Research Problem

RESEARCH 8

Science, Technology, and Engineering Program

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?

A research problem is a question or situation that

needs investigation because there is a knowledge
gap or practical challenge.
It serves as the foundation of any scientific
project: your “why” behind doing the experiment.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?
A research problem is a clear, specific, and testable
question that you want to answer through scientific
investigation.
Definition:
A research problem is a statement about an area of
concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be
eliminated, or a question that exists in scholarly literature,
theory, or practice, and that points to the need for meaningful
understanding and investigation.
Characteristics of a Good
Research Problem
1. Clear and Well-Defined
• The research problem must be stated in simple,
specific, and understandable terms.
• It avoids vague words like “etc.” or “somehow.”
Example:
"Why is our school not doing well?" (Too vague)
"What are the factors affecting the low
performance of Grade 9 students in Math at San
Nicolas National High School during the 2024–
2025 school year?"
Isaac Newton’s Study of Gravity
Research Problem:
"What causes an apple to fall to the
ground?“
Why It’s Clear and Well-Defined:
• It asks a direct, understandable question
about a real-world observation.
• Newton didn’t try to explain all of motion
at once.
• He focused on a common event, falling
objects, and asked why it happens the way
it does.
Isaac Newton’s Study of Gravity
Result:
• Led to the Law of Universal Gravitation.
• Explained not just apples, but the motion
of planets and tides.

• A good research question is clear, like

Newton asking why apples fall. It's simple,
but led to big ideas like gravity and how
planets move!"
2. Researchable or Investigable
• The problem should be answerable through data
collection and scientific methods, not based on opinion
alone.
• It must be possible to gather evidence or observe
outcomes.
Example:
"Is life on other planets real?" (Interesting but not
researchable in school setting)

"What types of bacteria are present on the hands of students

before and after using alcohol-based hand sanitizer?"
3. Significant or Relevant
• The problem should have importance or impact to the community,
school, science, or the environment.
• It should aim to solve a real-life issue or fill a gap in knowledge.
Example:
"What is the favorite K-pop group of Grade 10 students?" (May not
be significant in academic or social terms)

"What is the effectiveness of calamansi and guava extract as a

natural disinfectant on school tables?" (Relevant in promoting
hygiene and local solutions)
 Alexander Fleming’s
Discovery of Penicillin (1928)
• The problem being addressed was the lack of
effective treatment for bacterial infections,
which caused countless deaths from common
injuries and diseases like pneumonia and strep
throat.

• In the early 20th century, antibiotics didn’t

exist. Even small infections could be fatal.
Fleming was researching ways to kill bacteria
when he noticed that mold (Penicillium
notatum) killed the surrounding bacteria on a
petri dish.
 Alexander Fleming’s
Discovery of Penicillin (1928)
Significance of the research:
• Led to the development of Penicillin, the
first true antibiotic.
• Revolutionized medicine — saved millions
of lives during World War II and beyond.
• Sparked the development of the entire
field of antibiotics, making it one of the
most important medical discoveries in
history.
4. Ethical
• The problem should not harm people, animals,
or the environment.
• It should respect privacy, consent, and welfare.
Example:
"How long can a person stay awake without
sleeping?" (Unethical for student participants)

"How does the amount of screen time affect the

sleeping patterns of Grade 8 students?" (Ethical,
with proper consent)
Unethical Scientific/Medical Study in History
Stanford Prison Experiment
• Conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971,
was a study designed to investigate the
psychological effects of perceived power
and situational roles.

• Twenty-four male college students were

randomly assigned roles as either
"guards" or "prisoners" in a simulated
prison environment within the Stanford
University psychology department
basement.
Unexpected Behavior:
• Both guards and prisoners quickly
adopted their roles, with guards
exhibiting authoritarian and abusive
behavior, while prisoners experienced
emotional breakdowns and
psychological distress.
Abrupt Termination:
• The experiment was halted early due
to the severity of the participants'
reactions and the potential for harm.
5. Feasible or Doable
• The problem should be achievable given the time,
budget, and resources of the researcher.
• Avoid overly complex or large-scale topics for student
level.
Example:
"What are the effects of pollution in all rivers in San
Nicolas?" (Too broad and costly)

"What types of plastic waste are commonly found in the

Ambayoan River over a 2-week collection period?"
Thomas Edison’s Research on
the Electric Light Bulb (1879)
• Edison's goal was to develop a safe, long-
lasting, and practical electric light to
replace gas lamps. He didn’t try to invent
something totally unknown — he built on
previous studies and experiments of
other inventors like Humphry Davy and
Joseph Swan.
Thomas Edison’s Research on
the Electric Light Bulb (1879)
Feasibility of the Research:
• Materials and tools (like filaments and
vacuum glass bulbs) were already
available. Edison and his team had access
to a laboratory where they could run
multiple experiments affordably.
• The goal was specific and testable: find a
filament material that could glow without
quickly burning out.
Thomas Edison’s Research on
the Electric Light Bulb (1879)
Outcome:
• After testing over 6,000 materials,
Edison found that a carbonized bamboo
filament could glow for over 1,200
hours.
• Led to the mass production of the first
commercially viable electric light bulb,
transforming society.
6. Original or Novel
• While the topic may not be 100% new, the problem should
offer a fresh perspective, local relevance, or
innovation.
• It should not simply copy existing studies.
Example:
"What is the effect of caffeine on students?" (Too common)

"What is the effect of drinking cacao tea on the focus level

of Grade 7 students during afternoon classes?" (More
original and context-specific)
Gregor Mendel’s Experiments on
Pea Plants (1856–1863)

• At the time, people didn’t understand how

traits were inherited. Many believed in
blending inheritance, the idea that
offspring were simply a mix of parental
traits.

• Mendel asked a completely new question:

"How are traits like flower color or seed
shape passed from one generation to the
next?"
Gregor Mendel’s Experiments on
Pea Plants (1856–1863)

Originality of the Research:

• No one before had quantitatively
studied heredity in this way.
• Mendel used a controlled and
mathematical approach, which was
unheard of at the time.
• He chose pea plants because they had
clear, visible traits and could be easily
crossbred.
Gregor Mendel’s Experiments on
Pea Plants (1856–1863)

Impact of the Novel Approach:

• Discovered the basic laws of heredity
(dominant and recessive traits).
• Introduced terms like genes, alleles, and
genotype later expanded by other
scientists.
• His research founded the entire field of
genetics.
7. Specific and Focused
• The research problem should focus on one main
issue and avoid being too broad.
• A specific problem leads to a clear research
objective.
Example:
"What affects students’ performance?" (Too general)

"How does the number of sleeping hours affect the

test performance in Science of Grade 8 students at
San Nicolas NHS?"
Louis Pasteur’s Experiment on
Spontaneous Generation (1861)

• At the time, many people believed in

spontaneous generation, that life (like
maggots or bacteria) could appear from
non-living matter.

• Pasteur asked a very specific question:

"Does microbial life appear on its own, or
does it come from other microbes in the
air?"
Louis Pasteur’s Experiment on
Spontaneous Generation (1861)

Significance of the Focused Problem:

• Disproved spontaneous generation for
microorganisms.
• Proved that microbes come from other
microbes, not magically from non-living
things.
• Led to the development of
pasteurization and germ theory of
disease, which revolutionized medicine.