Conceptualising the Research Problem: a Step-by-step Guide

A step-by-step guide to how to conceptualise a research problem using an illustration and hands-on exercises. Chapter one; research and types of research, and research problems. Chapter 2; finding a researchable problem and defining it. It shows how a researcher should interrogate every aspect of the research problem whether a discrepancy, research question or operational research to come up with a feasible, clear, significant and ethical research problem with empirical referents. Chapter 3 illustrates the back and forth process of conceptualising from a research idea, through research topic, title, to identifying and operationalising the key concepts, formulating research objectives and linking the problem to a theoretical framework, formulating a conceptual framework and identifying the methods for collecting and analysing data. Chapter 4 links conceptualisation with the rest of the research process thus discussing preliminary activities, research design, data collection and analysis, the research report and follow-up activities especially dissemination and application. The book is intended for use by university students and their supervisors.