9/2/2019

Conceptualization Phase
Formulating and Delimiting
the Research Problem
Prepared by: ND Re I September 2, 2019

Renalyn D. Malabanan, RN, MAN

ND Re I September 2, 2019

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Sources of Research Problem

Sources of Research Problem
• Social or political issues relevant to the health
• Experience and clinical fieldwork: Why are care community
things done this way? What caused this situation?
What would happen if…?
• Theory: tested through research for their
applicability to hospitals, clinics, and other nursing
• Literature: research journals for replication of environments
studies; non-research journals for clinical trends
and issues of importance in clinical settings
• Ideas from external sources

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Developing and refining research Variables

problems
1. Select a topic: interest, knowledge, feasibility
• Independent – presumed cause
2. Narrow the topic
• Dependent – presumed effect
3. Evaluate research problems
• Attribute – inherent characteristics of the
respondents (e.g. age)
❑ Significance: to patients, professionals, community, hospital
❑ Researchability: variables must be measurable • Active – made by the researcher (e.g. music
therapy)
❑ Feasibility: time & timing, participants, cooperation,
facilities & equipment, money, researcher’s experience, • Extraneous – not of interest but can influence
ethical consideration the result of the study
❑ Researcher’s interest

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Variables
Problem Statement

• Discrete – finite (e.g. number of students)

• Continuous – infinite (e.g. height) • Articulates the problem to be addressed and
indicates the need for a study through the
development of an argument
• Categorical – label (e.g. civil status)
• Dichotomous – categorical that is limited to two
options (e.g. sex)

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Problem Statement
Predictors of college-student food security and fruit
and vegetable intake differ by housing type
“The heightened prevalence of lower food security in
college students has academic and health
implications, for lower food security has been shown
to associate with academic hiatus, lower GPAs and
lower self-reported health status. Although literature
is replete with studies that assess the relationship
between food security and fruits and vegetables
intake in a variety of populations, only once has this
relationship been explored in college students.”
Mirabitur, et al. (2016)
Six Components of Problem Statements
▪ Problem identification: What is wrong with the
current situation?
▪ Background: What is the nature of the problem, the
context of the situation that readers need to
understand?
▪ Scope: How big a problem is it; how many people are
affected?

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Six Components of Problem Statements

Purpose statement
▪ Consequences: What is the cost of not fixing the
problem?
• Summary of the overall goal of a study
▪ Knowledge gaps: What information about the
problem is lacking?
e.g. “To determine predictors of food security and FV
▪ Proposed solution: What is the basis for believing intake in college students who live in housing with
that the proposed study would contribute to the and without food provision.”
solution of the problem?

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Objectives Research questions

• Specific
queries researchers want to answer in
• Specific accomplishments the researchers hope to addressing the research problem
achieve by conducting the study • Guides the type of data to be collected in a study

e.g. “To assess whether college student
characteristics associate with food security and FV
intake and whether these differ in students in housing
with and without food provision”
e.g. What is the profile of the respondents as to
gender, race, degree type, car access and housing
type?
What is the mean daily FV intake of the respondents?

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FRAMEWORK

• Theoretical framework – a study based on a theory

Defining the Theoretical • Conceptual framework – a study based on specified
Framework conceptual model
ND Re I September 4, 2019

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Theory
Conceptual Models/Frameworks
• An abstract generalization than offers a systematic
explanation about how phenomena are interrelated • Represent a less formal attempt at organizing
• Concepts: building blocks of theory phenomena than theories

• Propositions: indicate relationships among the • Provide perspective regarding interrelated

concepts phenomena
• Basis for hypothesis generation

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Purposes of Theories and Conceptual Personality Social Coping

factors support skills
Models
Health Outcomes:
• To make research findings meaningful and
generalizable Cancer • Health status
diagnosis and STRESS • Depression
• Linkage of findings into a coherent structure treatment Appraisal of • Eating/sleeping
• Understand not only the what but also the why situation disorders
• Treatment
• Basis for predicting the occurrence of phenomena decisions
• Mood
• To stimulate research and the extension of
Immunologic
and
knowledge by providing both direction and impetus neuroendocrine Polit & Beck (2008)
function
Figure 1. Conceptual model for stress and health outcomes in patients with cancer

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEORY,

Definition of Terms
RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

• Conceptual definition – found in a

dictionary or book

• Operational definition – based on how it

is used in the study

Moran & Burson (n.d.)

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Definition

Example: What is ‘love’?

“a feeling of strong or constant affection
Conceptually

for a person” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

“In this study, it refers to hugging

Operationally
Formulating Hypothesis
someone three times a day and giving them gifts
during special occasions”

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Hypothesis Characteristics of Workable Hypothesis

• State the relationship between two or more

• Predictionabout answers to research questions that variables
are tested empirically • Based on sound, justifiable rationales
• Consistent with an existing body of research
e.g. Predictors of food security and FV intake in findings
college students differ by housing type

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Types of Hypothesis
• Inductive: a generalization based on observed
relationships
• Deductive: based on general theoretical principles
Types of Hypothesis
• Directional: specifies the expected direction of
the relationship between variables
• Nondirectional: does not specify direction of
the relationship

• Simple: expresses an expected relationship between • Research or alternative: substantive,

one independent variable and one dependent declarative or scientific hypothesis; statements
variable of expected relationships between variables

• Complex/multivariate: prediction of a relationship • Statistical or null: state that there is no

between two (or more) independent variables and/or relationship between the independent and
two (or more) dependent variables dependent variables

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Criteria in Stating Hypothesis

• Worded in simple, clear and concise language

• Provides a definition of the variables in concrete,
operational terms Overview: Research
• Specific Proposal

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CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Background of the Study
Setting of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Scope and Limitation
Significance of the Study
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CHAPTER III
Methodology
Research Design
Participants of the Study
Sampling Method
Data Gathering Instrument
Data Collection Procedure
Statistical Treatment of Data
Ethical Considerations
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CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature and Studies
Conceptual Literature – local and foreign, within 10 yrs.
Research Literature - local and foreign, within 10 yrs.
Synthesis – discuss what is known & not known
Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Hypothesis
Definition of Terms
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References
Mirabitur, E., Peterson, KE., Rathz, C., Matlen, S. &
Kasper, N. Predictors of college-student food
security and fruit and vegetable intake differ by
housing type.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2016.1192543
Polgar, S. & Thomas, S.A. (2016). Introduction to
research in the health sciences, 6th edition.
Singapore: Elsevier Pte Ltd.
Polit D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2012). Nursing research:
Generating and assessing evidence for nursing
practice, 9th Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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