ACADEMIC RESEARCH
RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
(CHOOSING A TOPIC)
Part 2 of 5: Sources of Research Problem
√Personal experiences: Own observations, questions or hunches for which no satisfactory explanation exists may suggest research questions.
√Previous research: From previous research one may identify gaps, which appear to justify additional research.
√Current social and political issues: Contemporary issues, debates, concerns or movements may lead to a research. The attempt may be to gain more knowledge about recent changes.
√Related literature: Reading textbooks and articles on an area of interest gives the reader an insight into various issues that could be studied or replicated.
√Deductions from theory: Existing theories can suggest research problems. A research may arise in an attempt to challenge what existing theories postulates.
√Practical situations: Your day-to-day work may suggest the need for a research to unravel or manage a new situation.
√Research themes given by funding agencies such as UNDP, OSSREA, Association of African Universities, GTZ, The World Bank, The IMF, USAID, among others.
√Researcher’s interest: Carefully observing existing practices in one’s area of interest at work, at home, at workshops, seminars among others.
√Declarations (such as world declaration of the Rights of children), conferences (such as NEPAD, AU), workshops and seminars
√Advanced graduate courses taught in Universities.
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