3I’s

IDENTIFYING THE
PROBLEM AND
ASKING THE
RESEARCH
Most Essential Learning Competency
 Formulates clearly the statement of research problem.
Learning Objectives:
After this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the following parts of a research paper:

• background of the study

• statement of the problem
• research hypothesis (for quantitative research)
• significance of the study
• scope and delimitation of the study
• conceptual framework
• definition of terms

2. describe the importance of each part of the research paper; and

3. formulate clearly the statement of the problem.

Question Problem
 Problem vs. Question
Problem Question
A question to be considered, solved, or
answered; example- math problems Expressing a problem
A situation, matter, or person that presents Provide conclusive answers to the
difficulty; example- having problems of problem
breathing based from the problem
A misgiving, objection, or complaint; example-
I have a problem with my salary
Enables to generate a set of research questions
 What is a research
Problem?
A research problem is an educational issue or concern
that an investigator presents and justifies in a research
study (Creswell, 2008). In addition, it does not state how
to do something or offer a vague or broad proposition.
The statement of the problem helps you identify the
purpose of the research study you will undertake.
A group of student-researchers from Jose C. Payumo Jr.
Memorial High School intends to conduct a study on the
effectiveness of the Tobacco Free Generation (TFG) program
in Dinalupihan, Bataan. Medical doctors, nurses and
volunteers in Singapore started the said program in 2016 and
was adopted by Bataan in the same year. TFG founder, Dr.
Koong Heng Nung, considered Bataan as the first province in
the Philippines to adopt this campaign. According to Koong
(2018), TFG aims to educate and encourage the youths to be
part of the tobacco free generation.
1. Where is the locale of the study?

A. Bataan
B. Dinalupihan
C. Philippines
D. Singapore
2. What is the objective of the study in the given
selection?
A. to uncover the history of the TFG program
B. to measure the effectiveness of the TFG
policies
C. to identify the effects of the TFG to the
community
D. to solicit the experiences of smokers and
non-smokers
3. Who do you think should be the
respondents of the study?
A. residents of Dinalupihan
B. medical doctors and nurses
C. founder of the TFG program
D. All of the above.
4. Who do you think will benefit from this study?
A. Community
B. local government
C. future researchers
D. All of the above.
5. Why do you think there is a need to
conduct this study?
A. to gauge the status of the program
B. to see whether the program needs
revision
C. to measure the compliance level of the
residents
D. All of the above.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Activity: By group (7 groups)
Present the nature and guidelines in writing
the following:
1. Background of the Study
2. Statement of the Problem
3. Conceptual/Theoretical framework
4. Research Paradigm
5. Research Hypothesis
6. Scope and Limitations of the study
7. Significance of the study
8. Definition of terms
 Chapter 1:
Introduction
1. Background of the Study
2. Statement of the Problem
3. Conceptual/Theoretical framework
4. Research Paradigm
5. Research Hypothesis
6. Scope and Limitations of the study
7. Significance of the study
8. Definition of terms
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The background of the study is an explanation of the
context of the study which involves the current data or
status of the problem, existing studies about it, and its
history that paved the 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.
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.
Discuss the topic in general.
Start from a holistic or world
1. Reading Skills and Its
perspective. Importance
Insert a condition that is directly
related to the topic and to the focus 2. Poor Reading Skills
of your study.

Identify the factors 3. Factors Affecting Poor Reading

contributing to the focus of
your study.
Skills in General
State the current condition of 4. School’s Philippine Informal
the topic in your school or Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI) result
locale.

State the reason why you

chose to study the topic.
5. Reason of the researcher
Source: Jerry C. Perello, presented at Learning and Development Activity for Schools Research Committee Cum Crafting Research Write Ups,
 Example of a Background of the Study

