Practical Research 1

UNIT I

Nature of Inquiry and Research

LESSON 1: NATURE OF INQUIRY

Meaning of Inquiry

Learning is your way of obtaining knowledge about your surroundings. This takes place in many ways, and one of
these is inquiry, which many people in the field of education consider effective. Inquiry is a learning process that
motivates you to obtain knowledge or information about people, things, places or events. You do this by
investigating or asking questions about something you are inquisitive about. It requires you to collect data,
meaning, facts, and information about the object of your inquiry, and examine such data carefully. In your analysis,
you execute varied thinking strategies that range from lower-order to higher-order thinking skills such as inferential,
critical, integrative, and creative thinking. These are top-level thinking strategies that you ought to perform in
discovering and understanding the object of you inquiry. Engaging yourself in many ways of thinking, you come to
conclude that inquiry is an active learning process.

Putting you in a situation where you need to probe, investigate, or ask questions to find answer or solutions to what
you are worried or doubtful about, inquiry is a problem-solving technique. Solving a problem by being inquisitive,
you tend to act like a scientist who are inclined to think logically or systematically in seeking evidence to support
their conclusions about something. Beginning whatever experience or background knowledge you have, you proceed
like scientists with your inquiry by imagining, speculating, interpreting, criticizing, and creating something out of
what you discovered.

LESSON 2: CHARACTERISTICS, SIGNIFICANCE, ETHICAL PRINCIPLES, & TYPES OF RESEARCH

Meaning of Research

Research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new
conclusions. When you come across studies about events that happen or experiences that you meet, they shape
people’s understanding of the world around them. In various spheres of human life, research has come up with
developing appropriate solutions to improve the individual’s quality of life. Although, it may take place in different
settings and may use different methods, scientific research is universally a systematic and objective search for reliable
knowledge. (Walker 2010)

Research is a process of executing various mental acts of discovering and examining facts and information to prove
the accuracy or truthfulness of your claims or conclusions about the topic of your research. Research requires you
to inquire or investigate about your chosen research topic by asking questions that will make you engage yourself in
top-level thinking strategies of interpreting, analyzing, synthesizing, criticizing, appreciating, or creating to enable
you to discover truths about the many things you tend to wonder about the topic of your research work. (Litchman
2013)

Characteristics of Research

1. Empirical – Research is based on observations and experimentation of theories. It takes into account the direct
experiences that fuse the researcher’s speculation with reality. Most researchers are based on real-life situations.
2. Systematic/ Logical/ Methodical – Research follows orderly and sequential procedures, based on valid
procedures and principles. Researchers are advised to refer to the research guidelines provided or prescribed by
the school.
3. Controlled – In research, all variables, except those that are tested/ experimented on, are kept constant.
4. Employs hypothesis – The hypothesis guides the investigation process. Research refers to a search for facts,
answers to questions and solutions to problems.
5 A l i l Th i ii l l i f ll d d h h i i h h ’
 5. Analytical – There is a critical analysis of all data used so that there is no error in the researcher’s
interpretations.
6. Objective/ Critical – The term also refers to the research as unbiased and logical. All findings are logically based
on empirical data, which as earlier mentioned, are based on real life situations. Exhibits careful and precise
judgement.
7. Original work – Research requires effort to get at the researcher’s own investigation and produce the data
needed to complete the study.
8. Iterative – Research involves a sequence of tasks carried out in exactly the same manner each time and
executed multiple times.
9. Cyclical - It means that research is an ongoing, iterative process that doesn’t have a clear beginning or end.
Instead of being a straightforward, one-time process, research continually evolves, with new questions, ideas,
and discoveries leading to further exploration.

1. Replicability - Replicability in research refers to the ability of independent researchers to reproduce the same
study under the same conditions and obtain identical results. It is crucial for confirming the reliability and
validity of findings, ensuring that results are not due to chance, bias, or specific conditions.

Significance of Research

1. To gather necessary information

Research provides you with the necessary information related to you field of study of work. For example, companies
may do research before manufacturing a product.

