IDENTIFYING THE INQUIRY

AND FORMULATING
RESEARCH
TOPIC/PROBLEM
PRESENTED BY: KRISTINE JOY A. MAMASIG
LESSON OBJECTIVES
State how research should be started
Identify a research topic
Narrow down a research topic
Define and characterize a research problem
Formulate clearly statement of Research Problem
WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS IN LIFE?
 HOW SHOULD A RESEARCH BE
STARTED?

WORDSCRAMBLE TIME!!
RI-SIR- CHAIRS ENTER-EAST
RESEARCHER’S INTERESTS
 SOURCES OF INTERESTS or RESEARCH
TOPICS:
1. DAY-LEE LIE-IF EX-PEAR- YEN- SEIZE

DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCES

WORDSCRAMBLE TIME!!
 SOURCES OF INTERESTS or RESEARCH
TOPICS:
2. ACT- ADD- DAMN- MICK REID- INKS

ACADEMIC READINGS
SOURCES OF INTERESTS or RESEARCH
TOPICS:
3. PURSE- ON- ALL HUB-BEES

PERSONAL HOBBIES
SOURCES OF INTERESTS or RESEARCH
TOPICS:
4. AT- TENTS-ION CATS-ACHING
SEAT-YOU- WEIGH-SHOWN
ATTENTION-CATCHING
SITUATION
SOURCES OF INTERESTS
Daily life experiences
Academic readings
Personal hobbies
Attention-catching situations
HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH
TOPIC?

REA D
OBSERVE
K
 HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH
TOPIC?

READ
(books, research articles, and other professional publications)
current events or emerging ideas
reports about what scientists are currently working on
 HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH
TOPIC?

ASK
(help from experts)

problems that require solutions

problems encountered when using a new technology
HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH
TOPIC?

OBSERVE
(things for some experiences)

products that may be tested

specific needs of a certain community
 FACTORS IN IDENTIFYING RESEARCH
TOPICS:
PURSE- ON- ALL FACT- TOURS
PERSONAL FACTORS
 related to personal experiences, professional qualifications,
expertise, motivation, intellectual curiosity, and perceptiveness of
the researcher
FACTORS IN IDENTIFYING RESEARCH
TOPICS:
EX-TURN-NULL FACT- TOURS
EXTERNAL FACTORS
 include uniqueness or novelty, importance or value of the
research, availability of data and materials, ethical considerations,
and department or unit where the research is to be undertaken.
GUIDELINES IN CHOOSING A
RESEARCH TOPIC
1. INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER: Your real interest in a
subject pushes you to research, investigate, or inquire about it
with full motivation, enthusiasm, and energy
2. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION: Readily available materials
3. TIMELINESS AND RELEVANCE OF THE TOPIC: Unless, it is a
historical research
GUIDELINES IN CHOOSING A
RESEARCH TOPIC
4. LIMITATIONS ON THE SUBJECT: Example: Related to your
track- You have no “freedom” to choose your topic based on
your interest, but has to decide on one topic to finish your
course
5. PERSONAL RESOURCES: Assess your research abilities in
terms of your financial standing, health condition, mental
capacity, needed facilities, and time allotment to enable you to
complete your research.
RESEARCH TOPICS TO BE
AVOIDED
1. CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS: These are topics that depend greatly
on the writer’s opinion (tends to be bias/ prejudicial)
2. HIGHLY TECHNICAL SUBJECTS: Avoid topics that require an
advance study, technical knowledge, and vast experience
3. HARD- TO- INVESTIGATE SUBJECTS: A subject is hard to
investigate if there are no available reading materials about it and
if such materials are not up-to-date
RESEARCH TOPICS TO BE
AVOIDED
4. TOO BROAD SUBJECTS: These will prevent you from giving a
concentrated or in-depth analysis of the subject matter of the paper.
The remedy to this is to narrow or limit the topic into smaller one
5. TOO NARROW SUBJECTS: These subjects are so limited or specific
that an extensive or thorough searching or reading for information
about this is necessary
6. VAGUE SUBJECTS: Choosing topics like these will prevent you from
having a clear focus on your paper. These are vague enough to
decrease the reader’s interest and curiosity. (Avoid using indefinite
adjectives- some, several, many- Ex: “Some Remarkable Traits of
Filipinos” or “Several People’s Comments on RH Law”
 SOURCES OF RESEARCH
TOPICS
MUST MID- YEAH
COME- YOU- NICK- KEY- SHOWN
1. MASS MEDIA COMMUNICATION
-press( newspapers, ads, TV Radio, films, etc)
 SOURCES OF RESEARCH
TOPICS
REED- DING MATTER- YEAH- OWLS
2. READING MATERIALS
-books, internet, pre-reviewed journals,
government publications
 SOURCES OF RESEARCH
TOPICS
PROOF- EAST- ION- ALL
PEAR- ODD- CALLS
3. PROFESSIONAL PERIODICALS
-English Forums, Language Teaching Forums,
Law reviews, etc
 SOURCES OF RESEARCH
TOPICS
GENE- ERA- ALL
PEAR- ODD- CALLS
4. GENERAL PERIODICALS
-English Forums, Language Teaching Forums,
Law reviews, etc
 SOURCES OF RESEARCH
TOPICS
5. WORK EXPERIENCES
6. PREVIOUS READING ASSIGNMENTS
IN YOUR OTHER SUBJECTS
NARROWING DOWN A RESEARCH
TOPIC
What is current and what is new
Recommendation of researchers who have conducted
similar studies
What has already been studied
New ways of gathering the data
EXAMPLE OF NARROWING DOWN A
TOPIC
HOUSING PROJECTS
INFORMAL SETTLERS
PHILIPPINES
LAST SIX
YEARS
EXAMPLE OF NARROWING DOWN A
TOPIC
HEALTH SERVICES
MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

