Chapter I The Problem and Its Background

The Title of the Study / Research Problem A problem is (1) any significant, perplexing and challenging situation real or artificial, the solution of which requires reflective thinking; ( ) a perplexing situation after it has been translated into a question or series of questions that help determine the direction of subsequent inquiry! "dentification of problem is the most fundamental part of research! #roblems are encountered everyday and because of these, researchers are often unable to identify specific sub$ects of their investigation! %ost of these problems involve knowledge and skills! Guidelines in writing the title: 1! &enerally, the title is formulated before the start of the research work! "t may be revised and refined later if there is a need! ! 'he title must contain the sub$ect matter of the study, the locale of the study, the population involved, and the period when the data were gathered or will be gathered! (! "t must be broad enough to include all aspects of the sub$ect matter studied or to be studied! )ence, the title indicates what is expected to be found inside the thesis report! *! "t must be as brief and concise as possible! +! Avoid using the terms ,An Analysis of,- ,An "nvestigation of,- and the like! All these things are understood to have been done or to be done when a research is conducted! .! "f the title contains more than one line, it must be written like an inverted pyramid, all words in capital letters, single space! /! Although there is no fixed number as to the length of thesis title, it is suggested a maximum of (+ to minimum of 0 words should be used for the tile! 1! All theses titles should be consistent with the curriculum or degree pursued for! 2! All titles must be3 i! 'heory4based or concept4based relevant to the researcher5s ma$or field of speciali6ation! ii! 7riginal or novel and significant in the pursuit of new knowledge; and iii! 8easible and attainable within the time and resources available to researcher!

Elements of a Research Problem: 'he term research problem implies that an investigation, inquiry or study is to be conducted, or that the problem is ready for investigation, inquiry or study! 'here are certain elements that a problem must possess before it becomes a research problem ready for investigation! 'hese elements are3 1! Aim or purpose of the problem for investigation! 'his answers the question ,9hy:- 9hy is there an investigation, inquiry or study: ! 'he sub$ect matter or topic to be investigated! 'his answers the question ,9hat:9hat is to be investigated or studies:(! 'he place or locale where the research is to be conducted! 'his answers the question ,9here:- 9here is the study to be conducted: *! 'he period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered! 'his answers the question ,9hen:- 9hen is the study to be carried out:+! #opulation or universe from whom the data are to be collected! 'his answers the question ,9ho:- or ,from whom:- 9ho are the respondents: 8rom who are the data to be gathered:Guidelines in the Selection of a Research Problem or Topic: 1! 'he research problem or topic must be chosen by the researcher himself! 'his is to avoid blaming or offering excuses for any obstacles encountered! ! "t must be within the interest of the researcher! 'his is to make sure that the researcher will focus his full attention on the research work! (! "t must be within the speciali6ation of the researcher! 'his will in some way make the work easier for him because he is working on familiar grounds! ;esides, this may improve his speciali6ation, skill, and competence in his profession! *! "t must be within the competence of the researcher to tackle! 'he researcher must know the method of research and other research procedures applicable to his problem and he must know how to apply them! )e must have a workable understanding of his study! +! "t must be within the ability of the researcher to finance; otherwise he must be able to find funding for his research! <esearch involves not a small amount of expense and the researcher must be able to foot the bills until his study is completed! 'here must be a budget, which he must be able to shoulder! .! "t is researchable and manageable, that is, a! =ata are available and accessible! b! 'he data must meet the standards of accuracy, ob$ectivity, and verifiability! c! Answers to the specific questions (subproblems) can be found! d! 'he hypotheses formulated are testable, that is, they can be accepted or re$ected! e! >quipment and instruments for research are available and can give valid and reliable results!

