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12
Practical Research 2
Semester I – Week 4
Research Problems and Questions

CONTEXTUALIZED LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
Practical Research 2 – Grade 12
Contextualized Learning Activity Sheets (CLAS)
Semester 1 – Week 4: Research Problems and Questions
First Edition, 2021

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 Lesson 1
Research Problems and Questions

MELC:
• State research questions. CS_RS12-Id-e-4
• Indicate scope and delimitation of study. CS_RS12-Id-e-5
• Present written statement of the problem. CS_RS12-Id-e-7

Objectives:
1. Define research question;
2. State a research question;
3. Define the scope and delimitation of the study;
4. Indicate scope and delimitation of the study; and
5. Present a written statement of the problem.

Let’s Try
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on the space provided
before each number.

_______1. Which of the following covers the range of research?

A. Statement of the problem
B. Significance of the study
C. Scope and delimitation
D. Strength and weaknesses

_______2. What type of research question is shown in this example: “Do people who are good
at mathematics, science or technical subjects tend to be poor in English?”
A. Control
B. Descriptive
C. Evaluative
D. Predictive

_______3. Which of the following is a good characteristic of a research question?

A. Concise
B. Focused
C. Undefined
D. Vague

_______4. “What are the characteristics of a category of persons or organizations?” This is

an example of what type of research question?
A. Descriptive
B. Explorative
C. Evaluative
D. Explanatory

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_______5. What do you call the conditions beyond the control of the researcher that may
cause restrictions and make the conclusions to be generalizable only to the
conditions set by the researcher?
A. Delimitations of the study
B. Definition of the study
C. Limitations of the study
D. Significance of the study

______6. What are the characteristics of a good research question?

A. Focused and clear
B. Clear, significant, and ethical
C. Focused, clear, concise, complex, and arguable
D. Focused, clear, significant, and includes a hypothesis

______7. What is the main concern of a quantitative research problem?

A. description and explanation of situations
B. trends and patterns of the chosen group
C. precision and specificity of the problem
D. precision and general explanation of phenomena

______8. Which of the following qualifies as a good quantitative research question?

A. Are the teachers well-motivated?
B. Does a social medium lead to more social awareness?
C. Is blended learning more effective than face to face learning?
D. How would parents respond to the current educational challenge?

______9. When is a research question considered significant?

A. It uses the simplest words for readers
B. When it does not take undue resources
C. It contributes to a bigger body of knowledge
D. No harm is possible to be inflicted to participants

______10. What part of the research study states what is and is not included in the research
study?
A. Statement of the Problem
B. Significance of the Study
C. Background of the Study
D. Scope and Delimitation

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 Let’s Explore and Discover

There are so many things we wanted to know about this

Unlocking of world where we live. Once you encountered uncertainty, be
Difficulties inquisitive so that you can find ways for answers or solutions.
Our continuous quest for knowledge, answers, and
Research problem is a
explanation of people, things, events, and so on cannot be
statement about an
understood until we are engaged in research. In doing
area of concern.
research, it is important to identify the specificity and
Research questions feasibility of a chosen research.
are the foundation of
your research study. When you have identified your quantitative research
problem, you can now state it and make sure to establish its
place in your study. In your written paper, this can be found
in the Statement of the Problem which formally introduces
the problem that you want to investigate or address. Then, you will start specifying what
you want to answer in your study.

In this lesson, you will be guided on how to formulate research problems and
research questions.

The research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be

improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly
literature, theory, or practice that points to the need for a meaningful understanding and
deliberate investigation.
How important is a research problem? How do you formulate a research problem?
How do you state a research question?

A research problem is the main organizing principle guiding the analysis of your
paper. It provides you a venue to express what you want to convey, and it signifies three
things:

1. The core subject matter of scholarly communication;

2. Means by which you arrive at other topics of conversations; and
3. The discovery of new knowledge and understanding.

The aims of stating a problem are the following:

1. Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied;

2. Place the problem in a particular context; and
3. Provide the framework for reporting the results.

Take note that a research problem is not just answerable by yes or no. It should
imply that explanations and justifications regarding the true situation or observation are
required. A research problem implies a relationship between the variables of the study. It
should be stated clearly and unambiguously. It may be expressed in declarative or
interrogative form.

Research questions are the foundation of your research study. It is key to research
because it points out where you are going and it signifies what you intend to do.

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 A research question should, in general, be “potentially testable” and it should be:

1. of sufficient scope as to be resolvable with resources available

2. not involved in proving right or wrong
3. stated in such a way as to clearly define the problem to be investigated

There is no so-called "best way" to structure a quantitative research question.

However, to create well-structured quantitative research questions, we recommend an
approach that is based on four steps:

1. Choosing a type of quantitative research question you are trying to create

(i.e., descriptive, comparative, or relationship-based)
2. Identifying the different types of variables you are trying to measure,
manipulate, or control as well as any groups you may be interested in
3. Selecting an appropriate structure as a type of quantitative
research question based on the variables and/or groups involved
4. Writing down the problem or issues you are trying to address

To summarize, a research question should be:

1. Clear: it provides enough specifics that one’s audience

can easily understand its purpose without needing an
additional explanation.
2. Focused: it is narrow enough that it can be answered
thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.
3. Concise: it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
4. Complex: it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or
“no”, but rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas
and sources before the composition of an answer.
5. Arguable: its potential answers are open to debate
rather than accepted facts.

