Social/Behavioral Sciences Research Guide: Identifying a Research Problem

This InfoGuide assists students starting their research proposal and literature review.
https://infoguides.rit.edu/prf.php?id=590096d9-7cdb-11ed-9922-0ad758b798c3

Identifying a Research Problem

research problem is a specific issue or gap in existing knowledge that you aim to address in your research. You may look for practical problems aimed at contributing to change or theoretical problems aimed at expanding knowledge.

Some research will do both of these things, but usually, the research problem focuses on one or the other. The research problem you choose depends on your broad topic of interest and the type of research you think will fit best.

This section helps you identify and refine a research problem. When writing your research proposal or introduction, formulate it as a problem statement and/or research questions.

Research Problems Steps

Why is the research problem important?

Having an interesting topic isn’t a strong enough basis for academic research. Without a well-defined research problem, you will likely end up with an unfocused and unmanageable project.

You might end up repeating what other people have already said, trying to say too much, or doing research without a clear purpose and justification. You need a clear problem to research that contributes new and relevant insights.

Whether planning your thesis, starting a research paper, or writing a research proposal, the research problem is the first step towards knowing exactly what you’ll do and why.

Identify a broad problem area
As you read about your topic, look for under-explored aspects or areas of concern, conflict, or controversy. Your goal is to find a gap that your research project can fill.

Practical research problems
If you are doing practical research, you can identify a problem by reading reports, following up on previous research, or talking to people who work in the relevant field or organization. You might look for:

  • Issues with performance or efficiency
  • Processes that could be improved
  • Areas of concern among practitioners
  • Difficulties faced by specific groups of people

    Examples of practical research problems
  • Voter turnout in New England has been decreasing, in contrast to the rest of the country.
  • The HR department of a local chain of restaurants has a high staff turnover rate.
  • A non-profit organization faces a funding gap that means some of its programs will have to be cut

Theoretical research problems
If you are doing theoretical research, you can identify a research problem by reading existing research, theory, and debates on your topic to find a gap in what is currently known about it. You might look for:

  • A phenomenon or context that has not been closely studied
  • A contradiction between two or more perspectives
  • A situation or relationship that is not well understood
  • A troubling question that has yet to be resolved

    Examples of theoretical research problems
  • The effects of long-term Vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular health are not well understood.
  • The relationship between gender, race, and income inequality has yet to be closely studied in the context of the millennial gig economy
  • Historians of Scottish nationalism disagree about the role of the British Empire in developing Scotland’s national identity.

Learn more about the problem
Next, you have to find out what is already known about the problem and pinpoint the exact aspect that your research will address.


Context and background

  • Who does the problem affect?
  • Is it a newly-discovered problem, or a well-established one?
  • What research has already been done?
  • What, if any, solutions have been proposed?
  • What are the current debates about the problem? What is missing from these debates?

Specificity and relevance

  • What particular place, time, and/or group of people will you focus on?
  • What aspects will you not be able to tackle?
  • What will the consequences be if the problem is not resolved

    Example of a specific research problem A local non-profit organization that alleviates food insecurity has always fundraised from its existing support base. It lacks an understanding of how best to target potential new donors. To continue its work, the organization requires research into more effective fundraising strategies.

Once you have narrowed down your research problem, the next step is to formulate a problem statement, as well as your research questions or hypotheses.

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