RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND

WHAT IS RATIONALE? THE TITLE
 ACCORDING TO MERRIAM-WEBSTER, A
RATIONALE IS: AN EXPLANATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
CONTROLLING PRINCIPLES OF OPINION,  refers to a statement that promptly suggests for
BELIEF, PRACTICE, OR PHENOMENA conducting an investigation.
 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY: RESEARCH  Moreover, a research problem to be designed
JUSTIFICATION IS CONSIDERED AS THE must deal with some concerns in a particular
INITIAL STEP IN WRITING A RESEARCH field that may need an improvement or a
PAPER. THIS STEP INVOLVES THE SKILL solution.
ON HOW THE RESEARCHER WILL  The researcher must also observe gaps in
PROVIDE THE READERS WITH existing scholarly literature, theories, and
CRITICAL BACKGROUND OR practices in order to come up with a good and
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION THAT relevant research problem.
INTRODUCES THE RESEARCH TOPIC.  This designed problem then will serve as a
guide to know what kind of research study will
be most suitable to address the perceived
HOW TO WRITE THE RATIONALE concern.
OF THE STUDY?
THE RATIONALE OF THE STUDY MUST
CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: SOURCE OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
 As cited from Sacred Heart University Library
 EXISTING LITERATURE (2020), four (4) varied sources can be
 RELEVANCE TO LOCAL/GLOBAL considered. These are as follows:
CONTEXT CRITICAL  Theory
 BACKGROUND/CONTEXTUAL  Practitioners
INFORMATION  Personal Experience
 RESEARCH GAP  Relevant Literature
 PROOF OF URGENCY
 RESEARCH GOAL/OBJECTIVE THEORY
 Existing social philosophies and generalizations
which the researcher is familiar with may be of a
EXISTING LITERATURE great help to design a research problem
 A BACKGROUND ON WHAT  The researcher may observe if there is a gap
RESEARCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN between theory and practice.
DONE ABOUT THE GIVEN SUBJECT.  Difference between what is said by the elders
and what the youngsters see and observe may
RELEVANCE TO LOCAL/GLOBAL CONTEXT be a potential source of a problem.
 SITUATIONAL INTERCONNECTEDNESS
OF INDIVIDUALS OR THINGS IN PRACTITIONERS
VARYING PERSPECTIVES.  Consultation with the people who have direct
experiences in a field of interest may provide
CRITICAL BACKGROUND/CONTEXTUAL the researcher an idea of what relevant problem
INFORMATION he/she may investigate.
 CIRCUMSTANCES FORMING A  Practitioners such as teachers, social workers,
BACKGROUND OF AN EVENT, IDEA OR health care providers, etc. are considered to be
SUBJECT, THAT ENABLES THE READERS a good source of problem since they are directly
TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE experiencing difficulties and challenges which
PROBLEM. are needed to be addressed.

RESEARCH GAP PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

 PROBLEMS, ISSUES OR QUESTIONS  Daily experiences can provide the researcher
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED OR an idea of what problem that needs a solution.
ARE YET TO BE UNDERSTOOD.  Observation on what is happening in the
community may allow him/her to see the
PROOF OF URGENCY common concerns of people or institutions
 AN URGENT NEED TO SOLVE THE which may be subjected for investigation.
EXISTING PROBLEM

RESEARCH GOAL/OBJECTIVE
 THE PURPOSE WHY THERE IS A NEED
FOR THE PROPOSED STUDY TO BE
CONDUCTED
 RELEVANT LITERATURE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
 An extensive and thorough review of literature  A research problem, when is subjected to a
and studies relevant to the problem interest of study, must not pose any unethical demands
the researcher may enable him/her to come up most especially on the part of the research
with a potential study. participants.
 Through reviewing other available researches,
the researcher may be able to determine gaps in 2. Internal Criteria
knowledge and to subject them for replication.  Qualifications of the researcher.
Thus, a good research problem will be ensured.  Motivation and interest of the researcher.
 Time factor.
CONSIDERATIONS IN FORMULATING THE  Costs and returns.
RESEARCH PROBLEM  Hazards and handicaps.
 As cited from the book of Cristobal and Cristobal
(2017), there are criteria which should be QUALIFICATIONS OF THE RESEARCHER
considered by the researcher in order to arrive  These pertain to the expertise of the researcher
with a good research problem to the problem.

THESE ARE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO MOTIVATION AND INTEREST OF THE

