4 The Problem and Its Background.pdf

Identifying Inquiry and Stating the Problem 1 OUR LEARNING GOALS Identifying Inquiry and Stating the Problem: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 2  STATING THE PROBLEM How must a research problem be...

Identifying Inquiry and Stating the Problem 1 OUR LEARNING GOALS Identifying Inquiry and Stating the Problem: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 2  STATING THE PROBLEM How must a research problem be ! introduced in the paper? Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Introduction Statement of the Problem Scope and Delimitation Significance of the Study Theoretical Framework Conceptual Framework Statement of Hypothesis Definition of Terms  NOTE broad subject a general the major intent or narrows the matter addressed educational issue, objective of the purpose into by the study. concern, or study used to specific questions controversy address the that the researcher a. Interesting Topic addressed in problem would like b. Significant Topic research that answered or c. Topic relevant to your field narrows the topic. addressed in the study. To improve the grades Can peer tutoring SHS Mathematics Low grades of SHS of SHS students in improve the grades of students in General General Mathematics SHS students in General Mathematics Mathematics? 4 What are good resources of researchable problems? 1 2 3 4 BASIC GUIDELINES IN MAKING A RESEARCH TITLE A research study title is the very first thing a reader comes across when searching for scientific literature. It is a concise description of the content of the research study containing the fewest possible words, yet adequate to describe the contents of the paper for a simple reason that we do not want to mislead the readers. The following are the basic guidelines in making a research study title: 1. Use an accurate description of the subject and scope of the study instead of using general terms. 2. Do not use abbreviations except for commonly known ones like DNA and ICT. 3. Do not include words like “The study of,” “analysis of,” “an investigation of” or similar construction as these would only lengthen the title. 4. Include the main dependent and independent variables. 5. Be mindful of the proper use of grammar and punctuation. 6. Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs as well as the first letter of the first and last words. 7. State in a declarative form, although you may also see titles in question form from time to time. 8. The year the study has been conducted should not be indicated unless it is a historical study. 9. Use current terminology. 10. Depending on the institutional requirements, 5 to 15 words are sufficient to describe the research study. 11. Must reflect the tone of the paper. An academic research paper has title which is not casual, or informal, or does not contain humor, and does not use jargons. 6 What is the attitude towards work of What are the standards in writing the SHS students of families who are 4Ps research title? (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries? 1 2 Does social media usage possess any 3 relationship with a SHS student’s attention span in class? 4 5  1 This is the description that leads the reader to INTRODUCTION understand the research questions and appreciate why they are asked. In writing this section, Introduce and briefly define the variables under study cite the most important study or related literature Research Gap is an under or be consistent with terms used unexplored area of a topic that ensure that paragraphs summarize unresolved requires further exploration. issues, conflicting findings, social concerns, or The gap can be in a form of educational, national, or international issues. other variables, conditions, population, methodology, or test write the last paragraph to highlight the subject. research gap 8 While both the Background of the Study and the Review of Related Literature involves reading past related studies, they differ in some aspects. The former is at the introductory part of the paper with the purpose of relaying the importance of your research study; the latter is more comprehensive and thoroughly discuss the studies mentioned in the background of research. Moreover, the background of the study will answer the following questions: 1. What is already known about the topic? 2. What is not known about the topic? 3. Why do you need to address those gaps? 4. What is the rationale of your study? 9 SHS Students’ Social Media Usage and Their Attention Span in Class Over the past decade, social media has drastically increased its breadth in terms of the number of people who use it significantly. In fact, Facebook alone, as of January 2017 has reached a record high of approximately 1,850,000,000 active users as compared to 400 million in 2012 (Smith, 2017). This exponential increase in social media activity has fueled the interest of various researchers on the effect of social media usage. Social media are forms of electronic communication devices through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (Merriam- Webster, 2017). 10 Due to this, several studies have examined the effect of social media on student academics (Matthews, 2014; Johnson & Johnson, 2016), its relationship with stress (Santos, 2015; Chan, 2016), and attention span (Microsoft Corp., 2014; Jackson, 2016) According to a study funded by Microsoft in 2014, people now generally lose concentration after eight seconds, highlighting the affects of an increasingly digitalized lifestyle on the brain. Attention span, as defined by Webster (2011) is the amount of concentrated time a person can spend on a task without becoming distracted. 