SUB-MODULE 2:

DEFINING THE RESEARCH

PROBLEM

from the presentation of

Dr. Ophelia M. Mendoza

BGHMC
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the session, the learner must be able to:

1. Identify important factors to be considered in selecting a
research topic;
2. State the research problem underlying the selected
research topic;
3. Formulate measurable general and specific objectives; and
4. Justify the significance of the research topic and objectives
selected.
1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA

a. Interest, background and qualification of the researcher

b. Relevance
• How large or widespread is the problem?
• Who is affected?
• How severe is the problem?
• Is the topic covered by the current scientific or intellectual interest
of the academic or health community?
• Is my topic in line with the priority areas of the funding agency to
whom my proposal will be submitted? If the funding agency is
PCHRD, is the topic part of the NUHRA or the RUHRA?
1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA

c. Avoidance of Duplication
• Has the topic been investigated before?
• Are there still existing gaps in knowledge or major questions which
still deserve further investigation?

d. Feasibility
• Can the study be done given the existing human and financial
resources?
• Can data from the required number of samples be collected within
the time frame of the study, given the inclusion and exclusion
criteria?
• Are materials and equipment needed for the conduct of the study
available?
1. SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC:
COMMONLY USED CRITERIA
e. Applicability of possible results and recommendations
• What is the chance of the recommendation from the study being
applied?

f. Urgency of the data needed

• How urgently are data needed for making a decision?

g. Ethical Acceptability
• How acceptable is the research to those who will studied?
(Note: Cultural sensitivity must be considered)
• Can informed consent be obtained from the subjects?
• Will the condition of the subjects be taken into account?
2. IDENTIFYING THE
RESEARCH PROBLEM
• A research problem is an area of concern within
the selected topic where there is a gap in
knowledge
• It provides the motivating factor for the research
objectives to be answered in the research
• It is the jump-off point or the basis for the
research objectives to be formulated
• It can also provide the basis for the significance of
the research project
Example:
Topic: Health information system
Research Problem:
• Poor quality of data routinely collected by
RHUs
• Poor data quality leads to low level of data
utilization at all levels, from the RHU to the
regional levels, hence wasting time and
resources in data collection
• Poor data quality is an inhibiting factor to
evidence-based decision-making
3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

 summarize what is/are to be achieved by the study

 reflect the questions the study wishes to answer
 serve as the “steering wheel” of the whole research
process, by providing direction regarding the rest of the steps
of the research process
 derived from the statement of the problem

 can be stated either in the form of a statement or a question

o To determine if there is a relationship between
smoking and lung cancer
o Is there a relationship between smoking and lung
cancer?
3.1 PROJECT vs RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
PROJECT OBJECTIVE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
 Describes what the project proponent  In the context of a project or an
intervention, the research objective
wants to happen in the course of, or at reflect the questions or problems which
the end of the project need to be answered about it
 Reflects the activities or the desired  cover different phases of the project ,
outputs of the intervention or project from needs assessment to project
being considered evaluation

Example:
◦ Example: ◦ To assess the availability and
To develop operational guidelines for adequacy of financial, human and
disaster management and mitigation technical resources for disaster
management and mitigation in Quezon
in Quezon City. City.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To train and activate the 1.1 To determine the number of peer

involvement of peer educators, educators, NGOs and GOs who
NGOs and GOs in advocacy have been trained in the conduct
campaigns related to HIV AIDS of advocacy campaigns related to
HIV AIDS

1.2 To determine the number and

types of activities conducted by
peer educators, NGOs and GOs
related to the conduct of advocacy
campaigns for HIV AIDS
PROJECT OBJECTIVES RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To increase the 1.1 To determine the coverage of the

immunization coverage in following immunizations in
Municipality X by 10% in Municipality X in 2017: BCG, 3
2017 doses of OPV, DPT, Hepatitis B,
and measles
1.2 To determine the % fully
immunized children (FIC) in
Municipality X in 2017
1.3 To compare the immunization
coverage for each antigen and %
FIC in Municipality X between
2016 and 2017
3.2 GENERAL vs SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
• It reflects the overall purpose of the project
• It states what is expected to be achieved by the study in
general terms

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• They are statements regarding the specific questions expected
to be answered in the study
• They break up the general objective into smaller, logically
connected parts
• They systematically address the various aspects of the
problem as defined in the problem statement
3.3 EXAMPLE

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent and nature to which the staff of the Regional Health
Office are exposed to occupational stress.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the prevalence of occupational stress among the staff of the
Regional Health Office;
2. To determine whether the following factors are associated with occupational
stress among the staff of Regional Health Office:
a. Sex of the employee
b. Length of employment
c. Type of position (Management; Technical; Administrative )
3.4 REASONS FOR SPECIFYING
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

 To help define the focus of the study

 To identify the specific variables to be measured, and avoid the

collection of data which are not essential to the problem
identified

 To organize the study into clearly defined parts and phases

 To guide the researcher in the development of the research

methodology, and orient the collection, analysis and
interpretation of the data
3.5 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

 They are phrased in such a way they focus on what the study is
attempting to solve, and cover the different parts of the problem in a
logical way.

 They are clearly phrased in measurable, operational and observable

terms, specifying exactly what are the researcher wishing to do.

