Chapter 2: The Problem and Its Background PDF

Chapter 2. THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND  TOPICS A. The Research Problem B. The Research Title 1. Sources of problem 1. Selecting a topic for 2. Characteristics of research research problem/s 2. Ideas for research 3. Elemen...

Chapter 2. THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND  TOPICS A. The Research Problem B. The Research Title 1. Sources of problem 1. Selecting a topic for 2. Characteristics of research research problem/s 2. Ideas for research 3. Elements of a research 3. Guidelines in writing the problem title C. Statement of the Problem D. Hypothesis and Objectives of the Study 2. Guidelines in formulating 1. Guidelines in formulating hypothesis general problems and the 3. Purpose and functions of specific sub-problems hypothesis E. Significance of the Study F. Scope and Limitation of 1. Guidelines in writing the the Study significance of the study 1. Guidelines in writing the scope and limitation of the study G. Conceptual Framework 2. Difference of concepts and variables H. Variables and Operational 3. Defining Terms Definition of Terms Operationally 1. Types of Variables  A. The Research Problem 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.  Before you conceive of your project, you need to ask yourself “What is a research problem?” A research problem definition can be broadly put forward as the primary statement of a knowledge gap or a fundamental challenge in a field, which forms the foundation for research. Conversely, the findings from a research investigation provide solutions to the problem.  A research problem guides the selection of approaches and methodologies, data collection, and interpretation of results to find answers or solutions. A well-defined problem determines the generation of valuable insights and contributions to the broader intellectual discourse.  Why is a Research Problem Important? Besides allowing you to define the most important parameter to investigate in your paper, a research problem offers you a concise guide to come up with research questions, make relevant assumptions, and formulate a proposition. More importantly, a research problem gives you a more comprehensive framework to conduct extensive studies and explain your findings.  A research problem is a gap in existing knowledge, a contradiction in an established theory, or a real-world challenge that a researcher aims to address in their research. It is at the heart of any scientific inquiry, directing the trajectory of an investigation.  1.Sources of Research Problems? The sources that you can use to identify research problems are interviews, personal experiences, deductions from theory, interdisciplinary perspective, and relevant literature. From a research perspective, the kind of research problem that you wish to investigate should meet two conditions.  The problem has to be unique and not something other researchers have already looked into exhaustively. The problem has to be concise enough to raise specific issues that you can address in a research paper.  2. Characteristics of a Research Problem 1. Novel: An ideal research problem introduces a fresh perspective, offering something new to the existing body of knowledge. It should contribute original insights and address unresolved matters or essential knowledge. 2. Significant: A problem should hold significance in terms of its potential impact on theory, practice, policy, or the understanding of a particular phenomenon. It should be relevant to the field of study, addressing a gap in knowledge, a practical concern, or a theoretical dilemma that holds significance. 3. Feasible: A practical research problem allows for the formulation of hypotheses and the design of research methodologies. A feasible research problem is one that can realistically be investigated given the available resources, time, and expertise. It should not be too broad or too narrow to explore effectively, and should be measurable in terms of its variables and outcomes.  It should be amenable to investigation through empirical research methods, such as data collection and analysis, to arrive at meaningful conclusions A practical research problem considers budgetary and time constraints, as well as limitations of the problem. These limitations may arise due to constraints in methodology, resources, or the complexity of the problem. 4. Clear and specific: A well-defined research problem is clear and specific, leaving no room for ambiguity; it should be easily understandable and precisely articulated. Ensuring specificity in the problem ensures that it is focused, addresses a distinct aspect of the broader topic and is not vague. 5. Rooted in evidence: A good research problem leans on trustworthy evidence and data, while dismissing unverifiable information. It must also consider ethical guidelines, ensuring the well-being and rights of any individuals or groups involved in the study.  3. Elements of a Research Problem There 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 an investigation, inquiry or study? 2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?” 3. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. ( “ Where? “) 4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. ( “ When?” ) 5. Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. ( “Who?” or “ From Whom?” ) – Who are the respondents?  Example of a research problem : To determine the status of teaching baking and culinary arts in the senior high schools of Cavite during the school year 2023-2024. 