Methods of Research
“The Research Problem
and Its Setting”
Research Projects
Basic research
• projects which can advance human beings’ theoretical
conceptualization about a particular topic
• purpose is not to invent but to expand man’s knowledge
Applied research
• informs human decision making about practical problems
• designed to solve practical problems
The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process
• The problem or question is the axis around which the whole
research effort evolves.
• The statement of the problem must be stated with utmost
precision ; it should be divided into more manageable
subproblems.
• Such approach clarifies the goals and directions of the entire
research effort.
In identifying a research problem, keep in mind that
• The problem should address an important question such that the
answer can make a difference in some way
• It should advance the frontiers of knowledge
Note:
• Some problems are not suitable because they lack interpretation
of data
• They do not elicit mental struggle
UNSUITABLE RESEARCH PROBLEMS
1. Research projects that simply inform about what is already
known
2. Problems whose only objective is to compare two sets of data
3. Research that calculates a coefficient of correlation between
two sets of data to show a relationship between them
4. Problems answerable with yes or no
“These lack the “interpretation of data”
Finding a Legitimate Problem
1. Look around you.
2. Read the literature.
3. Attend professional conferences
4. Seek the advices of experts.
5. Choose a topic that intrigues and motivates you.
6. Choose a topic that others will find interesting and worthy of
attention.
Stating the Research Problem
1. State the problem clearly and completely.
2. Think through the feasibility of the project that the problem
implies.
3. Say precisely what you mean.
4. Review and edit your work.
DELINEATION OF THE RESEARCH
Stating the Hypotheses
– Hypotheses – tentative, intelligent guesses that would guide the researcher
toward suitable data
– Null hypothesis – tentative, educated guess stated in a negative way
Delimitations
– statements that indicate what is relevant and what is not relevant to the
research problem
Significance of the Study
– The reasons for doing the study
– The use or good of the study
– The benefits or practical values the study has
Stating the hypothesis and/or research question
A hypothesis or research question provides a position from which
the researcher may initiate an exploration of the problem or
subproblem and also acts as a checkpoint against which to test
the findings that the data reveal.
Null Hypothesis and Research Hypothesis
We often set out to disprove an opposite hypothesis.
When we hypothesize that there will be no difference
between groups, no relationship between variables, or
no patterns in the data, we are forming a null
hypothesis.
We support a research hypothesis by showing
statistically that its opposite is not true.
Delimitation of Research
What the researcher intends to do is stated in the problem. What
he/she is not going to do is stated in the delimitations. The limits
of the problem should be carefully bounded for a research
effort.
Only a researcher who thinks carefully about the problem and its
focal center can distinguish between what is relevant and what
is not to the problem.
Defining Terms
The definition must interpret term as it is used in relation to the
researcher’s project.
The researcher must be careful to avoid circular definitions.
Importance of the Study
In research reports, researchers frequently set forth their reasons
for undertaking the study.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 1
• The setting or context or frame of reference
-This part gives general statement/s about a field of research to
provide the reader with a preview of the problem to be reported
Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2
• The Review of Previous Research
-This part continuous the contextual setting or frame of
reference given in paragraph 1 by including more
statements about the general aspects of the problem
already investigated by other researchers
Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 3
• The Gap or Missing Information
-This part refers to the statement/s that indicate that need for the
study or the need for more investigation
Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 4
• The statement of Purpose
-This part gives very specific statement/s pertaining to the objective/s
of the study.
Paragraph 5
• The statement of Value
-This part refers to the statement/s that gives the significance of
carrying out the study.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 6
• The Scope and Delimitation
-This part indicates what the study covers or what it does not or fails
to cover
Research Paper's Format
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TITLE
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by
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1-single space; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt
First Name Middle Initial Surname
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Program/Year
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A Research Proposal Submitted to the School of EE-ECE-CoE
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
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Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
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Mapúa Institute of Technology
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Month Year
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