Davao Doctors College, Inc.

Senior High School Program

Developing a
Research Problem
Objectives
• Identify the types of Quantitative Research
• Differentiate the kinds of variables used in quantitative
research and their uses.
• Understand the process of identifying research topics.
• Identify the characteristics of a well-written research title.
• Construct a research title.
• Understand the process of writing a research background.
• Identify the problem statements and research questions.
What keywords come to your mind when
you hear the words

survey?
experiment?
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• Quantitative research is defined as “a means for
testing objective theories by examining the
relationship among variables” (Creswell, 2009).

• Quantitative research may either be

correlational or causal.
In general, quantitative research focuses
on the following:

● collection of observable and

measurable data
● standardized data collection
instruments
● statistical techniques in data analysis
 CORRELATIONAL VS CAUSAL

Correlational Research Causal Research

Correlational research Causal research looks at

involves identifying causes and effects.
relationships between two A causation refers to “the
variables. claim that a change in one
A correlation is “a statistical variable creates a change in
measure of association another variable”
between two variables” (Vanderstoep and Johnston,
(Vanderstoep and Johnston, 2009).
2009).
 CORRELATIONAL VS CAUSAL
Correlational Research Causal Research
Example:
Example:
An example of correlational research
Examining the cause and effect
is the relationship between hours of
relationship between a food
sleep and test scores among
ingredient and the rate of decay of
students. Based on the main focus
a food sample.
points of correlational research, the
following results are possible:
● There is no significant relationship A possible research study based on
this example can examine how an
between hours of sleep and test
additional unit of the food
scores among students.
● Higher test scores are related to ingredient (cause) leads to faster
decay of the food sample (effect).
more hours of sleep among
students.
 SURVEY VS EXPERIMENT
Survey Research Experimental Research

Survey research is a Experimental research is

correlational type of aimed at causation. With
the use of the cause-and-
quantitative research. effect logic, it looks at
whether the application of a
This design makes use of a treatment, known as an
questionnaire as its main intervention, causes an
data collection tool. effect on the sample being
experimented on (Creswell,
2009; Leavy, 2017).
Variables in Quantitative
Research
• Variables are anything that can be observed by
the researchers. A variable may be a person,
thing, place, situation, or phenomenon.
• Variables can be categorized depending on its
role.
 Roles of Variables
Independent and Dependent Variables

• The independent variable, also called causal variable, is presumed to

cause the change towards another variable, which is known as the
dependent variable or the outcome variable.
• The independent variable may influence another variable to change.
In experimental research, independent variables may also be
manipulated to examine the specific effect they may have toward the
dependent variable.
• The dependent variables are the variables that are influenced by the
independent variables.
EXAMPLE
1. A researcher is determining the effects of self-motivation
on the productivity of employees.
Independent variable: Self-motivation
Dependent variable: Productivity of employees

How do you think self-motivation can have an effect on

employee productivity?
EXAMPLE
2. A researcher is trying to determine the effectiveness of
different coaching styles on the win streak of the volleyball
teams.
Independent Variable: Coaching styles
Dependent Variable: Win streak of the volleyball teams

How do you think the different coaching styles affect the win
streak of volleyball teams?
 Mediating Variables
• Mediating variables are also known as
intervening variables since they intervene
between the independent and dependent
variables to show their connection.
• A mediating variable may act as a dependent
variable and independent variable at the same
time.
 Example
A researcher wants to know the effects of working
seven days a week on the employee’s productivity
level.
Independent variable: Seven-day work week
Dependent variable: Productivity level
Mediating variable: Job satisfaction

What do you think makes job satisfaction the mediating

variable?
 Moderating Variables
• Moderating variables are variables that have
a strong conditioned effect, which may
modify the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables.
Example
A researcher wants to know the effects of exercising
regularly on one’s weight loss.
Independent variable: Regular exercise
Dependent variable: Weight loss
Moderating variable: Gender

What do you think makes gender a moderating

variable?
In other words…
• A mediating variable should act as a
dependent variable with respect to the
independent variable and may also cause change
to the dependent variable, while a
moderating variable must not be directly
affected by the independent variable and should
not result to it in any way.
Identifying the Area of Inquiry

The ability to choose a topic is an

essential skill to start a good research paper.
It is important that you pick out a relevant
and valuable topic and maximize the
resources that you have.
 Steps in Identifying the Area of Inquiry
1. Brainstorm for ideas.
 When brainstorming, it is more advisable to concentrate
on topics that interest you. It is also helpful if you focus
on your field.
2. Read, read, and read.
 You need to make sure that there are resources about
your topic. It gives you a preview of the possible
availability of related literature for your topic of
interest.
 Use keywords and concepts related to your topics and
explore on different sources.
 Steps in Identifying the Area of Inquiry
3. Make your matrix.
Look into the research gaps when reading different
resources and previous researches.