1. Aim or purpose: To determine the status of 2. Subject matter or topic: The teaching of baking and culinary arts 3. Place or locale : In the senior high schools of Cavite 4. Period or time : During the school year 2023-2024 5. Population : The respondents are implied to be either the teachers or the students or both.  B. The Research Title The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of your study. A good title contains the fewest possible words that adequately describe the contents and/or purpose of your research paper. A research title summarizes the aim and purpose of your research study. Making a title for your research is one of the most important decisions when writing an article to publish in journals.  1. Selecting a topic for research Choosing a topic is the first and maybe the most important step of the research and writing process! This step will determine the rest of your steps -- what your thesis statement is, what sources you use, and how to write your paper. So it's important to make sure you choose a strong and engaging topic When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do: üBrainstorm for ideas. üChoose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the articles and books you find. üEnsure that the topic is manageable and that material is available. Make a list of key words.  A research topic is a subject or issue that a researcher is interested in when conducting research. A well-defined research topic is the starting point of every successful research project. Choosing a topic is an ongoing process by which researchers explore, define, and refine their ideas.  2. Ideas for research topics Topics that can be the focus of research 1. Global or international issues 2. Present emerging problems 3. Unsatisfactory conditions experienced Topics that should be avoided 1. Topics that are obvious or common 2. Topics that concern morality 3. Topics that include superstitious beliefs  Research paper title The first step in the research is to determine the title of the research. No researcher can begin research without specifying the title of the study. The title is the destination and the final design of the research. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the following points when choosing it:  3. Guidelines in writing the title 1. Generally, the title is formulated before the start of the research work. it may be revised and refined later if there is a need, 2. The title must contain the subject matter of the study, the locale of the study, the population involved, and the period when the data were gathered or will be gathered. 3. It must be broad enough to include all aspects of the subject matter stufied or to be studied. Hence, the title indicates what is expected to be found inside the thesis report. 4. It must be brief and concise as possible. 5. Avoid using the terms “An Analysis of”, “A Stufy of”, “An Investigation of”, and the like. All these things are understood to have been done or to be done when the research is conducted. 6. If the title contains more that one line, it must be written like an inverted pyramid, all words in capital letter.  C. Statement of the Problem (SOP) and Objectives of the Study Key components of an effective problem statement are clearly describing the problem, stating the method for solving it, and defining the purpose and scope. Problem statements should be concise, typically one sentence indicating what major variables will be measured and their relationship  A research problem statement is a clear, concise, and specific statement that describes the issue or problem that the research project addresses. It should be written in a way that is easily understandable to both experts and non-experts in the field.  Guidelines in formulating the Statement of the Problem (SOP) 1. The general SOP and specific subproblems or questions should be formulated first before conducting the study. 2. It is customary to state specific subproblems in interogative form. Hence, subproblems are called specific questions. 3. Each specific questions must be clear and has only one meaning. 4. Answers to each specific question must contribute to the development of the whole research problem or topic. 5. The number of specific questions shall be enough to cover the development of the whole research problem or study. 6. Generally, there should be a general SOP and then it should be broken up into as many as subproblems or specific questions as necessary.  D. Hypothesis A hypothesis is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific questionn raised at the beginning of the investigation. it is an educated guess about the answer to specfic questions. There are 2 forms of hypotheses. 1. Operational Form is stated in the affirmative. It states that there is a difference between the 2 phenomena. 2. Null Form is stated in the negative. It states that there is NO difference between the 2 phenomena.The null form expresses equality between 2 phenomena.  Guidelines in the formulation of explicit hypotheses 1. In experimental investigations, hypotheses have to be explicit, they have to be expressed. They have to be expressed also in comparative and relational studies. 2. In descriptive and historical investigations, hypotheses are seldom expressed if not entirely absent. The subproblems or specific questions raised before the start of investigation and and stated under the statement of the problemm serve as the hypotheses. 