SOUTHEAST ASIA
LAST 10
YEARS
EXAMPLE OF NARROWING DOWN A
TOPIC
BROAD TOPIC: WOMEN’S HEALTH
NARROWED TOPIC:
WOMEN AND CANCER
FOCUSED TOPIC:
WOMEN SMOKERS
AND BREAST CANCER
EXAMPLE OF NARROWING DOWN A
TOPIC
BROAD TOPIC: COMPUTER GAMES
NARROWED TOPIC:
COMPUTER GAMES VIOLENCE

FOCUSED TOPIC: COMPUTER

GAME VIOLENCE TO JHS
STUDENTS IN INNHS
ACTIVITY
Directions: Use numbers 1 to 5 to show the order of these
topics if you narrow them down from general to the most
limited topic.
1
______ man’s personality
5 the right lobe of the brain
______
2 the five aspects of personality
______
3 the intellectual aspect of a person
______
4 brain components
______
 ACTIVITY
Directions: Use numbers 1 to 5 to show the order of these topics if
you narrow them down from general to the most limited topic.

1
_____ Prose and Poetry
3 Fiction
_____
5 The Legend of Mayon Volcano
_____
2 Philippine Literature
_____
4 Legends
_____
 ACTIVITY
Directions: Use numbers 1 to 5 to show the order of these topics if
you narrow them down from general to the most limited topic.

4
_____ Plus and Minuses of Teenage Marriage
3 Teenage Marriage
_____
5 The Advantages of Early Marriage
_____
2 Marriage
_____
1
_____Human Relationships
REESE- EAR-SHHH PROBE- EEL- AM
RESEARCH PROBLEM
is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be
improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling
question that exists in scholarly literature, theory, or practice
that points to the need for a meaningful understanding and
deliberate investigation.
may be expressed in declarative or interrogative form
commonly called the heart of the research
is what researchers aim to answer later on as they go through
the research endeavor
CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Not just answerable by Yes or No
Should be stated in clear, unambiguous manner
Must imply interpretation and analysis of data
PREREQUISITES OR IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH PROBLEM
SPECIE-FIX-EAT- TEA
1. SPECIFICITY
 Is usually referred to as determining
the researcher approach to use in
the conduct of the study
 PREREQUISITES OR IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH PROBLEM
FIST- SEA- BILL- EAT- TEA
2. FEASIBILTY
 researcher also warned to determine the
capability of the research method to
accomplish the research objectives
 ensure the viability and utility of the
selected research method
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF A
GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. KNOW- VEIL NOVEL
2. ENTER- RESTING INTERESTING
3. PRRR-ACT- TEA- CALL PRACTICAL
4. I- KNOW- BAIT- EVE INNOVATIVE
5. CAUSE-OST EH- FACT- EVE COST- EFFECTIVE
S.M.A.R.T. CRITERIA
S – SPECIFIC
M – MEASURABLE
A – ATTAINABLE
R – REALISTIC
T – TIME-BOUND
REESE- EAR-SHHH THIGH- TAIL
RESEARCH TITLE
the first thing that is usually seen or read
draws the interest from the readers
gives weight and reputation to the
research paper
THE ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH TITLE
answers the question “Why do I want to conduct this
study?”
FURR- POST
1. PURPOSE (AIM)
A problem statement should imply the
purpose of conducting the study
THE ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH TITLE
answers the question, “What do I want to study about?”

TWO- PICKED
2. TOPIC (SUBJECT MATTER)
 the problem statement should contain
the topic of interest of the researcher
THE ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH TITLE
answers the question, “Where do I conduct the study?”

