Inquiries,

Investigation
and
Immersion

Module 2:

Identifying the Problem and

Asking the Question

GRADE 12

NAME
:
STRAND AND SECTION:

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 Lesson

1 Background of the Problem

What’s In

In the preceding lesson, you learned the significance of research across fields of
inquiry. A thorough research can be conducted in any field of knowledge. The areas
and disciplines that are classified into different areas of sciences will assist you to
understand where you really fit. These will guide you into the next learning of
designing and writing a research project and a research title.

What’s New

After you have carefully written your previous activities and perhaps ran it through
your associates through a many of times. While there are many elements for your
readers is the background of the study. The background of your study will provide
context to the information discussed throughout the research process. The
background information of your study may include both important and relevant
studies.

Furthermore, the background of the study will deliberate your statement of the
problem, rationale, and research questions. It links the introduction to your
research study and guarantees a logical flow of ideas. Thus, it helps readers
understand and comprehend your reasons and explanations for conducting the
study.

Problem statements or background of the study have three elements:

➢ The problem itself, stated clearly and with enough contextual detail to establish
why it is important;
➢ The method of solving the problem, often stated as a claim or a working thesis;
➢ The purpose, statement of objectives and scope of document the writer is
preparing.

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 What is It

Research Problem
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to
be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists
in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for
meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. It is typically posed
in the form of a question.

Sample Background of the study:

GRADE 11 STUDENTS’ LEVEL OF AWARENESS ON THE 3R’S METHOD
IN UTILIZING NON-BIODEGRADABLE WASTE IN LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
In today’s generation, a lot of problems have been emerging in our society and the
most common problem that humans are facing right now is the environmental
concerns, specifically the solid waste which includes the biodegradable and
nonbiodegradable. Waste can be defined to be as those materials that are no longer
needed at some point. Biodegradable wastes are those that can be easily
decomposed while non-biodegradable wastes are those that cannot be broken and
decomposed in which these will remain stable indefinitely. Moreover, non-
biodegradable wastes bring problems to our environment

What’s More

You just learned the concepts on background of the Problem. You were tasked to
save the titles you’ve made as your research topic. You will use these on the next
activities to create your research problem.

Among the titles of the previous lesson you have created, which of
those you think should be addressed. Kindly, explain further on this
matter.

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Write the above research topics you have created and identify at least
three research problem for each and explain why you choose them.
Propose Research Title:
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Background of the Problem:

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Reasons:
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Lesson

2 Conceptual Framework

What’s In

In the previous lesson, you’ve learned on how to choose research topics and
formulate Background of the problem or the statement of the problem, following
the different elements in writing a statement of the problem helps you to create a
god topic for your research.

What Is It

Researchers create and generate theoretical and conceptual frameworks that

comprise a philosophical and methodological model to help and aid to design their
work.

A Conceptual Framework is an analytical tool with several variations and contexts

that can be applied in different categories of work where an overall picture is
needed to come up with the desired goal. It is necessary to make conceptual and
theoretical distinctions and organize ideas. Strong and resilient conceptual

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frameworks capture and apprehend something real and do this in a way that is
easy to remember and apply.

The theoretical and conceptual frameworks provide evidence of academic standards

and procedures that validates the authenticity of the study. They also proposed an
explanation and clarification of why the study is relevant and how the researcher
expects to fill the gap in the literature.

How to create a Conceptual Framework

A conceptual framework is a bit like a recipe or a blueprint. It provides an outline of
how you plan to conduct the research of your thesis, but it goes further than that
by also positioning your work within the larger field of research.

➢ Conduct a Literature Review

Before you can have your research, you need to understand and
comprehend what research has already been conducted on your topic of
interest and curiosity. Conducting a literature review can help you to refine
your central argument or hypothesis. You must also conduct and gather the
literature review to be able to place and organize your work within the larger
and greater area of study in your conceptual framework. Your framework
should present the relevant research ad show how your work will help to
advance the field.

➢ Create a Flow Chart

Conceptual frameworks are frequently visual and allow those reading the
framework to understand the course of your research. You can present this
in whatever way makes the most sense for your work, which can include a
flow chart, mind gap or diagram. In every component of your research, you
should showcase the variables that influence it.

➢ Write a Narrative
Conceptual frameworks don’t have to include a diagram or graphic. You can
always present the same information and evidence by writing a narrative.
Your narrative should recap the variables influencing your research and
explore how they may change the hypothesis. The narrative should also
explain and enlighten the basic methodology for your research. If you
include a diagram in your conceptual framework, a narrative should also be
included explaining these details for those who prefer more in-depth
information. Bolded headers to separate the sections of your narrative and to
create a visual order of information.