/! "t can be completed within a reasonable period of time unless it is a longitudinal research, which takes a long time for its completion! 1! "t is significant, important, and relevant to the present time and situation, timely, and of current interest! 2! 'he results are practical and implementable! 10! "t requires original, critical, and reflective thinking to solve it! 11! "t can be delimited to suit the resources of the researcher but big or large enough to be able to give significant, valid, and reliable results and generali6ations! 1 ! "t must contribute to the national development goals for the improvement of the quality of human life! 1(! "t must contribute to the fund of human knowledge! 1*! "t must show or pave the way for the solution of the problem or problems intended to be solved! 1+! "t must not undermine the moral and spiritual values of the people! 1.! "t must not advocate any change in the present order of things by means of violence but by peaceful means! 1/! 'here must be a return of some kind to the researcher, either one or all of the following, if the research report is completed3 a! %onetary, either increase in salary or publication of the results in which there is some kind of royalty! b! Advancement of position, promotion! c! "mproved speciali6ation, competence, and skill in professional work especially if the research sub$ect is related to the profession! d! >nhanced prestige and reputation! e! ?atisfaction of intellectual curiosity and interest, and being able to discover truth! 11! 'here must be a consideration of the ha6ards involved either, physical, social or legal! Introduction / Rationale of the Study / Situational Analysis 'his is the first part of @hapter "! ?ome researchers call it background of the study while others call it situational analysis! ;oth refer to the introduction of the study! ?ome aspects of the background are integrated into the theoretical framework, ob$ectives of the study, scope and delimitation and importance of the study! #resentation must be brief but enough to $ustify the need to conduct the study! 'here should be a theme in writing the background of the study! 'he theme serves an outline so that there is continuity of ideas! 'he theme is based on the important variables of the study, their scope, nature and characteristics! 8urthermore, the presentation must be from macro to micro, sometimes known as the deductive approach to data presentation!

'he introductory statement must be eye4catching! 'he issues relating to the investigation should be quoted or documented to encourage readers to read on! 'he study should also be recent! 'he last part of the study is a brief situational analysis to present information on the problem and what prompts the researcher to venture into such a study! 'he analysis attempts to show that the study is relevant and contributes to the existing fund of knowledge! Theoretical and Conceptual Frame ork A research study should be supported with various theories and concepts, to show that the study is researchable on a scientific basis! 'he theories relative to the investigation provide directions on undertaking the study! 'he conceptual framework becomes the central theme, the focus, the main thrust of the body! "t serves as a guide in conducting the investigation! 'heories are formulated after reviewing related literature! "n looking for theories, you must be organi6ed and logical because you are gathering data for @hapter "" (review of <elated Aiterature) of your study! 8rom the review of related literature and studies, the researcher may formulate a theoretical scheme for his research problem! 'his scheme is a tentative explanation or theoretical explanation of the phenomenon or problem and serves as the basis for the formulation of research hypothesis! After incorporating the theories and concepts, the conceptual framework is made! 'hese concepts are presented in the form of a paradigm or model showing the steps or processes to be used in the study! A paradigm is a diagrammatic representation of a conceptual framework! "t depicts in a move vivid way what the conceptual framework wants to convey! Variables are the conditions or characteristics that the experimenter manipulates, controls, or observes! "ndependent variables are the input variables; in descriptive research, they are not manipulated! 'hey are the conditions or characteristics that the experimenter manipulates in his or her attempts to ascertain their relationship to observed phenomena! %oderator variables are the secondary input variables, which affect or influence the independent variable! 'he dependent variable is the outcome of the study! 'hey are the conditions or characteristics that appear, disappear, or change as the experimenter introduces, removes, or changes independent variables!

Statement of the Problem After the title is approved, the statement of the main problem and sub4problems of the study may now be made! Guidelines in formulating the general problem and the specific subproblems or specific questions: 1! 'he ma$or problem of the study can be stated by briefly pointing out the ob$ectives, the sub$ect and the coverage as well as the time frame! ! ?pecify the sub4problems of the main problems! (! "nclude all possible components under the sub4problems of the study! *! ?tate the sub4problems in either interrogative or declarative form! "f the study is experimental, it is advisable to state it in the declarative form! +! Bou should also have advance information on the instrument to be used for data gathering! 'his will help you prepare the methodology of the study! .! 'he statement of the problem must be brief, clear, specific and relevant! Sources of Problems: 1! ! (! *! +! .! /! 1! 2! Actual problems encountered! 'echnological changes and curricular developments! 'he graduate academic experience! @onsultation! ?peciali6ation! Analysis of an area of knowledge! @onsideration of existing practices and needs! <epetition or extension of investigation! ,7ff4shoots- of studies under way!

