Formulating a

Qualitative
Research Problem
PLANNING FOR A RESEARCH
PROJECT
A research project is a systematic plan that
is the result of a well-designed research.
The research design provides a structure of
the entire project including who to
integrate in the research (sampling) and
who or what to compare for which
dimensions, among others. It is mainly the
research design that provides the
foundation of the entire research project.
Ragin (1994:191) defines research design as a
blueprint for collecting and analyzing evidence
that will make it achievable for the researcher
to answer whatever questions he or she has
posed. Flick (146) emphasizes that the design
of a research touches almost all aspects of the
study, from the small details of data collection
to the selection of the techniques of data
analysis. It is the overall plan for collecting data
in order to answer the research question.
 Planning for a research project involves
extensive and thorough preparation. It would
be helpful to ask yourself the following
questions:
QUESTIONS TO ASK THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. Why do you want to do the study?

Personal interests?
Desire to change practice?
Desire to challenge policies?
Theoretical interests?

2. What exactly is it that interests you?

Which people are you most interested in talking to?
How would you access and approach them?
How will you ensure diversity and comparative potential of your sample?

3. What are the limitations and possibilities of the methods available? Which method/combination of methods would be most appropriate?
What challenges will this method/combination of methods pose?

4. How will you analyze your data?

Interpretive?
Narrative?
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?

A research problem, or phenomenon is a statement or

an issue that requires further focus before it can be
investigated. Simply put, it is the topic that you intend
to address, investigate or study.
It can be about a certain area of concern, a
situation that calls for improvement and a
difficulty that can be minimized or eradicated.
Furthermore, questions that come from existing
scholarly works whether in theory or current
practice can also be subjected to research if the
need for meaningful understanding and
deliberate investigation is established .
In addition, a research problem should be stated as
specifically as possible. It should be clear, concise
and focused. A problem statement such as
“Students cannot read,” is broad and vague. It can
be improved by restating in into “Students cannot
find the main idea in the literary selection.”
WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?
WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?

-is a way of expressing your interest in a

problem or phenomenon (Sage Books). Each
question should be clear and specific and related
to the topic. It should be researchable, which
means that information can be collected to answer
them. By collecting – the methods of observation
and interview can be carried out.
 Four Essential Characteristics of
Good Research Questions

 Feasible. The question can be investigated

using available resources. There is no need
to spend too much time, energy, or money.

 Clear. Most people would understand what

the key words mean.
 Significant. It is worthy to be studied because it
will contribute essential knowledge about human
experience.

 Ethical. Physical or psychological harm or damage

to human beings or natural and social environment
is not involved.
Justification (of a study) is a rationale statement in which a
researcher indicates why the study is important to conduct;
includes implications for theory and/or practice.
FORMULATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

A statement of the problem indicates the

intended purpose of the research, the
variables of interest to the researcher, and
any specific relationship between those
variables that is to be, or was, investigated;
includes description of background and
rationale (justification) for the study.
The statement of the research problem establishes the
basis of the study. It is generally composed of two parts.
First, the general problem – which is usually written in
narrative form, describes the whole picture of the
research. Second, the specific problems – which are
written in question form, provide the details. The
specific problems are based on the general problem.
Below is an example of a statement of the problem
taken from the research entitled Inquiring into
Filipino Teachers’ Conceptions of Good Teaching: A
Qualitative Research Study.

General Problem:
The study intends to generate new models for
categorizing and understanding concepts and beliefs
about good teaching.
Specific Problems:
1. What is the nature of good teaching?
2. What personal and social qualities of
teachers are related to good teaching?
3. What knowledge and pedagogical
processes are related to good teaching?
To illustrate further how to start from choosing a topic to formulating
your research problem, providing a justification and writing a research
question, study the graph below:
END.
.
THE RESEARCH TITLE

In the previous module, you formulated

your research problem. Now, you are ready
to write your research title. At this stage, it
will be your working title since it can be
modified or revised later as the research
continues. Here are some rules to help you
write your research title:
Guidelines in Writing a Research Title

 It should identify the key issues under investigation as

well as how they relate to each other. Therefore, the
variables being studied in the research should be clearly
summed up. (Read the next part to know more about
variables).

 The general problem is reflected in the research title.

 Keep away from long titles. A good research title is

usually composed of 12 to 15 words.

 It should be precise and capture the reader’s interest

while conveying important information about the study.
Wolcott (1990), suggests to keep thinking
about a final title and write notes to have a
record of your ideas. He also prefers a two-
part title: an intriguing main title often
using a present participle to signify activity
and a descriptive subtitle.
For example:
Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods
for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction

In general, titles should catch the

attention of the readers while informing
them about the research and its main
focus.
What are Variables in the Context of Research?

Attributes or values are characteristics or qualities

that describe an object or person.
A variable is a characteristic that can assume any
one of several values. For example: cognitive ability,
height, aptitude, and teaching method.

