12- ABM

Inquiries, Investigations and

Immersion
III
First Semester
QUARTER 1- LESSON 2
Identifying the Problem and Asking the
Question
Self-Learning Material

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 17 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III
 At the end of this module, you are expected to:
 DefineObjectives
factoring and determine its relationship with special products;
 Factor different types of polynomials such as common monomial factor,
At the end of this
difference self-learning
of two material,
squares, sum you areofexpected
and difference two cubes,to:perfect square
 formulate clearly the statement of research problem.
trinomials, and general trinomials; and
 present
 Solve writteninvolving
problems statement of the
factors problem
of polynomials.

Lesson Proper Time Frame: 1 Hour

A 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 investigation. A research
problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague
or broad proposition, or present a value question.

According to Bwisa (2008), a research problem is a situation that needs

a solution and for which there are possible solutions. If a situation has no
possible solutions then it makes little or no sense spending resources
researching it.

Take this statement:

“Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.”

What is the problem that needs a solution? Dying

Is there a possible solution to it? None
Does it make sense to make a research about it? No

Remember, a research problem should make meaningful understanding

and deliberate investigation. It is meant to fill the gaps.

The Importance of Research Problem

 It establishes the importance of the topic.
 It creates reader interest.
 It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add to the
literature.

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 18 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III
 Locating the  Read the opening paragraphs of existing studies for
Research Problem one or more of the following:
o What is the issue or problem?
o What controversy leads to the need for a study?
o What concern is being addressed behind the
study?
o Is there a sentence such as, “The problem being
addressed in this study is…”?
Determining  Can you study the problem?
Whether a Problem o Do you have access to the research site?
Should Be o Do you have the time, resources, and skills to
Researched carry out the research?
 Should you study the problem?
o Does it advance knowledge?
o Does it contribute to practice?
 Will your study fill a gap or void in the existing
literature?
 Will your study replicate a past study but examine
different participants and different research sites?
 Will your study extend past research or examine the
topic more thoroughly?
 Will your study give voice to people not heard,
silenced, or rejected in society?
 Will your study inform practice?
Identifying  What do we still need to know?
Deficiencies in the  What else do we need to know to improve practice?
Evidence

Identify the  Ask the following question: Who will profit from
Audience reading our study?
o Other researchers
o Practitioners
o Policy makers
o Special populations (e.g., parents)

Stating the  State the problem in the opening paragraph (i.e.,

Research Problem something that needs a solution)
 Identify an issue
o Research-based research problems
o Practical problems
 Reference the problem using the literature
 Common pitfall: defining the problem based on the
solution

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 19 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III
 How the Problem Differs From Other Parts of Research

A research topic is A research problem

the broad subject is an educational
matter being issue or problem in
addressed in a study. the study.

The research
questions are those
A purpose is the that the researcher
major intent or would like answered
objective of the or addressed in the
study. study.

Differences among the Topic, Problem, Purpose, and Questions

General Topic Distance Learning

Lack of students in distance

Research classes
Problem

To study why students do

Purpose not attend distance
Statement education classes at a state
university

How does the use of Web

Research
site technology in the
Specific Question
classroom deter students
from enrolling in a distance
education class?

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 20 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III
 Differences Between Quantitative and Qualitative Purpose
Statements and Research Questions
Quantitative—more closed Qualitative—more open ended
 Probable cause/effect  Descriptive
o (Why did it happen?) o (What happened?)
 Use of theories  Interpretive
o (Why did it happen in view o (What was the meaning
of an explanation or to people of what
theory?) happened?)
 Assess differences and  Process oriented
magnitude o (What happened over
o (How much happened?) time?)
o (How many times did it
happen?)
o (What were the differences
among groups in what
happened?)

Steps for Developing a Research Question

The steps for developing a research question, listed below, can help
you organize your thoughts.

Step 1: Pick a topic (or consider the one assigned to you).

Step
1
Step
Step 2: Write a narrower/smaller topic that is related to the
2 first.

Step Step 3: List some potential questions that could logically be

3 asked in relation to the narrow topic.
Step
4 Step 4: Pick the question that you are most interested in.

Step Step 5: Change that question you’re interested in so that it is

5 more focused.

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 21 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III
REFERENCES

Bryman, A. (2007). The Research Question in Social Research: What is its

Role? International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 10(1), 5–20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570600655282

Ferdinan, R. (n.d.). HOW TO WRITE A STATEMENT PROBLEM YOUR

PROPOSAL WRITING COMPANION Compiled by. Www.Academia.Edu.
Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/34287058/HOW_TO_WRITE_A_STATEMENT_PRO
BLEM_YOUR_PROPOSAL_WRITING_COMPANION_Compiled_by

Learning, T., & University Libraries. (2015). Developing Your Research

Question. Retrieved from Pressbooks.pub website:
https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/choosingsources/chapter/developing-
research-question/

FROM PROBLEM STATEMENT TO RESEARCH QUESTIONS. (n.d.). Retrieved

from
https://education.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/arc_doc/from_p
roblem_statement_to_research_questions.pdf

Image sources:
https://icon-icons.com/icon/detective-eye-search-find-locate/54187
https://img.icons8.com/bubbles/2x/question-mark.png
https://icon-library.com/images/topic-icon/topic-icon-18.jpg
https://www.nicepng.com/png/detail/75-759910_problem-solving-png-solve-
problem-icon-png.png
https://img.pngio.com/careers-goodwill-knoxville-purpose-png-
1000_1029.png
https://blog.clickdimensions.com/wp-
content/uploads/2019/03/BlogFeatureImage-Targeting-Audiences-Using-
Segmentation-for-Survey-Success.png
https://sacredstructures.org/maximization/problem-prevention-essential-
leaders/https://cdn3.iconfinder.com/data/icons/cute-fish-
outline/512/as352_3_12-512.png

PARENTS/GUARDIAN CONFORME

I, _______(Name of Parent)__________ , has

reviewed my child’s work and responses that he/she accomplished
all the activities in the Self-Learning Material for III: LESSON 2:
Identifying the Problem and Asking the Question

____________________ ________________
Signature Date

Accounting, Business
Bulacan Date Developed:
Polytechnic August 2020 Page 22 of 39
and Management College
Inquiries, Investigations Document No. Developed by:
and Immersion Kristine Grace Flores LPT Revision # 01
12-III