Topic 2 • Employability of SHS Graduates

• Cultural Preservation Initiatives of LGU

Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the
Problem
Content Standards
The learner demonstrates understanding of:
1. the range of research topics in the area of inquiry;
2. the value of research in the area of interest; and
3. the specifity and feasibility of the problem posed.

Performance Standards
The learner is able to formulate clearly the statement of research problem.

Learning Competencies
The learner:
• design research useful in daily life (CS_RS12-Id-e-1).
• writes a research title (CS_RS12-Id-e-2).
• describes background of research (CS_RS12-Id-e-3). • Recommendations
Identified research gaps of authors, suggestion for parallel studies,
• states research questions (CS_RS12-Id-e-4).
inquiry from colleagues, experts opinion.
• indicates scope and delimitation of study (CS_RS12-Id-e-5).
• cites benefits and beneficiaries of study (CS_RS12-Id-e-6).
• presents written statement of the problem (CS_RS12-Id-e-7).

RESEARCH TOPIC
Sets the initial impression of the study and effectively communicates the
essence of your research. It serves as an important basis for formulating the
research questions, identifying literatures that should be reviewed, narrowing
down appropriate theories and frameworks, and planning data collection and
analysis.

Considerations in Selecting a Research Topic

✓ Time and duration for the conduct of the study • Review and Readings
✓ Money or financial requirement Analyze scholarly articles and look for gaps in their research, browse
✓ Expertise / capacity of the researcher for literatures that presents relationships between variables, read
✓ Audience / participants newspapers, and other articles.
✓ Availability of literatures
✓ Accessibility to materials

8Rs of Research Topic Sources

• Reflection
Reflection of social or contemporary issues, personal experiences,
expertise and capabilities as a researcher, existing problems or future
needs
Example:
• Waste Management Practices
• Reports and Data • Reduction of Variables
Government publications, institutional report and research data If you plan to replicate an existing study, you may create a research
focused on one or two variable/s, which will be then identified with
another set of sub-variables.

• Replication
• Studies which suggest for “a parallel or similar study to be conducted”,
• Relevant Theories and Models imply replicability of the present research. This can be done by
Refer to theories and models that are related to your research interest. choosing a larger sample, selection of different research site/locale or
repetition of a study conducted 10 years ago to validate its findings.

In choosing a topic consider the following questions…

• Research Agenda • Is the idea unique/new? Will it contribute to the body of knowledge?
Consult the research agenda of your school, department or institution. (novelty)
• Who will be my respondents? Are they accessible to me?
(participants/sample)
• Can I use both qualitative and quantitative methods in this study?
(applicability)
• Will it cost us a lot of resources? (cost-efficiency)
• Can I finish the tasks within the time allotment? (duration)
• Is there a solution that I can provide? (output)

GUIDELINES IN WRITING A RESEARCH TITLE

✓ Be simple, concise, brief and direct.
✓ Think of your title as a product brand. Should not be misleading,
informative, and memorable.
✓ Limit word count to 12 to 15 except for conjunctions, articles, linking
verbs, etc.
✓ Do not use negative or concluding words like effectiveness,
advantages, impacts, etc.
✓ Avoid use of abbreviations, initialism, and acronyms.
 ✓ Avoid use of highfalutin words, jargons, ambiguous, and technical
terms.

Formats

• One-part titles
• Based on main idea
Relationship of Caffeine Intake of SHS Students in their
Academic Performance

• Based on Intended Output and Methods Used

Development of an Intelligent Autonomous Coffee Maker
using Intelligent Control Methodologies

• Two-part titles
• Additional Context:
Lessons from Running a Coffee Farm Business: Factors
Influencing Coffee Farmers’ Decision to Engage in the
Coffee Industry

• Temporal scope of research:

A Comparison: Coffee Consumption of Gen Z and
Millennial Groups

• Main approach used:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Motivational Reasons
behind Consumer Choice in Branded Coffee Shops

