Activities

WEBINAR REPORT – DAY 4

PG AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
THE ZAMORIN’S GURUVAYURAPPAN COLLEGE
Date: 31-07-2025 | Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Topic: Framing the Research: Statement of the Problem and Research Design

 

The PG and Research Department of Economics, The Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College, successfully conducted the fourth and final session of the four-day webinar series on 31st July 2025 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM through Google Meet. The fourth session focused on the important topic “Framing the Research: Statement of the Problem and Research Design.” The webinar series was organized with the objective of providing final-year undergraduate students with a clear understanding of the various stages involved in conducting an academic research project. The fourth session was particularly relevant for students as framing a clear research problem and selecting an appropriate research design are essential steps in developing a systematic and meaningful research project.

 The session began with an introductory speech delivered by Ms. Vrinda, who warmly welcomed the resource person, teachers, and students to the concluding session of the webinar series. She highlighted the importance of the topic and encouraged the participants to make effective use of the academic session. The resource person for the fourth day was Dr. Anna Abraham, an experienced academician and faculty member in the field of Economics. Dr. Anna Abraham holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Kerala, an M.Phil. from the University of Hyderabad, and a Ph.D. from the University of Kerala. She has served in reputed academic institutions including Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam and Government College, Kottayam, and has been actively involved in various academic and administrative responsibilities. Her extensive academic experience and expertise made her well suited to guide students on the different stages of research formulation and design. During the session, Dr. Anna Abraham provided a detailed and systematic explanation of how a research topic can be transformed into a well-defined research problem. She emphasized that the identification of a suitable research problem is the foundation of any successful research study. The speaker explained that a research problem should be specific, relevant, researchable, and capable of being addressed through systematic investigation. She also discussed the importance of understanding the existing literature before finalizing a research problem, as a proper review of previous studies helps researchers identify research gaps and avoid unnecessary duplication. The session further focused on the formulation of the statement of the problem, explaining how researchers can clearly present the background, context, issues, and specific questions that their study intends to address. Dr. Anna Abraham also explained the connection between the research problem, research objectives, research questions, and hypotheses. She stressed that these elements should be logically connected so that the research remains focused and systematic throughout the study. Another major area discussed during the session was research design. The resource person explained research design as the overall plan or framework through which a researcher collects, organizes, analyses, and interprets data to answer the research questions. Students were introduced to the importance of selecting a research design according to the nature and objectives of the study. The discussion helped participants understand that the choice of research design has a direct influence on the methods of data collection and analysis used in a research project.

The speaker also explained the importance of clearly defining the population, sample, variables, sources of data, methods of data collection, and analytical techniques while preparing a research design. Through practical explanations and examples, she helped students understand how different components of a research project are interconnected. Particular emphasis was given to the need for clarity and consistency while preparing a research proposal. The session was especially useful for final-year undergraduate students who are in the process of preparing their degree projects. Participants gained a better understanding of how to move from a broad area of interest to a specific and manageable research problem. They also learned how to formulate appropriate objectives and design a research framework that can effectively address the identified problem. The session encouraged students to approach research in a more systematic and scientific manner and helped them recognize the importance of planning before beginning the actual process of data collection. The webinar also provided an opportunity for students to interact with the resource person and gain academic insights related to their research projects. The explanations provided by Dr. Anna Abraham helped clarify several important aspects of research formulation and design and made the session informative and engaging. The concluding session thus successfully addressed the key requirements involved in framing a research study and provided students with useful guidance for their academic projects. At the end of the programme, Ms. Alshifa delivered the vote of thanks. She expressed sincere gratitude to Dr. Anna Abraham for taking the time to conduct the valuable and informative session and for sharing her academic knowledge and research experience with the participants. She also thanked the teachers, student coordinators, organizing committee, and all the participants for their valuable support and active involvement throughout the webinar series.

 The fourth-day session marked the successful conclusion of the four-day webinar series organized by the PG and Research Department of Economics, The Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College. The series as a whole provided students with valuable guidance on the fundamentals of research, research methodology, sampling techniques, and the framing of research problems and research design. The final session, in particular, helped students understand how to develop a clear research problem and prepare a suitable research design for their degree projects. The programme concluded on a positive and academically enriching note, leaving the participants with useful knowledge and practical guidance for undertaking their research work effectively.