12 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

The Research Problem

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What I Need to Know
“If we knew what it was, we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?”
-Albert Einstein

This module introduces a range of research topics in the area of inquiry. It

further discusses the value of research in the area of your own interest and the
specificity and feasibility of the problem posed.

Learning Competencies
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Design a research used in daily life CS_RS12-Id-e-1
2. Write a research title CS_RS12-Id-e-2
3. Describe background of research CS_RS12-Id-e-3
4. State research questions CS_RS12-Id-e-4
5. Indicate scope and delimitation CS_RS12-Id-e-5
6. Present written statement of the problem CS_RS12-Id-e-6
7. Perform tasks confidently CS_RS12-Id-e-7

What I Know
Task 1.
Directions: Fill in the blank with the choices found inside the box. Write your answer in your
activity notebook

Research Problem Scope Sources Delimitation

Research Background Hypothesis Problem Statement

1. Usually, a is initially posed as a question which serves as the

focus of the researcher’s investigation.
2. A introduces the reader to the importance of the topic being
studied.
3. A is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested and based on
prior research.
4. The for identification of problem are diverse and would largely depend upon
the area of interest of the investigator and the nature of the problem under
investigation.
5. is a brief outline of the most important studies that have been
conducted so far presented in a chronological order.
6. The details how in-depth your study is to explore the research
question and the parameter in which it will operate in relation to the population
and timeframe.
 7. The of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in
the investigation.

What’s In

Task 2. Brainstorming Session

1. Recall the most interesting topic you identified in your chosen field of
interest/tract?

2. What interests you to conduct this research?

What’s New

Task 3

Direction: Accomplish the table below by placing your answer in the right column.

What problem or issue are you interested

in? You may need to do some background
research first to find out more about it.

What is your focused topic? Break down topic

into sub-areas. Pick one sub-area or part of one.

List a few possible questions about your

focused topic area.
What? Who? When? Where? Why? How?

Choose one to be your main research

question. Why

How questions are best.

Make sure it is specific.

ecify why, what, where, when, you are
talking about.
Source: adapted from https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/29000857/creating-a- research-question-
worksheet

What is It

What is a Research Problem?

A research problem is exactly that – a problem that someone would like to
research (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2010). A problem can be anything that a person finds
unsatisfactory or unsettling, a difficult of some sort, a state of affairs that needs to be
changed, anything that is not working as well as it might. Problems involve areas of
concern to researchers, conditions they want to improve, difficulties they want to
eliminate, questions for which they seek answers.

Research Questions

Usually, a research problem is initially posed as a question which serves as the

focus of the researcher’s investigation. The following examples of possible research in
education are not sufficiently developed for actual use in a research project but would
be suitable during the early stage of formulating a quantitative research question.
• Do students behave differently towards their fellow students of different
genders? (Causal-comparative research)

• How can we predict which students might have trouble learning certain kinds of
subject matter? (Correlational research).
There are other kinds of questions, however, that cannot be answered by collecting
and analyzing data. The following are the examples:
• Should philosophy be included in the high school curriculum?
[This is a question of value. It implies notions of right and wrong, proper,
and improper- and therefore does not have any empirical (or observable)
referents.]
• What is the meaning of life?
[This is metaphysical in nature – that is beyond the physical,
transcendental. Answers to this sort of question lie beyond the
accumulation of information].

Characteristics of Good Research Questions

Once a research question has been formulated, researchers want to turn it into
as good question as possible. Good research questions possess four essential
characteristics (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2010).

1. The question is feasible (i.e., it can be investigated without expending an undue

amount of time, energy, or money)
 2. The question is clear (i.e., most people would agree as to what the key words in
the question mean).
3. The question is significant (i.e., it is worth investigating because it will contribute
important knowledge about the human condition).
4. The question is ethical (i.e., it will not involve physical or psychological harm or
damage to human beings or to the natural or social environment of which they
are a part).

The Purposes of a Problem Statement

1. Introduces the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. The reader is
oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or
hypotheses to follow.
2. Places the problem into a particular context that defines the parameters of what
is to be investigated.
3. Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably
necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this
information.

Do not confuse a research problem with a research topic. A topic is something to

read and obtain information about whereas a problem is something to solve or framed
as a question that must be answered. A good research question helps to- guide the
research process; construct a logical argument; write a literature review; plan thesis
chapters; and devise efficient search strategies. A well-defined research question has six
properties.