!ypothesis A hypothesis is a working guide in research, the expected outcome of the studyC )ypothesis is defined as an ,educated guess!- )ypotheses are based on the statement of the problem and sub4problems! 'he number of sub4problems is also the number of hypotheses in the study! A hypothesis is a suggested answer to the problem! "t may be defined as an expectation about events based on generali6ations of the assumed relationship between variables! A hypothesis has the following characteristics: 1! "t should con$uncture upon a relationship between two or more variables! ! "t should be stated clearly and unambiguously in the form of a declarative sentence!

(! "t should be testable, that is, it should be possible to restate it in an operational form, which can then be evaluated based on data! Types of Hypothesis: Dull hypothesis! 'he use of the null hypothesis has become more common in research whether it be psychological, social, or educational! 'he reason for the use of the null hypothesis by researchers is that it is easier to disprove! "n using a null hypothesis, one assumes that no significant relationship or difference exists, after which the researcher seeks to ascertain the improbability of such null hypothesis! Alternative (or deductive) )ypothesis is considered the operational statement of the research hypothesis! Another type of hypothesis is the inductive hypothesis, which is based on observations of behavior! Scope and "elimitation of the Study 'here are two important matters to consider in @hapter " E the ?cope and Aimitations of the ?tudy! ?cope of the study answers the ,what,- ,where,- ,when,,who,- and ,why- of the study! ?evilla, et! Al!, (122 ) states that the scope of the study sets the delimitation and establishes the boundaries of the study! Aimitations of the study include the weaknesses of the study beyond the control of the researcher! Aimitation of the study points out the variables not included! "t discusses the reasons for excluding them in the investigation! Although research should consider all related variables and problems for comprehensiveness, we cannot include them all for the following reasons3 a! 'he study appears too vague! 'here is a tendency to lose or de4emphasi6e the main ob$ective of the study! b! 9hen the coverage of the study is very broad! c! A thesis or dissertation is a partial requirement for a degree! 9hen it is not accomplished within a given period, it can delay graduation! Guidelines in writing the scope and delimitations: 1! A brief statement of the general purpose of the study! ! 'he sub$ect matter and topics studied and discussed! (! 'he locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the data belong! *! 'he population or universe from which the respondents were selected! 'his must be large enough to make generali6ations significant! +! 'he period of the study! 'his is the time, either months or years, during which the data were gathered!

"efinition of Terms 'here are two ways of defining terms E the operational and conceptual! perational definition of terms is when a researcher defines the terms as he uses them in the study! 'hey can be defined according to the variables included in the instrument of the study! !onceptual definitions is mostly concerned with attributing authorities like books, maga6ines, etc!, including unpublished materials! 'erms are usually quoted by a researcher! 'echnical studies usually define terms as an explanatory device! Guidelines in defining terms: 1! 7nly terms, words, or phrases, which have special or unique meaning in the study, are defined! ! 'erms should be defined operationally, that is, they are used in the study! (! 'he researcher may develop his own definition from the characteristics of the term defined! *! =efinitions may be taken from encyclopedias, books, maga6ines, and newspaper articles, dictionaries, and other publications but the researcher must acknowledge his sources! (@onceptual or theoretical definitions) +! =efinitions should be as brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible! .! Acronyms should always be spelled out fully especially if it is not commonly known or if it is used for the first time! Significance of the Study 'here is a need to specify the direct beneficiaries of the study! Fust like in the scope and delimitation of the study, its importance shall be pointed out especially to the end users to serve as a guide in identifying its value! "n making the importance of the study, the macro to micro, or from general to specific approach, is ideal! Guidelines in e"plaining the significance of the study 1! 'he rationale, timeliness, andCor relevance of the study must be discussed! ! #ossible solutions to existing problems or improvements to unsatisfactory conditions! (! 9ho are to be benefited and how they are going to be benefited! "t must be shown who are the individuals, groups, or communities who may be placed in a more advantageous position on account of the study! *! #ossible contribution to the fund of knowledge!

+! #ossible implications! "t must be discussed here that the implications include the possible causes of the problems discovered, the possible effects of the problems, and the remedial measures to solve the problems! "mplications also include good points of a system, which ought to be continued or to be improved if possible!