Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background PDF

Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Background Practical Research 1  Parts of Chapter 1 Background of The Study Conceptual Framework Statement of The Problem Significance of The Study Scope and Delimitation Definition of Terms Theoretical Framework  Chapter 1 Backgrou...

Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Background Practical Research 1  Parts of Chapter 1 Background of The Study Conceptual Framework Statement of The Problem Significance of The Study Scope and Delimitation Definition of Terms Theoretical Framework  Chapter 1 Background of the Study Practical Research 1  Writing The Background of The Study It must always present a problem. Why is it necessary to conduct a study The existence of an unsatisfactory about the topic? condition, a felt problem that needs solution. What problem influences the need to The historical background of the conduct a study about the topic? problem or the history where the problem came from. What is the context or background of Adesire to have a deeper and clearer the topic? understanding of a situation, circumstance or phenomenon and a desire to find a better way of doing something or of improving a product and a desire to discover something new.  Tips on Providing The Background of The Study ü develop an opening sentence or a hook to attract the readers’ interests and at the same time convey the issue or problem in such a way that the audience can relate. ü refrain from using idiomatic expressions because they convey vague or unclear messages. üuse statistical data or numerical figures because they create a good impact, using such information suggests that the researcher has a good background or topic before conducting the research. üclearly identify the research problem or issue that leads to the study. üstate the reasons why the research problem is important by providing a number of references to justify the necessity of studying the problem. Parts of Background of the Study  Rationale of the Problem This question is answered by sharing the reasons why researcher decided to look for solution. It may include the narration of personal experiences, description of an article read, scene witnessed, a news heard or a theory that needs to be clarified.  Ex. Rationale of the Problem The research proponent should describe the existing and prevailing problem situation based on his/her experience. The Scope may be local, national or international. Example: With the challenges brought about by the ASEAN integration, different strata of the government are expected to do more and function more efficiently in order to compete with Southeast Asian Nations and other countries of the world.  Setting of the Problem The setting forms part of the delimitation of the study. It defines the geographic boundaries and certain demographic characteristic of the research. This describes the place where the research was conducted, since the setting has a significant bearing on the variables being studied. In the descriptions of the setting, its distinctive characteristic must be highlighted.  Setting of the Problem The term demographics refers to particular characteristics of a population. Examples of demographic characteristics include age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, income, education, home ownership, sexual orientation, marriage status, family size, health and disability status, and psychiatric diagnosis.  Ex. Setting of the Problem Example: Saint Paul School of Business and Law, a tertiary school offering business, accountancy and law and one of the best schools in producing accountants in the Philippines has the same goal and functions doubly to produce graduates ready for the ASEAN integration. The school management is doing this various ways. One is through their retention program. Despite the conduct of review classes, many accounting students still fail to pass the comprehensive examinations and end up taking the removal exams. Basic Literature Foundation of the Study This part is derived from different literate sources. The use of various references is crucial in this part of the first chapter.  Ex. Basic Literature Foundation Example: Study habits have a great impact on student’s performance in the comprehensive examinations. The development of good study habits is the highway to reach the goals of an individual, what ever they are. A simple, small change in study habits makes a big difference in goal setting and in organizing one’s life (Thiyago, 2015)  Seriousness of the Problem The researcher is tasked to identify the intensity and magnitude of the problem. When the gravity of the problem has already been described, he or she may gauge the kind of action to be used to identify the problem.  Ex. Seriousness of the Problem Example: Many students study with friends. They may have all the ideas that can be shared, but sometimes , quality time is lost because of socializing. Some students love studying while listening to the music. They think that they can concentrate more if they listen to music. But the fact is, noise or music can interfere with the brain’s activity to comprehend new information. It can also distract a person form focusing on the material at hand like when a student sings along with the music and loses his/ her concentration on the topic being studied.  Ex. Seriousness of the Problem Example: Many students are familiar with the cramming method. It can ultimately stifle long- term knowledge retention and cause undue stress. For many accounting students in Saint Paul School of Business and Law, cramming is not really helpful. Most of all accounting subjects need storing of knowledge which can be used especially when taking the CPA licensure examination.  General Objective of the Study this is the general statement of the problem or the major tasks of the researcher to discharge and should also be the basis of the enumerated statements of specific problems.  Ex. General Objective Example: It is in this light that this research is conducted – to determine the influence of study habits on the level of performance in the qualifying and comprehensive examinations among accounting students. It emphasizes the importance and establishes effective study habits to help accounting students perform better in their qualifying and comprehensive examinations.  Chapter 1 Statement of the Problem Practical Research 1  The Statement of The Problem For every problem, there would be an answer. And for every answer, there could be a question. A problem without a clear question in mind is like you are seeking for an answer in a directionless manner. Hence, as a student-researcher, you must remember that establishing research questions may guide you in your quest to address some academic issues. Remember that these questions may serve as your compass as if you were navigating at sea in order to reach the target destination.  The Statement of The Problem after the researcher has clearly presented the rationale of the problem, the formulation of the targeted and well-defined problem must follow. This well-defined problem is commonly pertained to the “Statement of the Problem.” Stating clearly the problem can make the vagueness of the study be clarified. In formulating the problem statement in a research paper, there are two types of problems which should be considered. These are the general problem and the specific problems.  General Problem General problem pertains to the opening paragraph that gives specific details on other essential elements which are the purpose, major variables, participants, setting, and time coverage of the study. The said elements serve as a guide in order to properly formulate the general problem. Cristobal and Cristobal (2017)  Guidelines in Writing General Problem 1. The general problem should clearly state the main task/s of the researcher. 