Formulating a research question

 The most prior step in pursuing research is Formulating a research question. A well-defined research question is crucial for guiding the entire research process, from designing the study to analyzing the data and drawing conclusions. This question guides the entire research process — including the design, methodology, data collection, and analysis. It lays the foundation upon which hypotheses, research design, and analysis strategies are built.

• Research Question:

  It defines the specific topic and objective of the research, providing direction for the study. 

  A research question is a clear, focused, and specific question that guides a research study. It identifies what the researcher wants to understand, explore, or solve. It serves as the foundation for developing hypotheses, choosing the research design, and collecting data.

  Characteristics of a good research question:

  • Clear and concise

  • Focused on a specific problem or issue

  • Feasible to answer within available resources

  • Researchable — can be answered using data and evidence

  • Relevant to the field of study or societal needs

  Examples:

  • What factors influence customer loyalty in online retail?

  • How does remote work affect employee productivity in tech companies?

  • What is the impact of microfinance on women entrepreneurs in rural India?

• Research Design:

  The research design is developed to answer the formulated research question, not the other way around. 
• Data Analysis:

  The method of data analysis is chosen based on the research question and the chosen research design. 
• Research Hypothesis:

  A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for the research question, which is tested through the study. 

In essence, the research question is the foundation upon which the entire research project is built. 

While financial support, availability of literature, and social relevance are important considerations, the primary and most sustainable driver for selecting a research problem is the researcher's genuine interest in the topic. A strong interest keeps the researcher motivated throughout the research process, which can often be long and challenging.

That said, a well-chosen research problem usually balances:

• Researcher’s interest

• Relevance to society or the field

• Feasibility (resources, data, time)

• Availability of literature and previous studies.

A research problem is feasible only when it meets all of the following criteria:

✅ It has utility and relevance – It should be useful and meaningful in the real world or academic field.
✅ It is new and adds something to knowledge – It should contribute fresh insights or perspectives.
✅ It is researchable – It should be possible to investigate it using scientific methods, data, and analysis.

Together, these factors ensure that the research problem is worth pursuing and practically doable.

Basic research is also known as:
✅ Pure research
✅ Fundamental research
✅ Theoretical research

It is conducted to increase our understanding of fundamental principles and theories, 

without any immediate commercial or practical application in mind. 

Its goal is to build knowledge rather than solve a specific problem.

Depending on the research method used, research can be classified as:

✅ Survey research – Uses questionnaires or interviews to gather data from a sample.
✅ Observation research – Involves observing subjects in their natural environment 

without interference.
✅ Experimental research – Involves manipulating variables 

under controlled conditions to determine cause-effect relationships.

Evaluation Research is primarily concerned with assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of programs, policies, or practices. It seeks to answer questions like:

• Are the objectives being met?

• What outcomes have been achieved?

• How can performance be improved?

So, it focuses on "How well are we doing?" in terms of achieving desired goals.

According to coverage or scope, research can be classified as:

✅ Macro study – Broad in scope, often dealing with large populations, industries, or national/global issues.
✅ Micro study – Narrow in scope, focusing on a specific group, organization, or localized issue.

Depending on the place where the research is carried out (i.e., the data-generating source), research can be classified into:

✅ Field studies or field experiments – Conducted in real-world settings, 

such as organizations, communities, or markets.
✅ Laboratory studies or laboratory experiments – Conducted in 

controlled environments to test hypotheses under specific conditions.
✅ Library studies or documentary research – Involve analyzing 

existing documents, books, journals, and records.

Action research can be understood as:

✅ A longitudinal research – It often involves repeated cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting over time.
✅ An applied research – It is aimed at solving practical problems rather than generating pure theoretical knowledge.
✅ A kind of research being carried out to solve a specific problem – It focuses on finding immediate solutions in a specific context, such as a classroom, organization, or community.

So, the most accurate choice is: All of the above.

Method that involves recording the behavioral pattern of people, objects and events in a systematic manner to obtain information about the phenomenon of interest is Observation

Observation is the research method that involves systematically recording the behavioral patterns of people, objects, or events to gather data about a specific phenomenon of interest. It is especially useful when studying actual behavior rather than self-reported responses.

• Survey involves asking questions.

• Schedules are structured instruments for data collection.

• Warranty Card is a post-purchase feedback tool, not a research method.

So, the most suitable method here is: Observation.

Historical research involves the study of past events using sources like documents, records, and archives to understand what happened and why. Because it is context-specific and based on unique past conditions, its conclusions or findings cannot be easily generalized to other situations or present-day contexts.

Other types like descriptive, causal-comparative, and experimental research aim for more generalizable findings, especially when using representative samples and proper methodology.

Explanation:

• Ex-post facto research involves investigating the effects of variables that have already occurred naturally, without the researcher manipulating them. Since the study aims to explore the results of possible factors in the organization of effective mid-day meal interventions—where these factors and the interventions already exist—the ex-post facto method is ideal.

• Descriptive survey method typically focuses on describing current conditions or opinions without delving deeply into cause-and-effect relationships.

• Historical method is used to study past events by analyzing existing records, which isn’t the primary focus here.

