IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

AND ASKING THE QUESTIONS

LESSON II
In the previous lesson, you have learned that choosing
a research topic needs a lot of consideration and
thinking. Not only that research should be focused and
well-defined, but it should also be well-timed and
contributive to a field or discipline. In accordance to
the guidelines and steps discussed, you were able to
determine your topic to be investigated. Now that you
have a research problem in mind, this module will
harness you on how to write the basic parts of a
research paper.
 OBJECTIVES
1. identify the following parts of a research paper:
a. background of the study
b. statement of the problem
c. research hypothesis (for quantitative research)
d. significance of the study
e. scope and delimitation of the study
f. conceptual framework
g. definition of terms
2. describe the importance of each part of the research paper;
and
3. formulate clearly the statement of the problem.
 SHORT ACTIVITY
DIRECTIONS: CHOOSE THE ANSWERS FROM THE
YELLOW BOX ABOVE THE STATEMENTS
 Introduction Significance of the Study

Scope and Delimitation Definition of Terms Hypothesis

Statement of the Problem Conceptual Framework

This part…
1. serves as the plan or the blueprint of the study.
2. includes definitions of words operationally used in the
study.
3. serves as an overview of the research topic under
investigation.
4. sets the parameters of the study which narrow down the
scope of inquiry.
5. states the concrete terms that a researcher expects to
happen in the study.
 Introduction Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitation Definition of Terms Hypothesis
Statement of the Problem Conceptual Framework

This part…
6. cites the benefits certain groups of persons will get from the outcome of
the study.
7. clearly expresses the specific direction or focus of the research problem
or inquiry.
8. elaborates the origin of the research problem which led to the conduct
of the study.
9. covers the general statement of the problem as well as the specific
research questions to be answered in the study.
10. gives the concepts to be covered in the study as well as its boundaries
in terms of the respondents/participants, sampling technique, locale and
the research methods to be used.
Now that you have clearly formulated a research
problem, the next step is to accomplish the baseline of
your research paper.
You must explain the context of your study by giving its
background. This may aid you in identifying your
specific questions for your statement of the problem as
well as your hypothesis. There is also a need to list
down the beneficiaries of your research which will be
presented in the significance of the study. You must
also set the boundaries of your study by writing your
scope and delimitation. A definition of terms must also
be furnished to facilitate understanding of your study.
 BASIC PARTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER

1. The Background of the Study is an explanation

of the context of study which involves the current
data or status of the problem, existing studies about
it and its history that paved way to the
development of the research problem. It explicates
the rationale why you, as a researcher, are
conducting the study. Writing this particular part
of the paper may lead you to your research
questions.
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
As you write the background of the study or
introduction, take into consideration the
following guidelines:
1. It should clearly state the reason for
conducting the study.
2. It should move from broad to specific.
3. It should state the current condition of the
research problem.
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Prior to writing and reading
various literature and studies,
making an outline is a helpful tip
to facilitate the process. Here is
an example of an outline of the
background of the study:
GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
1.Discuss the topic in general. Start from a
holistic or world perspective.
2.Insert a condition that is directly related to the
topic and to the focus of your study.
3.Identify the factors contributing to the focus of
your study.
4.State the current condition of the topic in your
school or locale.
5.State the reason why you chose to study the
topic
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
ACTIVITY 1
Outline your background of the study
by answering the following questions.
 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The next part to be accomplished is the statement of
the problem. Aside from being a tool in solving
dilemmas in the society, another purpose of research
is to guide people towards a better understanding of
phenomena, human behavior, human interactions
and other events in daily life. This premise indicates
the importance of meticulously crafting of the
research questions as it sets the focus and drives the
course of the study.
2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The statement of the problem has

two parts:
1. General statement of the
problem/Objective
2. Specific research questions
Objective or Purpose of the Study
The objective or purpose of the study is the first
part of the problem where the researcher states
the objective. This is a statement of a long-term
objective expected to be achieved by the study.
This is derived by the identification and
crystallization of the research problem and as
reflected by the title.
Objective or Purpose of the Study
It is prefixed by these introductory
phrases:
Example :
The main objective of the study………
The purpose of the study………
 Objective or Purpose of the Study
➢ How to formulate general statement of the
problem
The purpose of this ethnographic study is to
describe the training of Aeta teachers from
Castillejos, Zambales for the past ten years to
provide insights into the formulation of a
continuing education model for indigenous
teachers (Creswell and Clark, 2014)
 Objective or Purpose of the Study
➢ How to formulate general statement of the problem
The purpose of this ethnographic study (type of
study) is to describe (exploratory and non- directional
verb-examples develop,understand,discover etc) the
training (central phenomenon of the study) of Aeta
teachers from Castillejos, Zambales (participants)
for the past ten years (when) to provide insights
into the formulation of a continuing education
model for indigenous teachers (purpose). (Creswell
and Clark, 2014)
Research Questions or Investigative Problems
The specific questions which are to be answered in the study.
It should lead to the solution of the research problem.
Is the objective or purpose of the study observable, measurable or
verifiable ?
Focus on a clear goal or objective. State the precise goal.
The problem should be limited enough in making definite conclusion
possible.
GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR SUB-
QUESTIONS
GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR SUB-
QUESTIONS
GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR SUB-
QUESTIONS
ACTIVITY 2
HYPOTHESIS
3. HYPOTHESIS

