THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Identifying and Defining the Research Problem

Name: ___________________________________ Section: __________________

I. Content and Objectives

A. Topic: Writing the Background and Rationale of the Research Problem

II. Activities
A. Activity No. 1. How to Write the Background and Rationale of the Proposed Investigation

Objective
1. Analyze the parts of the background and rationale of a simple research problem

A. Read and understand the research study below.

Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is a highly invasive and serious pests that attacked agricultural plants
especially rice resulting to a great loss of farmer. They were introduced to Asia, from South America, in the 1980s as
major source of protein of low income Filipino farmers, but unfortunately it became a major pest of rice (Joshi et al.,
2000). They destroy the crop by eating young and emerging rice plants. They cut the rice stem at the base, destroying the
whole plants. As this species causes considerable damage in rice fields in both transplanted and wet-seeded rice, it
threatens the rice production and food security in the country (Halwart, 1994; Joshi et al., 2000).
Snails are able to spread through irrigation canals, natural water distribution pathways, and during flooding
events. When water is absent, apple snails are able to bury themselves in the mud and hibernate for up to six months.
When water is re-applied to fields, snails may emerge. They damage direct wet-seeded rice and transplanted rice up to 30
days old. If no control measure is taken, they can completely destroy 1 m2 of field overnight. This damage could lead to
more than 50% yield loss (IRRI, 2021).
A number of synthetic pesticides were used for effective control of pest population in rice farming. However,
these pesticides are quite beyond the monetary budget of ordinary farmer which add to their burgeoning debt. This results
to meager income which is one of the factors why many farmers belong to the marginalized sector. Adding havoc to this,
is the environmental pollution and human diseases brought about by these hazardous pesticide which are capable to
biologically magnify in the higher organism in the food chain. Thus, the search for efficient, organic, and environment-
friendly molluscicide that could minimize the spread of the invasive Golden Apple Snail (P. canaliculata) in the
Philippines is still ongoing (Picardal, 2018).
The use of non-toxic locally available and familiar plants in the rural area could be a better alternative to chemical
controls against Golden apple snails (Rice Knowledge Bank, IRRI, 2021). In fact, farmers in Brgy. Guadalupe, Janiuay,
Iloilo were using mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) as organic pesticide and they had attested that it has been effective.
However, this allegation has not yet been proven scientifically. Thus, this study aims to conduct an experimentation in a
controlled situation to find out if mahogany (S. mahagoni) seeds, leaves and bark ethanolic extract have molluscicidal
action against P. canaliculata based on potency test. Specifically, it seeks to: determine the molluscicidal activity of S.
mahagoni seeds, leaves and bark extracts against P. canaliculata and compare their molluscicidal activity. This study is
important in giving scientific basis on the indigenous practice of farmers and the information generated from this research
will be the basis of further study.

1
ANALYSIS
1. If the title of the research investigation is “Moluscicidal Activity of Swietenia mahagoni seeds, leaves and bark
ethanolic extract against Pomacea canaliculata,” identify the:

a. Subject of the study_____________________________________________________________________

b. Independent variables___________________________________________________________________
c. Dependent variable_____________________________________________________________________

2. Identify the parts of the paper that define the problem. Match the parts of the background and rationale from what is
written above. Write letter only.

Parts how to
define the
problem
1. ___ The limitation or A. Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is a highly invasive and serious pests that
weakness of the attacked agricultural plants especially rice resulting to a great loss of farmer. They were
present solution introduced to Asia, from South America, in the 1980s as major source of protein of low
income Filipino farmers, but unfortunately it became a major pest of rice (Joshi et al.,
2000).
2. ____ The present
solution done for B. They destroy the crop by eating young and emerging rice plants. They cut the rice
the problem stem at the base, destroying the whole plants. As this species causes considerable
damage in rice fields in both transplanted and wet-seeded rice, it became a serious pest
in the Southeast Asian rice-belt including the Philippine (Halwart, 1994). Snails are able
to spread through irrigation canals, natural water distribution pathways, and during
flooding events. When water is absent, apple snails are able to bury themselves in the
mud and hibernate for up to six months. When water is re-applied to fields, snails may
emerge. They damage direct wet-seeded rice and transplanted rice up to 30 days old. If
no control measure is taken, they can completely destroy 1 m2 of field overnight. This
damage could lead to more than 50% yield loss (IRRI, 2021).

3.____ Specific C. A number of synthetic pesticides were used for effective control of pest population in
circumstances of rice farming.
the existences of
the problem
4. ____ General D. However, these pesticides are quite beyond the monetary budget of ordinary farmer
Background which add to their burgeoning debt. This results to meager income which is one of the
factors why many farmers belong to the marginalized sector. Adding havoc to this, is
the environmental pollution and human diseases brought about by these hazardous
pesticide which are capable to biologically magnify in the higher organism in the food
chain.

Question:
 What are the chronological parts / contents when writing the background and rationale of the study?

III. Abstraction

A Beginner’s Guide in Writing the Background and Rationale.

