PRACTICAL

RESEARCH 1
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
 OBJECTIVES;

After studying this lesson, you are expected to:

 Demonstrate your skills in identifying, selecting or
formulating a problem
 Distinguish
the different types of hypothesis and
determine how these are formulated.
 Enumerate the criteria in choosing a topic, and
 Present a good title for a research topic
 SOME GUIDELINES ARE SUGGESTED IN
THE FORMULATION OF THE TITLES OF
YOUR RESEARCH.
The title must contain the following elements:
 The subject matter or research problem
 The setting or locale of the study.
 The respondents or participants involved in the
study
 The time or period when the study was
conducted
 SOME GUIDELINES ARE SUGGESTED IN THE
FORMULATION OF THE TITLES OF YOUR RESEARCH.

 The title must be broad enough to include all aspects

of the study but should be brief and concise as
possible.
 The use of terms such as “Analysis of” “ A Study of “
An Investigation of’ and the like should be avoided.
All these are understood to have been done in a
research.
 If
the title contains more than one line, it should be
written in on inverted pyramid.
 SOME GUIDELINES ARE SUGGESTED IN
THE FORMULATION OF THE TITLES OF
YOUR RESEARCH.

 When typed or encoded in the title page all words in the title
should be in capital letters.
 If possible the title should not be longer than 15 words
 Avoid a long, detailed title that gives too much information.
 To shorten your title, you may delete the terms” assessments’
or “evaluation” if these are already emphasized in the text.
 Characteristics of Good
Titles
 A title should give readers information about the contents of the
paper and is preferable to one that is vague or general
 Choose a title that is a phrase rather than a complete
sentence.(Books and Article titles are not complete sentences)
 Choose a straightforward title over others kinds.
 Use no punctuation at the end of a time.
 Do not underline the title of a research or enclose it in quotation
marks
 WORKSHOPS 1.1

Write your proposed title,

follow the instructions and
observe the guidelines.
 SUMMARY
You must take time to think about your research as this will save you
problems later.
When you’re thinking about your research, ask yourself the five ‘Ws’:
 What is my research?
 Why do I want to do the research?
 Who are my research participants?
 Where am I going to do the research?
 When am I going to do the research?
 Sum up your research project in one sentence.
The Research Process

Data Collection
 The Research Proposal

The proposal follows as the plan in the

construction of a great building in making the
plan. The writer is careful to include in the
proposal the more important aspects and
phases of the work he /she has in the mind
and to include also all the elements he wants
to incorporate in each major phase of the
work.`
HOW TO PREPARE THE PROPOSAL

A proposal is a written offer to solve a

technical problem in a particular
way.
You have to be guided by a checklist
for a proposal prepared for you. From
the checklist you can easily expand
the proposal into full-blown research.
 CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
IDENTIFYING YOUR AREA OF INTEREST

The most important ingredient

in a successful research project
is the passion of the researcher:
what is it that makes YOU want
to learn more?
WORKSHOPS 1.3

Write your proposed title,

connected with your proposal
research. Follow the instructions
and observe the guidelines.
“ Components of Chapter
1
”
 Some authors suggest that CHAPTER 1: THE
PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND should
consist of the following parts
• Introduction  Introduction( or
• Background of the study Background)
• Statement of the problem  Theoretical framework
• Hypotheses  Conceptual framework
• Theoretical framework  Statement of the problem
• Conceptual framework  Hypothesis
• Significance of the study  Scope and delimitation of
• Scope and limitations the study
• Definitions of terms  Significance of the study
 Definition of terms
 Parts of Chapter 1
 Introduction
• Significance of
 Statement of the
the study
Problem
 Scope and
 Theoretical
Delimitations of the
Framework
Study
 Conceptual
 Definition of Terms
Framework
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION

This part of your research includes a background information

which would focus attention on the importance and validity
of the problem, should be able to present the scenario of the
study from a macro-perspective. The mood of the
Introduction should encourage the readers to continuously
read further “inner” details of the study starting with Chapter
1. Further, this part should be able to briefly present the study
in 1 and 2 pages by making the readers informed or aware
about the study.
 Discusses relevant ideas:

 TOPIC or subject matter: define and elaborate using

methods of paragraph development like classification
and giving examples
 REASONS for Choosing the topic: emphasized
what motivated you to choose the topic, your rationale or
your explanation in choosing the topic
 PURPOSE of the Study: discusses the objective of the
study.
 SETTING or the location where will you conduct the study.
 HOW TO WRITE YOUR RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION
Guide questions to be answered:
1. What is the rationale of the problem?
- Identify the basis, opinion, phenomena of the topic.
- Give personal experiences
- Include a person or someone that says something on the topic

2. What is the setting of your research problem

STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There should be a general statement of the

whole problem followed by the specific
questions or sub problems into which the
general problem is broken up.
RESEARCH PROBLEM
VS
RESEARCH QUESTION
 Research problem

Research problem – The ultimate goal research is

not only to propose ways of studying things,
people, places and events but also to discover and
introduce new practices, strategies, or techniques
in solving problem. The word “problem” makes you
worry and pushes you to exert considerable effort
in finding a solution for it. You consider research as
the remedy for getting over any problem.