➢ Return and Revise

As you begin your research, you may discover that certain elements of your
conceptual framework are no longer needed. You will discover new variables,
or you may identify that your hypothesis is incorrect. You may discover

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 additional research that challenges your theory and ideas. You should
return to your framework and revise it if necessary.

SAMPLE SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM:

Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Demographic Profile of the
respondents in te rms of:
Age:
Academic Achievement of 4Ps
Gender:
Grade Level: Pupils - Recipients
Occupation of the parents:
Monthly income of the parents:
Interactive Method:

Fig. 1 Schematic Diagram showing the perimeter of the study

Lesson
Research Hypothesis
3 (Quantitative Research)

What’s In

In the preceding lesson, you learned the significance of research across fields of
inquiry. A thorough research can be conducted in any field of knowledge. The areas
and disciplines that are classified into different areas of sciences will assist you to
understand where you really fit. These will guide you into the next learning of
designing and writing a research project and a research title.

What Is It

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Research Hypothesis is vital to all research endeavors, whether qualitative or
quantitative, exploratory or explanatory.

In developing a testable research hypothesis, it takes skill, however, along with

careful attention to how the proposed research method treats the development and
testing of hypotheses.

The hypothesis in your study, you are predicting the relationship between two
variables.

Following are some hints for the formulation of your hypothesis.

➢ Be certain to read on the subject matter to explain with it before making a

final decision
➢ As noted, a research hypothesis is more than just a topic. It has two
elements (variables) that are in relation to each other. Your hypothesis is
what you propose to “prove” by your research. As an outcome of your
research, you will arrive at a conclusion, a theory, or understanding that will
be useful or applicable beyond the research itself.
➢ Avoid judgmental and critical words in your hypothesis.
➢ Your hypothesis must involve an issue or question that cannot be answered
exclusively by the discipline of law.
➢ Be certain that each term if your hypothesis is clearly understood and
defined, do not deal in generalities or assume that the reader knows the
meaning of the technical term.
➢ Specify, if appropriate, whether you will be dealing with state or federal law
or both on a comparative basis if appropriate.
➢ Know that your hypothesis may change over time as your research
progresses.

You must obtain the teacher’s approval of your hypothesis, as well as any
modifications to your hypothesis, before proceeding with any work on the topic.

You will be expressing your hypothesis in 3 ways:

➢ As a one-sentence hypothesis.
➢ As a research question.
➢ As a title for your paper.
Your hypothesis will be part of your research proposal.

Sample on Research Hypothesis:

Example:
Question:

Does taking aspirin everyday reduce the chance of having a heart attack?

Null Hypothesis:

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Taking aspirin daily does not affect heart attack risk.

What’s More

Writing Exercise: Make your Research Hypothesis

Directions: Go back on the sample given. Based on the topic that you’ve chosen,
write a statement on the Research Hypothesis on your chosen topic.

Question:

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Research Hypothesis:

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 Lesson

4 Statement of the Problem

What’s In

In the prior lesson, you’ve learned on how to make a research hypothesis that is
indispensable in making a research project. In addition, before formulating your
research hypothesis, read about the topic that is interesting to you since a research
hypothesis is a statement of expectation or prediction that will be tested by
research itself.

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 What Is It

Writing a Statement of the Problem

After identifying a research problem, the next step is to write a problem statement.
It has to be concise and concrete. Writing a problem statement can help the
researcher put the topic in context and have a deeper understanding of its
significance. A problem statement may be written in several paragraphs or in
several sentences incorporated in the introduction.
Problem statement should address the relevance of the research: why is it
important to resolve the problem. The problem statement need not lay
worldchanging impact. What is important is that the problem statement should lay
how you intend to address the problem. Your goal should not be to find a
conclusive solution, but to seek out the reasons behind the problem and propose
more effective approaches to understanding it. You may start with the following
phrases:

a) The aim of this study is to determine…

b) This project aims to explore…
c) I aim to investigate…

Research studies generally include the succeeding interconnected portions.

Purpose of the Statement of the Problem:

➢ To describe the substantive focus of the research study

➢ To frame it as
➢ A larger theoretical policy
➢ A practical problem and thereby, develop its significance
➢ To pose initial research questions
➢ To forecast the literature to be discussed in the second section and ➢ To
discuss the limitations of the study.
Specific Title of the Study:
Narcissism in Teenagers: Root Causes, Manifestations and
Interventions
The different parts of the problem statement will be written as follows:

Introduction
Taking selfies or a video of oneself has become a social phenomenon that has been
brought about by the use of modern gadgets, particularly the mobile
phoneadolescents take pictures or videos of themselves, their possessions, their

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latest happenings or gigs, their friends, their food-anything, anyone they take a
fancy on, anywhere, anytime. A good number of people say that this social
phenomenon has evolved into narcissism. There is, to date, a dearth of research on
this topic.

