RESEARH PROBLEM DEFINITION

1. RESEARH PROBLEM DEFINITION SA Prathapar Research Methodology

2. Why define the Research Problem? • Defining your destination before beginning a journey. • It determines, • what you will do, • will it withstand scientific scrutiny, • how you will do it, and • what you may achieve! Research Proposal Development

3. How is a research problem selected? • Researchers interest in a topic • National or agency priorities • Urgency of an issue • Availability of research funds • Availability of supervision Research Proposal Development

4. Steps in defining research problems • Identify a broad topic • Identify a narrow topic within the broad topic • Raise questions • Formulate objectives • Use action-oriented words - To demonstrate; To evaluate; To measure… Research Proposal Development

5. Identifying Broad Topics • Think of the BIG PICTURE • What is the problem you are trying to solve? • Think of something you like to learn more about • Consult text books, journal or your supervisor • Pick one based on: • Interest and relevance • Magnitude of work involved • Level of expertise • yours and your advisors Research Proposal Development

6. Examples of Broad Topics • Optimizing productivity of land and water resources • Ensuring Food Safety & Security • Sustaining Agricultural & Marine Environments Research Proposal Development

7. From Broad Topic to Narrow Topic • Examples of a narrow topic: • Liver disease in Goat • Greenhouse Agriculture • Milk Quality • Greywater reuse potential in Oman • When selecting a narrow topic think how it can contribute towards solving the BIG PROBLEM! Research Proposal Development

8. Problem Tree – Keep asking Why? Inefficient Irrigation Unskilled Labor Low Labor Productivity Unsuitable Climate Inefficient Water harvesting Water Scarcity Lack of crop varieties adapted to climate Food Insecurity Unsuitable Crops Farming Patterns do not Return nutrients Low Land Productivity Farmers can’t afford fertilizers Farmers unaware of best practices Poor Soil Research Proposal Development

9. Proposal Writing

10. Sections • Title • Introduction • additional sub sections if necessary • Objectives • Materials & Methods • additional sub sections if necessary • A tentative time table • A budget . Research Proposal Development

11. Title • Specific & Short • This forms the first impression about your research • If vague – Reader will be cynical Research Proposal Development

12. Introduction • Convince the reader that you have identified a research problem, worthy of investigating. • Start very general – Broad Topic • Highlight • the concept • Practical significance • Reduce it to a narrow topic by • Raising questions, and • Stating answers from literature for most. • Establish Rationale: • Research is necessary questions for which there is no answer yet. Research Proposal Development

13. Objectives • Provide a clear statement of the overall question- General objective • Follow it with action oriented tasks - Specific objectives. • If more than one specific objective state them sequentially Research Proposal Development

14. Methodology • State it explicitly • Enough detail for the reader to follow • First give an overall summary of your study design and methodological approach. • Then provide the methodology for each specific objective. • Describe • the specific design (what will you do and how, number of replicates, etc.), • the materials and techniques that will be used, and • the feasibility of these techniques. • Use literature to support design, materials & techniques • Need not repeat standard procedures – but give a reference. Research Proposal Development

15. References • List all references • In alphabetical order Research Proposal Development

16. GANTT Chart (Time line) Research Proposal Development

17. Budget Research Proposal Development