RESEARCH REVIEWER

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Problem - a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be

improved, or a difficulty to be eliminated that needs meaningful understanding
and deliberate investigation. A specific issue or gap in existing knowledge that
one aims to address in research.

FIVE FACTORS TO CONSIDER

1.​ The problem exists in the locality or country but there is no known solution
to the problem.
2.​ The solution can be answered by using statistical methods and techniques.
3.​ There are probable solutions but they are not yet tested.
4.​ The occurrence of phenomena requires scientific investigation to arrive at
a precise solution.
5.​ There is a serious need/problem of the people that demand research.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

-​ Specific
-​ Measurable
-​ Achievable
-​ Realistic
-​ Time-bound

RESEARCH PROBLEM SOURCES

●​ the researcher's specialization
●​ existing and past research
●​ recommendations form theses, dissertations, and research journals
●​ original and creative ideas of the researcher based on the problems met in
the locality or the country.

CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

-​ Interesting
 -​ Relevant to the needs of the people
-​ Innovative
-​ Cost-Effective
-​ Measurable and Time-Bound

OBJECTIVES - A statement of the purpose for which the investigation should be

performed.

STEPS IN FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM (writing a topic)

●​ Brainstorm
●​ Ask the members what they know about the topic.
●​ Discuss the importance of the topic and how it will benefit the group.
●​ Explore the possibility of being able to work on the topic.
●​ Write several questions about the topic you have agreed upon
-​ Start with WHAT IS...?
-​ Continue asking WHY...?
-​ Go further by asking HOW...?
●​ Is the topic empirical? Is there anything good about it?

SELECTING A GENERAL TOPIC AREA (Selecting a problem)

●​ Selecting a problem that you are genuinely interested in.
●​ Be realistic and attempt only what you can finish, given the demands on
your time and energy.

SELECTING A GENERAL TOPIC AREA (defining your interests)

●​ Look for a research question that reflects the next step in the research
process.

SELECTING A GENERAL TOPIC AREA (Producing Ideas)

●​ Ideas are products of luxurious thinking:
-​ beliefs, conceptions, suppositions, assumptions, what-ifs, guesses, etc.
-​ are articulations best done in writing
-​ implying a relationship between two or more variables.
RESEARCH QUESTION - a stated expression of interest and intent and puts the
research question in researchable form.

SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

Brainstorming for the Research Topic

Looking for a possible research topic is difficult. It is always a question of, what
topic shall I research? Is it researchable? Will it be feasible? Is it significant? And,
in the context of academic research, will it be approved? These are just a few of
the questions that may bother you as you try to look for the best topic for your
research.

Here are some practical ways that you can do when you are looking for a topic:

1.​ Identify your research interest:

-​ The best research topic is something that you are interested in. In the
context of your strand, try to reflect on what specific topics you are really
fascinated about. For example, if you are in the HumSS strand, do you
want to study labor injustices, poverty in the country, or state fascism? As
an ABM strand student, are you interested in customer service in the food
industry, total quality management compliance of small businesses, or
financial literacy of the Filipino people? As a STEM student, are you
interested in the effect of digital media in the learning of students, artificial
intelligence in education, or scientific views on Filipino traditional medical
practices? On the other hand, are you a MAD or Sports track major?

-​ If so, are you interested in the local art history, the Filipino indigenous arts,
the Pinoy folk games, or physical education promotion in the digital world?
These are possible topics that you may explore. But remember that when
you choose a topic for your research, it should be something that you have
joy talking about and fascinated with. However challenging the course may
take you, you will not lose interest in the process.

2.​ Read recommendations from existing research.

-​ As a researcher looking for a good topic, you may actually read on the
recommendations of ersting research papers. Usually, researchers give
 some input on how the research can be expanded by citing what needs to
be done further. In this, you will be doing what is recommended. By just
reading a research, you can also replicate the same study in a different
setting. Replicating means you will be following the methodology and find
out the answers to the same questions but in a different setup. If the same
topic is useful in your context, this can be a good start.

3.​ Look for problems that exist in your community.

-​ Since researchers are problem solvers, one practical and essential source
of problems is your own community. Be observant and find out problems
that need to be answered.

