Part 3
The Research Problem
According to Dewey, et. al. a problem is 1) any significant, perplexing and
challenging situation, real or artificial, the solution of which requires reflective thinking;
2) a perplexing situation after it has been translated into a question or series of
questions that help determine the direction of subsequent inquiry.
There are five factors to consider to determine whether a problem is
researchable or not. These factors are as follows:
1. The problem is existing in the locality or country but no known solution to the
problem;
2. The solution can be answered by using statistical methods and techniques;
3. There are probable solutions but they are not yet tested;
4. The occurrence of phenomena requires scientific investigation to arrive at precise
solution; and
5. Serious needs/problems of the people where it demands research.
The research problem must be stated vividly and explicitly expressed in
interrogative form for “questions have the virtue of posing a problem directly.”
(Kerlinger, 1986).
Elements of a Research Problem
The term research problem implies that an investigation, inquiry or study is to be
conducted, or that the problem is ready for investigation, inquiry or study. The following
are certain elements that a problem must possess before it becomes a research problem
ready for investigation:
1.
Aim or purpose of the problem for investigation. This answers the question “Why?”
Why is there are investigation, inquiry or study?
2.
The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?”
What is to be investigated or studied?
3.
The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. This answers the
question “Where?” Where is the study to be conducted?
4.
The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. This
answers the question “When?” When is the study to be carried out?
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5.
Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. This answers the
question “Who?” or “From whom?” Who are the respondents? From whom are
the data to be gathered?
Example:
Research Title:
Status of Business Education of State Colleges
and Universities in Region 1
Research Problem:
Aim/Purpose:
Subject matter/topic:
Place or locale of the study:
Period or time:
Population:
To determine the status of business education of
SUC’s in Region 1 during the School Year
2019-2020.
To determine the status of
busines education
In SUCs of Region 1
During the School Year 2019-2020
The respondents are implied to be the administrators
and business education faculty.
Characteristics of a Research Problem
The characteristics of a good problem are the following:
1.
It should be of interest to the researcher himself; one can be eloquent on a subject
matter which one knows and is interested in.
2.
It should have practical value to the researcher, the school, and the community.
3.
It is a current and novel issue.
4.
More importantly, it can be finished within the allotted time, depending on the
subject, which is a requirement.
5.
It should not carry moral or legal impediment, nor should it be controversial.
6.
The data are available.
7.
The variables are clear, separable, and updated.
8.
It shall incur expenses affordable for the researcher.
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Sources of Research Problem
There are several sources of research problem that a researcher can investigate.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Specialization of the researcher.
Current and Past Researches
Recommendations from theses, dissertations, and research journals.
Original and creative ideas of the researcher based on the problems met in the
locality and the country.
Criteria of a Good Research Problem
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Interesting
Innovative
Cost-effective
Relevant to the needs and problems of the people
Relevant to government’s thrust
Measurable and time-bound
Factors that Influence the Selection of the Problem
A research paper usually has numerous constraints and there are factors that
limit the successful performance of the project. The researcher should be aware of
these things which are:
1.
Availability of Data. This is the most important consideration that a researcher
should be concerned of. One can never do an empirical research without data.
2.
Funds. It is also one of the constraints. A research activity is an investment and
therefore, needs funds. One needs for questionnaires, data analysis, for papers,
other materials, and for the typing of the manuscript.
3.
Capability of the Writer. One should not write a topic on theory on numbers when
one has not taken the course. One should write on topics which she believes he is
capable of doing.
4.
Attitude and Interest pf the Researcher. One will be motivated to do research if
one has the proper attitude and interest in what one is doing.
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5.
Interest of the Sponsor or the Benefactor Should be Considered. This, however,
should not conflict with the interest and capability of the researcher.
6.
Importance of the Issues Involved. Topics that are already saturated with findings
should be avoided. It should be a topic that is current and likewise popular.
7.
Regency of the Issue. It is an event or an issue that is contemporary and of interest
to many.
8.
Cooperation of Other People. One should be assured of others who will play an
important part in the research report.
9.
Facilities and Instruments are Available. Facilities and instruments needed in an
experiment should be available, especially laboratory equipment and chemicals.
The Title of the Research or the Investigations
After the selection of the theme or the topic to write on, the researcher
considers the title of the research and what criterion measures exist for presenting a
good one. Among the different considerations for this action are the following:
1.
