RESEAR

CH
PROBLE
M
B
y
AURELIO Q. BALIN JR., ELLA MAE
P.ROSARIO and
KRISTINE JOY CIPRIANO
 INTRODUCTION
A research problem is a question
that researcher wants to answer
or a problem that a researcher
wants to solve.
Selection of research problem
depends on several factors such
as researchers knowledge, skills,
interest, expertise, motivation &
creativity with respect to the
subject of inquiry. It is believed
1.1 Definition of Research
Problem
A problem is any significant, perplexing
and challenging situation, real or artificial,
the solution of which requires reflective
thinking; a perplexing situation after it has
been translated into a question after it
has been translated into a question or
series of questions that help determine
the direction of subsequent inquiry. The
foregoing definitions are according to
Dewey. (Good, p.414)
1.1 Definition of Research
Problem
According to Kerlinger, A
problem is an interrogative
sentence or statement that
asks what relation exists
between two or more
variable. The answer to
question will provide what
1.1 Definition of Research Problem

R.S. Woodworth defines problem

as a situation for which we have
no ready & successful response
by instinct or by previous
acquired habit. We must find out
what to do, i.e. the solution can
be found out only after an
investigation.
1.1 Definition of Research Problem

In other words, a research

problem is an area of
concern where there is a
gap in the knowledge base
needed for professional
practices.
1.2 Sources of Research
Problem
1.2 Sources of Research
Problem
A. Personal Experiences
B.Practical Experiences
C. Critical Appraisal of literature
D. Previous Experience
E. Existing theories
F. Social issues
G. Brainstorming
H. Intuition
I. Folklores
J. Exposure to field situations
K. Consultation with experts
1.3 Qualities of A Good
Research Problem
1. Significance to profession
2. Original
3. Feasible
A. Time
B. Cost
C. Equipment & supplies

D. Administrative support
E. Peer support
1.3 Qualities of A Good
Research Problem
4. Solvable/researchable
5. Current
6. Interesting
1.4 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
1.4 Guidelines in Writing the
Title
3.It must be broad enough to
include all aspects of the subject
matter studied or to be 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.
1.4 Guidelines in Writing the
Title
5.Avoid using the terms An
Analysis of, A Study of, An
Investigation of, and the like. All
these things are understood to
have been done or to be done
when a research is conducted.
6.If the title contains more than
one line, it must be written like an
inverted pyramid, all words in
Example of a complete title:
The contents as required by Guideline
letter B are:
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 of the study: School year
1989-1990
A brief and concise form of the
title and a better one follows:
 It will be noted that the population, the
science teachers and students as well as
the period of the study, 1989-1990, are
omitted when writing the second form but
they have to be mentioned in the scope
and delimitation of the study. It will be
noted also that the title, though brief and
simplified, is broad enough to include all
possible aspects of the subject matter.
2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
by: Kristine Joy
Aproblem statementis the
description of an issue currently
existing which needs to be
addressed. It provides the context for
the researchstudy and generates the
questions which theresearch aims to
answer. Thestatement of the
problemis the focal point of
anyresearch.
2.1 Guidelines in Formulating the
General and Specific Problem
1. 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
problems in the interrogative
form.
2.1 Guidelines in Formulating the
General and Specific Problem

3. Each specific question must

be clear and unequivocal.
4. Each specific question is
researchable apart from the
other questions.
5. Each specific question must
be based upon known facts
and phenomena.
2.1 Guidelines in Formulating the
General and Specific Problem
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 specific question
must contribute to the
2.1 Guidelines in Formulating the
General and Specific Problem
8. Summing up the answers to all
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.
2.1 Guidelines in Formulating the
General and Specific Problem

10. Generally, there should

be a general statement of the
problem and then this should
be broken up into as many
sub problems or specific
questions are necessary.
2.2 Guidelines in the Use of
Basic Assumptions

An assumption is a self-
evident truth which is based
upon a known fact or
phenomenon.
2.2 Guidelines in the Use of
Basic Assumptions
1.You cannot assume the value of your
study. Such an argument should have
been made under the section,
significance of the study.
2.You cannot assume the reliability of
the instrument you propose to use in
your research. Such a rationale and
defense should be made under
methodology.
2.2 Guidelines in the Use of
Basic Assumptions
3. You cannot assume the
validity of basic data. Validity is
established under methodology.
4. You cannot assume that
your population is typical. This
point is to made under
methodology.
2.2 Guidelines in the Use of
Basic Assumptions