2. The general problem should present the major variable/s related to the phenomenon to be investigated. 3. The general problem should identify the participants of the study. 4. The general problem should state the research setting as well as the time period of the study. 5. The general problem may indicate the intended output of the study such as an intervention program, module, policies, etc.  Ex. General Problem Example: This study aims to determine the functions of emojis in an online communication. The study was conducted among the different strands of grade 11 students in the senior high school department of Lamao National High School during the school year 2019-2020. The result of the study was used as a basis for proposing a learning content presentation strategy in language teaching.  What to include in General Problem Example: to determine - main task functions, emojis, online communication - major variables grade 11 students - participants Lamao National High School - setting school year 2019-2020 - time period learning content presentation - Intended Output strategy Guidelines in Writing Scientific Question Unlike the general problem which is stated in a declarative form, the specific problems are stated as questions. These formulated questions, moreover, should all be anchored on the general problem. In addition, the researcher must also know that a specific question to be formulated must be a researchable question, that is, it should begin with words such as “what” and “how.” Non-researchable questions, those which are answerable by “yes” or “no” should be avoided.  Non-Researchable vs. Researchable Questions Non-Researchable Researchable Do the participants use social media What are the most frequently used emojis by the platforms for their communication purposes? participants in the corpus? Are the participants using emojis in their online What are the pragmatic functions of emojis in communication? the corpus? Can the participants understand the meaning How do multiple emojis affect the meaning of of emojis used in conversations? the discourse? Will the emojis be used for a language content What learning content presentation strategy can be learning presentation strategy? proposed based on the results of the study? Activity: Based on your Chosen Topic Create a General Problem and State at least Four (4) Researchable Questions. Follow the format below: General Problem Researchable Questions 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________  Chapter 1 Scope and Delimitation Practical Research 1  Scope and Delimitation The scope of study in your research paper contains the explanation of what information or subject is being analyzed. It is followed by an explanation of the limitation of the research. Research usually limited in scope by sample size, time and geographic area; while the delimitation of study is the description of the scope of study. It will explain why definite aspects of a subject were chosen and why other were excluded. It also mentions the research method used as well as the certain theories applied to the data.  Chapter 1 Significance of the Study Practical Research 1 Tips in Writing Significance of the Study A. Refer to the statement of the problem Your problem statement can guide you in identifying the specific contribution of your study. You can do this by observing a one-to- one correspondence between the statement of the problem and the significance of the study.  Refer to the Statement of the Problem Example: if you ask the question ‘Is there a significant relationship between the teacher’s teaching style and the students’ long quiz scores in Mathematics?’ then the contribution of your research would probably be a teaching style or styles that can help students perform better in Mathematics. Your research will demonstrate that teaching style really works. That could be a groundbreaking approach that will change the way teachers teach Mathematics which students are hesitant of. Tips in Writing Significance of the Study B. Write from general to specific contribution Write the significance of the study by looking into the general contribution of your study, such as its importance to society as a whole, then proceed downwards—towards its contribution to individuals and that may include yourself as a researcher. You start off broadly then taper off gradually to a specific group or person.  Sample Significance of the Study Example: The findings of this study will underscore to the benefit of society considering that mathematics play an important role in science and technologies today. The greater demand for graduates with Mathematics background justifies the need for more effective, life changing teaching approaches. Thus, schools that apply the recommended approach derived from the results of this study will be able to train students better. Administrators will be guided on what should be emphasized by teachers in the school curriculum to improve students’ performance in Mathematics. For the researcher, the study will help them uncover critical areas in the educational process that many researchers were not able to explore. Thus, a new theory on learning mathematics may be arrived at.  Chapter 1 Conceptual/ Theoretical Framework Practical Research 1  Conceptual/Theoretical Framework Research framework can be conceptual or theoretical. Theoretical is the application of a theory or theories in explaining the existence of a phenomenon. Using this, the researcher borrows the concepts, theories and ideas proposed by different social scientists, theorists and philosophers. Conceptual uses the concepts from theories. The researcher finds a variable in the study that corresponds to the concept as it was used in theory from which it was taken. Theoretical Framework  Chapter 1 Research Paradigm Practical Research 1  Research Paradigm This is a diagrammatic presentation of the study used to visually summarize the whole study. It is the result of a clearer understanding of the theoretical or conceptual framework. It is usually comprised of symbols and figures such as lines, shapes and arrows.  Research Paradigm One of the most commonly used paradigms is the IPO ( input-process-output). It is used when the research seeks to discuss a factor or a major variable that causes a problem, phenomenon or transformation in the subjects. This is commonly used in factor isolating questions. Research Paradigm  Research Paradigm (P-Model) P- MODEL This model is used to research studies that propose a program or any intervention measure. It fits the situation producing level of questioning  Research Paradigm (P-Model) Profile of Entrepreneurs a. Age b. Sex Analysis of data Profile and roles of c. Seminars Attended through the entrepreneurs, Roles of Entrepreneurs questionnaire, specimen collection a. Assessment informal interviews, and performance are b. Planning and statistical assessed c. Implementation treatment d. Evaluation Specimen Collection Performance Proposed Intervention Program Activity: Create a Research Paradigm of your chosen topic. Note that this will be graded base on its accuracy to the proposed topic.  Chapter 1 Definition of Terms Practical Research 1  Definition of Terms In the introduction of a research paper, it is imperative that the researcher clearly defines the terms used in the study. Without clear definitions, the readers may misunderstand or misinterpret the terms. The researcher then gives operational definitions that are based on how the terms are used in the study.  Two Ways in Defining the Terms (1) A researcher can give a conceptual definition, the meaning given by thesaurus or a dictionary which is generally understood by people. (2) It gives an operational definition which explains the term in a particular language rather than in abstract. An operational definition is needed to make the meaning of the words appropriate to the given context.