 They are realistic, considering the constraints within local conditions

and should be feasible.
3.5 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

 They use action verbs which are specific enough to be measured.

SPECIFIC ACTION VERBS NON-SPECIFIC ACTION VERBS

Determine Appreciate
Compare Understand
Compute Explore
Describe Dramatize
Evaluate
4. JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE RESEARCH

• Convincing others that the problem is important

• Explaining what is not known about the problem hence the
need for the proposed research
• Providing documentation that this is actually a problem
 related literature
 available reports, statistics, documents
4.1 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE RESEARCH: QUESTIONS TO BE
ANSWERED
a. What is the contribution of my research to existing
knowledge in this area?

b. How will my research results improve:

• current practices?
• existing policies?

c. Is the problem to be studied current or timely? Does

it exist now?

d. How widespread is the problem in terms number of

areas or people affected?
4.1 JUSTIFYING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE RESEARCH: QUESTIONS TO BE
ANSWERED

e. Does the problem affect important populations of special interest

(ex., mother and children, elderly, youth, etc.?
f. Does the problem relate to on-going programs, projects
activities, or initiatives?
g. Does the problem relate to broader social, economic or health
issues (ex., poverty; climate change; status of women and
children, etc.)?
h. Who else are concerned about the problem (ex., government; civil
society; church, etc)?
4.2 HOW TO WRITE-UP THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH

a. Review your answers to the questions listed earlier.

b. Sort your answers into 2 categories – whether they

address broad or specific issues related to your
research problem

c. Arrange your answers in 1 or 2 paragraphs which

justify the importance of the research problem. The
suggested flow of the discussion is one which follows
an inverted triangle, starting with broad issues, then
focusing on specific issues related to particular groups
or settings to be studied in the proposed research
4.2 HOW TO WRITE-UP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
RESEARCH

BROAD
ISSUES

SPECIFIC
ISSUES
4.3 IDENTIFICATION OF END-USERS
AND TARGET BENEFICIARIES

• Who can use, apply or benefit from the results of

my research?
• These can be specific persons, groups, agencies
or institutions
• Each end-user/target beneficiary may have a
different use or can benefit from the research
results in a different way
• The proponent must describe in a concise way
specifically how each end-user/target beneficiary
can apply or benefit from the research results
EXAMPLE:

Title of Research:

Capacities and Needs Assessment for

Health Emergency Management among
conflict-affected and disaster-prone LGUs in
the Ligwasan Wetlands Biodiversity
Reserve (LWBR)
4.3.1.1 IDENTIFICATION OF END-USERS AND
TARGET BENEFICIARIES: BAD EXAMPLE

The following are the end-users and target

beneficiaries of this research:
• LGUs of disaster-prone areas
• Legislators at the regional and local levels
• Academicians/researchers
• Residents in disaster-prone communities

Submodule 2
(ACTUAL WRITE-UP PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSAL)
 Political acceptability
 Applicability of possible results and
recommendations
 Magnitude
 Feasibility
 Urgency of the data needed
 Ethical acceptability
4.3.1.2 IDENTIFICATION OF END-USERS AND TARGET
BENEFICIARIES: GOOD EXAMPLE

This study has immense use not only for the health
services providers’ networks and government health
functionaries and personnel in the four LGUs, but also
for Local Government Units, in harnessing and
mobilizing local resources toward an integrated and
harmonized health emergency planning for
preparedness and resilience.

On the policy side, legislators, both at the local and

regional levels, use the results of this study to push for
more integrative approaches in capacitating local health
and health-related functionaries and other personnel
down to the barangay level.

(ACTUAL WRITE-UP PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSAL)

4.3.1.2 IDENTIFICATION OF END-USERS AND TARGET
BENEFICIARIES: GOOD EXAMPLE

The tools for gathering data can be integrated in various

social science courses, especially in the Sociology of
Disaster, and in the graduate program in Public
Administration, especially in Public Policy (Health and
Emergencies in LGUs). These tools are not yet included
in the catalogue of traditional methods of gathering data
in most institutions of higher learning in the region.

More importantly, communities that continue to suffer

from inordinate and heavy damage to life and property
after armed conflicts and natural disasters can also learn
to appreciate their pro-active role in mitigating disasters
and in lessening their vulnerabilities to health and life
risks resulting from disasters.
(ACTUAL WRITE-UP PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSAL)
EXERCISES:
Determine whether each of the following is a program or a research
objective:

To compare the prevalence of hypertension

among adults in urban and rural areas

Research Objective

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Determine whether each of the following is a program or a research
objective:

To build the capacity of local government

units to plan, finance, and implement cost-
effective health and nutrition programs

Project Objective

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Determine whether each of the following is a program or a research
objective:

To assist urban poor communities in

identifying and addressing their own health,
nutrition and environmental problems

Project Objective

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Determine whether each of the following is a program or a research
objective:
To determine the types and sources of
support needed by local government
officials in order to implement health
programs in their communities

Research Objective

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Comment on the way the following objectives are stated:

To determine the impact of continuing

education on health workers

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Comment on the way the following objectives are stated:

To highlight the effect of drug compliance

among TB patients

Submodule 2
EXERCISES:
Comment on the way the following objectives are stated:

To study dialysis among patients with

kidney problems

Submodule 2