It should not be long and should not be more than 20 words.
2.
It should include the variables (independent and dependent) and the
method of analysis.
3.
It should give insight virtually on what the research is all about.
4.
It should serve as a reference for the whole research report which others
can use.
5.
It should enable one to claim the paper as his own, and helps other
researchers to refer to one’s work as they survey some theories themselves.
6.
The following words should not be part of the title since all the researches
are studies, an analysis of variable, and an investigation, like: “A Study of,”
“An Analysis of,” or “An Investigation of”.
7.
It is not important to include the date and location of the investigation as
these can be placed in the Scope and Delimitation of the Study.
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The Research Objectives
A research objective is defined as “statement of purpose for which the
investigation is to be conducted” (Ardales, 1992). The research objective is a statement
of purpose because this is the guide to be accomplished by the researcher in conducting
his research project. Research objectives have the same characteristics, SMART, with
research problem.
Similarly, the research objectives are stated specifically in simple language in
order that the investigator finds them easy to measure by using research apparatus (i.e.,
refractometer or salinometer, thermometer, and others) or instruments (i.e.,
questionnaire, test, checklist, rating scale, interview) in gathering data and these data
are achieved when correct statistical tools are used to arrive at real results (not
maneuvered), but for every activity to be done, time frame is required because the
shorter the completion of the activity, the better.,
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PART 4
HOW TO WRITE CHAPTER 1 - The Problem and Its
Background
The Introduction
This is not a title of a chapter. It is actually a paragraph side head, which begins
Chapter 1. Statement in this chapter should not only signify the importance of the topic
but should also cause an impact on the reader.
The introduction leads the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of
inquiry or topic of investigation. It establishes the scope, context, and significance of the
research being conducted by summarizing current understanding and background information
about the topic, stating the purpose of the work in the form of the research problem supported
by a hypothesis or a set of questions, explaining briefly the procedural approach used to
examine the research problem, highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, and
outlining the remaining structure and organization of the paper.
A well written introduction is important because, quite simply, you never get a second
chance to make a good first impression. The opening paragraph of your research study will
provide your readers with their initial impressions about the logic of your argument, your writing
style, the overall quality of your research, and ultimately, the validity of your findings and
conclusions. A vague, disorganized, or error-filled introduction will create a negative impression,
whereas, a concise, engaging, and well written introduction will lead your readers to think highly
of your analytical skills, your writing style, and your research approach. The introduction should
conclude with a brief paragraph that describes the organization of the rest of the paper.
Guidelines in writing the Introduction:
It may be composed of three paragraphs enabling the readers to see at a glance
the entire contents of the research work.
1.
The intention of the first paragraph is to provide the readers a mental
warm-up, thus giving them information and readiness as to what the
research is all about. It should introduce the study and justify the problem.
2. The second paragraph carries the bulk of the introduction. The statement of
the problem can best be used as frame of reference to write this paragraph.
It is simply telling the readers the scope and coverage of the study. This will
help revolve around mentioning the purpose of the study, which is to
determine the existing or not existing between the independent and
dependent variables.
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3.
The third or last paragraph is a sort of closing portion that is intriguing and
challenging the readers to become interested in knowing the results of the
study. It is one or two sentences to link between the introduction and the
statement of the problem.
4. This part is a 2-3-page discussion.
Statement of the Problem
Guidelines in Formulating the General Problem and the Specific Questions
1.
The general statement of the problem and the specific questions should be
formulated first before conducting the research.
2. It is customary to state specific subproblems in the interrogative form. Hence,
subproblems are called specific questions.
3. Each question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has only one meaning.
4. Each specific question is researchable apart from the other questions, that is,
answers to specific question can be found even without considering the other
questions.
5. Each specific question must be based upon known facts and phenomena. Besides,
data from such known facts and phenomena must be accessible to make the specific
question researchable.
6. Answers to each specific question can be interpreted apart from the answers to
other specific questions.
7. Answers to each specific question must contribute to the development of the whole
research problem or topic.
8. Summing the answers to all the specific questions will give a complete development
of the entire study.
9.
The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the development of th
whole research problem or study.
10. Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then this should
be broken up into as many subproblems or specific questions as necessary.
