LESSON 2:

Identifying the Problem and

Asking the Question
GROUP 5
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND OF STATEMENT OF THE
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
THE PROBLEM PROBLEM

IMPORTANCE OF SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

DEFINITION OF TERMS
THE STUDY OF THE STUDY

CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
 DEFINITION OF TERMS:

LOCALE RATIONALE THESIS

A set of reasons that explain It is an argument, or claim, that

This discusses the place will be defended through your
why a study is necessary and
or setting of the study. It research. A strong thesis
important based on its
describes in brief the statement identifies the topic to
background. It's also known as be discussed, summarizes the
place where the study is the justification of the study, main arguments, and persuades
conducted. rationale, or thesis statement. your audience to continue
reading.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS:

QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIV
E
Qualitative research Quantitative research is the
process of collecting and
involves collecting and
analyzing numerical data. It can
analyzing non-numerical
be used to find patterns and
data (e.g., text, video, or
averages, make predictions, test
audio) to understand causal relationships, and
concepts, opinions, or generalize results to wider
experiences. populations.
 BACKGROUND OF
THE PROBLEM
The first section of a research It includes the rationale, the Background of the problem
paper is background of the key problem statement, and a may include studies that are
problem which establishes the summary of the research both important and relevant.
context underlying the research. questions addressed in the This is especially important if
rest of the paper. the study supports or refutes
your thesis.
 GENERAL
INFORMATION CONTEXT OF RATIONALE
ABOUT THE THE PROBLEM
PROBLEM

What are the conditions, settings

Why should the readers pay
What is known about the and situation with respect to the
attention to your topic or
broad topic? topic?
the issue you want to
study?
Who are directly or indirectly
involved?
 WHAT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING BACKGROUND
OF THE PROBLEM
START WITH A COVER KEY
STRONG BEGINNING COMPONENTS
Begin by defining the research Explain thoroughly all theories,
topic and then identifying the concepts, terms, and ideas that might
be foreign to the intended audience.
target audience.
TAKE NOTE OF
IMPORTANT MAINTAIN A
PREREQUISITES BALANCE
Examine the relevant literatures in Make sure the background focuses on
depth. Take notes while reading important details while also intriguing
to a wider audience.
and cite the sources.
INCLUDE EXPLAIN
HISTORICAL DATA NOVELTY
Current issues are often the result of If the research study or methodology
historical events or discoveries. If is unique or novel, provide an
the research borrows information explanation that will help the reader
from a historical context, include better understand the research.
relevant background information.
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING
BACKGROUND OF THE
PROBLEM
 UNRELATED POOR
AMBIGUITY ORGANIZATIO
THEMES
N
Place no information
Don't be ambiguous. Avoid topics that
without a structure.
Assume that your are not related to
Make sure the
audience does not the key aspects of
background reads
understand any intricate the research topic.
chronologically and
details of your research
organize the sub-
while writing.
sections so it flows
well.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING
BACKGROUND OF THE
PROBLEM
STEP 1: STEP 2:
Then, provide detailed information on all of the
Begin by providing an overview of
methodologies used in the research. Depending
your thesis topic and introducing the
on the individual and research question or
key ideas that will be used
thesis topic, this could take several paragraphs.
throughout your thesis
STEP 3: STEP 4:
Then, briefly introduce the study by describing
Cite your sources where your methodology choice, why you chose this
necessary to avoid methodology over others, and the
plagiarism. methodology's objective.
EXAMPLE
 HYPOTHESIS
According to the Cambridge A tentative explanation or an A research hypothesis (or
Dictionary, Hypothesis is an answer to a question about scientific hypothesis) is a
idea or explanation for variables, their relationships, statement about an expected
something that is based on and other facts involved in relationship between
known facts but has not yet the research. variables, or explanation of an
been proved. occurrence, that is clear,
specific and testable.
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO FORM)

NULL ALTERNATIVE
HYPOTHESIS HYPOTHESIS
• Symbolized by Ho • Symbolized by Hi
• Absence of relationship between the independent • Relationship between the independent and
and dependent variables dependent variables and the fact that the
• A statement to disprove the fact that the independent variable [treatment, intervention,
independent variable [treatment, intervention, condition] affects the dependent variable.
condition] has an effect on the dependent
variable.
 EXAMPLES
NULL ALTERNATIVE
HYPOTHESIS HYPOTHESIS
• The amount of school works • The amount of school works
doesn't affect a student's affect a student's academic
academic performance. performance.
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO DATA AVAILABILITY)

THEORY-DRIVEN DATA-DRIVEN
• Based on existing theory to explain the • Based on the findings of previous research
relationship of variables and the effects of one studies
variable on the other variables
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO DATA AVAILABILITY)