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When you decide to do research, you begin
with a problem that will lead you to a
specific topic to focus on.

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 Example:

RESEARCH PROBLEM: You are beset by a problem

of year-by-year flash floods in your community.

RESEARCH TOPIC: Neighborhood’s Lifestyle in

relation to floods in the area, the need to
construct anti-flood structures, or the practicability
of more footbridges in the area.
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Background of the problem

Getting background knowledge

about the problem that triggered
off your research topic discover its
relation to what the world,
particularly the experts,
professionals, and learned people
know about your topic 3
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 Background of the
problem
Reading for rich background ideas
about the problem is also another way
to discover some theories or principles
to support your study

(Braun2014;Woodwell2014)

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 Research questions

The research problems enables you to

generate a set of research question. But the
ability to identify your research problem and to
formulate question depends on the
background knowledge you have about the
topic. To get a good idea of the problem, you
must have a rich background knowledge
about the topic through (RRL) 33
Centering your mind on the problem, you can
formulate one general or mother problem of
your research work, to give your study a clear
direction, you have to break this big ,
overreaching, general questions into several
smaller or specific research questions.

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The specific questions also called sub-
problems, identify or direct you to the
exact aspect of the problem that your
study has to focus on.

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 EXAMPLE

RESEARCH PROBLEM: The need to

have a safer,comfortable, and
healthful walk or transfer of
students from place to place in
the UST Campus.
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GENERAL QUESTION :What kind of covered
path should UST construct in its
campus?
SPECIFIC QUESTION:
1. What materials are needed for the construction
of the covered pathway in the UST campus?
2. What roofing material is appropriate for the
covered path?
3. In what way can the covered pathway link all
buildings in the campus?
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4. What is the width and height of the
covered path?
5. How can the covered path realize green
architecture?

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Research question aim at investigating
specific aspects of the research problem.

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 Guidelines in formulating research
question

1. Establish a clear relation between the

research questions and the problem or topic.
2. Base your research questions on your RRL or
Review of Related Literature because existing
published works help you get good background
knowledge of the research problem and help
you gauge the people’s current understanding
or unfamiliarity about the topic, as well as the
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The extent of their knowledge and interest in

it. Convincing solutions to research problems
or answers to research questions stem from
their alignment with what the world already
knows or what previous research studies have
already discovered about the research problem
or topic.
3. Formulate research questions that can
arouse your curiosity and surprise you with
your discoveries or findings.
4. State your research questions in such a
way that they include all dependent and 42

independent variables referred to by the

theories, principles,or concepts underlying
your research work
5. Let the set of research questions or
sub-problems be preceded by one question
expressing the main problem of the
research.
6. Avoid asking research questions that
are answerable with “yes” or “no” and use
the “how” questions only in a qualitative
research.
7. Be guided by the acronym 43

SMART (specific, measurable,

attainable, realistic, time-bound)
in formulating the research
questions

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 The statement of the problem is an
important introductory material found
in Chapter 1

Why do we have a research question?

Boden, et al. (20050 justify the
presence of research questions in a
study:
1. Having a question focuses our analysis and forces to
have an arguments that runs through our work. This is
important because it protects us from the temptation of
indulging in pure description without trying to achieve the
deeper understanding reached by theorizing what we are
doing.
2. Developing research questions delimit what the
researcher is going to do and become very focused in
the study.
3. It is also kinder to readers, users and/ or
beneficiaries of your research to start with specific
questions.
4. Having clearly set out questions avoids the perils
of pugilistic, or even friendly or well mentioned,
questioner at conferences or vivas who takes great
delight in asking why you have not looked at
whatever their particular hobby horse is.
THE CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
 A concept is defined as a general idea of
something.
 Framework synonyms: frame, substructure,
structure, skeleton, chassis, shell, body, bodywork;
We have to understand that researchers work to
examine particular aspects of the world. In doing so,
they create literature where they study and propose
how these certain aspects of the world relate to one
another. But in explaining complex relationships, the
easiest, simplest, and most effective way of delivering
them is through a particular diagram called a
“conceptual framework”.
In other words the conceptual framework
is the researcher’s understanding of how
the particular variables in his study
connect with each other.
Variables in Research

