IDENTIFICATION

AND DEFINITION
OF THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM

Disclaimer:
All powerpoint contents with no citations came from Basic Research Methods Training
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the session, the learner must be able to:

1.Identify important factors to be considered in selecting a

research topic;
2.State the research problem underlying the selected research
topic;
3.Formulate measurable general and specific objectives; and
4.Justify the significance of the research topic and objectives
selected.
 1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA
a. Interest, background and qualification of the researcher
b. Relevance
• How large or widespread is the problem?
• Who is affected?
• How severe is the problem?
• Is the topic covered by the current scientific or intellectual interest of the academic or
health community?
• Is my topic in line with the priority areas of the funding agency to whom my proposal
will be submitted? If the funding agency is PCHRD, is the topic part of the NUHRA or
the RUHRA?

c. Originality of the Research

•Has the topic been investigated before?
•Are there still existing gaps in knowledge or major questions which still deserve further
investigation?
 1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA

d. Feasibility
• Can the study be done given the existing human and financial resources?
• Can data from the required number of samples be collected within the time frame of
the study, given the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
• Are materials and equipment needed for the conduct of the study available?

e. Applicability of possible results and recommendations

• What is the chance of the recommendation from the study being applied?
 1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA
f. Urgency of the data needed
• How urgently are data needed for making a decision?

g. Ethical Acceptability
• How acceptable is the research to those who will studied? (Note:
Cultural sensitivity must be considered)
• Can informed consent be obtained from the subjects?
• Will the condition of the subjects be taken into account?
 2. IDENTIFYING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• A research problem is an area of concern within the selected topic where

there is a gap in knowledge

• It provides the motivating factor for the research objectives to be answered in

the research
• It is the basis and guide for the research objectives to be formulated
• It strengthens the significance of the research project
Research problem IS:

A statement about Requires research for its

- Health concern/ issue solution on knowledge
- Gap in knowledge generated
2. IDENTIFYING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Example:
Topic: Health information system
Research Problem:
•Poor quality of data routinely collected by RHUs
•Poor data quality leads to low level of data utilization at all levels,
from the RHU to the regional levels, hence wasting time and
resources in data collection
•Poor data quality is an inhibiting factor to evidence-based decision-
making
a. State the identified research problem in a
way that will lend itself to investigation
➢Narrow down the problem in researchable terms
- FOCUSED a certain characteristic (variable) that will be
measured from the study unit
➢Researchable problem= variable + study unit
? Research problems, researchable terms?
1. Is herbal medicine widely used in the community?
2. Poor quality of data routinely collected by RHUs
3. No BEmONC facility in Province X
 Researchable problem= variable + study unit
? Research problems, researchable terms?

1. Is herbal medicine widely used in the community?

✓ research problem
x researchable variable (+); study unit (-)
2. Poor quality of data routinely collected by RHUs
✓ research problem
x researchable variable (-); study unit (+)
3. No BEmONC facility in Province X
X research problem (does not require scientific inquiry for its solution)
 Workshop 1: (15 mins)
Section:
Laboratory__Group#
Group Members
Adviser:
Identification of the Research Problem:

➢Selecting the topic

➢Identifying the research problem
b. Analyze the research problem
2.1. Determine if the problem is :

✓ feasible – can it really be done

✓ significant – the community will benefit from it
✓ ethically sound – it can be collected considering research
ethics – autonomy, justice, non-maleficience
b. Analyze the research problem
2.2. Dissect and clarify the problem
Is herbal medicine widely used in the community?
Components:
• Herbal preparation
• Characteristics of people using herbal medicine
- age group
- educational attainment
- etc.
• Types of illness
• Source of information
c. Stating the problem and the sub problems
in clear and specific terms

➢ variables

➢Study unit

➢Time (if applicable)

Statement of the problem following the
analysis
Problem analysis Is herbal medicine widely
- Dissect the problem used in the community?

What is the prevalence of use of

any herbal form for common
illnesses among residents in
Region 02?
What is the prevalence of use of any herbal form for
common illnesses among residents in Region 02?