11 Microsoft found that since the year 2000 the average attention span dropped from 12 seconds to eight seconds. That is less than the nine-second attention span of the average goldfish. In the Philippines, there is still a limited number of literature that directly links the use of social media to attention span, especially those that look into the Senior High School (SHS) students and their ability to maintain concentration. Furthermore, the international researches conducted on this topic does not provide evidence that the results transcend through different cultural backgrounds and age groups. It is in this light that the purpose of this study to determine whether social media usage possess any significant relationship with the attention span of Grade 12 students of Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College. 12 Over the past decade, social media has drastically What do you notice increased its breadth in terms about the opening of the number of people who use it significantly. In fact, paragraph of the Facebook alone, as of January 2017 has reached a record Background of the high of approximately Study? 1,850,000,000 active users as compared to 400 million in 2012 (Smith, 2017). This This is what you call the exponential increase in social media activity has fueled the NARRATIVE HOOK. interest of various researchers on the effect of social media usage. 13  NARRATIVE HOOK Statistical data “More than 50% of the adult population It serves the important function of experiences depression today.” drawing the reader into a study. A provocative question “Why are school policies that ban cause the reader to smoking in high schools not being ✓pay attention enforced?” ✓elicit emotional or attitudinal A clear need for research responses, “School suspension is drawing increased ✓spark interest, and attention among education researchers.” ✓encourage the reader to The intent or purpose of the continue reading. study “The intent of this study is to examine how clients construe the therapist–client relationship.” 14  2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This section contains the purpose statements and the research question(s). “This study (or research) aims to…(make Characteristics of Good congruent with title).” Research Questions “Specifically, this research (or study) seeks to answer the following questions:” 1. Feasible Phrase questions with the data to be collected 2. Clear in mind. Answer the questions and rephrase 3. Significant question, if your intended answer does not match the question. 4. Ethical 15 Formulating Research Questions Research questions can be generally classified into two: general and specific. The general question of the study is derived from the research problem while the specific questions are anchored on the general research problem. For example: This study aims to determine the relationship between the types learning delivery mode and students’ learning styles. Furthermore, it seeks to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the different learning delivery modes of the school? (2) What the various learning styles of the students? (3) Is there a significant relationship between the different learning delivery modes of the school and the learning styles of its students? Notice that a general problem was presented first. Then it was followed by the specific questions considered as research questions of the study. In stating quantitative research questions, you should also consider the design of your quantitative research. 16 Research Questions for Descriptive Research focuses on observing and reporting factors or aspects of the research problem. Phrases such as how often/frequently, how many/much, what is/are, to what extent/degree, and the likes are used in these questions. For example, you study the use of social media among Senior High School Students, you can ask the following questions: What are the various social media platforms used by Senior High Students? How many hours students spend on social media per week? 17 Research Questions for Correlational Research aim to determine the relationships among two or more variables in your research problem. Correlational research questions usually begin with the phrases “Is there a significant relationship” or “What is the relationship between/among”. In the study of use of social media and level of digital literacy of students following questions can be asked: What is the relationship between the length of hours spent on social media and level of digital literacy of students? Is there a significant relationship between the type of social media used and the level digital literacy of students? 18 Research Questions for Experimental and Quasi-experimental Research suggests that answers to these questions are brought about by manipulation or control of a certain variable during the conduct of the study. These questions provide explanation to the causal relationship of variables. The following research questions can be asked on studies on elementary student’s remedial sessions and academic performance of students: Is there a significant difference in the posttest scores of the control group and experimental group? 19  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study generally aims to determine if SHS students’ use of social media possess significant relationship with their attention span in class. Specifically, this study shall seek answers to the following questions: 1. What is the level of social media usage of Grade 12 students of Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College (DCLC) in terms of: a. forms of social media? b. frequency of social media use? c. mode of social media use? 2. What is the attention span in class of Grade 12 students of DCLC? 3. Is there a significant relationship between the frequency of social media use and the attention span of Grade 12 students of DCLC? 20  RQ: Does a SHS student’s academic performance in Math have any association with his/her stress tolerance? This study generally aims to determine if a SHS students’ academic performance in Mathematics have any association with his/her stress tolerance. Specifically, this study shall seek answers to the following questions: 1. What is the demographic profile of Grade 11 students of DCLC in terms of: a. sex?; b. SHS strand?; and c. final grade in General Mathematics? 