PRACRE MIDTERMS

• Research Title


  Prefaces the study by providing a summary of the main idea or the theme and focus of the research problem
• Characteristics of a Research Title

  • It should summarize the main idea of the paper
  • It should be a concise statement of the main topic
  • It should include the major variables of the research study
  • It should be self-explanatory
  • It should describe or imply the participants of the study
• Elements in the Title

  • Major Variables
  • Participants of the Study
  • Topics or Themes
  • Outputs
• Conciseness


  Avoid unnecessary words or phrases
• Clarity


  Make sure that titles are understandable and self-explanatory
• Scope


  The title must reflect the breadth and coverage of the research paper
• Purpose


  The title must imply the participants of the study and provide a specific direction
• Language Use, Word Choice, Grammar

  Avoid use of emotional terms or "trigger" words in academic research
• Use of Variables


  The title should include major variables in the study
• Words such as methods, results, and investigations should not appear in the title
• In many cases, the general problem of the research or even the specific question that the researcher intends to answer, when rewritten in a statement form, can serve as a title
• Research Problem


  States the area of concern of the research paper whether it is a circumstance needing development, a difficulty requiring attention, or an inquiry necessitating an answer
• This section sets the direction of the research study as it provides the foundation for the research hypothesis and defines what kind of research study is suitable to address the problem
• This section should only state the problem and not suggest a solution for it
• Characteristics of research problems

  • It conveys a feeling of discomfort or difficulty
  • It has a perceived difficulty in broad subjects such as family affairs, home management, leadership system
  • It displays a gap between theory and practice
  • It utilizes a procedure requiring technologically advanced equipment
  • It involves the experience of any kind of individual
  • It shows some kind of pattern or trend
  • It makes use of literature reviews, continuous readings, and past studies
• Replication


  The repetition of a prior research study in a different setting and time
• Criteria for a researchable problem

  • Solutions are available but not yet tested and not yet known by the practitioner
  • No solutions are available to answer the gap or the problem being assessed
  • When the given answers or solutions, as well as possible results, seemingly untested or are factually contradictory has occurred
  • A phenomenon requiring an explanation has occurred
  • There are several possible and plausible explanations for the existence of an undesirable condition
• External Criteria in Formulating the Research Problem

  • Novelty
  • Availability of Subjects
  • Support of the academic community
  • Availability and Adequacy of Facilities and Equipment
  • Ethical Considerations
• Internal Criteria in Formulating the Research Problem

  • Experience, training, and qualifications of the researcher
  • Motivation, interest, intellectual curiosity, and perceptiveness of the researcher
  • Time Factor
  • Costs and Returns
  • Hazards, penalties, and handicaps
• The background of the researcher is an important factor that defines the selection of research problems and topics
• Factors in determining research problem and topic

  • Feasibility
  • External Support
  • Innovative Quality
• Personal Questions that can be asked

  • Is your topic important to you? To other people?
  • Is your topic interesting?
  • Can you get sources for your topic?
  • Is your topic relevant or relatively new?
  • Is it manageable?
• Clustering


  A way to narrow down the topic into something that falls within the bounds of their research considerations
• Clustering is a way to identify different aspects of the topic to research on
• Introduction


  The first chapter of the research paper that introduces the problem, clarifies important variables, and discusses its significance to the field of study
• Delimitations


  Pertain to specific choices made by the researcher that should be mentioned
• Limitations


  About the influences that the researched cannot control, particularly those that place restrictions on the methodology and conclusions
• The researcher has to introduce the different elements of the first chapter by giving a brief description of each element, so that the reader knows what to expect from the chapter
• Elements of Introduction


  • Rationalization of the need to research on the problem
  • Clarification of the important terminologies for the reader to easily understand what the research is about
  • Establishment of the degree of seriousness of the problem which prompted the researcher to look for solutions
• Rationale


  The reasons why the researcher decided to look for solutions to the problem
• Setting


  Part of the delimitation of the study that defines the geographic boundaries of the research
• The setting description must highlight its distinctive characteristics such as if the place experiences various environmental phenomena and other peculiarities
• The setting also includes the psychological setting which refers to the mental and emotional characteristics of the participants of the study
• Basic Literature Foundation


  Provides the researcher clarity on the terms or variables used in the study
• This part is derived from different literature sources and the use of various references is crucial
• Seriousness of the Problem

  The researcher is tasked to identify the intensity and magnitude of the problem and looks for statistical or quantitative evidence to assess the significance of the problem at hand
• General Objectives


  The general statement of the problem or the major tasks of the researcher to discharge and should also be the basis of the enumerated statements of specific problems
• Overall Purpose


  The researcher must be totally aware of the purpose of the research problem
• Psychological setting


  • Mental and emotional characteristics of the participants of the study
• Basic Literature Foundation


  Different from the rrl, conceptual literature, and research literature, this part seeks to provide the researcher clarity on the terms or variables used in the study