Research gaps are areas of the study that remain

unanswered, hence its openness to be researched about.
4. Describe your topic of interest briefly.
Analyze the angle of the topic you are really interested
in. Know the value of the research topic to focus on the
perspective why it is relevant. Describing your topic
briefly may give you an overview if the topic is feasible to
be researched about.
 Steps in Identifying the Area of Inquiry
5. Read again.
You must check the availability of the literature of your
chosen topic as you may encounter modification in research
writing.
It may include changing the topic itself, the variables and
others as there may be too much or too little available
literature.

6. Formulate your working title.

Your working title focuses on the direction of your study.
It helps you determine your variables and may give you a
preview of its possible dynamics within your research.
 Designing a Research Useful in Daily Life

• It is up to you to decide on what interests you

and what you view as relevant and present in
your specific field of specialization. The following
are topics in different fields that may be used in
research writing:
 Writing a Research Title
A research title concisely
summarizes the content of the
study. It is important to ensure
that it differentiates the study
from other existing research.
Characteristics of a Well-Structured
Research Title
Focused and Direct
●should include the variables and
the field of inquiry of the study
●provides an idea of the study’s
contents
Characteristics of a Well-Structured
Research Title
Formal
●formal tone
●should not contain
abbreviations, jargons, or
colloquial terms unless these
are the main focus of the study
Characteristics of a Well-Structured
Research Title
Brief but Substantial
●usually composed of 16 essential
words
●consists of the most important
information about the study
Characteristics of a Well-Structured
Research Title
Clear
●benefits those who do not know
much about the field of inquiry
●helps those looking for references
Characteristics of a Well-Structured
Research Title
Proper Grammar and
Capitalization
●first letter of every word is
capitalized except for some words
●proper use of coordinating
conjunctions, prepositions, and
articles
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title
1. Put the details of the research into segments.
The process of segmenting the details of the research study
is helpful in determining and organizing important
information.
What is the primary objective of your research?

The primary objective of the research is to know whether

listening to classical music helps students in improving their
memorization skills.
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title
The primary objective of the research is to know
whether listening to classical music helps students
in improving their memorization skills.

What are the variables of the study?

Independent variable: classical music

Dependent variable: memorization skills
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title

What method will I use in the study? How

will I measure my variables?

I plan on performing an experiment.

Steps in Writing a Good Research Title

Who will be the respondents of the

study?

Engineering students from XYZ

University
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title
2. Make a list of keywords based on the segments of the
research details.

Sample Keywords

Listening to classical music

Improving memorization
Experiment
Engineering students from XYZ university
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title
3. Draft sentences that contain the keywords.
In drafting sentences that contain the keywords, be
mindful of the length of the sentence.
Example of a sentence containing the keywords

The study will conduct an experiment to test whether

listening to classical music helps engineering students from
XYZ University improve their memorization skills. (23 words)
Steps in Writing a Good Research Title
4. Formulate your research title.

Example of a possible research title

The Effects of Classical Music on the Memorization

Skills of Engineering Students in XYZ University (15
words)
Try this…
Harry wants to research the effects of
multiple online battle arena games to the
focus of adolescent students diagnosed with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

What could be a possible title of his

research?
The Effects of Multiple Online Games on the Adolescent Students
Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Remember…
Writing the Research Background
The research background is a brief
and general discussion of the study
based on existing literature and
should introduce its purpose and its
relevance to the field. It also
highlights the research problem.
Steps in Writing a Research Background
● Conduct preliminary research.
Preliminary research helps in grounding
the current research study within the
parameters of previously conducted
research.
Steps in Writing a Research Background
●Identify a writing style.
Deductive approach - general
to specific
Inductive approach - specific
to general
Steps in Writing a Research Background
●Emphasize the field of your
research topic.
It should reflect an emphasis on
the nature and the field of the
current study to make readers
know its focus.
Steps in Writing a Research Background
●Read and use related literature.
The research background should
include historical and
theoretical contexts of the
current topic by reading different
sources.
Steps in Writing a Research Background
●Focus on the relevance and
contribution of the study.
It should highlight the relevance
and potential contributions of
the current study to its field.
Steps in Writing a Research Background
● Summarize the research background.
There must be a balance between
discussing very little information or
elaborating too many details that
might make future sections of the
paper redundant.
 Background of the Study (1-2 pages)
• First Paragraph- introduce the problem
• Second Paragraph- global perspective of the
issue
• Third Paragraph- national perspective of the
issue
• Fourth Paragraph- local perspective of the issue
• Fifth Paragraph- Include the research gap,
objective, and possible contribution of the study.
Writing a Research Statement for Quantitative Research
• A statement of the problem is an integrative
but brief discussion of the research
problem, its context, and the questions of
the study.
• It is written as part of the introduction and
provides a concise overview of the topic in
relation to the research questions.
 Research Questions
A research question identifies the
specific aspects of the topic that the
current study seeks to investigate
and may vary depending on the
extent of their focus.
 Categories of Research Questions
Descriptive research questions
● Descriptive research question are used to
describe certain patterns and focus on single
and noncomplex variables.
Examples

● How frequent is the production of essential

oils for herbal medicines?

