AL

Integrated Basic Education Research Concepts

SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY Practical Research 2 (PR2) A.Y: 2023-2024


UNIT 2: Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the Problem

  • Integrated Basic Education Department

  • Upholding 500 Years of Filipino Catholic Faith and Education


Lesson 4: Quantitative Research Problem and Research Questions

Learning Targets

  • I can differentiate the general problem from the specific problems.

  • I can compare the different types of research questions.

  • I can formulate the general problem as well as the specific problems.


Statement of the Problem

  • Definition: Stating the problem assists the researcher in clarifying essential elements of research, which include:

    • Major variables

    • General and specific objectives

    • Appropriate methodology


Important Elements in the Statement of the General Problem

  1. Main tasks

  2. Main or major variables

  3. Participants

  4. The specific setting

  5. Coverage date of the conduct of study

  6. For developmental research, intended outputs such as intervention programs, modules, or policies


Examples of a General Problem

  1. General Problem: The main problem of this research is to examine the influence of video games and the utilization of social media on the language proficiency of freshmen students of Leyte National High School for the first semester of academic year 2014-2015.

    • Result application: The findings will serve as a basis for formulating guidelines in the development, organization, and implementation of effective study habits.

    • Elements: Main task, Variables, Respondents, Setting, Coverage date.

  2. General Problem: The study aims to assess the behavioral traits of senior high school students and relate them to the productivity level in reviewing lessons and passing long examinations.

    • Setting: Conducted during the first semester of SY 2016-2017 in the Division of Palo, Leyte.

  3. General Problem: This investigation aims to evaluate the level of performance of technical-vocational instructors and relate it to the efficiency level of senior high school management students undergoing on-the-job training in selected businesses in Palo, Leyte during the school year 2014-2015.


Specific Problems

  • Specific problems follow the general problem and are enumerated as questions that the researcher seeks to answer.

  • Criteria for specific problems:

    • Must be in question form.

    • Must define the population and the sample of the study.

    • Must identify the variables being studied.

    • Must be empirically testable.


General Types of Research Questions

  • Non-researchable Questions: Questions of value that are answerable by "yes" or "no."

    • Examples:

    1. Will the students from a broken family prove their worth in the community?

    2. Should all mothers breastfeed their babies?

    3. Should SHS students taking Accountancy be proficient in Mathematics?

  • Researchable Questions: Questions of value, opinions, or policy raised to gather data.

    • Importance: Formulating clear and significant questions prepares the researcher for decision-making regarding research design, data collection, and analysis.

    • Basic form involves question words: who, what, where, when, why, and how.


Types of Research Questions

  1. Factor-Isolating Questions

    • Definition: These questions also known as factor-naming questions, isolate, categorize, describe, or name factors and situations.

    • Examples:

    1. What is the profile of school managers in terms of:

      • Age

      • Management experience

      • Educational attainment

      • Management training

      • Involvement in civic and cultural organizations

      • Home management styles

      • Work values

      • Human virtues

    2. How are the following laboratory-related factors described in terms of:

      • Adequacy, usability, and availability of equipment

      • Facilities

      • Laboratory manual? (cited in Estrella, 2009)

    3. What is the level of school effectiveness in terms of:

      • Teacher's performance

      • School performance (drop-out rate, completion rate, survival rate, achievement rate, and awards received by students)?

  2. Factor-Relating Questions

    • Definition: Their goal is to determine the relationship among identified factors; this is often applicable in non-experimental research.

    • Examples:

    1. How do study habits influence the achievement level of Grade 11 students in their major subjects?

    2. What is the significant association between the nature and economic status of the family and the social status of junior students?

    3. What relationships are observed between intrapersonal competency, interpersonal competency, and school effectiveness?

  3. Situation-Relating Questions

    • Definition: These usually yield hypotheses testing or experimental designs where the researcher manipulates variables to determine outcomes.

    • Examples:

    1. What effects do traditional teaching methods have on the performance level of ABM students?

    2. What is the most effective food supplement for increasing the productivity of tilapia farming?

    3. How does the performance of morning call center agents compare to that of evening call center agents?

    4. What concentration of ethanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi inhibits the growth of Diarrheagenic E-coli?

    5. How significantly different is the zone of inhibition between treatment groups and the positive control group?

  4. Situation-Producing Questions

    • Definition: These questions set explicit goals for actions, develop plans or prescriptions to achieve these goals, and specify the conditions needed for their accomplishment.

    • Examples:

    1. Based on findings, what human relation intervention program can be adopted to enhance school effectiveness?

    2. How can counseling services be organized to foster family bonding among parents and elementary school pupils?

    3. What policy should be formulated to manage the effective involvement of high school students in social media?


Lesson Summary

  1. Stating the problem helps researchers clarify essential research elements: major variables, general and specific objectives, and appropriate methodology.

  2. The statement of the problem contains the general study problem, restated with specific details including participants, setting, and covered period.

  3. Important elements in the statement of the general problem include:

    • Main task

    • Major variables

    • Participants

    • Setting

    • Coverage date of the study

    • Intended outputs

  4. The two general types of questions formulated in the study are:

    • Non-researchable questions (answerable by "yes" or "no").

    • Researchable questions (gather data about opinions, values, or policy).

  5. Other types of research questions include factor-isolating, factor-relating, situation-relating, and situation-producing questions.