Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Regional Office No. VIII
DIVISION OF NORTHERN SAMAR
Laoang V District
OLERAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Oleras, Laoang, Northern Samar
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION
& IMMERSION
Formulating Clear Statement of Research Problem

Research is formalized curiosity.

It is poking and prying with a
purpose.
–Zora Neale Hurston–

Name of Learner: ________________________________________

Grade Level & Section: ___________________________
Score: _________________________________

LAS – Q3: Week 2

________________________________ -Mam Melz-
Parent/ Guardian’s Signature

Learning Activity Sheets

Formulating Clear Statement of Research Problem
At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Prepares a plan and a focus on issues and ideas in their respective field

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WEEK 2
Lesson 1: Preparing, Conceptualizing and Focusing a Research Plan

Background Information for the Learner

I You have truly widened your perspectives about research as a discipline
and as an engaging task! Having accomplished all the tasks in the previous
lesson only shows that you have the guts and all what it takes to be a successful
researcher! Let’s get it on towards another step in making you the best researcher
that you can ever be! You are about to refine your research skills specifically in
terms of formulating clear statements of research problems.
A research problem is a statement of a concern in any area, a problem that
needs immediate solution, a recurring difficulty that is necessary to be taken out of
the situation, or a practical question from a scholarly inquiry in different disciplines.
As an intelligent recall, Clemente, Julaton, & Orleans (2016) noted some
criteria for evaluating whether or not a research problem or statement is good. May it
be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method research, research problem should bear
the S.M.A.R.T. characteristics.
Specific. This refers to the quality of being exact or particular. Research
problem statement should be able to communicate the specific inquiry or
question that needs to be answered.
Measurable. This is never an issue in a quantitative method of research.
However, in terms of qualitative research method, the measurability of a
research statement refers to its epistemological aspect or the state of being
objectively observable. More than that, instruments of data-gathering
should be present.
Attainable. The research questions should be easily answered or achieved
when the appropriate procedures are performed.
Realistic. The possibility of being carried out should always be observed
in formulating the research problem especially when there is a need for
experimentations and observations.
Time-Bound. Time is an important element in the research work. The
research questions should be narrowed enough to be attained within the set
time frame.
Meanwhile, Calderon and Gonzales (2014) specified general guidelines in
formulating the general problem and the specific sub-problems or specific questions.

1. The general statement and specific sub-questions should be formulated before

carrying out actions in the conduct of the research work.
2. State the specific sub-problems in interrogative form.
3. The specific question should bear only one clear meaning.
4. Every question should not be dependent apart from other questions — that is
requiring answers afar from other questions.
5. It must be based on facts and phenomena.
The answers to each specific question should be contributory to the development of
the general problem statement.

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 Doing well! It is sure that you have already gained skills in formulating research
questions prior to this subject area. However, it is an advantage to review the basics
before getting to a higher level.
Types of Research Questions
The following are the four types of research questions in terms of their purpose
according to Clemente, Julaton, & Orleans (2016).
1. Factor-isolating questions. The major concern of these questions is to categorize,
label, or name factors and situations that exist or those that are present in the
perimeter of the research work.
Examples:
• What are the difficulties encountered by Senior High School learners
in the New Normal set-up of educational system in the country?
• What are the possible contribution that parents and the community
can extend to schools to overcome the difficulties encountered by
Senior High School learners in the New Normal educational system?
2. Factor-relating questions. Establishing relationships between and among factors
that have been identified is the purpose of these questions.
Examples:
• What relationship exists between the socio-economic status of family
to the learning ability of students?
• Is there a significant relationship between the choice of words of
learners in essay writing and the speaking skills of learners?
3. Situation-relating questions. These questions emphasize the observable changes
that happen to variable/s involved in the study as a result of experimentation.
Examples:
• What is the effect of the modular distance learning to the learning
style and behavior of learners?
• What are the impacts of flexible learning options and modalities in
the educational system in the Philippines?
4. Situation-producing questions. These questions open the opportunity to create a
definite course of action, policies or conditions in order to accomplish or to achieve a
certain goal.
Examples:
What project could be designed to empower parents and the community to be involved
in the educational system?
• What action plan could be proposed to strengthen the coordination
between the family, the community and the school in achieving
relevant education?
Having these as basic guidelines, what do you think is appropriate for your
research work? Can you apply all these types of questions in formulating the
questions for your own research?
The next learning tasks will help you craft research questions that are S.M.A.R.T. and
in compliance with the guidelines that were discussed. Exercise your mental nerves by
accomplishing the following task. You can do it!