1.1 General context (Describing the problem) – (ONE PARAGRAPH)
You are going to describe the general context of the study. What is the general situation or circumstance that makes
you develop your research proposal? Why is this situation / circumstance important? Then, you can connect this
problem to your locality or your local context. If you can find demographics, it more convincing.
Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is a highly invasive and serious pests that attacked agricultural
plants especially rice resulting to a great loss of farmer. They were introduced to Asia, from South America, in
the 1980s as major source of protein of low income Filipino farmers, but unfortunately it became a major pest
of rice (Joshi et al., 2000).
2
 1.2 The Nature, Extent and Salience of the research problem/topic
You need to show or discuss the seriousness of the problem. Give details of its extent. You support these with facts
or a clear description of the existence of the problem. Use data from related studies to support this part.
They destroy the crop by eating young and emerging rice plants. They cut the rice stem at the base, destroying the
whole plants. As this species causes considerable damage in rice fields in both transplanted and wet-seeded rice,
it became a serious pest in the Southeast Asian rice-belt including the Philippine (Halwart, 1994). Snails
are able to spread through irrigation canals, natural water distribution pathways, and during flooding events.
When water is absent, apple snails are able to bury themselves in the mud and hibernate for up to six months.
When water is re-applied to fields, snails may emerge. They damage direct wet-seeded rice and transplanted rice
up to 30 days old. If no control measure is taken, they can completely destroy 1 m 2  of field overnight. This damage
could lead to more than 50% yield loss (IRRI, 2021).

1.3 Then you can proceed to the description of the current practices / interventions done. How do people in the
field address the problem? Remember that you can’t assume these ideas but rather get these ideas from
literature that you have read or from what you have really observed. When getting ideas form related
literature, don’t forget to cite the source.

A number of synthetic pesticides were used for effective control of pest population in rice farming.

1.4 Establish the gap (Ideal vs current) or giving the limitation or inadequacy of the current practices.
A research gap is a question or a problem that has not been answered by any of the existing studies or research within your
field. Sometimes, a research gap exists when there is a concept or new idea that hasn't been studied at all. Sometimes you'll find
a research gap if all the existing research is outdated and in need of new/updated research (studies on Internet use in 2001, for
example). Or, perhaps a specific population has not been well studied (perhaps there are plenty of studies on teenagers and
video games, but not enough studies on toddlers and video games, for example). These are just a few examples, but any
research gap you find is an area where more studies and more research need to be conducted (Wolf, 2021 -
https://libanswers.snhu.edu/faq/264001).

However, these pesticides are quite beyond the monetary budget of ordinary farmer which add to their
burgeoning debt. This results to meager income which is one of the factors why many farmers belong to the
marginalized sector. Adding havoc to this, is the environmental pollution and human diseases brought about by
these hazardous pesticide which are capable to biologically magnify in the higher organism in the food chain.

1.5 Then proceed to your proposed solution or intervention. This is how you fill the gap. Actually, this part is you
hypothesis or theoretical basis of your proposed study. This is proposing your solution and rationalizing why
your solution is feasible. Using related studies, theories or other scientific principles support and justify your
proposed solution or answer.
The use of toxic locally available and familiar plants in the rural area could be better alternative to chemical
controls against Golden apple snails (Rice Knowledge Bank, IRRI, 2021). In fact, farmers in Brgy. Guadalupe,
Janiuay, Iloilo were using mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) as organic pesticide and they had attested that it has
been effective. However, this allegation has not yet been proven scientifically.

1.6 Present objective and importance /relevance of the study as a closing statement in the introduction

Thus, this study aims to conduct an experimentation in a controlled situation to find out if mahogany (S.
mahagoni) seeds, leaves and bark ethanolic extract have molluscicidal action against Pomacea canaliculata based
on potency test. Specifically, it seeks to: determine the molluscicidal activity of S. mahagoni seeds, leaves and
bark extracts against P. canaliculata;compare the molluscicidal activity of S. mahagoni crude seed, bark and leaf
ethanolic extract against P. canaliculata. This study is important in giving scientific basis on the indigenous
practice of farmers and the information generated from this research will be the basis of further study.

The above mentioned flow is actually giving background to problem and rationalizing the proposed solution or
hypothesis, objective and importance.

3
 IV. Application
A. You are given the following topics. Choose only one and develop the
background and rationale.

1. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of selected strains of commercially

important mushrooms found in Janiuay, Iloilo.
2. Anti-diarrheal activity of Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) leaves in white mice
(Mus musculus)
3. Anti-hyperglycemic effects of banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) leaves in
white mice (Mus musculus)
4. Cytotoxicity level of periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) and star apple
(Chrysophyllum cainito) using Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina) Lethality Assay
5. Anti-pyretic Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Kalumbibit (Caesalpinia
bonduc) Leaves
6. The Anti-Depressant Effect of Littoral Spinegrass (Spinifex littoreous) Crude
Ethanolic Leaf Extract
7. Analgesic Activity of Oregano (Coleus aromaticus Benth.) Crude Ethanolic
Leaf Extract
8. Antibacterial activity of Premna odorata (Agdaw) against Staphylococcus
aureus
9. Acaricidal Effect of Swietenia macrophylla (Mahogany) Aqueous Leaf Extract
Against Termites
10. Antimicrobial Activity of the Aqueous and Crude Ethanolic Extract of
Biribitoon (Barringtonia Asiatica) Seeds
11. Antimicrobial Activity of Paspalum conjugatum (Carabao Grass) Ethanolic
Leaf Extract
12. Antifungal Activity of Bayabas (Psidium guajava) Leaves, Seeds, and Bark
Aqueous Extracts Against Dermatophytic Fungi (Trichophyton rubrum,
Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum)

B. Follow the guide below

1. Chose the title that you want:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. It is time now to research the related literature, ask experts and write.

General context (Describing the problem)

Describe the specific nature, extent and salience of the research problem

4
 Description of the current practices / interventions done

Establishing the gap

Proposed solution or intervention / study description.

Present objective and importance /relevance of the study as a closing statement in the introduction

You can add space in the text box. And please take note all references or sources where you get ideas. You
need this in the next activities. Take note, what you have just written in the is your introduction (Background of
problem, rationalization of the problem by presenting a critical analysis of the gap; proposed solution ; objectives and
relevance/significance of the study. Do it well, you will have no problem in the next parts of your paper and lessons.

GOODLUCK