2. What is the level of stress tolerance of Grade 11 students of DCLC? 3. Is there a significant relationship between the DCLC Grade 11 students’ final grade in General Mathematics and their level of stress tolerance? 21  RQ: What traits of a professor do SHS students consider important? This study generally aims to identify the traits or characteristics of a professor that SHS students believe are important. Specifically, this study shall seek answers to the following questions: 1. What is the demographic profile of SHS students of DCLC in terms of: a. sex?; b. grade level?; and c. SHS strand? 2. What is the degree of importance of the following traits of a professor according to SHS students of DCLC: a. physical appearance?; b. intelligence?; c. humor?; d. strictness?; e. communication skills? 3. Is there a significant difference between the male students’ preferred professor traits and that of female students? 22  RQ: Can a new packaging improve the selling power of ? This study generally aims to determine if a new packaging can improve the selling power of. Specifically, this study shall seek answers to the following questions: 1. What is are the packaging preferences for of DCLC students in terms of: a. color?; b. material?; c. Shape?; and d. size? 2. What is the level of selling power of a. Prior to the change in packaging? b. With the new packaging? 3. Is there a significant difference between the level of selling power of prior to change in packaging and with the new packaging? 23  3 In writing this section, SCOPE AND DELIMITATION cite data collection This presents the coverage of the research in terms of location, time, respondents, etc., identify school involved, number of and the potential weaknesses or problems classes, their grade/year level, number with the study identified by the researcher. of participants (or respondents, subjects), and topics of lessons covered The scope specifies the coverage of (if applicable). your study such as variables, state inadequate measures of variables, population or participant, and timeline. loss or lack of participants, small sample Delimitation cites factors of your sizes, errors in measurement, and other study that are not included or factors typically related to data excluded or those you will not deal in collection and analysis. your study. 24  Components of Scope and Delimitation 1. Topic of the Study. What are the Difference between Delimitation and Limitation of the Study variables to be included and excluded? 2. Objectives or Problems to be The delimitation of the study Addressed. Why are you doing this describes the various limitations that study? arose during the design and conduct 3. Time Frame. When are you going to of the study. conduct this study? While on the other hand, limitation of 4. Locale of the Study. Where are you the study are those variables going to gather your data? included in your study. Hence, 5. Characteristics of the Respondents. limitation of the study is actually the Who will be your respondents? identified scope of the study. 6. Method and Research Instruments. How are going to collect the data? 25  SCOPE AND DELIMITATION SCOPE: Identify the The study is a correlational research focusing on the boundaries of the study association between the use of social media and attention in terms of respondents, span of 50 senior high school students of Dr. Carlos S. Lanting objectives, facilities, area, College under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand in time frame, and the issues the first term of the academic year, 2023-2024. to which the research is focused. Furthermore, the study delimits itself to attention span in class and will not attempt to measure this variable in other DELIMITATION: State the environment. Social media use will be limited to the use of delimiting factors of the social networking sites and exclude the use of the internet by study by geographic the respondents for educational purposes. location, age, sex, population size, etc. 26  4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY States the audience who will benefit from a study of the problem and explains how exactly will the results be significant to them. In writing this section, In paragraph form, cite beneficiaries (should be hierarchical; e.g., students, professors or teachers, university administrators, parents) of results of study. For each beneficiary group (at least 3 to 5), specifically describe how it will benefit from the findings. 27  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study will be able to contribute research-based What will be the general data and knowledge on the possible relationship between contribution of your SHS students’ use of social media and their attention span. research as a whole? Furthermore, the society, in general can make informed decisions that are relevant to this area. More specifically, this study shall be beneficial to the Which group of people various groups of people. will specifically benefit from the study? How Students, not only in the senior high school level can exactly? use the information which this study will produce to regulate and be more responsible their use of social media to hopefully improve their performance and concentration in class. Teachers and professors… Parents… University and school administrators… Other researchers… 28