Topic 4

An Overview of the Research Process: The Research Problem

Introduction

In the real life, whenever there are problems, in the house, in the school, in the mall or in
the community as a whole, there are steps to consider to solve such issues and concerns, the
problem must be clearly stated, conducts and investigation to come up with an evidence to
conclusively offer a recommendation to solve the problem. Same as true with research, as defined
in the previous lesson, research is an approach in investigating a phenomena to solve a problem
or underlying issues and concerns. Thus research must follow a series of steps to solve such
problems.

Since research is a systematic approach of investigation, the research follows a series of

steps to accomplish its goal of giving knowledge and understanding to the readers to a certain
phenomenon. The research process serves as the light for the researchers not just accomplish
the study but to finish the paper with credibility. It is also the process who makes the writing
enjoyable and easy because it leads the researcher the things to be done to complete the paper.
The process is the key to unlock interest and the capability of the writers in doing the manuscript
as it shows the way do it with sincerity. In this lesson, you will explore the process of doing
research and it will give you a basic understanding on how to it.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, the learners will be able to:

1. Define what a research process is.

2. Identify the phases of research process.
3. Enumerate the process in conducting the research.
4. To understand the basic principles underlying each of the processes involve in
developing a research paper.
5. To identify the criteria in the selection of research problems necessary for the research

Research Process
• It is a step by step process of identifying, locating, assessing and analyzing research
questions ten developing and expressing your idea in answering the problems.

Phases of Research
• The research process is categorized into four (4) major phases. Conceptual phase
(Phase 1), design and planning phase (Phase 2), empirical and analytical phase (Phase
3) and the dissemination and utilization phase (Phase 4).
• Each of the phases has a corresponding steps in the process of doing the research
paper.

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 • The conceptual phase is the initial phase of research and involves the intellectual
process of developing a research idea into a realistic and appropriate research design.
It aims to prepare general plan for the real research. This phase composes of the
following process in research: identification of the problem, review of related literature,
formulation of hypothesis and defining the conceptual or theoretical framework.
• The design and planning phase, the researcher will make a number of decisions on
the methods to be used to address the research questions. This involves the preparation
and determination of research design to be used in the research.
• The empirical phase will outline the research process involving the collection, analysis
and interpretation of data.
• The last phase of the research process in the dissemination and utilization phase. It
phase prepares the research in the dissemination of the result to the appropriate
audience and the utilization of its result. This phase involve the following steps: writing
or preparation of the research paper, dissemination and utilization of the research results.

Phases of Research Process/ Steps of doing the Research

Phase1: Conceptual Phase Identification of research problem
Review of related literature
Formulation of hypothesis
Formulation of theoretical or conceptual
frameworks
Phase 2: Design and Planning Phase Preparation and determination of research design
Phase 3: Empirical and Analytical Phase Data gathering/ data collection
Analysis and interpretation of data
Phase 4: Dissemination and Utilization Writing/preparation of the paper
Phase Dissemination of the result
Utilization of the study results

The Research Process

The process in doing the research serves as the guide for the researcher to do the study
carefully and scholarly. The research process consist of a series of actions to be carried out to
effectively write the manuscript. Different authors has their own version of the process involve in
the development of their study. The following steps hereunder is the general steps in the conduct
of an investigation and in preparation of the research endeavored.
1. Identification of research problem
2. Review of related literature
3. Formulation of hypothesis
4. Formulation of theoretical or conceptual frameworks
5. Preparation and determination of research design
6. Data gathering/ data collection
7. Analysis and interpretation of data

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8. Writing/preparation of the paper
9. Dissemination of the result
10. Utilization of the study results

A. Identification of Research Problem

• According to Power, Meenaghan and Twoomey (1985), “potential research
questions may occur to us on a regular basis, but the process of formulating them
in a meaningful way is not at all easy task.”
• Identification of the research problem is the most important part of the process
because it identifies the destination of the study. The clearer and specific the
research problem the better.
• This is the area which define what you want to find out.
• The identification and formulation of the problem is the “input” to the study. The
quality of the content of the research depends upon the input given which is the
problem. The concept of “garbage in, garbage out” is very applicable to this
context.
• The research problem mostly evolved in the 4ps- people, problems, programs
and phenomena. The “people” in the concept of 4ps provides you with the
population in which the information is collected while the other P’s provide the
context or the subject area of the study about which the information is collected.
• Everything that can be questioned or a phenomenon you want to investigate with
is a researchable topic however not all can be transformed into a research study.
• In general, everything under the sun can be a source of a researchable problem
of course considering your field of specialization. Your topic should be aligned into
your chosen profession. The following will show specific source of researchable
problem which will help you identify your topic if still don’t have one.
o Observable situations at home, school, community and the like is a rich
source of researchable problem.
o Technological advancement, social development, changes in the
environment which constantly bringing a problem or concerns.
o Record/ archival documents such as previous conducted researches,
journals, dissertations, magazines, term paper and the like.
o Discussion in the room or in a seminar or any convocation with an
exchange of ideas.
o Daily problems
o Recent trends
o Areas that are not explored
o Discussions with experts and research supervisor