A hypothesis is a
preconceived idea,
assumed to be true and is
tested for its truth or
falsity.
 3. HYPOTHESIS
It helps to provide link to the
underlying theory and specific
research question. It helps in data
analysis and measure the validity
and reliability of the research. It
provides a basis or evidence to
prove the validity of research.
 3. HYPOTHESIS
It has two types: the null hypothesis and alternative
hypothesis.
Null hypothesis is the hypothesis the researcher will try
to disprove or discredit.
The null hypothesis indicates that there is no significant
difference or relationship between specified populations
or variables.
Significant difference is used when testing whether there
is difference between the means of two or more
populations or variables while significant relationship is
used in situations where one is examining the association
between any two sets of variables (King’oriah, 2004).
 3. HYPOTHESIS
It has two types: the null hypothesis and
alternative hypothesis.
An alternative hypothesis is
one that states that there is a
significant difference or
relationship between specified
populations or variables.
3. HYPOTHESIS
Example of a Null Example of an Alternative
Hypothesis: Hypothesis:
• There is no significant • There is a significant
difference between the difference between the
reading comprehension reading comprehension
skills of controlled group skills of controlled group
and experimental group and experimental group
before and after the before and after the
intervention intervention of
differentiated differentiated instruction.
instruction.
 3. HYPOTHESIS
• Note that not all studies test
hypothesis. Sometimes a study is
designed to be exploratory. Exploratory
research intends to investigate a
problem that is not clearly defined;
hence will not provide conclusive
results.
ACTIVITY : Formulate a null and an alternative
hypothesis for each of the following.

1.Taking of aspirins daily and heart attack risk

2. Salary and job satisfaction among the
workers in Alaminos City, Pangasinan
3. Effects of fertilizer on plant growth
4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study pinpoints

the benefits certain groups of people will
gain from the findings of the study. It
must start from the most to the least
benefitted ones.
4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
5.Scope and Delimitations of the
Study

states the coverage of the study.

It must answer the following
parameters as much as possible:
5.Scope and Delimitations of the
Study
5.Scope and Delimitations of the
Study ( Example )
5.Scope and Delimitations of the
Study ( Example )
5.Scope and Delimitations of the
Study ( Example )
 5.Conceptual Framework
• A conceptual framework serves as an outline or a blueprint
that you can follow in doing your research.
• It is presented in a flow chart, map, diagram or narrative
form. When using a diagram, it is still a must to include
narrative to explain the details.
• Here you show the variables that influence your research.
Variable is anything that has quantity or quality that varies
in a research.
• For example, if you are studying the COVID-19 outcomes,
you might study home life, school and community. For
school, your variables might be learning process and quality
of learning. To make your conceptual framework thorough, it
is encouraged to make it more detailed.
 5.Conceptual Framework
• Step by Step Guide on How to Write the Conceptual Framework
1. Choose your topic. It should be within the field of your
specialization.
2.Do a literature review. Go over relevant and updated studies
related to your own research. Use reliable sources of information and
use appropriate documentation.
3.Isolate the important variables. Identify the specific variables
mentioned in the literature and show their interrelationships.
4.Generate the conceptual framework. Build your conceptual
framework using the variables studied in the scientific articles you
have read. Your problem serves as a reference in constructing the
conceptual framework. In effect, your study will attempt to answer a
question that other researchers have not explained yet.
5.Conceptual Framework
6. Definition of Terms

Definition of Terms lists down and defines the

key terms as used in the study in alphabetical
order. An operational definition refers to a
specific definition of concept in a research
study. This is necessary because it will clarify
the purpose and direction of the study.
ACTIVITY

Make conceptual framework about the

following topics ( choose only one)
Jeepney Modernization in the Phils
Jeepney Transport Strike
Fraternity/Sorority