Will need sub-problems because:

• There are different age groups who use herbal

preparations
• There are many illnesses for which herbal preparations are
being used
• There are many forms of herbal preparations
MAIN PROBLEM
What is the prevalence of use of any herbal form for common
illnesses among residents in Region 02?
SUB-PROBLEMS:
1. What is the age distribution of residents who use herbal
medicine in?
2. What types of illnesses are herbal medicines commonely
used by the residents of..?
3. What herbal preparation is commonly used by residents
of…?
Workshop 2: (10 minutes)
Clarification of the research problem (refer to ppt 10-20)
➢ Considering the identified topic state the problem in
researchable terms
➢Analyze the problem by identifying the different
components
➢Stating the problem clearly specifying the variable and study
unit (question form)
 Describing the research problem
➢Concise explanation of what is to be researched about and
its context

➢Purpose is to:
✓Introduce the reader to the problem/ issue to be addressed
✓Place the problem/issue in the context of what is known and what
is unknown
✓Specify the research questions and research hypothesis
✓Provide the framework for reporting the result
 Describing the research problem
• Part of the research proposal

➢Introduction section

➢Stand alone section (Statement of Research problem)

Problem Statement Format
Part 1. Describe the ideal/ desired situation about the area of
concern (or what is known about the area of concern)
Part 2. Explain the current situation and how it falls short of the
ideal/desired situation (or what should be known)
Part 3. Explain how the research will contribute to moving the
current situation to the ideal/desired situation
> convincing enough
Part 4. State the research question and hypothesis, if applicable
> clear and specific
 First National Health Literacy Survey
(Tolabing, MC et al, 2018)
Many countries in the world, including Asian countries have conducted nationwide
surveys on health literacy that served as basis for crafting appropriate interventions
to improve population health literacy. The Philippine, on the other hand, lack
information on population health literacy. There is no existing health literacy
policy/program being implemented by the Philippine government. It has been
almost a decade when the National Health Literacy Biil was filed, but it has yet to
be passed by the Philippine Senate. Measuring population health literacy is crucial
in identifying the health literacy needs of the population that will inform
appropriate interventions to address these needs. In addition, the effectiveness of
these health literacy interventions can be assessed by determining changes in
health literacy levels pre-post intervention. This study will answer the following
research questions: What is the prevalence of limited health literacy among
Filipinos aged 15 to 70 years old and in which dimensions and domains of health
literacy are Filipinos deficient in?
 ASSIGNMENT1: Try to work this out
Problem Statement /Description of the
Research Problem
Desired Situation or what is known

Current Situation or what is unknown

How the research results will contribute to moving the current situation to the desired/ideal situation

Statement of the general research question or objective

 3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
They summarize what is/are to be achieved by the study

They reflect the questions the study wishes to answer

They serve as the “steering wheel” of the whole research process, by providing direction
regarding the rest of the steps of the research process

They are derived from the statement of the problem

They can be stated either in the form of a statement or a question

O To determine if there is a relationship between smoking and lung cancer
O Is there a relationship between smoking and lung cancer?
3.1 PROJECT vs RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Describes what the project proponent wants to happen in the course of, or at
the end of the project

Reflects the activities or the desired outputs of the intervention or project

being considered

◦Example:

To develop operational guidelines for disaster management and mitigation in

Quezon City.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

In the context of a project or an intervention, the research objective reflect the
questions or problems which need to be answered about it

They can cover different phases of the project , from needs assessment to
project evaluation
Example:
◦To assess the availability and adequacy of financial, human and technical
resources for disaster management and mitigation in Quezon City.
COMPARISON OF PROJECT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
To develop operational guidelines for
disaster management and mitigation
in Quezon City.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To determine the availability and
adequacy of financial, human and
technical resources for disaster
management and mitigation in
Quezon City.
To determine the activities conducted
for disaster management and
mitigation in Quezon City.
3.2 GENERAL vs SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

GENERAL OBJECTIVE (Main Research Problem)

•It reflects the overall purpose of the project

•It states what is expected to be achieved by the study in general terms

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES (Sub-problems)

