VMD95: Veterinary Research Methods and Scientific Paper Writing.

Laboratory
Laboratory Activity 2
PROBLEM/TOPIC IDENTIFICATION

Name: GETEZO, Ivy Grace C. Schedule: Friday,10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Section: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – 4A Lab Date Submitted: March 10, 2023

Introduction

The process of research is never-ending. It always begins with the problem's identification
and formulation and concludes with a solution to the problem. As a result, the axis around which all
research revolves is the statement of the problem. This is due to the fact that the problem will provide
a concise explanation of the research's goal.

In the scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice, a research problem is a declaration

about an area of concern, a situation to be improved, a difficulty to be eradicated, or a problematic
question that refers to the need for meaningful understanding and purposeful exploration. A research
problem isn't a set of instructions, a statement that's too ambiguous or wide, or present a value
question. According to Calderon et al. (2010), a research problem is any big, complex, and difficult
circumstance, actual or imagined, that takes analytical thinking to resolve. After a difficult scenario
has been turned into a question or a series of questions, it can help you figure out where you want to
go next.

This is often seen to be the most difficult part of the research process, although, many
people believe it to be the simplest. The most essential single decision you have to make when
conducting research is likely to be deciding on a research topic. Finding or selecting a research
problem can be done in a variety of ways, making it a difficult task for many students.

Objectives

At the end of this activity, the student should be able to:

1. Solve their predicament in identifying research problems;

2. Identify at least 1 research problem per given situation, following the step by step guide
questions or explore other procedures which aid them to identify problems to
investigate scientifically; and,
3. Formulate a good research Title.

Procedure

1. Three situations are given. Identify at least 1 possible research problem worth
investigating for each situation.
a. Swine production is one of the primary source of the Philippines economic growth in
the livestock industry, and has been constantly progressing through time in relation
to its demand. Swine population in backyard and commercial farms declined by -
11.8 percent and -29.8 percent, respectively. The leading threat to the swine
industry in the country is African Swine Fever escalating all over the country,
which has impaired the economic stability of the said industry. African Swine
Fever (ASF) has spread across 12 regions and 46 provinces since it was first
detected in 2019 in the Philippines. OIE reported that the control of ASF poses a
great challenge due to the complex epidemiology of the disease, lack of a safe and
effective vaccine, increasing globalization, and high-risk practices that continue in
certain farming sectors as well as in trade in live animals and their products. The
design of prevention and control measures, and the risk assessment of ASF depend
on knowing the factors that influence this disease, the local awareness and its
epidemiology. However, such information on its epidemiology, the
perceptions of famers, and sustainable, cost-effective and efficient prevention and
control of the disease are limited.

i. Animal studied: Swine industry

ii. Veterinary issue studied:

 The African Swine Fever virus and its effects towards the swine
production of the Philippines.

iii. Why?
 The swine industry of the Philippines is considered to be one of the
most important contributor of the livestock production in the
country. After the emergence of ASF virus, certain problems and
issues were faced by the farmers due to its effects on the overall
production of the swine industry. Furthermore, lacking of
information and preparedness of the virus have also added to the
problem in which the eradication and elimination were questioned.

iv. Aspect:
 Economical aspect
 Production
 Epidemiology

v. Problem of the cited aspect:

 The declining rate of swine production in the country due to African
swine fever virus.
 Limited information, research and solution for ASF
 Local awareness of the people against ASF

vi. Factors that possibly affect the problem:

 Lacking of information about ASF
 Unavailability of resources and preparedness programs
 No safe and effective vaccines
 Ineffective biosecurity and biosafety
 Complex of epidemiology of the disease
 International and local trading of pork and live animals across the
country
  Increasing globalization

vii. Final statement of your research problem/topic

The Epidemiology of African Swine Fever Virus and its Effects to the
Economic Growth in the Livestock Industry of the Philippines

b. In the poultry industry, a growing usage of tunnel vent technology especially

among large scale commercial operations have been observed in the Philippines
including Mindanao. Surely, the growing dependence on this technology requires
substantial investments. However, no study has so far been conducted particularly
in Mindanao to provide empirical evidence on whether it passes technical, financial
and economic efficiency. On the other hand, a comprehensive assessment on the
environmental impacts of tunnel vent technology as applied to the Philippine
context is clearly wanting.

