
Consumer behavior
Customer satisfaction
2- Dissect
1- Profile of satisfied customers
2- Antecedents of customers satisfaction
3- The effect of customer satisfaction on consumer related outcomes
4- Measurement of customer satisfaction
3- Select
Antecedents of customers satisfaction

18. 4- Raise research questions
1- what is the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction?
2- What is the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction?
3- what is the effect of word of mouth communication on customer satisfaction?
5- formulate objectives
1- To determine the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction
2- To find out the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction
3- To identify how word of mouth communication impact on customer satisfaction

19. 6- Make sure
Assess your objectives in the light of:
1 work involved
2 time available to you
3 financial resources available
4 your technical expertise in the area
7- Double-check
1 that you are really interested in the study
2 that you agree with the objectives
3 that you have adequate resources
4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study

20. Considerations in selecting a research problem
interest,
magnitude,
measurement of concepts,
level of expertise,
relevance,
availability of data,
ethical issues.