• Methodology used:
• A Correlational Study: Performance of Coffee
Production Among Young and Seasoned Coffee
Farmers in Batangas Province
Reminders:
• Drafted titles for topic proposal are working titles.
• Consider the time allotment, financial capability, experiences and
capabilities of the researchers.
• Consider the methods, data analysis to be used.
• Consider the literatures to back up the findings.
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY UNESCO, etc), within continents (North America, Asia,
Africa), across continental regions (East Asia, South East
Providing a solid background sets the stage for your research by highlighting Asia), national (country-wide research), and local (study
it context and significance. conducted in your school, barangay, city)
• Clearly explain the historical, theoretical, or practical context of the • Do not copy everything. You may use multiple or cross-
research topic. citation in the discussion.
• Identify gaps or unresolved issues in the existing literature that your
study aims to address. • Example:
• Justify the importance of the study by demonstrating how it • Actually, UNESCO (2020) found evidence that online technologies
contributes to knowledge or addresses a relevant problem. negatively affect the schooling of the generation of students today. In
Tips in Introduction Writing Asia, Tsui and Chao (2021) noticed an increase in the screentime
• Narrow down big concepts into chunks of smaller ideas. exposure of students which reduces their reviewing and reading
• Observe coherence and logical presentation of ideas. time.
• Use templates in organizing the introduction. • In fact, in Netherlands, Brown (2019) found a link between student’s
• List down questions to facilitate ease in writing. addiction to technology and their attitude in learning. Meanwhile,
• Create an outline that will serve as basis for writing. among the problems observed by authors in the Philippines include
poor implementation of tech-use policies and rules at home (Adajar
Introduction Structure et al 2017), ease-of-access to mobile devices (Castillo and Mariano,
• Hook 2019), toleration of teachers (Mendoza, 2020).
• A catchy phrase or statement that will get the audience • However, a study done in Bauan Technical High School by Agena et
attention. It could be a research data, news report, remarks al (2020) indicated that students are able to focus in their academic
from known personalities or experts, and quotation. engagement given that no cellphone policies are being enforced in
the institution.
Example:
Filipino students ranked low in PISA for mathematics and science, • Research Gap
with 353 points and 357 points, respectively, against the 489 • It indicates area of research that are intended for exploration
OECD…. or improvement. This could be the identified limitations by
the authors, given the complexity of their research. Some
• Identified Problem/Need had it presented as part of their recommendations.
• Relate the opening statement to the identified problem or • Also, it may involve underexplored areas that have scope for
need in your study. further research.
• Show connection by citing your personal experience or own Example:
observation. Even if numerous studies have been conducted showing the
• Take note: Opinionated statements should be avoided. relevance of their topics to the present research, none of the authors
• Example: have identified the root cause that lead to the persistence of this
• Despite the efforts of the teachers and schools to improve problem. It could be that…
mathematics and science instruction, students were observed to be
heavily influenced by… • Rationale
• Present the intention of the researcher.
• Data / Supporting Literatures • Highlight how this study will help you in your future career or
• Show salient findings from other authors concerning the present specialization in school.
problems that they have identified in their study. • Explain the underlying reasons that prompted you to conduct
• Must present this part using CONTINENTAL APPROACH, to the study.
show that the problem is not just locally experienced. • Summarize the presentation of the necessity (why is the
• In using this approach, literatures are organized based on study needed), novelty (how or in what way is this one
the original of the study (Research conducted globally (UN, unique), practicality (is the study practical to do in this time?,
 beneficiality (who will benefit in this study?), usability (after GUIDELINES IN DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTIONS
this, what will be the direction of your research? do you
simply plan to stack your manuscripts on the shelves?). • Note that a quantitative research questions revolve on the aspects that
• Use the following prompts in writing the rationale: can be measured and are requiring the use of statistical tools, usually
• The researchers, as would-be teachers, were triggered by prompted by “To what extent…”, “What is…”, “How do the respondents
the fact that… assess…”
• The proponents were prompted to conduct this study to… • It requires large population represented by a sample respondents.
• The researchers believe… • A hypothetical question written in its null form is usually written, following
• The study intends to… The intention of the study the two set of questions containing the dependent and independent
• The present research aims to… variables.
• This study explores (you may use explain, describe,
investigate, delve into) Key Considerations
• The researchers attempt to… • Start with focus question words – “To what extent, How may, What is”.
• Keep the research focused on a single concept or phenomena.
Reminders • Avoid using the words such as “impact” or “effect” and directional
• Use third person pronouns (the researchers, proponents, authors) phrases.
• Observe recency of the dates of the literatures to be included (past • Avoid conclusive words like “effectiveness”, “advantages”, “benefits”, as
10 years publication) these already suggest a result even if the study is yet to be conducted.
• Avoid opinionated statements.
• Use proper in-text citations (although this topic is to be discussed on Research Question Prompts
the fifth week)
Descriptive research questions
• How do the respondents describe…
• To what extent do the respondents…
• As assessed by the respondents, what are…
• What is the extent of manifestation of…
• What is the…
• How may the profile of the respondents be describe relative to (with
respect to, as to, in terms of):

Hypothetical research questions

• Is there a relationship between the X and Y?
• Is there a difference between the X and Y?
• How may the assessment of the respondents on …. be compared?
• Does the assessment of the respondents on … vary?

