NARROWING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

You have read how from a general topic we have arrived at the definition of the problem to be studied. Now we have to narrow it down further. The transformation of general topic into a workable problem is typically accomplished through a number of steps. Each step is a progress towards the goal of narrowing the scope of the problem to be studied and sharpening or defining the concepts.

As we move from the general topic of interest to a specific research problem we may find more than one potential problem areas. In this context, refer to the example given in section 9.6 of this practical. In this illustration you will find how from the general topic the topic has been defined and narrowed down. Let us now move on to the criteria which you should bear in mind while selecting a topic and thereby the research problem..