Research in Daily Life 1: Module 6

Module 6:
Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
Stating Research Question
Engage
At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:
 define and identify a good research question;
 develop and state a good research question for your chosen topic.
Explore
Test you prior knowledge
Let’s find out how much you know about this lesson by answering
the questions below. (Write your answers on the worksheet provided
at the end of this module.)
1. What is a research question?
2. How is a research question different from a research problem?
3. What are the characteristics of a good research question?
4. Why do we need to state a research question at the beginning of a
research?
Explain
Formulating Research question
Research questions are very significant part of a research study. We all
know that in order to come about with a conclusive outcome, a researcher will
have to answer applicable questions, which will ultimate be the guide in the
execution of the study.
Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
Let’s define first what a research question is before we discuss about the ways
to formulate your own research study.
A research question is a question that a study aims to answer. This
question often conveys an issue or a problem is answered in the study’s result.
Mostly, the research question is written so that it indicates many aspects of the
study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the
study addresses.
For example, if your topic you’re interested in is social media, you can
formulate research questions like, “Why do teenagers make up the largest
percentage of Instagram users?” or “How does frequent use of YouTube affect
people’s social behavior?
Putting together a research question helps you focus your research into a
specific issue by informing exactly what you want to find out. Let’s have an
example:
Research problem: The teachers at school X do not have the skills to
recognize or properly guide gifted children in the classroom.
Research question: What practical techniques can teachers at school
X use to better identify and guide gifted children?
Writing questions isn’t a hard task in itself, but it can be hard to determine
if you have a good research question. Research questions harbor your whole
study, so it’s significant to spend some time processing them.
The standard below can help you assess the strength of your research
question.
Feasible and Specific
 Focuses on a single topic and problem - Your central research question
should follow from your research problem to keep your work focused. If
you have many questions, they should all clearly relate to this central aim.
  Answerable using primary or secondary data- You must be able to find an
answer by reading scholarly sources on the topic to formulate an
argument. If such data is impossible to access, you will have to rethink
your question and ask something more concrete.
 Does not ask for a subjective value judgement - Avoid subjective words
like good, bad, better and worse, as these do not give clarity for
answering the question. If your question is evaluating something, use
terms with more measurable definitions.
Wrong: Is X or Y a better policy?
Correct: How effective are X and Y policies at reducing rates of Z?
Complex and Arguable
 Cannot be answered with yes or no- Closed yes/no questions are too
simple to work as good research questions — they don’t provide enough
scope for investigation and discussion.
Wrong: Has there been an increase in homelessness in the
Philippines in the past ten years?
Correct: How have economic and political factors affected patterns of
homelessness in the Philippines over the past ten years?
 Cannot be answered with easily found facts and figures - If you can
answer the question through a Google search or by reading a single book
or article, it is probably not complex enough. A good research question
requires original data, synthesis of multiple sources, interpretation and/or
argument to provide an answer.
Relevant and Original
Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
 Addresses a problem relevant to your field or discipline - The research
question should be developed based on initial reading around your topic,
and it should focus on addressing a problem or gap in the existing
knowledge.
 Contributes to a topical social or academic debate - The question should
aim to contribute to an existing debate — ideally one that is current in
your field or in society at large. It should produce knowledge that future
researchers can build on.
Let’s take a look at these questions:
Wrong: What effect does social media have on people’s minds?
Correct: What effect does daily use of Facebook have on the academic
performance of high school students?
If you have observed, both questions are focused on the topic, social
media. However, the first question is not specific. What social media are you
going to consider? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.). Who are the
“people” you are talking about?
The second question on the other hand is more specific by narrowing
down the “social media” into Facebook, “people” into high school students,
“minds” into academic performance, and adding daily use to show frequency of
usage.
Wrong: Do private hospitals provide better healthcare system than public
hospitals?
Correct: How do public and private hospitals in Region V compare in health
outcomes and patient satisfaction among low-income people with chronic
illnesses?
The first question is not researchable since there is no exact criteria for
what counts as “better”. Also, it’s not complex enough since it can easily be
answered by yes or no. The second question is much more researchable since it
uses more specific terms and is complex enough for a more in-depth
investigation.
What effect do the Anti-Bullying Act of
2013 have on the number of cases of
depression among teenagers in Philippine
public schools?

