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LESSON-2-Selecting-and-Defining-a-Research-Topic (1)

The document outlines the process of selecting and narrowing a research topic, emphasizing the importance of identifying a general subject area of interest and expertise. It discusses four main sources for research topics: theories, personal experiences, previous studies, and library searches. Additionally, it highlights the characteristics of a good research topic and the significance of developing specific research questions to guide the research process.

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Margarette Aproda
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6 views

LESSON-2-Selecting-and-Defining-a-Research-Topic (1)

The document outlines the process of selecting and narrowing a research topic, emphasizing the importance of identifying a general subject area of interest and expertise. It discusses four main sources for research topics: theories, personal experiences, previous studies, and library searches. Additionally, it highlights the characteristics of a good research topic and the significance of developing specific research questions to guide the research process.

Uploaded by

Margarette Aproda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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✓ What is Research Topic

Today's ✓ Selecting a Research Topic


✓ 4 Main Sources
Agenda ✓ Narrowing The Topic
✓ Characteristic of Good Topic
✓ Stating the Research Topic
✓ Developing a Research Question
✓ Framework
What is Research Topic?

The research topic (also called the research problem, or


purpose) provides focus and structure for the remaining
steps in the scientific method.
Selecting a Research Topic
The first step in selecting a research topic is to identify a general subject
area that is related to your area of expertise and is of particular interest
to you.

Subject Area Expertise Interest


4 MAIN SOURCES
1.) Theories

2.) Personal Experiences

3.) Previous Studies

4.) Library Searches


THEORIES

A theory is an organized body of concepts, generalizations, and principles


that can be investigated.
Examples: 1) Jean Piaget

Children’s thinking
develops in four stages
THEORIES

A theory is an organized body of concepts, generalizations, and principles


that can be investigated.
Examples: 2) Jerome Bruner Singaporean Math: CPA

Learning occurs thru


a.) Enactive
b.) Iconic
c.) Symbolic
THEORIES

A theory is an organized body of concepts, generalizations, and principles


that can be investigated.
Examples: 3) Lev Vygotsky
THEORIES

A theory is an organized body of concepts, generalizations, and principles


that can be investigated.
Examples: 4) Benjamin Bloom

a set of three hierarchical


models used to classify
educational learning
objectives into levels of
complexity and specificity
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Another common way to identify research topics is to examine some of the


questions we commonly ask ourselves about education.
Questions may arise when we participate in:
Observe & Read
✓ Why does that happen?

✓ What causes that?

✓ What would happen if?


✓ How would a different
group respond to this?
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Examples:
1) “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB)

This Act shall be known as the "No Filipino Child


Left Behind Act of 2010." SECTION. ... By the
year 2014, all Filipino children of compulsory age
must have completed elementary education; By
the year 2018, all Filipinos must have obtained and
completed high school education.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Examples:
2) “Continuing Professional Development” (CPD)

Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the


“Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Act of 2016”, is an act which requires CPD as the
mandatory requirement for the renewal of
Professional Identification Card.
PREVIOUS STUDIES

An additional source of research topics is previously published studies,


many of which can be replicated.
A replication is a repetition of a study using different subjects to retest its
hypothesis
✓ No single study, regardless of its focus or breadth, provides the certainty
needed to assume that similar results occur in all or most similar
situations.
PREVIOUS STUDIES

✓ the researcher may select a different sample of participants for the replication
in the hope of determining whether the results are the same as those found in
the original study

✓ the researcher may examine a different kind of community or student, use a


different questionnaire

✓ The researcher may apply a different method of data analysis


PREVIOUS STUDIES

Example of Replication:
Original Study Extend-Study
“How students’ use of “Providing computers to children
computers in classrooms affects who have not previously had
their achievement” access to such technology”
LIBRARY SEARCHES

Many students are encouraged to immerse themselves in the library and


read voraciously in their areas of study until research topics emerge.
NARROWING THE TOPIC
Deciding on a topic for your thesis,
dissertation or research project is the
first step in making sure your research
goes as smoothly as possible. When
choosing a topic, it’s important to
consider:
1) Your institution and department’s requirements
(approval letter)
2) Your areas of knowledge and interest (focus strand)
3) The scientific, social, or practical relevance (qualitative
research)
4) The availability of data and sources (instrument for
qualitative)
5) The length and timeframe of your dissertation (8 weeks)
NARROWING THE TOPIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD TOPIC

1.) Being Interesting

2.) Researchable Topic

3.) Practical Significance

4.) Ethical
5.) Manageable for You
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD TOPIC
STATING THE RESEARCH TOPIC

After you have selected and narrowed your research topic, you
should draft a written statement of that topic. The way in which a
topic is stated varies according to the type of research undertaken
and the preferences of the researcher. As with other parts of the
research process, the approach differs somewhat for quantitative
and qualitative studies.
STATING QUALITATIVE THE RESEARCH TOPIC

Qualitative research topics often are stated in more general language than
quantitative ones because in many cases.
Following are examples of general statements that may be drafted in the
early stages of the qualitative research process:
DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTION

Developing research questions breathes life into the research topic


statements.
There is a direct connection between the research question and the data
collection strategies the researcher will use to answer the question.
The research questions add another level of specificity to the development of
the research and provide the researcher with an action plan for the
development and identification of research instruments.
DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTION

Following are examples of research questions developed from the earlier


qualitative research topics.
Research Question:
✓ What strategies do children use to
engage in learning mathematics?
✓ How do these strategies sustain student
involvement in learning mathematics?
✓ How does being engaged with
mathematics content affect student
attitudes toward mathematics?
DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTION

Following are examples of research questions developed from the earlier


qualitative research topics.
Research Question:
✓ What are the unintended consequences of
teacher involvement in the school-wide
reform efforts?
✓ How do the school administrators involve
teachers, students, and community members
in the school-wide reform efforts?
✓ What are the major challenges facing school
administrators in building teacher support for
the school-wide reform efforts?
FRAMEWORK FOR CONCEPTUALIZING
RESEARCH QUESTION

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