Chapter 1 – The Problem and Its Setting

Background of the Study

- Includes the setting of the identified problem
- Should be directed into what the problem is investigating
- Can include studies and literature which can strengthen the reason for the investigation
- The flow of discussion should naturally lead to the presentation of the problem
- Briefly expressed the need to undertake the study about the said problem

Statement of the Problem

- Includes the objectives of the study
- The problem should be stated both in general terms and in specific terms
- The general statement of the problem is usually a reiteration of the title of the study

Example:
In the study entitled:
“Purchasing Accounting and Auditing Software for Accountancy and Allied Programs: A
Proposal”

The general statement is as follows:

This study aims to seek the feasibility of purchasing accounting and auditing software for
Accountancy and Allied Programs.

- The specific problems should be quantifiable and measurable. They should be specifically stated.
- The specific questions should be stated using the following guide questions words: “Who”, “How”,
“Will”, “Is there” …, etc.
- Specific questions should NOT be monotonously presented using a single expression of the
questions like the following:
1. What is the objective of purchasing accounting and auditing software?
2. What criteria should be considered for the purchase of accounting and auditing
software?
3. What possible subjects could be taught using the accounting and auditing software?

These series of similar questions should include questions like:

• How did the purchase of accounting and auditing software affect the performance of Accountancy
and Allied Programs?

The inclusion of this kind of question could break the monotony of use of “What”.
Examples:
Title:
Determinants of Student's Choice of College Degree

Statement of the Problem

This study determined the factors related to the college degree taken by first year students of
College of Business and Accountancy.
Specifically, it answered the following questions:
1. What is the profile of first year College of Business and Accountancy students in terms of:
a. Age
b. Gender
c. Course
d. Senior High Academic Track
e. School Graduated
2. What are the determinants in the choice of college degree by the first year College of Business and
Accountancy students along with:
a. Student-related factors
b. School-related factors
c. What is the level of influence in the choice of college degree by the first year College of
Business and Accountancy students along with:
d. Student-related factors
e. School-related factors

Title:
ASSESSING THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
OF WORKING YOUNG ADULTS: INPUTS TO
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Statement of the Problem

The study will be conducted to assess the financial management practices of employees in terms
of consumption, cash flow, credit, savings and investment, and insurance which at the end will serve as
inputs for improved financial behavior.
 Specifically, this study will seek answers to the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:
1.1 Age;
1.2 Gender;
1.3 Educational attainment;
1.4 Civil Status;
1.5 Family Status;
1.6 Monthly Income;
1.7 Nature of Employment;
1.8 Employee Rank; and
1.9 Number of years employed?
2. What is the assessment of the respondents on their financial management practices in terms of:
2.1 Consumption;
2.2 Cash Flow;
2.3 Credit;
2.4 Savings and Investment; and
2.5 Insurance?
3. Is there a significant difference in the assessment of the respondents on their financial management
practices when their profile is taken as test factor?
4. Based on the results of the study, what inputs to improved financial behavior can be proposed?

Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis – an intelligent statement or prediction expressed in a form of declarative sentence, presented
and analyzed using statistical tools in order to accept or reject the findings of the study.
- It is a tentative formulation or explanation about the expected outcome of the study presented in
the null form.
- It predicts what the data will show and will give an acceptable reason for the performance.
- It may be expressed in two ways namely:

1. The Null Hypothesis – a denial of an attribute, an existence, a difference or an

effect of relationship expressed in a negative statement.
Example:
“There is no significant difference in the perception of the different respondent
groups on the effectiveness of the program in terms of its vision.”
 2. The Alternative or Operational Form – affirms the existence of a phenomenon,
acceptance of the attribute of relationship, effects and differences. Hence, a
relationship exists among the variables.
Example:
“There is a significant difference in the perception of the different respondent
groups on the effectiveness of the program in terms of its vision.”

Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis:

1. It should be expressed in comparative relationship between and among the variables with valid
basis and justifiable explanation of a phenomenon; it may be expressed in terms of cause and
effect.
2. There must be a valid and acceptable conclusion that could be drawn after using the appropriate
statistical tools.
3. It must be formulated based on the specific questions raised in the study.
4. It should be testable to prove the relationship of the variables using statistical tools.
Example:
Specific Question:
Is there a significant difference in the perception of respondent groups about the effectiveness of
CatSu in terms of its vision?
• Two hypotheses could be stated out of this specific question:
Null Hypothesis: “There is no significant difference in the perception of respondent groups about the
effectiveness of CatSu in terms of its vision.”
Alternative Form: “There is a significant difference in the perception of respondent groups about the
effectiveness of CatSu in terms of its vision.”

Which Problem/s Should be Hypothesized?

• Not all problems need hypothesis testing.
• If the problem is going to be addressed descriptively, then it is hypothesis free.
• For problems that would require significance testing or statistical measurement, then there is a
need for a hypothesis testing.
Examples:
Title:
Determinants of Student's Choice of College Degree
Research Hypothesis

The following hypotheses were tested in this study:

1. There is no significant relationship between college degree taken and student-related factors by
the first-year students of the College of Business and Accountancy.
2. There is no significant relationship between college degree taken and school-related factors by the
first-year students of the College of Business and Accountancy.

Title:
ASSESSING THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
OF WORKING YOUNG ADULTS: INPUTS TO
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Research Hypothesis

There is no significant difference in the assessment of the respondents on their financial

management practices when their profile is taken as test factor.
Scope and Delimitation
- Identifies the boundaries or coverage of the study in terms of subjects, facilities, objectives, area,
time, duration, and the issues to which the research is focused.
- The limitation of the study defines the constraints or weaknesses which are not within the control
of the writer, therefore they are not expected to be covered by the study.

- The use of the following phrases could help express the scope of this portion of the chapter:
o “This study will focus on…” o “It includes…”
o “The coverage of this study…” o “It concerns itself to…”
o “The study covers the…” o “It also involves the…”
o “The study focuses on…” o “The study consists of…’

- The limitations could be expressed using the following:

o “This study is limited to…”
o ‘The study does not cover the…”
o “The researcher limited this research on…”
o “It does not seek to include…”
Importance of the Study
- the researcher expresses the value or importance of the research study.
- It is where the significant contributions of the results of the study are enumerated.
 - It should be arranged either from general (macro – institutions, groups, or associations) to specific
(micro – individuals from various fields) significance or from specific to general significance.
- Such contributions may be viewed from the point of the target beneficiaries like:
o The researcher/s, o Practice of a profession,
o Service providers, o School administrators,
o Client, o Community,
o Society, o Educational institution, and
o Science, o Others
The use of the following phrases could help express the significance of the study:
• “The results of this study could help them realize…”
• “The useful and relevant information acquired from the study will encourage them to compute…”
• “This study will encourage them to…”
• “This study will enhance involvement in the…”
• “Results could help benefit…”
• “It will also serve as basis in the study of …”
• “This study will also afford the management to know…”
• “Similar organizations will benefit from the study in…”
• “Researchers may find the findings useful as…”
• “This study can help boost the…”
• “The findings may also serve as a guide to…”
• “The results are hopefully be of value to…”
• “Through this study, students will become aware that …”
• “This could motivate and challenge the…”
• “The results of this study will provide some insights and information on how they…”
• “The study will provide…”
• “It will likewise serve…”
• “Hopefully, this study will also serve…”
• “Finally, this study will eventually help…”
• “This study will make them aware of …”
• “This study will contribute to…”
• “It will motivate the…”
Definition of Terms
- includes the conceptual and operational definition of terms used extensively in the study.
Conceptual Definition – intended to clarify the meaning of a particular term and to guide
the reader on how it is intended to be used in the study.
Operational Definition – is about how a term is technically used in the study and how such
term is applied to the variable/s in the study.
- must be arranged alphabetically