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This set of questions presented in the pre-test are extracted from an online link
https://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_saunders_doingresearch.html /Copyright © 1995-2010, Pearson Education, Inc

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 Lesso The Research Problem and
n Research Question
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Having a problem makes you anxious that pushes you to exert efforts on finding a
solution. There will be doubts that you are uncertain of your solutions thus conducting a
research is the best thing to do. Doing a research always begins with a problem which points
you to a topic to look out. Getting the background and establishing your research question
that causes the problem is a hint to start knowing what your problem is all about In this
lesson you have to study the concept of research problems and research questions including
its scope and delimitation, cite the significance

What’s in?
(
In the previous lesson, you learned to how to choose research topics and write a title.
Following those rules and what to avoid had guide you to create a good topic for your
research. You have the sources of research topics which you can use to find a researchable
topic. Even your work experiences can be a clue to a research topic which relates to daily life
situations.

What’s New?

I. An Overview of the Research Problem and Research Question

Chapter I of the research paper is called The Problem and Its Background
(sometimes also called The Introduction)

 It is composed of the following sections:

1) Background of the Study,
2) Statement of the Problem,
3) Scope and Delimitation, and
4) Significance of the Study.

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Others have sections such as Objectives of the Study, Hypotheses but these will not be
considered in this lesson

What is a research problem?

 The Research Problem (According to Calderon & Gonzales,1993)

A problem is “any significant, perplexing, and challenging situation, real or artificial, the
solution of which requires reflexive thinking”. In research, it is known as the research topic
or research title.

An illustration showing the description between a research topic, research problem, purpose
statement and research question.

General
A research topic is the Topic: Distance Learning
broad subject matter of
the study
Research Problem:
A research problem is a
general issue or concern Lack of learners knowledge about
about the research that distance in distance education .
narrow the topic.

Purpose Statement:
A purpose of the study
used to address the To study why learners do not attend
problem. distance education classes in a
community college
A research question
narrows the purpose
into specific questions Research Questions:
that the researcher
Does the use of website technology
would like to answer in
in the classroom deter learners from
the study
Specific enrolling in a distant education
class?

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A. Background of the Study

 Purpose of background of the study

a. The general definition of the topic/problem area

b. Historical basis for the existence of the problem
c. Efforts made towards addressing similar challenges
d. How the efforts failed to be realized hence the need for your study

 Contents of the background of the study:

a. Presentation of the problem. Describe the existence of an unsatisfactory condition

or a problem that needs a solution.

b. Historical background of the problem - Give the historical background of the

problem, if applicable.

c. Geographical conditions of the study locale - If applicable, describe the

geographical location of the study.

d. Rationale of the study - Give the reason(s) why the study should be conducted.

Example:

In 2004, the researcher migrated to the Philippines to accompany her spouse who was at
the time studying at the Adventist Institute for International Advanced Studies (AIIAS)
in Silang, Cavite. They discovered the study opportunities and were motivated by the
quality of education and low school fees being offered. They visited several colleges and
universities to collect pamphlets and sent them back to Vanuatu for educational
awareness. The Ni-Vanuatus became aware and decided to send students to study in the
Philippines. The first two schools to receive Vanuatu students were AMA Computer
College in Dasmariñas, Cavite and Air Link Aviation College in Paranaque City. The
researcher came to know Cavite State University (CvSU) in 2009 and transferred
from AMA. (Ngwele, March 2011)

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  The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Research Background Study 1

Do‘s! Don’ts!
 Explain the importance of your o Write a background that is too
research topic long or short
 Talk about the main developments o Be ambiguous in your writing,
and missing links and gaps in disorganized and discuss unrelated
your research area subjects.

 Focus on the relevant aspects of o Forget the reader may not be

your study explaining how it will familiar with the details of your
lead to the progress of scientific work.
knowledge.
 Engage your findings in a o Elaborate on your background
chronological findings literature
 Articulate your ideas in a clear o Forget to provide a historical
and concise manner perspective
 Engage the readers by building a o Forget to check your target
story around the central theme of journal’s instruction for
your research presenting the study background

B. Statement of the Problem

(Purpose Statement and Research Questions)

A series of questions used in researching the topic. It is

composed of
1. The general statement of the problem (the purpose statement) and
2. The specific sub-problems or sub-questions (or research questions).

 Guidelines in Writing the Statement of the Problem

(According to Calderon & Gonzales,1993)

1. The general statement of the problem and the research questions should be formulated
first before conducting the research.

2. Research questions should be stated in the interrogative and each should be clear to avoid
confusion.

3 Each research question should be researchable separately from the other questions and must
be based upon known facts and phenomena which is accessible to the researcher.