PLAY-EASE
3. PLACE (LOCALE)
 the problem statement should imply where the
particular study will be undertaken
THE ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH TITLE
answers the question “How long will it take for me to finish the
study?”

PEER- ODD
4. PERIOD
this implies the time allotted for the
Researcher to finish his/her study
 THE ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH TITLE
answers the question, “From whom will my data come from
or be collected?”

POPPED- YOU- LAYS- ION

5. POPULATION (RESPONDENTS)
the population or the respondents of the
study should also be implied in a
research statement
EXAMPLE
Problems met by Science and Mathematics Teachers in Public
High Schools in Laoag City for the School Year 2010-2011 to
school year 2019-2020
Aim: To determine the problems met by Science and
Mathematics teachers
Topic: Science and Mathematics teaching and learning
Place: Public High Schools in Laoag City
Period: 8 years
Population: Students, Teachers, and School Administrators
EXAMPLE
Aim: How Music Affects Early Childhood Development
in Public Elementary Schools in Laoag City for the
School Year 2019-2020?
Topic: Effects of Music to Early Childhood
Development
Place: Public Elementary Schools in Laoag City
Period: 1
Population: Pupils, Teachers, and Parents
 GROUP ACTIVITY
1. Form a group of five. Using a Manila paper, draw a table with
five columns where you can list down the elements of your
own qualitative research title. The first column is for the Aim,
second, for the Topic, third, for the Place, fourth, for the
Period, and fifth column is the Population.
2. Presentation of output will be done afterwards.
AIM TOPIC PLACE PERIOD POPULATION
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Teamwork- 40%
Subject Knowledge- 60%
Total: 100%
ASSIGNMENT
1. Be ready for a short quiz on Monday.
2. Identify and describe the different parts of
Chapter I in Qualitative Research.
The Research Paper
(ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER)
Five Chapters of Research Paper
Chapter I – Introduction
Chapter II – Review of Related Literature
Chapter III – Methodology
Chapter IV – Results and Discussion
Chapter V – Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations
Chapter I - Introduction
First part of a research paper
CONSISTS 7 PARTS
1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
gives the readers important
information about the research being
conducted
FEATURES OF B.O.S.
It cites the reason why the researcher chooses to study a particular
topic. the researcher writes about his/her personal observations,
difficulties, issues, and other relevant experiences that led him/her
to conduct a study about the topic at hand. he/ She may cite
relevant studies that might have caught his/her interest to pursue
such study.
It describes the setting or the place where the research will take
place. Different localities have different needs to be addressed. Thus,
it is important to note where the study will be conducted. This gives
special consideration to the needs of that particular locality.
FEATURES OF B.O.S.
 it presents bases that may support or negate the claims of
the researcher. A researcher may present relevant
literatures related to the study he/she is conducting.
It gives justification for the need for the research study.
the researcher may cite benefits and other disadvantages
that the research study might present after it has been
done. The researcher must establish the importance to
conduct the research study. once this has been established,
he/she may push to start working.
WRITING THE BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
define essential concepts. examine the title, outline and thesis statment as these
are good reference points to determine which concepts need to be defined.
describe problems observed by the researcher or those cited on te studies
reviewed.
identify the reasons and sources of these problems.
cite instances or situations that these problems are occuring and needs to be
solved.
express the need to resolve the problem.
set a strong claim or end on the background of the study by restating the thesis
statement.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Also called the heart of a research study, is where the general and
specific problems or objectives are presented
The introductory statement in this section is usually the general
problem or goal based from the research title.
This is followed by specific problems or objectives that will be
thoroughly studied in the course of the research.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE – stated in declarative
sentences
RESEARCH PROBLEMS – stated in interrogative
sentences
Example:
Research title: The impact of the El Niño to the way of life of the
Filipino farmers
General problem: this study attempts to document the effects of El
Niño on the way of life of the Filipino farmers
Specific problems:
1. What are the effects of El Niño on the production of agricultural products
of the Filipino farmers?
2. What are the effects of the said environmental phenomenon to the social
and economic interactions of the Filipino farmers?
3. What practices are adopted by the said farmers to limit the effects of El
Niño to their way of life?
 TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. Factor-isolating questions – the purpose of these questions is to
categorize or name factors and situations
2. Factor- relating questions – these questions aim to establish
relationships between factors that have been identified.
3. Situation-relating questions – these questions aim to see the changes
that might happen to one variable when the other variable changes.
These questions usually need experimentation in order to get results.
4. Situation-producing questions – these questions lead to promote explicit
course of action or conditions under which a goal could be
accomplished. These are commonly used in action research.
EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
QUESTIONS:
1. Factor-isolating question: What are the possible reasons for the low grades of students in
english?
2. Factor-relating question: What relationship exists between variable a and variable b?
3. Situation-relating question: What is the effect of the changes in climate to the behaviour of
animals living in the grass fields?
4. Situation-producing question: What appropriate classroom management technique could be
devised to maintain classroom discipline?
HYPOTHESIS
Is defined as a temporary answer to a research
problem
Serves as a guide as to what processes are needed
in answering the research questions and what
research design is to be undertaken in the study
Not needed in qualitative research
 TYPES OF HYPOTHESES
1. Scientific hypothesis – provides an answer to a research question based on the
review of related literature
2. Statistical hypothesis – presents the standard hypothesis for the statistical
procedure to be employed in the study.
-Null hypothesis: SUGGESTS A NEGATIVE RELATION BETWEEN VARIABLES. IT
NEGATES THE EXISTENCE OF A CHARACTERISTIC OR A DIFFERENCE IN EFFECT OF
THE VARIABLES
-ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS: SUGGESTS A POSITIVE RELATION BETWEEN VARIABLES,
THE EXISTENCE OF A CHARACTERISTIC, OR A DIFFERENCE IN THE EFFECT OF THE
VARIABLES
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
IS DESCRIBED AS TE ABSTRACT, LOGICAL STRUCTURE OF MEANING THAT GUIDES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDY
BASED ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG KEY CONCEPTS
DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES FROM WHERE THE STUDY IS ANCHORED ON
TWO KINDS:
-THEORETICAL
-CONCEPTUAL
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
IS ADOPTED WHEN A PARTICULAR THEORY IS
ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE
CONDUCT OF THE STUDY
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
IS USED WHEN THE CONCEPTS FROM THE DIFFERENT
THEORIES ARE BORROWED TO PROVIDE BASES FOR
AN INVESTIGATION
NOTE:
EITHER ONE CAN BE DEVELOPED FROM READINGS AND/OR EXPERIENCES THAT ARE PART OF
THE RELATED LITERATURE.
FROM THESE IDEAS, THE RESEARCHER NEEDS TO GIVE THE READERS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT
THE CURRENT SITUATION IS AND HOW THE PRESENT STUDY WOULD BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE
GAP BETWEEN “WHAT IS CURRENT” TO “WHAT SHOULD IT BE”.
THE RESEARCHER ALSO NEEDS TO INCLUDE A GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF AL LTHE
CONCEPTS
 RESEARCH PARADIGM
A GRAPHICAL ONTOLOGY

