Developing a Research Problem

Abstract

A well-designed research project, in any discipline, begins with conceptualizing the problem. Research problems in clinical medicine may be stimulated by practical issues in the clinical care of patients, new or unexpected observations, discrepancies and knowledge gaps in the published literature, solicitations from government or other funding sources, and public forums such as scientific sessions, grand rounds, and seminars. Well-conceived research problems are important, interesting, feasible, and ethical and serve as a springboard for clearly focused questions. Research questions most relevant to clinicians include those pertaining to disease prevalence/incidence, prevention, detection (diagnosis or screening), etiology, prognosis, and outcomes of treatment (benefit or harm). A comprehensive literature search, conducted early in the planning process, can help to determine whether the proposed study is feasible, whether it is likely to substantively contribute to the existing knowledge base, and can provide guidance in the construction of hypotheses, determination of sample size, and choice of study design. Proper framing of the problem and purpose statements are essential for communicating and justifying the research.