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For more information about do’s and don’ts of writing a research background study, see online link on
www.editage.com/insights/8-dos-and-8-donts-of-writing-an-engaging-study-background

4. Answers to each research question can be interpreted apart from the answers to the other
specific questions and must contribute to the development of the whole research study.

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

9. The number of research questions should be enough to cover the development of the whole
research study.

Example:

This research aims to develop an evaluation model of a web-based tool used in test
administration for Grade 11 and 12 students. (Leanillo, 2016)

Specifically it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the commonly used web-based tools used in test administration?
2. How are these web-based test tools evaluated?
3. How could evaluation model be designed for web-based test administration?
IV.Sco and Delimitation of Research

C. Scope and Delimitation of the Study1

 Scope of a Study

It is the coverage of the research to be explored which includes the facts and theories
about the subject

Example:

A research study on the impact of social networking on the attitude of senior high school
learners.

It is not possible to cover all aspects of the selected subject. The scope will have to be
restricted to a specific section of the target population over a specified duration.

In the above-cited study, a group of 40 learners in senior high school at one particular
school would be an ideal coverage to study their attitude for five months.

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For more information about scope and delimitation of the study see Cristobal, A.P., Jr, & Cristobal, M.D. (2016). Practical
Research 1 for Senior High School. Ist ed.C & E Publishing Inc. Quezon City.
These would form the next parameter.

 Delimitation of a Study

It limits the scope and outlines the boundaries of the study.

These limitations include the following:

1. Sample size.
a. The research design and method will determine whether if it is small or large
sample size.
b. The sample size will determine the quality of data and the relationships that
will be identified among the variables.

2. Lack of available and/or reliable data.

This will limit the scope of analysis and the ability of the researcher to
determine meaningful trends and relationships among the data.

3. Lack of prior studies.

This will limit the effectiveness of the literature review and initial
understanding of the research.

4. Chosen data collection method.

The quality of data collected must be clear to avoid erroneous answers from
the respondents.

5. Nature of the information collected.

Researcher should not rely on pre-existing data.

6. Access.
The amount and quality of available data will depend on the ability of the researcher to
access people, organizations, libraries, and documents.

7. Time period.
It is advisable to select a research problem and design

8. Bias.
The researcher should be aware of his or her personal biases .

9. Language.

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 This may have an effect on data collection, especially if the researcher is involved
with respondents that speak a variety of languages.

When writing the paper, the researcher should ensure that any delimitation factor is
noted down at the introduction, discussion, and conclusion sections. He or she should clarify
why the study included and excluded some delimitation.

D. Significance of the Study

 The significance of the study discuss the purpose that the research will serve to
society, the country, the government, the institution or agency concerned, the
curriculum planners and developers, and the research community.

 Describes the contribution of the study to the existing body of knowledge.

It could be the following:

a. A form of new knowledge in the field,
b. A validation of the major findings of other studies,
c. A verification of the validity of findings in a different population,
d. Analysis of trends over time, and validation of other findings using different
methodologies.

 The researcher must identify specifically the beneficiaries who will directly gain
from the results of the study mentioning them in the paper according to the
significance of the result. The specific benefits must also be enumerated and
explained if necessary.

Example:

The Effects of Computer-assisted Instruction in the Performance of Students in

Asian History and Civilization (Cuenca, 2008)

The findings of the study may provide deeper insights on how teaching can be made easier and
more meaningful by the use of computer-aided instruction. The study determined the significant effects of
slide presentation in instruction, a form of computer instruction on the performance of the students in the
subjects Asian History and Civilization.

To the students, the results may serve as an inspiration for them to continuously improve their
skills in using computers because they will realize the comfort that computer skills offer in complying
with the requirements of major subjects in the coming years.

To the administrators, the results may serve as a guide in the program-planning and
implementation of the IT department so that they can be of great help to the teachers of the university.

To the teachers, the results may serve as an eye opener for those who are not comfortable on
the use of computers in their class lesson presentations. The findings of this study may encourage more of
them to apply c o m p u t e r - aided instruction in teaching.
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II. Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

The following sections compose the presentation of the written statement of the problem

1. Introduction

States briefly the background of the study and identifies the rationale of the research
problem.

It begins with a general statement of the problem, outlines the specific problem or
issue within the existing literature.

2. Statement of the Problem

States clearly the purposes or interest of the study, poses specific questions about
research problem.

3. Scope and Delimitation

Sets the boundaries and parameters of the study, narrows the scope of the inquiry.

4. Significance of the Study

Shows the benefits of the study to address issues and l problems, in improving
economic and health conditions or even finding solutions to problems encountered in
daily life.