Categories of Research Questions

Type Relevant Questions Examples

Descriptive 1. What are the characteristics 1. What is the frequency of the
of a category of persons or use of different training methods
organizations? in the industry?
2. How prevalent or widespread 2. How prevalent is the use of
are the events or phenomena? drugs among prison inmates?
3. What is the nature of
counseling support provided for
overseas students?
Explorative Which characteristics or details 1. How do voting patterns of a
are related to observing events, given community compare to the
phenomena, or reasoning? results of the most recent
elections?
2. Is there any relationship
between age and perception of
the quality of music?
3. What is the nature of
preferences for specific religions
among members of social
classes?
Evaluative How will/did a process or 1. Which of several possible
procedure work? programmers had the greatest
Such a question tends to be more impact on reducing long-term
applied than basic, but it is still unemployment?
ought to be founded on an
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 established model or theory, or 2. Which teaching approach had
form the basis for a new one. the greatest appeal to the
learners?
3. Do the subjects taken in
school differentially increase the
probability of subsequent
employment?
Predictive What will happen if one variable 1. If family size increases, is there
changes? We do not always have an increase or decrease in family
control over variables. Things income?
happen and we are observers. 2. At which times of the year do
people of different age groups
prefer to take overseas holidays?
3. Do people who are good at
mathematics, science, or
technical subjects tend to be poor
at English?
Explanatory What are the causes of an 1. Which side of the brain is
observed outcome? predominantly responsible for
Here, we focus on testing computer mouse manipulation?
proposed causal relationships 2. During periods of high
and identifying one or more employment, does the perceived
potential independent variables threat of unemployment reduce
and their effect on the dependent spending among the employed?
variable. 3. Do genetic traits or
environmental conditions have
the greatest impact on the
tendency of male children of
alcoholics to become alcoholics
themselves?
Control What will happen to a second 1. Can stress in patients about to
proposed dependent variable if undergo surgery be reduced by
the suspected independent specific types of nurse
variable is changed? Are there intervention?
any side effects to the 2. What night-time medication
independent variable of interest? regime (if prescriptions allow)
would enhance the quality of
sleep of hospital patients?
3. Will tranquilizers enhance the
examination performance of
highly stressed students?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

How do you indicate the scope and limitations of a study? Scope and delimitation
cover the range of research. It states the limitations of the study in the terms of the study
area, subject/sample, problem, time frame, as well as the statistical treatment,
instruments, and equipment, among others.

MISCONCEPTION ALERT
Limitations and delimitations are two different terms and should not
be used interchangeably in a research study.

Limitations are conditions beyond the control of the researcher that may cause
restrictions and make the conclusions to be generalizable only to the conditions set by the
researcher.

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 Delimitations, on the other hand, are the conditions that the researcher purposely
controlled. These are the limits beyond the concern of the study.

Limitations of the study may be due to:

Methodological limitation – this is due to the inability to obtain sufficient appropriate

evidence.

Data interpretation – this is due to access or limited use of a particular data analysis
technique or software.

Scope of the study – this is due to an intentional setting of parameters that define
the boundary of the study.

Components of Scope and Delimitation

In writing the scope and delimitation of your study, you are also asking the basic
profile questions of your research. The following are the components of the scope and
delimitation of the study but not limited to:

The topic of the study. What are the variables to be included and excluded?

Objectives or problems to be addressed. Why are you doing this study?

Time Frame. When are you going to conduct this study?

The locale of the study. Where are you going to gather your data?

Characteristics of the respondents. Who will be your respondents?

Method and Research Instruments. How are going to collect the data?

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 Let’s Practice

Directions: Research questions should be clear, focused, concise, complex, and arguable.
The following are examples of unclear, unfocused, and complex questions. Rewrite the
questions to make it clear, focused, and simple.

Unclear: How do social networking sites address the harm they cause?
Clear:

Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment caused by global warming?

Focused:

Complex: What main environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors predict

whether Filipinos will develop diabetes, and how can these commonalities be used to
aid the medical community in the prevention of the disease?

Simple:

Directions: Determine the provided type of question used. Write your answer on the
space provided.

Questions Types (Descriptive, Explanatory, Predictive,

Evaluative, Control, Explorative)
1. Will tranquilizers enhance the
examination performance of highly
stressed students?
2. Are there any relationships
between social class, educational
achievement, and drug use among
18 to 24-year-old?
3. Which of the several counseling
approaches had the greatest
success in reducing the return to
drinking among alcoholics?
4. Is there any relationship between
age and perception of the quality of
music?
5. What do customers use as
criteria for choosing which
supermarket to patronize?

9
 Let’s Do More

Directions:
1. Write a research problem.
2. To contextualize your research problem, state, and describe the research.
3. The main body of your research problem should contain the following:
a. The purpose of the study (whether to describe, understand, develop, or
discover something).
b. The central idea that you want to describe, understand or discover.
c. The method by which you plan to collect and analyze data.

