Which statement best describes problem formation in research?

• A. It reflects felt needs and suggests a meaningful and testable hypothesis
• B. It is strictly hypothetical and removed from practice
• C. It ignores relevance and manageability
• D. It only addresses theoretical concerns

Answer: (A)

Problem formation in research starts with recognizing a real-world need or issue from practice and turning that into a researchable question. When it reflects felt needs from clients, communities, or practitioners, the problem is grounded in relevance to social work and has practical implications. This connection helps shape a meaningful and testable hypothesis or research question, guiding how data will be collected and analyzed and making findings applicable to real settings. Statements that detach the problem from practice, ignore relevance and feasibility, or focus solely on theory miss what makes research useful in social work. The strongest approach is to tie the issue directly to lived concerns and translate it into a testable, useful inquiry.