Practical Research 2

IDENTIFYING
AND STATING
THE PROBLEM
RESEARCH TOPIC
OR PROBLEM
is an intellectual stimulus
calling for an answer in the
form of scientific inquiry
-are general questions about
relationships among variables, or
characteristics or phenomenon
which the researcher needs to
undertake
Choosing a
According to research experts, there

Research Topic
are actually three things you should
ask yourself if your study has:

Should -do-ability

do-ability

want-to-do-ability
• SHOULD - DO ABILITY
It is about the
purpose, relevance,
importance ,
appropriateness and
ethics of the research
 2. DO-ABILITY
This is about the
manageability, skill
required, prior experience
needed, timeframe
anticipated, and resource
support available to
conduct this research
3. WANT-TO-DO-ABILITY
It focuses on your own
motivation, commitment,
and perseverance
FACTORS TO
CONSIDER WHEN
Briefly elaborate on what you

SELECTING A
want to discuss.

RESEARCH TOPIC
 the size
• Is your topic or question
carefully stated in a way that
sets out the limits of your
study?

• Have you focused your

research in a way that will
keep you Briefly
on track?
elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
 Scope
• Have you defi ned the
scope in terms of
population and sample
or setting and case?
Briefly elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
 Time
• Have you made a calculated
guess at the length of time
this study will take?
Is the study manageable in the time
you have at your disposal?
Can you fi t this study around
your other work, family or
communityBriefly
commitments?
elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
Can you meet the necessary
 Resources
• Can you obtain the resources
(fi nancial, material,
administrative, and personnel)
required?

• Do you have easy access to

these or the fi nances to
support them? Briefly elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
 Skill
• Do you have the data-
gathering and analytic skills to
conduct this study?

• Can you get help or training

if it is beyond your
expertise? Briefly elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
 Access
How easy is it to gain access to
the site, the sample population,
and/or cases you need to study?

• Have you considered whose

permission you will require
and how will you get it?
Briefly elaborate on what
you want to discuss.
 Prior Knowledge
How well do you know the field
within which this topic sits?
• How familiar are you with the
research, theoretical, &
methodological literature
around this topic?
• Do you know where to go for
Briefly elaborate on what
support or advice? you want to discuss.
 Motivation
Will this topic hold your interest
for the required length of time?

Have you considered what

intrinsic and extrinsic
incentives might keep you
Briefly elaborate on what
going throughout theyouresearch?
want to discuss.
Even if you do not know
the answer to all these
questions right away,
they will help you realize
the scope of your
undertaking and the
commitment it requires
so that you select
Briefly elaborate on what
something
you wantworthwhile,
to discuss.

manageable and doable.

SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS/PROBLEMS

01 Prevailing theories or philosophy

02 Observation, intuitions or a
combination of both

03 Different subjects taken and from them identify

a problem that interests a student-researcher
SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS/PROBLEMS

4 Fields of interest/specialization

5 Existing problems in the

classroom/school/campus

6 Existing needs of the community

SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS/PROBLEMS

7 repetition or extension of
investigations already conducted

8 Related studies & literatures

9 Advice of authorities or experts

SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS/PROBLEMS

10 Offshoots of friendly conversations

Incidental from interesting topics

11 or teachers during the class
session
Selecting the
Research Topic
• It should be something new or
different from what has already been
written about
2. It must be original
3. It should be significant to the field of
study or discipline
Selecting the
Research Topic

4. It must necessarily arouse intellectual

curiosity

5. It should be of researcher’s interest

and researcher must be with the topic
Selecting the
Research Topic
6. It should be modest one for a beginner
to be carried on within a limited period of
time.
7. It should be clear, not ambiguous

8. It should be specific, not general

Selecting the
Research Topic
9. It should consider the training and
personal qualifications of the researcher.

10 It should consider the availability of

data involved in the study and the
methods and techniques to be employed
in gathering the data and their treatment
Selecting the
Research Topic
11. It should consider the availability of
effective instruments for gathering the
data and their treatment
12. It should consider the financial
capacity of the researcher to support the
project
Selecting the
Research Topic

13. It should consider the time factor

involved in the undertaking.
BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
Background of the study

“includes the information which would

focus attention on the importance and
validity of the problem” (Faltado, et al., 2016).
In other words, it provides background
information for the research.
What must be included in the background of
the study?

1. TOPIC
This part should introduce to the readers
what the research is all about. It should clearly
point the importance of dealing with the topic at
hand. The topic can be introduced in at least 2
sentences.
2. Situational analysis (problem statement)
• This part indicates the general problem faced – an
area of conflict, concern, or controversy (a gap
between what is wanted and what is observed) or
a perceived discrepancy on between what is
(current) and should be (standard).

• It must also present and explain the existence of

the problem and how serious it is.
Some questions being asked are as follows:
a. Does the problem really exist? Cite evidence
(includes the most relevant reference that supports
them)

b. How serious is the problem? Who and how many

are affected?

c. How widespread is the problem? What places are

affected? d. Does the problem occur often?
3. Brief Literature Review

This part includes the evidence and

relevance from the literature and published
or archival data showing the problem exists.
Theoretical basis for the study may be
included.
As you review related literature, you do it carefully to
be able to answer questions such as:
a. What answers or solutions have been found/tried
in the past to solve the problem? Are these
successful? How successful were they?
b. What questions/problems remain unanswered?
c. What aspects of the problem need to be studied
further?
Also, read various sources (primary or secondary) to
fully understand your research and exhaust all
possible means. Do not always rely on the internet
as your only reference. Always apply the knowledge
gained from your practical research 1 on
how to review relevant literature to avoid citing
unreliable sources.
In addition, in writing the reviewed literature,
either summarize the key ideas, quote directly
the material, or paraphrase. As you do so,
remember to adhere always to the ethical
guidelines.
Furthermore, when you place references, use them
properly. Avoid, constructing a paragraph
coming from various references without
expounding or including your inputs in it. In
doing so, you are losing your credibility as a researcher.
It’s just like putting together the ideas of other people
without your own. This will no longer be called yours
since the ideas placed are not yours, but the ideas of
other researchers/people put together in one paper.
4. Research Gap –
This includes a brief discussion that
details the area of need (in relation to
the problem) and the deficiency or lack
of evidence in the literature.
Formulating the background of the study for
quantitative research is no different from that
of the qualitative research. Also, there is no
exact arrangement on the parts of the
background of the study. As you formulate
your research, organize your thoughts for the
readers to understand what you are trying to
convey.
Remember:
no matter how eye catchy or
informative your research title is if
in the introduction alone, the
readers cannot grasp what you are
trying to inform them, it would be
a waste.
Therefore, exert efforts in formulating the
background of the study. This part as you
know is the most tedious, for in here,
you are to establish the problem
or the need for the study. Once it is
not established, you cannot go further on
the other parts of your research.