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Statement of the Problem

The problem statement sets the direction of the inquiry; it is verbalization of the

“questions” which the study proposes to answer. This divides into major/main problem

and the minor/sub-problems and may be stated declaratively or interrogatively.

The major problem is the whole focus, which is reflected in the title of the study.

The minor problems are the sub-divisions or the breakdown of the main variable

into its components. When the answers to the sub-problems are put together, they answer

the main question. Questions like what is the profile? what are the implications? what are

the recommendations? are not sub-problems. There should be at least five (5) specific

questions in the statement of the problem.

The following are suggested to guide the researcher in the formulation of his

general as well as his specific sub-problems or questions. There are also the

characteristics of specific questions:

1. The general statement of the problem and the specific sub-problems or questions

should be formulated first before conducting research.

2. It is customary to state specific sub-problems in the interrogative form. Hence, sub-

problems are called specific questions.

3. Each specific question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has only one

meaning. It must not have dual meanings.

4. Each specific question is researchable apart from the other questions that are

answers to each specific question can be found even without considering the other

questions.
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5. Each specific question must be based upon known facts and phenomena. Besides,

data from such known facts and phenomena must be accessible to make the

specific question researchable.

6. Answers to each specific question can be interpreted apart from the answers to

other specific questions.

7. Answers to each specific question must contribute to the development of the whole

research problem or topic.

8. Summing up the answers to all the specific questions will give a complete

development of the entire study.

9. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the whole research

problem or study.

Before writing down the specific questions, determine first the different

aspects of the research problem to be studied and then for each aspects of the

research problem to be studied and then for each aspect make one specific

question with sub-questions if there is a need.

10. Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then this should

be broken up into as many sub-problems or specific questions as necessary.

Assumption

While the hypotheses are statements of expectations to be tested in the

contemplated research, assumptions are statements that need not be tested. They are

accepted as facts based on observations or based on the existing literature. The

assumption must be stated when there is controversy on the acceptability of a

theory/concepts/a research method or instrument, which the proposed research

considers acceptable.

Guidelines in the use of basic assumptions:

1. You cannot assume the value of your study. Such an argument should have been

made under the section, significance of the study.

2. You cannot assume the reliability of the instruments you propose to use in your

research. Such rationale and defense should be made under methodology.

3. You cannot assume the validity of basic data. Validity is established under

methodology.

4. You cannot assume that your population is typical. This point is to be made under

methodology.

5. An assumption is not tested, neither defended nor argued.

Hypothesis

Hypotheses are statement made when the study aims to make statistical

comparisons or aims to determine relationships between variables. A hypothesis is a

tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question raised at the beginning of the

investigation. It is an educated guess about the answer to a specific question.

Forms of Hypotheses:

1. Operational form – “There is a significant difference…”

2. Null form –” There is no significant difference…”

Guidelines in the formulation of explicit hypotheses:

1. In experimental investigations, hypotheses have to be explicit, they have to be

expressed. They have to be expressed also in comparative and co-relational

studies.

2. In descriptive and historical investigations, hypotheses are seldom expressed if

not entirely absent. The sub-problems or specific questions raised before the start

of the investigation and stated under the statement of the problem serve as the

hypotheses. (Good and Scates, pp. 220-221) The specific questions serve as the

hypothesis. With this fact, it is logical to presume that all studies in research have

their own respective hypotheses. Consequently, no research is conducted without

any hypothesis at all.

3. Hypotheses are usually stated in the null form because testing a null hypothesis is

easier than a hypothesis in the operational form. Testing a hypothesis simply

means gathering data to answer it.

4. Hypotheses are formulated from the specific questions upon which they are based.

Purposes, functions, and importance of hypotheses or specific questions:

1. They help the researcher in designing his study: what methods, research

instruments, sampling design, and statistical treatments to use, what data to

gather, etc.

2. They serve as bases for determining assumptions.

3. They serve as bases for determining the relevance of data.

4. They serve as bases for the explanation or discussion about the data gathered.
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5. They help or guide the researcher in consolidating his findings and in formulating

his conclusions are answers to the hypotheses or specific questions raised at the

start of the investigation.

Assumption

While the hypotheses are statements of expectations to be tested in the

contemplated research, assumptions are statements that need not to be tested. They are

accepted as facts based on observations or based on the existing literature. The

assumption must be stated when there is controversy on the acceptability of a theory /

concepts / a research method or instrument, which the proposed research considers

acceptable.

Guidelines in the use of basic assumptions:

1. You cannot assume the value of your study. Such an argument should have been

made under the section, significance of the study.

2. You cannot assume the reliability of the instruments you propose in your research.

Such a rationale and defense should be made under methodology.

3. You cannot assume the validity of data. Validity is established under methodology.

4. You cannot assume that your population is typical. This point is to be made under

methodology.

5. An assumption is not tested, neither is it defended nor argued.