Web clip 2 – Formulating a problem statement &
research questions
Step 2 of research: Formulate the problem statement
1. What makes a good problem statement?
You have defined your business problem. You need to reform your manager-focused
business problem into a research-focused problem statement.
Preliminary research will help you reform. Preliminary research consists of two types of
information: background information of the organization and back ground information of
the topic you are focussing on. This information can be found in extant literature (=existing
literature).
The problem statement is the general question you try to answer in your research.
Checklist to determine whether it is a good problem statement or not:
o Formulated in terms of:
Variables, and
Relations (between the variables)
o Open-ended question (=a question that can’t be answered by yes or no)
o Stated clearly/unambiguously (=it can only be interpreted in one way)
[ It’s managerially and academically relevant]
2. What makes good research questions?
Checklist to determine whether it is a good research question or not:
o Should collectively address the problem statement.
o First theoretical (questions), then practical research questions:
In the same order as they will be addressed in your research report.
o Stated clearly/unambiguously.
Research questions help to answer the ‘overarching’ problem statement, step by step.
1. Theoretical research questions
These questions are typically framed using the expressions between the (…):
Context question (e.g., “What is…”)
Only if context (is very specific) and needs elaboration.
Conceptualization question(s) (e.g., “What is …”)
Only for the key variable(s) that need(s) elaboration.
Relationship questions (e.g., “Which variables …”; “How does … affect …”; “Hoe does the
effect of … on … depend on …”)
All relationships in the problem statement should be covered.
2. Practical research questions
Relationship questions (e.g., “To what extent …”)
To what extent does X affect Y?
What is the (relative) magnitude (=size, or in Dutch: omvang) of the relations?
Implication question
= how does the company/industry you research for can use the results / what can
managers to with the results of your research / how will it help managers make
important decision.
How can practitioners implement your results?
Open question
1
research questions
Step 2 of research: Formulate the problem statement
1. What makes a good problem statement?
You have defined your business problem. You need to reform your manager-focused
business problem into a research-focused problem statement.
Preliminary research will help you reform. Preliminary research consists of two types of
information: background information of the organization and back ground information of
the topic you are focussing on. This information can be found in extant literature (=existing
literature).
The problem statement is the general question you try to answer in your research.
Checklist to determine whether it is a good problem statement or not:
o Formulated in terms of:
Variables, and
Relations (between the variables)
o Open-ended question (=a question that can’t be answered by yes or no)
o Stated clearly/unambiguously (=it can only be interpreted in one way)
[ It’s managerially and academically relevant]
2. What makes good research questions?
Checklist to determine whether it is a good research question or not:
o Should collectively address the problem statement.
o First theoretical (questions), then practical research questions:
In the same order as they will be addressed in your research report.
o Stated clearly/unambiguously.
Research questions help to answer the ‘overarching’ problem statement, step by step.
1. Theoretical research questions
These questions are typically framed using the expressions between the (…):
Context question (e.g., “What is…”)
Only if context (is very specific) and needs elaboration.
Conceptualization question(s) (e.g., “What is …”)
Only for the key variable(s) that need(s) elaboration.
Relationship questions (e.g., “Which variables …”; “How does … affect …”; “Hoe does the
effect of … on … depend on …”)
All relationships in the problem statement should be covered.
2. Practical research questions
Relationship questions (e.g., “To what extent …”)
To what extent does X affect Y?
What is the (relative) magnitude (=size, or in Dutch: omvang) of the relations?
Implication question
= how does the company/industry you research for can use the results / what can
managers to with the results of your research / how will it help managers make
important decision.
How can practitioners implement your results?
Open question
1
