DESIGNING A RESEARCH PROJECT RELATED TO

DAILY LIFE

^|> INTRODUCTION ^

S ince qualitative research mostly investigates the complexities of human situations, human
behavior, social phenomena and poses inquiries about events in daily life, this kind of research is
closely tied to reality.
Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research designs do not use hypotheses. They merely
state a problem or pose questions, the answers to which are explored lengthily and deeply by way of
varied research designs like the case study, ethnography, phenomenological approach, and a host of
others.
After data have been gathered through procedures like the interview, participant observation,
focus group discussions and a lot more, data are subjected to analysis that requires categorizing of
data, coding, while at the same time, being attentive to themes that surface, which could be the
answers sought by the researcher.
Sources of research topics are likewise tied to real life experiences, and research is conducted in
the research participant’s natural setting.
In designing your research project, include the goals of your study, the theoretical frameworks,
the research questions (your guides), ethics and the methods you will use to analyse your data.

Congruence of Research Questions, Data Collection and Data Analysis

Qualitative research experts say that there must be congruence between methods of data analysis
and the research questions, and where the method of data collection turns out data that are appropriate
to the method of analysis.
Examine closely the table below which classifies research questions as those that ask about:
A. Understanding and Perceptions
B. Practices / Accounts of Practices
C. Influencing Factors
D. Representations
E. Construction
F. Language Practice
and shows congruence between data collection procedures and data analysis.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 1: a Researr z-xc. Reasec So Daly Life 45

 Types of research Suitable analytic
question with real life Suitable types of data Difficulty Rating* Suitable sample
method
examples
Understanding and Focus groups, TA, GT, pattern-Easy Easy Moderate/large (large
perceptions qualitative surveys, based DA enough to capture a
story completion range of perspectives;
Such as: tasks, vignettes and not so large that you
perceptions of the some secondary data are drowning in data)
impact of air travel on sources (e.g. bulletin
climate change boards, personal
(Becken, 2007); blogs), are ideal;

Interviews, focus TA, GT, pattern-Easy Easy/moderate Moderate/large (large

Practices/accounts of groups, qualitative based DA enough to capture a
practice surveys, researcher- range of perspectives;
directed diaries, some not so large that you
Such as: the secondary data are drowning in data)
appearance and sources (e.g. bulletin
clothing practices of board, personal
non-heterosexuals blogs)
(Clarke & Turner,
2007); the gendered
dynamics of sleep
(Hislop & Arber, 2003)
Interviews, focus TA, GT Moderate Moderate/large
Influencing factors groups, qualitative (enough to identify
surveys, researcher- relevant influencing
Such as: identifying directed diaries, some factors; not so large
the factors that secondary data that you are drowning
influence people’s sources in data)
decisions to continue
regular genetic
screening (Michie,
1987); factors that
influence parent’s
food purchasing
behaviours (Maubach,
Hoek, & McCreanor,
2009)
 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

Cl
 Secondary sources Constructionist TA Moderate/difficult Small/ moderate
Representation Such and GT, pattern-
based DA
as:
representations of
male and female
sexuality in women’s
magazines (Farvid &
Braun, 2006);
representations of
masculinity and the
metrosexual man in
men’s magazines
(Hall & Gough,
2011) Moderate/ difficult Small/ moderate
Secondary sources, Constructionist TA
Construction story completion task, and GT, pattern-
Such as young vignettes, interviews, based DA
people’s focus groups,
constructions of qualitative surveys,
eating disorders in a researcher- directed
story completion task diaries
(Walsh & Malson,
2010); constructions
of New Zealander’s in
accounts of sexual
health and risk
(Braun, 2008)
Language practice Discursive Difficult Small/ moderate
psychology,
Such as: how people Naturalistic data are conversations
construct, manage ideal-both mundane analysis and some
and undermine (e.g. audio recordings forms of narrative
'healthy eating’ talk in of someone’s home analysis
dinnertime telephone
conversations conversation) and
(Wiggins, 2004); how institutional (e.g.
veganism is audio or video
constructed ‘normal’ recordings of
in online discussions counseling sessions);
(Sneijder & te Molder, some secondary data
2009) sources (e.g.
broadcast media);
interviews and focus
groups also used
Braun, V.& Clarke. V. 2013. Legend:
TA-Transactional Analysis GT-Grounded Theory DA-Discourse Analysis
CHAPTER 3: LESSON 1: Designing a Researcr ^-qec Reasc 2 Oar. Je 47
Research Topics and their Sources
Research topics are as varied and numerous as the realities and complexities of daily life, on a
personal, institutional, national or global level.

Sources of research topics are:

1. Pressing Issues on an individual, organizational or societal level, or success stories.
An example of a research topic on an individual level is the problem of low selfesteem.
On an organizational level, a campus organization can investigate the seeming apathy of the
majority of students towards Student Council elections. Success stories of groups or
organizations in business, livelihood programs and entrepreneurship are rich sources of
research topics. On a societal level, narcissism among millennials can be a topic of
investigation. Another is the deteriorating art of conversation, even among families, who,
even when together, are busy with their respective gadgets, absorbed in their own virtual
worlds. Still another could be the underlying reasons of the Pokemon search craze.

2. Wide Reading/Critical Film Viewing

Varied reading materials- books, journals, magazines, newspapers, monographs can help
crystallize topics of interest. Films, as well as videos and documentaries, can spark off a
research inquiry or problem.

3. Social Networking
The role of netizens in present-day society cannot be overemphasized. Netizens voice
their observations, opinions, even condemnation of current happenings, no- holds-barred.
Giant networks even devote a segment of their news broadcasts on what netizens say about
recent events or issues, as in the case of the first State of the Nation Address of the newly-
elected president, the deteriorating light trail transportation system, the horrific traffic
situation, and a host of others.

4. Replication
Theses and dissertations are good sources of topics. A theory used in a previous study
can still be further investigated. The thesis page showing “Recommendations for Further
Study” is a must read as well as the critical literature review. For example, in 2002, Dr. Liza
Daoanis of Centro Escolar University made a study of the surviving cultural heritage of the
Kankaneys (a group collectively called Igorots) of Dalipay, Batangan, Benguet. In 2014, Mr.
Lee Boy Villas replicated said study by studying the cultural beliefs and practices of another
group of Kankaneys, this time, those who inhabit Talingguroy, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

Cl
5. Lectures, Talks, Seminars
These are breeding grounds of ideas. Many researchers have claimed that their research topics
were offshoots of ideas heard in lectures or even during the open forum.

6. Gray Areas
These are points of interest but very little is known about them. Examples of these are: “Is
female circumcision still practiced among specific groups of people?
What is life like after the rescue of trafficked women or rape victims?
Did any of those topics interest you? If your answer is yes, you will surely come up with a
research project useful to daily life. Your interest will bring you to wider reading, pursuit of
relevant materials like pictures, videos and the like, and equally important, to people who have
knowledge or interest in your topic.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 1: Designing a Research Project Related to Daily Life

(^LESSON r> WRITING A RESEARCH TITLE

C INTRODUCTION ^

A research title, or research project, is a product of real world observations,

research title is not like manna that will fall from heaven, and presto! You have a title!
dilemmas, wide reading, selective viewing (television programs, films, documentaries, videos, etc.)
meaningful interactions with significant others, and deep reflection.
As you think of a research title, it is in your reflective moments that rich ideas flow one after the
other and when they do, questions about your own ideas arise. It’s like you “brainstorming” with
yourself. You first come up with broad ideas, then, further thinking and reflection will help you shape
the idea, the research topic or research title into a specific one, that is, a researchable one.
The title of the research is the research problem or inquiry in capsule form. Great care must be
taken in the formulation of the research title. It must clearly reflect the topic of investigation. And it
must be original, clear, concise or specific.
When you finally decide on a research topic, make sure that your research topic and research
questions match.

Broad and Specific Topics

Too broad topics will lead you nowhere. In order to narrow down broad topics to specific ones,
the purpose or intent of the study must be clear.
The following are examples of broad topics:
• Lack of Self-confidence
• Smoking Hazards
• Marketable Popular Garment Brand
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

The following are examples of specific topics:

• Lack of Self-confidence in Adolescents: Root Causes, Manifestations and Intervention
• Health Hazards of Direct and Indirect Smoking: Prevention and Cure
• Marketability of a Popular Garment Brand: A Case Study
• HIV: Causes, Prevention, Treatment and Care

50 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
Techniques for Narrowing a Topic Into a Research Question
1. Examine the literature. Published articles are an excellent source of ideas for research questions.
They are usually at an appropriate level of specificity and suggest research questions that focus
on the following:
a. Replicate a previous research project exactly or with slight variations.
b. Explore unexpected findings discovered in previous research.
c. Follow suggestions an author gives for future research at the end of an article.
d. Extend an existing explanation or theory to a new topic or setting.
e. Challenge findings or attempt to refute a relationship.
f. Specify the intervening process and consider linking relations.
2. Talk over ideas with others.
a. Ask people who are knowledgeable about the topic for questions about it that they
have thought of.
b. Seek out those who hold opinions that differ from yours on the topic and discuss
possible research questions with them.
3. Apply to a specific context.
a. Focus the topic on a specific historical period or time period.
b. Narrow the topic to a specific society or geographic unit.
c. Consider which subgroups or categories of people/units are involved and whether
there are differences among them.
4. Define the aim or desired outcome of the study.
a. Will the research question be for an exploratory, explanatory, or descriptive study?
b. Will the study involve applied or basic research?
Source: Neuman, W.L. (2007).

Other Topics of Interest

1. Issues like poverty, informal settling in congested cities, the traffic issue, the transportation
problem, human rights, etc.
2. Gender inequality or transgenders, sensitive issues like families or individuals trapped in
sibling rivalry, infidelity of spouse, financial crises, brought about by unemployment among
others.
3. On-line selling or on-line business from varied marketing aspects like what sells online and
what does not; consumer psychology or buyer behaviour.
4. Online Games: Positive and Negative Effects on Gamers
5. Behavioral Problems like extreme shyness, being a loner or sociophobia.
Examine the table that follows which shows research titles of actual studies done, using
qualitative and quantitative research designs.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 2: Wrtng a Rssearr 'Be

Examples of Research Titles of Actual Studies
Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
1. Experiences of Reaction and Coping of Filipino Fathers 1. The Potential of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in
and Mothers: During and After a Natural Disaster Reducing Phosphate in Polluted Waters
2. The Lived Experiences of Trauma and Post-traumatic 2. Establishing Hydroponics Farming in Pasig City
Growth of Women with History of Social Abuse
3. Employee Commitment to Environmental Stewardship as 3. Economic Benefits of Cityhood: The Case of Tarlac
a Component of Corporate Social Responsibility City
4. The Meaning Behind the Journey Towards Acceptance: 4. The Socio-Psychological Effects of the Soap Opera
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Rubi on Selected College Women in the
Accounts of Parents of Transgender Women Mendiola Consortium
5. I Am Your Father: A Qualitative Study on the Perspective 5. Establishing of Dog Mobile Grooming Service in
of a Father with a Homosexual Son Village East and Vista Verde, Cainta Rizal
6. The Face of Cigarette Advertising: The Constitutionality 6. Influences and Consequences of Participation in
of the Tobacco Advertisement Ban Community Development Projects in Pililia, Rizal
7. Your Life Design: A Qualitative Study on the 7. Employment Flexibility and Career Mobility Among
Contributions of Feng Shui to Life Satisfaction BPO Employees in Metro Manila
8. Impact of the Use of Social Networking on Non- 8. An Integrating Marketing Campaign For the Merato
governmental Organization Effectiveness Centrale Group
9. A PWD’s Battle: A Qualitative Study on the Reactions 9. A Computer-Aided Seismic Hazard Risk
and Experiences of Persons with Disabilities Assessment Tool to Promote Safety in School
Communities
10. Understanding Teacher Leadership in Elementary 10. Determinants of Profitability of Creative Arts and
Schools in China Entertainment Companies in Metro Manila

From the examples given in the table, you can see that research titles are clearly stated, concise
or specific (just a minimum number of words,) and reflect clearly the problem statement or inquiry.
Moreover, from the titles alone, you can see that qualitative research uses objective methods that seek
to explore and describe phenomena, aspects of human behaviour, human interactions or simply events
in daily life, on a personal, organizational or societal level.
On the other hand, the quantitative research titles alone call for presentation of facts and figures,
or offer up statistical analysis of problems to be solved.
You must also have surmised from the research titles that qualitative studies can focus on only
one person, group or community. A case study focuses on one social unit in depth, by describing
different facets of the group in a natural environment.
For example, you can focus on special students enrolled in a school’s inclusion program. This
kind of study was done at Centro Escolar University’s School of Education which has an inclusion
program for college students. The title of the research was “The Services and Facilities Provided by the
CEU Inclusion Program for Students with Special Needs: An Assessment.” The research aimed to
assess the services and facilities of CEU’s Inclusion Program, as perceived by the students with special
needs and their parents, with the objective to give recommendations for the improvement of the
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 Inclusion Program. Said services are:
IS
 1. Academic Consultation
2. Social Skills
3. Self-enhancement
4. Classroom Management
5. Parent Training
6. Student Management Team

Another service rendered by the CIP is the orientation of faculty members in whose classes the
special students are enrolled, at least two weeks before the semester starts.
The findings of the study yielded the following results: Self-enhancement skills obtained the
highest rating among the services of the CIP, while academic consultation and social skills training
were ranked lowest by the parent and student respondents.
Both the students with special needs and their parents agreed that the facilities provided by the
CIP are adequate for the needs of the students but technology and communication facilities need
improvement. Specifically, they suggested that more computers be installed, with strong internet
connection.
They further recommended that the CIP team should assign to mainstream students who are
classmates of the special students to do peer tutoring-to clarify or even re-teach lessons learned in the
classroom. They likewise recommended that the CIP team should expose the special students to
situations which would make them practice better their decision making skills.
Now, let us move on to the Senior High School track you are enrolled in.

Before you make a final decision on your topic, reflect on these questions:
1. What area/s not covered in classroom lessons/discussions do I still want to know/
. investigate in my specific track?
2. If I do this research project, how useful will it be to me as a senior high school graduate
and to the community where I belong, and even to the larger community, the Philippines,
ASEAN, and the world?

Your research project will be worth all the planning, execution of plans, resources in time,
manpower and budget if it will reflect or concretize your knowledge and skills, as well as attitudes, as a
successful senior high school graduate in your specific track, and if it will contribute to the well-being
or progress of the beneficiaries of your study:
• ABM - Accounting, Business, Mathematics
• STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Management
• HUMSS - Humanities and the Social Sciences
• Sports
• Technical / Vocational
• Information and Communication Technology
• Arts and Design
• Technology / Livelihood / Entrepreneurship

CHAPTER 1 LESSON tmrq a =sasearr He 53

^INTRODUCTION ^ JUSTIFICATION AND REASONS FOR CONDUCTING
TiiMi IIUMIW—mim mu ■Minn

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH _______________

T he world is rapidly changing. People’s values, lifestyles and ways of doing things have drastically
changed.
Giant leaps in information and technology, climate change, inequalities, the culture of violence in
some parts of the world, among others, have been in the forefront of transformations, deterioration of
values, on a personal, national or global scale. Moreover, several experts believe that the growing
individualization of ways of living have brought to the level of “insufficient” “unmatched”, even
“irrelevant” traditional ways of doing research.
Rapid social change and the resulting diversification of life worlds are increasing, confronting
social researchers with new social contexts and perspectives. These are so new for them that their
traditional deductive methodologies-deriving research questions and hypotheses from theoretical
models and testing them against empirical evidence-are failing in the differentiation of objects. Thus,
research is now making use of inductive strategies, instead of starting from theories and testing them
(Gertz, 1983, as cited in Flick, 2002).
Simply stated, conducting qualitative research is justified because it can help solve or shed light
on problems or issues encountered day to day by individuals, organizations, communities, industries,
business, among others.

Intent or Purpose of the Study

The intent or purpose of the study shows succinctly the need for qualitative research on an
individual, or societal level.
The study intends to investigate the following:
1. the root causes and manifestations of lack of self-confidence in adolescents and to
determine ways of addressing or solving said problem
2. the impact of social networking in addressing problems, issues and concerns
3. the causes, prevention, treatment and care of Zika virus
4. the dangers to health of direct and indirect smoking, as well as their prevention and cure
5. the success factors in marketing a selected garment popular brand.
6. the causes of HIV, its prevention, treatment and care of patients
7. why some livelihood projects fail (or succeed)
8. how retail business succeeds
9. why some barangays are successful in their peace and order campaigns or health and
sanitation projects
10. the humanitarian conditions of war victims and intervention done by peace-keeping
agencies
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
 The aforementioned examples show that these topics are products of a researcher’s observations,
discoveries or even ideas he/she comes across.
Research is a systematic inquiry that brings about a better understanding of phenomena, and
eventually, solutions to problematic social or behavioral circumstances.
One such problematic situation is the drug menace. A study that focuses on the best way drug
dependents can be rehabilitated will benefit, even help transform society. Needless to say, the peace
and order situation will also improve.
Another one is a qualitative study on community livelihood projects for regular students and out
of school youth that have contributed to the increase in revenue and sustainability of a certain barangay
or municipality. The findings of the study can inspire other leaders to do similar projects in their
respective localities or jurisdictions.
Finding solutions, even tentative ones, to problems of daily life is one of the best justifications for
conducting qualitative research. Helping make life happy, peaceful and meaningful, productive and
progressive in sustainable ways is the best justification.
To check whether or not a research study is justified, Marshall and Rossman (1995) came up with
a checklist.

A Justification of Qualitative Study Checklist

N.B. A score of 20 justifies the qualitative study. Direction: Place a check (/) mark on your answer.
Yes No
1. The research method is explained in detail.
2. Assumptions are stated.
3. - The research guards against value judgments in data collection and in
analysis.
4. Raw data demonstrate connection between the presented findings and the real
world.
5. The study answers research questions.
6. The relationship between the current study and previous studies is clear.
7. The study is reported in a manner accessible to other researchers,
practitioners, policy makers.
8. Evidence presented is subjected to a variety of methods to check out findings
(Ex. Triangulation).
9. Report acknowledges limitations of generalizability.
10. The study is exploratory, not merely to find contextual data.
11. Observations are made over a full cycle of activities.
12. Data are available for reanalysis.
13. Methods are devised for checking data quality.
14. In-field work analysis is documented.
15. Meaning is elicited from cross-cultural perspectives.
'
CHAPTER 3: LESSON 3: Justification and Reasons for Conducting Qualitative Researr
55
 Yes No
16. Ethical standards are maintained.
17. People in the research setting benefit in some way.
18. Data collection strategies are the most adequate and efficient available.
19. The study is holistic and linked to relevant systems.
20. The researcher traces the historical context to understand how institutions and
roles have evolved.

Lincoln and Guba (1985), on the other hand, cite the following factors for the soundness and
justification of qualitative studies:

Factors That Justify Conduct of Qualitative Research

1. Credibility - refers to the “truth value” of the qualitative study, its applicability, consistency
and neutrality.
2. Validity - refers to an in-depth description that shows the complexities of variables and the
embedding of interactions in data derived from the setting.
3. Transferability - is the applicability of one set of findings to another context. Under this factor
is triangulation which is the act of bringing more than one source of data to bear on a single
point.
4. Dependability - refers to the researchers’ attempts to account for changing conditions in the
phenomenon chosen for study, as well as change in the design created by increasing refined
understanding of the setting.
5. Conformability - answers the following question: Do the data help confirm the general
findings and lead to the implications?
Credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability are assured when the research
design is well-explained, when assumptions are stated, when there is much evidence from raw
data to show the connection between the findings presented and the real world, when the
research questions are stated, and the research study answers those questions and leads to
further questions, when data collection strategies are efficient, when evidences are presented
and when different methods are used to check the findings, when participant observations are
made of a full cycle of activities over a period of time, when data are preserved and available
for analysis, when field work analysis is fully documented and when meaning is derived from
cross-cultural perspectives.
One qualitative research on bullying comes to mind as one of the best justifications for
conducting such study, first and foremost, in seeking solutions to problems in daily life. Here is a
summary of such research.

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
 A private educational institution was in the headlines for a period of time, not to
mention a main topic of broadcast talk shows, and commentaries for several days
because of the problem of bullying.
The institution commissioned a qualitative research to get at the root of bullying,
the nature of the bully and impact of the harassment and mistreatment on the bully’s
victims.
A questionnaire was first floated to get the demographic profile of the respondents
and to determine bullying behaviour and the effects of bullying on the victims.
To triangulate survey results, interviews, both structured and unstructured, were
done, as well as focus group interviews.
One of the offshoots of said research is that the bullying problem was reduced to a
minimum.
Close monitoring and caring of students by parents, school administration,
faculty, the school community, particularly, units like the Guidance and Counselling,
can put a stop to this negative behaviour of some students.

This is one instance when qualitative research found a solution to a problem in daily life, which, if
unchecked or not investigated, could have led to more serious problems.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 3: Justification and Reasons xt Concjarc Researr 57

V.
(^LESSON 4> STATING RESEARCH QUESTIONS _____________________________

(\INTRODUCTION ^
W henever one does research, his/her goal is to help people, groups or organizations understand
better phenomena, human behaviour, human interactions and other complex events. With this in
mind, the researcher’s formulation of research questions is of primary importance.
Throughout the research process, the researcher makes crucial decisions, particularly in the
choice of methods of data collection, and in data analysis procedures. The research questions
formulated give focus to the research, as well as guides the appropriately of decisions made by the
researcher.
If the research questions are not clearly formulated, or have no direction, so to speak, the
researcher will find himself/herself with too much data, and yet, not knowing what to do with them.
Suffice it to say that the research questions express clearly the specific direction or focus of the
research problem or inquiry. Needless to say, the research questions comprise the core of the study.

Typical Research Questions

Neuman (2007) advances the following as typical research questions for qualitative researchers:
1. How did the social situation originate?
2. How was the condition/situation maintained over time?
3. What are the processes by which a condition/situation changes, develops or operates?
A different type of question tries to confirm existing beliefs or assumptions. Another type of
question tries to discover new ideas.
Techniques for Narrowing Down a Topic Into a Research Question
Nueman (2007) likewise presented techniques to narrow down a topic into a research question:
1. Examine the literature. Published articles are an excellent source of ideas for research
questions. They are usually at an appropriate level on specificity and suggest research
questions that focus on the following:
a. Replicate a previous research project exactly or with slight variations.
b. Explore unexpected findings discovered in previous research.
c. Follow suggestions an author gives for future research at the end of an article.
d. Extend an existing explanation or theory to a new topic or setting.
e. Challenge findings or attempt to refute a relationship.
f. Specify the intervening process and consider linking relations.

58 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
2. Talk over ideas with others.
a. Ask people who are knowledgeable about the topic for questions about it that they
have thought of.
b. Seek out those who hold opinions that differ from yours on the topic and discuss possible
research questions with them.
3. Relate the topic to a specific context.
a. Focus the topic on a specific historical period or time period.
b. Narrow the topic to a specific society or geographic unit.
c. Consider which subgroups or categories of people/units are involved and whether
there are differences among them.
4. Define the aim or desired outcome of the study.
a. Will the research question be for an exploratory, explanatory, or descriptive study?
b. Will the study involve applied or basic research?
Examples of Research Questions
1. On Lack of Self-confidence in Adolescents
a. What are the root causes of lack of self-confidence in adolescents?
b. What kind of behavior do adolescents who lack self-confidence manifest?
c. What can the following groups of people do to boost up the self-confidence of
adolescents?
• The parents
• The Siblings
• The Church
• The Teacher
• The Guidance Counselors
• The Peers

2. On Smoking Hazards
a. What dangers to one’s health can smoking bring about?
b. How is a non-smoker’s health affected when in the presence of people smoking?
c. What medical interventions can address the problem of smoking?
d. What psychological interventions can address the problem of smoking?
3. On the Market Success of a Garment Popular Brand
a. What are the items in a market plan?
b. What factors contribute to the successful marketability of a selected garment popular
brand?
c. Why is the buying behavior of consumers an important factor to consider in a
market plan?
d. What are the success indicators of the market plan of a selected garment popular brand?
4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
a. What is human immunodeficiency syndrome?
b. How do humans get this virus?
c. What are the causes of HIV?
d. What are ways of preventing this virus to affect human health?

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 4: Stating Research Questc-s 59

V.
 e. What caring interventions can be done to ensure the full recovery of an HIV
victim?

Concrete Research Questions Congruent with Data Collection Procedures and Data
Analysis
Research questions should be congruent with data collection procedures and data analysis.
1. Understanding and Perception:
Example: Perceptions on the impact of low grades on a student’s selfesteem.
Methods of data collection can be personal blogs or compositions and interviews.
Analytic methods are discourse analysis, conversation analysis among others.
2. Practices / Accounts of Practice:
Example: The nuptial or wedding practices of selected ethnic groups. Methods
of data collection can be qualitative surveys, interviews, observations; secondary
sources like videos, pictures, newspapers, magazines. Analytic methods can be
ascertaining patterns, themes, conversation analysis and the like.
3. Influencing Factors:
Examples: Factors that influence some women’s desire to be and to stay slim.
Factors that influence the modem young professionals’ decisions to live in’
condominiums rather than stay in their parents’ homes. Data collection for the latter
can be interviews, directed diaries, focus group discussions; for the former will be
mainly interviews and focus groups interviews also. Secondary sources can be print
and broadcast media, social networks like the Facebook. Analytic procedures can be
conversation analysis, narrative analysis, observations.
4. Construction:
Example: Accounts of parents of children with addiction problems, accounts of
single parents or of parents of special children. Also accounts of children whose
mother or father have Alzheimer’s disease. Data collection methods can be narrative
or story completion tasks, interviews, focus group discussions; secondary sources can
be print media, videos, and directed diaries. Analytic method can be conversation
analysis, discourse analysis, video analysis, and analysis of news and future articles.
5. Language Practice
Example: How people construct, manage and undermine use of language in text
messages (SMS), Facebook, and the like. Analytic procedures are discourse analysis,
interviews, analysis of posts on social networks.
It is important at this point to reiterate that qualitative research is such that somewhere in the
course of the investigation like data gathering or data analysis, new questions can crop up, so the
researcher will have to refine previous questions or add new ones in the light of new discoveries
during the research process.
Clear ideas about the nature of the research questions are also necessary for checking the
appropriateness of methodological decisions in the following respects: which methods are necessary to
answer the questions?

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
The Research Question in the Research Process
Flick (2002) elaborates on the formulation of the research question in the research process as
shown in the following figure:

Formulation of the overall question

Formulation of specific research question

Formulation of sensitizing concepts

Selection of research groups with which to study the question

Selection of appropriate^ designs and methods

Evaluation and reformulation ^the specific research questions

Collection of data
dft
Evaluation and reformulationlof the specific research questions

Analysingtfie data

Generalization and evaluation of the analyses

Formulation^ the findings

Examples of Research Questions from Actual Qualitative Studies:
Research Questions:
1. What reactions do Filipino fathers and mothers experience during and after a natural
disaster?
2. How do they cope with the experience of a natural disaster?
3. How do the experiences of Filipino fathers and mothers differ in terms of coping and
reaction?
Now that you have been given a good number of examples of research questions, continue
reflecting on the research topic you would like to work on. List in a small notebook the possible
research questions you might include in your research study. Keep this notebook in your pocket or
bag. You’ll never know when the idea of a good question or the question itself will pop out. Make it a
habit to write in that small notebook your ideas or questions for your research project.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 4: Stating Research Quesftors

''' ■
(^LESSON 5^) SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF RESEARCH (\INTRODUCTION *
A s mentioned in Lesson 2, too broad topics will lead the research nowhere.
The scope and delimitation of the study sets boundaries and parameters of the problem
inquiry and narrows down the scope of the inquiry. The scope is the domain of your research-what is
in the domain, and what is not. You need to make as clear as possible what you will be studying and
what factors are within the accepted range of your study. For example, if you are studying the ill
effects of bullying on school children, the scope could include both face-to-face bullying and cyber-
bullying in grades 6 through 8.

Scope and Delimitation

There is a distinction between the use of limitation and delimitation. Limitation is associated
with qualitative study as related to validity and reliability. Experts agree that because qualitative
research occurs in the natural setting, it is extremely difficult to replicate studies. When you select
certain methodologies and designs, for example, phenomenology, you will encounter limitations over
which you may have little control. On the other hand, delimitation refers to boundaries of the research
study, arising from the researcher’s decisions of what to exclude; for example, this study included only
the Grade 6, 7 and 8 students who experienced bullying.

Examples of Delimitation of Research

1. This study covers only those families in Barangay San Jose, Pasig City, benefited by the
government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
2. This study includes only those English freshman classes that use both Blended Learning and
standard ways of Language teaching.
3. This research investigation covers only Landbank-sponsored livelihood projects in Barangay
San Juan, Apalit, Pampanga.

Formulating research questions delimits the research topic to a specific area

Doing so reduces variety and thus, structures the field under study. Important aspects are brought
to the fore; others are regarded as less important and left in the background or excluded.
Flick (2002) cites the following delimited example of a broad subject like “Counselling” into
specific areas of interest:
• interactive processes between counsellor and client;

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
 • organization of the administration of clients as “case”;
• organization and maintenance of a specific professional identity (for example, to be a
helper under unfavorable circumstances)
• subjective or objective manifestations of the patient’s “career”

Another example of a delimited general topic like accreditation can be any one of the following
areas of accreditation:

• Instruction
• Faculty
• Administration
• Physical Plant
• Student Services
• Library
• Philosophy and Objectives
• Community Extension
• Research

Examples of Scope and Delimitation from Actual Qualitative Studies

1. Title of Study: Workplace Ergonomics: Perceptions on Employees’ Stress Levels and

Safety (Lao, 2014).
The focus of this study is on the workplace ergonomics in the corporate office setting.
The study would focus on the relationship of workplace ergonomics and its effects on
employees’ stress levels and safety. Moreover, the study would look into the current behavior
and approach on workplace ergonomics that Philippine corporations employ in their work
environment. This study on workplace ergonomics does not encompass benefits received by
employees outside of the said subject matter. In addition, this study does not aim to measure
productivity levels of its respondents.
The participants of this study would be limited to large corporations whose employees
engage in repetitive tasks. The companies involved in this study limit to multinational
companies within the country. The data from the study would come from existing literatures,
interviews, and surveys from company employees. Furthermore, the data results from this
study would only be quantified from the instruments stipulated by the researchers.

2. Title of the Study: Employee Commitment to Environmental Stewardship as a

Component of Corporate Social Responsibility (San Diego, 2010).
To conduct this research, 100 regular or contractual employees were the primary
respondents. They came from the different working areas in Makati City, where convenience
and availability to carry out the questionnaire needed in this study were factored in. Work
position of the employee were taken. The study investigated the big and remarkable
companies that practice environmental stewardship as their CSR. Environmental Stewardship
has two objectives. The first objective basically tackles the

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 5: Scope and Delimitation of Researr 03

 conservation of wildlife, protection of natural resources, and protection of the historic
environment. The second objective tackles genetic conservation and flood management. This
study focuses only on the first objective, specifically the reforestation and improvement of the
environment. The researchers selected environmental stewardship because of the alarming
changes in the environment that our society is witnessing today. This is to bring about the
sense of urgency and responsibility in all members of the community.

3. Title of the Study: Experiences of Reaction and Coping of Filipino Fathers and Mothers:
During and After A Natural Disaster (Casal I.J., Chingkoe, J.C., Gonzales, K.J., Tan, M.V.,
2015).
The study covers individual experiences and coping of Filipino fathers and mothers. It
will focus only on individuals who were affected by natural disasters, specifically those who
were affected by floods due to typhoons. The researcher focused only on two specific
typhoons: Ondoy and Habagat, because they believed that these typhoons had the most
significant impact on people’s lives. The severity of the impact of these typhoons was so tragic
that the research participants were able to instinctively recall information and their experiences
that happened during those events.
This research focused on the perspective of fathers and mothers. Another limitation of
this research was the area covered wherein the researchers focused only on Filipino
participants who resided in the National Capital Region (NCR) during and after the typhoons
struck.

4. Title of the Study: Personality Traits, Emotional Quotient and Resiliency Level of High
School Cyber Bullying Victims: Basis for Life Skills Session Program (Valencia, A., 2013)
This study was limited to cyber bullying victims, with ages ranging from 11 to 18 years
old and who were enrolled during the school year of 2012-2013 at the

This study was undertaken from June 2012 to March 2013. The students in this condition
were presented with different issues, but the researcher focused on theory, emotional quotient
and resiliency level. Other aspects of their personality were considered in this study. Thus, the
High School Personality Questionnaire was used as one of the instruments in this study to
identify the fourteen personality traits of the respondents. The BarOn Emotional Quotient
Inventory: Youth Version (BarOn EQ-iYV) was utilized for the respondents’ level of
emotional quotient. More so, the Resilience Scale for Adolescents was employed to determine
the respondents’ resiliency level.
Respondents of this study were victims of cyber bullying who signified to have
experienced three or more of the cyber bullying types and were given consent by their parents
to participate in the study.

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
 LESSON 6 BENEFITS AND BENEFICIARIES OF RESEARCH

^INTRODUCTION

E ssentially, this lesson informs the reader on how the study will contribute to the well-being of a
person or progress of a group or society in general. For example, in addressing social problems
like malnutrition of children in a specific barangay or locality, in a research study, the findings can
benefit, first and foremost, the malnourished children themselves and their respective families, policy
makers like the Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and
Development, practitioners (Health and Nutrition), leaders, both local and national government, as
well as NGO’s.
When you mull over who/what benefit from your study, focus on your problem which will guide
you in identifying the specific contribution of your study. The challenge of this section of the Problem
Statement is to situate the study as addressing a particular, important, or even pressing problem.
Defining the problem shapes the research study’s significance (Marshall and Rossman, 1995). For
example, a research study can focus on end of contract schemes (popularly called ENDO) practiced by
several institutions, organizations or establishments, wherein the employee’s contract is terminated
after six months of work.
Framing said study as a policy study requires that the problem be situated in national labor
policies. The researcher’s challenge is to describe how the results of the study will contribute to the
well-being of both the work force and establishment.
Qualitative studies investigating impact of certain projects, activities or programs can best
showcase benefits and beneficiaries of the study in the fields of accountancy, business, management,
science, technology, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and other fields.

Aspects of Significance
1. Significance for Theory
In this section of the problem statement, the researcher can outline the research study’s
contribution to fundamental knowledge by describing how the study fits into the theoretical
traditions in the sciences or applied fields in ways that will be new, insightful or creative
(Marshall and Rossman, 1995). The significance statement should show how the study will
contribute to research traditions. Often, the research study identifies gaps in the literature to
which the study will contribute. If the research is an area where theory is well-developed, the
study may be a significant test or expansion of the theory. The researcher may use concepts
developed by previous researchers and formulate questions similar to those used in previous
research. Data collection, however, may be in a different setting, with different groups, and at
a different time. Thus, the results of the research will be an extension of a previous
theory.

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 6: Benefits and Beneficiaries of Research

 2. Significance for Policy and Practice
The significance of a study for policy and practice can be established by presenting data
that show how often the problem occurs and how costly it can be. For example, the “color
coded scheme” wherein vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8, 9&0 can
ply the main thoroughfares of major cities in Metro Manila from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM only on
certain days. Presentation of statistics on how serious the traffic problem is in the metropolis
can make a study on this practice truly significant. This is not to say though that this is the
only culprit in the horrendous traffic situation of the metropolis.
In conclusion, when mulling over the significance of the research study you wish to
undertake, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Who has an interest in my research topic?
2. What do we already know about the topic?
3. What has not been answered adequately in previous research and practice?
4. How will this new research contribute to theory, policy and practice in his area?
Reflecting on these questions carefully, coupled with right decisions and actions, will
result in a meaningful and productive research study.

Examples of Benefits and Beneficiaries From Actual Studies

Title of the Study: “An Impact Study on the School of Education-Liberal Arts-Music- Social
Work Community Outreach at Lualhati ng Maynila: Basis for Program Enhancement. by Carey, T.,
Baello, L. Pablo, L., Santos, E., Ramirez, T., Abarintos, A., Magallanes, J., (2012) entitled The
benefits of the study, as well as the beneficiaries, were clear to the researchers right at the beginning of
the study.
Lualhati Ng Maynila is an institution for the elderly within the Boystown Complex, Parang,
Marikina City. The institution for the elderly, at the time of the study, had a population of 262:162
females and 100 male residents whose ages ranged from 55-78 years old.
The qualitative research investigated the impact of CEU-SELAMS outreach program in terms of
the following:
• Physical Fitness Activities
• Bible Sharing
• Eucharistic Celebration
• Livelihood Projects
• Psycho-social activities
• Health Services •

The results of the study clearly benefited first, the elderly themselves. The results of the
study made Centro Escolar University’s School of Education-Liberal Arts- Music-Social
Work respond more effectively to the needs of the elderly, while at the same time, deepening
their values. The results of the study shed light on the community

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
outreach program implementation itself, aside from the relevance or meaningfulness of the current
activities being undertaken by the CEU-SELAMS COP for the elderly to improve their livings
conditions.
Likewise, the results of the study guided the management and staff of Lualhati Ng Maynila,
Boystown Complex, in dealing with and handling the situation of the elderly.
This research study also provided insights for more productive collaborative efforts among the
Social Workers, Administration, staff and volunteers for the benefit of the elderly of Lualhati Ng
Maynila.
The students, or CEU-SELAMS volunteers, benefited from this study in a way that their sense of
service, commitment and compassion was deepened through the encounters and services they did for
the elderly. The results of the study likewise served as inspiration to the faculty, and non-teaching staff
towards more involvement in the Community Outreach Program of the University.
Over-all, the results of the study became the basis for an enhanced Community Outreach
program for the elderly of Lualhati Ng Maynila.
Title of the Study: “The Surviving Cultural Heritage of the Kankeneys of Benguet: Basis of a
Proposed Program for Cultural Preservation and Development (Daonis, 2002).
The beneficiaries of the study were clearly the cultural minorities themselves, the Kankaneys,
because the study was designed to identify their needs and concerns that pertinent remedies or
programs can be done to improve on their situation.
The government (GO’s) and non-government organizations (NGO’s) were likewise benefited by
the cultural minorities benefited by the study in the sense that its findings helped them identify the
needs of the people and served as a basis for them to design an integrated, comprehensive and
attainable program for the cultural preservation and development of the respondents.
For the teachers, educators, curriculum planners, administrators and researchers, the findings of
the study facilitated the formulation of implementing guidelines in the teaching of culture in all school
levels nationwide, to acquaint them of the different cultural aspirations of the different cultures.

Title of the Study: Establishing Hydroponics Farming Technology in Pasig

City
The importance of this feasibility study primarily revolves on the assumption that there is a need
to find new ways of sustaining the growing demand for food in the country. Hence, the idea of
bringing simple and innovative technologies in the homes of consumers to start their own urban garden
or farms is reasonable, economically sound, and beneficial.
The study can be of help to farmers and large-scale gardeners to advance and modernize their
farming or planting methods. Interested investors and entrepreneurs can venture into the farming
industry with the guidance of this study. Research institutions and government bodies can utilize the
study to implement sound economic programs

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 6: Benefits and Beneficiaries of Research

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 with the aim of increasing food production and nutritive value of crops. Moreover, the study itself can
be used as a ‘prototype’ for developing studies of even larger and more scientifically advanced
hydroponics farming systems. It is equally important that this study emphasizes the utilization of
business as a driver to move progress in economic sectors, not as a tool to pool wealth in the smaller
fractions of the industry.
The best significant role that the study might contribute to the country as a whole is its
enlightening the government and its people in using technology to provide practical solutions to long-
term economic problems. Hence, using the study as a basis of proposing bills and/or programs that
may implement new agricultural methods and technical assistance to farmers will be a milestone in
Philippine agriculture. It is noteworthy to pursue a new age of agriculture in the country, given little or
undocumented progress in the farming sector, and hydroponics farming is one of the best available
technologies available to catalyze the advancement of farming in the nation.

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PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
 LESSON 7 PRESENTATION OF WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM

^t> INTRODUCTION 1

R esearch studies generally include the following interrelated parts, with each one building on the
other: the introduction, which includes an overview of the research study, the statement of the
problem, its significance, the research questions and the scope and limitations of the research study,
the review of related literature and the research design and research methods.

Purposes of Statement of the Problem

Marshall and Rossman (1995) explain clearly the purposes of the problem statement or inquiry:
1. to describe the substantive focus of the research study
2. to frame it as
a. a larger theoretical policy
b. a practical problem and thereby, develop its significance
3. to pose initial research questions
4. to forecast the literature to be discussed in the second section and
5. to discuss the limitations of the study.

Let us suppose that in the course of your reading a newspaper, you come across an article that so
interested you that you decided to do a qualitative research on the problem discussed in the article.
This is a preliminary procedure which will lead you to a statement of the problem.

Directions: 1. Do a close reading of the following article:

Tell me what you see: “Am I pretty or ugly?”

New York- Sammie, a shy 13-year-old from New Jersey, stepped out of the shower and pulled
on a plain gray T-shirt. She left her hair wet and decided not to apply make-up. Careful not to wake up
her family, she looked into the camera and spoke in a low whisper.
“People at my school and camp say that I’m the ugliest person they’ve ever seen, “she said,” and
that I could be the ugliest person that could ever be living.”
“Be honest and tell me if I am ugly or not,” she continued. “I can take it, but please don’t say
really mean stuff.”
She titled the video, “Am I Ugly or Pretty?” and like thousands of other young girls who have
made similar videos, uploaded it to YouTube. Several months, 72,000 views and more than 2,000
comments later, she was no less insecure about her appearance, she said in a

CHAPTER 3: LESSON 7: Presentstor of Written Statement of the Problems

68
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