MS. AMELI A D.

QUI NGCO, MBA

The Research Process
WHAT IS A PROBLEM?
a perceived difficulty
A feeling of discomfort with the way things are
A discrepancy between what someone believes
should be and what is

Characteristics of Researchable Problem
When there is no known answer or solution to the problem
such that gap in knowledge exists;
When there are possible solutions but the effectiveness is
untested or unknown;
when there are answers or solution but the possible results
my seem or factually contradictory;
When there are several possible and plausible explanation
for the undesirable condition;
When the existence of a phenomenon requires explanation.

Sources of Research Problems
Personal experience
Common sense (things we all believe as true)
Theories (generalization that needs validation)
Past researches
Practical problems
Journals, books, theses, and dissertation and the mass media
Technological changes
Friends, colleagues, professors, consultants
Conferences, symposia, dialogues or ordinary meetings
Criteria in Choosing a
Good Research Problem
Research problems should be
of great interest to the researcher
relevant and useful to a specific group of people
is novel
well-defined or specified
measurable
is time-bound
does not cause moral or ethical violations
it will contribute to the refinement of certain important concepts,
creation or improvement of research instruments and analytical
systems and will permit generalization
manageable
Defining the Research Problem
See to it that major concepts or terms and variables in
the study are clearly defined
Limit the scope of the study in terms of:
Issues, concerns or subjects
Area coverage
Target population and/or sample population
Sources of data or respondents
Time allotment
Data requirements (qualitative or quantitative or both)

Justifying the Research Problem
Rationalize or explain why the researcher selected a
certain problem over other probable ones
Is the problem a current and timely one?
Is it pervasive or widespread?
Does it affect a special group of people?
Does it relate to ongoing programs?
Does it relate to broad social, economic, and health issues?
Who else is concerned about the problems?
What are its direct and indirect, short and long range impact to the
welfare of a group of people or society as a whole.
Research Objectives
Statement of the Problem or
Background of the Study
This study aims to
The purpose of this study is to
Objective an effect that is desired or expected to be
achieved by an activity, project or program
are based on and logically flow from the identified research problem
Research Objectives
Major Classifications
General Objective a broad statement of purpose which uses
abstract and non-measurable concepts
Specific Objective a statement of purpose which uses well
defined and measurable concepts, the formulation of which should
be based on and logically flow from the general objective
Research Objectives
Research Title:
Students Attitude Toward their Studies in Relation to their
Academic Achievement
General Objective:
The general aim of this study is to find out the relationship between
the attitudes of students toward their studies and their academic
achievement.
Research Objectives
General Objective:
The general purpose of this study is to find out the knowledge, attitude and
practice of traditional and modern medicine in two progressive provinces in
Western Visayas, namely, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Specific Objectives:
Specifically, this study aims to know the following:
1. Ilongos and Negrenses knowledge of the traditional and modern medicines as
indicated by the approach or procedure and materials or substances used in
treating ill persons.
Research Objectives
Specific Objectives:
Specifically, this study aims to know the following:
2. their attitude toward each type of medicine, that is, whether they take each type with favor or
disfavor;
3. their pattern of utilization: any of two types, traditional-then-modern, modern-then-
traditional, or simultaneous use of both types;
4. their reasons for using certain medical patterns;
5. the type of ailments to which traditional or modern medicine is resorted to by them; and
6. the differential in the knowledge, attitude and utilization or practice of the subjects
categorized according to age, education, economic status and residence.

Characteristics of a Good Research Objective
1. should be stated in simple language;
2. are measurable concepts;
3. are attainable;
4. are result-oriented; and
5. are time-bound
How to State Research Objective
Should be stated clearly so that no interpretation
other than that of the researcher can be inferred
from it.
It can be in
Declarative Form
Question Form
Research Paradigm
Framework of the study
Basic to the research paradigm is the Theory a set
of concepts and their relation which
explains, predicts and interprets
how a particular phenomenon exists
and operates
2 Elements of a Theory
1. set of units (facts, concepts, variables)
2. system of relationships among the units
Criteria of A Good Theory
It permits deduction that can be tested empirically, that
is, it must provide the means for its confirmation or
rejection.
It must be compatible with both observation and
previously validated theories. It must be grounded on
empirical data that have been verified and must rest on
postulates and hypotheses.
It must be stated in simple terms; that theory is best that
explains the most in the simplest way.
Paradigm / Framework
Is a perspective or frame of reference for viewing the social world,
consisting of a set of concepts and assumptions
Is useful in organizing existing data meaningfully in a specific area
of investigation
Also useful in interpreting, criticizing and unifying established
scientific laws, modifying them in the face of un-anticipated data,
guiding discovery of new and more powerful generalization
Helps the researcher see clearly the variables that should be
measured, and guide in the analysis of data
Paradigm / Framework
Has three levels
1. Theoretical Paradigm makes use of a theory or theories in
explaining why a certain phenomenon exists and
how the various factors which brought about the
phenomenon are interrelated
2. Conceptual Paradigm uses constructs which are specific or
well-defined concepts
3. Operational Paradigm concepts used are not only defined as they are used
but are measurable as well.

