PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Session objectives
1. To define a research problem
2. To discuss the sources of research
problems
3. To describe the steps in problem
identification and clarification
4. To formulate a hypothesis
Problem Identification Process
1.State the Research Problem

Interrogative statement that focus on what

variables or concepts are to be described
and what relationships might exist
between variables
 Research Problem
A question to be answered or resolved
An issue to be settled however it does not
represent a moral or ethical position on an
issue
A quantity to estimate
A characteristic to compare
A situation in need of a solution,
improvement, alteration
 In Medicine, the Research
Question usually asks about
1. The nature or characteristics of an event or
phenomenon, such as
- anatomic structure
-physiologic principle
-biochemical pathway
-pathologic process
-pharmacologic action
-clinical course of illness
-disease pattern in population
 In Medicine, the Research
Question usually asks about
• 2. The relationship between two or more
variables or events such as
• - precursor and product
• -physiologic principle and process
• -cause and effect
• -factor and prognosis
• -intervention and result
• -process and reflections
Examples of Research Problems
Is atis leaf extract effective for the treatment of
pediculosis

Is herbal medicine widely used in the community

Is the volume of breastmilk greater among those given

malungay leaves capsule compared to those not given
any

Does Patola Extract have antibacterial property?

Is VCO as good as Ketoconazole for treatment of

dandruff?
Examples of Research Problems
q What are the personal and professional
beliefs and practices regarding herbal
medicine among full time faculty of the
UP-College of Medicine
qIs there a relationship between smoking
and lung cancer?
qIs there a relationship between video
gaming and sleep disorder?
 Examples of Research
Problems
• Are hand sanitizers as good as washing with
soap and water?
• Can continuous mass deworming eradicate
ascariasis?
• What is the carrier rate for Hepatitis B?
• What is the prevalence of smoking among
physicians?
• How accurate is 2-hr glucose serum level in
detecting diabetes mellitus?
 Where Do Research Problems Come
From? (Sources of Research Problems)
• First, INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
For a medical practitioner who is not a
“professional” researcher , this is the most
common source of research problems. In the
course of his practice , he often comes across
some problems he cannot solve or questions he
cannot answer. Discovery by accident is a rarity.
Research problems are generated by intelligent
analysis of needs and practices
Where Do Research Problems
Come From?
• Second, SERENDIPITY
Something happens at the right time
and place to the right individual. Or an
idea simply comes up to the individual who
has research interest.
For example: Discovery of Penicillin
Where Do Research Problems
Come From?
• Third, ANALYSIS OF NEEDS AND PRACTICES
– “Professional” researcher generally identify research
problems by careful appraisal of the “state of the art” or
situational analysis of the particular subject of interest to
them.
• The eval. of lit. can lead to the identif. of gaps in
knowledge, conflicting results or omission of a particular
segment of the population. For ex. The researcher may
find several studies about the prev. of HPN in the pop.
But none among informal settlers so the researcher can
undertake this kind of research.
Where Do Research Problems
Come From?
• Fourth, ORGANIZED AND SYSTEMATIC
DETERMINATION OF RESEARCH NEEDS –
The identification of research problems in the Philippines
has been raised to a higher plane by the PCHRD.
• Research Priorities/Agenda - Gaps in knowledge and
research needs in health and medicine have been
determined by panels of experts.Ex. In the Phil. There is
a National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA)
that is formulated every 5 years.
• The Council base the priorities for funding on the
recommendations of these panels as well as of the
conference/congress that have been convened.
2. Analyze the Problem
2.1 Determine if problem is
Researchable?
- can data be collected to answer Q

2.2 Consider the following whether to pursue the problem or not

Significant?
- will it fill gap in knowledge?
- will it have practical application?
- will it improve the practice of profession

Feasible?
- time and money?
- are there enough subjects?
- is the method feasible to implement –
facility/equipment?
 2. Analyze the Problem
• Ethical? Are there ethical considerations?
• Critical Mass. Is the problem broad and large
enough such that there would be adequate mass
of information to work on? Are there enough
variables and potential results? Or is the
problem too specific and small in scope?
• Interest. Is there current interest in the problem
area? Is the problem within the mission of the
institution?
 2. Analyze the Problem
2.2 Dissect and Clarify the problem
- identify the components of the problem

Is atis leaf extract effective for pediculosis

components?
1. preparation, dose, frequency
2. severity of pediculosis
3. measure/degree of effect – cure rate, death rate etc.
4. adverse reaction
5. acceptability
 Is herbal medicine widely used in the
community?
components?

