Subject Matter Of The

Research
Christian Siba
PRESENTER
How will you begin your research?

You begin your research

work with a problem; that is.
Having a problem or topic to
work on.
How can you say that a topic is researchable?

A topic is researchable if the

knowledge and information about
it is supported by evidence that is
observable, factual, and logical.
 Furthermore, a discerned
problem is said to be
researchable when the
following criteria are met:
1. Solutions are available
but not yet tested and not yet
known by the practitioner.
2. No solutions are available
to answer the gap or the
problem being assessed.
3. When the given answers or
solutions, as well as the possible
results, are seemingly untested
or are factually contradictory
with each other.
4. A phenomenon requiring
an explanation has
occurred.
5. There are several possible
and plausible explanations
for the existence of an
undesirable condition.
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
States the area of concern
of the research paper
whether it is a circumstance
needing development.
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
• this section sets the
direction of the research
study as it provides the
foundation for the research
hypothesis.
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
• defines what kind of
research study is
suitable to address the
problem.
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
This section should
only state the problem
and not the preface or
suggest a solution for it.
Characteristics of Good Research Problem
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
REALISTIC
TIMEBOUND
 Sources of
Research problem
 Research problems can
be commonly based from
circumstances with the
following characteristics.
Sources of research problem:
1. It conveys a feeling of
discomfort or difficulty.
2. It has perceived difficulty in broad
subjects such as family affairs,
home management, leadership
system etc.
Sources of research problem:
3. It displays a gap between
theory and practice: what is
said by the elders and what
the students see and observe.
Sources of research problem:
4. It utilizes a procedure
requiring technology
advance equipment.
Sources of research problem:
5. It involves the
experience of any kind
of individual
Sources of research problem:
6. It relates to an
individual’s curiosity
and interest.
Sources of Quantitative Research Problem
◦Agencies of the
government, or any
non-government
institutions.
Sources of Quantitative Research Problem
◦Your own
experience or
genuine interest in
something.
Sources of Quantitative Research Problem
◦Previous research findings
which you want to validate
or consider as studies
suffering from
inconsistencies or
discrepancies.
Sources of Quantitative Research Problem
◦Present political
social or economic
issues in society
Sources of Quantitative Research Problem
◦Review of
Related
Literature
 GUIDELINES
IN CHOOSING A
RESEACRH TOPIC
 Guidelines In Choosing A Research Topic
1. Interest in the Subject Matter
2. Availability of Information
3. Timeliness and relevance of the
topic
4. Limitations on the Subject
5. Personal Resources
 Research
Topic To
be avoided
 Research Topic to be Avoided
1. Controversial topics
2. Highly Technical Subjects
3. Hard-to-investigate subjects
4. Too broad subjects
5. Too narrow subjects
6. Vague subjects
 Considerations
In choosing the
Research problem
 Criteria for choosing a
problem for research
Based from the book, “ A Research Guide IN Nursing Education, Barrientos-Tan (1997)
Criteria for choosing a problem for research

1.External criteria
2.Internal criteria
EXTERNAL CRITERIA
1. Novelty
2. Availability of subjects
3. Support of the academic community
4. Availability and adequacy of facilities
and equipment
5. Ethical considerations
Sources of research problem
Novelty
This refers to the practical
value of the problem due to
its newness in the field of
inquiry.
External Criteria
Availability of subjects
this refers to the people with the
desired capability and willingness to
participate in the study. The sample of
the study participants must be
representative enough to ensure
reliability and validity of results.
External Criteria
Support of the academic community
This refers to the assistance given by
the members of the institution, like the
principal, teachers, staff, students, etc.
in gathering of data and defraying the
cost of the study. Permission to those
people must be secured.
External Criteria
Availability and adequacy of facilities and equipment
Devices such as computers,
cellular phones , calculators,
etc. used in undertaking the
study must be considered.
External Criteria
Ethical considerations

These include the avoidance

of research problems that pose
unethical demands on the part
of the research participants.
External Criteria
INTERNAL CRITERIA
1. Experience, training, and qualifications of
the researcher
2. Motivation, interest, intellectual curiosity,
and perceptiveness of the researcher
3. Time factor
4. Costs and returns
5. Hazards, penalties, and handicaps.
Sources of research problem
Experience, training, and qualifications of researcher

These constitute the

researcher’s knowledge and
expertise as a result of
experience and study.
Internal Criteria
Motivation, interest, intellectual curiosity, and perceptiveness of researcher

These are essentials attitudes

that bring anticipated
satisfaction or enjoyment in the
completion of research tasks.
Internal Criteria
Time factor

This considers the fact that

studies must be pursued
within a given time frame.

Internal Criteria
Cost and returns
These factors matter in choosing a research
problem. Research is an expensive undertaking.
The amount of funding needed, after all,
depends on the size of the sample, the place
where the research is to be conducted, the
treatment of data, and the kind of research
design.
Internal Criteria
Hazards, penalties, and handicaps

These depend upon the

researcher’s physical and
intellectual capacity and
moral judgement.
Internal Criteria
RESEARCH QUESTION
Research Questions
aim at
investigating specific
aspects of the
research problem.
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions
1.Establish a clear
relation between the
research questions and
the problem or topic.
Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions
3.Formulate research
questions that can arouse your
curiosity and surprise you with
your discoveries and findings.
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions
4. State your research questions in such a
way that they include all dependent and
independent variables referred to by the
theories, principles, or concepts
underlying your research work.
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions

5. Let the research questions

or sub-problems be preceded
by one question expressing the
main problem of the research.
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions
6. Avoid asking research
questions that are
answerable with yes or
no.
 Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions

7. Be guided by the
acronym SMART.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Research Objectives
Defined as “statement of purpose
for which the investigation is to be
conducted.”
Refer to research title power point
presentation