-​ These can be good sources of your research topic. If you are a team of
researchers, you must list down all the possible topics that you found out.
You can meet with your group as you finish listing all the topics, and each
of you should present and discuss the background of the topics you
presented. As a group, you should analyze all the presented topics and
choose at most three topics that the group wants to explore.

●​ Discuss the chosen topics by asking yourselves the following questions:

-​ “Will the research contribute to solving a problem or in a body of
knowledge?”
●​ The primary reason a research is conducted is to solve an existing problem
and eventually contribute to the body of knowledge. Discuss among your
team how your proposed topic will be able to provide the remedy for the
problem and what additional knowledge it will create in your field.
●​ Can it be done given the available resources?
-​ Remember that however useful the research is, if it is not feasible, it would
be impractical to start it. Your group must see to it that there would be
enough funding for your research, equipment is available, respondents are
reachable, experts needed are present, and the time needed is enough. If
one of these fails, there would be a huge impact on the research process.
●​ Are there supporting literature and studies that support the research?
 -​ One thing that makes research difficult, especially ones that are academic
in nature, is the unavailability of related literature and studies. One thing
that must be secured is the literature and studies in the area of your topic.
Without these, it would be difficult to conceptualize and explain the
concepts related to your study. Also, it would be hard to establish the
credibility
-​ When your topic has been established, you must limit it. This will help you
focus on the direction of your study. You can use different techniques to
limit your topic. You can limit the topic in terms of: time, location,
respondents/participants, kind, are under investigation, and other factors.
You are not confined to these factors, but you can use them to narrow
down your topics. You can use one or a combination of the different factors
presented.

Take a look at the following examples:

-​ Looking at the examples, you can see that a topic can be limited using a
factor or a combination of different factors. In fact, you can further limit
these topics based on what you want to answer and accomplish in your
study. It is always the prerogative of your group with the approval of your
adviser to narrow down your scope. This will rely on the feasibility of the
topic, as discussed earlier.

Crafting the Title from the Chosen Topic

 -​ If your research topic is in place yet, you can now actually craft your
research title. Commonly, the title is derived from the topic. Things that you
need to remember when crafting your research title are the following.

-​ Make the title as short as possible. Although there is no standard number

of words, the common acceptable length is at most 18 words.

-​ Reflect the primary elements or variables of the research. This will guide
the readers, researchers, and other stakeholders to know the significant
concepts involved in the study.

-​ Make it sound like a summary of the research content. Your title should
give the readers a clear vision of what the study is all about, even without
browsing the abstract or the actual content of the research. This means
that they could easily associate the title with what is found in the paper.

Take a look at the sample titles that follow, which are based on the
previously discussed topics:

Preparing the Research Plan

 -​ Research planning means identifying the important information that you will
need to formally launch the research study. To help you plan for it, you may
discuss with your team the questions that follow, which will be the basis in
preparing your concept paper:
-​ What is the rationale of the research?
-​ What are the general and specific objectives of the study?
-​ Who are the beneficiaries of the research?
-​ What is the expected result of the study?
-​ Who will be the people involved? What are their roles?
-​ Is the research feasible?
-​ What is the expected time frame of the research?
-​ What literature and studies can be used to support the research concept?
●​ As you brainstorm, try to discuss these questions. You are not limited to
these. You can add other questions that are worth discussing. Then, collect
the information that you need. These will aid you in your concept paper.

Conceptualizing the Research Plan

-​ You can write a basic concept paper for your research by incorporating the
succeeding sections.
-​ These are just suggestions, and they should not limit you. Read what is
expected in each of the sections. You can refer to the Problem Outcome
for a specific example.
●​ Title: a well-defined and well-written title that is usually derived from the
topic
●​ Research Proponents: the list of the names of the researchers
●​ Context: a general description of the problem or issue that needs to be
resolved
●​ Rationale: a list of reasons why there is a need to conduct the proposed
research
●​ Objectives: a list of SMART goals that will be accomplished by the
research
●​ Beneficiaries and Significance: a list of who will benefit from the study and
how they will benefit from it
●​ Expected Results: a short description of the outcome of the proposal
●​ Feasibility Requirements: a short discussion of what resources are needed
to conduct the study
●​ Schedule: a schedule of activities to do the research
●​ Sources: a bibliographical entry of the resources used in preparing the
concept paper