Research Problems Overview: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Problem and Its Background

• The chapter focuses on research problems and their backgrounds.
• Topics include sources of problems, characteristics of research problems, and elements of research problems.
• Other topics involve research titles, statements of problems and objectives, hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitations, conceptual frameworks, variables and operational definitions of terms.

A. The Research Problem

• A problem is defined as a significant, perplexing, and challenging situation, either real or artificial, whose solution requires reflective thinking.
• A problem is also a perplexing situation after it has been translated into a question or series of questions that help determine the direction of further inquiry.
• Before defining a research project, one needs to understand what a research problem is.
• A research problem is essentially identified as a knowledge gap or a fundamental challenge in a specific field.
• Research problems guide the selection of approaches, methodologies, data collection, and interpretation of results to find answers.
• Properly defined problems lead to insightful results and advancements in specific fields of study.
• Research problems are crucial because they help define the most significant parameters to be investigated, lead to well-defined, concise research questions, aid in formulating assumptions and propositions, and create a comprehensive framework for extensive research to explain findings.
• Research problems are gaps in knowledge, theoretical contradictions or challenges from real-world situations that aim to be solved through research.

1. Sources of Research Problems

• Sources for identifying research problems include interviews, personal experiences, deductions from theory, interdisciplinary perspectives, and relevant literature reviews.
• The research problem should be unique and not already exhaustively addressed by other researchers.
• The problem should be concise enough to raise specific issues that can be addressed in a research paper.

2. Characteristics of a Research Problem

• Novel: The research problem should introduce a fresh perspective by offering something new to the existing body of knowledge; it should contribute original insights and address unresolved matters or essential knowledge.
• Significant: The problem should have significance in terms of its potential impact on theory, practice, policy, or understanding of a particular phenomenon. It should be relevant to the field of study, addressing gaps in knowledge, a practical concern, or a significant theoretical dilemma.
• Feasible: The problem should be practical to allow for the formulation of hypotheses and the design of research methodologies. It should be realistically investigated given available resources, time, and expertise. It shouldn't be too broad or too narrow. It must also be measurable regarding its variables and outcomes.
• The research problem should be amenable to investigation through empirical research methods, accounting for limitations based on budgetary constraints, time constraints, or methodological or resource constraints.
• Clear and Specific: The problem should be clear, specific, and easily understandable, avoiding ambiguity; it should be focused and address a distinct aspect of the broader topic, avoiding vagueness.
• Rooted in Evidence: The research problem should be based on trustworthy evidence and data, dismissing unverifiable information and considering ethical guidelines to ensure the well-being and rights of any participants.

3. Elements of a Research Problem

• Aim/Purpose: The aim or purpose of the investigation answers the question "Why?"
• Subject Matter/Topic: The subject matter or topic to be investigated answers the question "What?".
• Place/Locale: The place or location where the investigation will take place.
• Period/Time: The period or time frame for the study in which data will be collected.
• Population/Universe: The population or universe from which the data will be collected and the respondents.

Example of a Research Problem

• To determine the status of teaching baking and culinary arts in senior high schools of Cavite during the school year 2023-2024
• Aim/purpose: Determining status of teaching
• Subject Matter/topic: Baking and culinary arts
• Place/locale: Senior high schools of Cavite
• Period/time: 2023-2024 school year
• Population: Teachers and/or Students

B. The Research Title

• The title should summarize the main idea or ideas of the research, using the fewest possible words that adequately describe the content and/or purpose.
• A research title should summarize the aim and purpose of the research study.
• Selecting a title is a critical decision for publishing articles.

1. Selecting a Topic for Research

• Choosing a topic is an important first step in any research and writing project.
• Selecting a topic involves brainstorming, choosing a topic that allows for reading and understanding the relevant articles or books, ensuring the topic is manageable, and creating a list of key words.

2. Ideas for Research Topics

• Possible research topics include global or international issues, emerging problems, or unsatisfactory conditions.
• Topics to avoid include those that are obvious or common, those related to morality, or topics involving superstitious beliefs.

3. Guidelines in Writing the Title

• The title is generally formulated before conducting research but can be revised later.
• The title should contain the subject matter, the locale, the population, the period.
• The title should be broad enough to encompass all relevant aspects, concise, and avoid phrases like "analysis of," "study of," or "investigation of" unless directly important for the research.
• If the title extends beyond a single line, it should have an inverted pyramid structure and use capital letters for all words.

C. Statement of the Problem (SOP) and Objectives of the Study

• Effective problem statements clearly describe the problem, state the method for solving it, and define the purpose and scope.
• Problem statements should be concise (typically one sentence).
• It should indicate what key variables will be measured, and their relationship.
• A research problem statement defines the issue or problem the research project addresses in a clear, concise, and specific manner, understandable to experts and non-experts in the field.

Guidelines in Formulating the Statement of the Problem (SOP)

• The general statement of the problem (SOP) and specific sub-problems should be formulated before conducting the study.
• Specific sub-problems are presented in interrogative format (questions).
• Each specific question must be clear and unambiguous, having only one meaning.
• Answers to specific questions should contribute to the overall development of the research problem.
• The number of specific questions should be sufficient to cover the entire problem.
• The research should include a general SOP and multiple subproblems (specific questions) as necessary.

D. Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question posed at the beginning of the research, an educated guess.
• There are two main types:
  • Operational: A hypothesis that states a difference between two phenomena
  • Null: A hypothesis that states there is NO difference.
• Guidelines for formulating hypotheses include making them explicit in experimental investigations; in descriptive and historical investigations, problem statements and questions can serve as the hypotheses.
• Ideally, hypotheses are stated in null form because testing null hypotheses is often easier than operational hypotheses.

Purposes, functions, and importance of hypotheses

• Hypotheses guide the design of studies (methods, research instruments, sampling, statistical treatments, data gathering procedures).
• Hypotheses are crucial for determining assumptions, assessing the relevance of data, and explaining the collected data.
• Hypotheses help researchers summarize findings and create conclusions.

E. Significance of the Study

• The significance of a study reflects its importance and contribution.
• It identifies who will benefit from the research findings and how.
• Elements for describing significance include rationale for the study, the timeliness or relevance, possible solutions or improvements to problems, identification of benefit recipients (individuals, groups, communities), contributions to the field of knowledge, and implications of the study.

F. Scope and Limitations of the Study

• Scope refers to the problem or issue the researcher wishes to investigate.
• Limitations address constraints affecting the researcher's ability to comprehensively study the scope.
• The scope and limitations describe the general purpose, subject matter, topics covered, locale, population and respondents, and the period of the study.

G. Conceptual Framework

• A conceptual framework illustrates the relationship between variables and guides the research process.
• It shows how objectives come together to draw coherent conclusions.
• Relatedly, a theoretical framework is a set of theories used as the foundation of a study.

H. Variables and Operational Definition of Terms

• A variable is a characteristic or feature that varies or changes within a study.
• Variables can be manipulated to serve the study's purpose.
  • Independent Variables: Stand alone and aren’t affected by other variables being measured.
  • Dependent Variables: Characteristics that get affected by other variables, that are measured.
  • Controlled Variables: Are held constant in experiments, these can affect results if not managed properly.
• Operational definitions explain technical terms and measurement procedures used in data collection to avoid ambiguity and ensure standardized data collection.
• Conceptual definitions explain the meaning of constructs and how they relate to other constructs (abstract).