How do I formulate a research question?

1. Choose a topic - For this step, it will be helpful if you choose a topic you’re
interested in since you’ll be working on it for some time. Extend
2. Narrow the topic - Choose a certain aspect of your topic that you want to Direction: Study each research question then fill out the table below
focus on. by the needed information. (Write your answers on the worksheet provided at
the end of this module.)
3. Ask some questions - think of some questions you can ask about it.
Research Question Is it a good research If YES, justify your
4. Focus the question - pick one and try to make it more specific and relevant. question? (YES/NO) answer If NO, rephrase
For example, if your choice of topic is mental health, you can narrow the topic the question
down by simply choosing a certain aspect of it. (e.g. Factors that contribute to 1. How does divorce
good mental health, cases of depression and anxiety among teenagers). Once influence children’s social
you have chosen a certain sub-topic, think of some questions you would want to development?
ask about it. Then, choose one and develop it into a strong research question by 2. What are the causes of
making sure that it is focused, specific, researchable, feasible, complex, and global warming and
relevant. deforestation?
3. How can drunk driving
be prevented?
Focus Question 4. How have daily
TOPIC SUBTOPIC Questions (Research meditation affected the
Question) stress levels of adults over
30’s?
5. Where do majority of
Overseas Filipino Workers
MENTAL Depression and * How does depression work?
anxiety among and anxiety affect a
HEALTH teenagers teenager's academic
performance? *
Research in Daily Life 1 This module
What effect do school's College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
is exclusively for IETI
policies on bullying have
on the number of cases
 Question demonstrates Question Question Research question
a deep understanding demonstrates good demonstrates is absent or posed
Evaluation of the topic and shows grasp of the topic’s minimal knowledge as a yes/no
analytical and original depth and or depth of the topic. question.
Formulate your own research question using the flowchart below as your guide. thought. complexity.
(Write your answers on the worksheet provided at the end of this module.) Question relates to Question is vague
Question is well Question is fairly the research topic and unrelated to
developed and focused and relates but is overly broad the research topic.
appropriate to the to the research topic. or narrow.
research topic.

TOPIC

SUBTOPIC

Sample Questions

RESEARCH QUESTION REFERENCES:

Rubrics McCombes, Shona. “ Developing a Strong Research Question.” Scrbbr, Date

published, April 16, 2019. Date updated, June 19, 2020
https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-questions/ Gerstle, Steve.
Exemplary Good Fair Unsatisfactory "Rubric for assessing research questions." CORA (Community of Online
(5pts) (3pts) (2pts) (1 pt) Research Assignments), 2017. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/rubric-
assessing-research-questions. Laurier Library, YouTube.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJNO6PYZe4&t=199

Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
 4. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Extend

Research Question Is it a good research If YES, justify your

question? (YES/NO) answer If NO, rephrase
the question
1. How does divorce
influence children’s social
development?

2. What are the causes of

global warming and
deforestation?
WORKSHEET

RESEARCH in DAILY LIFE 1: Module 6 3. How can drunk driving

be prevented?
Name: _______________________________
Section: _____________
4. How have daily
meditation affected the
stress levels of adults over
Explore 30’s?
1. _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ 5. Where do majority of
__________________ Overseas Filipino Workers
2. __________________________________________________________ work?
__________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Evaluation
Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021
Topic:

Subtopic:

Sample Questions:

Research Question:

Research in Daily Life 1 This module is exclusively for IETI College of Science and Technology senior high school. SY. 2020-2021