FORMULATION OF RESEARCH

PROBLEMS AND HYPOTHESES

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COMMON PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH
PROBLEM FORMULATION

Not all problems are empirically testable.

-”Metaphysical problems”

Don’t know the sources for their research problem.

Faced with so many problems but can’t decide on which one to

pursue.

Some problems are very interesting but data needed are hard to
obtain.

Don’t know what specific purpose in choosing a particular

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research problem.
SO WHAT IS A RESEARCH
PROBLEM?
 The problem is, mentally, the first thing that a researcher thinks about
when he plans a research project, although it’s the title and the
introduction that come first on paper.

 A problem is an interrogative statement that asks: “What relation

exists between two or more variables?”
 One fundamental principle in research is: “If one wants to solve a
problem, one must generally know what the problem is”.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD
RESEARCH PROBLEM (MERCADO)
It should be specific dealing only on one specific aspect.

The problem should be empirically testable.

The problem should always state a relationship between two or more

variables.

It should be link to a certain theory or at least have a certain theoretical

framework.

It should: (a) be relevant with time; (b) be related to a practical problem;

(c) fill a research gap; (d) permit generalization; (e) sharpen the
definition of an important concept or relationship; and (f) create or
improve an instrument for gathering and analyzing data.
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CRITERIA FOR GOOD PROBLEMS &
PROBLEM STATEMENT (KERLINGER)
 The problem should express a relationship between two or more
variables.

 The problem should be treated clearly and unambiguously in question

form. Questions have the virtue of posing the problem directly.

 The problem and problem statement should be such as to imply

possibilities of empirical testing.

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HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
 A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship between
two or more variables that is stated in declarative sentence form.
They relate either generally or specifically variables to variables.

 The hypothesis is a proposition on the relation between two or more

variables that are measurable.

Example: There is a relationship between mass media exposure and

social awareness.

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HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
 A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship between
two or more variables that is stated in declarative sentence form.
They relate either generally or specifically variables to variables.

 The hypothesis is a proposition on the relation between two or more

variables that are measurable.

Example: There is a relationship between mass media exposure and

social awareness.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD HYPOTHESIS
 It is a statement of the relation between or among variables.

 It must carry clear implications for testing the stated relations.

 A good hypothesis should be stated in operational terms. Instead of

saying: “The higher the level of exposure to mass media, the greater
the level of participation in demonstration”, we can say “The greater
the time spent by a person reading newspaper, the greater the
tendency for him to join more demonstration”.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD HYPOTHESIS
 It is a statement of the relation between or among variables.

 It must carry clear implications for testing the stated relations.

 A good hypothesis should be stated in operational terms. Instead of

saying: “The higher the level of exposure to mass media, the greater
the level of participation in demonstration”, we can say “The greater
the time spent by a person reading newspaper, the greater the
tendency for him to join more demonstration”.

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TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
 Non-directional hypothesis
-Null hypothesis
-Alternative hypothesis

 Directional hypothesis

 Statistical hypothesis

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TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
Non-directional hypothesis
-It does not tell us the direction of relationship between or among
variables (that is, whether direct or inverse).
-Example: There is a relationship between mass media exposure and
social awareness.

Directional hypothesis
-It states very explicitly whether the relationship is direct or inverse.
-Example: The higher the level of mass media exposure, the higher
is the social awareness of individuals.

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TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
Null hypothesis
-It states that there is no relationship between the independent and
dependent variables or that the independent variable does not affect the
dependent variable.
-Example: There is no relationship between mass media exposure
and social awareness.

Alternative hypothesis or experimental/research hypothesis

-It states that there is a significant relationship between the
independent and dependent variables.
-Example: There is a relationship between mass media exposure
and social awareness.
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TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
 Statistical hypothesis
-It is a hypothesis, whether directional or non-directional, null or
alternative, which is stated or presented in mathematical form.
-Example:

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FROM RESEARCH PROBLEM TO
HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
(a) What is the status of BUGS research and
extension system? (a) No need
(b) What is the level of resource allocation
for in research & extension in terms of budgetary (b) No need
support, manpower complement, facilities and
equipment, and training?
(c) What are the research & extension programs/
projects/ activities implemented by BUGS from (c) No need
2015 to 2018?
(d) What are the research & extension
modalities are employed by BUGS in the (d) No need
implementation of its various extension
programs?
(e) What is the relationship between level of (e) There is no relationship between level of
resource allocation and extent of research & resource allocation and extent of extension
extension program implementation?
program implementation?
(f) What are the problems besetting BUGS
(f) No need 14
research & extension system?
SOME ERRORS IN PROBLEM
STATEMENT FORMULATION
 Scientific problems are not moral and ethical questions. As such, to
ask value and judgmental questions in problem statements is
erroneous.
A quick and easy way to detect value statements is to look for words
such as “should”, “ought”, “better than” and similar words that indicate
cultural or personal judgment or preferences.

 Methodological points or “problems” should not be listed as

subproblems. Methodological points: (a) are not substantial problems
that spring from the basic problem and (b) relate to techniques and
methods of sampling, measuring, or analyzing.

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WORKSHOP I
PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
A graduate student would like to know the coping mechanisms of upland household-
settlers in barangay X. By doing the study, the student hopes to be able to:
(a) Describe the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the
upland settlers.
(b) Assess the level of tolerance of upland settlers to economic hardships.
(c) Determine the coping strategies of the households during economic
hardships.
(d) Ascertain if certain demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of
households influence their level of tolerance.
(e) Find out if coping strategies vary from household to household.

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WORKSHOP I
PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION
From the foregoing situationer, accomplish the following:

(a) Formulate the research problem/s of the proposed study.

(b) Formulate the hypothesis if needed.

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