ABSTRACT
The research problem lays the foundations for the rest of the research that it brings into focus what exactly will be studied and how. These initial choices influence all subsequent steps, such as the decision of which theoretical framework to apply, what methods and techniques to use for gathering and analyzing the data, and what kind of conclusions can be drawn from the study. A mistake often made in applied research, and so particularly relevant to the field of Public Administration, is that the research problem does not give an adequate translation of the sponsor's requests. The researcher has to bear in mind that the sponsor is struggling with a practical problem, for which a realistic solution is sought. Research can fulfill several aims. Applied research is meant to solve a practical issue or problem, described by the sponsor who commissioned the study. A hypothesis is a testable proposition which one-directional, explicit in terms of the predicted effect.
