Practical Approaches to Problem Identification in Doctoral Research

Abstract

This chapter advocates for an applied orientation in research in Higher education, stressing the importance of selecting relevant problems to yield actionable insights and improve business practices. The methodology of this chapter includes synthesizing literature, evaluating relevance-rigour gap, and proposing a process and a checklist to convert a real-world problem into a research problem. The proposed checklist aids in identifying pertinent problems, covering stakeholder identification, problem frequency, clarity of solutions, and research feasibility. Bridging the academia-industry gap, this approach fosters innovation and knowledge transfer, supporting evidence-based solutions. Prioritizing practical relevance and stakeholder impact enhances research quality and drives advancements. Applied doctoral research addresses real-world challenges, enhancing organizational efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Further exploration of its impact is recommended for improved research outcomes.