Note:
* A conceptual paradigm is not required for a descriptive and comparative studies; it is
required only for relational studies which involve independent and dependent variables.
* Only relational studies are required to have a schematic diagram

Schematic Diagram of Hypothesized Relationships
Among Independent and Dependent Variables
Independent Variables Dependent Variables

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
1. Respondents beliefs
2. Respondents perception as to
convenience of breast feeding
SOCIAL FACTORS
1. Respondents formal education
2. Respondents non-formal education
3. Respondents health status
4. Extent of participation of respondent
in organization
5. Respondents place of residence
6. Influence of respondents mother
7. Influence of respondents husband
ECONOMIC FACTORS
1. Respondents employment status
2. Income of household
3. Household quality of life
FEEDING PRACTICES
1. Breast feeding
2. Bottle feeding
3. Mixed feeding
Hypotheses
A statement about expected relationships between two or
more variables which permit empirical testing (Fishers,
et al. 1991)
A formal affirmative statement predicting a single
research outcome, a tentative explanation of the
relationship between two or more variables (Best & Kahn
1989)
Educated or intelligent guess
Hypotheses
The number of hypotheses depends on the number
of research objectives which are comparative and
relational in nature.
Descriptive objectives do not require hypotheses.
Hypotheses should be always stated in declarative
form. (Kerlinger 1986)
Types of Hypotheses
Null Hypotheses
A statement of denial of relationship, difference or an effect.
Ex. There is no significant difference between the incomes of families in the
rural and in the urban barangays.
Ex. The attitudes of students toward their studies do not influence their
academic achievement.

Alternative Hypotheses
A formal affirmative statement predicting a single research outcome; a
tentative guess on the relationship between two or more variables, or on the
difference between or among compared groups
Ex. There is a significant difference between the incomes of people in the
urban and in the rural areas.
Ex. Educational attainment is associated with the social and economic status
of the person.

Characteristics of Good Hypotheses
Reasonable (with valid basis)
Testable and found to be probably true or probably
false.
Conform with known facts or theories
Stated in the simplest possible terms
Uses of Hypotheses
Provide guide and direction to the research
Indicate the major independent and dependent variables
being considered
Suggest the type of data that must be collected
Suggest the type of analysis that must be made
Indicate the type of statistical measures appropriate to
various tests to be conducted
Assumptions
Statements related to the research problem which are popularly
presumed and accepted as valid or true
Stated to provide the foundation on which the study is anchored
and from which it will proceed
Also serve as additional bases for validation of research hypotheses
What assumptions to formulate is based on the major variables of
the study
People have certain attitudes toward anything.
Any individual wishes or desires acceptance by a social group.
City life is more complex than life in rural areas.
Scope and Limitation
Scope defines the coverage or boundary of the
study in terms of
Area or locality
Population or sample
Duration or period
Subjects, issues or concerns which are explicitly stated in specific objectives of the
study

Limitations statements which alert the reader of the
research report to certain conditions which
are beyond the control of the researcher
Scope and Limitation
Ex. This study covered 200 mothers from rural and
urban areas of Iloilo with living children 2 6 months
old during the survey period. A hundred of them came
from the rural area and the remainder from an urban
area. The sample size was predetermined because of the
absence of lists of mothers in both study areas which
could have been used for the computation of the sample
size and as sampling frame for the selection ofs amples
Definition of Terms
Key or important terms in the study are clearly defined
Helps the readers in understanding the research objectives,
methods and findings according to how they are used in the study
Types
Conceptual Definition the universal meaning that is
attributed to a word or group of words and
which is understood by many
Operational Definition meaning of the concept or terms as
used in a particular study. It is stated in
concrete term in that it allows measurement
Variables
Refers to a characteristic that has two or more
mutually exclusive values or properties (Kerlinger
1986)
Sex female male


Variables
Types of Variables
Independent Variables conditions or characteristics which
are the presumed cause or influence of the existence
or non-existence or change in certain phenomena.
The object of manipulation or control and
considered as the predictors of the factors or
variables
Dependent Variables conditions or characteristics which are
influenced by the independent variables.

If variables are related, it implies that they vary together
This variation is known as concomitant variation or correlation