NOTE: (Do not include the term “significant” as we are yet to know from
the result of the statistical comparison or correlation if the relationship
or difference is significant)

Descriptive
Question What are the factors that influence Filipino college students to
strive for academic honors?
Variable Academic efforts
Group A sample group of 100 students from the Top 5 Philippine
Universities
 WRITING THE SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
Question How do youth members assess the programs and activities
implemented by Sangguniang Kabataan? Guidelines in Writing the Scope and Limitations
Variable Assessment of SK programs and activities
Group Sample group composed of registered youth voters aged 15 to Scope
30 • Recall your research question and problem statement. These aspects
set the direction for your study.
Correlational • This part states the general aim, defines where and when the study was
Question Is there a relationship between the parenting styles and conducted and who the subjects where, the time period, research site,
socialization skills of the school-aged students? subjects/participants, context, and variables included in the study. It
Variable Parenting styles (IV); Socialization Skills (DV) therefore presents the coverage of the study.
Group Sample group of respondents aged 6 to 12 years old
Limitations
Question Is there a relationship between the behavioral intentions and • Also known as the bounds, are influences that the researcher cannot
acceptance level among Junior High School teachers using the control.
UTAUT Model. • They are the shortcomings, conditions, or influences that cannot be
controlled by the researcher that place restrictions on your methodology
Variable Behavioral intentions through UTAUT Model (IV); Technology
and conclusions.
Acceptance (DV)
• Characteristics of design or methodology that influenced the
Group Sample group of teachers from Bauan West District
interpretation of the findings from your research
• This may include constraints on generalizability, applications to practice,
Comparison
and utility of findings.
Question Is there a difference between the assessment of Poblacion 1, • It points out strengths and weaknesses of the research.
2, and 3 in the implementation of the Waste Management • It may include the following methodological limitations like research
Program design, sample size, lack of available data, instrument, time constraints,
Variable Implementation of Waste Management Program limited literatures, access, duration, cultural and other type of bias,
Group Sample group of household from Poblacion 1, 2, and 3 variables, and fluency in language.

Question Does the satisfaction level of patients in public and private Delimitations
hospital on the medical services vary? • This section allows the researchers explain why certain aspects of a
Variable Medical Services subject were chosen and why others were purposely excluded.
Group Sample group of respondents from public and private hospitals • These are definitions you set as the boundaries of your own, so
delimitations are in your control.
• These are set so that your goals do not become impossibly large to
complete.
• Examples of delimitations include research questions, variables,
theoretical objectives that you have adopted, research instruments, and
population chosen as targets to study.

Example:

This correlational research attempts to describe the relationship between the

attitude of the students and the implementation of modular distance learning
among Senior High School students of Bauan Technical Integrated High
School for the school year 2022 - 2023. This will also looked into the
challenges, issues, and coping strategies of the students in MDL.
 STATING THE BENEFITS AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE STUDY
Given the quantitative nature of this research, the use of survey questionnaire
is one of its limitations. It will be participated by 255 students enrolled for the Guidelines in Writing the Significance of the Study
said school year. It is therefore delimited to use of interview and observation.
Students from other track and strand will not be included in this study. This section usually requires the researcher to describe the implication of his
or her research to several audiences to assert its importance and potential
You may use the following key phrases in writing this section such as: benefits to be gained from reading and using the study (Creswell, 2014, 119).
• “The coverage of this study …”
• “The researcher limited this research to …” There are several question that you may reflect on when writings this
• “The study covers the …” portion. These include the following.
• “The study does not cover the …” • Who may possibly benefit from your research?
• “This study is focused on …” • What crucial information can you bring?
• “This study is limited to …” • What knowledge might they be interested in that they could get from
your research?
• What possible impact can your research have on the existing body of
knowledge about the topic?
• What practical implications does your research have?
• Will your research bring forth recommendations to policy and decision-
making?
• Will your research have impact on practice?

Useful Prompts
• Researchers may find the findings useful as…
• This study will encourage them to…
• It will also serve as basis in the study of…
• This study will contribute to…
• The study will provide…
• This study can help boost the…
• Through this study, students will become aware of…
• The results of this study will provide some insights and information on
how they…

References:
Amorado, R.V., and Talili, I.N. (2017). Qualitative research a practical
approach. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House.

Henson, R.M., and Soriano, R.F. (2016). Practical research 1 qualitative

research world of reality dissections. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing
House.

Clemente, R.F., Julaton, AB. E., Orleans, A.V. (2016). Science in today’s
world for senior high school research in daily life 1. Quezon City: Sibs
Publishing House, Inc.

Torneo, A.R & Clamor-Torner, H.S. (2017). Practical Research 2: An Introduction

to Quantitative Research. Sibs Publishing House, Inc.: Quezon City