Identifying the Inquiry and

Stating the Problem

Prepared by:
Christian Paul R. Gangan
DO YOU “MAZE” ME?

INQUIRIES
 WAYS TO WIN
• REACH THE END GOAL
• STRATEGIZE
• FIND A WAY

Starting a research investigation is similar to

embarking a journey through the maze.

There may be different routes to the exit point, but the

key is where to begin

INQUIRIES
Three Things You Should
Ask Yourself in Choosing
a Research Topic
 1. Should-do-ability

It is about the purpose,

relevance, importance,
appropriateness, and
ethics of the research.
 2. Do-ability
The manageability, skill
required, prior experience
needed, timeframe
anticipated, and resource
support available to conduct
this research.
 3. Want-to-do-ability

Focus on your own

motivation, commitment
and perseverance.
 FACTORS TO
CONSIDER WHEN
SELECTING A
RESEARCH TOPIC
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A
RESEARCH TOPIC

SIZE SCOPE TIME RESOURCES

SKILL ACCESS PRIOR

KNOWLEDGE
MOTIVATION
HOW DO YOU FIND
YOUR RESEARCH
TOPIC?
1. Consider research you have already
done.

“You should not just recycle topics from previously

written papers. Instead, you should develop a new
topic from the old research.”
2. Your own interests are a great source to
find a topic.
3. Current events or timely issues can be a
good place to find a promising research
question.
4. Make a note of your everyday
observation.

Empty stalls in Centro Public Market

Slow fashion trend in Ilagan
5. Your personal experience about an event,
a social group, or a place are often worth
more exploration.
THE RESEARCH
TITLE
 TITLE
It summarizes the main idea or ideas of
the study. A good title contains the
fewest possible words needed to
adequately describe the contents and/or
purpose of the research under the
study.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF AN EFFECTIVE
TITLE
1. Indicate accurately the subject and scope
of the study
2. Avoid using abbreviations
3. Use words that create a positive
impression and stimulate reader interest
4. Use current nomenclature (terminology)
from the field of study
5. Identify key variables, both dependent and
independent and controlled
6. May reveal how the paper will be organized
7. Suggest a relationship between variables
which supports the major hypothesis
8. Is limited to 10 to 15 substantive words or
descriptive terms and phrases that accurately
highlight the core content of the paper
9. Does not include redundant phrasing, such as,
"A Study of," "An Analysis of" or similar
constructions
10. Titles are usually in the form of phrase, but
can also be in the form of question
11. If you use a quote as part of the title, the
source of the quote is cited [usually using an
asterisk and footnote],
12. Use correct grammar and capitalization with
all first words and last words capitalized,
including the first word of a subtitle. All nouns,
pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that
appear between the first and last words of the
title are also capitalized
13. In academic studies, rarely is a title followed
by an exclamation mark. However, a title or
subtitle can be in the form of a question.
 Identifying Variables
&
Designing Investigations
 3 Kinds of Variables
1.) Independent Variable
2.) Dependent
3.) Controlled (Constant)
1.) Independent Variable

Something that is
changed by the scientist.
–What is tested
–What is manipulated
2.) Dependent Variable

Something that might be

affected by the change and
measured.
– What is observed
– What is measured
– The data collected during the
investigation
 3.) Controlled Variable

A variable that is not changed

and stays the same.
–Also called constants
–Allow for a “fair test”
Example # 1
Identify the variables
in this investigation.
Students of different
ages were given the
same jigsaw puzzle
to put together.
They were timed to
see how long it took
to finish the puzzle.
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Ages of the Students
Dependent Variable Time to complete the
puzzle
Controlled Variable Puzzle
Example # 2
An investigation was done with
an electromagnetic system
made from a battery and wire
wrapped around a nail.
Different sizes of nails were
used. The number of paper clips
the electromagnet could pick up
was measured.
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Size of Nails
Dependent Variable Number of paper clips
Controlled Variable Battery and wire
Example # 3
 The higher the
temperature of water,
the faster an egg will
boil.
Example # 4
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Temperature of water
Dependent Variable Time to cook the egg
Controlled Variable Type of Egg
 The temperature of
water was measured
at different depths of
a pond.
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Depth of the Water
Dependent Variable Temperature
Controlled Variable Thermometer
The greater the amount
of soap in a soap and
water mixture, the
bigger a soap bubble
can be blown.
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Amount of Soap
Dependent Variable Size of Soap Bubble
Controlled Variable Type of Soap
The farther a
ball drops,
the higher it
will bounce.
 Type Variables
Independent Variable Distance of the Ball from
the ground
Dependent Variable Height of the bounce
Controlled Variable Type of Ball
How about in Research?
 Example Number 1