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Identification of a Research Problem

Ranjit (2015) on his book identified steps to consider in identifying the research problem.
And the following are as follows:

1. Determine the research area which the researcher is knowledgeable with to do

the research work.
2. The researcher should develop the mastery on the area or it should be the field
of his specialization.
3. He should review the research conducted in area to know the recent trend and
studies are being conducted in the area.
4. On the basis of review, he should consider the priority field of the study.
5. He should draw an analogy and insight in identifying a problem or employ his
personal experience of the field in locating the problem. He may take help of
supervisor or expert of the field.
6. He should pin point specific aspect of the problem which is to be investigated.

Things to consider in Selecting the Research Problem

When you are undertaking a research study, you need to see to it that the research
problem you are choosing is at good quality. The following therefore can give you an idea of the
things to be considered in selecting the research problem. The acronym FINER is to be used.
Feasibility of the study, interests/ interesting, novelty/new, ethical and the relevant.

1. Feasibility. It talks about the likelihood of the study to be carried out when approved. The
basic question to ask is, “Is there any reasonable aspect that the study can done?” the
questions seems vague because we cannot say that the study is feasible unless there is
a corresponding criteria. The following criteria should be included in measuring the
feasibility of the study. The 4Ms should be considered- manpower, money, machinery
(materials) and moment (time)

• Manpower. This pertains to the availability of the persons involve in the study.
It is not just limited to the researchers itself but to all the persons who will be
taking their parts in the development of the study such as the presence of
the research adviser or mentor to guide you in the development of the study.
This criteria also is not just focusing in the physical aspect of the person, also
the mental ability or the level of expertise of the persons involve. Like the
expertise of the adviser or the researchers (is the adviser/ researchers
knowledgeable of skillful in the study you want to propose?). Basically,
manpower is not just confined in the availability of a person to do the research
but encompassing their knowledge, sk9lls and values in doing the study.

• Money. As we all know, doing research is expensive because you need to

buy materials to be used and to be utilized for the data gathering or in the

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 experimentation. By simply doing the proposal paper, money is already
involve, searching the net and printing the manuscripts. When implementing
the research, you need to photocopy the survey questionnaire to be floated,
in an experimentation, the different controls to be used to test its
effectiveness to your solution and the laboratory animals are the things to be
considered. The cost should be considered because the study cannot
materialize without fund to sustain it.

• Machine or Materials. This is an important consideration specifically to those

study under experimental design in which materials are necessary for them
to perform the procedure to investigate the effect of a certain control. Basic
example is the different chemical agents to be utilized in identifying the
secondary metabolites of the plan sample without the necessary chemicals,
the study will not push through. This is not also limited to the materials in the
laboratory but also it includes the different partner agencies to help the study
materialize.

• Moment (Time). It is very precious criteria in the selection of the problem

because doing research takes time to accomplish it. Research cannot be
done in a single sitting but it take long period of time to do the study and to
really follow the process in the paper. By simple doing the literature alone
takes time, by gathering data alone cannot be done in an hour or in a single
day. Having said all of those, time is essential to accomplish the study.

2. Interesting. The researchers should be interested in the topic of their own. This will
enhance the likelihood of the study to finish it ignites their curiosity and interest in the
subject area. They are motivated to do it because they have an interest in the field of
study. Considering the interest of the researchers is vital but do not disregard also the
interest of the readers. The readers must also share the same interest with you in your
study because in the long run the readers are the end users and consumers of the result
of the study.

3. Novelty. This doesn’t mean that the study is the only study in the whole world or in the
locality, this means that the study should continue to the pull of knowledge and to show
innovation to the field you want to choose. This criteria will also use to ascertain the topic
on its usefulness and innovations to solve a problem that is existing in the locality.

4. Ethical. In the course of the study, you will be using the respondents to collect data from
them, the study population maybe adversely affected by some of the questions, directly
or indirectly; deprived of intervention; expected to share sensitive and private information
thus the safety of both the researchers and the respondents should be safeguarded by
making the study ethical (Please see separate concept for the detailed discussion of ethics
in research).

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 5. Relevance. The basic question to ask is, so what? Why need to do the study? In this
premise you need to see to it that the study should contribute to existing body of
knowledge, bridges gaps in literatures and it can be used in policy formulation. The
relevance of the study can also sustain the interest of the users.

Having said all of those criteria to consider in selecting the research problem, you are now
ready to choose your own topic/ problem. Just bear in mind the following questions to guide you
in choosing and evaluating your problem couple with your understanding of the selection criteria:

✓ Is the problem really interesting to him and to the scientific community?

✓ Is the problem significant to the present status of the topic?
✓ Is there sufficient supervision/guidance?
✓ Can the problem be solved in the required time frame?
✓ Are the necessary equipment’s, adequate library and computational facilities, etc.
available?