A research question is not the same as a thesis title, research problem, hypothesis or
research focus, although they are interrelated and support one another.
• A research question summarizes the significant issue your research will
investigate.
• The title consists of the topic and outcome of a research project.
• The research problem explains the knowledge gap your research will address.
• A hypothesis is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested
and is based on prior research.
• A research focus specifies the scope or domain of inquiry.

The Value of Research in the Area of Interest

A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to
be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in
scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for
meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. In some Social Science
Disciplines, the research problem is typically posed in the form of a question. A research
problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad proposition, or
present a value question.
 Any problem that is not significant to the nation or profession is not worth
consideration of the investigator. It is helpful for investigator to keep in mind the
following aspects while selecting the area of problem for research –
• The problem to be chosen should be such as to be meaningfully related to the
interest of the investigator himself/herself.
• The problem having alliance with the chain of thinking or research already in
existence can be handled more confidently.
• The ambitious problems covering a wide range of area of interest should be
avoided and the problems of manageable size and limits should be taken up.
• An important consideration for selecting the problem area relates to its
feasibility in terms of the application of scientific techniques, availability of
resources in terms of money, personnel, and equipment. When the researcher
considers the points mentioned above, researcher is essentially trying to
answer some such questions as – Is the problem researchable, interesting,
research already in existence or manageable size? Is it a new problem or the
work on the problem has already in existence?

The sources for identification of problem are diverse and would largely depend
upon the area of interest of the investigator and the nature of the problem under
investigation. However, the problem can be identified from –
(a) Advanced study and critical reading.
(b) Analysis and interpretation of the already available evidence, practices, trends
or needs in a particular area.

Research Topics to be Avoided

1. Controversial topics
-These are topics that depend greatly on the writer’s opinion, which tend to be
biased or prejudicial. Facts cannot support controversial topics
2. Highly technical subjects
-For a beginner, researching on topics that require an advance study, technical
knowledge and vast experience is very difficult.
3. Hard-to-investigate subjects
-A topic or a subject is hard to investigate if there is no available data or reading
materials about it and such materials are not updated (obsolete).
4. Too broad subjects
-A subject or a topic that are too broad will prevent the researcher from giving a
concentrated or in-depth analysis of the subject matter of the research paper.
5. Too narrow subjects
-The subjects are so limited or specific that an extensive or thorough searching or
reading for information about the subject is necessary.
 6. Vague subjects
-Choosing topics like these will prevent you from having a clear insight or focus
on your study. For instance, topics like “Some Remarkable Traits of a
Negrosanon”, “Several Comments on a Modular System in the Department of
Education”. So, avoid using indefinite adjectives such as some, several, many,
etc.
Research Background
Research background is a brief outline of the most important studies that have
been conducted so far presented in a chronological order. Research background
should also include a brief discussion of major theories and models related to the
research problem. When writing research background, you also need to demonstrate
how your research relates to what has been done so far in the research area.
Once the research area is selected, the literature review is commenced in order
to identify gaps in the research area, and the research aims, and objectives need to be
closely associated with the elimination of this gap in the literature.

Example:
Background of the Study

Learning is an interaction process between students and teachers and study

material in teaching learning process (UUSPN No.20, 2003). In other word, learning is a
process to help the students to study well. The media and the method of learning
process in transferring the material will be an important factor to get the best result.
The methods of delivery to students there are different kinds, one of them the lecture
method. The lecture method is explanation and narrative verbally by teacher in the
class, while the role of student is listening carefully, and noted of which presented by the
teacher (Surahmad, 2003). The lecture method has disadvantage that the interaction to
be centered on teachers so teachers cannot know with certainty how far students
understand about the material (Muhammad, 2011). Seen here that the lecture method is
learning more dominated by teacher as the "the transferor" science, and students were
more passive as the "recipient" of science.

The material of the solar system actually is complex, such as discusses about all of
planets in the solar system and satellite. It also discusses about meteors, comets,
asteroids, and space objects other (Prihantono, 2013). This material is usually
presented using textbook. The material of solar system presented in form of images and
text that dominated with theory explanation. To clarify the understanding of the solar
system material, need information technology support that can be applied to this
material. It was difficult we find in the past before the rapidly growing information
technology. The sophistication technology lies in the ability of technology to combine
real and virtual condition which the results are displayed in real- time.

