RATIONALE

This question is answered by sharing the reasons

why the researcher decided to look for solutions
to the problem. A rationale may include the
narration of personal experiences, a description
of an article read, a scene witnessed, a news
heard, or a theory that needs to be clarified. The
researcher should describe the existing and
prevailing problem based on his or her
experience. The scope may be local, national, or
international. Ideally, the rationale can start from a
global perspective to a more personal one.
Example
As a Grade 12 student, some students
experienced some difficulties in
performing well because of various
factors such as the attitude of the
teachers as well as their teaching
methods, the absence of laboratory
facilities, and inadequacy of books in the
library. They are having difficulties in
their quizzes and class performance.
BASIC LITERATURE FOUNDATION OF THE STUDY
This is different from the review of the related
theories, conceptual literature, & research
literature. This parts seeks to provide the
researchers clarity on the terms or variables used
in the study. The terms and variables must be clear
to the researcher for an easy understanding of the
readers. As, such sufficient background can assist
the investigators in determining the boundaries of
the study. this part is derived from different
literature sources. The use of various references is
crucial in this part.
EXAMPLE
As teaching is considered to be complex activity (Medley, as cited in Iqbal, 1996), the
scholars and researchers in the field of education have since long been exploring into and
analyzing the teaching phenomenon. Teaching is an arrangement and manipulation of a
situation in which a learner tries to overcome the learning problems. Teaching is also a
multidimensional sets of activities intended to facilitate learning (Torrington et al., 2003).
However, it is universally recognized that teachers’ instructional performance plays a key
role in students’ learning and academic achievement (Panda & Mohanty, 2003).
SETTING OF THE PROBLEM

It is part of the limitation of the study. it

defines the geographic boundaries and
certain demographic characteristics of the
research. This describes the place where the
research was conducted, since the setting
has a significant bearing on the variables
being studied. In the description of the
setting, its distinctive characteristics must
be highlighted.
EXAMPLE

Puting Camunitan Elementary School

is one of the barrio schools in Orion,
Bataan where most enrollees are from
disadvantaged families whose
immediate ancestors are either laborers
or fisher folks. This school is one of the
schools with poorly performing students
in their division according to the
Department of Education.
SERIOUSNESS OF THE CHOSEN RESEARCH
PROBLEM/PROOF OF URGENCY
The researchers are tasked to identify the
intensity and magnitude of the problem.
When the gravity of the problem has
already been described, he or she may
then gauge the kind of action to be used to
identify the problem. In most cases, the
researcher at this point looks for
statistical or quantitative evidence to
assess the significance of the problem at hand.
EXAMPLE

Based on the DepEd Division

Memo series of 2012, among 12
schools with the most poorly
performing students, Putting
Capunitan Elementary Schools
ranked 12 .
th
GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROBLEM

This is the general statement of

the problem or the major tasks
of the researchers to discharge
and should also be the basis of
the enumerated statements of
specific problems.
EXAMPLE

With the abovementioned scenario

and situations, it is the main objective
of the researchers to determine the
common reasons of the poor
performance of the students. Therefore,
the research findings on that objective
become the basis of an intervention
program for school effectiveness.
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE PROBLEM

It is important to note that the

researchers must be totally
aware of the purpose of the
research problem. He or she
must fully understand the
implications of the resulting
findings of the study.
EXAMPLE

This is mainly for the purpose

of letting the students acquire
the needed competencies before
graduation and enabling the
school to perform better in the
Regional Achievement
Examinations.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM PATTERN
The purpose of this (narrative,
phenomenological, grounded theory,
ethnographic, case study) is to (understand,
describe, develop, discover) the (central
phenomenon of the study) for (the participants)
at (the site). At this stage in the research, the
(central phenomenon) will be generally defined
as (a general definition of the central concept)
(Creswell and Clark, 2014).
PURPOSE STATEMENT PATTERN
The purpose of this [type of study-
can either be phenomenological,
grounded theory, ethnographic,
case, etc.] study is to (understand,
describe, develop, discover) [what:
indicate the central phenomenon of
the study] of [who or what: indicate
the participants] involving [what or
who: a general definition of the
central concept] from [when] to
EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL PROBLEM

The researchers aims/seeks to describe

the training of Aeta teachers from
Castillejos, Zambales for the past ten
years to provide insights into the
formulation of a teacher education
model for indigenous people.
EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL PROBLEM

The purpose of this ethnographic study

is to describe the training of Aeta
teachers from Castillejos, Zambales
for the past ten years to provide
insights into the formulation of a
teacher education model for
indigenous people.
 To put it simply;

 Typeof study: Ethnographic study

 What: The training
 Who: Aeta teachers
 When: Past 10 years
 Purpose: Provide insights into the
formulation of a teacher education
model for indigenous peoples.
EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL PROBLEM

The objective of this ethnographic study is

to differentiate the customs and traditions
of the Aetas and the locals of Zambales
enrolled in Olongapo National High School
for the school year 2014-2015. In this
research, the customs and traditions are
defined as their practices in the celebration
of the feasts. Specifically, the researchers
seek to answers the following questions:
EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL PROBLEM

The overall objective of this phenomenological

study is to describe the intrapersonal and
interpersonal competencies of school principals,
and their relationship to the school effectiveness
in the Division of Bataan for the school year 2001-
2002. The result is used as a basis for an
intervention program (Cristobal, 2003). Here,
intrapersonal is the school managers’ own self-
concept and personality while interpersonal is
their communication and expression in dealing
with subordinates.
EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL PROBLEM

The objective of this grounded theory

is to characterize the general study
habits of the high school students
that belong to the top ten of the
class. The study habits are
concentrated on the student’s
preparation before attending classes
daily.
GENERAL PROBLEM
The general problem is followed by an enumeration of the
specific problems. These problems are usually stated as
questions that the researchers seek to answer. Therefore the
specific problems must meet the following criteria:
1. They must be in question form.
2. They ,must define the population and the samples of the
study (participants, subjects).
3. They must identify the variables being studied.
TWO TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Central questions are the most general questions that can be
asked.
2. Sub-questions subdivide the central into more specific topical