Practical Research 1

Quarter 3 - Week 4:
Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the
Problem

Development and Quality Assurance Team

Developer: Nicole Hope S. Ario
Evaluator: Jeshrel B. Plaza, EdD and Ivy M. Maloloy-on, MST
Illustrator: Nicole Hope S. Ario
Team Leader: Rosalinda E. Urbiztondo, PhD
Learning Area Supervisor: Edna E. Trinidad, EdD

Illustration Credits:
Title Page: Marieto Cleben V. Lozada
Visual Cues: Ivin Mae M. Ambos

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.
 Competencies:

1. Indicates scope and delimitation of research. CS_RS11-IIIce-5

2. Cites benefits and beneficiaries of research. CS_RS11-IIIce-6
3. Presents written statement of the problem. CS_RS11-IIIce-7

Objectives:

At the end of the week, the students should be able to:

1. distinguish scope and delimitation of the study;
2. write statement of the problem with appropriate benefits and
beneficiaries of research; and
3. promote the relevance of writing a good statement of the
problem.

Learner’s Tasks

Lesson Overview

Research affects the society and the lives of each one of us, each day
of our lives. The way we perceive the world, the way we experience
relationship with others, the way society is organized and governed, and a lot
more are influenced of the ever expanding frontiers of knowledge. For us to
make sense of our world and even of our own lives, we need research. For
different branches or disciplines, as well as corporations, governments,
organizations, or NGOs in search to answer phenomena, people do research.

This LAS informs you readers on how you will state in your research
where and when the study will be conducted as well as for its limitations or
boundaries. It will also be included in the discussion on how the study will
contribute to the well-being of a person or progress of group or society in
general. For example, in addressing the social problems like the pandemic,
the COVID 19, in a research, the findings can benefit, first and foremost, the
victims themselves and their respective families, policy makers like the
Department of Health (DOH), etc. when you mull over who/what benefit from
your study, focus on your problem which will guide you in identifying the
specific contribution of your study.

Another thing that you will learn as you go through this LAS is the
presentation of the written statement of the problem where the specific parts
like the title, the background of research or introduction, the research
questions, the scope and delimitation of the study and of course the benefits
and beneficiaries of research will be included.

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

2
 Definition of Scope and Delimitation
The scope and delimitation of the study or research defines the topic
and sets boundaries or parameters 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.

Difference Between Delimitations and Limitations

Delimitations refer to the boundaries of the research study, based on
the researcher’s decision of what to include and what to exclude. They
narrow your study to make it more manageable and relevant to what you
are trying to prove.

Limitations relate to the validity and reliability of the study. They are
characteristics of the research design or methodology that are out of your
control but influence your research findings. Because of this, they determine
the internal and external validity of your study and are considered potential
weaknesses.

In other words, limitations are what the researcher cannot do (elements

outside of their control) and delimitations are what the researcher will not do
(elements outside of the boundaries they have set). Both are important
because they help to put the research findings into context, and although
they explain how the study is limited, they increase the credibility and validity
of a research project.

Indicating Scope and Delimitation

In conducting research, too broad topic will lead you to nowhere. As
mentioned earlier, the scope and delimitation of the study sets boundaries
and parameters of the problem of the inquiry and narrows down the scope
of the inquiry. The scope is the domain of your research-what is in the
Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

3
domain, and what is not. You need to make as clear as possible what you will
be studying and what factors are within the accepted range of your study.
For example if you are studying the impact of a particular program of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), you have to
specify the program and the specific local government unit in which it is
being implemented.

Guidelines on How to Write a Scope

A good scope statement will answer the following six questions:

 Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research.

 What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables.
 Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be
gathered and to which entity the data will belong.
 When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected.
 Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which
they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be
able to make generalizations.
 How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of
the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research,
qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and
analysis techniques.