Variables are logical groupings of attributes or

values.
 Study the table below:
Variables Attributes or values

Age young, middle-aged, old

Occupation doctor, teacher, clerk

Race/ethnicity Asian, African American,

Caucasian, Hispanic
 TYPES OF VARIABLES

A variable with values that are

not problematic in an analysis
but are taken as simply given.It
Independent
is presumed to cause or
Variable determine a dependent
variable. It is referred to as
change variable because it
brings about change in a
phenomenon, situation, or
circumstance.
 TYPES OF VARIABLES

It is assumed to depend on or
be caused by another variable
(independent variable). Also, it
Dependent
is known as outcome variable
Variable because it shows the effect,
impact or consequences of a
change variable.
 TYPES OF VARIABLES

A variable that modifies the

relationship of the
independent variable to the
observed phenomenon
Moderating
Variable (dependent variable). It
modifies the originally
expected relationship between
the independent and the
dependent variables.
 TYPES OF VARIABLES

It comes between the

independent and dependent
variables and show the link or
Intervening
Variable mechanism between them. The
link that is mean there is the
cause-and-effect relationship
between the change and outcome
variables.
Study the examples below:

1. Smoking causes cancer.

Independent variable: smoking
Dependent variable: cancer

2. Unemployment rate goes up, crime rate also goes up.

Independent variable: unemployment rate
Dependent variable: crime rate
Intervening
Variable

3. Frequency of a soldier being deployed causes stress.

Independent variable: frequency of a soldier being deployed
Dependent variable: stress
 Independent, Dependent and Moderating Variables

Intervening
Variable
Independent, Dependent and Intervening Variables

Intervening
Variable
Intervening
Variable
 SETTING THE
SCOPE OF THE
RESEARCH
 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The next section of the research that you will

write is the scope and delimitation of the study.
This section simply describes what is included
and excluded in your study. Two paragraphs are
Intervening
sufficient for this part. Write one paragraph for
Variable

the scope and another for the delimitation.

 Writing the Scope

Elements Description

1. Impact. Write a brief discussion. Who affects your study? Who is

affected by your study? How will this
affect the persons involved in your
study?

2. Sample Size. The number of the Describe the general population of

respondents who will take part in your study. The respondents are the
your study. subjects of the survey or the
participants.

3. Research Timeline. Time When will the research begin and

allotment. when is it expected to end?
 Writing the Delimitation
Elements Description

1. Narrow the scope of the research. This part explains further the selection of
specific respondents, as well as the
sampling procedure in which they are
going to be determined.

2. Instrumentation and Research Present the research instrument and

Method. explain the method that will be utilized.
The research instruments refer to the
tools for data collection. This section
should also indicate how the information
or data gathered will be used and
analyzed.
3. Time limitations. Discuss the range of time that the study
covers.
Intervening
Variable
Intervening
Variable
Scope and Delimitation of the Study

What is the scope of a study?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

What is the scope of a study?

It is the coverage of the research to be
explored which includes the facts and
theories about the subject
What is the Delimitation of a
Study?
What is the Delimitation of a
Study?

Delimitation limits the scope and

outlines the boundaries of the study.
1. Sample size.

a. The research design and method will

determine whether if it is small or
large sample size.

b. The sample size will determine the

quality of data and the relationships that
will be identified among the variables.

Delimitation of a Study
2. Lack of available and/or reliable data.
This will limit the scope of analysis and
the ability of the researcher to
determine meaningful trends and
relationships among the data.

3. Lack of prior studies. This will limit

the effectiveness of the literature
review and initial understanding of the
research.
Delimitation of a Study
4. Chosen data collection method. The
quality of data collected must be clear
to avoid erroneous answers from the
respondents.

5. Nature of the information collected.

Researcher should not rely on pre-
existing data.

Delimitation of a Study
6. Access. The amount and quality of
available data will depend on the
ability of the researcher to access
people, organizations, libraries, and
documents.

7. Time period. It is advisable to select

a research problem and design

Delimitation of a Study
8. Bias. The researcher must focus only
to the problem, should be neutral and
avoid his or her personal biases.

9. Language. This may have an effect

on data collection, especially if the
researcher is involved with respondents
that speak a variety of languages.

Delimitation of a Study
Presenting Written Statement of the
Problem

The following sections compose the presentation of the written

statement of the problem (Barbour, R. 2014):

1. Introduction
2. Statement of the problem.
3. Scope and Delimitation.
4. Significance of the Study.
1. Introduction. States briefly the
background of the study and identifies
the rationale of the research problem.
It begins with a general statement of
the problem, outlines the specific
problem or issue within the existing
literature.

Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

2. Statement of the problem. It
states clearly the purposes or interest
of the study, poses specific questions
about research problem

3. Scope and Delimitation. Sets the

boundaries and parameters of the
study, narrows the scope of the
inquiry.

Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

4. Significance of the Study. It shows
the benefits of the study to address
issues and problems, in improving
economic and health conditions or even
finding solutions to problems
encountered in daily life.

Presenting Written Statement of the Problem

END…
SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE STUDY
Another part of the research that you also
need to write is the significance of the
study. As the researcher, you are expected
to discuss the importance of your study.
This part should explain how your research
is going to be valuable to its end users –
different groups of people, organizations,
agencies or entities. How will your research
findings benefit them?
For example, a research study that aims to
determine best practices on how to prevent
risks during disasters in a particular locality
will benefit the community by helping them
grasp knowledge and ideas in preparing for
disasters thus preventing damages and
deaths.
 Guidelines in Writing the Significance
of the Study

 It contains an introductory statement.

 It presents the list of beneficiaries, which can be

written in hierarchical order or level of importance.
To establish the hierarchical order, determine a
person or entity from the highest position to the
lowest. Researchers are usually written at the
bottom of the list. The level of importance pertains
to who would benefit from the study the most to the
least.
 The results of your study should benefit
particular groups of people, organization, agency
or entity.

 Specify the group of people, organization,

agency or entity and the corresponding
description of the benefit each will gain from
your research.

 The significance of the study may be written in

bullet points or paragraph form.