Because of that, the writer tries to make an application as an interactive media to

help elementary school students to study about solar system based on android mobile.
Researcher chose android because Android is the one desired society platform besides
blackberry platform and IOS that most popular of Smartphone. Almost all of ages used
android platform, from young until old ages (antaranews.com, 2011). This application
consists of solar system materials like: planet, space objects, earth, and moon movement
that applied in interesting graphic to support learning process, so it will raise the
student’s desire in understanding the material. To support this application the writer
 also makes interactive questions, to know how far the student’s capability in
understanding the material by using this application.

The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or research paper define

the topic and boundaries of the research problem to be investigated.

The scope details how in-depth your study is to explore the research question
and the parameters in which it will operate in relation to the population and timeframe.

The delimitations of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in
the investigation. In other words, they are the boundaries the researcher sets in terms of
study duration, population size and type of participants, etc.
Sample phrases that help express the scope of the study:
The coverage of this study… The study covers… The focus of the study is…
Source: https://www.discoverphds.com/blog/scope-and-delimitations

Example: SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

Out of 189 second year accounting students at Saint Mary’s University, 100 students were used
as a sample in conducting the survey.
This study limits its coverage on the second-year accounting students only. Its main
purpose is to identify the common problems that they encounter and to propose possible solutions
regarding this problem.
This study considers every aspect of students’ personal information that has an impact on their
academic performances such as their parents educational background, their parents’ income, their
gender, age, and home location. Each of the respondents are given same questionnaires to answer. And
this study focuses on the current second year students at the present school year, 2008-2009

Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/12760820/Scope-and-Delimitation

Overview of the Topic

(What do you want readers to know about concerning your topic?)
Paragraph 1- General information about your topic
(What is happening now about your issue you
want to study)?

Paragraph 2- Context of your topic

(What are the conditions, settings, and situations with respect to your
topic)?
(Who are directly or indirectly involved)?
Paragraph 3- Justification of your topic
(Why should we pay attention to the topic you want to study)?
(Why should we care about your topic)?
(Why is there a need to focus on your topic)?
What’s More
Task 4 Let us do it…

Direction: On the left column, write words, phrases, or statements to guide you in
writing your Research Background later in Task 6.

Background of the Study

Source: https://www.slideshare.net/kontorphilip/writing-the-background-of-your-study

What I Have Learned

Task 5 Let us reflect…

Directions. Write a short reflection in your Activity Notebook.
I thought

I learned that

What I Can Do

Task 6 Let us prove it…

Directions. Based on the chosen topic of your interest, write the background of your study,
statement of the problem, and the scope and delimitation of your study. Use a short-sized bond
paper.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(Title)

Background of the Study

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Statement of the Problem

The study generally aims to____________________________________________________________________________
Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:
 1. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on… (identify what kind of group, how many, area, and other aspects that
distinguish the samples from others) ________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Assessment
Task 7
TASK 7. Directions: Read each item carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is true and
write FALSE if the statement if false. Write your answers in your Activity
Notebook/ Activity Sheets.
1. One of the characteristics of good research questions is not feasible.
2. “A comparison between the identical twins….” is a good example of research title.
3. The sources for identification of problem are diverse and would largely depend
upon the area of interest of the investigator.
4. Research questions should be clear, concise, and as simple as possible, focused
and empirically answerable.
5. The problem statement provides the framework for reporting the results and
indicates what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the
findings will present this information.
6. Good research question is practicable.
7. A good research question helps to- guide the research process; construct a
logical argument; write a literature review; plan thesis chapters; and devise
efficient search strategies.
8. The purpose of research question is to introduce the reader to the importance of
the topic being studied.
9. A hypothesis is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested
and is based on prior research.
10. An important consideration for selecting the problem area relates to its
feasibility.
 Glossary

Delimitation - the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something.

Empirical - relying on experience or observation alone often

without due regard for system and theory an empirical basis for
the theory.
Scope the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals
with or to which it is relevant.

Bibliography
author, No. 2015. Yumpo. Accessed January 11, 2022.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/29000857/creating-a-research-question-worksheet.
Kabir, Syed Muhammad. n.d. "Problem Formulation and Objective Determination." By Syed Muhamma Kabir.
Kapur, Radhika. 2018. "Significance of Research in Education." In Significance of Research in Education, by
Radhika Kapur.
MH, Selamat. 2008. SAK 5090. Accessed April 2018, 2008.
http://www.csnotes.upm.edu.my/kelasmaya/web.nsf/de8cc2082fc4d31b4825730e002bd111/.../.
Nenty, Henty. n.d. "Writing a Quantitative Research Thesis." In International Journal of Educational Sciences.
PhDS, Dicover. 2020. Discover PhDS.
n.d. SCRIBD. Accessed JANUARY 2022.
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