Chapter 1 - The Problem and Its Setting
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
3:17 PM
The problem and its setting normally contains a reason, justification
and/or the background with respect to the problem, the importance of
which should be established at this point.
If the research problem is framed in the context of a general,
rambling literature review, then the research question may appear
trivial and uninteresting. However, if the same question is placed in
the context of a very focused and current research area, its
significance will become evident.
In other words, it is also appropriate here to provide a very brief
critical review of previous investigations relevant to your problem as
well as presenting relevant experiences in the workplace that has
something to do with the conception of the present problem to
investigate which serves as the anchor point of the study.
Notes: The problem and its setting generally cover the following
essential elements:
1. Introduction: Presents the rationale of your study and clearly
indicates why it is worth doing.
2. Research Locale: Briefly describes the research locale where to
conduct the study. In doing this, you can cite major
characteristics of the locale that has something to do with the
investigation.
3. Framework of the Study: States the anchor point. of the study.
This serves as the framework of the investigation. This could be
in the form of conceptual or theoretical framework. Identify the
key independent and dependent/major and minor variables of your
investigation (If needed/any). Explain the relationships of these
variables in a clear and systematic way.
4. Statement of the Problem: States the general and specific research
problem, which is often referred to as the purpose of the study.
a. Provide the synopsis of the overall purpose of the study.
5. Assumption/Hypothesis: Provides introductory statement. State your
assumption or hypothesis.
6. Scope and Limitation: Sets the limitation or boundaries of your
research in order to provide a clear focus.
7. Significance of the Study: Provides the context and sets the stage
for your research question in such a way as to show its necessity
and importance.
8. Definition of Terms: Identifies and defines key terms found in the
research.
INTRODUCTION
The introduction is the part of the paper that provides readers with
the background information for the research. Its purpose is to
ascertain a framework for the research, so that the readers can
understand how it is related to other researches or studies".
It typically begins with a general statement of the problem area, with
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It typically begins with a general statement of the problem area, with
a focus on a specific research problem, to be followed by the rational
or justification for the study.
The introduction is normally a short one that varies from one to four
pages in length. When writing the introduction, keep in mind the need
to provide an answer in this section to the questions: "What are you
doing; and why are you doing it? This means that the researcher should
lay down the focus of the study as well as the rationale of conducting
such study.
Rationale - SET OF REASONS
In an introduction, the researcher should create reader interest in
the topic, lay the extensive foundation for the problem that leads to
the study, place the study within the larger context of the scholarly
literature, and reach out to a specific reader.
Background information can be provided in several ways. The
researcher's theoretical interests or concerns may have generated the
research, and its justification is to be found in a theoretical
development or related literature. Where professional practice is the
focus, he may want to describe and analyze the context of policy or
organizational changes.
In any case, the researcher should summarize the influences, which
come into play to shape his research. The analysis should lead him to
interrogate his own assumptions about why the problem is significant.
He needs to ask what interests are driving the research, from whose
point of view the problem is 'significant'.
Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules on how to frame your
research question just as there is no prescription on how to write an
interesting and informative opening paragraph. A lot depends on your
creativity, your ability to think clearly and the depth of your
understanding of problem areas.
There is no template; no perfect formula in making an
introduction.
Mag outlining muna*
In writing the introduction however, you should try first to place
your research question in the context of either a current "hot" area,
or an older area that remains viable. Secondly, you need to provide a
brief but appropriate historical backdrop. Thirdly, provide the
contemporary context in which your proposed research question occupies
the central stage. Finally, identify "key players" and refer to the
most relevant and representative publications.
In short, try to paint your research question in broad brushes and at
the same time bring out its significance.
Illustration: For the purpose of illustration, consider the
introduction presented in a research entitled, "PERCEPTUAL STRENGTHS
VIS-À-VIS MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE OF GRADE IV PUPILS OF BARRETTO II
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OLONGAPO CITY"
Introduction
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Introduction
"In recent history, a student's failure to become competent in areas
studied in school has been blamed on the school, the teachers, the
curriculum -everything but the student. Along with responsibility for
his actions in society in general, the student has been absolved of
responsibility for his own learning. Teachers' hands are tied in many
respects, as most
effective modes of discipline have been put beyond their reach by
orders of the courts, and parental support has been severely reduced,
perhaps by the return to the work force of a large proportion of
mothers of school age children, or perhaps by the views adopted by the
previous generation" whose children we now have in school.
Additionally, today's students have been raised with television, which
has alternately been praised for such educational phenomena, and
blamed for children's lack of skill in attending to anything that does
not flicker, and their becoming accustomed to an extreme level of
violence and profanity.
Despite these effects, we must continue to do what we can to educate
the present generation and the generations to follow. Clearly the best
we can do is to increase motivation on the part of the students
themselves, and encourage the student to again take responsibility for
his own learning.
Those students who reach the university level generally have personal
motivation, or would not have reached tertiary education. It remains
for us to give them the tools with which to make the best use of their
talents.
In addition, many of these students are the brightest of their peers,
and had little or no need to study effectively in secondary school.
They then reach university with few, if any, study skills. The high
dropout rates in college among the brightest of the students is a
cause for concern, and may relate to the lack of preparation in study
skills of these bright young people.
Philippine schools have traditionally taught most subject areas with a
pedagogy based on repetition, drill, concrete to abstract process,
with a more recent attention to hands on practice and wherever
possible, the use of manipulative teaching aids to enhance the concept
building. Much rhetoric also has recently surrounded the issue of the
higher order thinking skills, following the model of Bloom's taxonomy,
encouraging students not only to master the content and be able to do
again following rote memorization of facts, but to comprehend, apply,
analyze, synthesize and evaluate learned concepts and to effectively
transfer the learning to new material and situations. We want to teach
our students "to think," but continue to demand little more than
repetitive practice at problem solving.
With the foregoing claims, the researcher is very eager to assess the
relationship of the perceptual strengths or learning styles of the
students and their Mathematics performance.
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