Research

Problem
SIT DOLOR AMET
Definition
A problem is (1) any significant, perplexing and challenging situation. real or
ariticial, 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. The foregoing
definitions arc according to Dewey. (Good, p. 414)
Elements of a Research Problem
1. Aim or outpost of the problem for investigation.

2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated.

3. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted.

4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered.

5. Population or universe faun whom the data are to be collected.

Summarizing, the elements of a research problem are aim or purpose, subject

matter or topic, place or locale, period or time, and population or
universe. They respectively answer questions starting why, what, where,
when, and who or from whom.
"The Teaching of Science in the High
Schools of Province A During the School
Year 1%9-1990."
Example of a research problem: To determine the status of teaching science in the
high schools of Province A during the school year 1989 1990.

Aim or purpose: TO determine the status of

A Subject matter or topic: The teaching of science

Place or locale: In the high schools of Province

A Period or time: During the school year 1989-1990 Population: The respondents
aro implied lo be either the teachers or the pupils or both,
Guidelines in the selection of a
Research Problem or Topic
1. The research problem or the topic must be chosen by the researcher himself.

2. It must he within the interest of the researcher.

3. It must be within the specialization of the researcher.

4. It must be within the competence of the researcher to tackle.

5. It must be within the ability of the researcher to finance,

fuLoln&ebrdfudgfuN64d otherwise he must be able to find funding for his
research.
6. It is researchable and manageable, that is
◦ a. Data are available and accessible.
◦ b. The data must meet the standards of accuracy. objectivity, and verifiability.
◦ c. Answers to the specific questions (subproblems) can be found.
◦ d. The hypotheses formulated are testable. that is, they can be accepted or rejected.
◦ e. Equipment and instruments for research arc available and can give valid and reliable
results.

7. It can be completed within a reasonable period of time unless it is a longitudinal

research which takes a long time for its completion.

8. It is significant, important and relevant to the present time and situation, timely,
and of current interest.
9. The results are practical and implementable.

10. It requires original. critical, and reflective thinking to solve it

11. It can be delimited to suit the resources of the researcher but big or large
enough to be able to give significant, valid ,and reliable results and generalizations.

12. It must contribute to the national development goals for the improvement of
the quality of human life.

13. It must contribute to the fund of human knowledge.

14. It must show or pave the way for the solution of the problem or problems
intended to be solved.
15. It must not undermine the moral and spiritual values of the people.

16. It must not advocate any change in the present order of things by means of
violence but by peaceful means.

17. There must be a return of some kind to the it-searcher, either one or all of the
following, if the research report is completed;
◦ a Monetary, either increase in salary or publication of the results in which there is some
kind of loyalty.
◦ b. Advancement of position, promotion
◦ c. Improved specialization, competence, and skill in professional work especially if the
research subject is related to the profession.
◦ d, Enhanced prestige and reputation
◦ e. Satisfaction of intellectual curiosity and interest, and being able to discover truth.

18. There must be a consideration of die hazards involved, either physical, social
or legal.
The Title
GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE TITLE.
THESE ARE ALSO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ME TITLE.
1. Generally, the title is formulated before the start of the research work. It may be revised and
refined later if them is a need.

2. The title must contain the subject matter of the study, the locale of the study, the population
involved, aid the period when the data way gathered or will be gathered.

3. It must he broad enough to Include all aspects of the subject matter studied or to he studied.
Hence, the title indicates what is expected to be found inside the thesis report.

4. It must be as brief and concise as possible.

5. Avoid using the terms "An Analysis of." "A Study of." "An Investigation inland the like. All these
things arc understood to have been done or to be done when a research is conducted.

6. If the tide contains more than one line, it muse be written like an inverted pyramid. all woods in
capital letters.
THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN TIIE HIGH SCHOOLS OF PROVINCE A AS PERCEIVED BY
THE SCIENCE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR 1989— 1990

The contents ac required by Guideline No. 2 arc:

a. Subject matter: The teaching of science;

b. Locale of the study: High schools of Province A

c. Population involved: The science teachers and students: and

d. Period or the study: School year 1989 —1990

A brief aid concise form of the title and a better one follows: THE TEACHING OF
SCIENCE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF PROVINCE A
Statement of the
Problem
Definition
A problem statement is a concise description of the problem or issues a project
seeks to address.

The problem statement identifies the current state, the desired future state and
any gaps between the two.

A problem statement is an important communication tool that can help ensure

everyone working on a project knows what the problem they need to address is
and why the project is important.
Guidelines In formulating the general
problem and the specific questions.
I. The general statement of the problem and the specific sub-problems or questions should be
formulated first before conducting the research.

2. It is customary to state specific subproblems in the interrogative form. Hence, subproblems

are called specific questions.

3. Each specific question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has only one meaning. It
must not have dual meanings.

4. Each specific question is researchable apart from the other questions. that is, answers to
each specific question can be found even without considering the other questions.

5. Each specific question must be based upon known facts and phenomena.

6. Answers to each specific question can be interpreted apart from the answers to other
specific questions.
7. Answers to each specific question must contribute to the development of the
whole research problem or topic.

8. Summing up the answers to all the specific questions will give a complete
development of the entire study.

9. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the development

of the whole research problem or study.

10. Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then this
should be broken up into as many subproblems or specific questions as necessary.
Assumptions
AN ASSUMPTION IS A SELF-EVIDENT TWIN WHICH IS
BASED UPON A KNOWN FACT OR PHENOMENON.
Definition
An assumption is a self-evident twin which is based upon a known fact or phenomenon.

Generally, every specific question is implicitly based upon an assumption. If there is no assumption,
expressed or implicit, then can be no specific question.

Guidelines in the are of basic assumptions. The following arc the guidelines in the use of basic
assumptions: (By Sugden as cited by Manuel. p. 81)

1. You cannot assume the value of your study. Such an argument should have been made under the
section, significance of the study.

2. 2. You cannot assume the reliability of the instruments you propose to use in your research. Such
a rationale and defense should be made under methodology.

3. 3. You cannot assume the validity of basic data. Validity is established under methodology.

4. 4. You cannot assume that your population is typical. This point is to be made under methodology.

5. 5. An assumption is not tested, neither is It defended nor argued.

Hypothesis
Definition
A hypothesis is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question raised at
the beginning of the investigation. It is an educated guess about the answer to a
specific question.
 Forms of Hypothesis
One is in the operational form and the other is in the null form.
• The operational bon is stated in the affirmative while the null form is stated in the
negative.
• The operational form states that there is a different between two phenomena while the
null form sines that that is no difference between the two phenomena.
Guidelines in the formulation of explicit hypotheses.
The following arc the 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 correlational
studies.

2. In descriptive and historical investigation, hypotheses arc seldom expressed if

not entirely absent. The subproblems or specific questions raised before the start
of the investigation and suited under the statement of the problem serve its the
hypotheses.

3. Hypotheses are usually stated in the null form because testing a null
hypothesis is eater than a hypothesis In the operational form. Testing a
hypothesis simply means gathering data to answer it.

4. Hypotheses are formulated from the specific questions upon which they arc
based.
Purposes, functions, and invariance of hypotheses or
specific questions. Hypotheses (specific questions)
perform important functions in research such as the
following:

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 determining assumptions.

3. They serve as bases for determining the relevance of data.

4. They serve as bases for the explanation or discussion about the data gathered.

5. They help or guide the researcher in consolidating his findings and in

formulating his conclusions. Generally, findings and conclusions are answers to
the hypotheses or specific questions raised at the start of the investigation.
The End