Rewards System and Job

Performance of Service
Crew in Chicken Place
Rewards System and Job Performance of Service
Crew in Chicken Place

Type of Variable Variable

Independent Variable Reward System
Dependent Variable Job Performance
Controlled Variable Service Crew
 Example Number 2

Frequency of Visit in
Different Library
Resources of Dominican
Multiverse Library
Frequency of Visit in Different Library Resources
of Dominican Multiverse Library

Type of Variable Variable

Independent Variable Library Resources
Dependent Variable Frequency of Visit
Controlled Variable Library Location
 Example Number 3

The Impact of Classroom

Management in the Discipline
and Performance of ABM
Students in Isabela National
High School – Senior High
School
The Impact of Classroom Management in the Discipline and
Performance of Grade 12 ABM Students in Isabela National
High School – Senior High School

Type of Variable Variable

Independent Variable Classroom Management
Dependent Variable Discipline and Performance
Controlled Variable Grade 12 ABM Students
 Example Number 4

The Phytochemical Analysis and

Anti-hyperglycemic Activity of
Calamansi Juice in Sprague
Dawley Rats (Rattus
norvegicus)
 The Effect of Discipline and Rigid Training in the
Professionalism of Tourism Students in Jose Rizal University

Type of Variable Variable

Independent Variable Phytochemical Analysis
and Anti-hyperglycemic
Activity
Dependent Variable Amount of Calamansi
Juice
Controlled Variable Sprague Dawley Rats
 Example Number 5

The Anti-microbial and Wound

Healing Activities of Makahiya
Leaf Extracts (Mimosa pudica)
in Sprague Dawley Rats (Rattus
norvegicus)
 The Anti-microbial and Wound Healing Activities of
Makahiya Leaf Extracts (Mimosa pudica) in Sprague Dawley
Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Type of Variable Variable

Independent Variable Anti-microbial and Wound
Healing Activity
Dependent Variable Concentration of
Makahiya Leaf Extracts
Controlled Variable Sprague Dawley Rats
STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
HEART OF THE THESIS

INQUIRIES
RESEARCH PROBLEM

It is what the
researchers aim to
answer later on as
they go through the
research endeavor.

INQUIRIES
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A problem statement is the description
of an issue currently existing which
needs to be addressed. It provides the
context for the research study and
generates the questions which the
research aims to answer. The statement
of the problem is the focal point of any
research.
INQUIRIES
A research study starts with a
research problem. Based on the
research problem is the formulation
of the problem statement that be
thought of as consisting of a
research question and a research
purpose.
A good research question defines
the focus of your research study.

Your research question helps

readers to know the specific subject
matter you will be addressing
STRUCTURING QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
There is no “one best way” to
structure a quantitative research
question. However, to create a
well-structured quantitative
research question, it is
recommended that an approach is
based on four steps.
1. Choosing the type of
quantitative research question
you are trying to
create(descriptive,
comparative or relationship
based)
2. Identifying the different
types of variables you are
trying to measure, manipulate
and/or control, as well as any
groups you may be interested
in.
3. Selecting the appropriate
structure for the chosen type
of quantitative research
question, based on the
variables and/or groups
involved.
 4. Writing out the
problem or issues you
are trying to address in
the form of a complete
research question.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF A GOOD
RESEARCH PROBLEM

NOVEL

COST-
EFFECTIVE INTERESTING

INNOVATIVE PRACTICAL
RESEARCH PROBLEM SHOULD
BE:

S
• Specific

M
• Measureable

A
• Attainable

R
• Result-Oriented

T
• Time-Bounded

E
• Ethical

R
• Replicable
 GENERAL PROBLEM
Example

1. The overall purpose of this study is

to assess the intrapersonal and
interpersonal competencies of school
managers, and how they contribute to
school effective in the Division if City
Schools in Balanga, Bataan for school
year 2001-2002. (Cristobal 2003)
INQUIRIES
 GENERAL PROBLEM

Example
2. This investigation aims to assess the
level of performance of the college
instructors and relate it to the
efficiency level of the management
students undergoing on-the-job training
in selected businesses.

