Identifying and Stating the ProblemChapter 2

Research Topic or ProblemAn intellectual stimulus calling for an answer in the form of scientific inquiry.

Sources of Research Topics or Problems:

• Prevailing theories or philosophy

• Observations, intuitions or a combination of both

• Different subjects taken and from them identify a problem that interests a student-researcher most

• Fields of interest or specialization or event from related fields

• Existing problems in the classroom/school/campus/university which one may want to solve are good sources of research problems

Sources of Research Topics or Problems:

• Existing needs of the community or society

• Repetition or extension of investigations already conducted or may be an offshoot of studies underway

• Related studies and literatures

• Advice of authorities or experts from funding agencies

• Offshoots of friendly conversations

• Incidental from interesting topics of professors during the course meeting/session

Criteria in Choosing a Research Problem:

• It should be something new or different from what has already been written about.

• It must be original.

• It should be significant to the field of study or discipline.

• It must necessarily arouse intellectual curiosity.

• It should be of researcher’s interest and researcher must be with the topic.

• It should be modest one for a beginner to be carried on within a limited period of time.

Criteria in Choosing a Research Problem:

• It should be clear, not ambiguous.

• It should be specific, not general.

• It should consider the training and personal qualifications of the researcher.

• It should consider the availability of data involved in the study and the methods and techniques to be employed in gathering them.

• It should consider the availability of effective instruments for gathering the data and their treatment.

Criteria in Choosing a Research Problem:

• It should consider the financial capacity of the researcher to support the project.

• It should consider the time factor involved in the undertaking.

Basis for Selecting the Problem:

TECHNICAL• Significant to chosen field/advancement

of science or specialization

• Pioneering or novel

• Originality

• Arouse intellectual curiosity

• Relevance to degree

• Availability or manageability of data

• Availability of instruments

PERSONAL• Interest

• Training

• Expertise

• Financial capacity

• Time factor involved in the project

Guidelines in the Formulation of a Research Title:

1.The title must contain the following elements:

a. The subject matter of research problem

b. The setting or locale of the study

c. The respondents or participants involved in the study

d. The time or period when the study was conducted

2. The title must be broad enough to include all aspects of the study but should be brief and concise as possible.

Guidelines in the Formulation of a Research Title:

3. The use of terms as “Analysis of”, “A Study of”, “An Investigation of” and the like should be avoided.

4. If the title contains more than one line, it should be written in inverted pyramid.

5. When typed or encoded in the title page, all words in the title should be in capital letters.

6. If possible, the title should not be longer than 15 substantive words.

7. Avoid a long, detailed title that gives too much information.

8. To shorten the title, delete the terms “assessment” or “evaluation” if these are already emphasized in the text.

Characteristics of a Good Title:

• A title should give readers information about the contents of the research and is preferable to one that is vague or general.

• Titles do not need to be stuffy or dull but they should generally give readers some idea at the outset of what the research paper will contain.

• Choose a title that is a phrase rather than a complete sentence.

• Select a straightforward title over other kinds.

Characteristics of a Good Title:

• Use no punctuation at the end of the title.

• Do not underline the title of research or enclose it in quotation marks, instead, use a word processing program or printer that permits italics. Use them in place of underlining.

Examples:

• Higher Order Thinking Skills in Reading of Freshmen in University of Northern Philippines, Academic Year 2015-2016

• Pinay Single Mom: Paghanga o Pagkutya? A Multi Case Study on the Lives and Experiences of the Solo Parents in Zamboanga City

• Abakada o Aba! Kita…: A Multi Case Study on Child Labor in the Selected Towns of the Province of Laguna

• Magkapatid na Parang Aso’t Pusa: Magkasundo pa Kaya? A Multi Case Study on Siblings with Rivalry in San Jose, Mindoro Occidental

Examples:

• Establishment of Jackfruit Tea Processing Plant in Barangay Bantayan, Tabaco, Albay

• Level of Acceptability of Worksheets for Film-Clippings by the Teachers of English in University of Antique, Academic Year 2015-2016

• Life’s Adjustment of Yolanda Victims in Tacloban City

• Awareness on Traffic Rules and Regulations of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association in Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City, Calendar Year 2015

Examples:

• Health Practices of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) at University of Rizal System Pililla and Angono Academic Year 2015-2016

• Level of Acceptability of the Tracing Guide for Children with Cerebral Palsy by the Special Education Teachers in the Division of Pampanga, School Year 2015-2016

Background of the Study• It includes information which would focus attention on the

importance and validity of the problem. It is the general orientation to the problem area. A brief rationale to justify the problem must be provided. This is the present state of knowledge regarding the problem.