● What criteria are considered by customers

in choosing a store?
 Categories of Research Questions
Comparative research questions are
mainly used for comparing and
contrasting similarities and differences
between groups and variables.
Examples

● What is the difference between the

quality of natural and synthetic ink?

● How do Gen Z and millennials differ in

terms of dating attitudes?
 Categories of Research Questions
Evaluative research questions
● Evaluative research questions are formed to
assess a particular observation or phenomenon
based on an established model or theory.
● They are usually observed in organizations,
workplace, programs, and effectivity of
projects.
Examples

● How satisfied are you with the

implementation of the K-12 curriculum?

● Did the art therapy program work for the

patients with post-traumatic stress
disorder?
 Categories of Research Questions
Explanatory research questions are formed
to explain, predict change or outcomes on
observed relationships between variables,
and determine how one variable may have
an effect on another.
Examples

● How does nurse intervention affect a

patient’s pre surgery stress level?

● How does employment tenure contribute

to productivity of workers?
Characteristics of Good Research Questions

Relevant
All research questions must be relevant to the
research problem.

Specific
It must not be too broad or too detailed.
Characteristics of Good Research Questions

Clear
Research questions should use simple language to
be comprehensible.

Analytical
It does not simply ask “yes or no” questions but
needs complex analysis.
Characteristics of Good Research Questions

Measurable
The measurability of research questions indicate
their feasibility and is measured through
standardized tests or experiments.
Writing the Research Statement
1.Finalize the research topic.

This will allow you to draft a

coherent statement of the problem
and give you guided starting point
and inquiry.
 Example
Topic: Effects of Facebook photo “likes” on the
self-esteem of teenagers

Independent variable
Facebook photo ‘likes’

Dependent variable
Self-esteem of teenagers
Writing the Research Statement
2. Draft the research questions.

Based on the finalized research topics,

the draft of the research questions will
reflect the aspects that the research is
focused on.
 Example
Explanatory
How do Facebook photo ‘likes’ affect the self-
esteem of female adolescents?

Descriptive
What are the factors that affect the number
of Facebook photo ‘likes’?
Writing the Research Statement
3. Write the general problem statement.
● The general problem statement
establishes the overall goal and
direction of the research.
● It should contain the research topic, the
main objective of the study, and the
variables.
 Example

This study aims to find out the effect of

Facebook photo ‘likes’ on the level of
self-esteem of female senior high school
students in XYZ School.
Writing the Research Statement
4. Refine the statement of the problem.

● A refined statement of the problem

includes the research problem and the
potential benefits of the current study.
● The research questions should be
written in declarative sentences.
 Statement of the Problem
• Main objective
• 3 research questions (one for
predictor variable; one for criterion
variable; and one for the significant
relationship)
• Indicators per variable
NULL HYPOTHESIS VS ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS
The null hypothesis (Ho) and the alternative
hypothesis (Ha) are fundamental concepts in
hypothesis testing, a statistical method used in
scientific research to make inferences about
populations based on sample data. These hypotheses
serve as opposing statements to assess whether there
is a significant effect, relationship, or difference
between variables.
NULL HYPOTHESIS VS ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS
• Null Hypothesis (Ho):
• Statement: The null hypothesis is a statement of no effect, no
relationship, or no difference between groups or conditions. It
represents the default or status quo assumption.
• Symbol: It is often denoted as Ho.
• Objective: The objective of the null hypothesis is to be tested and
potentially rejected if there is sufficient evidence in the data to do so.
Rejecting the null hypothesis implies that there is a significant effect,
relationship, or difference.
• Default Assumption: Until proven otherwise with statistical evidence,
researchers typically assume that the null hypothesis is true.
• Example: "There is no significant difference in test scores between
students who receive tutoring and those who do not."
NULL HYPOTHESIS VS ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS
• Alternative Hypothesis (Ha):
• Statement: The alternative hypothesis is a statement that contradicts the
null hypothesis. It represents the researcher's assertion that there is a
specific effect, relationship, or difference they are trying to detect.
• Symbol: It is often denoted as Ha or H1.
• Objective: The objective of the alternative hypothesis is to provide an
alternative explanation or claim to what the researcher believes might be
true. It asserts the presence of a significant effect, relationship, or
difference.
• Rejection of Null Hypothesis: If the data provide strong evidence against
the null hypothesis, researchers may reject it in favor of the alternative
hypothesis.
• Example: "Students who receive tutoring will have significantly higher test
scores than those who do not."
 ASSIGNMENT
TITLE PROPOSAL

Generate Three Title Proposals: Develop three distinct title proposals

for your chosen research topic. Each title should succinctly capture the
essence of your research and arouse curiosity in potential readers or
viewers. Be specific, concise, and informative.
Title Proposal 1:
Title Proposal 2:
Title Proposal 3:

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2023