REPRESENTATION OF THE
CONCEPTS INCLUDED IN STUDENT
THE STUDY THAT BULLYING

ENCAPSULATES THE ENTIRE

RESEARCH IDEA METHODS

EPISTEMOLOGY
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
EXPLAINS HOW THE STUDY WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS OF THE SOCIETY
IDENTIFIES THE TARGET BENEFICIARIES OR TARGET USERS OF THE CURRENT
STUDY
SHOULD BE CLEAR TO THE BENEFICIARIES THE ADVANTAGES AND SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE RESEARCH RESULTS
 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
PRESENTS THE VARIABLES OR SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE RESEARCHER
WILL COVER, THE POSSIBLE FACTORS OR NUANCES THAT WILL BE GIVEN FOCUS ON THE COURSE OF
THE STUDY, THE POSSIBLE CHALLENGES THAT THE RESEARCHER MIGHT ENCOUNTER, AND OTHER
THINGS THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE TOPIC BUT ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE
RESEARCHER
IS DIVIED IN TO TWO:
-SCOPE: COVERS THE EXPLANATION AS TO UP TO WHAT EXTENT THE RESEARCHER WOULD WANT TO
EXPLORE OR INTERPRET IN HIS/HER RESEARCH
-LIMITATIONS OR DELIMITATIONS: IS A JUSTIFICATION AS TO THE ‘LIMITS’ OR BOUNDARIES OF THE
RESEARCH
LIMITATIONS OR DELIMITATIONS?
LIMITATIONS: ARE CONDITIONS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE RESEARCHER
THAT MAY CAUSE RESTRICTION AND MAKE THE CONCLUSIONS TO BE
GENERALIZABLE ONLY TO THE CONDITIONS SET BY THE RESEARCHER
DELIMITATIONS: ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT THE RESEARCHER PURPOSELY
CONTROLLED. THESE ARE THE LIMITS BEYOND THE CONCERN OF THE STUDY.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PRESENTS THE KEY TERMS USED IN THE STUDY
HAS TWO POSSIBLE WAYS:
-CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION: EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF A PARTICULAR TERM
USING THE DICTIONARY
-OPERATIONAL DEFINITION: DESCRIBES A TERM BY HOW THE RESEARCHER USED
IT IN HIS/HER STUDY