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    02 Title Identification

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    02 Title Identification

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    Frederick VIllaflor
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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    1 views43 pages

    02 Title Identification

    Uploaded by

    Frederick VIllaflor
    presentation

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 43

    PROBLEM

    IDENTIFICATION
    PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND
    DEFINITION
    What is a Problem?
    Characteristics of a “good”
     Research Problem
    Sources of Research Problems
    Identification/ Selection of a
     Research Problem
    Definition of Research Problem
    Justification of the Study
    WHAT IS A PROBLEM?
    This is the FIRST and MOST
    IMPORTANT step in the
    research process.

     It tells you what you intend to

    study
    • In doing research, the first
    thing a researcher does is
    identify and clearly define the
    problem to be studied.

    • If the researcher cannot


    pinpoint a problem, he/she
    cannot expect others to
    understand what problems he
    wants to solve.
    Initially, a research
    problem is stated in a
    form of a question,
    which serves as the
    focus of the
    investigation.
    Examples of Research Questions

    Education/Social Work
    1. What problems do children of
    separated parents encounter and
    how do the children cope with these
    problems?
    2. Why is absenteeism and tardiness
    common among high school
    students? Who are more likely to
    be absent or late in class?
    3. Does TV viewing affect a child’s
    school performance?
    Business and Public Management

    1. What goes on in a government office in


    a typical week? or How do
    government employees spend a typical
    day in the office?
    2. What are the perceptions of local
    officials/students/ community folks/etc.
    regarding the granting of emergency
    powers to the president in times of
    crisis?
    3. Will training of coop managers in
    financial management improve the
    financial control system of
    cooperatives?
    Engineering and IT

    1. To what extent do students use


    computers in their learning
    process?
    2. To what extent do
    students/pupils play computer
    games? Does extent of playing
    affect their grades?
    3. How much do computer users
    know about software piracy? To
    what extent do they use pirated
    softwares? What are their
    perceptions about it?
    Health/Nursing

    1. What is the effect of different


    concentrations of plant extracts in
    the bleeding and blood clotting
    time in white mice?
    2. How do the patients of “Hospital
    A” perceived the quality of care
    given by the nurses?
    3. What is the effect of touch on the
    pain reactions of full term
    neonates?
    Every research starts with a PROBLEM
    Without a PROBLEM……. No need for
    RESEARCH

    A feeling of difficulty

    For Researchers:
    -Conditions they want to improve
    -Difficulties they want to eliminate
    -Questions for which they want answers
    -Information gaps they wish to inquire about
    -Theories they wish to validate
    Three sources usually contribute to
    problem identification:

    • Own experience or the experience of


    others may be a source of problem
    supply.

    • A second source could be scientific


    literature. You may read about certain
    findings and notice that a certain field was
    not covered. This could lead to a research
    problem.

    • Theories could be a third source.


    Shortcomings in theories could be
    researched.
    The MORE SPECIFIC and
    CLEAR your problem is,
    the BETTER,
    as everything that follows in
    the research process is
    greatly influenced by the way
    in which you formulate it.
    PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND
    DEFINITION

    A. Describe the Problem Situation - What is?


    Present facts/figures from documents,
    records, literature, experience

    B. Describe the ideal/expected situation -


    What
    should be?
    What is right, good, preferred,
    recommended
    Present facts, resolutions, rules,
    standards, laws, etc.
    PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND
    DEFINITION

    Discrepancy? State possible


    reasons for the discrepancy

    Present related literature


    What is known about the Problem?
    What has been tried?
    What were the results?
    Identify unanswered
    questions
    Example of a Non-Researchable
    Problem

    Situation
    Despite free tuition and other fees,
    most of the high school students in a
    public school in Basilan dropped out
    in the middle of the school year

    Discrepancy
    No one should drop out or drop out
    should be minimal. On the contrary, a
    big number dropped out.
    Example of a Non-Researchable Problem

    Research Question
    Why did the students drop out?
    What factors could have influence their
    dropping out?

    Answer
    There have been violent encounters
    between the military and rebel groups in
    the area and many civilians have been
    caught in the crossfire and died
    Comments:

    There have been violent encounters


    between the military and rebel
    groups and many civilians have been
    caught in the cross fire. It seems
    clear that the dropping out of the
    students is due to the armed
    encounters in the area. If they go to
    school, they might die, so parents
    keep them out of school until the
    peace and order situation in the area
    returns to normal.
    Example of a Researchable Problem

    Situation
    The drop out rate in many high
    schools in a certain province has been
    consistently high as per records of the
    DepEd.

    Discrepancy
    Since high school education is free,
    drop out should be minimal if there
    are any.
    Example of a Researchable Problem

    Research Question
    What factors could have caused students
    dropping out?
    What factors could have influence their
    dropping out?

    Answer
    It is possible that they are not interested, or
    do not like their teachers, or have
    indifferent attitudes towards education, or
    find no need for high school education
    Comments:

    Since there are a number of


    possible reasons for the dropping
    out of the students despite free
    tuition, the problem is
    researchable. Research can
    determine the existence and the
    extent of relationship between the
    identified possible factors and the
    students’ decision to drop of school
    or to stay. Furthermore, research
    can determine the relative
    contribution of each factors in the
    students’ decision to drop out.
    Possible Research Title:

    “Factors Related to High


    Drop Out Rate of Public
    High School Students in
    Province Y “
    PROBLEM JUSTIFICATION

    Guide questions in problem justification

    Is the problem current and is it timely to


    study it?
    Is the problem related to an on-going
    programs and activities?
    Is it related to current social, economic
    or political issues?
    Who are concerned about the problem?
    PROBLEM DEFINITION

    A research problem must be


    defined in terms of its:

    OCCURRENCE

    Does the problem really exist?


