Chapter 2

The Research
Problem
and Research
Design
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After this chapter, we should be able to:
* Understand the preliminaries of research.
* Formulate a research problem.
* Internalize the significance of the problem.
2.1 THE
This chapter is designed to enable us to make the right start
INTRODUCTIO
and to succeed in doing so. It should enable us to handle with
ease the following:
N 1. Preliminaries to research
2. The research problem, resources, selection and
development;
3. The working hypotheses;
4. Review of related literature and studies; and,
5. The methodology procedure.
2.2 PRELIMINARIES TO
RESEARCH
Here are some starters:
1. Is there a need? If so, what?
2. What field or arena am I most interested in?
3. Who are the people who have done something in
the particular field or arena?
4. What are the situations surrounding the field or
area?
5. What is the importance of the particular field or
segment of the field.
 6. Is the field already explored? To what extent? Are
there research studies already made along the
field?
7. Where can I secure literature?
8. Will I be able to handle the area competently?
9. What factors should I consider before making the
decision?
10. How will I use results?
Preliminary Preliminary
Bibliography Outline

PRELIMINA
Note Cards
RY
RESEARCH

Author Subject
Interview Note Note
Cards Cards
2.3 THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
The “big” problem is the Main Problem
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Sources of Problems
When one starts to question something, a research
problem arises.
Problems could also arise from Problems may derived through For a student , a problem for
one’s reading exploration research could be suggested by the professor

Problems may arise from Another source of research problems are

accident recommendations made by researchers.
2.4 Individuals,
PROBLEM teams and agencies often do their searching when
ENERGIZERS
the following situations exists:
1. When a difficulty exists.
2. When a new problem arises from an old problem.
3. When a thinker is stimulated by what he reads
4. When an individual or group has the urge to
achieve and contribute something to society.
5. When an individual likes to exercise
resourcefulness, ingenuity, and creativeness.
2.1 WHAT IS A
A good research problem A problem is a “big question mark”
PROBLEM?
must possess the following characteristics:
1. It tells what one is looking for.
2. It gives direction to the process involved in analysis
and interpretation.
3. It has boundary lines. One could recognize its limits.
4. It is short but clear.
5. It shows the goal of the study.
6. It includes enough aspects to be handled.
7. It spells out clearly the characteristics and the status
sought.
How are Problems Selected and Stated?
To select the problem, the following pointers are suggested:
1. The research problem must be interesting.
2. The research problem must arouse curiosity.
3. It is preferable to select “fresh” subject.
4. It must convey original material.
5. The problem must be carried on with an open mind.
6. It must elicit satisfaction when performed.
7. It must contribute to the expansion of existing
knowledge.
 Problems could be stated in several ways, as follows:
1. In question form.
Example1.1 What are advertising schemes used in promoting the product?
2. In postulated statement.
2.1 The use of single statement(one phrase)
2.2 The use of single statement with several phrases (several phrases)
2.3 The use of series of complete statements
2.4 The use of general statements followed by subordinate statements.
3. Other way of stating the problem.
3.1 Statement-question combination. The problem is first stated in a
statement and again restated in a question.
3.2 Statement followed by a series of theses.
THE OBJECTIVES
A study should have objectives which serve the same
purpose as the problem and sub-problems. For ease in answering the main objective,
subsidiary or specific objectives should be stated.
Main Objective.
To determine competitive determinants of Product A.
Specific objectives for this main objective may be stated as follows:
1.To find out the different product similar to Product A that are in the
market in Metro Manila.
2.To analyze price differences in soap products.
3.To find out reasons why consumers accept more soap product A in
preference to all the other soap products.
4.To determine differences in smell of these competing bath soap
products.
THE HYPOTHESES
is the a deduction, a hunch based on a certain observed
phenomena, or an induction from certain empirical findings. The hypotheses are usually
stated in the null form.
Problem 1.
How do the different brands of house paint compare in terms of color
fastness when exposed to sunlight and rain?
Hypothesis 1:
1.There is no significant difference between house paint 1 and house
paint 2, vs house paint 3 vs house paint 4, etc. when exposed to sunlight
and rain.
2.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE PROBLEM
This part of the research design justifies the launching of the
thesis project. This is usually placed in the introductory part of the
research outline. Some reasons for including the importance of
the study are the following:
1. To convince oneself of the worthiness of the problem.
2. To convince others that the topic needs to be explored
3. To create in the researcher a feeding of awareness of a need
at the time; and,.
4. To bolster the morale of the researcher or investigator.
VIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
This part of the outline is done during the first phase, for no
“good” problem or top could emerge without reading, exploring, and more readings.