•They are statements regarding the specific questions expected to be answered in the study
•They break up the general objective into smaller, logically connected parts
• They systematically address the various aspects of the problem as defined in the problem
statement
3.3 EXAMPLE OF GENERAL AND SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent and nature to which the staff of the Regional Health Office are exposed to
occupational stress.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the prevalence of occupational stress among the staff of the Regional Health Office;
2. To determine whether the following factors are associated with occupational stress among the staff of
Regional Health Office:
a. Sex of the employee
b. Length of employment
c. Type of position (Management; Technical; Administrative )
Statement of the problem (SPUP)
General:
Generally, the study seeks to (verb)determine the
(variable)level of knowledge in ???? of the (sample/ participants/
study unit)BSN3 student in (setting/locale)St. Paul University Phils.
Specific:
Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the participants in terms of:
2. What is the level of knowledge on research of the participants?
3. Is there a significant difference in the level of knowledge of the
participants on research when grouped according to the profile
variables?
 ASSIGNMENT2: Try to work this the
Statement of the Problem
Generally, the study seeks to VERB the VARIABLE/S of
the SAMPLE/STUDY UNIT in SETTING/LOCALE.
Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.

Come up with al least three specific statement of the problem

3.4 REASONS FOR SPECIFYING RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
• To help define the focus of the study

• To identify the specific variables to be measured, and avoid the collection

of data which are not essential to the problem identified

• To organize the study into clearly defined parts and phases

• To guide the researcher in the development of the research methodology,

and orient the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data
3.5 CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
They are phrased in such a way they focus on what the study is attempting to solve, and cover the
different parts of the problem in a logical way.

They are clearly phrased in measurable, operational and observable terms, specifying exactly what are
the researcher wishing to do.

They are realistic, considering the constraints within local conditions and should be feasible.

They use action verbs which are specific enough to be measured.

SPECIFIC ACTION VERBS NON-SPECIFIC ACTION VERBS
Determine Appreciate
Compare Understand
Compute Explore
Describe Dramatize
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCH
OBJECTIVE
Specific The following are indicated:
1. Study variable (characteristic of interest)
2. Study population or study unit (source of data)
3. Nature of the factor, if the study is concerned with establishing a
factor-outcome relationship

Measurable Can be collected by observation, or review of records

in quantitative research, the variable is expressed in some statistical and
epidemiologic measures (frequency, proportion, prevalence, incidence,
average/mean, risk, association, etc.)

Attainable Collected data will provide answer to the research question

Realistic Practical methods for measuring the variable is available
Timebound (if applicable) Relevant time is indicated
 To determine the prevalence of use of household
herbal preparation for cough and colds among
residents of Region 02
Specific Study Variable = use of herbal medicine
Study Unit from whom the data will be collected = adult resident
*in addition, the study area specified is Region 02
Measurable Empirically-verifiable measurement of the variable= use of herb
*when appropriate, summary measure is indicated = prevalence
Attainable Can be answered by the data that will be collected = prevalence of
use can be obtained {#users/( #users + non-users=n)}
Realistic Practical method of measuring the variable is available = query
method (Interview or survey)
Timebound (if applicable) Not indicated, but may specify time
Workshop 3: (15 minutes)
General Objective:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timebound (if applicable)

4.1 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH: QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED

a. What is the contribution of my research to existing knowledge in

this area?
b. How will my research results improve:
•current practices?
•existing policies?
c. Is the problem to be studied current or timely? Does it exist now?
d. How widespread is the problem in terms number of areas or
people affected?
4. JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH

•Convincing others that the problem is important

• Explaining what is not known about the problem hence the need for
the proposed research
•Providing documentation that this is actually a problem

✓related literature
✓available reports, statistics, documents
4.1 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH: QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
e. Does the problem affect important populations of special interest (ex., mother and children, elderly,
youth, etc.?
f. Does the problem relate to on-going programs, projects activities, or initiatives?
g. Does the problem relate to broader social, economic or health issues (ex., poverty; climate change;
status of women and children, etc.)?
h. Who else are concerned about the problem (ex., government; civil society; church, etc)?
4.2 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH: HOW TO WRITE-UP THIS SECTION
a. Review your answers to the questions listed earlier.
B .Sort your answers into 2 categories – whether they address broad or specific
issues related to your research problem
c. Arrange your answers in 1 or 2 paragraphs which justify the importance of
the research problem. The suggested flow of the discussion is one which
follows an inverted triangle, starting with broad issues, then focusing on
specific issues related to particular groups or settings to be studied in the
proposed research
4.2 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH: HOW TO WRITE-UP THIS SECTION
MABBALO-C