RESEARCH

PROBLEM
 Topic Outline

a. Factors to consider in choosing a

research problem
b. Criteria in selecting a good research
problem
c. Writing the different parts of Chapter 1
*Background of the study
(Rationale/justification)
*Statement of the problem
*Significance of the study
*Scope and delimitation
*Definition of terms
 WHAT IS A PROBLEM

• A question thrown forward for a solution

• May have arise from a felt need by some
entities
• A gap b/w what is expected & what it is,
w/c is known & w/c is to be known
• May arise from conflicts or contradictions
b/w researchers & theories that were
conducted in the past
RESEARCH PROBLEM/QUESTION
the statement that identifies the
phenomenon to be studied
A process of asking a question, or a
series of related questions & then
initiating a systematic procedure to
obtain valid answers to that question/s
A question about the problem to be
addressed , it is therefore focused on
the content of the topic of interest.
The most critical step in Research
 Research Questions
From Topic to Research Question
A good research topic asks a clear, concise question.
Asking a research question helps you keep a tight
focus on your topic.
Tweaking Your Research Question
A good research topic is broad enough to allow you to
find plenty of material, but narrow enough to fit w/in
the size and time constraints of your paper.
 If your topic is either too broad or too narrow,
consider adding or eliminating the following
elements:
Time Period, Population Type, Geographic
Location, Point of View, economic, social, cultural,
biological
REASON WHY RESEARCH QUESTIONS ARE CRUCIAL

Guide your literature search

Guide your decision about the kind
of research design to employ
Guide your decision about the data
to collect & from whom
Guide analysis of your data
Guide writing-up your data
Stop you from going off in
unnecessary directions
 Factors in in Selecting a Topic
Personal interest/Passion
Importance/Contribution to the
field
Newness/Relevance
Feasibility
Tradeoff between rigor & practicality
Time constraints
Ethical constraints
Organizational support
Economic factors
Availability of Subjects
 Considerations in selecting a problem
Interest –most important consideration in
selecting a problem
Magnitude – Has sufficient knowledge about
the research process
Measurement of process - be very clear
about its indicators & measurements
Level of Expertise – Having adequate level of
expertise for the task which is proposed
Relevance - is of relevance to the people/
community
Availability of data – accessibility of resources
– library & internet
Ethical Issues – consider what is morally good
& respect the right of the respondent/sample
 GOLDEN RULE FOR SELECTING A
TOPIC

Keep it manageable
It should be interesting to you
It should be workable
Not too distruptive of normal
routines
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
TOPICS

Interesting
Researchable
Significant
Manageable
Ethical
 Sources of Research Topics

●Personal experiences
●Work setting experiences
●Peer-reviewed journals in your
field
●Existing literature
“Recommendations for future
research…”
 ANSWER FIRST BEFORE PROBLEM
FORMULATION

Is the problem significant enough?

Is it feasible (practical/possible for
me to do it?)
Is it free of unknown hazards/
dangers?
Is it clear (unambiguous)?
EXAMPLE OF GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEMS
Does client-centered consultation produce
more satisfaction in clients that traditional
consultation? (experimental design)
Does teaching strategy modification increase
productivity in college students? (Group
subject experimental design)
What goes on in BTBTed classroom during an
normal week? (ethnographic design)
 Do teacher behave differently toward
students of diff. genders? (causal-
comparative design)
How do parents feel about the school
counseling program? (survey design)
How can dean improve faculty morale?
(interview design)
 Class Exercise: Sample questions

Is anchovies be used as a main

ingredient for embotido?
Can human urine be used as
alternative source of fuel?
What other techniques can be
used to lessen the electricity
consumption?
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
(INTRODUCTION)
• Introduces the study & signifies its
importance to create an interest &
Intense desire on the reader to know
more about the investigation.
• Preliminary part of the problem, leading
to its main part & objectives.
• May include legal or other basis related
to or for conducting the study.
• Reason/s why there is a need to
conduct the study.
 Guide in the discussion of the
background of the study
P – problem: problematic situation or issue
that deserves to be studied
I - importance: why is it necessary to
conduct a study
L – literature: what do related literature/
study/experts/documents say
about the problem.
O - Objective: what to expect to
accomplish (last 2 paragraphs
introduce the objective of the study)
T- Timeless: urgency of the study.
 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM (SOP)
*One of the most important parts of
a research work.
*Focus of the study & all questions
should be categorically stated &
answered
 Tips in Writing the Statement
of the Problem
Problem should be stated both in general & in
specific terms. General SOP is a reiteration of
the title of the study.
Sub-problems must follow the main problem
which are the key issues for investigations.
Problem should be stated in the infinitive to
such as examine, analyze, determine, assess,
evaluate, find out, develop, etc.
Specific questions should be state using the ff
guide questions words: “How, will, what, is
there,”
 Writing the Statement of the
Problem (SOP)