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Scope and Delimitation of the Study
Scope and limitations of the study is an important section of a thesis,
dissertation, and research paper. This includes the coverage of the study area, the
subjects, the research apparatus, equipment, or instrument, the research issues and
concerns, the duration of the study, and the constraints that have direct bearing on the
result of the study.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework shapes the justification of the research
problem/research objectives in order to provide the legal basis for defining its
parameters. It is desirable for an investigator to identify key concepts that are used in
the study for better understanding of the role of theory in research.
Theoretical framework is a symbolic construction which uses abstract concepts,
facts or laws, variables and their relations that explain and predict how an observed
phenomenon exists and operates. A researcher is required to formulate existing theories
which link the study because theories are useful devise for interpreting, criticizing, and
unifying established scientific laws or facts that serve as guide in discovering new
generalizations.
It contains literature coming from books, journals, and other forms of material,
concerning or relevant to the study, but are data-free or non-empirical material coming
from both foreign and local sources.
Related Studies. These are empirically-based, like scientific papers, theses,
dissertations, both published and unpublished, coming from local and foreign sources.
Take note that the most recent ones should be invoked or mentioned, or only what is
the state of the art, unless it is historical in nature.
When doing a review of related studies, give proper acknowledgment and then
get the gist of its objectives, findings, and conclusions using your own words.
Literature review can be categorized to include major types of literature such as:
a.
sources of research, reading from various research journals, theses and
dissertations.
b.
theoretical literature from books,
magazines/journals, and speeches.
articles,
scholarly/professional
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Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework presents specific and well-defined concepts which are
called constructs. It is function is similar to theoretical framework because the
constructs used are derived from abstract concepts of the theoretical framework.
Operational Definition of Terms
In this section, the key terms are defined clearly. There are two (2) ways of
defining the key terms used in the study:
1. Conceptual definition – The definition of terms is based on concepts or hypothetic
ones which are usually taken from dictionary, encyclopedia, and published journals.
2. Operational definition – The definition of terms is based on observable
characteristics and how it is used in the study.
It is advisable that the researcher should use two ways in defining the terms to
make the meaning clear. The operational definition is preferable when defining technical
terms.
Assumptions
Assumptions are presumed to be true statements of facts related to the research
problem. They are clearly stated to give readers of research papers, theses,
dissertations, research projects foundation to form conclusions resulting from
assumptions.
Some researchers may state their assumptions outright, but it is advisable that
evidences or arguments in support of these assumptions are presented first.
Not all studies have a section on assumption in their study because some of
these are included in the background of the study.
Examples:
1.
Luncheon meat from offal of boneless milkfish and goatfish tapa as small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) provide livelihood projects for housewives, rural folks,
2.
fisherfolks, out-of-school youths, jobless adults, and unemployed graduates, hence,
augment their income, alleviate poverty, and improve their quality of life.
Commercialization of milkfish and goatfish luncheon meat responds to the
economic recovery and austerity measures of the Philippines.
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Significance of the Study
The significance of the study in a research paper, thesis, dissertation, or research
project is a must. For a research project seeking for a financial assistance from other
agencies, significance of the study is presented comprehensively to convince the
screening committee the importance of the study.
The explanation of the significance of the study is presented either in the
inductive or deductive perspective. In an inductive perspective, the investigator states
the importance of the study from the particular to general. He starts presenting the
importance of the study from the target beneficiaries to the researcher himself, to the
people in the community, province, region, and nation. Likewise, in deductive
perspective, general to particular, presentation of the importance of the study starts
from the national level, regional, provincial, local, to the researcher, and target
beneficiaries.
The researcher should prove that the study has important contributions in
relation to: a) solving the problem and need, (b) bridging a knowledge gap, c) improving
social, economic and health conditions, d) enriching research instruments, methods and
strategies and e) supporting government thrusts.
In other words, in developing countries, like the Philippines, researches with
return of investment (ROI) must be given priority as importance of the study. Likewise,
research for commercialization not for publication only to make the Philippines
economically secured.
Hypotheses
A hypothesis is defined as a wise guess that is formulated and temporarily
adopted to explain the observed facts covered by the study. A hypothesis guides the
researcher in that it describes the procedure to follow in conducting the study.
Hypothesis is important for it tells the researcher what to do and how to go about
solving a research problem. A hypothesis is a tentative solution to a particular problem
which may be accepted or rejected, depending on what the facts are.
