A research problem is exactly that – a problem that
someone would like to research (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2010). A problem can be anything that a person finds unsatisfactory or unsettling, a difficult of some sort, a state of affairs that needs to be changed, anything that is not working as well as it might. Problems involve areas of concern to researchers, conditions they want to improve, difficulties they want to eliminate, questions for which they seek answers. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following examples of possible research in education are not sufficiently developed for actual use in a research project but would be suitable during the early stage of formulating a quantitative research question. • Do teachers behave differently towards students of different genders? (Causal-comparative research) • How can we predict which students might have trouble learning certain kinds of subject matter? (Correlational research). There are other kinds of questions, however, that cannot be answered by collecting and analyzing data. The following are the examples: • Should philosophy be included in the high school curriculum? [This is a question of value. It implies notions of right and wrong, proper, and improper- and therefore does not have any empirical (or observable) referents.] • What is the meaning of life? [This is metaphysical in nature – that is beyond the physical, transcendental. Answers to this sort of question lie beyond the accumulation of information]. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. The question is feasible (i.e., it can be investigated without expending an undue amount of time, energy, or money) 2. The question is clear (i.e., most people would agree as to what the key words in the question mean). 3. The question is significant (i.e., it is worth investigating because it will contribute important knowledge about the human condition). 4. The question is ethical (i.e., it will not involve physical or psychological harm or damage to human beings or to the natural or social environment of which they are a part). THE PURPOSES OF A PROBLEM STATEMENT 1. Introduces the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. The reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or hypotheses to follow. 2. Places the problem into a particular context that defines the parameters of what is to be investigated. THE PURPOSES OF A PROBLEM STATEMENT
3. Provides the framework for reporting the results
and indicates what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information. A research question is not the same as a thesis title, research problem, hypothesis or research focus, although they are interrelated and support one another. • A research question summarizes the significant issue your research will investigate. • The title consists of the topic and outcome of a research project. • The research problem explains the knowledge gap your research will address. • A hypothesis is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested and is based on prior research. • A research focus specifies the scope or domain of inquiry. THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF INTEREST It is helpful for investigator to keep in mind the following aspects while selecting the area of problem for research. • The problem to be chosen should be such as to be meaningfully related to the interest of the investigator himself/herself. • The problem having alliance with the chain of thinking or research already in existence can be handled more confidently. • The ambitious problems covering a wide range of area of interest should be avoided and the problems of manageable size and limits should be taken up. • An important consideration for selecting the problem area relates to its feasibility in terms of the application of scientific techniques, availability of resources in terms of money, personnel, and equipment. RESEARCH TOPIC TO BE AVOIDED 1. Controversial topics ➢ These are topics that depend greatly on the writer’s opinion, which tend to be biased or prejudicial. Facts cannot support controversial topics 2. Highly technical subjects ➢ For a beginner, researching on topics that require an advance study, technical knowledge and vast experience is very difficult. RESEARCH TOPIC TO BE AVOIDED 3. Hard-to-investigate subjects ➢ A topic or a subject is hard to investigate if there is no available data or reading materials about it and such materials are not updated (obsolete). 4. Too broad subjects ➢ A subject or a topic that are too broad will prevent the researcher from giving a concentrated or in-depth analysis of the subject matter of the research paper. RESEARCH TOPIC TO BE AVOIDED 5. Too narrow subjects ➢ The subjects are so limited or specific that an extensive or thorough searching or reading for information about the subject is necessary. 6. Vague subjects ➢ Choosing topics like these will prevent you from having a clear insight or focus on your study. RESEARCH BACKGROUND Research background is a brief outline of the most important studies that have been conducted so far presented in a chronological order. Research background should also include a brief discussion of major theories and models related to the research problem. When writing research background, you also need to demonstrate how your research relates to what has been done so far in the research area. The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or research paper define the topic and boundaries of the research problem to be investigated. The scope details how in-depth your study is to explore the research question and the parameters in which it will operate in relation to the population and timeframe. The delimitations of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in the investigation. In other words, they are the boundaries the researcher sets in terms of study duration, population size and type of participants, etc. TASK 1: Directions: Fill in the blank with the choices found inside the box. Write your answer in your activity notebook Research Problem Scope Delimitation Research Background Hypothesis Problem Statement Sources 1. Usually, a ______ is initially posed as a question which serves as the focus of the researcher’s investigation. Research Problem Scope Delimitation Research Background Hypothesis Problem Statement Sources 2. A ______ introduces the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. 3. A ______ is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested and based on prior research. 4. The ______ for identification of problem are diverse and would largely depend upon the area of interest of the investigator and the nature of the problem under investigation. Research Problem Scope Delimitation Research Background Hypothesis Problem Statement Sources 5. ______ is a brief outline of the most important studies that have been conducted so far presented in a chronological order. 6. The ______ details how in-depth your study is to explore the research question and the parameter in which it will operate in relation to the population and timeframe. 7. The ______ of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in the investigation. ASSESSMENT Directions: Read each item carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is true and write FALSE if the statement if false. 1. One of the characteristics of good research questions is not feasible. 2. “A comparison between the identical twins….” is a good example of research title. 3. The sources for identification of problem are diverse and would largely depend upon the area of interest of the investigator. 4. Research questions should be clear, concise, and as simple as possible, focused and empirically answerable. 5. The problem statement provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information. 6. Good research question is practicable. 7. A good research question helps to- guide the research process; construct a logical argument; write a literature review; plan thesis chapters; and devise efficient search strategies. 8. The purpose of research question is to introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. 9. A hypothesis is a predicted answer to the research question that can be tested and is based on prior research. 10. An important consideration for selecting the problem area relates to its feasibility.
Clean, Well-Thought-Out Proposal Forms The Backbone For The Research Itself and Hence Becomes The Most Important Step in The Process of Conduct of Research. (