4. Write your research problem on the space provided below.

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC (Writing a Research Problem)

Excellent Good Poor Score
7-10 points 4-6 points 1-3 points
Introduced The research The research The research
the reader problem problem slightly problem barely
to the introduced the introduced the introduced the
importance reader to the reader to the reader to the
of the importance of importance of the importance of the
topic. the topic being topic being topic being
studied. studied. studied.
Place the The problem The problem The problem did
problem in clearly specified somewhat not specify the
a the context. specified the context.
particular context.
context.
Provide a Provided a Provided a No framework is
framework framework for framework for provided.
for the reporting of the reporting of
reporting results. results but was
results. not explained
well.
Score

10
Directions: Write one general research question and two specific research questions for
the given research problems below.
Research Problem General Question Specific Questions

The Relationship
between Media
Exposure and Health
Anxiety

Organization’s
Leadership Practices
and Employee’s Job
Satisfaction

Effects of Parenting
Let’s Sum It Up
Style and Children
Study Habits
Directions: Summarize the main ideas in this lesson by completing the following
statements.

1. ________________________is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be

improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in
scholarly literature, theory or practice that points to the need for a meaningful
understanding and deliberate investigation.
2. ________________________are the foundation of your research study. They are the key
to research because they point where you are going. They signify what you intend to
do.

3. Scope and delimitation covers the research in terms of ___________________,

___________________________, _________________________________.

11
 Let’s Assess
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on the space provided
before each number.

_______1. Which of the following is a good characteristic of a research question?

A. Concise
B. Focused
C. Undefined
D. Vague

_______2. “What are the characteristics of a category of persons or organizations?” This is

an example of what type of research question?
A. Descriptive
B. Explorative
C. Evaluative
D. Explanatory

_______3. What type of research question is shown in this example: “Do people who are
good at mathematics, science or technical subjects tend to be poor at English?”
A. Control
B. Descriptive
C. Evaluative
D. Predictive

_______4. Which of the following covers the range of research?

A. Statement of the problem
B. Significance of the study
C. Scope and delimitation
D. Strength and weaknesses
_______5. What do you call the conditions beyond the control of the researcher that may
cause restrictions and make the conclusions to be generalizable only to the
conditions set by the researcher?
A. Delimitations of the study
B. Definition of the study
C. Limitations of the study
D. Significance of the study

_______6. What are the characteristics of a good research question?

A. Focused and clear
B. Clear, significant, and ethical
C. Focused, clear, concise, complex, and arguable
D. Focused, clear, significant, and includes a hypothesis

_______7. What is the main concern of a quantitative research problem?

A. description and explanation of situations
B. trends and patterns of the chosen group
C. precision and specificity of the problem
D. precision and general explanation of phenomena

12
_______8. Which of the following qualifies as a good quantitative research question?
A. Are the teachers well-motivated?
B. Does a social medium lead to more social awareness?
C. Is blended learning more effective than face to face learning?
D. How would parents respond to the current educational challenge?

_______9. When is a research question considered significant?

A. It uses the simplest words for readers
B. When it does not take undue resources
C. It contributes to a bigger body of knowledge
D. No harm is possible to be inflicted to participants

_______10. What is the part of the research study states what is and is not included in the
research study?
A. Statement of the Problem
B. Significance of the Study
C. Background of the Study
D. Scope and Delimitation

13
 Answer Key
Let’s Practice
1. Explanatory
2. Predictive
Clear: What action should social
3. Evaluative
networking sites like Myspace and
Facebook take to protect users’ 4. Explorative
personal information and privacy? 5. Descriptive
Focused: What is the most
significant effect of glacial melting Let’s Sum it up
on the lives of penguins in
Antarctica? 1. Research problem
Simple: How are doctors addressing 2. Research questions
diabetes in the Philippines? 3. location, time, respondents

Let’s Do More
Answers may vary Answers may vary

Let’s Try / Let’s Assess

1.C 1.B
2.D 2.A
3.B 3.D
4.A 4.C
5.C 5.C
6.B 6.C
7.C 7.C
8.C 8.C
9.C 9. C
10.D 10.D

References
Alleyne, Stacy." A Step-by-Step on How to Do a Background Study for a Thesis". Accessed
July 16, 2020. https://education.seattlepi.com.

Alvesson, Mats and Jorgen Sandberg. "Constructing Research Questions: Doing

Interesting Research". London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Accessed July 16, 2020.
https://www.cairn.info/revue-management-2014-5-page-404.htm.
Black, Thomas R. "Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences: An Integrated
Approach to Research Design, Measurement and Statistics". Accessed July 17,
2020. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-02695-000.
Bryman, Allan. "Social Research Methods." New York: Oxford University Press. Accessed
July 16, 2020. https://www.academia.edu/3.
Luzano, Rochelle A., Ma. Doris P. Napone, Kim Charies L. Okit and Maria Eleonor C.
Bañares. Module in Practical Research 2. 2020. Department of Education –
Division of Cagayan de Oro.
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