How to Start Writing Your Study Scope

Use the prompts below as an effective way to start writing your scope:

 This study is to focus on…

 This study covers the…
 This study aims to…

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

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Guidelines on How to Write Delimitations
Since the delimitation parameters are within the researcher’s control,
readers need to know why they were set, what alternative options were
available, and why these alternatives were rejected. For example, if you are
collecting data that can be derived from three different but similar
experiments, the reader needs to understand how and why you decided to
select the one you have.

Your reasons should always be linked back to your research question,

as all delimitations should result from trying to make your study more relevant
to your scope. Therefore, the scope and delimitations are usually considered
together when writing a paper.

How to Start Writing Your Study Delimitations

Use the prompts below as an effective way to start writing your study
delimitations:

 This study does not cover…

 This study is limited to…
 The following has been excluded from this study…

Examples of Delimitation in Research

Examples of delimitations include:

 research objectives;
 research questions;
 research variables;
 target populations; and
 statistical analysis techniques.

Example of Scope and Delimitation from Actual Studies

Title of the Study: Consumers Response to PETA’s advocacy advertisements
on vegetarianism (Del Mundo, 2009)

The study was conducted to find out the consumers’ responses towards
vegetarianism in advocacy advertisements. The researcher chose
vegetarianism among many advocacy issues; the reason for this is the
vegetarianism is a growing consumer market. The aspects studied were the
respondents’ feedback to the selected most popular advertisements of PETA

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

5
 toward vegetarianism, how the advertisements catch the attention and
interest, how they affect lifestyle, and how they generate action.

Citing Benefits and Beneficiaries of the Research Study

Definition of Benefits and Beneficiaries

The benefits and beneficiaries of your research which will fall under the
part of your significance of the study is a written statement that explains why
your research is needed. It’s a justification of the importance of your work
and impact it has on your research field, its contribution to new knowledge
and how others will benefit from it.

Benefits provide the readers the importance and the contribution of

the study.

Beneficiary is the list of entities or people that would benefit best the
study.

How do you write the Significance of the Study?

When writing this section, first think about where the gaps in knowledge
are in your research field. What are the areas that are poorly understood with
little or no previously published literature? Or what topics have others
previously published on that still require further work. This is often referred to as
the problem statement.

The introduction section within the significance of the study should

include you writing the problem statement and explaining to the reader
where the gap in literature is.

Then think about the significance of your research and thesis study from
two perspectives: (1) what is the general contribution of your research on
your field and (2) what specific contribution have you made to the
knowledge and who does this benefit the most.

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

6
 This statement should be no more than 500 words in length when
written for a thesis. Within a research paper, the statement should be shorter
and around 200 words at most.

Example of Citing Benefits and Beneficiaries

Title of the Study: Task-Based Language Teaching and Its Effect on Second
Acquisition on College Freshman Students (Go, 2010)

Significance of the Study:

Choosing an appropriate language teaching methodology for a
group of learners is a responsibility of language educators. With the teachers’

Benefits
explicit and implicit knowledge of language acquisition and language
learning processes, they can select theoretically sound and more effective
pedagogy appropriate for their learners. However, implementing a chosen
methodology necessitates understanding its principle, as well its strengths and
weaknesses.

This study may be significant to the language teachers, the language

learners and the concerned educators.

Administration. The administration may be encouraged to include in

the long term development plan, a faculty development plan where faculty
could develop their teaching competence.

Curriculum Writers. Knowing the communicative proficiency learners

Beneficiaries
needs, curriculum writers have to design language courses which would
enhance learners' communicative skill preparing them for their career work.

Textbook Writers. Aware of the TBLT as a language teaching

methodology, textbook writers would approach the preparation of learning
materials based on this pedagogical framework.

Teachers. Language teachers will become more aware of Task-based

Language Teaching and they would realize that tasks could be used as
pedagogical tools, as well as methodological procedure.

Language Learners. Students, the language learners would be made

aware of the usefulness of the English Language as a tool for communication
and as a tool for understanding the course content.

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

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Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

Definition of Statement of the Problem

A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that
outlines the problem addressed by a study. The statement of the problem
briefly addresses the question: What is the problem that the research will
address?