The First paragraph of the SOP

covers the general objective/
purposes of the study. It also
includes the locale & the year of
coverage.
The second paragraph introduces
the specific problems & sub-
problems.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Specifically describing:
1. Who is affected (Profiling)
2. Supported causes of the problem
(present scenario)
3. The goal for improvement (what
should be/ideal)
4. What might be done about the
problem as stated
(Proposal/action plan)
 Sample Statement of the Problem:
This study aims to develop Katmon Fruit
Base Seasoning Mix. Specifically the research
aims to:
1. Conduct a survey on the availability of
Katmon trees in the province of Sorsogon.
2. Determine the acceptability of Katmon base
seasoning mix to consumers.
3. Compare Katmon fruit base seasoning mix to
the other existing base seasoning mix.
4. Produce convenience packs of Katmon base
seasoning mix
 SIGNIFICANCE/
IMPORTANCE OF
THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
 SIGNIFICANCE/IMPORTANCE OF THE
RESEARCH PROBLEM
State clearly why this research is important,
what the benefits will be & how your work will
contribute to knowledge in your field. This
may include commercial benefits, changes in
current practice, a new perspective on an
old issue or other benefits to the community.
Why it is significant & how it advances
understanding of the issue under discussions
Significance of the Study. This part mentions
the beneficiaries of the study which must be
started from the most benefited to the least
benefited which is the researchers. The
beneficiary must be highlighted followed with
a period. The discussion must be paragraph
form.
 SCOPE &
DELIMITATION OF
THE STUDY
 Scope and Delimitation

Discuss first the scope of the study which

covers the general statement of the
problem. The discussion/presentation must
be the same as that of the statement of
the problem.
The second paragraph includes the
respondents/people involved, place, time.
The next paragraph will be the discussion
of the exclusion (not included ) in the
study.
 Definition of Terms
 Terms to be defined is taken from the key words in the
title then from the variables used in the SOP & other
terms used by the researcher of which the meaning is
not similar to its conceptual definition.
 Terms must be defined conceptually & operationally.
 If the conceptual & operational definitions are the
same just get the conceptual definition.
 Arrangement of the words to be defined must be in
accordance to how they occur in the title.
 Terms must be bold followed by a period, underline is
not needed.
 Terms must be written in paragraph form. The source
of the conceptual definition must be acknowledged.
The presentation is similar to that of the significance
of the study.
 NESTED HOURGLASS MODEL

The whole thesis

Each section,
subsection

Most paragraphs

Broad focus at the

beginning; end specifics;
narrow focus in the
middle
FOCUS ON ONE IMPORTANT THING IN
EACH PARAGRAPH

Each paragraph needs a topic

sentence
Contents of paragraph should
only relate to that topic
Use outline view to see & revise
this
 Keep In Mind That

No study is perfect

“All data is dirty in some way or
another; research is what you do
with that dirty data”
Measurement involves making
choices
 SAMPLES THESIS OF BTVTED STUDENTS

Development of Advance Automotive Teaching Strategies and

Learning Skills Module for SSC Teachers and Students
The Acceptability of Convertible Wrench in Automotive Industry
in Sorsogon City
Development and Acceptability of Oregano as a Smoothie
Flavor
Development and Acceptability of Cyrtosperma merkussi
as Pasta Noodles
Development and Acceptability of Chili (capsicum annum)
Buko (cocos nucifera) Cake
 ACTIVITY 1
AREAS/TOPICS AREAS/TOPICS THEORIES, MODELS,
IN THAT ARE IN THAT YOU PRINCIPLES/ RULES
INTERESTING TO KNOW BEST W/C ARE DIFFICULT
YOU FOR YOU
 ACTIVITY 2
Areas/topics Areas/topics Theories, models,
that are that you principles/ rules
interesting to know best w/c are difficult
you for you

Your most
preferred
choice

Reason for
choosing
Just get out
and do it!