DIRECTIONAL NON-
(ONE-TAILED) DIRECTIONAL
(TWO-TAILED)
• States the relationship of • States the relationship of
two variables variables but not the
direction of the relationship
 EXAMPLES

DIRECTIONAL NON-
(ONE-TAILED) DIRECTIONAL
• Participants who have been deprived (TWO-TAILED)
• There will be a difference between the number
of sleep for 24 hours will have more of cold symptoms experienced in the following
cold symptoms in the following week after exposure to a virus for those
week after exposure to a virus than participants who have been sleep deprived for
24 hours compared with those who have not
participants who have not been sleep
been sleep deprived for 24 hours
deprived
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO DATA AVAILABILITY)

DESCRIPTIVE CAUSAL
• A statement specifying the
• Due to cause and
relationship between two
variables due to the influence effect
of something
 EXAMPLES

DESCRIPTIVE CAUSAL
• The prevalence of • Raising gas prices causes an
contraceptive use among increase in the number of
currently married women in people who carpool to work
Bangladesh exceeds 60%
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE VARIABLES)

CORRELATION AND
EFFECTS
• The relationships in the behavioral patterns between two
variables without any implied causality
• Deals with behavioral patterns but causality is implied
 EXAMPLES

CORRELATIO EFFECTS
N
• The increase in exposure of • The more time spent on
children to gadget, the reading, the better on
decrease to their physical vocabulary.
activities.
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
(ACCORDING TO RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE VARIABLES)

DIFFERENCES
• Follows a different format from correlation and effects
• Should explicitly state the test variable and the grouping
variable
 EXAMPLE

DIFFERENCES
• There is a significant difference in the height of the
children sleeping early at night.
 WHAT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS
 • Hypothesis statement 3. Create a logical connection
should be express in a between the hypothesis and the
declarative statement research problem.

2. Ideas derived from theories, 4. Predict the nature of the

established facts, past studies, or relationship between or among
your own wisdom and experience variables using your
can be utilized to support your hypothesis(es).
hypotheses.
5. Determine the 6. Avoid wordiness by
possibility of testing, stating the hypothesis/es in
analyzing, and clear, exact, or specific
investigating your language.
hypothesis/es.
 WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS
 ABSENCE OF A
AVOID CLEAR
JUDGMENTAL THEORETICAL
WORDS FRAMEWORK.
Value judgments are subjective and Lack of ability to utilize that
are not appropriate for a hypothesis. theoretical framework logically.
You should strive to be objective. Failure to be acquainted with
Therefore the use of personal available research techniques so as to
opinion is to be avoided. phrase the hypothesis properly.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS
Steps in formulating a quantitative research hypothesis:

STEP 1: STEP 2:
Writing a hypothesis begins with a Your initial answer to the question should be
research question that you want to answer. based on what is already known about the
The question should be focused, specific, topic. Look for theories and previous studies
and researchable within the constraints of to help you form educated assumptions about
your project. what your research will find.
Steps in formulating a quantitative research hypothesis:

STEP 3: STEP 4:
You need to make sure your hypothesis is
Now you should have some idea of specific and testable. There are various ways
what you expect to find. Write your of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the terms you
initial answer to the question in a use should have clear definitions, and the
hypothesis should contain.
clear, concise sentence.
Steps in formulating a quantitative research hypothesis:

STEP 5: STEP 6:
To identify the variables, you can write a If your research involves statistical hypothesis
simple prediction in if…then form. The testing, you will also have to write a null
first part of the sentence states the hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default
independent variable and the second part position that there is no association between the
variables. The null hypothesis is written as H0,
states the dependent variable.
while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Refers to the concise A research paper must
description of the problem clearly describe and
that will be addressed in identify the “problem”
your research and it is also a that is being
important communication
investigated so that the
tool so that everybody
reader can understand
working on the study knows
the relevance of the
the problem that needs to be
inquired. study.
 TYPES OF SOP

QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
SOP SOP
It names the variables, population It is stated much more broadly than
and sample to be studied and it quantitative. It states the general
asks questions about the purpose of the study but the focus
relationship between the variables. may change as the study progresses.
WHAT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING SOP
 • Be Concise and Clear 3. Use language that can be easily
understood by the reader

2. Make sure to identify the

4. Double check and revise
gaps

Page 16
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING SOP
 1 2 3
Write about Formulating
multiple statements that
problems or Being too is beyond
about broad technical and irrelevant
or overly about the to the problem
ambitious problem that needs to
problems. be addressed.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING SOP
• CONTEXTUALIZE THE 2. EXPLORE THE NATURE
PROBLEM OF YOUR PROBLEM

The problem should be in frame This will have a deep

of your study, giving understanding on how to
background on what is already develop effective solutions
known
to the problem.
3.SET YOUR AIMS AND 4.RAISE RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES QUESTIONS

Formulate goals that should keep Create questions that will have
the study relevant and a guide to relevance to your research and it
evaluate the results of your study will set the direction on where the
study will go to.
 EXAMPLE
Seafaring dates back thousands of years ago. Proofs of trading between two different countries can be
traced on the history books which used boats as the means of transportation to trade with other
countries. Back then transportation using ships are the only way to travel to other countries and back
then problems already exists. Whether these are problems regarding the crew, the cargo, the weather, or
the ship itself, those are part seafaring. Even today, those problemss are still there although not as severe
as before, it still exists.