The statement of the problem has the following parts: a title, the
background of research or introduction, the research questions, the scope
and delimitation, its benefits and beneficiaries.

 The 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 then focuses on specific problem or issue,
framing said problem within the existing literature, pointing out
deficiencies in the literature targeting the study for evidence or proof.

 The statement of the problem states clearly the purpose or interests of

the study. It poses specific questions about the research problem.

 The scope and delimitation sets the boundaries and parameters of the
study, narrows the scope or inquiry and clarifies or defines terms used.

 The significance of the study shows the benefits of the study addressing
special problems, in improving economic and health conditions, or
even finding solutions to problems encountered in daily life, in shedding
light on problems of human behavior, in refining existing knowledge for
specific audiences, such as researchers, leaders, practitioners, policy
makers, among others.

The problem statement for qualitative and quantitative research has

basically the same parts, explanations, requirements and/or restrictions. The
following parts of stating the problem mentioned above were elaborately
discussed already in the previous lessons.

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

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 Example of Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

9
Activity #1

Pick-pocket. There will be two pockets labeled with scope and

delimitation your task is to regroup the words in the box by identifying
whether it belongs to scope or delimitation.

Location Target Population Research Questions

Timeframe Statistical Analysis General Aims

Scope Delimitation

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

10
Activity #2
Let’s Do It. In a separate sheet of paper (A4 size bondpaper) make a
written statement of the problem using this format: the title, the background
of research or introduction, the research questions, the scope and
delimitation, and the significance of the study.

5 4 2 1
Features
Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner
 Content is  Content is  Content is
accurate but either inaccurate.
some questionabl Information
 Content is required e or is
accurate and information incomplete. incomplete,
all required is missing Information inaccurate,
Content information and/or not is not or not
is presented presented in presented presented in
in a logical a logical in a logical a logical
order. order, order, order,
making it making it making it
difficult to difficult to difficult to
follow. follow. follow.
 Piece was  Piece had
 Piece was  Piece had
written in little style
written in an no style or
and or voice
extraordinar voice
interesting
y style and
style and  Gives new
Quality of voice  Gives no
voice information
Writing new
but poorly
 Very information
 Somewhat organized
informative and very
informative
and well poorly
and
organize organized
organized
 Virtually no  Few spelling  A number  So many
spelling, and of spelling, spelling,
punctuation punctuations punctuation punctuation
Grammar, or errors, minor or and
Usage and grammatical grammatical grammatica grammatica
Mechanics errors errors l errors l error that it
interferes
with the
meaning

Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

11
 Activity #3
Let’s Get Loud. Create a poster or a slogan about the effect of a good
statement of the problem in your research. Put it in an A4 size bondpaper,
you can use any art material that you found comfortable with using. Please
refer to the rubric below on how you will be rated for the said activity.

5 4 3 2 1
Content Content is accurate Content is accurate Content is Content is either Content is
and all required but some required accurate but some questionable or inaccurate.
Poster contains information is information is required incomplete. Information is
appropriate items and presented in a missing and/or not information is Information is incomplete,
information logical order. presented in a missing and/or not not presented in inaccurate, or not
(information is logical order, but is presented in a a logical order, presented in a
appropriate to still generally easy logical order, making it logical order,
assigned topic). to follow. making it difficult difficult to making it difficult
to follow. follow. to follow.

Presentation Presentation is Presentation is Presentation flows Presentation is Presentation has

neat, clean, well- mostly neat and well. Some tools unorganized. no flow.
Poster is clean, neat, organized and clean. Information are used to show Tools are not Insufficient
and creative. The presented in a is organized in a acceptable used in a relevant information and
information is well creative way. logical manner and understanding. manner. Lacking lacking some of
organized, interesting, shows some degree some of the the member’s
accurate, and reflects Presentation is of creativity. The Each member’s members’ information.
an understanding of colorful and overall presentation information is information/ and
the topic. creative. is interesting. represented and or information is
Information is identified with not identified
interesting and their name.
accurate.

