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SCHOOL OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Instructional Module in Management Science

Preliminaries
I. Lesson Number 2
II. Lesson Title Research Question: Defining and Justifying Problems; Defining
Hypothesis
III. Brief Introduction First of all, what is the problem statement? A problem statement is a
of the Lesson concise description of an issue that needs to be addressed or
improved upon. In the case of digital products and services, this
should be related to a problem that the customer has. In any
experiment, the problem statement should always come first.
Without a problem, you have no real reason to conduct the
experiment or understanding on what to conduct an experiment on.
The problem statement guides the strategic direction of your
experiment while ensuring that you are always focusing on the
customer.
IV. Lesson Objectives a. Narrow general interest into themes and realities that can be
researched
b. Transform interest, themes, and realities into potential research
questions
c. Edit your questions to be specific, interdisciplinary, evidence-
based and significant.

Lesson Proper
I. Getting Started
Complete the chart

 
II. Discussion
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, a
difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in
practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. In
some social science disciplines the research problem is typically posed in the form of a
question. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad
proposition, or present a value question.
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The purpose of a problem statement is to:

1. Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. The reader is
oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or hypotheses to
follow.
2. Places the problem into a particular context that defines the parameters of what is to
be investigated.
3. Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably
necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

To survive the "So What" question, problem statements should possess the following
attributes:

 Clarity and precision [a well-written statement does not make sweeping generalizations
and irresponsible statements],
 Identification of what would be studied, while avoiding the use of value-laden words and
terms,
 Identification of an overarching question and key factors or variables,
 Identification of key concepts and terms,
 Articulation of the study's boundaries or parameters,
 Some generalizability in regards to applicability and bringing results into general use,
 Conveyance of the study's importance, benefits, and justification [regardless of the type
of research, it is important to address the “so what” question by demonstrating that the
research is not trivial],
 Does not have unnecessary jargon; and,
 Conveyance of more than the mere gathering of descriptive data providing only a
snapshot of the issue or phenomenon under investigation.

Types and Content

There are four general conceptualizations of a research problem in the social sciences:

1. Casuist Research Problem -- this type of problem relates to the determination of right
and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by analyzing moral dilemmas through
the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases.
2. Difference Research Problem -- typically asks the question, “Is there a difference
between two or more groups or treatments?” This type of problem statement is used
when the researcher compares or contrasts two or more phenomena.
3. Descriptive Research Problem -- typically asks the question, "what is...?" with the
underlying purpose to describe a situation, state, or existence of a specific phenomenon.
4. Relational Research Problem -- suggests a relationship of some sort between two or
more variables to be investigated. The underlying purpose is to investigate
qualities/characteristics that are connected in some way.

A problem statement in the social sciences should contain:

 A lead-in that helps ensure the reader will maintain interest over the study
 A declaration of originality [e.g., mentioning a knowledge void, which would be supported
by the literature review]
 An indication of the central focus of the study, and
 An explanation of the study's significance or the benefits to be derived from an
investigating the problem.

Sources of Problems for Investigation

Identifying a problem to study can be challenging, not because there is a lack of issues that
could be investigated, but due to pursuing a goal of formulating a socially relevant and
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researchable problem statement that is unique and does not simply duplicate the work of others.
To facilitate how you might select a problem from which to build a research study, consider
these three broad sources of inspiration:
Deductions from Theory
This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life in
society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions from human behavior are then
fitted within an empirical frame of reference through research. From a theory, the research can
formulate a research problem or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical
situations. The research asks the question: “What relationship between variables will be
observed if theory aptly summarizes the state of affairs?” One can then design and carry out a
systematic investigation to assess whether empirical data confirm or reject the hypothesis and
hence the theory.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from academic
movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your primary area of study. A
review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines, which
can expose you to new avenues of exploration and analysis. An interdisciplinary approach to
selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive
understanding of a very complex issue than any single discipline might provide.
Interviewing Practitioners
The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from formal or informal
discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for future research and
how to make research findings increasingly relevant to practice. Discussions with experts in the
field, such as, teachers, social workers, health care providers, etc., offers the chance to identify
practical, “real worl” problems that may be understudied or ignored within academic circles. This
approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing
and conducting your study.
Personal Experience
Your everyday experiences can give rise to worthwhile problems for investigation. Think
critically about your own experiences and/or frustrations with an issue facing society, your
community, or in your neighborhood. This can be derived, for example, from deliberate
observations of certain relationships for which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an
event that appears harmful to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary.
Relevant Literature
The selection of a research problem can often be derived from an extensive and thorough
review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest. This may reveal where
gaps remain in our understanding of a topic. Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such gaps in
knowledge; 2) evaluate if the methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve
other problems; or, 3) determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different subject area
or applied to different study sample [i.e., different groups of people]. Also, authors frequently
conclude their studies by noting implications for further research; this can also be a valuable
source of problems to investigate.
What Makes a Good Research Statement?
A good problem statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your research is
centered and then gradually leads the reader to the more narrow questions you are posing. The
statement need not be lengthy but a good research problem should incorporate the following
features:
Compelling topic
Simple curiosity is not a good enough reason to pursue a research study. The problem that you
choose to explore must be important to you and to a larger community you share. The problem
chosen must be one that motivates you to address it.
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Supports multiple perspectives

