Assignment Task

Introduction and Background to the Research Problem

The background and introduction sets the stage for the problem to be researched. This is not a lengthy section and may contain only a few paragraphs. It starts with a concise overview of the research. The introduction should give the reader the background to the topic under review and provide evidence for its relevance. It should give a clear description of the subject, the scope of material reviewed and the purpose of the review. Emphasize the importance of the proposed research and describe the research topic or theme. This section is not the background or history of the organisation, but rather, it is the background to the problem/challenge that the organisation is facing.

The background to the problem is the ideal place for you to give your readers up to date information about the topic that you have chosen; that is, to provide the context within which the problem is situated (for example: business management or public sector administration, etcetera). It is important to note that information pertaining to the background of the problem should include quotations by other authors. This section may include some personal experiences (which must be conveyed objectively that is do not use pronouns, for example, “I’; “we”; “us”; “them” etcetera), the location of the study, and it may also include theory that you have gained from your preliminary literature review.

The Research Problem

The research problem is a critical component of the research proposal. It will set the tone for the rest of the study, so special care must be taken to ensure that resolving the problem is feasible and manageable. It is vital that a researcher is able to establish the boundaries of the problem area that is, focusing on the topic that will be studied. Do not attempt a research problem that is too broad in content, or in a geographical area that is too large , or is a longitudinal study (a study conducted over time).

The researcher should think about what prompted the need to explore the research area (problem identification). The research problem should be stated in such a way that it would lead to analytical thinking on the part of the researcher with the aim of finding/recommending solutions to the stated problem. As such, a clear and concise description of the research problem needs to be given. The researcher should denote exactly what s/he intends to do and what s/he wants to achieve with the research.

Keep the following in mind when writing your research problem

• The general context of the problem area should be
• Key concepts and ideas current in the area should be
• Briefly note some of the underlying assumptions in the research
• Describe what needs to be solved and identify the most significant issues that require