terrain for demanding research. "The point in this context, however, is
that these gradations are among the factors that can create uncertainty as
to the initial reference points in selecting and defining problems for
research.

Excepting the reguirement for suitable rigor and candor in whatever is
done, there can be no single standard and no single finishing line in judg-
ing research. As in other phases of life, the absence of a single standard
might make living complicated for some. To say that there is no single
standard, however, is important in order to liberate people from unproductive
anxieties and to advocate suitable high standards for each effort. This is
thoroughly congruent with maintaining that the idea and definition of a
problem, especially a research problem and one that is researchable, is
tenuous and not readily arrived at without important points of reference,
variations in perception and probably a series of successive though not
necessarily seguential and linear approximations.

A difficulty consistent with the foregoing but not always anticipated
is that, once a situation is described as a problem, there is no guarantee of
instant concensus by all observant, right thinking and well informed people.
One discovers that what appeared to be a self-evident problem is somehow a
subjective and highly individualized and personalized mental construct not
self-evident to others. One almost has to prove that there is a problem,
acknowledged to be difficult without empirical referents, before one can
start working on the problem. fEffective definition of the problem normally
will be designed to incorporate the best of available proofs including the
acceptability and operationality of what is proposed. The best of proofs will

include critigue and opinion related to the theoretical and empirical works

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