1. To improve the standard of living

Only through research can new inventions and discoveries come into life. How would life be without Graham Bell
and his telephone? Or what would have happened if Martin Cooper did not give us the concept of mobile phones?

1. To have a safer life

Research has done great discoveries and development in the field of health, technology, nutrition, and medicine.
These things have improved life expectancy and helped in curing a lot of diseases.

1. To know the truth

Research investigates and exposes what wrong beliefs people hold. Listening to different opinions and studying facts
and available data will lead you to unravel truth.

1. To explore our history

Research about our history enables us to learn and understand the past and prepare for a better future.

1. To understand arts

Research helps us in understanding the works of artists in different fields of arts. Arts contribute to the refinement
of our sensibilities and cultivate values needed for our daily existence.
Ethical Principles in Research

Respect for Intellectual Property Social Responsibility

Honesty Confidentiality Non-discrimination
Objectivity Responsible Publication Competence
Integrity
Respect for Colleagues Legality
Carefulness
Openness

Types of Research

Based Statistical Content (Broader Classification)

Qualitative

is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind.
in investigating the reasons for human behavior
attitude or opinion research research designed to find out how people feel or what they think about a
particular subject or institution
beliefs, meanings, symbols
behavioural sciences

Quantitative

It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity

Via statististical, mathematical or computation techniques

Based on Application: Science vs. Applied Science

Basic / Pure/ Fundamental

formulation of a theory
“gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake”
basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to
the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge

Applied/ Action

usually conducted to solve a particular and concrete problem

to discover a solution for some pressing practical problem

Based on the Question It Asks

Descriptive

description of the state of affairs as it exists at present.

that the researcher has no control over the variables
he can only report what has happened or what is happening.
descriptive research attempts to determine, describe, or identify what is
for example, frequency of shopping, preferences of people

h d i i h d i i l ifi i d i d ib h
 the descriptive research uses description, classification, measurement, and comparison to describe what
phenomena are

Analytical

the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation
of the material.
analytical research attempts to establish why it is that way or how it came to be
the analytical research usually concerns itself with cause-effect relationships

Based on Data Source

Conceptual

Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and
thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
Conceptual research focuses on the concept or theory that explains or describes the phenomenon being
studied. What causes disease? How can we describe the motions of the planets? What are the building blocks
of matter? The conceptual researcher sits at his desk with pen in hand and tries to solve these problems by
thinking about them.
The researcher does no experiments but may make use of observations by others, since this is the mass of data
that he is trying to make sense of.

Empirical

Relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based
research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.

Based on Where the Research is Conducted

Library Research

is done primarily in the library where answers to specific questions or problems are available

Field Research

the research is done in the natural setting such as barangay, school or factory

Laboratory Research

is conducted in artificial or controlled conditions by doing the study in a thoroughly specified and equipped
area

UNIT II

Qualitative Research and Its Importance

LESSON 3: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES, ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF QUALITATIVE

RESEARCH

Qualitative Research
As a curious student, you want to know so many things about your surroundings as well as the people, places, and
things you find interesting, intriguing, mysterious, or unique. Try looking at the people around you. Perhaps, you are
interested in knowing these people’s ideas, views, feelings, attitudes, or lifestyle. The information these people give
you reflect their mental, spiritual, and emotional, or social upbringing, which in turn, show how they view the world.

Resulting from internal aspects, people cannot measure worldviews but can know them through numbers. Obtaining
world knowledge in this manner directs you to do a research called Qualitative Research. This is a types that puts
premium or high value on people’s thinking or point of view conditioned by their personal traits. As such, it usually
takes place in soft sciences like social science, politics, economics, humanities, education, psychology, nursing, and
all business-related subjects.

Subjectivity in qualitative research is true, not only for an individual or a group under study, but also for you, the
researcher, because of your personal involvement in every stage of your research. For instance, during interviews,
you tend to admire or appreciate people’s ideas based on their answers or your observations and analysis of certain
objects. By carefully looking at or listening to the subject or object in a natural setting, you become affected by their
expressions of what they think and feel about a topic. (Coghan 2014)

In a qualitative research, the reality is conditioned by society and people’s intentions are involved in explaining
cause-effect relationships. Things are studied in their natural setting, enough for you to conclude that qualitative
research is an act of inquiry or investigation of real-life events. Giving you more concepts about a qualitative
research are the following paragraphs that comprehensively present the elements or characteristics, types, and
advantages of this kind of research (Silverman 2013; Litchman 2013; Walliman 2014; Suter 2012):

Characteristics of a Qualitative Research

1. Human understanding and interpretation

Data analysis results show an individual’s mental, social, and spiritual understanding of the world. Hence, through
their worldviews, you come to know what kind of human being he or she is, including his or her values, beliefs, likes,
and dislikes.

1. Active, powerful, and forceful

A lot of changes occur continuously in every stage of a qualitative research. As you go through the research process,
you find the need to amend or rephrase interview questions and consider varied ways of getting answers, like
shifting from mere speculating to traveling to places for data gathering. You are not fixated to a certain plan. Rather,
you are inclined to discover your qualitative research design as your study gradually unfolds or reveals itself in
accordance with your research objectives.

1. Multiple research approaches and methods

Qualitative research allows you to approach or plan your study in varied ways. You are free to combine this with
quantitative research and use all gathered data and analysis techniques. Being a multi-method research, a qualitative
study applies to all research types: descriptive, exploratory, explanatory, case study, etc.
 1. Specificity to generalization

Specific ideas in a qualitative research are directed to a general understanding of something. It follows an inductive
or scientific method of thinking, where you start thinking of particular or specific concept that will eventually lead
you to more complex ideas such as generalizations or conclusions.

1. Contextualization

A qualitative research involves all variables, factors, or conditions affecting the study. Your goal here is to
understand human behavior. Thus, it is crucial for you to examine the context or situation of an individual’s life--the
who, what, why, who, and other circumstances---affecting his or her way of life.

1. Diversified data in real-life situations

A qualitative researcher prefers collecting data in a natural setting like observing people as they live and work,
analyzing photographs or videos as they genuinely appear to people, and looking at classrooms unchanged or
adjusted to people’s intentional observations.

1. Abounds with words and visuals

Words, words, and more words come in big quantity in this kind of research. Data gathering through interviews or
library reading, as well as the presentation of data analysis results, is done verbally. In some cases, it resorts to
quoting some respondents’ answers. Likewise, presenting people’s worldviews through visual presentation (i.e.,
pictures, videos, drawings, and graphs) are significantly used in qualitative research.

1. Internal analysis

Here, you examine the data yielded by the internal traits of the subject individuals (i.e., emotional, mental, spiritual
characteristics). You study people’s perception or views about your topic, no the effects of their physical existence on
your study. In case of objects (e.g., books and artworks) that are subjected to a qualitative research, the investigation
centers on underlying theories or principles that govern these materials and their usefulness to people.

Types of Qualitative Research

1. Case Study

This type of qualitative research usually takes place in the field social care, nursing, psychology, rehabilitation
centers, education, etc. This involves a long-time study of a person, group, organization, or situation. It seeks to find
answers to why such thing occurs to the subject. Finding the reason/s behind such occurrence drives you to also
delve into relationships of people related to the case under study. Varieties of data collection methods such as
interview, questionnaires, observations, and documentary analysis are used in a case study.

1. Ethnography

Falling in the field of anthropology, ethnography is the study of a particular cultural group to get a clear
understanding of its organizational set-up, internal operation, and lifestyle. A particular group reveals the nature or
characteristics of their own culture though the world perceptions of the cultural group’s members.
 1. Phenomenology

Coming from the word “phenomenon,” which means something known though sensory experience, phenomenology
refers to the study of how people find their experiences meaningful. Its primary goal is to make people understand
their experiences about death of loved ones, care for handicapped persons, friendliness of people, etc. In doing so,
other people will likewise understand the meanings attached to their experiences. Those engaged in assisting people
to manage their own lives properly often do this kind of qualitative research.

1. Content and Discourse Analysis

Content analysis is a method of quantitative research that requires an analysis or examination of the substance or
content of the mode of communication (letters, books, journal, photos, video recordings, SMS, online messages,
emails, audio-visual materials, etc.) used by a person, group, organization or any institution in communicating. A
study of language structures used in the medium of communication to discover the effects of sociological, cultural,
institutional, and ideological factors on the content makes it a discourse analysis. In studying the content of
structures of the material, you need a question or a set of questions to guide you in your analysis.

1. Historical Analysis

Central to this qualitative research method is the examination of primary documents to make you understand the
connection of past events to the present time. The results of your content analysis will help you specify
phenomenological changes in unchanged aspects of society though the years.

1. Grounded Theory

Grounded theory takes place when you discover a new theory to underlie your study at the time of data collection
and analysis. Through you observation on your subjects, you will happen to find a theory that applies to your
current study. Interview, observation, and documentary analysis are the data gathering techniques for this type of
qualitative research.

Advantages or Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. It adopts a naturalistic approach to its subject matter, which means that those involve in the research
understand things based on what they find meaningful.
2. It promotes a full understanding of human behavior or personality traits in their natural setting.
3. It is instrumental for positive societal changes.
4. It engenders respect for people’s individuality as it demands the researcher’s careful and attentive stand toward
people’s world views.
5. It is a way of understanding and interpreting social interactions.
6. It increases the researcher’s interest in the study as it includes the researcher’s experience or background
knowledge in interpreting verbal and visual data.
7. It offers multiple ways of acquiring and examining knowledge about something.

Disadvantage or Weaknesses of Qualitative Research

1. It involves a lot of researcher’s subjectivity in data analysis.

2. It is hard to know the validity of reliability of the data.
3. Its open-ended questions yield “data overload” that requires long-time analysis.
4. It is time-consuming.
5 I i l l hi h l l d d h h ’ i i i
 5. It involves several processes, which results greatly depend on the researcher’s views or interpretations.

LESSON 4: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Subject Area Research Approaches

Research studies happen in any field of knowledge. Anthropology, Business, Communication, Education,
Engineering, Law, and Nursing, among others, turn in a big number of research studies that reflect varied
interests of people. Don’t you wonder how people in the areas conduct their research studies?

Belonging to a certain area of discipline, you have the option to choose one from these three basic
research approaches: positive or scientific, naturalistic, and triangulation or mixed method. The scientific
approach gives stress to measurable and observable facts instead of personal views, feelings, or attitudes. It
can be used in researches under the hard sciences or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine)
and natural sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry). The positive or scientific approach allows control of
variables or factors affecting the study. (Laursen 2010)

To become a positivist or scientific in conducting your research study, you must collect data in controlled
ways through questionnaires or structured interviews. For instance, in the field of medicine, to produce a
new medicine, a medical researcher subjects the data to a controlled laboratory experiment. These factual
data collected are recorded in numerical or statistical forms using numbers, percentages, fractions, and the
like. Expressed in measurable ways, these types of data are called quantitative data.

The naturalistic approach, on the other hand, is people-oriented. Data collected, in this case, represent
personal view, attitudes, thoughts, emotions, and other subjective traits of people in a natural setting.
Collecting data is done in family hones, playground, workplaces, or schools. In these places, people’s
personal traits or qualities naturally surface in the way they manage themselves or interact with one
another. The naturalistic approach focuses on discovering the real concept or meaning behind people’s
lifestyle and social relations.

Unlike the scientific approach that makes you express and record your findings quantitatively, which
means in numerical forms, the naturalistic approach lets you present things qualitatively through verbal
language. Using words rather than numbers as the unit of analysis, this second research approach
concerns itself with qualitative data–one type of data that exists in abundance in social sciences, which to
others exists as soft sciences. Considered as soft sciences are Anthropology, Business, Education,
Economics, Law, Politics, and all subjects aligned with business and all those focused on helping
professions such as, Nursing, Counseling, Physical Therapy, and the like. (Babbie 2013)

Having the intention to collect data from people situated in a natural setting, social researchers use
unstructured interviews and participant observations. These two data gathering techniques yield
opinionated data through the use of open-ended questions and actual participation of the researcher in
the subjects’ activities. Collecting data through these subjective-prone research methods indispensably
results in the gathering of qualitative data.

All in all, from a social science researcher’s viewpoint, these qualitative data resulting from naturalistic
approach serves as the basis for determining universal social values to define ethical or unethical behavior
that society ought to know, not only for the benefit of ever individual and community but also for the
satisfaction of man’s quest for knowledge. (Sarantakos 2013; Ransome 2013)

In the field of Humanities, man’s social life is also subjected to research studies. However, researchers in
this area give emphasis not to man’s social life, but to the study of meanings, significance, and
visualization of human experiences in the fields of Fine Arts, Literature, Music, Drama, Dance, and other
artistically inclined subjects. Researchers in these subjects happen in any of the following humanistic
categories:

1. Literature and Art Criticism where the researchers, using well-chosen language and appropriate
organization pattern, depend greatly on their interpretative and reflective thinking in evaluating the
object of their study critically.
2. Philosophical Research where the focus of inquiry is on knowledge and principles of being and on the
manner human beings conduct themselves on earth.
3. Historical Research where the investigation centers on events and ideas that took place in man’s life at
a particular period.

Hard Sciences vs. Soft Sciences

Just like in other subjects under soft sciences such as marketing, man’s thoughts and feelings still take
center stage in any research studies. The purposes of any researches in any of these two areas in business
are to increase man’s understanding of the truths in line with markets and marketing activities, making
him more intelligent in arriving at decisions about these aspects of his life. Research types that are useful
for these areas are the basic and applied research. (Feinberg 2013)

A quantitative or qualitative kind or research is not exclusive to hard sciences or soft sciences. These two
research methods can go together in a research approach called triangulation or mixed method approach.
This is the third approach to research that allows a combination or mixture of research designs, data
collection and data analysis techniques.

Thus, there is no such thing as a clear dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methods
because some authorities on research claim that a symbiotic relationship, in which they reinforce or
strengthen each other, exists between these two research methods. Moreover, any form of knowledge,
factual or opinionated, and any statistical or verbal expression of this knowledge, factual or opinionated,
are deduced form human experience that by nature is subjective. (Hollway 2013; Letherby 2013)
 UNIT III

Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the Problem

LESSON 5: SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INQUIRY OR RESEARCH

You begin your research work with a problem; that is, having a problem or topic to work on. Mulling over a topic
for your research work drives you to perform HOTS or higher-order thinking strategies of inferential, critical,
integrative, and creative thinking in finalizing your mind on one topic among several choices. A topic is researchable
if the knowledge and information about it are supported by evidence that is observable, factual, and logical. Here
are some pointer you should have to keep in mind in selecting a research topic (Babbie 2013):

Guidelines in Choosing a Research Topic

1. Interest in the subject matter

Your interest in your topic may be caused by your rich background knowledge about it and by its novelty; meaning,
its unfamiliarity to you. Being curious about a subject, like a conundrum or a puzzle, makes you determined to
unravel the mystery or intriguing thing behind it. Your real interest in a subject pushes you to research, investigate,
or inquire about it with full motivation, enthusiasm, and energy.

1. Availability of Information

Collecting a lot of information as evidence to support you claims about your subject matter from varied forms of
literature like books, journals, and newspapers, among others, is a part and parcel of any research work. Hence, in
choosing a research topic, visit your library to check he availability of reading materials on your chosen topic.
Included in your investigation of the availability of reading materials are question on how updated and
authoritative the materials are. Let these questions linger as you tour the library: What are the copyright dates of the
materials? How old or new are they? How expert or qualified the writers are in coming out with such kind of reading
materials about your topic?

1. Timeliness and relevance of the topic

The topic is relevant if it yields results that are instrumental in societal improvement. It is timely if it is related to the
present. For instance, unless it is a pure or historical research, a research on the ins and outs of people’s
revolutionary acts will prosper more if it tackles the contemporary revolutionary actions rather than those in the
ancient time.

1. Limitation on the subject

This makes you link your choosing with course requirements. For example, to make you complete the requirements,
your teacher instructs you to submit a paper that will apply the key principles you learned in business, psychology,
education, and so on. In this case, you have no freedom to choose your topic based on your interest, but has to
decide on one topic to finish your course.

1. Personal resources

Before sticking fully to your final choice, assess your research abilities in terms of your financial standing, health
conditions, metal capacity, needed facilities, and time allotment to enable you to complete your research. Imagine
yourself pouring much time and efforts into its initial state, only to find out later that you are unable to complete it
because of your failure to raise the amount needed for questionnaire printing, and interview trips. (Barbour 2014)

Research Topics to be Avoided

1. Controversial topics. These are topics that depend greatly on the writer’s opinion, which may tend to be biased
or prejudicial. Facts cannot support topics like these.

1. Highly technical subjects. For a beginner, researching on topics that require an advanced study, technical
knowledge, and vast experience is a very difficult task.

1. Hard-to-investigate subjects. A subject is hard if there are no available reading materials about it and if such
materials are not up-to-date.

1. Too broad subjects. Topics that are too broad will prevent you from giving a concentrated or an in-depth
analysis of the subject matter of the paper. The remedy to this is to narrow or limit the topic to a smaller one.

1. Too narrow subjects. These subjects are so limited or specific that an extensive or thorough searching or reading
for information about these is necessary.

1. Vague subjects. Choosing topics like these will prevent you from having a clear focus on your paper. For
instance, titles beginning with indefinite adjectives such as several, many, some, etc., as in “Some Remarkable
Traits of a Filipino” or “Several People’s Comments on the RH Law,” are vague enough to decrease the
reader’s interest and curiosity.
Sources of Research Topics

1. mass media communication – press (newspaper, ads, tv, radio, films, etc.)
2. books, internet, peer-reviewed journals, government publications
3. professional periodicals like College English Language Teaching Forum, English Forum, The Economist,
Academia, Business Circle, Law Review, etc.
4. general periodicals such as Readers’ Digest, Women’s Magazine, Panorama Magazine, Time Magazine, World
Mission Magazine, etc.
5. Previous reading assignments in your other subjects
6. Work experience – clues to a researchable topic from full-time or part-time jobs, OJT (on-the-job training)
experience, fieldwork, etc.

LESSON 6: RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTION

Meaning of Research Problem

The ultimate goal of the research is not only to propose ways to studying things, people, places, and
events, but also to discover new practices, strategies, or techniques in solving a problem. The word
“problem” makes you worry and pushes you to exert considerable effort in finding a solution for it. When
you feel perplexed or anxious about what to do about something you are doubtful of or about a question
you are incapable of answering, you then come to think of conducting a research, an investigation, or
inquiry. You consider research as the remedy for getting over any problem.

When you decide to do research, you begin with a problem that will lead you to a specific topic to focus
on. For instance, you are beset by a problem of a year-by-year flash floods in your community. This
problem drives you to think of one topic you can investigate or focus on for the solution to your
community’s flood problem. Perhaps, you can research only one aspect of the flood problem, like
examining only the neighborhood lifestyle in relation to floods in the area, the need to construct anti-flood
structures, or the practicability of more footbridges in the area. (Gray 2013)

Background of the Problem

You must not rush into gathering ideas and information about your topic. First, spend time getting
background knowledge about the problem that triggered off you research topic to discover its relation to
what the world, particularly experts, professionals, and learned people know about your topic. Also,
reading for rich background ideas about the problem is another way to discover some theories or
principles to support your study. (Braun 2014; Woodwell 2014)

Research Questions

The research problem enables you to generate set of research questions. However, your ability to identify
your research problem and to formulate the questions depends on the background knowledge you have
about the topic. To get a good idea of the problem, you must have a rich background knowledge about the
topic through the RRL (Review of Related Literature), which requires intensive reading about your topic.
Apart from having a clearer picture of the topic, it will also help you in adopting an appropriate research
method and have a thorough understanding of the knowledge are of your research.

A research problem serving as an impetus behind your desire to carry out a research study comes from
many sources. Difficulties in life are arising from social relationships, governmental affairs, institutional
practices, cultural patterns, environmental issues, marketing strategies, etc. are problematic situations that
will lead you to identify one topic to research on. Centering your mind on the problem, you can formulate
one general or mother problem of your research work. (Punch 2014)

To give your study a clear direction, you have to break this big, overreaching general question into several
smaller or specific research questions. The specific questions, also called sub-problems, identify or direct
you to the exact aspect of the problem that your study has to focus on. Beset by many factors, the general
question or research problem is prone to reducing itself to several questions, seeking conclusive answers to
the problem.

The following shows you the link among: the research problem, research topic, research question, and the
construction of general and specific questions in a research paper.

EXAMPLE 1
Research Problem: The need to have a safer, comfortable, and healthful walk or transfer of students from
place to place in the UST campus

Research Topic: The Construction of a Covered Pathway in the UST Campus

General Question: What kind of covered path should UST construct in its campus?

Specific Questions:

1. What materials are needed for the construction of the covered pathway in the UST campus?
2. What roofing material is appropriate for the covered path?
3. In what way can the covered pathway link all buildings in the campus?
4. What is the width and height of the covered path?
5. How can be the covered path realize green architecture?

EXAMPLE 2

Research Problem: The necessity to replace the bamboo-made youths’ assembly hall with a concrete
pavilion

Research Topic: The Youth’s Financial Capacity vis-à-vis the Construction of a Concrete Pavilion

General Question: What financial capacity do the youth have to guarantee the construction of a concrete
pavilion?

Specific Questions:

1. What is the extent of the youth’s financial knowledge on a construction project?

2. What is the approximate total cost of the construction materials and labor?
3. Which youth’s bank account can cover the construction expenditures?
4. How can the youths realize the budget they prepared for this construction project?
5. In what way can the youths obtain a credit in case they encounter a deficit?
6. What assurance can the youths give for an up-to-date payments of their loan?

Research questions aim at investigating specific aspects of the research problem. Though deduced from
the general or mother question, one specific question may lead to another sub-problem or sub-question,
requiring a different data-gathering technique and directing the research to a triangulation or mixed
method approach. Referring to varied aspects of the general problem, a set of research questions plays a
crucial part in the entire research work. They lay the foundation for the research study. Therefore, they
determine the research design or plan of the research. Through sub-questions, you can precisely determine
the type of data and the method of collecting, analyzing and presenting data.

Any method or technique of collecting, collating, and analyzing data specified by the research design
depends greatly on the research questions. The correct formulation of research questions warrants not
only excellent collection, analysis, and presentation of data, but a credible conclusion as well. (Layder
2013)

Hence, the following are things you have to remember in research question formulation. (Barbie 2013;
Litchman 2013; Silverman 2013)

Guidelines in Formulating Research Questions

1. Establish a clear relation between the research questions and the problem or topic.
2. Base your research questions on your RRL or Review of Related Literature because existing
published works help you get good background knowledge of the research problem and help you
gauge the people’s current understanding or unfamiliarity about the topic, as well as the extent of
their knowledge and interest in it. Convincing solutions to research problems or answers to research
questions stem from their alignment with what the world already knows or what previous research
studies have already discovered about the research problem or topic.
3. Formulate research questions that can arouse your curiosity and surprise you with your discoveries or
findings. This is true for research questions asked about a problem that was never investigated upon.
4. State your research questions in such a way that they include all dependent and independent variables
referred to by the theories, principles, or concepts underlying your research work.
5. Let the set of research questions or sub-problems be preceded by one question expressing the main
problem of the research.
6. Avoid asking research questions that are answerable with “yes” or “no” and use the “how” questions
only in quantitative research.
7. Be guided by the acronym SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound) in
formulating the research questions. Applying SMART, you must deal with exact answers and
observable things, determine the extend or limit of the data collected, be aware of the timeframe and
completion period of the study, and endeavor to have your research study arrive at a particular
conclusion that is indicative of what are objective, factual, or real in this