[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]

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[The Research Problem]

The Research Problem

Generally, majority of the researchers find difficulty in looking for a

researchable problem. Once they have found a researchable problem, they
still find difficulty in stating the specific research problem and formulating
hypothesis.
It is necessary that researchers should know to choose researchable
problem. If possible, a research problem which possesses the 7M’s resources
such as Manpower, Money, Materials, Methods, Machinery, Moment of Time,
and Marketing.
Many of these researches gather dust in the selves due to no return of
investment at all. The research outputs are not good in quality. That is why
the Philippines is on the period of economic recovery because majority of the
students do not respond to the socioeconomic development of the country.
(Calmorin, 2010)
At the end of the topic the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the key steps in choosing a topic;
2. Discuss the guidelines in the selection of a research problem or topic; and
3. Discuss the setting the title.

The Key Steps in Choosing a Topic

The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. An
instructor may assign you a specific topic, but most often instructors require
you to select your own topic of interest. When deciding on a topic, there are a
few things that you will need to do: (https://www.umflint.edu/library/how-
select-research-topic)

 brainstorm for ideas

 choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature
 ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
 make a list of key words
 be flexible
 define your topic as a focused research question
 research and read more about your topic
 Formulate a research problem.

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 Choosing an interesting research topic is your first challenge. Here are some tips:
(http://libguides.mit.edu/select-topic)

 Choose a topic that you are interested in! The research process is more relevant
if you care about your topic.
 Narrow your topic to something manageable.
o If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information and not be
able to focus.
o Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope of your
topic.
 Review the guidelines on topic selection outlined in your assignment. Ask your
professor or TA for suggestions.
 Refer to lecture notes and required texts to refresh your knowledge of the
course and assignment.
 Talk about research ideas with a friend. S/he may be able to help focus your
topic by discussing issues that didn't occur to you at first.
 Think of the who, what, when, where and why questions:
o WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it? Do you have
an opinion about the issues involved?
o WHO are the information providers on this topic? Who might publish
information about it? Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of
organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
o WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is there a debate about the
topic? Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
o WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international
level? Are there specific places affected by the topic?
o WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an historical
issue? Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

The Guidelines in the Selection of a Research Problem or Topic

Transcript of Guidelines in the Selection of Research Problem
Guidelines in Selection of Research Problem
More Factors to Consider:
1. Consider the feasibility of the project.
2. Make sure the topic is ethical to study?
3. You should have a personal interest in the topic.
4. The "newness" of the topic may hold your interest longer, however there is
some value in repeating previous research.
5. Make sure the research question is clear.
6. It is a problem that someone would like to investigate
7. It is considered a situation that needs to be changed or addressed
8. These problems consist of:
a. Areas of concern
b. Conditions to be improved
c. Difficulties to be eliminated
d. Questions seeking answers
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[The Research Problem]

Factors to consider in Selecting a Research Problem

1. The topic should be important (significant)
Writing a thesis or dissertation is an exercise to learn how to conduct
research.
2. Students can learn the research process on an important topic just as
easy as learning the research process on daily topic
3. Don't use words open to interpretation
4. Be very specific.
5. It is measurable.
Often you're assigned a topic to write about or asked to choose among several
topics. When you can choose your own topic, keep the following points in mind:
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/writing/how-to-begin-a-writing-
assignment/guidelines-for-choosing-a-topic)

 Choose a topic that's appropriate to the length of your paper. Students often
pick topics that are too broad to be adequately covered. Narrow topics lead to
close observation, while broad topics lead to overgeneralization. If you're
writing a five‐page paper, don't write on the history of women's rights; instead,
write about one incident in the history of women's rights. Even a personal or
descriptive essay will be better if you choose a narrow topic—your childhood in
a small town, for example, rather than your childhood, or your uncle's barn
rather than the Midwest.
 Avoid a topic that will tempt you to summarize rather than to discuss or
analyze. Don't choose the plot of Macbeth but how the final scene of Macbeth
illustrates the play's theme. The second topic is narrower and less likely to lead
to summary. When considering a topic, ask yourself if it can lead to a reasonable
thesis.
 Choose a topic that interests you. If you don't care about limiting cigarette
advertising, don't select it as a topic for a persuasive essay. You'll have more to
say, and you'll write better, on something you care about. Generally, if you
choose a topic that is interesting to you, then your reader will find it interesting
too.
 If your assignment requires research, choose a topic on which you can find
material. Even when you aren't writing a research paper, make sure you select a
subject that you can develop with sufficient details.
 After you've picked a topic, don't be afraid to change it if it isn't working
out. Instructors would rather you write a good essay than that you grind out
pages on something that was a poor choice.

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Setting the Title
Let us discuss the most basic and important aspect of a research paper—the title.
Writing a research paper title may seem a simple task, but it requires some serious
thought. It might come as a surprise to most people that an author, having
successfully written a detailed account of his/her research study, experiences a block
while attempting to title the research paper. However, most authors, by virtue of
possessing comprehensive details of the research paper, are perplexed with regard
to how to make their research paper title concise without sacrificing any relevant
elements.

When writing a research paper title, authors should realize that despite being
repeatedly warned against it, most people do indeed fall prey to “judging a book by
its cover.” This cognitive bias tends to make readers considerably susceptible to
allowing the research paper title to function as the sole factor influencing their
decision of whether to read or skip a particular paper. Although seeking the
professional assistance of a research paper writing service could help the cause, the
author of the paper stands as the best judge for setting the right tone of his/her
research paper.

Readers come across research paper titles in searches through databases and
reference sections of research papers. They deduce what a paper is about and its
relevance to them based on the title. Considering this, it is clear that the title of your
paper is the most important determinant of how many people will read it.

A good research paper title:

1. Condenses the paper’s content in a few words

2. Captures the readers’ attention
3. Differentiates the paper from other papers of the same subject area

So here are three basic tips to keep in mind while writing a title:

1] Keep it simple, brief and attractive: The primary function of a title is to provide a
precise summary of the paper’s content. So keep the title brief and clear. Use active
verbs instead of complex noun-based phrases, and avoid unnecessary details.
Moreover, a good title for a research paper is typically around 10 to 12 words long. A
lengthy title may seem unfocused and take the readers’ attention away from an
important point.

2] Use appropriate descriptive words: A good research paper title should contain key
words used in the manuscript and should define the nature of the study. Think about
terms people would use to search for your study and include them in your title.

3] Avoid abbreviations and jargon: Known abbreviations such as AIDS, NATO, and so
on can be used in the title. However, other lesser-known or specific abbreviations
and jargon that would not be immediately familiar to the readers should be left out.

Always write down the hypothesis and then take into consideration these simple
tips. This would help you in composing the best title for your research paper.
 [SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]
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[The Research Problem]

Glossary
Research Problem is a definite or clear expression [statement] about an area
of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a
troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or within
existing practice that points to a need for meaningful understanding and
deliberate

References
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 2, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 1, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Sarno, Emerlita G. (2010), Tips and Techniques in Writing Research, Rex
Book Store, Inc.

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