Other purpose are:

1. It serves as an example to the researcher;
2. It helps in the formulation of problems, objectives and/or
hypotheses needed.
3. It helps in the deliberation for appropriate instruments to use;
and
4. It helps later in the discussion of findings.
Findings not interpreted in the light of other literature and
studies are meaningless.
METHODOLOGY OR PROCEDURE
The components of research methodology or procedure
are:

1. Research method used;

2. Sampling or population frame;
3. Description of Respondents;
4. Description of Instruments;
5. Gathering of data; and
6. Treatment of data.
 Sampling or population frame;
This part explains what constitutes the sampling frame, the
basis for classification, and the selection of phases. To illustrate, let us take the sampling
frame of a research study on “The Security Patterns of Accountants”
The sampling frame consisted of accountants in all towns, capitals,
and cities of the Philippines. Classification was based on the inclusion of
the following nine (9) ethnic groups;
1. Tagalog
2. Pampango
3. Ilocano
4. Visayan
5. Bicolano
6. Pangasinense
7. Igorot
8. Muslim
9. Mangyan
 Description of Respondents
The characteristics of the respondents for the study are
presented in this part of the proposed thesis outline. Where will be the
researcher deduce the characteristics of the respondents? In many instances, this
information is taken from the following sources:

1. Personal Data Sheet. The personal data sheet elicits information on personal status
like age, sex, socio-economic status, educational qualifications type of housing,
property, community social status, and others.
2. Ready-made documents or record files. The advantage of getting information from
the records, and not directly from the respondents, is that bias could be minimized. It
also saves on time and energy. Moreover, data acquired through this method may be
more authentic.
 Description of Instruments
The tools to be used in gathering data are described in this
section. The description includes the phases or aspects of the instruments, the items were
selected and validated, and the number of items. What a section purports to measure
should be mentioned, too, in the description of the instrument. If there are more than one
instrument, these should-be described individually. The researcher may describe first
instrument I with the given title, then Instrument II, and so on. It is also desirable to
mention how the respondents are expected to respond to the instruments.

1. The people or the agencies approached

2. The letters that may be given out
3. Who will gather the data? Will he be the researcher himself, a special hired team,
or student interns?
4. How will the data be gathered?
 Treatment of data
Treatment of data involves scoring, conversion of raw scores
to scaled scores and to other scores, tallying computations to test if there
exist differences, relationships, associations or variations among and between groups. The
statistical treatment of data should suit the hypothesis of the study. In thesis writing, the
formulas used are also included. Formulas are taken in statistics books and materials
 Bibliography of Readings

The bibliography lists down, following an order, the books, research studies, journals,
articles and other thesis materials read that are highly relevant to the topic or problem
selected for the study. The bibliography reflects whether the researcher has read enough
materials for the problem. The bibliography or reference list must follow either the
American Psychological Association(APA) format or the Modern Language
Association(MLA) format.
2.7 SAMPLE
RESEARCH DESIGN
THANK YOU
AND
GOD BLESS
NICKO C. NOCEJA
Presenter
ACTIVITY
DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions in 3-5 sentences only.

1. What is a research problem?

2. What are the things to consider in choosing a research problem?

3. Where can you find sources of research problem to create ideas of

selecting good subject matter?.
4. When do we need to start doing a research?

5. Why do we need to conduct a research?

ACTIVITY
DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions in 3-5 sentences only.

1. What is a research problem?

2. What are the things to consider in choosing a research problem?

3. Where can you find sources of research problem to create ideas of

selecting good subject matter?.
4. When do we need to start doing a research?

5. Why do we need to conduct a research?