Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
GROUP 1
Adame, Joshua
Cacanindin, John Michael
Dermil, Joshua Simon
Edang, Emman Ray
Remo, Karl Mikell
ELEMENTS OF A
RESEARCH PROBLEM
The term research problem implies that
an investigation, inquiry or study is to be
conducted, or that the problem is ready for
investigation, inquiry or study. There are
certain elements that a problem must possess
before it becomes a research problem ready for
investigation.
These elements are:
• Aim or purpose of the problem or investigation.
• The subject matter or topic to be investigated.
• The place or locale where the research is to be
conducted.
• The period of time of the study during which
the data are to be gathered.
• Population universe from whom the data are to
be collected.
Summarizing the elements of the
research problems aim or purpose,
subject matter or topic, place or locale,
period of time, and population of the
universe they respectively answer
questions starting with why, what, where,
when and who or from whom.
Example:
To determine the status of teaching science in
the high schools A during the school year 1989-
1990.
• Aim or purpose: to determine the status of
• 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 are implied to be
either the teachers or the pupils or both
Guidelines in the selection of a
research problem or topic
• The research problem or topic must be chosen by
the researcher himself.
• It must be within the interest of the researcher.
• It must be within the specialization of the
researcher.
• It must be within the competence of the researcher
to tackle.
• It must be within the ability of the researcher to
finance, otherwise he must be able to find funding
for his research.
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 (sub problems)
can be found. The data to be collected must supply
the necessary answers to the specific questions.
d) The hypothesis formulated are testable, that is,
they can be accepted or rejected. Hypotheses are
not proved, they are only determined as true or
not.
e) Equipment and instruments for research are
available and can give valid and reliable results.
• It can be completed within a reasonable period of
time unless it is a longitudinal research which takes
a long time for its completion.
• It is significant, important, and relevant to the
present time and situation, timely, and out of
current interest.
• The results are implementable.
• It requires original, critical and reflective thinking to
solve it.
• It can be delimited to suit the resources of the
researchers but big or large enough to be able to
give significant, valid, and reliable results and
generalizations.
• It must contribute to the national development
goals for the improvement of the quality of
human life.
• It must contribute to the fund of human
knowledge.
• It must show or pave the way for the solution of
the problem or problems intended to be solved.
• It must not undermine the moral and spiritual
values of the people.
• It must not advocate any change in the present
order of things by means of violence but by
peaceful means.
• There must be a return of some kind to the
researcher, 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 royalty.
b) Advancement of position, promotion.
c) Improved specialization, competence, and skill
in professional work easily 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 the truth.
• There must be consideration of hazards
involved, either physical, social, or legal. This
author knows of a man who went to the
mountains to study a tribe, ignoring physical
dangers from wild animals and from the
tribesmen themselves. While this act is
admirable, the researcher must consider this
a personal safety.
• Another hazard is social. This occurs when an
inquiry happens to encroach upon socially
approved and established social values,
norms of conduct, or ethical standards.
Examples:
• Specific question: how qualified are the
teachers handling science?
• Implicit (unwritten) assumptions: there are
certain qualifications that one should possess
before he can teach science.
• Specific question: how adequate are the
facilities that a school should acquire before
it can offer science as a subject?
• Implicit assumption: there are certain
required facilities that a school should
acquire before it can offer science as a
subject.
• Specific question: how effective are the
methods used in the teaching of science?
• Implicit assumption: there area certain
methods that are effective in the teaching of
science.
Guidelines In the use of
basic assumptions
• You cannot assume the value of the
study. Such an argument should have
been made under the section,
significance of the study.
• You cannot assume the reliability of the
instruments you propose to use in your
research.
• You cannot assume the validity of basic
data. Validity is established under
methodology.
• You cannot assume that your
population is typical. This point is to be
made under methodology.
• An assumption is not tested, neither is it
defended nor argued.
Hypothesis
• 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
hypothesis. One is in the operational form
and the other is the null form. The
operational form is stated in the affirmative
while the null form is stated in the negative.
Guidelines in the
formulation of explicit
hypotheses