Statement of the Problem

Major Problem: This study aims to investigate the root causes of narcissism, as
well as its manifestations and possible forms of intervention.

Specific Problems: Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

➢ What are the underlying causes of narcissism?

➢ How has technology contributed to narcissistic behavior?
➢ What are the manifestations of narcissistic behavior in adolescents?
➢ What forms of intervention can be done to address this behavior of
adolescents?
➢ How can the following help in developing healthy self-esteem, positive
outlooks and attitudes in adolescents?

Parents
Curriculum Planners
Administrators
Teachers
Guidance Counsellors
Peers,

What’s More

Writing Exercise: Make your Statement of the Problem

Directions: Go back on the sample given. On the topic that you have chosen, write
a specific statement or inquiry showing the following:

Statement of the Problem:

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________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Lesson

5 Importance of the Study

What’s In

In the former lesson, you’ve learned on how to create a statement of the problem
that is essential in making a research project. Moreover, a good research problem
should address an existing gap in knowledge in the field and lead to further
research.

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 What Is It

This portion discusses how to write this section and provides an example to
illustrate the different techniques.

In an actual fact, the section on the significance of the study provides information
to the reader on how the study will contribute. It must be exactly stated, however,
what the study will contribute and who will benefit from it.

Sample Significance of the study:

Significance of the Study

The researcher believed that the result of this study will help the following assess
the 4Ps program and its effect to the performance of the pupils.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development. The researcher believes that the
result of this study will be of great importance to the department since they are the
ones monitoring the 4Ps program. May this study serve as the basis in the
modification of the conditions in giving cash grants

The Administrators. The result of the study would be the basis of constructing and
implementing new and innovative teaching aids to help teachers fully supervise
and assess the pupils to achieve their full potentials, since children are financially
supported in their studies by the government.

The Teachers. The result of this study may help the teacher in constructing and
developing new teaching strategies to help the students in their performance and
be mindful that even if students are provided and supported by the government,
they still need equal guidance to perform well in school. The factors affecting the
performance of the students may also help the teacher as their basis in making
daily lessons.

The Parents. The result of this study will inform the parents that their guidance is a
big impact on the performance of the students in school.

The Students. May the result of this research help the student in understanding
that coming to school daily may be a guarantee that they will also have good
academic performance. And may the result give them the overview of how the
government is supporting their studies and that they must do their part by
studying well.

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 What’s More

Writing Exercise: Writing a statement on the Significance or the

Importance of the Study
Directions: On the topic you’ve chosen, write a specific statement regarding the
Significance or the Importance of the study.

Significance of the Study:

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Lesson
Scope and Limitations of
6 the Study

What’s In

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In the previous lesson, you’ve learned on how to create a statement of the problem
that is essential in making a research project. Moreover, a good research problem
should address an existing gap in knowledge in the field and lead to further
research.

What is It

As mentioned in other topics, to broad topics will lead the research nowhere.

The scope and delimitation of the study set borders and limitations of the problem
inquiry and narrow down the scope of the inquiry.

The purpose of the delimitation of the study is to delimit by geographic location,

age, sex, population traits, population size, or other similar aspects. Delimitation
makes study more manageable and feasible. Part of it sets the constraints or
weaknesses of a study which are beyond the control of the researcher.

Examples of Delimitation of Research

➢ This study covers only those families in Barangay San Jose, Pasig City,
benefited by the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
➢ This study includes only those English freshman classes that use both
Blended Learning and standard ways of Language teaching.

What’s More
Writing Exercise: On the Scope and Limitation of the Study
Directions: Go back in the sample given. On the topic that you’ve chosen, write a
specific statement showing the Scope and Limitation of your study.

Scope and Limitation:

________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________
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Lesson

7 Definition of Terms

What’s In

In the former lesson, you’ve learned on how to formulate a scope and delimitation
of a research study that is vital in making a research project. Moreover, a scope
and delimitation of a research project is the scope on how in-depth your study is to
explore the research parameters in which it will operate in relation to the
population and the timeframe of your study.

What Is It

Glossary of Research Terms- this glossary is intended to assist you in

understanding commonly used terms and concepts when reading, interpreting, and
evaluating scholarly research in the social sciences.
➢

Types and Functions

➢

➢ Conceptual Definition o Refers to the dictionary

meaning.

