Marketing Cases Case Study 6 Red Lobster: Market Research Reveals What’s Fresh Today Background

Module 2: STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

“It is already the third semester and I still do not have a

research problem”

“The problem is finding a research problem”

“My supervisor tells me that my research problem is too broad and I have to narrow it down”

“I think I am going to change my research problem”

"You do not need to do a research as everyone already knows the answer"

The above statements are common dilemmas faced by graduate students. When asked, some students do not even know the meaning of a "research problem". This is understandable given the numerous definitions of the term :"research problem" which further confuses the beginning researcher. Some supervisors fail to appreciate that for many students, it is the first time they are conducting a 'research' (as defined in Module 1). Learning the intricacies of research is a long and winding process. To make matters worse, the most difficult phase of the research process is the identification of the research problem.

Identification of the research problem is the MOST IMPORTANT step of the research process. It for this reason that a whole module has been devoted to this step. Not only must you be clear about the research problem, you must also have a passion for it! "I am already struggling trying to understand my research problem and now I need to have passion!". Let's see whether you will be able to explain your research problem clearly as well as be passionate about it, after having completed this module.

• WordNet Princeton defines a problem as a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved.

• Wikitionary defines a problem as a question to be answered

• According to Robert Gerber, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, "a research problem is the situation that causes the researcher to feel apprehensive, confused and ill at ease". Do you feel the same way about your research problem?

Hence, a "research problem" is something...