A variable is defined as anything that has a quantity or

quality that varies . The dependent variable is the variable a
researcher is interested in. An independent variable is a
variable believed to affect the dependent variable .
Variables in Research
FOR BASIC RESEARCH: we can use the cause-effect
relationship.
This is usually represented by the independent-dependent
variable model. It look like this:

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Example of Hypothesis: “Organizational commitment (dependent variable) is caused by

job satisfaction (independent variable)
PREDICTOR RESPONSE

FOR APPLIED RESEARCH: we can use the means-and-ends relationship

Example of the topic: Music (means) stimulates production (end)

FACTOR FACTOR OUTCOME

 How to Make a Conceptual
Framework?
Before you prepare your conceptual framework, you need to do
the following things:
1. Choose your topic
As a researcher, there are many aspects of the world you can
choose to investigate. However, the important thing to consider is
that not all the resources of the world are available to us. Moreover,
the research may also be time-bound. As such, one should choose
a topic that they consider to be comprehensively achieved within
the resources that they have and within the time they are allotted.
2. Make your research question
Unlike the topic which can be a broad area of study
the research question has to be specific. The exact
aspects of who, what, where, how, and why have to be
clearly laid out. This is where one of the most important
aspects of your conceptual framework will come in. The
research question is a clear and arguable question
which is where your research will revolve. In order to
have a concise conceptual framework, your research
question should be one that you are truly curious about.
A reason why the research question is an essential part
of your conceptual framework and your overall
research, this is what puts the focus and path of your
study. It avoids the chances of getting lost as you write
the paper.
3. Conduct a review of the literature
Doing a review of literature is an action where a
researcher studies published works by reliable
sources related to the topic. The purpose of having a
literature review is to let you and your readers know
about the existing ideas and information there are on
your chosen topic; and as well as the weak and
strong points of it. Some of the key things you should
remember when doing the review of literature is that
it should be: connected to the topic; synthesize the
results of the publications you’ve read; and recognize
the areas where there is a lack of information or
insufficient evidence to prove the claim. By having a
review of literature, this narrows down what you will
be putting in your conceptual framework.
4. Choose your variables
Since you’ve done on your research, by this time, you will already be able to
identify and pinpoint the variable that has been discussed in the publications
you’ve studied and try to make a connection or decipher how they are linked.
As you must have already read a lot of literature, you will find that there are
many possible variables to choose from when conducting your study. However
when creating research in general, it’s important that you only choose the
most important variables as not all of them will be significant; as you must
have read much scientific literature, you should be able to discern the
important ones by this point. And when creating a conceptual framework in
particular, even though you can choose all the variables in the world, it would
be best not to since too many variables in a conceptual framework will be
confusing. Though it is also not a good idea to choose too few variables or
else your study might be too simple. As also mentioned in the previous step,
you have to find the right level of intricacy in your study that will fit within
your resources and time allocation.
5. Choose your relationships
Now that you have chosen your variables,
you have to choose how these variables are
related to one another. Given that you have
already read much literature on your topic,
you should already be able to define how
each of your variables is connected to one
another. This is especially important to note
as this will largely impact how your
conceptual framework will look like once you
start making the diagram.
6. Create the conceptual framework
Now that you have achieved all the previous steps, the final step is
to illustrate the diagram. How you illustrate the diagram will differ
on a case to case basis, but generally, variable names have to be
laid out clearly and put into rectangles, variables have to be
connected with lines and arrows, and the arrowheads will differ
depending on the nature of the relationships. Single head arrows
are for relationships that are one-directional (i.e. A affects B and B
does not affect A) and double-headed arrows are for relationships
that are 2 directional (i.e. A affects B and B also affects A). Also,
lines do not have to be limited to connecting only 2 variables (i.e.
A and B); some relationships can be between more variables (i.e.
A affects B and also C).
 EXAMPLE
Background: I am a co-owner of a branch of
Burger King.
1. Choose your topic
I am interested to know what affects the
satisfaction of our customers. My goal is to be
able to know what specific parts of our
business can influence our customers’
experience.
2. Make your research question
The research question I can formulate is
“What affects customer’s satisfaction of
Burger King?
3. Conduct a review of the literature
I read up on different publications related
to food establishments, specifically burger
joints, and customer satisfaction. From
here, I can already have an idea of the
variables I can pinpoint from those
publications that have been proven to
affect customer satisfaction.
4. Choose your variables
With all the books, scholarly articles, and
5. Choose your relationships
researches I have gone through, it can be I was able to determine that the 3
determined that there are 3 main variables, variables: food taste, speed of
namely: food taste, speed of service, and
staff performance. Customers are very service, and staff performance,
much concerned with the taste of the are determining factors of
product. The amount of time it takes to customer satisfaction.
serve them also affects how pleased or
displeased they are. Lastly, the
performance of the staff that serves also
affects their experience.
6. Create the conceptual framework
Statistically speaking, the conceptual
framework describes the relationship between
specific variables identified in the study. It also outlines
the input, process and output of the whole
investigation. The conceptual framework is also
called the research paradigm
SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE STUDY
 Significance of the Study – (Why conduct
the study?) You have to identify who will
benefit from the research and how they will
be benefitted. This should match with the
Recommendations.
The significance of the study is a part of the introduction of a research.
It should determine who benefits from the study and how that specific
audience will benefit from its findings. The significance of the study
could be simply reflected by the following two questions:
Why should my study be published?
What significant scientific contribution is my study making to my field
of research?
Importantly, the significance of the study should also be written with a
non-expert in mind.
 Tips in Writing the Significance of
the Study

