Identifying the problem is an important first step in the research process. When the researcher captures a phenomenon that has the potential to be investigated, the next urgent step is to identify the problem of the observed phenomenon.
In social research, the process of identifying problems can be done by detecting observed social problems. From there, researchers took steps to find out more, either by making observations, reading literature, or conducting an initial survey.
Also read: Research Methods: Approaches, Types & Examples Identification of research problems is a step taken by researchers at the beginning of the research. Researchers identify problems by explaining what problems are found and how these problems are measured and related to research procedures.
This post will explain what and how to identify research problems. The explanation that will be presented is a concise version of the explanation with examples. We start first by defining what problem identification is.
Definition of problem identification
Problem identification as part of the research process can be understood as an effort to define the problem and make the definition measurable as the first step in research . In short, identifying a problem is defining a research problem.
Also read: Data Collection Methods For example, we observe children playing with sand in a school yard. When observing them, ideas emerge about different levels of intelligence or thinking abilities of children. Some children at first glance look more intelligent than others, for example when building sand castles or sandcastle .
Our curiosity leads to a desire to do research on the different levels of intelligence of children. Intelligence, intelligence or intelligence that we observe this different is a problem to be investigated. The process of identifying problems regarding children’s intelligence, as stated earlier, is the process of defining the child’s own intelligence. In other words, we must define the different levels of intelligence and how they can be measured for research.
At this point, it should be noted that the process of identifying research problems always involves defining concepts (for example, intelligence) and making the concept measurable. To identify the problem, we define here that the problem is that the level of intelligence of the children we observe varies or varies.
How can this level of intelligence be measured for research? We can measure the level of intelligence in various ways, for example assessing speaking fluency, communication patterns with other children, IQ tests, and so on.
Examples and explanations of problem identification
Above we have defined as well as provided an example. In this section, we will discuss further examples again with a brief explanation.
After the research problem has been identified, that is, it has been defined and made to be measured, meaning that the researcher is ready to formulate research questions and collect data as a series of applying the scientific method.
The scientific method can be applied when the problem has been identified. The steps of the scientific method after problem identification are to create a research question or problem formulation. Sequentially, the next process includes reading relevant literature, formulating hypotheses or theoretical frameworks, making research designs, conducting research (collecting data and processing data), making conclusions or research findings and finally writing a research report.
Also read the Scientific Method: Understanding and the Process If we look at the procedures of the scientific method, then identifying the problem lies at the very beginning, even before the problem statement is applied or before the research question is formulated.
This means that identifying problems can also be considered as a process of “concocting raw materials” to “serve food” in the form of problem formulations or research questions. If problem identification is likened to the cooking process, then the food served is a problem formula.
Also read: How to Make a Problem Formulation Above we have described an example of differences in children’s intelligence levels as a research problem. Intelligence or intelligence is a concept. In order to conduct research we need to convert the concept into an operational definition.
The operational definition is a more specific derivative concept to be applied in the research process. That explanation may sound complicated. To facilitate understanding, here we can state that the concept is intelligence, while the operational definition is the level of intelligence.
In order for this level of intelligence to be operationalized in the research process, we must make the derivative of the concept measurable. In social research, creating measurable derivative concepts is called operationalization . There are two terms we need to know here: operational definition and operationalization.
It should be noted that problem identification always involves producing an operational definition and an operationalization. Another term whose meaning is the same as the operational definition is variable.
