THE RESEARCH TITLE,

SOURCES AND
CONSIDERATIONS
OBJECTIVES:
1.To identify sources of research problems
2.To discuss the considerations in the selection of research
problems.
3.To list down possible research problems.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY (in triads or threes)
Search several published theses and analyze the parts and
formats used by the researchers. Identify at least 3
analytical observations.
 
THE RESEARCH TITLE

The title:
• Should summarize the main idea of the paper
• Should be concise statement about the main topic.
• Must include the major variable/s
• Should show the relationships among the main variables
under study.
• Must be self-explanatory
Reminders:

• In formulating the title, the researcher should avoid using

words that serve no useful purposes and can mislead
indexers. The words methods, results, investigations
should not appear in the title.
• In many cases, the specific questions that the research
intends to answer, when rewritten in a statement form, can
serve as the title.
• Likewise, the general problem can serve as the thesis title.
• The title must have 10 to 15 words.
Sample Research Titles

Staff Nurses Role in the Accuracy of Specimen

Collection in Selected Government and
Private Hospitals in Naga: Relations
to Their Work Performance

(Reyes, 2007).
 Effectiveness of Information, Education and
Communication in the Awareness of
Breastfeeding Among Nursing Mothers
of Tribal Communities in
Rinconada

(Panganiban, 2007).
 Leadership Attributes and Executive Acculturation
of Clinical Instructors of Nursing Schools in Bicol
Region: Implications to Nursing Education

(Abergas,2006)
 LIFE SATISFACTION OF CAMARINES SUR
POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES’ CLINICAL
INSTRUCTORS: IMPLICATION TO JOB
PERFORMANCE

(RIVERA,2020)
 NURSES’ SPIRITUAL BEING DURING PANDEMIC:
IMPLICATION TO COMPETENT CARING
ACROSS CULTURES

(RIVERA,2020)
 Extent of Participation of Nursing Students in
Infection Control Practices at The Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Basis for
Enhanced RLE Supervisory Program
(Quiazon, 2007)

Acculturation Level and Postpartum

Depression in Hispanic Mothers

(Tatano-Beck, Froman & Bernal, 2005)

 SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS
Problems may exist in any setting )clinics, hospitals,
schools/classrooms/community where there is/are:
1. A feeling of discomfort (health care provider or clients);
2. Perceived difficulty in management/leadership system;
3. Gap between theory and practice;
4. Daily experience of human beings that require further inquiry into
especially if improvements are desired, and
5. A procedure requiring technologically advanced equipment which
need to function properly.
 Criteria of a researchable problem
1. Solutions are available but not yet tested and unknown to the
practitioner.
2. No solutions are available to fill the gap or the problem assessed.
3. When answers, solutions as well as possible results that have been
given are seemingly not tested or are factually contradictory.
4. A phenomenon exists and requires explanation.
5. There are several possible and plausible explanation for the
existence of an undesirable condition.
The experience of an individual, nurse, doctor or any health
practitioner is the richest source of research problems.
A nurse who has a parent suffering from renal failure can lead
him/her to study about that subject.
A student nurse in the hospital, community, or in school who is
experiencing difficulty in adjusting to schedules, complying with
tedious requirements, or dealing with an instructor who adheres to
traditional teaching methods may be led to conduct a study which
can be useful to his/her present situation.
A student who belongs to a family with a number of
relatives suffering from diabetes may be led to conduct a
research on the common causes and effects of diabetes
mellitus.”

Any experience a person has, especially that which

affects his/her personal life, and efficiency with which
he/she discharge of his/her duties is a feasible problem to
research on.
Any medical pattern or trend is another source of problem. A
student assigned to a pediatric ward who encounters the same case
again and again may be motivated to conduct a study on that case.
For example, in a week of apprenticeship in the pediatric ward, a
student nurse notice that each day, three children of almost the same
age are brought to the hospital because of diarrhea. This observation
can generate a possible research problem. The increase in hospital
admission and death rate of residents in a community due to dengue
outbreak can be a focus of research studies. So is the issue of
newborn screening in metro manila hospitals.
Literature reviews and previous researches can also be rich sources of
problems for research.
These readings can lead a student to a topic and its scope and clues for
further studies. The repetition of a prior research study in a different setting
and time is called REPLICATION.
Implementing a change in variables-adding more significant variables or
removing less significant ones, changing the respondents, and revising and
improving its scope and delimitation-can make a study invaluable even if the
research problem is not original. While a replication is allowed, conducting
research on a novel case or problem is of greater merit.
A research problem can also be sourced from the interests
of s researcher.
A researcher may become more zealous and determined in
finishing a study if involves a topic which is of interest to
him/her. For example, students who devote much time in
computers can conduct a study on the role of computers in
improving the quality of healthcare services and rate of
recovery of patients.
CONSIDERATIONS IN FORMULATING A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Barrientos-Tan (1997) cited the following criteria for choosing a
problem for research.
A. External criteria
1. Novelty- the practical value of the problem due to its newness to
the field of inquiry.
2. Availability of subjects- the existence of people with the
capability and willingness to participate in study; the sample of
the study participants must be representative enough to ensure
reliability and validity of results.
3. Administrative Support- sponsorship by a professional
organization or academic institution, to cover the cost of the study;
permission of those concerned for the participation in the study of
staff members, children, the aged, and mentally retarded.
4. Facilities and Equipment- the availability and adequacy of
special facilities and equipment (e.g., computers, telephone, etc.)
for use in undertaking the research.
5. Ethical considerations- avoidance of research problems that
pose unethical demands on the part of the study participants.
B. Internal Criteria
1. Experience, training and professional qualifications-
knowledge and expertise as a result of experience constitute the
researcher’s tools for coping with the demand of research.
2. Motivation, interest, intellectual curiosity and perceptiveness
of the researcher- the personal motivate behind doing research,
as cited by scientists, is pure curiosity, along with the genuine
interest and the anticipated satisfaction or enjoyment in
completing research task.
Time Factor- studies must be pursued in the given time frame.
Costs and Returns- research is an expensive undertaking. The
amount of funding needed, of course, depends on the size of the
sample, the place where the research is to be conducted and the
treatment of data, as well as the research design.
Hazards, Penalties and Handicaps- depends upon his/her
physical and intellectual capacity and moral judgement.
The identified problem must of course be significant
to nursing. The degree courses or major of the student
must be the primary consideration in the final
selection of the problem. A study to be conducted by a
nursing student must, of course, be relevant to him
and the nursing course.
A student must choose a research problem that he can manage,
i.e he/she must know whether he/she has the necessary skills to
pursue the study. Undergraduate students must avoid problems
that are too complicated for them to handle, in the same way
that graduate students must choose topics that suit their level.
There are problems that require the technical expertise of
nurse/doctor or any other health care practitioner. Students
must, therefore, focus on problems that are simpler yet
beneficial to nursing practice.
The feasibility of research study is very important consideration.

The time needed to conduct the study must be measured and its
setting define and located. The researcher must have ready access
to the subjects he/she intends to study. The entire cost of the study
must be estimated travel expenses when meeting with respondents,
purchase of instruments to be used, expenses incurred in encoding
the results etc.
External support is also essential element to look at in determining
whether a research is feasible or not. Is the instructor or adviser
available for inquiry when conflicts arise in the conduct of
research? Are professionals in the field accommodating- do they
lend a hand when asked for technical assistance in finishing the
paper?

The newness and freshness of the topic must also be assessed. A

review of literature and studies ensures that there are no solutions
yet to the proposed problem, thus the need to pursue the study.