1. type of herbal medicine

2. preparation
3. age group of people using herbal
medicine
4. type of illness
5. where the info on use came from
 2. Analyze the Problem
2.3 State the problem and subproblems
in clear and specific terms

variables/s
population
setting (when and where applicable)
 Other problems stated in
question form
• Is there a relationship between socio-
economic background and drug abuse?
• What is the magnitude and pattern of
occurrence of coronary heart disease in
Manila?
• Can continuous deworming eradicate
ascariasis?
• How accurate is two-hour post glucose
serum level in detecting diabetes mellitus?
 Other problems stated in
question form
• In the problem of effectiveness of an immunizing
agent, some of the components are :

1.the vehicle for the agent and its mode, dosage and
interval of administration
2. the desired level of anti-bodies, immediacy and duration
of effect;
3.adverse effect of the process;
4.characteristics of the target population;
5. the severity, incidence and mortality rates of the disease,
etc.
 What are Variables?

Definition: Qualities, events, factors,

properties, or characteristics of
persons, things, or situations that
vary from person to person or in the
same person at different times and
are manipulated or measured in
research.
 What are Variables?
• They are the characteristics of the subjects, the
outcome or results of a process or factors that
have some influence on the subject of inquiry.

• They are the tools or indicators used to measure

the event or changes in the event under
investigation, hence the object of observation or
measurement should be identified and specified
early in planning the research.
 Types of Variables –Qualitative
and Quantitative
• 1. Qualitative Variable –one that is not
expressed numerically e.g. sex, civil status

• 2. Quantitative variable – is one that is

expressed numerically e.g. age, height,
weight
 Types of variables-Discrete and
Continuous
• 1. Discrete Variable – can assume only
integral values or whole numbers e.g.
number of children

• 2. Continuous Variable – can assume both

whole numbers and fractions e.g. height
and weight
 Types of Variables -Independent, Dependent,
and Confounding or Extraneous Variables

• 1. Independent variable – is the factor that

affects the value of the dependent condition that
produces the outcome. In a cause-effect
relationship, it is the cause. In an experiment, it
is what the researcher manipulates or varies
• 2. Dependent variable – is the factor whose
value is affected by the independent variable. It
is the outcome of a process; it is the effect in a
cause-effect relationship. It is the indicator or
end-point of the study.
 Independent, Dependent, and
Confounding or Extraneous Variables
3. Confounding or extraneous variables –
are factors which are not the principal
interest in the study but may have an
effect on either or both the independent
and the dependent variables and therefore
have to be “controlled”.
Problem stated in Question Form: Is atis
leaf effective for Rx of Pediculosis?
Problem:

Is atis leaf extract applied on the scalp

effective in the treatment of severe
pediculosis among school children in
Minantok Elementary school
Problem stated in Question Form: Is atis
leaf effective for Rx of Pediculosis?
• Subproblems:
1. What is the effective dose of the atis leaf
extract
2. What are the side effects of atis leaf
extract applied on the scalp of children
3. Is atis leaf extract acceptable to children
and mothers?
 TIPS
Research questions “dominate” the design.

Data and methods are to be selected so that the

research questions can be answered.

“The greatest challenge to any researcher is

stating the problem in a way that will allow a
solution”
 FORMULATION OF A
HYPOTHESIS
2.4 Formulate a hypothesis

Statement of the expected relationships

among variables

A hypothesis is a suggested or tentative

answer to the problem
 Formulation of Hypothesis
Purpose
• The formulation of hypothesis guides the
researcher in identifying, categorizing and
defining in operational terms the pertinent
variables. These in turn help him in
establishing the frame of reference with
which to approach the problem.
 Ex. Research Hypothesis
1. The volume of breastmilk is greater among those given
malungay leaves capsule compared to those not given
any

2. Crude atis leaf extract is effective for the treatment of

pediculosis

3. Cancer patients with chronic pain who listen to music

with positive suggestions of pain reduction have less
reported pain than those who do not listen to music.

4. The higher the physician – patient ratio, the lower the

incidence of adverse occurrence on inpatient care units.
 Other Examples of Research
Hypothesis
• Socio-economic conditions and drug abuse are
inversely related.
• The morbidity and mortality rates of CHD in
Manila are moderately high.
• Continuous deworming can eradicate ascariasis.
• Two-hour post glucose sugar serum
determination is highly sensitive but has low
specificity in detecting diabetes mellitus.
 LABORATORY
• GROUP WORK
1.Formulate a problem and
subproblems.Formulate a Research
Hypothesis.Formulate objectives.
2.Choose a problem or alternate problems for your
future research proposal and discuss before end
of the period. Why did you choose such problem
or alternate problems?