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 Learning Task 1: Random Words
D
Initial research topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Factor-isolating question

Factor-relating question

Situation-relating question

Situation-producing
question

Learning Task 2

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 Learning Task 2: To ensure that you have quality research problems/questions, assess your own questions using the SMART

E
 if you
characteristics of a good research problem. Copy the table on your notebook and mark the column with a check (
think it bears the specified quality in each column. Otherwise,, write a note how to enhance that question) to have such
characteristic.

Type Research Questions

of Question S M A R T
Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time -Bound

Factor -
isolating
question

Factor -
relating

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question

Situation -
relating
question

Learning Task 3: Good Research Problem

5
Situation-
producing
question
 Learning Task 3: Identify the characteristic of a good research problem according
to Clemente, Julaton, & Orleans (2016) described in each number. Write your
answer on the space before each number.
_______1. This characteristic pertains to maximizing the capacity and abilities of the
researcher to solve the research problem.
_______2. This is attributed to the use of instruments in order to gather quantifiable or
observable data.
_______3. A research problem should be bound to what exist in the norm and practicality
in terms of the conduct of experimentations.
_______4. This quality of a research problem concerns the possibility of being carried
out in a given or target timeline.
_______5. This refers to the quality of a research question that is being clearly stated or
identified.

Learning Task 4
Learning Task 4: Classify the following research questions/problems based on the
four types of research questions based on their purpose. Write only the letter of the
correct answer on the space before each number.
A. Factor-isolating questions C. Factor-relating questions
B. Situation-relating questions D. Situation-producing questions
_______1. What appropriate learning strategy or technique could be used to maintain
efficient learning at home?
_______2. What is the effect of the changes in the communities due to COVID-19
pandemic?
_______3. What is the relationship between the social distancing and flattening the curve?
_______4. What are the factors contributing to increased of participation of parents in
disaster risk reduction and management?
_______5. What is the meaning of the “pandemic” among schoolchildren ages 5-7?
_______6. Is there a significant difference between the level of optimism of people in the
depressed areas before, during and after pandemic?
_______7. What can be the detrimental health effects of wearing facemask 8 hours
straight?
_______8. What innovative devices/equipment can be developed as alternative protective
device to against contagious diseases?
_______9. What platform is mostly used by learners and teachers in communication during
pandemic?
_______10. What are the positive impacts of the pandemic to the health and medical
community?

Learning Task 5
A Great job! You did very well in the tasks! As expected, you have already gained
sufficient skills in crafting statement of research problem.

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 Not only you were able to know the characteristics of a good research problem and the
guidelines in formulating it, but you were also able to classify their type based on their purpose.
It is also indeed an achievement that you now critique statement of the research
problem to identify where it could be further enhanced and developed. Really great!
This time, you are to write statement of research problems that you intend to answer
in your answer in your own research.

Learning Task 6
A
Learning Task 6:
Go back to your initial research topic and formulate general problem statements and
specific statements of the problem. Do not forget to apply all the learning that you gained
from this lesson. Do this below.

Reflective Notes
• I learned that_______________________________________________

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 ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

• I enjoyed most on__________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

• I want to learn more________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

References
Calderon, J. F. & E.C. Gonzales. (2014). Methods of Research and Thesis Writing.
National Bookstore. Mandaluyong City.
Clemente, RF., A.B.E. Julaton., & A.V. Orleans. (2016). Science in Today’s World Research in Daily Life
1. Sibs Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City.
Moore, Anabelle. (2009) “ 5 Things to Consider in Doing Research Paper.” Re-trieved from
http://EzineArticles.com/?5Thing-to-consider-in-Doing-Research-paper&id=188224 on August 13, 2020
USC Libraries.(2020). “Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper.” Retrieved from
https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/researchdesigns. University of Southern California.

Para sa mga katanungan o puna, sumulat o tumawag sa:

Department of Education Region 4A CALABARZON
Office Address: Gate 2 Karangalan Village, Cainta Rizal
Landline: 02-8682-5773 local 420/421
Email Address: [email protected]

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