Pictures,Clip Art Images, pictures, Images, pictures, Most images Images are No images or
clip art and drawn and clip art and and/or artwork is inappropriate and artwork included.
and Artwork
artwork are drawn artwork are are colorful and artwork shows
colorful, and mostly colorful and appropriate. The little, if any,
Images, pictures, clip
appropriate to the appropriate. Layout layout shows little creativity. The
art and drawn artwork
topic. Layout may show some creativity and/or layout is messy,
are colorful and
degree of is not organized
appropriate to the
flows well, shows creativity but is logically or disorganized or
assigned topic. The
creativity, and is not organized cluttered. cluttered.
layout flows well and
pleasing to the eye. logically and/or is
shows creativity. The
cluttered.
overall result is
pleasing to the eye.

Mechanics No spelling, A few (2-3) errors No more than 5 No more than 7 More than 7
grammar, or in spelling, grammar spelling, grammar spelling, grammar spelling, grammar
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors or punctuation. or punctuation or punctuation or punctuation
in the text. Text is Most text is in errors. Several errors.. Most of errors. Text is
Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

12
punctuation in any text in the student’s student’s own instances where text is not in copied or not
on the poster is own words. words. the text is not in authors’ own included.
accurate. student’s own words and/or no
words. text included.

Adapted from: Cinco de Mayo

Formative Test
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the
letter of your choice on the space provided before the number.

1. Based on the title “Causes of Absenteeism among Grade 11 Students in

Madrid National High School” where would you possibly conduct the
study?
a. Brgy. Linibunan, Madrid, Surigao del Sur
b. Madrid National High School, Brgy. Linibunan, Madrid, Surigao del
Sur
c. Madrid, Surigao del Sur, Madrid National High School
d. Surigao del Sur – Madrid National High School

2. Who will be the participants of the study given with the title “Coping
Mechanism of the SHS Working Students of Barobo National High
School”?
a. All Grade 11 working students
b. All Grade 11 and 12 students
c. All Grade 11 and 12 working students
d. All Grade 12 working students

3. Why is it that the Future Researchers is one of the beneficiaries of the

study?
a. Because, it could be their basis when they do a study related to it.
b. Because, the research is solely intended for them
c. Because, they are part of the research
d. Because, they are the direct recipients of the study.

4. A study aims to have a safer, comfortable, and healthful walk of

students from place to place in the MNHS Campus. Which of the
following can be considered as the benefit of the study?
a. A student-friendly pathway where students can easily transfer from
one building to another
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released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

13
 b. The covered pathway cannot link all buildings in the campus.
c. The materials needed for the construction of the covered pathway
will be identified.
d. They cannot identify the appropriate roofing material for the
covered path.

5. Presenting written statement of the problem of your research study

involves all of the following parts, except one.
a. Definition of Terms
b. Introduction
c. Scope and delimitation
d. Significance of the Study

Answers’ Key
ACTIVITY #1
A. Scope B. Delimitation
1. Location 1. Research questions
2. General Aims 2. Target populations
3. Timeframe 3. Statistical Analysis
ACTIVITY #2
- Answers may vary

ACTIVITY #3
- Answers may vary

References

Prieto, Nelia G., Naval, Victoria C., Carey, Teresita G. (2017). Practical
Research 2 Quantitative for senior high school. Cubao, Quezon City,
Metro Manila: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

Discover PhDs. Scope and Delimitations – Explained & Example. October 2,

2020. Retrieved: February 19, 2021, 2:57am.
https://www.discoverphds.com/blog/scope-
anddelimitations#:~:text=The%20scope%20and%20delimitations%20of%
20a%20thesis%2C%20dissertation,operate%20in%20relation%20to%20the
%20population%20and%20timeframe
Disclaimer: This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is based from the Self-Learning Modules, Learner’s Materials, Textbooks and Teaching Guides
released by DepEd Central Office. Furthermore, utilization of duly acknowledged external resources is purely of non-profit, for educational
use and constitutes fair use. All Rights Reserved.

14