Lesson 2
Lesson 2
Lesson 2
2. Forming a hypothesis;
It should be borne in mind that the research goes through all the nine steps when the
researcher does and writes his research report. If the standard format of thesis writing is
followed, the first two steps will be included in Chapter 1, “The Problem and Its Setting”,
the third step will be in Chapter 2, “Related Literature and Studies”, the fourth, fifth, and
sixth steps will be discussed in Chapter 3,” Methods of Research and Procedures”, the
seventh step will be presented in Chapter 4, “Analysis, Presentation, and Interpretation
of Data”, and the last two steps will be placed in Chapter 5, Summary, Conclusions, and
Recommendations”.
1. Rigid control
2. Objectivity,
4. Rigorous standards.
Rigid control refers to the manipulation of the research variables. Variables are those
things that vary in quantity and quality which are to be manipulated by the researcher.
Examples of variables are age, sex, population, adequacy, efficiency, etc. There are
variables which should be controlled rigidly, that is kept constant or equal in a certain
research work.
Objectivity means that there should be no bias or partiality in treating the results of the
inquiry. The results should not be tampered with, whatever they may be.
The fourth principle refers to the setting up of standards or principles which serves as
bases for evaluating the findings of a study. Such standard should not be changed to
suit the expectations of the researcher. The principle also refers to the accurate
statistical computation and interpretation of quantified data.
Definition
A problem is (1) any significant, perplexing and challenging situation, real or artificial,
the solution of which requires reflective hinking; (2) a perplexing situation after it has
been translated into a question or series of questions that help determine the direction
of subsequently inquiry. The foregoing definitions are according to Dewy.
Elements of a Research Problem
1. Aim or purpose of the problem for investigation. This answers the question
“Why?” Why is there an investigation, inquiry or study?
2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?”
What is to be investigated or studied?
3. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. This answers the
question “Where?” Where is the study to be conducted?
4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. This
answers the question “When?” When is the study to be carried out?
5. Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. This answers the
question “Who?” or “From Whom?” Who are the respondents? From whom are the data
to be gathered?
There are certain guidelines or criteria in the selection of a research problem to make it
more interesting and the research work more enjoyable to the researcher as well as to
ensure the completion of the study. Among the guidelines or criteria are the following
which may also be considered as characteristics of research problems:
1. The research problem or topic must be chosen by the researcher himself. This is
to avoid blaming others or offering excuses for any obstacle encountered.
2. It must be within the interest of the researcher. This is to make sure that the
researcher will focus his full attention on the research work.
3. It must be within the specialization of the research. This will in some way make
the work easier for him because he is working on familiar grounds. Besides, this
may improve his specialization, skill, and competence in his profession.
a. Data are available and accessible. The researcher must be sure that the
participants in his investigation possess the needed data and that they are within is
reach. So, one must not choose a problem in which the locations of the data are too far
away, say foreign lands.
b. The data must meet the standards of accuracy, objectivity, and verifiability.
This is important. The data gathered must be accurate, objective and not biased, and
can be verified if there arises a need, otherwise, the results of the study will not be valid
and the generalization formulated will be faulty.
c. Answers to the specific questions (sub problems) can be found. The data
to be collected must supply the necessary answers to the specific questions. Suppose
the question is “How qualified are the teachers handling science?” The data to be
gathered are the educational attainments and the fields of specialization of the teacher
to be checked against the regulations of the school system. This way, the answer to the
question can be found.
d. The hypotheses formulated are testable, that is, they can be accepted or
rejected. Hypotheses are not proved, they are only determined as true or not. If the
findings conform to the hypotheses, the latter are accepted as true and valid.
e. Equipment and instruments for research are available and can give valid
reliable results.
9. The results are practical and implementable. If the investigation is about drug
addiction, are the recommendations for its eradication applicable with the
expected effectiveness.
10. It requires original, critical, and reflective thinking to solve it. To be able to apply
these, the research project must be novel, new or original. The study is
considered novel and new if it has not yet been studied before and the data are
gathered from new and original sources. However, the study may be a
replication, that is, the study has already been conducted but in another place,
not in the place where it is intended to be studied again. The purpose of the
study replications is to determine if the conditions in one place are also true in
other places so that generalizations of wider application can be formulated.
11. It can be delimited to suit the resources of the researcher but big or large enough
to be able to give significant, valid, and reliable results and generalizations. The
area and population may be reduced but only to such an extent that the
generalizations can be considered true and useful.
12. It must contribute to the national development goals for the improvement of the
quality of human life. This is the ultimate aim of research, to improve the quality
of human life. Research must improve or show how to improve unsatisfactory
conditions.
13. It must contribute to the fund of human knowledge. All the facts and knowledge
that we have is mostly the product of research, any study to be conducted must
add a new bit of knowledge to what we already have.
14. It must show or pave the way for the solution of the problem or problems
intended to be solved. Usually, after an inquiry has been conducted,
recommendations are made for the solution of problems discovered which, if
implemented, can solve the problems.
15. It must not undermine the moral and spiritual values of the people. It must not
advocate the promotion of antisocial values such as drug addiction, cruelty,
hatred, and divisiveness, multiple sex mating, etc. As much as possible it must
advocate the promotion of divine values and those admirable human values such
as love, peace, goodwill, etc.
16. It must not advocate any change in the present order of things by means of
violence but by peaceful means. It must not advocate subversion, revolution, or
the like wrest control of the government or change the form of government. If
there is a needed change, it must be made by any means but the means must be
peaceful and legitimate.
17. There must be a return of some kind to the researcher, either one or all of the
following, if the research report is completed:
18. There must be a consideration of the hazards involved, physical, social, or legal.
This author knows of a man who went to the mountain to study the tribe, ignoring
the physical dangers from wild animals and from the tribesmen themselves.
While this act is admirable, the researcher must also consider his personal
safety.
Another hazard is social. This occurs when an inquiry happens to encroach upon
socially approved and established social values, norms of conduct, or ethical standards.
The inquiry may draw the ire of the populace and the researcher may receive some kind
of rebuke, censure, criticism, or derision.
REFERENCES:
Aquino, Guadencio V., Essentials of Research and Thesis Writing. Quezon City:
Alemars-Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., 1974
Babble, Earl. The Practice of Social Research. Fourth Edition. Belmont, California:
Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. 1986
Treece, Eleonor Walters and James William Treece, Jr. The Elements of Research in
Nursing. Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby Company, Inc., 1973. (Reprinted by Phoenix Press,
Inc.)
Treece, Eleonor Walters and James William Treece, Jr. The Elements of Research in
Nursing. Second Edition. Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby Company, Inc., 1977. (Reprinted by
Phoenix Press, Inc.)