The Function of Hypothesis
Researchers seek to guess the behavior of one variable over the other. In this
case, the researcher offers tentative guesses or probable actions of such variables. Or,
the researcher would like to know what will happen or what will be the behavior of the
variable and their interactions with one another. These are the researchers’ tentative
guesses on what probably would happen.
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The functions of a hypothesis in research report are the following:
1. It introduces the thinking of the researcher, of what is the objective or target
of research in his mind.
2. It structures the next stage of the research report after presenting the
variables in the study.
3. It identifies the characteristics of the researcher, whether an objective or a
biased researcher.
4. It brings the research to a deeper analysis of the variables in the study.
5. It identifies what the research hopes and contemplates for the study.
6. It helps a research provide the format of the presentation, analysis, and
interpretation of data gathered in the study.
Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis
Among the characteristics of a good hypothesis are:
1. It should be reasonable. It is should be one that can really be tested and
should involve the variables in the study.
2. It should state the type of analysis between the variable, whether
differences or relationships.
Types of Hypothesis and How They Differ
1. Null hypothesis (Ho) – The null hypothesis is a denial of an existence of a trait,
characteristic, quality, value, correlation or difference of the result. It is always
stated in negative form.
2. Alternative hypothesis (Ha) – It is an affirmation of the existence of observed
phenomena.
A research hypothesis is a temporary solution to a set of problems of the
research. It should be with the statistical hypothesis, so that there would be no conflict
of interpretation. This is the essence of inferential statistics or for the problems that
need decision making.
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A research hypothesis will be better understood if discussed with the statement
of the problem, especially since not all statements of the problem have research
hypotheses.
EXAMPLE:
Statement of the Problem
1.
What is the profile of middle managers in the company in terms of the
following personal variables:
a. age,
b. gender,
c. civil status, and
d. length of work experience?
2.
What the leadership skills of middle managers in terms of:
a. human relations,
b. technical,
c. administrative skills, and
d. institutional skills?
3.
Is there a significant difference in the leadership skills when respondents
are grouped according to personal variables?
Problems 1 and 2 do not need hypothesis. Take note that statement of the
problem which start with “what” are generally hypothesis free for they present only
data.
It is Problem 3 that needs hypothesis because it is a problem that needs analysis.
So, the research hypotheses of Problem 3 are:
3.1
Leadership skills of middle managers do not significantly differ when
grouped according to age.
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3.2
Leadership skills of middle managers do not significantly differ when
grouped according to gender.
3.3
Leadership skills of middle managers do not significantly differ when
grouped according to civil status.
3.4
Leadership skills of middle managers do not significantly differ when
grouped according to work experience.
You will observe that all the above-mentioned hypotheses are in the null form.
The word “ no” does not express a negative concept, but expresses a neutral one. It
shows that the researcher is objective and has no preconceived notion about the results,
but is ready to accept a different one when proven.
There is however, another way of expressing a research hypothesis, for example,
in a positive one.
Problem:
Is there a significant relationship between age and leadership skill of managers?
Research hypothesis 1.
(Null form)
There is no significant relationship between age and leadership skills.
Research hypothesis 2.
(Alternative form)
There is a significant relationship between age and leadership skills.
*Note that the researcher hypothesizes that the older the manager is, the better
the leadership skills he possesses.
Research Design
The research design is the plan used to study a problem or issue. There are two
basic research designs based on the way data and information are collected, synthesized
and analyzed are quantitative research (statistical data analysis) and qualitative research
(non-statistical data analysis). Other sub-categories of quantitative research can be used
which includes descriptive, comparative and causative. Descriptive research provides
information about one or more variables. Comparative research provides an explanation
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about the extent of a relationship between two or more variables. Experimental or
causative research provides information about how one or more variables influence
another variable.
Data Gathering Instrument
Data Gathering Procedures
Statistical Treatment of Data
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL OUTLINE
CHAPTER
1
THE PROBLEM
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Scope and Delimitation
Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Operational Definition of Terms
Assumptions
Research Hypotheses
Research Methodology
Research Design
Data Gathering Instrument
Data Gathering Procedures
Statistical Treatment of Data
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CHAPTER II
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
CHAPTER III
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RTECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
CURRICULUM VITAE
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