Lesson 1 DESIGNING RESEARCH TOPIC research study for future reference.

If you started the

topic search (first step) by doing a literature review, the
Most researchers will agree that choosing a
second step is just a continuation of what you started.
good topic is a challenging and tedious task. Because a
research topic serves as the groundwork for any 3. Define the problem. After getting enough
succeeding actions, it must be defined appropriately at information, you may be able to list some questions or
the beginning of the research work. Otherwise, it may problems that you want to research. At this stage, you
result in unanticipated complexities to the researcher. should be able to narrow down broad topic into feasible
and manageable research questions. A broad topic can
Developing a research problem can be done in four (4)
be narrowed down by limiting the population, place,
steps:
period, or a certain characteristic. However, be very
1. Choose a broad topic mindful that your problem may not be too narrow that
it becomes very simple and does not need to collect
2. Do a preliminary research unique data or does not generate new information. A
3. Define the problem very narrow research question can be developed by
doing a comparative study or expanding the scope of
4. Refine the question the study.
As a student researcher, let us go through these steps to 4. Refine the question. This step lets you evaluate the
guide us in choosing a quantitative research topic questions formulated. What specific questions should
related to our chosen field. you ask? How should you gather your data sufficient to
1. Choose a broad topic. The first step is quite simple. answer the questions? Are the questions too narrow, or
As a Senior High School student, these tips will surely does it need to be trimmed down? While evaluating the
guide you in selecting a broad topic for quantitative research question, consider the requirements of the
research: course. How much time are you given to finish the
research? What resources do you need and are they
A. Choose an interesting topic. Research is a very available?
challenging task that demands your time and
persistence. Your motivation to find the answer to the
problem should keep you going, thus building a Lesson 2 RESEARCH TITLE
momentum along the way. Therefore, your research
topic must be something that you are passionate about. Basic Guidelines in Making a Research Title

B. Select a significant topic. A topic that is worth 1. Use an accurate description of the subject and scope
researching must be able to answer or solve problems in of the study instead of using general terms.
the community. No one will take an interest in your 2. Do not use abbreviations except for commonly
topic if it is obsolete and does not address any real known ones like DNA and ICT.
problem. To be proactive and to take part in solving
problems with socio-economic relevance gives a sense 3. Do not include words like “The study of,” “Analysis
of accomplishment. You do not even have to look far, of,” “An investigation of” or similar construction as these
just take a look at your household, neighborhood, would only lengthen the title.
school, group of friends, or local community for a
4. Include the main dependent and independent
common problem or difficulty.
variables.
C. Choose a topic relevant to your field. One of the goals
5. Be mindful of the proper use of grammar and
of this course is for you to be able to produce a
punctuation.
quantitative research study that is aligned to your
chosen track. A SHS student under ABM must choose a 6. Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives,
topic related to business and management while adverbs as well as the first letter of the first and last
students taking HUMSS may consider choosing a topic words.
about politics, culture, and arts. Choosing a topic that
7. State in a declarative form, although you may also see
you can relate will certainly make your research project
titles in question form from time to time.
less challenging.
8. The year the study has been conducted should not be
2. Do a preliminary research. The second step is much
indicated unless it is a historical study.
more time-consuming. Once you have chosen a broad
topic, you need to have a better understanding of it by 9. Use current terminology.
reading some more articles, journals, and related
research studies. Find out how other researchers 10. Depending on the institutional requirements, 5 to15
gathered their data, what research instruments were words are sufficient to describe the research study.
used, how the data were analyzed, and what important
findings they shared. Take note of every relevant
11. Use the common name instead of chemical formula studies, they differ in some aspects. The former is at the
(e.g., Ammonium instead of NH4) introductory part of the paper with the purpose of
relaying the importance of your research study; the
12. Write and italicize full scientific names.
latter is more comprehensive and thoroughly discusses
13. Make sure to reflect the tone of the paper. An the studies mentioned in the background of research.
academic research paper has title which is not casual, or Moreover, the background of the study answers the
informal, or does not contain humor. following questions:

The following steps can guide you in writing your 1. What is already known about the topic?
research title:
2. What is not known about the topic?
1. Determine what it is that you wish to accomplish or
3. Why do you need to address those gaps?
know from your study. Write one to two sentences to
state the main objectives of your research project. 4. What is the rationale of your study?