    What is known about the problem?
    Why does the problem exist?
    PROBLEM DEFINITION

    A research problem must be defined


    in terms of its:

    INTENSITY
    Is the problem serious?
    Who are affected by the problem?
    How many are affected?
    What are happening to the people
    affected?
    PROBLEM DEFINITION

    A research problem must be defined


    in terms of its:

    DISTRIBUTION

    What areas are affected?


    Is the problem widespread?
    How often does it occur?
    Not Researchable Questions
    1. Should I put my youngster in preschool?
    2. What is the best way to learn to read?
    3. Are some people born bad?

    Researchable Questions
    4. Do children enrolled in preschool develop better
    social skills than children not enrolled
    5. At which age is it better to introduce phonics to
    children – age 5, age 6, or age 7?
    6. Who commits more crimes – poor people or rich
    people?
    Things to Remember When Defining
    a Research Problem

    1. First review relevant literature and


    previous studies on the problem,
    2. Examine current available
    data/statistics,
    3. Seek educated opinions from persons
    concerned with the problem.
    4. Determine the probable reasons for the
    existence of the problem from social,
    economic, or other theories that may
    explain the existence of the problem and
    the possible connection between the
    problem and other factors.
    Characteristics of a Good Research
    Problem

    1. A research problem must be relevant.

    a. Will answers to the research


    question/s help advance knowledge?
    b. Can answers to the research
    question/s help in improving
    practices/behavior/ performance?
    c. Will answers to the research
    problem improve human conditions?
    2. A Research problem must be
    feasible

    A research problem can only be


    investigated if resources like time, money,
    and personnel are available. A research
    problem may be relevant, but if funds are
    not available and there are no skilled
    researchers or tools for data gathering,
    then it would not be feasible to conduct it.
    Researchers must, therefore be sure of the
    availability of funds and human resources,
    as well as appropriate tools/devices needed
    in the conduct of the study.
    It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to evaluate
    the research problem in the light of the
    following:

    Financial resource at your disposal.

    The time available for the study.

    Your expertise and knowledge in the field of


    study.

    Your knowledge of statistics required for analysis.

    Your knowledge of computers and software if you


    plan to use them.
    Considerations in
    Selecting a Research Topic

    When selecting a research


    problem there are a number
    of considerations to keep in
    mind. These help ensure
    that your study will be
    MANAGEABLE and that you
    will be motivated.
    INTEREST

    Select a topic that really


    interests you; this is one of
    the most important
    considerations.
    MAGNITUDE

    Narrow the topic down to


    something manageable,
    specific and clear.

    It is extremely important to


    select a topic that you can
    manage within the time and
    resources at your disposal.
    MEASUREMENT OF CONCEPTS

    If you are using a concept in your


    study, make sure you are clear
    about its indicators and their
    measurement.

    DO NOT USE CONCEPTS YOU


    ARE NOT SURE HOW TO
    MEASURE.
    LEVEL OF EXPERTISE

    Make sure you have an


    adequate level of expertise
    for the task you are
    proposing.
    AVAILABILITY OF DATA

    If your study entails


    collection of information from
    secondary sources (office
    records, client records,
    census, etc) make sure that
    these data are available and
    in the format you want before
    finalizing your topic.
    NOVEL

    Avoid doing a study on topics


    which are overstudied. Pursue
    those which are not subjected to
    any investigations, of if it were,
    were not thoroughly studied
    3. A research problem must be
    clear.

    The research problem must be


    clearly
    stated so that what is being
    investigated is made clear.
    The major variable/s of the study
    should
    be measurable and should be
    specified
    4. A research problem must be ethical.

    The conduct of the study should not pose


    any danger, embarrassment, hurt or any
    risk to the research respondents or
    subjects or any one.
    Information needed to answer the
    research questions can be collected
    without violating the rights of the source/s
    of information.
    They should be informed about the
    purpose of the study and be given the
    right to consent or refuse to participate in
    the study.
    Example of an Unethical Problem

    Research Problem: “The Effect of


    Punishment on the Self-Esteem and
    Academic Performance of Adolescents”

    Comment: If an experiment is to be
    conducted, punishment will be applied to
    the experimental group, but withheld
    from the control group. Even if the result
    of the study shows that punishment will
    improve self-esteem and performance,
    applying punishment to students for the
    sake of research is unethical.
    Example of an Ethical Problem

    Research Problem: “Students’ Perceptions


    on the Effect of Physical Punishment on
    the Self-Esteem and School Performance”

    Comment: A survey on students’


    perceptions about the effect of physical
    punishment on their self-esteem and
    performance does not raise an ethical issue,
    since respondents are only asked about
    their perceptions. It is still important,
    however, to explain to the respondents the
    purpose of the study and get their
    informed consent to participate in the study.
    The following items help you identify and
    define your own research problem:

    1. (WHAT IS) The conditions which gave rise to my


    research question. (Present evidences from
    service statistics or related literature that will
    confirm the existence, seriousness and
    distribution of your problem)
    2. (WHAT SHOULD BE) The ideal situation that
    would
    have been. (standard, rule, expected, mandated,
    recommended)
    3. (WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN) The existing
    knowledge about the problem based on literature.
    4. (INFORMATION GAPS) Questions that remain
    unanswered

    Then define your possible research title

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