Research
methodology
9
2.3 Problem identification
If the answer to the research question is obvious, we are
dealing with a management
problem that may be solved without further research. A number of research questions could
be presented that may be posed at the various levels of the health system.
Whether a problem requires research depends on three conditions:
I) There should
be a perceived difference or discrepancy between what it is
and what it should be;
II) The reason(s)
for this difference should be unclear (so that it makes sense to
develop a research question); and
III) There should be more than one possible and plausible answer to the question (or
solution to the problem).
example1:
Problem situation:
In district
“ Y “ a report showed that in the first month there were 500
children under one year
old who started immunization, but at the end of the year it was found
out that there were only 25 children who completed their vaccination.
Discrepancy:
All the 500 children at district
“Y “should have completed
their vaccination but
only 5% out of those who started vaccination have completed.
Problem (research) question:
why only 5% of the children completed their vaccination?
Definite answer:
Out of the 1 hospital, 2 health centers and 10 health stations found in
district
“Y” only 2 health
stations were functioning, the rest were closed due to insecurity in
the area.
In the above example, assuming that all the given facts are true, there is no need of
undertaking a research, since definite answer is obtained to the problem situation.
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