2. Include important keywords and variables. Revise the While answering these questions, keep in mind that the
sentences into one complete sentence that includes studies you include in this part of the paper are laid
important keywords and variables of the study. down as part of the introduction and should not be
discussed in great detail. The depth and length of the
3. Shorten the title by eliminating unnecessary words.
background information largely depend on how much
You may also shrink a phrase into a simpler phrase or a
information you think the reader needs to know to have
single word. In doing this, make sure that the main
a full grasp of the topic being discussed.
thought of the research study is retained.

4. Correct grammar and punctuation errors if there is Lesson 4 Conceptual Framework

any.
A Conceptual Framework is an analytical tool
5. Observe proper formatting. The format may vary with several variations and contexts that can be applied
according to the requirements of the course or school. in different categories of work where an overall picture
Please seek guidance from your professor. is needed to come up with the desired goal. It is
necessary to make conceptual and theoretical
Lesson 3 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH distinctions and organize ideas. Strong and resilient
conceptual frameworks capture and apprehend
Background of the Study something real and do this in a way that is easy to
The background of the study is the part of your paper remember and apply.
where you inform the reader of the context of the study. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks
When we say context, it means the situation or provide evidence of academic standards and procedures
circumstances within which your research topic was that validates the authenticity of the study. They also
conceptualized. Ideally, this part is written when you proposed an explanation and clarification of why the
have already conducted a literature review and has a study is relevant and how the researcher expects to fill
good perception of the topic so you can articulate the the gap in the literature.
importance and validity of the research problem. It is
also in this part of the paper where you justify the need How to create a Conceptual Framework A
to conduct a research study about the topic selected by conceptual framework is a bit like a recipe or a
establishing the research gap. blueprint. It provides an outline of how you plan to
conduct the research of your thesis, but it goes further
A research gap is an under or unexplored area of a topic than that by also positioning your work within the larger
that requires further exploration. The gap can be in a field of research.
form of other variables, conditions, population,
methodology, or test subject. To identify research gaps, ➢ Conduct a Literature Review.
an exhaustive literature review regarding the topic is
Before you can have your research, you need to
required. You may have to look for similar or related
understand and comprehend what research has already
studies employing quantitative, qualitative, or mixed
been conducted on your topic of interest and curiosity.
methods from legitimate sources and examine the gray
Conducting a literature review can help you to refine
areas. Reading through the Discussion, Conclusion, or
your central argument or hypothesis. You must also
the Recommendations sections of the articles will help
conduct and gather the literature review to be able to
you know potential areas of study that need further
place and organize your work within the larger and
attention. Identifying research gaps sometimes would
greater area of study in your conceptual framework.
even make researchers modify their research problem
Your framework should present the relevant research ad
as they get noteworthy ideas from fellow researchers.
show how your work will help to advance the field.
While both the Background of the Study and the Review
➢ Create a Flow Chart
of Related Literature involve reading past related
 Conceptual frameworks are frequently visual Will it not spend unreasonable amount? Consider these
and allow those reading the framework to understand examples: “How do parents feel about the blended
the course of your research. You can present this in learning modality for elementary learners?” and “How
whatever way makes the most sense for your work, would giving each learner their own laptop to be used in
which can include a flow chart, mind gap or diagram. In this blended learning modality affect their performance
every component of your research, you should tasks?” The first example is definitely a more feasible
showcase the variables that influence it. research question. Considering the resources, it is more
possible to gather the data needed to answer the
➢ Write a Narrative question.
Conceptual frameworks don’t have to include a Clear. The clarity of how the questions are stated lead to
diagram or graphic. You can always present the same agreement of meaning of the readers of your study.
information and evidence by writing a narrative. Your Since your research questions are also considered as the
narrative should recap the variables influencing your main focus in the gathering and analyzing the data, it is
research and explore how they may change the therefore very important that these are stated clearly.
hypothesis. The narrative should also explain and
enlighten the basic methodology for your research. If Significant. Ask if your research questions are relevant
you include a diagram in your conceptual framework, a or important to ask. Will answering these questions
narrative should also be included explaining these provide an additional contribution to address the given
details for those who prefer more in-depth information. research problem? In other words, are the research
Bolded headers to separate the sections of your questions really worth investigating? At this point, you
narrative and to create a visual order of information. do not just consider the time and money that you will
spend, but more importantly, the value of what you are
➢ Return and Revise trying to investigate. So aside from the reason that your
As you begin your research, you may discover chosen research problem is within your interest, you
that certain elements of your conceptual framework are should also provide a sound justification of your choice
no longer needed. You will discover new variables, or as a researcher
you may identify that your hypothesis is incorrect. You Ethical. Always consider the welfare of people, animals
may discover additional research that challenges your or whosoever are involved in your study. Look into ways
theory and ideas. You should return to your framework of answering the research questions without inflicting
and revise it if necessary. physical and psychological harm to persons involved.

