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Problems for research are everywhere. Take a good look around you.

Research Paper Topics on Education

How can standardized tests improve education?
Does a college graduate make more money?
Should education be cheaper?
How will modern technologies change the way of teaching in the
future?
The creation of particular learning methods for blind children
Social networking and school
Metal detectors at schools
The effects of contemporary teaching methods
The role of technology in lesson planning
How to manage bullies and take actions against bullying at education
institutions?
Playing or reading? Children’s encounters with the story-world of a
digital game.
Collaborative School/University Education and Training Programme
for Science, Design and Technology Teachers
Understanding STEM Enrichment Worldwide and Developing
Measures for it's Impact
How are teachers' expectations of tall children reflected in those
students' achievement?
What effect does discipline have on creativity in elementary art?
What is the impact of malnutrition, associated with the child from a
low socio-economic background, on the development of that child's
reading skills and comprehension?
What is the effect of an individualized reading program on the reading
ability of the disinterested reader?
What effect does student handwriting have on a teacher's evaluation of
essay responses to items on a secondary home economics test?
What effect does verbal interaction between mother and child have on
a child's verbal competence in the initial school years?
Which of the following methods of instruction for 4th-year
mathematics would be more effective in moving students toward
desired outcomes - a teacher in the classroom or that teacher on
instructional television?
How are college grade point average and on-the-job counseling
effectiveness related?
How does the melodic presentation of subject matter affect the length
of attention span for preschool children?
What effect will quiet background music have on the aggressive
behavior of emotional disturbed children?

That is why we say that the heart of every research is the problem.
Research problem is paramount to the success of a research effort.

As a beginner, it might be easy to formulate a problem but it requires

considerable knowledge of both the subject of interest and research
methodology. Once you examine a question more closely, you will
realize the complexity of formulating a research problem into
something that is researchable. It is essential for the problem you
formulate to be able to withstand scrutiny in terms of the procedures
required. Hence, a student should spend considerable time in thinking
to formulate a researchable research problem.

Creswell, 2012) defined

research problem as “a general educational issue, concern, or
controversy addressed in research that narrows the topic”

THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMULATING A RESEARCH

PROBLEM
The formulation of a research problem is the first and most important
step of the research process. This is more like identifying a destination
prior to beginning a journey. A research problem is like the foundation
of a building. The type and architecture of the building depends on the
foundations. If the foundation is well designed and strong, you can
expect the building to be strong as well. You must have a clear idea
with regard to what it is that you want to find out but not what you
think you must find.

Relationship between research problem (input) and quality of content

(output)
The formulation of a research problem is like the „input‰ for a
research work and the „output‰ refers to quality of contents of the
research report and the validity associated is entirely dependent upon
it, as illustrated in Figure 4.1 above. As a student, you must remember
that formulating research problem is the most crucial step. So take
time in formulating your research problem because a clearer research
problem means clearer research output and progress.

CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

When selecting a research problem for your study, there are a few
factors which you need to consider. These factors will ensure that your
research process is more manageable and you will remain motivated.
Table 4.1 below shows the factors to consider in selecting a research
problem.

Consideration Factor Description

1. Interest  The most important criterion in selecting a research
problem.
 The whole research process is normally time
consuming and a lot of hard work is needed. If you choose a topic
which does not greatly interest you, it would become difficult to keep
up the motivation to write.
2. Expertise  Before selecting a research problem, you need to ensure
that you met certain level of expertise in the area you are proposing.
 Make use of the facts you learned during the study and of course
your research supervisors will lend a hand as well. *** Remember, you
need to do most of the work yourself.
3. Data availability
 If your research title needs collection of information (journal,
reports,proceedings) before finalising the title, you need to make sure
you have these materials available and in the relevant format.
4. Relevance
 Always choose a topic that suits your interest and profession. Ensure
that your study adds to the existing body of knowledge. Of course, this
will help you to sustain interest throughout the research period.
5. Ethics
 In formulating the research problem, you should consider some
ethical issues as well.
 Sometimes, during the research period, the study population might
be adversly affected by some questions.
 In ICT, some scenarios might occur especially research related
information security, which might concern certain authorities.
Therefore, it is always good for you to identify ethics related issues
during the research problem formulation itself.

AREA O F IN TEREST
Try to give three five responses to each question. After that,
analyze all of the
responses to see the most common themes.

1. What subjects covered in my field(s) of study interest me the

most? (do this for each
major/minor you have)
2. Which class or classes have been the most interesting, what
specifically made them
interesting, and what questions did I still have after the class finished?
3. What questions or problems am I most interested in exploring
and/or solving?
4. What other topics, areas, or fields am I interested in outside of my
major/minor?
5. What research topics relate to that field or sector I want to end up in
and/or what interests
me in that field?
6. What (if any) research topics relate to my hobbies, personal
interests, or extracurricular
activities?
7. What skills am I interested in developing which aren't addressed by
my major/minor?

In addition, Sivakumar & Szalinski (2016) suggested three ways to help

you pick up a
research area.
First, read scientific literature.
Second, attend conferences/seminars disseminating your research
area.
What should you do to identify and select a topic based on your
interested research
area? Just follow these three steps.
First, broaden and deepen your understanding about the
research area. Second, make a list of possible topics to study based on
the research
are. Third, choose the best topic by putting the eleven points below into
consideration.
After that, use the eleven considerations proposed by Reis (1999):

1. Can it be enthusiastically pursued?

2. Can interest be sustained by it?
3. Is the problem solvable?
4. Is it manageable in size?
5. Will it lead to other research problems?
6. Is it worth doing?
7. What is the potential for making an original contribution to the
literature in the field?
8. If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by scholars
in your field?
9. Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it?
10. By solving it, will you have demonstrated independent skills in your
discipline?
11. Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or
promise for the future?