i. Animal studied: Poultry Industry

ii. Veterinary issue studied:

 Tunnel ventilation technology among large scale commercial
operations in the Philippines

iii. Why?
 This is to pertain the most effective tunnel vent technology in large
scale operations as well as knowing its environmental impacts in
basis of the Philippine setting.

iv. Aspect:
 Biosafety
 Public health management
 Air pollution
 Animal health management
 To provide clean air for the animals

v. Problem of the cited aspect:

 Threat for animal and public health

vi. Factors that possibly affect the problem:

 No evidence on the technical, financial and economic efficiency of
the ventilation technology
 Lacking of studies and researches

vii. Final statement of your research problem/topic:

A Comprehensive Assessment on the Environmental Impacts of
Tunnel Vent Technology in the Context of Philippine Poultry Farm
c. Pet animals like dogs are continuously affected with various infectious skin
diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. These diseases may lead
to losses among affected animals attributed to, among others, loss of weight, low
reproduction, mortality, and costs of diagnosis and treatment. While synthetic
drugs (e.g., penicillin, sulfas, quinolones etc.) are commonly utilized to prevent and
treat diseases of these animals, problems with insufficient supply, high costs,
environmental concern, hypersensitivity and the threat of development of
antibiotic/drug resistance are associated with these drugs. An alternative, locally
available, affordable, safe to the environment yet effective medicine is needed.
Active medicinal components from local plants may address this problem yet
studies on efficacy and proper use of these plants on animals are limited
particularly in Mindanao.

i. Animal studied: Pet Animals / Small Animals

ii. Veterinary issue studied:

 Infectious skin diseases and its effects in small animals
 Medication for these diseases aside from common synthetic drugs

iii. Why?
 To provide an affordable, safe to the environment yet effective
medicine to fight against these infectious skin diseases

iv. Aspect:
 Drugs for treatment

v. Problem of the cited aspect:

 Insufficient supply
 High costs
 Environmental concern
 Hypersensitivity
 Threat of development of antibiotic/drug resistance are associated
with these drugs.

vi. Factors that possibly affect the problem:

 Lack of research for finding an alternative medicine
 Limited studies on the possible active medicinal components from
local plants

vii. Final statement of your research problem/topic:

The Efficacy and Proper Use of a Local Plants as an Alternative Medicine
for Infectious Skin Diseases in Small Animals
 2. Give five possible research topic for your undergraduate thesis study:
a. Comparative study on Formaldehyde Level in Fish Products in Valencia City, Bukidnon
in 2023 nd 2016

b. Comparative Study on Antibiotic Level residues on Pork, Chicken, and Beef meat in
Public Market stalls in Valencia City, Bukidnon

c. Resistant bacteria in Water Sources

d. Comparative Study on ducks in confinement and semi-scanvenging based on egg quality

and Quantity

e. KAP of backyard farmers situated near highwayabout African Swine Fever in Valencia
City, Bukidnon

REFERENCES

Chandhasa, R., Suwaree, Y., Phukamchanoad, P. (2018). The community needs to research problem
development in areas under the responsibility of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University.
doi:10.5539/ass.v14n12p1

Garcia, A. M., Bangolan, V. T., Nuevo, J. J., Profeta, M., Malaborbor, P. B., Gamboa, D. L. J., Padama,
E. L., Hilario, D.S. (2011). Research (Simplified Guide to Thesis Writing). Booklore Publishing
Corporation.

Jamago, J. (1998). Agronomy 97: Methods of Research and Technical Report Writing, Lecture and
Laboratory Manual. Central Mindanao University