Here are the tips that may be helpful when writing

the significance of the study. These tips will tell you
the basic components expected to be seen in the
significance of the study content.
 1. Refer to the Problem Statement

In writing the significance of the study, always refer to the statement of

the problem. This way, you can clearly define the contribution of your
study. To simplify, your research should answer this question, “What are
the benefits or advantages of the study based on the statement of the
problem?”
If you ask the question “How has the new packaging affected the sales of
the product?” then the contribution of your research would probably a
packaging style or technology that can help the store increase its sales.
Your study should demonstrate that the product’s packaging really
influences the buyer’s perception and affects their purchase decision.
 2. Write it from General to Particular

Determine the specific contribution of your study to society as

well as to individual . Write it deductively, starting from general
to specific, Start your significance of the Study broadly then
narrowing it out of specific group or person. This is done by
looking into the general contribution of your study, such as its
importance to the society as a whole, then move towards its
contributions to individual as yourself as a researcher.
 Example

Title: Number of Clinical Internship Hours: A Determinant of Student’s

Effectiveness and Skill Acquisition in the Hospital Area for Velez College Students
Significance of the Study
The results of the study will be of great benefit to the following:
College of Nursing Dean. Data given will provide the dean with information on
how the number of duty hours in a week affects the student’s academic and
RLE performance. The results will enable the dean to improve the scheduling of
RLE and different academic subjects. Data gathered will help the dean initiate
collaboration among faculty and chairpersons to help plan the advancement
of nursing education in relation to the new curriculum.
Clinical Instructors. The results of the study will help the
clinical instructors evaluate the quality of care rendered by
the nursing students, academic performance, attitude and
skills acquired in relation to the number of hours given in
a week. Results would also develop the clinical instructor’s
teaching-learning and evaluating strategies in enhancing
knowledge, skills and attitude to the students in the time
frame given.
Students. This study will provide information regarding which
time arrangement is effective: 8-hr of clinical internship from
the 5-hr clinical internship with additional academic classes.
This study will evaluate the academic performance, the
student nurse’s attitude and approach, the skills learned in
the clinical area and the quality of care rendered in the given
time frame. Data gathered will also help the students improve
both academic and clinical performance.
Velez College. This study will improve the school in the
development of nursing education. This study will foster new
ways of enhancing knowledge, skills and attitude, thus
preparing globally-competitive nurses in the future. This study
will also help in the advancement of school management,
clinical leadership and teaching-evaluation approach.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
 SCOPE
AND DELIMITATIONS
OF THE
STUDY
 Scope and delimitation of
research
 Scope – is the domain of your research-
what is in the domain and what is not.
 Limitation – is associated with qualitative
study as related to validity and reliability.
 delimitation –refers to boundaries of the
research study, arising from the
researcher’s decision of what to include.
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 GUIDELINES in Writing Scope
and Delimitation of the Study
A Brief Statement of the General Purpose of the Study
The subject matter and topics studied and discussed
The Locale of the study, where the data were gathered or
the entity to which the data belong
The population or universe from which the respondents
were selected , this must be large enough to make
generalizations significant.
The period of the study , this is the time, either months or
years during which the data were gathered.
 Examples of delimitation
research
 The study covers only those families in Barangay
San Jose, Pasig City, benefited by the government’s
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilippino Program
 This study includes only those English freshman
classes that use both Blended Learning and
standard ways of Language teaching.
 This research investigation covers only Landbank-
sponsored livelihood projects in Barangay San
Juan,Apalit, Pampanga 7
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EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF
TERMS
defines technical terms based on how they
are used in the study, specifically in the
title. This aims to provide the readers or
future researches with the basic
terminologies that are important to
understand the paper.
The definition of definition is “a statement
expressing the essential nature of something.”
At least that’s one way Webster defines the
word. But why is a definition so
important? Because definitions enable us to
have a common understanding of a word or
subject; they allow us to all be on the same
page when discussing or reading about an
issue.