This Study aims to identty the difficulties ecountered by Filipino seafarers onboard the ships.
Specifically, the following questions:

1. What are the common difficulties that Filipino encounter on board?

2. What are the factors that make Filipino seafarers decide to quit job at sea?
3. What are the reasons that cause the low performance Filipino seafarers on board?
DEFINITION OF TERMS
THEORETICAL OPERATIONAL
DEFINITION DEFINITIONS

contain built-in theories; they cannot assigns meaning to a construct or

be simply reduced to describing a set variable by specifying the. activities
of observations. The definition may or ' operations' necessary to measure
contain implicit inductions and the construct or variable
deductive consequences that are part
of the theory.
 WHAT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING DEFINITION
OF TERMS
 3. Vary your sentence structure. Readers get
• Keep the definition in your tired when they read a series of lengthy
thesis brief and basic. You will sentences with multiple clauses. Similarly, they
feel rushed by a series of short, terse sentences.
elaborate on it more in the body As much as possible, vary the length and
of your paper. construction of your sentences.

4. Use consistent tenses. Present tense is most

2. Use a dictionary or thesaurus common in academic papers and should be used
with available APA when referring to written texts. Future tense is
almost never used. Exception: past tense is used in
information: author, title, date, history papers and in reference to experiments
done in the past.
publisher, page
 WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING DEFINITION
OF TERMS
• Avoid using passive 3. Defining your term.
phrases involving the word Do not repeat part of the defined
“is” when defining your term in your definition.
term.

2. Do not use contractions. 4. Avoid overused “scholarly”

This rule is stylistic, and phrases. Never write “In this
paper I will …” You are writing
the goal is a “cleaner”
the paper and will clearly do
paper.
something.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING DEFINITION OF
TERMS
READ THE RESEARCH THE
DICTIONARY WORD’S ORIGINS
DEFINITION
While you will not be relying Look up your chosen word in the
completely on the dictionary Oxford English Dictionary or in
definition for your essay, another etymology dictionary. These
familiarizing yourself with the sources can tell you the history behind
official definition will allow you to a word, which can provide further
compare your own understanding of insight on a general definition as well
the concept with the simplest, most as information about how a word
came to mean what it means today.
academic explanation of it.
CHOOSE AN ABSTRACT MAKE SURE THAT THE
WORD WITH A COMPLEX WORD IS DISPUTABLE
MEANING

A simple word that refers to a Aside from being complex, the word
concrete word will not give you should also refer to something that
much to write about, but a complex can mean different things to different
word that refers to an abstract people.
concept provides more material to
explore.
CHOOSE A WORD YOU HAVE
SOME FAMILIARITY WITH

Dictionary definitions can only tell you so

much. Since you need to elaborate on the word
you choose to define, you will need to have
your own base of knowledge or experience with
the concept you choose.
 EXAMPLE

DISPOSAL COLLECTION ORDINANCE

As use in this study, this refers to the In this study, this term refers to the act of It is defined as a law or statute
discharge deposit, dumping, spilling, removing the solid waste from the source or passed by a local authority such
leaking or placing of any solid waste into form a communal storage point. (Article II, as a city or town. (Sandler,
or in any land. (Article II, Section 3 of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9003 Keefe, 2009)
Republic Act No, 9003)
 EXAMPLE
RECYCLING ECOLOGICAL SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT
It shall refer to the treating of used or waste materials
through a process of massing them suitable for This refers to the systematic administration of activities
beneficial use and for other purposes, and includes any which provide for segregation at source, segregated
process by which solid waste materials are transformed transportation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment and
into new products in such a manner that the original disposal of solid waste and all other waste management
products may lose their identity, and which may be activities which do not harm the environment. (R.A. 9003,
used as raw materials for the production of other goods Ecological Solid & waste 'management, 2000)
or services (Rule III, Section * of the Implementing
Rules and Regulation of R.A. 9003)
 SCOPE AND
LIMITATION
Scope and limitations The term scope refers Limitations is the term
used for constraints that
are two terms that to the problem or
impact the researcher’s
address the details of issue that the ability to effectively
a research project researcher wants to study the scope of the
study with the project.

project.
 WHAT TO DO WHEN
FORMULATING SCOPE AND
LIMITATION
 1 2 3
The subject The locale of
A brief the study,
matter and where the data
statement of topics were gathered
the general studied and or the entity to
purpose of discussed. which the data
the study. belong.
 4 5
The population The period of
or universe from the study. This
which the is the time,
respondents either months
were selected. or years,
This must be
large enough to during which
make the data were
generalizations gathered.
significant.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING SCOPE AND
LIMITATION
• The scope may each be 3. The limitation and exclusions
from the study that were beyond
represented in one paragraph.
the control of the researcher.