• The background includes:

1. Discussion of the problem in general and the specific situations as observed and experienced by the researcher

2. Concepts and ideas related to the problem

3. Discussion of the existing or present conditions and what is aimed to be in the future or the gap to be filled in by the researcher.

Statement of the Problem

• This is the basic difficulty, the issue, the area of concern, the circumstances which exist, then, how they ought to be. The researcher should give the background which led to this circumstances that exist. Briefly describe the condition or a situation that exists which is perceived as something less than the ideal: or what it should be and how you see it to be.

• It has two main elements:

1. The objective

2. Research questions

Objective or Purpose of the Study

• It is the first part of the problem where the researcher states the objective. This is a statement of a long term objective expected to be achieved by the study. This is derived by the identification and crystallization of the research problem and as reflected in the title.

Research Questions or Investigative Problems:

• These are the specific questions which are to be answered in the study. The answers to these should lead to the solution of the research problem. Focus on a clear goal or objective. State the precise goal. The problem should be limited enough in making a definite conclusion possible.

1. The major statement or question may be followed by minor statements or questions. The introductory statement must be the purpose/aim or the objective of the study.

Example: Specifically, the study aims to determine the causes of low performance of selected programs in the board examinations. Further, it seeks to answer to answer to the following sub problems 1, 2, 3 etc.

Research Questions or Investigative Problems:

2. If the goal is specifically to test a given hypothesis then state so. In many cases, the objective will be a more general statement than that of a hypothesis.

Example: The primary objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that there is a relationship between workplace condition and teaching performance of faculty members.

3. Investigative questions are the specific topical questions that one must resolve to achieve research objective or test the research hypothesis.

• This study attempted to evaluate the status and extent of implementation of the Computer Education Program in the Division of Rizal SY 2015-2016as perceived by teacher and student respondents. Specifically this sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Teacher respondents

1.1.1 sex;

1.1.2 field of specialization;

1.1.3 educational attainment;

1.1.4 length of service; and,

1.1.5 computer education seminar/training attended?

1.2 Student Respondents

1.2.1 sex;

1.2.2 monthly family income;

1.2.3 parent’s educational background;

1.2.4 accessibility to computers; and,

1.2.5 performance in English and Mathematics?

2. What is the extent of the Computer Education Program implementation as perceived by the teacher-respondents with respect to:

2.1 objectives and content of instruction;

2.2 teaching competencies;

2.3 learning competencies;

2.4 methods of teaching employed; and,

2.5 computer facilities?

3. What is the extent of the Computer Education Program implementation as perceived by the student- respondents with respect to:

3.1 objectives and content of instruction;

3.2 teaching competencies; and,

3.3 learning competencies

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

• The scope describes the coverage of the study. It specifies what is covered in terms of concept, number of subjects or the population included in the study, as well as the timeline when the study was conducted.

• Delimit by citing factors or variables that are not to be included and the boundary in terms of time frame, number of subjects, participants or respondents who are excluded. Specify that which you will not deal within the study.

Parameters of the Research:

• What – the topic of investigation and the variables included

• Where – the venue or the setting of the research

• When - the time frame by which the study was conducted

• Why – the general objectives of the research

• Who – the subject of the study, the population and sampling

• How – the methodology of the research which may include the research design, methodology and the research instrument

Example:

The main purpose of the study is to provide information regarding metro-sexuality and how being a metro sexual affects the lifestyle of the student. The study considers the student’s personal information such as their name (optional), gender, age, and section.

The researchers limited the study to 80 male and female secondary education student enrolled in the second semester of school year 2015-2016 of Technological Institute of the Philippines. Each of the respondents was given a questionnaire to answer. The students selected came from four different sections to prevent bias and get objective perceptions.

Significance of the Study

• The researcher defines who will benefit out of the findings of the study. He describes how the problem will be solved and specifically pinpoints who will benefit from such findings or results.

Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study:

1. Refer to the statement of the problem.

2. Write from generic to specific.

Do the following:1. Think of three topics which you intend to

prepare as your research undertaking. Take your time in choosing the topic. Take note that the topic should be related to your academic track/strand.

2. What are the 5 important things you had in mind considering these three topics?

3. Formulate your research titles for the three topics and present them to your teacher. Have your teacher approve one research title.