MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF BUSINESS SCIENCES

MASTER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Surname: Name: Reg no.
JOEL GWATSVAIRA R121014G

Mode of Entry: HARARE WEEKEND SCHOOL

Module: MSCM704- RESEARCH METHODS

Level: 1 Semesters: 1
Question- Research Problem, Research Question and Hypotheses
Research Problem
• Research problems are the educational issues, controversies, or concerns that guide
the need for conducting a study, (Creswell 2002).
• Shoket, (2014), further says that research problems are those topics the researcher
would like to address, investigate, or study, whether descriptively or experimentally.
• They are therefore the foci or reasons for which researchers engage in any given
research enterprise.
• Research problems are characteristically motivated by incomplete knowledge or
flawed understanding and are only solved by achieving better understanding.
• In the academic world, the researcher is always looking for better understanding of
natural processes and phenomena. As a result, the researcher eagerly seeks out and,
sometimes, even invents research problems (where necessary) in their search for
better understanding.
• For example, while an increase in street vendors in Zimbabwe may be a problem to
City council.
• it may not be so for their customers and clients, suggesting that what might be a
social problem for one group may not be so for another group.
• For a researcher, it is not only the rise in vendors but also the underlying factors
fuelling its rise which constitutes a problem.
• A researcher may want to understand why people are increasingly turning to
vending and what factors are driving the acceptance of vending as an attractive and
more acceptable profession.
• Thus such understanding may help to shed light on what changes may have
occurred over time to elevate vending to current levels of acceptance and practice.
Rienecker and Jørgense, (2015) listed the following as what constitute a real
research problem:

• A gap in the field’s knowledge.

• Something the field has not or should not have finished researching.
• An unexplained observation, an observation that sticks out
• Something that is currently being debated in the field.
• Something that can and should be argued for or against, for example all
representatives of the field are not already familiar with or agree with the
argumentation).
• Something that is in conflict with the general view.
Importance of a research problem.
• A research problem represents an issue that directs to the need for
further study.
• Research problem is considered as the central generating point of a
research project that determines what information to be collected
and how to analyse that collected data or information.
• Drives a study through in-depth research.
• Help create a focused and comprehensive project.
• Help to ensure that the project is innovative and unique, with an
intentional purpose and justification.
Research Questions

• A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to

provide a response to.
• Research questions are usually the first step in any research project.
• Basically, it is the primary interrogation point of the research and it
sets the pace for the work. 
• Research questions narrows down a broad topic of interest into a
specific area of study (Creswell, 2014).
Types of Research Questions 

• Qualitative Research Questions 

• These concern broad areas of research or more specific areas of
study, are usually adaptable, non- directional and flexible.
• Studies using these intend to discover, explain and explore.
• Their aim is to gather non- statistical information on experiences,
observations and perceptions.
• Types of Qualitative research questions include- case studies and
interviews
• Quantitative Research Questions
• Are questions are used to gather quantifiable data from research subjects.
• These research questions are precise and typically include the population to be
studied.
• Dependent and independent variables, and the research design are to be used.

Types of Quantitative research Questions.

1. Descriptive Research Questions-

• These are inquiries the researchers use to gather quantifiable data about attributes
and characteristics of research subjects.
• These questions primarily seek responses that reveal existing patterns in the nature of
the research subjects. 
• Are typically closed-ended because they aim at gathering definite and specific
responses from research participants.
2. Comparative Research Questions
• Used to gather information about the differences between two or more research
subjects across different variables.
• They help provide insights on how something e.g. product or service matches its
competitors.
• For example in cases of products or services it helps to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of your product for a better competitive advantage. 
• Comparative questions are like- What is the differences between work-from-home
and on-site operations?

3. Relationship-based Research Questions

• These questions inquires into the nature of the association between two research
subjects within the same demographic.
• help the researcher gather information pertaining to the nature of the association
between two research variables.  
 HYPOTHESES

• Hypotheses consist of two words Hypo plus Thesis. Hypo is about composition of
two or more variables subject to verification whilst Thesis relates to a statement
about solution of the problem

• A hypothesis is a proposition, which can be put to test to determine its validity,

Goode W and Hatt, P.K. (2002).

• Lundberg G. A (1954), defines a hypothesis as a tentative generalization the

validity of which remains to be tested. It may be any hunch, imaginative idea or
intuition whatsoever, which becomes the basis of action or investigation.”
IMPORTANCE OF HYPOTHESES

• Facilitate the extension of knowledge in an ara

• Provides the researcher with rational statements
• Provides direction to the research
• Provides basis for exporting the conclusions to the study

• Examples of Hypothesis
• Hostility and political participation are negatively related.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
Descriptive Hypotheses- describes the characteristics of a variable

Relational Hypotheses- Describes the relationship between variables

Casual Hypotheses- Describes the casual relationships between variables

Working Hypotheses- Hypotheses subject to change as the investigation proceeds

Null Hypotheses- they state that no difference exists between the parameter and
statistic being compared to it.
Characteristics of a good Hypotheses
• Hypothesis should be testable- (Mcguigan 1990), states that if its is
possible to determine that the hypothesis stated as a proposition is true
or false, then the hypothesis is testable.
• Hypothesis should be related to existing body of theory and facts-

• Hypothesis should be parsimonious: That is a good hypotheses should be

time, labour and money saving.
• Hypothesis should state the relationship between variables, if it happens
to be a rational hypothesis.
• Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific