Lesson 1: Designing Research ,(3) define the problem,

Topic (4) refine the question. Guided with these

steps, a student researcher can certainly
The first and foremost step in the
jumpstart a quantitative research project.
research is selecting and property defining
a research problem. Before starting a
laborious journey of finding the unknown,
you need to know first what it is that you Despite the advancement in knowledge
want to find out, where and how you are and technology, there is still a lot to
going to find the answers to your discover in this world. There is still an
questions, and what specific qualities are ocean of things that we are yet to explore.
you looking for. For instance. you want to It can be a difficult situation that we want
find a specific kind of fish in the ocean; to improve or eliminate, a better
however, the ocean is so vast that it is understanding of the unfamiliar,
almost impossible for you to achieve that information gaps we wish to fill, or
goal of finding the fish without equipping theories that we want to validate. What
yourself with the rnight tools and limits our choice of topic are our capacity,
information about it. You may need to understanding, resources, and skill.
know first its behavior and living
conditions before you can precisely
pinpoint the perfect spot to find the fish. Most researchers will agree that choosing
Thus, baseline information its needed for a good topic is a challenging and tedious
a successful quest. task. Because a re

Research topic serves as the groundwork

for any succeeding actions, a must be
Theat fish analogy can be applied to defined appropnately at the beginning of
finding a research topic. A well-defined the research work. Otherwise, it may
research topic is essential for a successful result in unanticipated complexities to the
research. When the topic is not well- researcher.
defined, it becomes unmanageable and
may result in some drawbacks during data
collection and analysis that could
compromise the strength of your study. Developing a research problem can
be done in four (4) steps:

Hence, choosing a topic must undergo

proper and thorough planning and 1. Choose a broad topic
designing. The four basic steps in
designing a research topic are the
following: 2. Do a preliminary research
(1) choose a broad topic, 3. Define the problem
(2) do preliminary research
 household, neighborhood, school, group
of friends, or local community for a
4. Refine the question common Problem or difficulty.

cC. Choose a topic relevant to your field- .

One of the goals of this course is for you
As a student researcher, let us go to be able to produce a quantitative
through these steps to guide us in research study that is aligned to your
choosing a quantitative research chosen track. A SHS student under ABM
topic related to our chosen field. must choose a topic related to business
and management while students taking
HUMSS may consider choosing a topic
1. Choose a broad topic-. The first step is about politics, culture. and arts. Choosing
quite simple. As a Senior High School a topic that you can relate will certainly
student, these t ps will surely guide you in make your research project less
selecting a broad topic for quantitative challenging. In the event that the three
research: tips above do not shed some light on your
minds, do not despair; o
aA. Choose an interesting topic,
Other sources of ideas takeke
Research is a very challenging task that the ones below may be available
demands your time and persistenc- e. for you.
Your motivation to find the answer to the
problem should keep you going. thus i. Resources- , Department of Science and
building a momentum along the way. Technology (DOST) harmonized National R
Therefore, your research topic must be & D Agenda for 2017-2022. Early in 2017,
somethi ng that you are passionate about. DOST. together with researchers from the
Review your answers in Activity 1, and it health, agriculture, industry. and
might lead you to the right path. After all, academe. released research pnorties for
nothing iIs more satisfying than 2017 to 2022 that are relevant for the
accomplishing something that matters to economic growth of the country. Visit this
you. link Ditps-//bit Jy/3nHTi2y for a list of
suggested studies.

bB. Select a significant topic-

A topic that its worth researching must be

ii. Review of Literature- .
able to answer or solve problems in the
community. No one will take an interest Some researchers reveal that read ng
in your topic if it is obsolete and does not previous studies fueled their minds with
address any real problem. To be proactive tons of research topics. Reviewing the
and to take part in solving problems with literature lets them know what has been
socio-economic relevance gives a sense of studied, what is not yet done. and what
accomplishment. You do not even have to other researchers suggest working on.
look far just take a look at your
Journals, periodicals, and peer-reviewed list some questions or problems that you
articiles es are a good read. want to research. At this stage,. you
iii. Fileld experts- should be able to narrow down broad
topic into feasible and manageable
Gather up some guts to approach anyone research questions. A broad topic can be
you know that are experts on the field of narrowed down by limiting the
your choice because they may give population, place, period, or a certain
valuable inputs or may currently be characteristic. However, be very mindful
working on a study where you can that your problem may not be too narrow
collaborate. Your teacher may also give that it becomes very simple and does not
you some advice, especially on the need to collect unique data or does not
possible obstacles, resource limitations, generate new information. A very narrow
and expanse of the study. research question can be developed by
iv. Brainstorming- . Do not underestimate doing a comparative study or expanding
the ideas from classmates, friends, and the scope of the study.
family members. You may be
overwhelmed at first by the outpouring of
ideas. Just build a list. then cross off any
topic unrelated to your field or not so 4. Refine the question- . This step lets you
interesting to you. Of course, you must evaluate the questions formulated. What
take precautionary measures in doing thts specific questions should you ask? How
by observing physical distancing. pYou can should you gather your data sufficient to
use any social media platform to do this. answer the questions? Are the questions
too narrow, or does it need to be trimmed
down? While evaluating the research
question, consider the requirements of
2. Do a preliminary research- . The the course. How much time are you given
second step is much more time- to finish the research? What resources do
consuming. Once you have chosen a you need and are they available?
broad topic, . you need to have a better
understanding of it by reading some more Lesson 2: Research Title
articles, journals, and related research
studies. Find out how other researchers At this point, you may already
gathered their data, . what research
have an interesting and relevant
instruments were used,. how the data
were analyzed, and what important quantitative research topic that
findings they snared. Take note of every is related to your chosen track.
relevant research study for future The next step is for you to have
reference. If you started the topic search
a suitable and Captivating titlie
(first step) by doing a literature review,
the second step is just a continuation of for the research study in mind.
what you started. How is it done? Is writing a
3. Define the problem-. After getting
research title similar to writing a
enough information, you may be able to title for movies, songs, or
poems, or is there a guideline 4. Include the main dependent and
independent variables.
for it. Read through this lesson,
and you will know how to make 5. Be mindful of the proper use of
a good title for your grammar and punctuation.
quantitative research study.
6. Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs,
adjectives, adverbs as well as the first
letter of the first and last words.
Basic Guidelines in Making a
Research Title
7. State in a declarative form, although
you may also see titles in question form
from time to time.
A research study title is the very first thing
a reader comes across when searching for
scientific literature. It is a concise 8. The year the study has been conducted
description of the content of the research should not be indicated unless it is a
study containing the fewest possible histoncal study.
words, yet adequate to describe the
contents of the paper for a simple reason
that we do not want to misliead the 9. Use current terminology.
readers. After conceptualizing a most
probable research topic, drafting the title
10. Depending on the institutional
earlty in the research process heiplpss in
requrements, 5 to15 words are sufficient
keeping your focus on the subject.
to describe the research study.
The following are thBe basic guidelines
in making a research study title: 11. Use the common name instead of
chemical formula (e.g., Ammonium
instead of NH 4)
1. Use an accurate description of the
subject and scope of the study instead of
using general terms. 12., Write and italicize full scientific
names.

2. Do not use abbreviations except for 13., Make sure to reflect the tone of the
commonly known ones Ike DNA and ICT. paper. An academic research paper has
title which is not casual, or informal, or
3. Do not include words Iike “The study does not contain humor.
of,” “Analysis of,” “An investigation of or
similar construction as these would only
lengthen the title.
SThe following steps can guide you in
writing your research title:
 details of the study. Hence the
1. Determine what it is that you wish to reader opts to read on for better
accomplish or know from your study. understanding.
Write one to two sentences to state the
main objectives of your research project.

When introducing your study to

2. Include important keywords and
the readers, you must bridge
variables. Revise the sentences into one
complete sentence that includes the gap from what Is Known to
important keywords and variables of the what is unknown. Establishing
study.
the Importance of finding the
answer to the question makes
3. Shorten the title by eliminating the reader feel the need to
unnecessary words. You may also shrink a
answer such question. Thus, it
phrase into a simpler phrase or a single
word. In doing this, make sure that the makes the research project
main thought of the research study is more meaningful and valuable.
retained.

4. Correct grammar and punctuation Choosing a sound research topic

errors if there Iis s any.
entails a considerable amount
of time. focus, and preliminary
5. Observe proper formatttting ng. The
research. Before a topic Is
format may vary according to the
requirements of the course or school. finalized, you may have read
Please seek guidance from your professor. and evaluated the question
. many times and even consulted
professionals or instructors to
ensure its validity and
Lesson 3: Background of
feasibility. How you relay to the
Research
reader the implication of the
Reading a well-written research research problem formulated is
title gives the reader an insight what constitutes the
of what the research study Is all background of the study section
about. Although it captures the of your paper. At the end of this
main point of the study, it does lesson, you should be able to
not sufficiently explain ail the describe the background of
research and will learn what attention. Identifying research gaps
sometimes would even make researchers
salient information should be
modify their research problem as they get
included in the background of noteworthy ideas from fellow
the study segment of your researchers.
paper.

While both the Background of the Study

and the Review of Related Literature
The background of the study- is the part
involve reading past related studies, they
of your paper where you inform the
differ in some aspects.
reader of the context of the study. When
we say context, it means the situation or The former is at the introductory part of
ciarcumstances within which your the paper with the purpose of relaying the
research topic was conceptualized . importance of your research study:
IIdeally, this part ts written wnen you
have already conducted a literature Revi ew tof Related Literahturee latter is-
review and has a good perception of the more comprehensive and thoroughly
topic so you can articulate the importance discusses the studies menboned ntioned
and validity of the research problem. It is in the background of research.
also in this part of the paper where you
Background of the Study- located at the
justify the need to conduct a research
introductory part of the paper with the
study about the topic selected by
purpose of relaying the importance of
establishing the research gap. When
your research study. Moreover, the
introducing your study to the readers, you
background of the study answers the
must bridge the gap from what is Known
following questions:
to what is Unknown.

1. What is already known about the topic?

A research gap is an under or unexplored
2. What is not known about the topic?
area of a topic that requires further
exploration. The gap can be in a form of
other variables, conditions, population,. 3. Why do you need to address those
methodology, or test subject. To identify gaps?
research gaps, an exhaustive literature 4. What is the rationale of your study?
review regarding the topic is required.
You may have to look for similar or
related studies employing quantitative,
qualitative, or mixed methods from Lesson 4: Research Questions
legitimate sources and examine the gray
areas. Reading through the Discussion,
In In the previous lessons of this
Conclusion,. or the Recommendations module, you were taught how
sections of the articles will help you know to design research that is
potential areas of study that need further
interesting and something that
you are passionate about. You now state it and make sure to establish its
place in your study.
have learned that research
problems are within your In your written paper, this can be found
as Statement of the Problem, where it
environment or area of interest.
formally introduces the problem that you
You were given various want to investigate or address. By this
activities to learn how to come time, you can start specifying what you
up with interesting and useful want to answer in your study.

research problems. In this

lesson, identification of the
Research Problem and Research
research problems and research Questions
questions will be furthered
explained.
RThe research questions- help clarify and
specify the research problem. They are
Nature of Quantitative Research Problem also considered as sub-problems of your
research problem and are informative in
nature. They specify the method of
collecting and analyzing data, and the
Once we encounter uncertainty, being
type of data to be collected when
inquisitive, we always find ways for
exploring a quantitative research
answers or solution. ignited by interest,
problem.
curiosity, or need, we always find
ourselves pondenng about the current
problem we are facing. When we are
thinking and behaving this way, we are Characteristics of Good Research
then confronted by a problem that can be Questions
a source of a research problem.

Once you have already enumerated

RA research problem- a is simple as a your research questions for your
problem you would like to research. study, it is Important that you
Quantitative Research Problem deals consider {ts quality to answer and
more with the precision and specificity of explain your research problem. The
the problem. Furthermore, the
following are good characteristics of
quantitative research problem describes
research questions, as described by
trends and patterns of a phenomenon..
Fraenkel and Wallen (2020).

When you have identified your

*Feasible- . Consider the amount of time,
quantitative research problem. you can
energy, money, respondents, and even
your current situation as a student-
researcher. Is the research problem
possible? Will it not spend unreasonable *Ethical-. Always consider the welfare of
amount? Consider these examples: “How people, animals or whosoever are
do parents feel about the blended invotved in your study. Look into ways of
learning modality for elementary answering the research questions without
learners?” and “How would giving each inflicting physical and psychological harm
leamer their own laptop to be used in this to persons involved.
blended learning modality affect thei
performance tasks?” The first example is
definitely a more feasible research Formulating Research
question. Considering the resources, it is Questions
more possibile to gather the data needed
to answer the question.
Two Classifications of Research
Qquestions can be generally classified
*Clear-. The clarity of how the questions into two: general and specific. T
are stated lead to agreement of meaning
of the readers of your study Since your •Ghe general question of the study- is
research questions are also considered as derived from the research probiem
the main focus In the gathering and •Swhile the specific questions- are
analyzing the data, it is therefore very anchored on the general research
important that these are stated clearly. problem.

*Significant-. Ask if your research For example:

questions are relevant or important to
ask. Will answering these questions
provide an additional contnbution to This study aims to determine the
address the given research problem? in relationship latonship between the types
other words, are the research questions of learning delivery mode and students’
realty worth investigating? leaming styles. Furthermore. it seeks to
answer the following research questions:
(1) What are the different leaming
At this point, you do not just consider the deliveery lrvery modes of the school? (2)
time and money that you will spend, but What are the various learning styles of the
more iImportantly, the value of what you students? (3) Is there a significant
are trying to investigate. So, aside from relatonship between the different
the reason that your chosen research learning delivery modes of the school and
problem is within your interest, you the leaming styles of its students?
should also provide a sound justification
of your choice as a researcher.
Notice that a general problem was Research Questions for Correlational
presented first. Then it was followed by Research- aim to determine the
the specific questions considered as relabonships tionships among two or
research questions of the study. more variables in your research problem.
Correlational research questions usually
begin with the phrases “Is there a
In stating quantitative research significant relationsh ip.p ..” or “What its
questions,. you should also consider the the relationship between/among...”. In
design of your quantitative research. the study of use of social media and level
Quantitative research designs will be of digital literacy of students following
elaborated in Module 4. For the purpose questions can be asked:
of writing your research question, here's a
quick guide of research questions for
What is the relationship between the
length of hours spent on social media and
descriptive research, correlational level
research, Ex Post Facto research,
Experimental. and Quasi-experimental
research. of digital literacy of students?

Research Questions for Descriptive Is there a significant relationship between

Research- focus on obserwngerving, . the type of social media used and the
describing,. and reporting factors or level
aspects of the research problem. Phrases
such as how often/frequently, how
many/much, what is/are, to what digital literacy of students?
extent/degree, . and the likes are used in
these questions. For example, you study
the use of social media among Senior High
Research Questions for Ex Post Facto
School Students, you can ask the
Research- attempt to identify the causes
following questions:
of the phenomenon in the context of your
research probiem. It its also assumed that
no control or manipulation of variable has
What are the various social media been done in order to cause the effect. It
platforms used by Senior High Students? is also understood that the cause of the
problem already exists before you
conducted your study. For example, ex
How many hours students spend on social post facto study on family background
media per day? and digital literacy of students, the
following questions can be asked:
Is there a difference in the literacy level of scope and delimitation of the study will
students between their cultural and make it definitely easier to answer
educational family background? questions which are related or not related
to your study.
Research Questions for Experimental and
Quasi-experimental Research-suggest that Components of Scope and Delimitation
answers to these questions are brought
about by manipulation or control of a ✓Topic of the Study- What are the
certain variable during the conduct of the variables to be included and excluded?
study. These questions provide ✓Objectives or Problems to be
explanation to the causal relationship of Addressed- Why are you doing this study?
variables. The following research
questions can be asked on studies on ✓Time Frame- When are you going to
elementary student's remedial sessions conduct this study?
and academic performance of students:
✓Locale of the Study- Where are you
Is there a significant difference in the going to gather your data?
posttest scores of the contro! group and
✓Characteristics of the Respondents-
experimental group?
Who will be your respondents?
Lesson 5: Scope and ✓Method and Research Instruments-
Delimitation How are going to collect the data?

In doing research study, we make sure Differences between Delimitation and

that we have certainty and reasons for Limitation of the Study
drawing the inclusion and exclusion of
research variables. We do not write for The delimitation of the study describes
the sake of writing the parts of the the various limitations that arose during
research paper, such as setting the scope the design and conduct of the study.
and delimitation of your study. It is Along the way of conducting your study.
important because it draws the boundary you will encounter limitations which you
of your study. Without doing so, research have not drawn before you start — these
procedures and results will not be are the delimitations of study. Most of the
coherent to the goal of your study. The delimitations arose from the applicability
scope specifies the coverage of your study or usefulness of the findings of the study
such as variables. population or to the current problem.
participant, and timeline. Delimitation
Variables not included in your study are
cites factors of your study that are not
also determined by delimitation of your
included or excluded or those you will not
study. While on the other hand. limitation
deal in your study.
of the study are those variables included
in your study. Hence, limitation of the
study is actually the identified scope of
In this section of your research paper. you the study.
may also state the reasons why you did
not Include the variables. A clearly written
Scope- specifies the coverage of your
study such as variables, population or
participant, and timeline.

Delimitation- cites factors of your study

that are not included or excluded or those
you will not deal in your study.

Summary

Steps in developing a research topic

include;(1)Choose a broad topic, (2)Do a
preliminary research, (3)Define the
problem, and (4)Refine the question

Background of the study states the

situation or circumstances within which
your research topic is conceptualized.

Research Problem is the focus of

investigation.

Characteristics of good research questions

are feasible, clear, significant, and ethical.