2. The scope discusses the 4. The term "delimination" is used when

exclusions of the study were made and
inclusions and coverage of your decided by the researcher due to the
study including locale and justifiable reasons.
respondents.
Page 16
 EXAMPLE
Scope of the Study

This study is focusing on how nursing student maintain their perspective in dignity in care in Our
Lady of Fatima University - Antipolo Campus. This study will be done with soft copy questionnaire as a Survey and
Reference. The study shall have Male and Female of a Nursing Student of Our Lady of Fatima University with the
age of 18 and above.
 CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
A conceptual framework is a Conceptual frameworks can Provides an outline of how you
representation of the be written or visual and are plan to conduct the research of
relationship you expect to see generally developed based on your thesis
between your variables, or the a literature review of existing
characteristics or properties that studies about your topic.
you want to study.
 STEPS IN
FORMULATING CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR STEP 2: SELECT YOUR
INDEPENDENT AND
RESEARCH QUESTION DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Your research question guides your work by In order to move forward with your research
determining exactly what you want to find out, question and test a cause-and-effect
giving your research process a clear focus. relationship, you must first identify at least
two key variables: your
However, before you start collecting your data, independent and dependent variables.
consider constructing a conceptual framework.
This will help you map out which variables you Note that causal relationships often involve
will measure and how you expect them to relate several independent variables that affect the
to one another. dependent variable. For the purpose of this
example, we’ll work with just one
independent variable (“hours of study”).
STEP 3: VISUALIZE STEP 4: IDENTIFY
YOUR CAUSE-AND- OTHER INFLUENCING
EFFECT RELATIONSHIP VARIABLES

Now that you’ve figured out your It’s crucial to identify other variables
research question and variables, the that can influence the relationship
first step in designing your between your independent and
conceptual framework is visualizing dependent variables early in your
your expected cause-and-effect research process.
relationship.
 KEYPOINTS
A set of coherent ideas A basis for thinking An overview of ideas
to make it easy to about what we do and and practices, or a set
communicate to others about what it means, of assumptions, values,
and definitions
influenced by the
ideas
 KEY POINTS
Encapsulates why we The researcher’s idea Embodies the specific
use certain methods and on how the research direction by which the
how we would analyze problem will be researcher will
the data undertake
explored
 KEY POINTS
Describes the Outlines the input Also called the research
relationship between process and output of paradigm
specific variables the whole
identified in the study investigation
EXAMPLE
 REFERENCES
Cabrera, J.M., (2013) Research Proposal 6 - How to Write the
Definitions of Terms. https://www.slideshare.net/JaimeCabrera3/research-
proposal-6-the-definitions-of-terms

Camposano, O. (2022). VARIABLES AND FRAMEWORKS

https://pacocatholic1.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/sites/RDL212-STEM5SY2022-202
(POWERPOINT)
3528/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B8830327A-4CC1-4CEA-9494-55
6DA8D88517%7D&file=VARIABLES%20AND%20FRAMEWORKS.pptx&a
ction=edit&mobileredirect=true
 REFERENCES
Camposano, O. (2022). HYPOTHESES (POWERPOINT).
https://pacocatholic1.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/sites/RDL212-STEM2SY2022-202
3/Class%20Materials/MIDTERM/HYPOTHESES.pptx?d=w81babf931834407
4830434f832f11e0d&csf=1&web=1&e=JdqjBS

Fortes, M.L., (N.D) Sample of Definition of Terms. Retrieved from

https://www.scribd.com/document/336241903/Sample-Definition-of-Terms#

Harvard Extension School (N.D) Crafting the Thesis Proposal

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/crea-lit/background-problem
 REFERENCES
Indeed Editorial Team (2020) How To Write a Problem Statement (With
an Example). Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-
development/how-to-write-a-problem-statement

Kevin., (2022) Statement of the Problem in Research Examples & Tips

https://blog.wordvice.com/writing-the-statement-of-the-problem/

Life Persona (2023) What is the Background of the Problem in a

Research Work. https://www.lifepersona.com/what-is-the-background-of-the-
problem-in-a-research-work
 REFERENCES
Thesis Consultant (2013) Thesis Writing: Scope and Limitation of the
Study. http://thesisadviser.blogspot.com/2013/02/thesis-writing-scope-
and-limitation-of.html
THANK YOU