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CRITERIA RESEARCHER
 The research problem which is in the interest of
1. External Criteria the researcher may give him/her satisfaction
a. Novelty and enjoyment.
b. Availability of subjects
c. Support of the academic community TIME FACTOR
d. Availability and adequacy of facilities and  A research problem, when is subjected to a
equipment. study, should suggest to be time-efficient.
e. Ethical considerations
COSTS AND RETURNS
NOVELTY  It is also important that the researcher should
 The research problem must carry “newness.” consider a research problem which suggests to
With this, its practical value would be easily be cost-efficient.
perceived.
HAZARDS AND HANDICAPS
AVAILABILITY OF SUBJECTS  This means that a research problem should not
 A research problem, when is subjected to a put the researcher in danger.
further investigation, requires data from the
target subjects. Guidelines on formulating titles of research
 Hence, the researcher must ensure that there papers in the academe (American Psychological
will be available participants who are capable Association, 2001):
of providing data needed for the study
1. The title should encapsulate the main idea of the
AVAILABILITY AND ADEQUACY OF research.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENTS 2. Title should be self-explanatory.
 Necessary common devices such as computers 3. Identify theme, subtheme and categories.
and telephones which will be used in 4. Avoid using abbreviations
undertaking a study should be considered. 5. Use words that create a positive impression and
 Each member plays a vital role in the conduct of stimulate reader’s interest.
the study. Hence, the research problem should be 6. May reveal how the paper will be organized.
clearly perceived as beneficial once it is 7. Do not include “study of," “analysis of” or
subjected for investigation. similar constructions
 In addition, securing permission among the said 8. Use current nomenclature from the field of study
members must be done before conducting the 9. Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the
actual data collection procedure. students
10. The recommended length of a research title is
SUPPORT OF THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY 10 to 12 substantive words not including articles.
 The academic community, which consists of 11. Titles are basically in the form of a phrase, but
administrators, teachers, staff, students, and can also in the form of a question.
parents, should be considered by the researcher 12. Title should identify the actual variables or
in what particular problem will be investigated. theoretical issues being studied in the research.
13. The author can play with his/her title (e.g. Fuel of
Millennial Abodes) only for qualitative research
 RESEARCH TITLE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR FORMULATING
 As cited from Sacred Heart University Library RESEARCH QUESTIONS
(2020), a research title should help the readers 1. Be guided with the acronym “SMART” (Specific,
to see the main idea as well as the summary of Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound)
the whole study. 2. Base your research questions in your RRLs.
3. State your research questions in such a way that
CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH TITLE they include all dependent and independent
variables referred to by the theories, principles, or
1. It should be limited only to substantive words concepts underlying your research work.
with high consideration to the key variables such 4. Establish a specific connection between the
as the phenomenon under investigation, the research questions and the problem or topic.
participants, and the setting of the study. 5. Avoid asking the research questions that are
2. It should use words that can create a positive answerable by yes or no.
impression among the readers. Avoid using 6. Develop research questions in such a way that can
abbreviations as well as some word constructions arouse your curiosity and surprise you with your
such as: “method,” “result,” and “investigation.” discoveries or findings
3. It should be in the form of a phrase with correct 7. Research questions should be preceded by one
use of capitalization, that is, the first letter question expressing the main problem of the
appeared in the title as well as the first letter of research.
each noun word should be capitalized.
4. It should be concise by adequately implying the
participants and the coverage of the study. SCOPE, DELIMITATION AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
STATING RESEARCH QUESTIONS SCOPE
RESEARCH PROBLEM vs. RESEARCH  the extent of the area or subject matter that
QUESTIONS something deals with or to which it is relevant.
 Research problems enables you to generate a  The scope of the study refers to the parameters
set of research questions which serves as under which the study will be operating. The
guideposts of your study and specifically and problem you seek to resolve will fit within
scientifically narrows your study certain parameters.
 As a starting student-researcher, you must
recognize that one of the keys to a successful LIMITATION
research study is by concretizing the problem  limitations are matters and occurrences that
through carefully crafting its research questions. emerge in a research study which are out of
Hence, your understanding towards the do’s and researcher’s control.
don’ts in writing a research problem and its  They limit the extensity to which a study can
corresponding questions should be considered. go, and sometimes influence the result and
conclusions that can be get. Your study might
GENERAL PROBLEM have access to only certain people in an
 It pertains to the opening paragraph that gives organization certain documents, and certain data
specific details on other essential elements
which are the purpose, major variables, DELIMITATION
participants, setting, and time coverage of the  Delimitation refers to boundaries of the
study. research study, arising from the researcher’s
decisions of what to exclude.
GUIDELINES IN THE WRITING OF THE  The delimitations of the study are those
GENERAL PROBLEM characteristics that emerge from limitations in
1. The general problem should clearly state the the scope of the paper (boundaries) and by
main task/s of the researcher. conscious exclusionary and inclusionary
2. The general problem should present the major decisions made during the development of the
variable/s related to the phenomenon to be study.
investigated.
3. The general problem should identify the POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS MAY ARISE FROM
participants of the study. THE RESEARCH DESIGN AND
4. The general problem should state the research METHODOLOGY
setting as well as the time period of the study.  Sample Size
5. The general problem may indicate the intended  Lack of Prior Studies
output of the study such as an intervention  Access
program, module, policies, etc.  Time Period
 Bias
 Language
BENEFITS/ SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
 CLEARLY DISCUSS THE PURPOSE THAT
THE RESEARCH WILL SERVE TO
SOCIETY, COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT ,
INSTITUTION, AND OTHER IMPORTANT
PEOPLE CONCERNED
 Cristobal and Cristobal (2017) states that
research is a very noble undertaking if it makes
significant contributions to the community and to
the academic field or discipline where the
researcher is affiliated with.
 his is basically the reason why the researcher
needs to determine the relevance of their study. It
should apparently identify the purpose that the
research will serve and how it will contribute to
the society, the country, the government, the
institution or agency concerned, and the research
community

TYPES OF BENEFICIARIES
1. Academic Beneficiaries
 may include educational staff, teachers, students
and researchers.
2. Non-Academic Beneficiaries
 may include stakeholders, policymakers,
agencies and organizations.

BENEFITS ON EDUCATIONAL
 Learning about issues and methods in the chosen
field.
 Furthering creative and scholastic achievement.
 Applying concepts from courses to real-life
situations.
 Sharpening problem-solving skills.

BENEFITS ON PROFESSIONAL
 Exploring potential careers
 Learning new specialized techniques and skills.
 Enhancing professional communication skills.
 Networking same interests with others.

BENEFITS ON PERSONAL
 Building confidence and independence.
 Promoting critical and thinking.
 Enhancing awareness.