Formulating the research title and writing the

research problem
Created Jul 26, 2020 120 PM

Tags prelims

Functions of a Research Title

 It draws in summary form, the content of the entire investigation.

 Serves as a frame of reference for the whole thesis.

 Enables the Researcher to claim the title as his own.

 Helps other Researchers to refer to the work for possible survey of theory.

Criteria:

Be written clearly & specifically.

Include all variables.
Set the maximum of 20 substantive words, function words not included in
the counting

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PROBLEM

Ethical Issues

Subject’s rights and privileges as human being are taken care of.

Significance of the Study

Results increase the level of nursing knowledge.

Personal Motivation

Researcher has been intrigued and curious about so many instances.

Qualification

Wherein level of expertise is taken into account. i.e. Researchers at

undergraduate level should learn & develop basic research skills.

Feasibility of the Study

Wherein time, cost, equipment and supplies are employed.

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Any incident that looks for a solution, an explanation, a clarification, or an answer. It is actually a question that
has to be answered or an issue that has to be addressed. Asperas, 2005
In any research activity, the identification of a problem signals its beginning. The researcher should see to it that
he is able to clearly delineate the focus of the study so that concise statement of the research problem is done.
When there is no problem, there is no basis for anyone to undertake research.

Conditions they want to improve, difficulties they want to eliminate, questions for which they want
answers or information gaps they wish to fill, or theories they wish to validate. It could also be an issue
that should be settled or a question about the unknown characteristics of a population or about factors
that explain the presence or occurrence of a phenomenon. David, 2002

A perplexing or enigmatic situation thata researcher wants to address through disciplined inquiry Polit
and Beck, 2004

Presents the questions that is to be asked in the study that is the foundation of the research study.
LoBiondo-Wood and Haber, 2002

Presents the topic under study, provides rationale for the choice of topic, represents a synthesis of facts
and theory, and directs the selection of the design. Brockopp and Tolsman, 2003

Formulating the research title and writing the research problem 1

 Researchers usually identify a broad topic, narrow the scope of the problem, and identify questions
consistent with a paradigm of choice.

Initially a research problem is stated in a form of question, which serves as focus of the investigation.

Research Questions – are the specific queries researchers want to answer in

addressing the research problem.
Examples:

Is postpartum depression higher among women who are

employed 6 months after delivery than among those who stay at home with their babies? Quantitative)

What is the meaning of postpartum depression among new mothers? Qualitative)

Do mothers who have attended health education classes have better health care management practices
than those who have not? Quantitative)

How do full-time mothers view health education classes? Qualitative)

What is the patient’s experience of waiting for a pain

medication? Qualitative)

Is the ethnic background of patients related to the frequency and intensity of complaints when waiting
from pain medication? Quantitative)

A potential research problem exists when the following conditions are present. David, 2020

There is a perceived discrepancy between what is and what should be.

There are two or more plausible reasons for the discrepancy.

SOURCES OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM Polit and Beck, 2004

 Experience and Clinical Fieldwork – watch for recurring problem and see if you can discern a pattern in
situation that lead to the problem, think about aspects of your work that are irksome, frustrating or do not
result in intended outcome – then try to identify factors contributing to the problem that could be
changed; examine some decisions you make in performing your functions. Are these based on traditions,
or are they based on systematic evidence that support their efficacy?

 Nursing Literature – alerts researchers to clinical trends and issues, inconsistencies in the findings
generate ideas, do not hesitate to replicate a study that is reported in the research literature.

 Social Issues – global, social or political issues of relevance to the health care community.

 Theory – can be tested for their applicability to clinical settings.

 Ideas from External Sources – ideas from faculty members, organizations, websites, priorities for nursing
research.

Development and Refinement of Research Problem

 Selecting a Topic – relax and jot down general ideas of interest as they come
to mind.

 Narrowing the Topic – ask questions that lead to a researchable problem,

more than one can emerge.

 Evaluate Research Problems – significance, researchability, feasibility (time and timing, availability of study
participants, cooperation of others, facilities and equipment, money, experience of the researcher, ethical
considerations), interest to the researcher.

Nurse Researchers can use the steps that follow in sourcing research problem.

 Make an analysis of needs.

 Possess an intellectual curiosity.

 Should consider a spark of inspiration.

 Systematic search for a problem.

 Follow a prescription

CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

Formulating the research title and writing the research problem 2

 Researchable

Sustains the interest of researcher.

Must be within the researcher’s capability.

Manageable in scope and depth.

Have the potentials to contribute something new.

Significant.

Provide answers to the questions such as: in knowledge

 Will it improve the situation?

 Will it fill an important void in knowledge?

 Will it have possible practical applications?

 Is it worth the time, effort and money put into it?

Characteristics of a Good Research Problem

Relevant – can help advance knowledge.

Feasible – time, money, personnel are available.

Be clear – clearly stated and measurable

Be ethical – do not pose danger, embarrassment, hurt or any risk to any one.

Problem Definition

Explains the existence and seriousness of the problem.

Shows evidences that prove the problem really exists, that it is serious and or widespread

Identifies the elements of a broader problem that are to be focus of the research activity.

Does the problem really exist? What are the evidences of the problem’s existence?

Is the problem serious? Who and how many are affected by it?

What places are affected?

How often does problem occur?

Things to remember when Defining a Research

Problem

Review relevant literature and previous studies on the problem.

Examine current available data/statistics.

Seek educated opinions from persons concerned with the problem.

Determine the probable reasons for the existence of the problem from social, economic or
other theories that may
explain the existence of the problem and the possible connection between the problem and
other factor.

A careful review of existing information or studies on a problem can also help the
investigator determine:

What answers or solutions have been found/ tried in the past to solve the problem an allow
successfully they were, and

What questions still remain unanswered and what aspects of the problem need to be studied
further.

FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

Main Research Problem

Specific Problems (sub problems)

Are stated in interrogative forms.

Formulating the research title and writing the research problem 3

 These questions can ask about nature of the situation or subject,
characteristics of the phenomenon, relationships between two or more
variables, cause and effects of the sequence of events and processes.

Example:

Main Problem:

What is the extent of the nutritional and health conditions of the children in
Barangay Bagong Sikat and Villa Marina, San Jose City?

Sub-problems:

 What are the predisposing factors that contribute to the nutritional and
health conditions among children of the two barangays?

 What are the existing nutritional and health practices of the children in
the two barangays?

 What are the sectors extending health support and services to combat
nutritional and health related problems among children in the two
barangays?

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