If I understand your question correctly, you believe that certain problem is of global in nature and you want to present convincing evidence that it is so. I think you may follow two broad approaches simultaneously: first, disprove that the phenomenon is not regional; it is affecting almost all continents with varying degrees. If not, then you may exhibit that although the phenomenon is limited to only one continent, but other countries in other continents are increasingly showing this phenomenon that may soon turn out to be a global phenomenon. Second, prove that this phenomenon is a "problem" that needs solution. Our personal intuition of seeing a phenomenon as a "problem" may not qualify this phenomenon to be classified as a problem. Problem may be defined based on perspectives. Why do you think this is a problem? Negative consequences of this phenomenon can be put forward as evidence that this is a problem. Are resources wasted due to this phenomenon? Is it decreasing work efficiency? Is it violating ethical standards? You need strong literature review, including news clipping, public reports etc. to present your case. Hope it helps.

If I understand your question correctly, you believe that certain problem is of global in nature and you want to present convincing evidence that it is so. I think you may follow two broad approaches simultaneously: first, disprove that the phenomenon is not regional; it is affecting almost all continents with varying degrees. If not, then you may exhibit that although the phenomenon is limited to only one continent, but other countries in other continents are increasingly showing this phenomenon that may soon turn out to be a global phenomenon. Second, prove that this phenomenon is a "problem" that needs solution. Our personal intuition of seeing a phenomenon as a "problem" may not qualify this phenomenon to be classified as a problem. Problem may be defined based on perspectives. Why do you think this is a problem? Negative consequences of this phenomenon can be put forward as evidence that this is a problem. Are resources wasted due to this phenomenon? Is it decreasing work efficiency? Is it violating ethical standards? You need strong literature review, including news clipping, public reports etc. to present your case. Hope it helps.

Mr. Khandoker Mahmudur Rahman, thank you for your brief response, it helps a lot :)

Hi,

Although your question is not easy to be answered, as every especialty has its own needs and problems. researcher need to identify the research problem and the significance fot such problem. this will convince the funding sources to support the study.reading the relevant up to date literature will show the importance of the problem if it is presented appropriately.

Good luck

I am doing a research related to the quality of the higher education process, as well as the career services at the universities. Since Europe doesn't have universal law for higher education, it is not easy for me to show that there is a real space for improvement and support it by evidence. Until now, I used the approaches which I described above, but I am looking for an advice from professionals, since I am a "fresh" researcher. Recently I found this http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/using-research-evidence-practice-guide, however, I am interested in researchgate people opinions. Of course, we will need to offer a solution at the end which will be some kind of a service or algorithm etc. However ,we need to prove that there's a demand for something on the first place and solutions are the second phase of our process :)

From my perspective as an epidemiologist, to provide just enough/convincing evidence that a subject matter is of global importance or concern depends on the rigor of the methodology. For example, evidence-based methods that I could suggest to you is a ''scoping review'' - mapping,' a process of summarizing a range of evidence in order to convey the breadth and depth of a field or a ''meta analysis'' - an approach of systematically combining study data, or findings/ results from independent or several quantitative and qualitative selected studies to develop a single conclusion that has a greater statistical power (this approach show strength for triangulation of results- especially in health interventions)

Great recommendation Mr. Amobi Onovo, thank you.

I agree with what has been said already.  If you need more data to support your position and also for funding, you might start by determining if it is a country wide problem first.  Once that has been established, you can move on to surveying larger geographic areas.  There have been instances where researchers from different countries have gotten together to study the same phenomena in their respective countries.

From my perspective, I think that a problem is precisely the gap between the current state and a desirable state as perceived by the current participants in that practice. You need to provide  evidence of the undesirable state of affairs of the practice and justify it as a global phenomenon by demonstrating with strong evidence of the undesirable state of affairs of the practice in other countries. Indicate what could probably be the global effect if quick attention is not given. You can gather evidence of the undesirable state of affairs of the practice from researchers, government reports, news papers etc in other countries.

As a journal reviewer, we place more value on the quality of the data if you intend to make a generalisation on the global population. It is easy to identify the significance of a study. Just read the most recent and similar paper on the topic and how it relate to the question you are asking. After you find the significance of the study, get solid data. Your data is the gold standard to get published in 4-star journals, if you plan to publish your research result someday. I wish you goodluck

There are many global problems present in our world today. Lot of people working into change some of these injustices. Grand Challenges research program aimed at solving some of the planet’s most urgent problems. These problems are discussed in research and Most Popular Global problems are: Poverty Facts and Stats, Global Financial Crisis, Causes of Poverty, Global Warming, Environmental Issues, Racism, Energy and environmental security ,Culture of Capitalism.

If you do not have the resource to gather data globally, meta-analysis of rigorous research findings and conclusions may be the way to proceed. For example, it is quite possible to establish addictions and domestic violence as global problems by aggregating existing data from published research in different countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described addiction problem as pandemic with global implications. There are yet other areas as suggested in responses in this thread. One area that I am just now developing interest and starting research effort on is human trafficking that a mates-analysis can show as a global problem. Hope this is helpful.