Lesson 5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS Research Questions for Descriptive Research focus on

observing, describing, and reporting factors or aspects
Nature of Quantitative Research Problem of the research problem. Phrases such as how
A research problem is simple as a problem you would often/frequently, how many/much, what is/are, to what
like to research. Quantitative Research Problem deals extent/degree, and the likes are used in these questions
more with the precision and specificity of the problem. Research Questions for Correlational Research aim to
Furthermore, the quantitative research problem determine the relationships among two or more
describes trends and patterns of a phenomenon. variables in your research problem. Correlational
When you have identified your quantitative research research questions usually begin with the phrases “Is
problem, you can now state it and make sure to there a significant relationship...” or “What is the
establish its place in your study. In your written paper, relationship between/among...”.
this can be found as Statement of the Problem, where it Research Questions for Ex Post Facto Research attempt
formally introduces the problem that you want to to identify the causes of the phenomenon in the context
investigate or address. By this time, you can start of your research problem. It is also assumed that no
specifying what you want to answer in your study. control or manipulation of variable has been done in
Research Problem and Research Questions The research order to cause the effect. It is also understood that the
questions help clarify and specify the research problem. cause of the problem already exists before you
They are also considered as sub-problems of your conducted your study
research problem and are informative in nature. They Research Questions for Experimental and Quasi-
specify the method of collecting and analyzing data, and experimental Research suggest that answers to these
the type of data to be collected when exploring a questions are brought about by manipulation or control
quantitative research problem. of a certain variable during the conduct of the study.
Characteristics of Good Research Questions These questions provide explanation to the causal
relationship of variables.
Feasible. Consider the amount of time, energy, money,
respondents, and even your current situation as a Lesson 6 Importance of the Study
student-researcher. Is the research problem possible?
In an actual fact, the section on the significance of the o Refers to the dictionary meaning.
study provides information to the reader on how the
study will contribute. It must be exactly stated, however, ➢ Operational Definition
what the study will contribute and who will benefit from o The meaning of the concept or terms as used in a
it. particular study

Lesson 7 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

OF THE STUDY
Scope and Delimitation

In doing research study, we make sure that we

have certainty and reasons for drawing the inclusion and
exclusion of research variables. We do not write for the
sake of writing the parts of the research paper, such as
setting the scope and delimitation of your study. It is
important because it draws the boundary of your study.
Without doing so, research procedures and results will
not be coherent to the goal of your study.

The 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.

In this section of your research paper, you may

also state the reasons why you did not include the
variables. A clearly written scope and delimitation of the
study will make it definitely easier to answer questions
which are related or not related to your study

Components of Scope and Delimitation

In writing the scope and delimitation of your study, you

are also asking the basic profile questions of your
research. The following are the components of the
scope and delimitation of the study but not limited to:

Topic of the Study. What are the variables to be included

and excluded?

Objectives or Problems to be Addressed. Why are you

doing this study?

Time Frame. When are you going to conduct this study?

Locale of the Study. Where are you going to gather your
data?

Characteristics of the Respondents. Who will be your

respondents?

Method and Research Instruments. How are going to

collect the data?

Lesson 8 Definition of Terms

Glossary of Research Terms- this glossary is intended to
assist you in understanding commonly used terms and
concepts when reading, interpreting, and evaluating
scholarly research in the social sciences.

Types and Functions

➢ Conceptual Definition