The problem most be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead supports the
generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule of thumb is that a good
research problem is one that would generate a variety of viewpoints from a composite audience
made up of reasonable people.

Researchable
It seems a bit obvious, but you don't want to find yourself in the midst of investigating a complex 
research project and realize that you don't have much to draw on for your research. Choose
research problems that can be supported by the resources available to you. Not sure? Seek out
help  from a librarian!
Mistakes to Avoid
Beware of circular reasoning. Don’t state that the research problem as simply the absence of
the thing you are suggesting. For example, if you propose, "The problem in this community is
that it has no hospital."
This only leads to a research problem where:

 The need is for a hospital

 The objective is to create a hospital
 The method is to plan for building a hospital, and
 The evaluation is to measure if there is a hospital or not.

This is an example of a research problem that fails the "so what?" test because it does not
reveal the relevance of why you are investigating the problem of having no hospital in the
community [e.g., there's a hospital in the community ten miles away] and because the research
problem does not elucidate the significance of why one should study the fact that no hospital
exists in the community [e.g., that hospital in the community ten miles away has no emergency
room].
III. Application(Performance Task -40%)
ACTIVITY 2
1. Clarify the focus of your research problem
2. Is your approach qualitative or quantitative. Explain your answer
3. Develop 2-3 research questions
4. Assess the quality of your questions
IV. Assessment(Written Works-30%)
Read each questions/statement carefully.
Part 1. Write T if the statement is correct, and F if the statement is incorrect.
1. A researcher must have a clear idea with regards to what it is that s/he wants to find out
about and not what s/he thinks s/he must find.
2. The formulation of a research problem is the most crucial part of the research journey as
the quantity and vanity of the project entirely depends upon it.

Part 2. Choose the letter of the correct answer

3. What helps when developing a research question?
a. Specific guidelines in other books
b. A big budget
c. Formulating objectives
d. Knowledge of the subject area
4. Developing a researchable question would not involve
a. Bearing in mind your technical expertise in the area of research
b. Assessing the work involved
c. Considering the time and resources available to you
d. Deciding what statistical software to use
5. If you have a specific idea about what is to be researched you should
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a. Talk to your supervisor

b. Formulate research objectives
c. Follow the twelve steps of selecting a research problem
d. Write a research proposal
V. Reflection(Performance Task -40%)
You learnt about research problem. Discuss crucial is formulating a research question, and
how will it affect the whole study. Write your response in paragraphs and use specific
situations as examples. You will be graded using the criteria below.
Criteria: Content (10 pts.)                                         Organization of Ideas (3 pts.)

Relevance to the topic (5 pts.)                    Brevity (2 pts.)

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VI. References
Calderon, Jose and Gonzales, Expectacion (2015), Methods of Research and Thesis
Writing, National Bookstore, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Trinidad, Jose Eos and ADMU (2028), Researching: Philippine Realities - A Guide to
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Humanities Research, Ateneo de Manila University Press,
Quezon City, Philippines
Paler-Calmorin, Laurentina and Calmorin, Mechor (2010), Research Methods and Thesis
Writing, Rex Bookstore, Inc., Manila. Philippines

Prepared by:

JEWELSON M. SANTOS, LPT,EdD,DHum

Professor

Reviewed by: Approved by:

JOHN MARC R. MENDOZA, MAEd, MLIS JESS JAY M. SAJISE, DBA

Program Head, School of Teacher Education Vice President of Academic Affairs External