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 ➢ Operational Definition o The meaning of the concept
or terms as used in a particular study.
➢

Sample Operational Definition of Terms

Conceptual Definition Operational Definition

Academic Performance CCT or Conditional Cash Transfer

It is the product of education- the This is a program that transfers cash,
degree to which a student, a teacher largely to deprived families, on the
or organization has attained their circumstance that those families make
educational goals. It is dignified by prespecified funds in the human assets of
the final grade earned in the course. their kids.

What’s More

Writing Exercise: Defining a Term

Directions: On the topic chosen, write a specific statement using the different Types
and Functions of the Definition of Terms.

Conceptual Definition:

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Operational Definition:

____________________________________________________________
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 What I Have Learned

Based on the lesson, I have realized that

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What I Can Do

Directions: Provide the necessary information as asked in the 1 st Column. Use a

separate sheet of paper in answering the activity.
Question/Instruction Answer

What is your proposed topic for study?

Write your statement of the problem.

Formulate your hypothesis based on

your statement of the problem

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 Assessment

Multiple Choice. In a separate sheet of paper write the letter of the best answer.

1. The part of your study that will provide context to the information discussed
throughout the research process.
a. Background of the Study
b. Scope and delimitation of the study
c. Operational Definition
d. Significance of the study
2. An analytical tool with several variations and contexts.
a. Scope and delimitation of the study
b. Conceptual Framework
c. Significance of the study
d. Operational Definition
3. The part of your states what the researcher expects to find- it is the tentative
answer to the research question that guides the entire study.
a. Research Significance
b. Research Truth
c. Research Hypothesis
d. Research Operation Definition
4. In making your conceptual framework which is not included in the steps
stated below.
a. Conduct a Literature c. Write a Narrative
b. Create a Flow chart d. Do not return and revise
5. Who are the individuals whom they explain clearly the purposes of the
problem statement or inquiry?
a. Marshall and Rossman
b. Marshall Leu and Rose Man
c. F.J. Espania and R. E. Fernandez
d. None of the above
6. It is considered as dictionary terminologies?
a. Operational Definition
b. Conceptual Definition
c. Operational-Conceptual Definition
d. All of the above
7. It is the meaning of the concept or terms as used in a particular study.
a. Conceptual Definition
b. Conceptual Definition-Operational
c. Operational Definition
d. All of the above
8. The part of your study that sets boundaries and parameters of the problem
inquiry and narrows down the scope of the inquiry.
a. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
b. Background of the Study

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 c. Scope and delimitation of the study
d. Scope and delimitation of the study

9. It will provide information to the reader on how the study will contribute.
a. Significance of the study
b. Scope and delimitation of the study
c. Operational Definition
d. Significance of the study
10.The portion of your study that will provide evidence of academic standards
and procedure.
a. Theory Framework
b. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
c. Concept Framework
d. None of the above
11.According to her a conceptual framework is a bit like a recipe or a blueprint.
a. Maria Marie Florenda
b. Maria Magic
c. Maria Magher
d. Maria June Mandela
12.A part of research that is necessary in the theoretical and conceptual
framework.
a. Dependable Variable
b. Independent Variable
c. Dependent Variable
d. Independent Variable and Dependent Variable
13.The section of the study that provides information to the reader on how the
study will contribute.
a. Significance of the study
b. Scope and delimitation of the study
c. Operational Definition
d. Glossary of terminology
14.The Theoretical and Conceptual Framework provides.
a. Substantiation c. Confirmation
b. Evidence d. All of the above
15.The part of your study is intended to assist you in understanding commonly
used terms and concepts when reading, interpreting, and evaluating
scholarly research in the social sciences.
a. Background of the Study
b. Scope and delimitation of the study
c. Glossary of Research Terms
d. Significance of the Study

Additional Activities

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 A. Library Visit and Internet Exploration ➢
Go to a library or do research in the internet. ➢
Read at least two research ➢ Make a report on
each research.
➢ End your library visit with the Actual learnings that you have during
your library visit and internet exploration and make the following to
practice what you’ve learned in this module.
➢ Background of the study
➢ Conceptual Framework
➢ Research Hypothesis
➢ Statement of the problem
➢ Significance of the study
➢ Scope and Delimitation of the study
➢ Definition of terms

References

Crewell, JW. Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Choosing Among Five
Traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication, 1997.

Cronbach, L.J., and P.E. Meehl. Construct Validity in Psychological Test.

Psychological Bulletin, 1995.

Field, Maurice H. Statistics for Research Projects, 1997.

Gaultney, Jane F., and Hannah D. Peach. How To Do Research. Sage Publication,
Inc. 2016

Punch, KF. Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative

Approaches. Sage Publication, 2013

V, Michael, and Kimberly A. De Perez. Rethinking Observation Handbook of

Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication, 2000.

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