INQUIRIES
The GENERAL problem is followed
by an enumeration of SPECIFIC
problems. The specific problems are
usually stated as questions the
researcher seeks to answer.

INQUIRIES
The specific problems must meet the
following criteria:

1. They must be in question form.

2. They
must define the population and the
sample of the study, the respondents.
3. Theymust identify the variables being
studied.
4. They must be empirically testable.
INQUIRIES
2 GENERAL TYPES OF
QUESTION

INQUIRIES
1.NON-RESEARCHABLE
QUESTION
2.RESEARCHABLE
QUESTION

INQUIRIES
 1. NON-RESEARCHABLE QUESTIONS

 Questions that are answerable by YES or NO

Examples:
1. Should all mothers breastfeed their babies?
2. Should college instructors be watchful over
their freshman students?
3. Should the colleges offering accountancy majors
mandate their graduates to have a review
before taking the licensure examinations?

INQUIRIES
 2. RESEARCHABLE
QUESTIONS

 are questions of value, opinions, or policy

raised to accumulate data.
 Formulating a clear, significant question
prepares the researcher for subsequent
decision-making over research design,
data collection, and data analysis.

INQUIRIES
• The basic form ofa question
research involves the use of
question words:
5 wives and 1 husband

INQUIRIES
 Types of
Research
Questions
Dickoff et al., as cited in Wilson, 1990)

INQUIRIES
1. FACTOR-ISOLATING QUESTIONS
(“What is this?”)

Sometimes called factor-

naming questions
They isolate, categorize,
describe, or name factors and
situations.

INQUIRIES
 Example
• What is the profile of school managers in terms of:
1. age;
2. management experience;
3. management training;
4. home atmosphere;
5. educational attainment
6. home atmosphere;
7. hobbies;
8. health condition?
INQUIRIES
• What is the level of school effectiveness in
terms of:
1. teacher’s performance;
2. school performance;
2.1. drop-out rate
2.2. completion rate
2.3. survival rate
2.4. achievement rate, and
2.5. awards received by

students?
INQUIRIES
 Examine the research questions of this
research study:
The Levels of Comprehension Question in Reading
As Perceived by Selected Grade 8 Students
of Selected Public Schools and their
Teachers in Tanauan City:
A Basis For An Action Plan

INQUIRIES
1. What is the degree of utilization of
Comprehension Questions as assessed by
the Grade 8 students and their teachers on
the following levels in terms of:
1.1 Factual;
1.2 Interpretative;
1.3 Applicative; and
1.4 Evaluative?

INQUIRIES
2. Is their any difference between the
assessments of the two groups of
respondents?
3. What is the level of comprehension ability
expressed in percentage of the Grade 8
students in terms of:
3.1 Factual level;
3.2 Interpretative level;
3.3 Applicative level; and
3.4 Evaluative level?

INQUIRIES
4. Based on the findings, what Action Plan
can be proposed to improve students’ reading
comprehension utilizing the different level of
comprehension?

INQUIRIES
Examine the research questions of this
research study:

Learning Difficulties and Academic

Performance of Students in
Mathematics

INQUIRIES
1. What are the common learning difficulties
met by the respondents in terms of:
1.1 Student-related problems;
1.2 Teacher-related problems;
1.3 Family and home-related problems;
and
1.4 Subject-related problems
2. What is the student’s academic
performance in mathematics?

INQUIRIES
3. Is there a significant relationship
between learning difficulties and
students academic performance?
4. Based on the findings of the study,
what enhancement activities may be
developed to overcome student’s
learning difficulties in Mathematics

INQUIRIES
Example:
What are the possible
reasons for the low
grades of students in
English?

INQUIRIES
2. FACTOR-RELATING QUESTIONS
(“What is happening here?”)

• Their goal is to determine the

relationship among factors that
have been identified
• Aim to establish relationship

INQUIRIES
 EXAMPLES:

A. What relationships and

interrelationships are observed
between and among the following
variables?
1.intrapersonal competency;
2. interpersonal competency; and
3. school effectiveness?
INQUIRIES
What are the factors that affect
school effectiveness?
What relationship exists
between variable A and variable
B?