5. An assumption is not
tested, neither is it
defended nor argued.
2.3 Hypothesis and Forms of
Hypotheses

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 Hypotheses
There are two forms of
hypotheses:
1.Operational form and
2.Null form.
Forms of Hypotheses
The operational form is stated in
the affirmative while the null form
is stated in the negative.
The operational form states that
there is a difference between two
phenomena while the null form
states that there is no difference
between two phenomena.
2.4 Uses and Functions of a
Hypothesis
1. They help the researcher in
designing his study: what methods,
research instruments, sampling
design and statistical treatment to
use, what data to gather and so on.
2. They serve as bases for
determining assumptions.
2.4 Uses and Functions of a
Hypothesis
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.
2.4 Uses and Functions of a
Hypothesis
5. They help or guide the
researcher in consolidating his
findings and in formulating his
conclusions. Generally,
findings and conclusions are
answers to the hypothesis or
specific questions raised at the
start of the investigation.
2.5 Guidelines in the
Formulation of Hypothesis
1. In experimental investigations,
hypothesis have to be explicit,
they have to be expressed.
2. In descriptive and historical
investigations, hypothesis are
seldom expressed if not entirely
absent.
2.5 Guidelines in the
Formulation of Hypothesis
3. Hypotheses are usually stated
in the null form because testing a
null hypothesis is easier than a
hypothesis in the operational form.
4. Hypotheses are formulated from
the specific questions upon which
they are based.
Example:
Question: Is there any significant difference
between the effectiveness of the inductive
method and that of the deductive method in
the teaching of science?
Operational Hypothesis: There is a
significant difference between the
effectiveness of the inductive method and
that of the deductive method in the teaching
of science.
Null Hypothesis: There is no significant
difference between the effectiveness of the
inductive method and that of the deductive
3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
A discussion of the
significance of a study typically
includes an explanation of the
work's significance, its
potential benefits and its
overall impact. The
significance of a study, often
called the "rationale," attempts
3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
The rationale often explains which
specific groups of people can benefit
from the research. It typically indicates
how the specific project fits within the
developing body of knowledge. If the
research project is part of a larger
investigation, the rationale explains
the overall importance of that larger
project as well.
3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY

Researchers attempting to
describe the significance of
a study should consider why
their work is important and
what its implications are.
4. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
Scope and delimitation of study are
two elements of a research paper that
inform the reader what information is
included in the research and explain
why the author chose that
information.Although scope and
delimitation explain the way a study is
limited, this information adds
credibility to research.
4. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of study is a section of a

research paper that explains what
information or subject is being
analyzed. For example, the scope of a
historical research paper includes a
scope section that explains what time
period the writer is analyzing. Since it
is impossible to study every aspect of
every subject, the scope of study tells
the reader which aspects of a subject
the writer has chosen to analyze. Most
research is limited in scope by sample
4. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
The delimitation of study is the
explanation of the scope of study.
This section allows the writer to
explain why certain aspects of a
subject were chosen and why
others were excluded. It is also
common for a writer to explain the
chosen research method in this
section and explain why certain
5. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Definition of Terms is a
very brief section
consisting of a series of
definitions of the key
terms or concepts found
in the proposal.
5. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Since some words like
"recreation" or "leisure" may have
various meanings, it is important
to clarify to the reader the way
they are used in the proposal.
Unfamiliar or technical words may
also require an exact definition.
5. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Definition of Terms is usually an annex
to a work (book, research paper,
pamphlet, etc.) either at the beginning
or more likely near the end with a list
of acronyms, jargon, credits, etc.
A glossary is another word that may
describe Definition of Terms. A list of
words found in the paper, book, or
work that may need a further
explanation to understand what that
5. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Often time scholars will fully
understand the words used
and don't need a definition
immediately in the work.
However, there are times that
clarification is required and a
section called "Definition of
Terms" is beneficial and often
5. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Medical personnel use
medical jargon but a
layperson may not know what
the term means, and can
easily look it up for
clarification in the "Definition
of Terms".
THATS
ALL