If the answer is reasonable then the study can be done and you can start working and
developing the research. Be sure also to delineate the problem statement using then following:

• Delimited to certain variables that should be mentioned clearly in the problem.

• Delimited to the area or level as primary level, secondary level, and college or
university level.
• Delimited to size of sample, considering the time, energy and money.
• Delimited to the best method only.
• Delimited to the best available tool for measuring the variable.
• Delimited to the most appropriate techniques.
• Other delimitations particular to a problem.

Writing Tip

Don't be a Martyr!

In thinking about a research topic to study, don't adopt the mindset of pursuing an esoteric or
incredibly complicated topic just to impress your professor but that, in reality, does not have any
real interest to you. Choose a topic that is challenging but that has at least some interest to you
or that you care about. Obviously, this is easier for courses within your major, but even for those
nasty prerequisite classes that you must take in order to graduate [and that provide an additional
tuition revenue for the university], try to apply issues associated with your major to the general
topic given to you. For example, if you are an international relations major taking a philosophy
class where the assignment asks you to apply the question of "what is truth" to some aspect of
life, you could choose to study how government leaders attempt to shape truth through the use
of propaganda.

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TAKE-HOME POINTS

• The research process is categorized into four (4) major phases.

- Conceptual phase (Phase 1)
- Design and planning phase (Phase 2)
- Empirical phase and Analytical phase (Phase 4) and
- Dissemination and utilization phase (Phase 5).

• The research follows a process which are as follows:

- Identification of research problem
- Review of related literature
- Formulation of hypothesis
- Formulation of theoretical or conceptual framework
- Preparation and determination of research design
- Data gathering/ data collection
- Analysis and interpretation of data
- Writing/preparation of the paper
- Dissemination of the result
- Utilization of the study results.
• Criteria in selecting a research problem is the FINER
- Feasibility
- Interesting
- Novelty
- Ethical
- Relevant
• The 4Ms to consider in gauging the feasibility of the study are:
- Manpower
- Money
- Machine/ materials
- Moment/ time

Very good you are heading the Right Track!

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 Concept Quiz
An Overview of the Research Process and the Research Problem

PART 1: Please write the letter of your choice in each item using the following:

A. Phase 1 B. Phase 2 C. Phase 3 D. Phase 4

_____1. Empirical and Analytics Phase

_____2. Design and Planning Phase
_____3. Conceptual Phase
_____4. Dissemination and Utilization Phase
_____5. Problem Identification
_____6. Review of Relater Literature
_____7. Dissemination of the Research Result
_____8. Data Gathering
_____9. Analysis and Interpretation of Data
_____10. Utilization of the Research Result
_____11. Hypothesis formulation
_____12. Identification of Research Design
_____13. Writing the Research Paper
_____14. Preparation of Research Design
_____15. Problem Statement

PART 2: Please arrange accordingly the process of doing research but putting a number before
the item (number 1 as the first)

A. Research Process

_____1. Utilization
_____2. Determining the Research Design
_____3. Dissemination
_____4. Writing the Research Paper
_____5. Data Gathering
_____6. Identification of Research Problem
_____7. Analysis and Interpretation of Data
_____8. Formulation of Framework
_____9. Review of Related Literature
_____10. Formulation of Hypothesis

B. Phases of Research

_____1.Design and Planning Phase

_____2. Conceptual Phase
_____3.Dissemination and Utilization Phase
_____4. Empirical and Analytical Phase

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PART 3. Identify what is being describe in each of the times below. Write the answer before the
number.

_______________1. It is a systematic approach in identifying, allocating and analyzing research

questions.
_______________2. Based from your readings, what are the 4ps describe in which the research
problem mostly evolve?
_______________3. The selection criteria in problem identification that defined by the manpower,
money, materials and moment?
_______________4. A criteria in selecting a research problem which relates to the contribution
of the research study to the pool of knowledge?
_______________5. A criteria in selecting the Problem which denotes about the safeguarding
the respondent and the researchers by means of keeping information’s confidential?

- End of the Quiz-

Check your answers now:

Part 1: 1.C, 2B, 3A, 4D, 5A, 6A, 7D, 8C, 9C, 10D, 11A, 12B, 13D, 14B, 15A
Part 2 A: 1)10, 2)5, 3)9, 4)8, 5)6, 6)1, 7)7, 8)4, 9)2, 10)3
Part 2B: 1)2, 2)1, 3)4, 4)3
Part 3: 1.Research Process, 2.People, Problems, Processes and Phenomena, 3.Feasibility 4.
Relevance, 5. Ethics

Evaluate your knowledge by counting the number of correct answers you have and
interpret it by mean of the following

23 and above correct answers- Very Good! (May now proceed to the next chapter)
12-22 correct answers- Good! (Review some point which you are not sure then may
proceed to the next chapter)
11 and below correct answers- Needs Improvement (Review again the chapter)

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