3. Hypotheses are usually stated in the null form because testing the null hypothesis is easier than a hypothesis in the operational form. Testing a hypothesis simply means gathering data to aswer it. 4. Hypotheses are formulated from specific questions upo which they are based.  Question : Is there a significant difference between the perception of teachers and those of the students concerning the different aspects of teaching baking and culinary arts? Operational hypothesis: There is a significant difference between the perception of teachers and those students concerning the different aspects of teaching baking and culinary arts Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference between the perception of teachers and those students concerning the different aspects of teaching baking and culinary arts.  Purposes, functions and importance of hypotheses or specific questions 1. they help the researcher in designing his study : what methods, research instruments, sampling design, and statistical treatments to use, what data to gather, etc. 2. they serve as bases for : a. determining assumptions b. determining the relevance of data c. the explanation or discussion about the data gathered 3. they help or guide the researcher in consolidating his findings and in formulating his conclusions. Generally, findings and conclusions are answers to hypotheses or specific questions raised at the start of invesgtigation.  E. Significance of the Study The significance of a study is its importance. It refers to the contribution(s) to and impact of the study on a research field. The significance also signals who benefits from the research findings and how. the importance of the whole study must contain explanations or discussiona of any of the following: 1. the rationale, timeliness, and/or relevance of the study 2. possible solutions to existing problems or improvement to unsatisfactory conditionss 3. who are to be benefitted and how they are going to be benefitted. It must be shown who are the indiciduals, groups or communities who may be placed in more advantageous position on account of the study, 4. possible contribution to the fund of knowledge 5. possible implications.  F. Scope and Limitation of the Study Scope and limitations are two terms that address the details of a research project. The term scope refers to the problem or issue that the researcher wants to study with the project. Limitations is the term used for constraints that impact the researcher's ability to effectively study the scope of the project.  Guidelines in writinf scope and limitations The scope and limitations should include the following: 1. a brief statement of the general purpose of the study 2. the subject matter and topics studied and discussed 3. the locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the data belong 4. the population or universe from which the respondents were selected. 5. the period of the study. This is the time, either months, years, during which the data were gathered.  G. Conceptual Framework A conceptual framework illustrates the expected relationship between your variables. It defines the relevant objectives for your research process and maps out how they come together to draw coherent conclusions. A theoretical framework is a set of theories compiled by a researcher that is deemed significant in crafting the theoretical basis of the study.  H. Variables and Operational Definition of Terms A variable is any chracteristic or feature that varies or changes within a study. Variables can be manupulated to serve the purpose of the study. 3 types of variables: 1. Independent variable is a variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. It gradually changes but does not get affected by other variables. 2. Dependent variable is the characteristic of the subject that varies or gets affected during the process. This is what you measure to identify the number of changes brought about by the another variable. 3. Controlled variable is held constant (controls) during the experiment. It is not part part of an experiment, but is important because it can affect the result. Example is temeperature, if temperature is held constant during an experiment, it is controlled.  2. Difference of concepts and variables According to Kumar (2000), ideas are mental pictures, and hence their meanings differ significantly from person to person. Concepts are subjective impressions, and people’s comprehension of them varies, making it difficult to compare answers if they were quantified. Concepts should be transformed into variables so that they may be measured; nevertheless, the precision of the same variable will vary depending on the scale.  3. Defining Terms Operationally Operational definition of terms refers to a detailed explanation of the technical terms and measurements used during data collection. This is done to standardize the data. Whenever data is being collected, it is necessary to clearly define how to collect the data. Operational definitions are crucial in research as they provide clarity and ensure that variables are measured accurately, allowing meaningful answers to research questions  A conceptual definition tells you what the concept means, while an operational definition only tells you how to measure it. A conceptual definition tells what your constructs are by explaining how they are related to other constructs. This explanation and all of the constructs it refers to are abstract.