Title of the Study: Nami Plant Extract as Termite

Discussion from a holistic

or world perspective.
Repellent
According to Eiseman (2010) in his article which
focused on termites, termites cause less than 75-80% of
damage economically due to home, wood, and crop
infestation in North America. He stated that the reason
is that termites are drawn to their food source and that
makes them drawn to any type of wood like timber,
logs, firewood and other wood-made structures. He also
added that termites can be harmful to humans due to its
bites that may cause any allergic reaction.
 focus of the study
A condition related to the topic or
Vulcan (2017) enumerated different tips
that can help in preventing termites from
eating wood and one of it is using a
treatment like Rust Oleum, a named
product used to paint wood to prevent
termite’s infestation. This has been
proven effective; however, the price is
relatively expensive.
On the other hand, Onwueme (2016) published an article about
an intoxicating yam named Dioscorea hispida. Yam is a root

the focus of the study

Factors contributing to
crop which contains poisonous alkanes that are harmful to
human’s health. It can cause nausea and vomiting if its ripe
fruit is ingested in the body. Although it has toxic content; it can
be a source of food. Due to food scarcity and famine in some
parts of the Philippines, this can be an alternative to rice given
its abundance. Its toxicity can be removed once boiled.
As described by Dukar (2012), intoxicating yam is a twining
vine, arising from tuberous roots, and reaching a length of
several meters. Juice of underground stems reported to possess
narcotic properties. It is found in the Himalayas, from Nepal to
Sikkim, at altitudes up to 1500m, and also in the tropics of Asia
from South India to Taiwan, Philippines, New Guinea.
Mat (2013) conducted a study regarding Dioscorea

the focus of the study

Factors contributing to
hispida Dennst which is the Malaysian term for “yam.”
In their previous ethnobotanical survey carried out on
the Malay villagers in Pulau Redang, Kuala Terengganu
district of Terengganu, it was found out that Dioscorea
hispida tuber is used as food, traditional medicines to
treat diabetes and shingle infestation, for de-worming as
well as fish poison. On the other hand, the villagers of
Sainnamari and Thanarbaid, Tangail, Bangladesh had
used the poisonous tuber paste of Dioscorea as poison in
hunting.
While in the Philippines, Nami or intoxicating

research locale
Current condition in the
yam was investigated to have some insecticidal
properties. In the late research of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
they had proven that this species of yam has
various chemical compositions that may
negatively affect some various insects.
Moreover, the seed also has some poison-
mimicking cyanide intoxication.
 With this being said, the researchers

the study
Reason of the conduct of
aim to formulate a product with this
intoxicating yam by disregarding its
toxicity and instead using it as an
advantage. The researchers intend to
make a cheap, inorganic termite
wood repellent.
Source: Ceejay S. Mallari, et al, “Nami Plant Extract as Termite Repellent” paper presented at Jose C. Payumo Jr. Memorial High School,
2020.
Statement of the
Problem
 Statement of the Problem
Also called the heart of a research study, is where the
general and specific problems or objectives are presented
The introductory statement in this section is usually the
general problem or goal based from the research title.
This is followed by specific problems or objectives that
will be thoroughly studied in the course of the research.
As cited by Apodaca(2019),a researcher must not
rush into gathering ideas and information about
your topic. First, spend time getting the
background knowledge about the problem that
triggered off your research topic to discover its
relation to what the world, particularly the
experts, professionals, and learned people know
about your topic. The next step is for you to
formulate your research problems.
1. General problem (purposes statement) which
gives the focus of the research study. It simply
gives the overview of the research which provides
the direction of what the researcher aims to
attain.
2. Specific problems (research questions) which
are generated from the general problem and it
give the details of the research study. The answer
to each specific problem shall contribute to
addressing the general research problem.
 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) 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)
1. Begin the research questions with the “WHAT?” or
“HOW” explanation of the research design.
(Qualitative)

2. “WHY?” implies an explanation of an occurrence

and suggests a cause- and-effect type of thinking.
(Quantitative)

3. Focus on a single phenomenon or concept.

4. Qualitative research uses exploratory and non-directional verbs.
The study will: discover (grounded theory); seek to understand
(ethnography); explore the process of (case study); describe the
experiences of (phenomenology); report the stories (narrative
research).

5. Quantitative research uses directional verbs

such as: affect; effect; influence; impact; cause;
relation; relate; and determine
6. Expect research questions to evolve and change
during the study in a manner consistent with the
assumptions of the emerging design.

7. Use open-ended questions without reference to the

literature or theory unless otherwise indicated by a
qualitative strategy of inquiry.