INQUIRIES
 3. SITUATION-RELATING QUESTIONS
(“What will happen if…?”)

Usually yield hypotheses

testing or experimental
study designs in which the
researcher manipulates the
variables to see what will
happen. INQUIRIES
 Examples:
1. What are the effects of the traditional
methods of teaching to the level of
performance of tourism students?
2. How do the management procedures applied
by the head waiters affect the level of
customer satisfaction as experienced by
selected regular clients of Jollibee stores in
Pampanga?
3. How significantly different is the performance
of the morning call center agents to that of
the evening call center agents?

INQUIRIES
 4. SITUATION-PRODUCING
QUESTIONS
(“How can I make it happen?”)

 These questions establish explicit

goals for actions, develop plan or
prescriptions to achieve goals ,
and specify the conditions under
which these goals will be
accomplished.

INQUIRIES
 Examples:
1. Based on the findings, what human relation
intervention can be adopted to enhance or
improve school effectiveness.
2. How can catering services be organized to promote
job satisfaction?
3. What policy is to be formulated to manage the
personnel in government agencies effectively?
4. What part of the curriculum should be enhanced or
improved?

INQUIRIES
 Descriptive research questions

• Descriptive research questions

simply aim to describe the variables
you are measuring. When we use the
word describe, we mean that these
research questions aim
to quantify the variables you are
interested in.
INQUIRIES
Think of research questions that start with
words such as "How much?", "How
often?", "What percentage?", and "What
proportion?", but also sometimes questions
starting "What is?" and "What are?". Often,
descriptive research questions focus on
only one variable and one group, but they
can include multiple variables and groups.
We provide some examples below:

INQUIRIES
Question: How many calories do
Americans consume per
day?
Variable:Daily calorific intake
Group: Americans

INQUIRIES
Question: How many calories do
American men and women
consume per day?
Variable: Daily calorific intake
Group: 1. American men
2. American women

INQUIRIES
Question: How often do British university
students use Facebook each
week?
Variable: Weekly Facebook usage
Group: British university students

INQUIRIES
Question: What are the most important
factors that influence the career
choices of Australian university
students?
Variable: Factors influencing career
choices
Group: Australian university students

INQUIRIES
Question: What percentage of American men
and women exceed their daily
calorific allowance?
Variable: Daily calorific intake
Group: 1. American men
2. American women

INQUIRIES
Question: What proportion of British male and
female university students use the top
5 social networks?
Variable: Use of top 5 social networks (i.e.
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter,
LinkedIn, and Classmates)
Group: 1. Male, British university students
2. Female, British university students

INQUIRIES
 Comparative research questions

Comparative research questions aim to examine

the differences between two or more groups on
one or more dependent variables (although often
just a single dependent variable). Such questions
typically start by asking "What is the difference
in?"a particular dependent variable (e.g., daily
calorific intake) between two or more groups
(e.g., American men and American women).

INQUIRIES
Question: What is the difference in the
daily calorific intake of
American men and women?
Dependent variable: Daily calorific intake
Groups: 1. American men
2. American women

INQUIRIES
Question: What is the difference in the weekly
photo uploads on Facebook between
British male and female university
students?
Dependent variable: Weekly photo uploads on
Facebook
Groups: 1. Male, British university students
2. Female, British university students

INQUIRIES
Question: What are the differences in attitudes
towards music piracy when
pirated music is freely distributed or
purchased?
Dependent variable: Attitudes towards music
piracy
Groups: 1. Freely distributed pirated music
2. Purchased pirated music

INQUIRIES
 Relationship research questions

Whilst we refer to this type of quantitative

research question as a relationship-based
research question, the word relationship should
be treated simply as a useful way of describing
the fact that these types of quantitative research
question are interested in the causal
relationships, associations, trends and/or
interactions amongst two or more variables on
one or more groups.
INQUIRIES
 What is the relationship between gender and attitudes
Question:
towards music piracy amongst adolescents?

Dependent
Attitudes towards music piracy
variable:
Independent
Gender
variable:
Group: Adolescents

INQUIRIES
 What is the relationship between
Question: study time and exam scores
amongst university students?
Dependent
Exam scores
variable:
Independent
Study time
variable:
Group: University students

INQUIRIES