Research and Proposal Primer for IT, Business, Design

Worksheet

Defining Your Own Research Problem

This worksheet will guide you through the steps of defining your own research problem. Use this to refine your project idea and create a focused, clear, and feasible problem statement.

Step 1: Identify Your Area of Interest

Think about the field you are most interested in (IT, Business, or Design).

Which industry or sector do you want to explore?
Is there a specific challenge or issue in this area that you want to address?

Example Prompt:

If you are in IT, do you want to improve data security?
If you are in business, are you looking to optimize customer experience?
If you are in design, are you interested in enhancing user accessibility?

Your Answer:

Area of interest: _______________________
Industry/Sector: ________________________
Potential challenge or issue: __________________

Step 2: Research Existing Solutions or Gaps

Now that you’ve identified your area of interest, look for existing solutions or gaps in the current knowledge or practices.

What has already been researched or developed?
Where are the gaps in solutions or areas that still need improvement?

Example Prompt:

Are there technologies or methods already in use?
Are there limitations in current solutions that need to be addressed?

Your Answer:

Existing solutions or research: ___________________
Gaps or areas needing improvement: _______________

Step 3: Define Your Problem Clearly

A well-defined research problem should be specific, measurable, and focused. Keep it narrow so you can investigate it within the scope of your project.

Example Prompt:

What is the precise challenge you want to solve?
How will you measure the success or effectiveness of the solution?

Your Answer:

Research Problem Statement: _____________________
What makes this problem significant or relevant to the industry? ______________________

Step 4: Ensure Feasibility

Consider the feasibility of your problem. Is it something you can research within the given timeframe and resources?

Can the research be done within the time and resources available?
What data or tools will you need to explore this problem?

Example Prompt:

Can you collect enough data?
Do you have the resources to conduct experiments or surveys?

Your Answer:

Feasibility Considerations: _______________________
Tools or data needed: ___________________________

Step 5: Validate Your Research Problem

To make sure your problem is well-defined, validate it by answering these questions:

Is the problem specific enough?
Is it something that can be researched effectively?
Is it relevant to your field of study and current industry challenges?

Example Prompt:

Why is solving this problem important to your field?
Does this problem align with your personal interests or career goals?

Your Answer:

Why this problem matters: __________________________
Alignment with personal or career goals: _____________

Step 6: Finalize Your Research Problem Statement

Based on the above steps, finalize your research problem statement in a clear, concise manner. Make sure it includes the problem, its significance, and any key variables or concepts.

Example Prompt:

How can you summarize your problem in one or two sentences?

Your Final Research Problem Statement:

Step 7: Get Feedback

Once you’ve completed your worksheet, ask for feedback from your instructor, peers, or colleagues to refine your problem further.

Final Step:

Ask at least one person to review your problem statement and provide feedback:
Feedback: ___________________________

This worksheet is designed to help you clearly define a research problem that is both achievable and impactful. Use this as a tool to stay focused and create a well-thought-out research project.

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