Chapter 1

The Problem and Its Background

Rationale/Background of the
Study
The following questions can aid the researcher in formulating the
introduction:
Rationale/Background of the
Study
- Is answered by sharing the reasons why the
researcher decided to look for solutions to
the problem.
- May include the narration of personal
1. What is experiences, a description of an article read,
a scene witnessed, a news heard, or a theory
the that needs to be clarified
- should describe the existing and prevailing
rationale of problem based on his or her experience
the - The scope may be local, national, or
problem? international. Ideally, the rationale can start from
a global perspective to a more personal
one.
Rationale/Background of the
Study
- forms part of the delimitation
2. What is of the study
the setting
- defines the geographic
of the
boundaries and certain
problem?
demographic characteristics
of the research bearing on the
variables being studied
Rationale/Background of the
Study
- seeks to provide the
3. What is researcher clarity on the
the basic terms or variables used in
literature the study
- terms and variables must be
foundation
clear to the researcher
of the
study?
Rationale/Background of the
Study
- identify the intensity and
4. How magnitude of the problem
serious is - In most cases, the researcher at
the chosen this point looks for statistical or
research quantitative evidence to assess
problem? the significance of the problem at
hand
Rationale/Background of the
Study
- general statement of the
5. What is problem or the major tasks of
the general the researcher to discharge and
objective of should also be the basis of the
the enumerated statements of
problem? specific problems
Rationale/Background of the
Study

6. What is - The researcher must

the overall be totally aware of the
purpose of
the
purpose of the
problem? research problem.
Statement of the Problem
The opening paragraph of this section contains the general problem of
the study.
Statement of the Problem
In the book Principles of Qualitative Research:
Designing a Qualitative Study, Creswell and Clark
(2014) provide the following criteria in writing the
Writing the purpose statement:
1. It should use single and not compound
General sentences.
2. It should clearly express the purpose of the
Problem in study.
3. It should include the central phenomenon.
a 4. It should use the qualitative words, e.g.,
explore, discover, and explain.
Qualitative
5. It should identify the participants of the
Study study.
5. It should state the research site.
Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this (narrative, phenomenological,

A sample grounded theory, ethnographic, case) is to
(understand, describe, develop, discover) the
pattern for (central phenomenon of the study) for (the
the participants) at (the site). At this stage in the
research, the (central phenomenon) will be
purpose generally defined as (a general definition of the
statement. central concept). (Creswell and Clark, 2014).
Statement of the Problem
The general problem is followed by an enumeration of the specific
problems. These problems are usually stated as questions that the
researcher seeks to answer. Therefore, the specific problems must meet
the following criteria:
1. They must be in question form.
2. They must define the population and the samples of
the study (respondents).
3. They must identify the variables being studied.
Statement of the Problem
According to Creswell and Clark (2014), there are two types of research
questions. These are as follows:

1. Central questions – These 2. Sub-questions – These

are the most general questions questions subdivide the central
that can be asked. question into more specific topical
questions and are only limited in
number.
Types of Research Questions
1. Non-researchable questions – These are questions of value and are
answerable
Examples:by yes or no.
a. Should all mothers breastfeed their babies?
b. Should high school teachers be watchful over their Grade
7 students?
2. Researchable questions – These are questions of opinions,
perceptions, or policy that are raised to accumulate data. Formulating a
clear, significant question prepares the researcher for subsequent
decision-making.
Examples:
a. What are the common preparations done by Grade 7
students during their first days in school?
b. How do senior high school students respond to their Math
teacher?
Scope and Delimitation
Scope and Delimitation
• The scope of the study is determined primarily by the selection of variables that the
research study will focus on. Defining the scope of the research requires the careful
selection of variables that will be investigated, as well as the attributes that will define and
measure these variables.
• Variable – refers to any characteristic that can have different values or traits that may
vary across research participants. Variables are measured, controlled, and manipulated
by the researcher.
• Attributes – are important elements of a variable. It refers to the values assigned to a
specific variable.
Important Characteristics of Variables
1. Dependence – this refers to how the variable is considered in a cause-and-effect
relationship.
• Independent variables are those characteristics that are changed, manipulated, or
selected by the researcher.
• Dependent variables are those that change because of changes to the independent
variable.
2. Mutually exclusive – this means that a participant or respondent cannot possess two
attributes of a variable.
3. Exhaustive – this means that the researcher should consider all possible attributes of a
certain variable.
Kinds of Variables
1. Continuous variables – variables that may have an infinite number of values and may vary
widely among the research participants.
• Examples: age and weight

2. Discrete variables – variables that may have specific limits to their value.
• Examples: income, number of children, or years of employment

3. Categorical variables – these cannot be expressed in numbers but are given in non-
quantitative, descriptive terms.
• Examples: civil status (single, married, widowed) and educational achievement (high
school graduate, college graduate, post-graduate)
Delimitation of the Study
• The delimitation of the study describes the various limitations that arose during the design
and conduct of the study.
• While the scope of the study defines the variables that are the focus of the research, the
delimitation of the study identifies the other variables that were not considered for the
study.
• The limitations that are identified are only those that are significant or may have had an
impact on the findings of the study.

Example:
In the study on the effect of computer-aided teaching on student performance, the
researcher only focused on students in a specific school. Therefore, one limitation of the
study would be that the findings and conclusions are only applicable to the particular
school that was selected and may not apply to other schools in the country.
Significance of the Study
Significance of the Study
• Research is a very noble undertaking if it makes significant contributions to the community
or the academic field of discipline where the researcher is affiliated with.

• This section describes the contribution of the study to the existing body of knowledge.

• The researcher also has to identify the beneficiaries who will directly gain from the results
of the study. In identifying the beneficiaries, the researcher should be specific in
mentioning them in the paper. The specific benefits must also be enumerated and
explained if necessary.
Significance of the Study
Examples:
Significance of the Study
Examples:
Definition of Terms
Definition of Terms
• Definition of terms is usually an annex to a work (book, research
paper, pamphlet,etc.) either at the beginning or more likely near
the end with a list of acronyms, jargon, credits, etc. This is an
important part of Research paper or report is that in which the
key or important terms in the study are clearly defined.

• This is an important part of Research paper or report is that in which

the key or important terms in the study are clearly defined.
Types and Functions
• CONCEPTUAL
- Is the universal meaning that is attributed to a word or group of
words and which is understood by many people.
- It is abstract and most general in nature. The usual source of
conceptual definition is the DICTIONARY which is the reference book
of everyday language.
• OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
-Is the meaning of the concept or term as used in a particular study.
Unlike the conceptual definition, it is stated in concrete term in that it
allows measurement.
Types and Functions
Example: