Formulating the Research

Problem and the Study

Objectives
 Lecture Objectives

1. Explain the importance of having a

clear problem statement.
2. Explain important guidelines in
formulating a clear research problem.
3. Discuss the importance of stating
clear research objectives
 Sources of Research Ideas
Reading the literature, reviews, editorials
and commentaries which identify research
gaps.
Attending scientific meetings;
Reading research priorities of funding
agencies.
Developing specific areas of study;
Results of previous researches;
Being observant and/or being
imaginative;
Adopting a skeptical attitude when
reading research findings.
 What is a research problem?

Triggers for research:

1. A perceived discrepancy exists between
what is and what should be.
2. There is interest to answer the question Why
is there a discrepancy?.
3. There is more than one possible/plausible
answer/s to the problem.

NOT ALL PROBLEMS WILL REQUIRE

RESEARCH!
 Importance of Stating and Defining the
Problem Clearly

Serves as the foundation for further

development of the research proposal;
Facilitates search for relevant information
or similar studies from which the proposed
study can benefit;
Forces the proponent to explain clearly
why the proposed research on the problem
is important and how the results can be
used.
Criteria for a Good Research Topic
FINER

Feasible
Interesting
Novel
Ethical
Relevant

Should also be Systematic and

Rigorous
 Criteria for a Good Research Topic

Feasibility
-Number of study subjects required;
availability of research facility/equipment;
required expertise; affordable; availability
of resources; objectives are not overly
ambitious

Interest
- Both to the investigator and the rest of
the community
 Novelty
-Research is expected to be able to
contribute new knowledge;
- Proponent should be up-to-date with
the literature on the planned research
topic;
-The issue is NOT whether the study
has been done before but whether it
will add to the existing body of
knowledge.
 Ethical
-Potential ethical issues must be addressed
at the early stage of selecting the research
topic;
- serious ethical problems may be
recognized early on. Idea is dropped

Relevant
-Responds to the question So what
- Relevant research must have the potential
to advance knowledge, improve practice,
influence policy, or guide further research.
What information should be included in a
problem statement?

1.Describe the context of the problem

_ brief description of present situation
and cultural characteristics
_ cite a few statistics to help describe the
context in which the problem occurs
Example: Knowledge on Typhoons and Attitudes Towards Typhoon
Preparedness Initiatives and Its Association with Post-traumatic
Stress Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck causing 3B dollars worth of

damage and leaving more than 6000 casualties. It drove countless
survivors into poverty by sheer damage brought about by the
typhoon, the medical expenses and reparation costs.
Typhoon Haiyan hit a known typhoon-prone area. Frequent
typhoons in the area may contribute to improved knowledge and
attitudes to typhoon prevention.
However, the damage repeatedly brough about by typhoons
traversing the area may also cause repeated emotional stress that
will contribute to a plethora of mental disorders associated with
disasters.
In a cross-sectional study some three months after Haiyan, 15% of
adult respondents in Province A and B have been diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder.
2. Concise description of the
components of the problem

- nature, size, distribution, and

severity of the problem
- person, place and time
distribution
- consequences for those
affected
Example: Knowledge on Typhoons and Attitudes Towards
Typhoon Preparedness Initiatives and Its Association with
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study
15% of the survivors of Haiyan suffered PTSD, at least for
Province A & B. They could be parents, which meant that
they could no longer provide for their families daily needs;
or children and adolescents who may be forced to quit
school.
Standard treatment and medication for PTSD, while often
ideal, are often beyond the financial capacity of most
residents whose main method to pay for health expenditures
is out-of- pocket.
Studies have shown that unmanaged PTSD increases the
risk of committing suicide by more than two-fold.
The health system, on the other hand, has barely enough
manpower to meet pre-disaster needs. Thus, it will be unable
to meet the increased health care needs post-disaster.
3. Analysis of the major factors that may
influence the problem
-Discuss why certain aspects need further
investigation to better understand the
situation.

4. Justification for the study

- Describe any solutions to the problem
that have been tried in the past, how well
they worked, and why further research is
needed.
Example: Knowledge on Typhoons and Attitudes Towards
Typhoon Preparedness Initiatives and Its Association with
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study
The role of adequate knowledge on and positive attitudes
towards disaster preparedness in preventing disaster-
related mental health are often minimized.
In a study by Rothman, et.al., high knowledge on volcanic
eruptions & earthquakes is associated with a substantial
decrease in the incidence post-disaster clinical depression.
However, this study was found to rely on self-report data,
which implies that the overall association may be
overestimated.
Another study by Greenland & Saldo shows that
participation in earthquake drills were associated with lower
risk of PTSD after an earthquake. However, this study also
relied on self-report data, which implies that the magnitude
of association between the drills and PTSD may be
overestimated.
6. Usefulness of the anticipated
result/s of the research
-How can the results of the study be
used to solve the problem?

7. Short definitions of crucial/major

concepts used in the statement of
the problem.
Example: Knowledge on Typhoons and Attitudes
Towards Typhoon Preparedness Initiatives and
Its Association with Post-traumatic Stress
Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study
As such, there is a need to determine the
association of the knowledge on natural
disasters, as well as attitudes towards disaster
preparedness initiatives.
A prospective cohort study will be used.
Results of this study could be used as basis for
community and individual preparedness
initiatives in the community to prevent disaster-
related PTSD.
How to write a problem statement
The section should be precise and
concise while not forgetting to
mention essential points.
The information concerning the
problem should be summarized so
the reader is not drowned in too
much detail.
TIP - - An outline that lists the major
points should be prepared before any
writing is done.
 Significance of the Study
Why should the research be done?
-Why is the research important?
- Has it been done before?
- Will the study benefit people,
increase knowledge and/or
influence policy?
- Will research resolve
controversies?
 Research Objective/s

A statement that clearly

describes the goal to be achieved
by a research project.
Summarize/s what is to be
achieved by the study.
 Why do we need research objectives?

Focus the study( narrows it down to

essentials )

Avoid the collection of unnecessary

data( to establish the boundaries/limits of
the study)

Organize the study in clearly defined

parts or phrases.
When should the objectives of a research
project be written?
After the statement of the problem is
developed and
Before the methodology for the study is
planned

The objectives follow from the statement

of the problem, show the precise goals of
the study, help guide the development of
the research methodology, and orient the
collection, analysis & interpretation of
data.
 What are the characteristics of good
objectives?
Logical & coherent
Feasible & realistic( considering
local conditions)
Defined in operational terms that
can be measured.
Adequately phrased to clearly meet
the purpose of the study.
 What verbs to use to write objectives?

Use Do not use

To determine. To appreciate.
To identify.. To understand.
To describe.. To believe..
To know.
To prove.
 What formats can be used to state
research objectives?
The format chosen depends on the type
of study that will be undertaken.
If the study is descriptive or exploratory
in nature, then objectives are stated in the
form of questions or positive sentences.
If the researcher knows enough to make
predictions concerning what s/he is
studying, then one or several hypotheses
may be proposed.
 What formats can be used to state
research objectives?
Question: Will consumption of dietary
supplements after a natural disaster reduce self-
reported psychosocial problems?
Sentence: To determine the association
between consumption of dietary supplements
after a natural disaster and reduction self-
reported episodes of psychosocial problems.
Hypothesis: Consumption of dietary
supplements once a day following a natural
disaster will significantly reduce self-reported
episodes of various psychosocial problems.
 Types of Research Objectives
Commonly classified into general
objectives and specific objectives;
logically connected to each other
Specific objectives are commonly
considered as smaller portions of the
general objectives
It is important to ascertain that the
general objective is closely related to the
statement of the problem
 .The Research Objectives
The General Objective
-Identifies in general terms what is to be accomplished
by the research project, and why
Specific Objectives
- identify in greater detail the specific aims of the
research project, breaks down what is to be
accomplished into smaller logical components.
-Identify the questions that the researcher wants to
answer through the study
- should systematically address the various aspects of
the problem as defined under Statement of the
Problem and the key factors that are assumed to
influence or cause the problem.
- they should specify what you should do in your study,
where and for what purpose.
Example: Knowledge on Typhoons and Attitudes
Towards Typhoon Preparedness Initiatives and
Its Association with Post-traumatic Stress
Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study

General Objective:
To describe the association between the
knowledge on and attitudes towards typhoon
preparedness initiatives and post-traumatic
stress disorders among residents in Provinces A
and B.