Problem Definition and

Hypothesis Formulation
Research Problem

It is a gap between actual and desired condition.

It is an issue under investigation.

Problem definition is clear and precise statement of questions or issue that is

to be investigated.

According to Uma Sekaran, “Research Problem is any situation where a gap

exists between actual and desired ideal estate.”
Steps in Problem Formulation

Identifying Broad Problem Area

Divide the Subject Area into Sub-areas

Decide about an Area

Defining Problem

Decide about the Objectives

Considerations while Selecting Research Problem

Interest

Appropriateness

Current Issue

Study Limitations

Practical Use
Research Question

A Research Question is a statement that identifies the

phenomenon to be studied.

A research question is an interrogative statement that

manifests/demonstrates the objective or line of
scholarly or scientific inquiry designed to addresses a
specific gap in knowledge.
 Types of Research Questions
a. Descriptive Questions
• What exists? Or what persists?

E.g.: What is the motivation level of Amity College students after results?

b. Relational Questions
• What is the relationship between variables?
E.g.: What is the relationship between advertisement and sales volume of
Micro-max mobiles.
c. Causal or Cause and Effect Questions
• Which causes what?
E.g.: Do personality development classes make students more disciplined in
college?
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is the assumption of relationship
between the variables.
It is the guessed outcome of the research based on the
literature study of past research works.
It shows the direction to the research work.

According to U. Sekaran, “A hypothesis is a logically

conjectured relationship between two or ore variables
expressed in the form of testable statement.”
Functions of Hypothesis

Shows the area of emphasis

Provides guidelines for collecting data
Informs about area of subjective priority
Basis of Research
Helps to test empirically
Features of Criteria of Good Hypothesis
Power of Prediction
Simplicity
Clarity
Testability
Relevant to problem
Specific
Relevant to available technology
Types of Hypothesis

Descriptive Relational
hypothesis hypothesis

Directional and Null and

non-directional alternative
hypothesis hypothesis
1. Descriptive Hypothesis (proposition)

• It presents existence, size, type and distribution of variables.

• It contains only one variable.
• Thus doesn’t present the relationship between and among variables.
• Sometimes research questions are enough to conduct a research than
a descriptive hypothesis.

• Example:
• CG’s Mobile Eon E Lite has 5 percent market share in Nepal.
• Twenty percent of rehabilitated people develop wine drinking habits again.
 2. Relational Hypothesis
• Explains the relationship between two or more variables.
• Correlational Hypothesis: Correlative hypotheses attempt to measure
association or correlation between two or more variables. Weaker
claims of relationship are made.
• E.g. There is positive correlation between the stock market return and the rate
of inflation.
• E.g. There is inverse relationship between number of competitors and
profitability.
• Explanatory Hypothesis: Causal hypothesis establishes the effect of
one or more independent variables on a dependent variable.
• E.g. Increase in promotional activities increases the sales volume of mobile
phones.
• E.g. Consumption of para-cetamol makes the bacteria mutant and increases
the chances of infection.
 3. Null and Alternative Hypothesis
• Null hypothesis is the statement of no difference or zero correlation
between the variables.
• It states no significant difference between sample mean and population
mean.
E.g. – After-sale services has no impact on brand loyalty of laptops.
• Alternate Hypothesis is the statement of difference or states some
relationship between the variables.
• It states significant relationship between sample mean and population
mean.
• E.g. - After-sale services increase the brand loyalty of laptops.
4. Directional and Non-directional Hypothesis
• If, in stating the relationship between two variables or
comparing two groups, terms such as positive, negative, more
than, less than, and the like are used, then these hypotheses
are directional because the direction of the relationship
between the variables is indicated.
• E.g. The greater the stress experienced in the job, the lower is the
job satisfaction of employees.
• E.g. Women are more motivated than men
• Non-directional hypotheses are formulated either because the
relationships or differences have never been previously
explored and hence there is no basis for indicating the
direction, or because there have been conflicting findings in
previous research studies on the variable.