• Experimental method requires active manipulation of variables under controlled conditions, which is generally impractical in policy or social intervention research such as mid-day meal programs.

Thus, considering the nature of the investigation, Ex-post facto method is the most appropriate choice.

Exploratory research's main goal is to gain a deeper understanding of a problem or issue, often to refine the research question and identify the key variables for further study. This contrasts with other research types like descriptive research which aims to describe characteristics or causal research which seeks to establish cause-and-effect relationships. 

The Experimental Method aims at studying the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable by keeping other interdependent variables constant through some type of control. 

Explanation:

The Experimental Method is a research method used to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables by manipulating one or more independent variables while controlling for extraneous variables. The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated, and the dependent variable is the factor that is being measured for any effects. By carefully controlling the conditions of the experiment, researchers can isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. 

Why other options are incorrect:

• Historical Method:

  This method focuses on examining past events through primary and secondary sources to develop an interpretation, not directly manipulating variables to study cause-and-effect relationships. 
• Comparative Method:

  This method involves comparing different groups, societies, or cultures to understand similarities and differences, but it does not typically involve manipulating variables under controlled conditions. 
• Survey Method:

  This method involves collecting data from a group of individuals through questionnaires or interviews to understand their opinions, attitudes, or behaviors, but it does not involve direct manipulation of variables. 

1. Causal-Comparative Research (Ex Post Facto)

Definition & Objective:

• Definition: Causal-comparative research seeks to determine cause-and-effect relationships after the events have already occurred, without direct manipulation of variables.

• Objective: It examines the relationship between one or more independent variables (that have occurred naturally) and a dependent variable to infer possible causal connections.

Common Subjects/Fields:

• Education: For example, comparing the effects of online learning versus traditional classroom learning.

• Psychology: Studying the impact of parenting styles on children’s behavior.

• Sociology: Analyzing relationships between socioeconomic status and crime rates.

• Public Health: Comparing outcomes such as disease incidence in smokers versus non-smokers.

Key Limitation:

• Since there is no manipulation of variables, establishing definite causality is more challenging compared to experimental research.

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2. Historical Research

Definition & Objective:

• Definition: Historical research is the systematic investigation of past events to discover, verify, and synthesize evidence about what happened and why it happened.

• Objective: It aims to understand and interpret past events, drawing conclusions that can help explain current issues or predict future trends.

Common Subjects/Fields:

• History: For example, a study of the Indian independence movement.

• Political Science: Analyzing past election campaigns or political shifts.

• Economics: Understanding historical trends in inflation or economic policies.

• Education: Examining the evolution of teaching methods over the decades.

• Business: Studying the rise and fall of companies or major shifts in industry practices.

Generalizability:

• Findings from historical research are typically context-specific and cannot be easily generalized to other situations or times.

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3. Descriptive Research

Definition & Objective:

• Definition: Descriptive research is aimed at providing an accurate portrayal or account of the characteristics of a particular individual, group, situation, or phenomenon.

• Objective: It answers the question, “What is happening?” by describing the current status of a phenomenon without necessarily explaining the underlying causes.

Common Subjects/Fields:

• Market Research: Gathering data on consumer preferences, buying habits, and market trends.

• Education: Surveying student attitudes and satisfaction levels regarding academic programs.

• Healthcare: Assessing patient demographics, symptoms, or outcomes within a hospital setting.

• Sociology: Describing lifestyle patterns or social trends in a specific community.

• Media Studies: Analyzing audience reach or the response to media content.

Generalizability:

• The results are often more generalizable (if the sample is representative) but are limited to describing facts rather than explaining them.

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4. Experimental Research

Definition & Objective:

• Definition: Experimental research involves the manipulation of one or more independent variables to determine their effect on a dependent variable under controlled conditions.

• Objective: It is conducted to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables, by comparing outcomes between groups exposed to different levels or conditions of the independent variable(s).

Common Subjects/Fields:

• Psychology: Testing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions on reducing anxiety or improving cognitive function.

• Medicine/Pharma: Conducting clinical trials to evaluate new drugs or treatment methods.

• Education: Experimenting with new teaching methods or curricular innovations to assess impacts on learning outcomes.

• Engineering: Evaluating product performance under varying conditions.

• Agriculture: Assessing the effect of different fertilizers on crop yield.

Strength:

• When properly designed and executed with random assignment and controlled variables, experimental research can produce findings that are highly generalizable.

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Summary Comparison Table

Type of Research	Key Question	Subjects/Fields Examples	Generalizability
Causal-Comparative	Why is X related to Y?	Education (online vs. traditional), Parenting styles, Socioeconomic studies, Public Health comparisons	Sometimes (limited by non-manipulation)
Historical	What happened in the past?	History (independence movements), Political shifts, Economic trends, Business evolutions	Rarely (context-specific)
Descriptive	What is happening?	Market research (consumer behavior), Education (student surveys), Healthcare (patient demographics), Sociology (social trends)	Often (if sample is representative)
Experimental	What causes what?	Psychology (therapy effects), Medicine (drug trials), Education (teaching methods), Engineering (product testing)	Yes (if well-controlled).