8. Specify the participants and the research site of the

study, if the information is not yet given.
 The following is an example of stating of
the problem:
General problem: What are the general views of senior high school
students regarding Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion as a subject?
Specific questions: The study aims to answer the following questions:
1.What are the views of students on Inquiries, Investigations, and
Immersion?
2.What factors could have influenced the students’ views on Inquiries,
Investigations, and Immersion?
3.How can one implement positive influence to the students’ views on
Inquiries, Investigations and Immersion?
 Example of Specific Research Questions
Title of the Study: Perpetuity of Family-owned Business in the
Philippines: A Causal Model
This study seeks answers to the following questions:
1. What external factors in the enabling environment influence the
family business perpetuity in terms of political, economic, social,
technological, environmental and legal?

2. What internal factors in the enabling environment influence the

family business perpetuity in terms of succession, planning, family
stability, stewardship, family constitution, innovation, flexibility,
philosophy of commitment, productivity-based management,
governance power, and professional education?
 Example of Specific Research
Questions
Title of the Study: Perpetuity of Family-owned Business in
the Philippines: A Causal Model

3. What causal model best explains the

perpetuity of family-owned business using
the interplay and external factors?
Source: Alaine Marc Goles, “Perpetuity of family-owned business in the Philippines: A causal model” Unpublished
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Sto. Tomas, 2016.
 Activity
Formulate Research Questions
based on your Research
Problem. (15 points)
1.
2.
3
 Hypothesis
As stated by Jansen (2020), a research hypothesis
(also called a scientific hypothesis) is a
statement about the expected outcome of a
scientific study (for example, a dissertation or
thesis).
• A hypothesis is a preconceived idea, assumed to be
true and is tested for its truth or falsity.
- Is defined as a temporary answer to a research
problem
- Serves as a guide as to what processes are
needed in answering the research questions and
what research design is to be undertaken in the
study
-Not needed in qualitative research
 Attributes of a Hypothesis
1.A good research hypothesis needs to be clear about what
is being assessed (who and what is involved) and specific
about the expected outcome. (Specificity)
2.Testability means that you must be able to collect
observable data in a scientifically rigorous fashion to
assess whether it supports the hypothesis or not. In other
words, there needs to be a way to prove the claim.
3.To be a useful hypothesis, it also needs to be falsifiable
(disprovable). (falsifiability)
 2 types of hypothesis
Null hypothesis H0:: It is a statement about the population that
either is believed to be true or is used to put forth an argument
unless it can be shown to be incorrect beyond a reasonable doubt.
The null statement must always contain some form of equality (=,
≤ or ≥)

Alternative hypothesis Ha: It is a claim about the population that

is contradictory to H0 and what we conclude when we reject H0.
Always write the alternative hypothesis, typically denoted with
Ha or H1, using less than, greater than, or not equals symbols, i.e.,
(≠, >, or <)
 2 types of hypothesis
Null hypothesis H0: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). Null hypothesis is the hypothesis the researcher will try to
disprove or discredit.

Alternative hypothesis Ha: is one that states that there is a

significant difference or relationship between specified populations or variables.
Note that not all studies test
hypothesis. Sometimes a study
is designed to be exploratory.
Example of a Null E Example of an Alternative
Hypothesis:
There is no significant X Hypothesis:
There is a significant
difference between the A difference between the
reading comprehension skills
M reading comprehension skills
of controlled group and
experimental group before P of controlled group and
experimental group before
and after the differentiated L and after the intervention
instruction.
E differentiated instruction.
 A medical trial is conducted to test whether a
new vaccine reduces COVID-19 infection by
80%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

H0: The drug reduces COVID-19 infection by

80%.
Ha: The drug does not reduce COVID-19 infection
by 80%.
 Activity
Formulate a null and an alternative hypothesis for each of the
following. Write your answers on your notebook. (5 points each)

For example: Taking of aspirins daily and heart attack risk

Null: Taking aspirins daily does not affect heart attack risk. or
There is no significant relationship between taking aspirins daily
and heart attack risk.
Alternative: Taking aspirins does affect heart attack risk. or
There is a significant relationship between taking aspirins daily
and heart attack risk.
1. Effect of temperature on plant pigmentation
Null: Alternative:

2. Effects of fertilizer on plant growth

Null: Alternative:

3. Salary and job satisfaction among the factory

workers in Mariveles, Bataan
Null: Alternative: