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SHS
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
Quarter 1-Module11
“Ask Me How”
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Practical Research 1
Quarter 1 – Module 11 – “Ask Me How”

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

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Reviewers: Lany M. Abainza and MASBATE PROVINCE DIVISION
(headed by Helen V. Titong)
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MODULE 11
“Ask me How”
Stating Research Question
Hello! Thanks for being here once again to learn more about
research. Asking a question seems very simple, however, it
plays a very important role in research. It is like a lighthouse that
will guide you and give your work a purpose. So, let us find out
what a research question is, why you need one, and how to
create a good research question.

Specifically, after working on this module, you should be able to:

1. define and identify a good research question;
2. develop and state a good research question for your chosen topic.

YOUR READINESS CHECK

Before we start, let’s find out how much you know about this lesson by answering
the questions below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

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?

YOUR INITIAL TASK

Activity: Study and compare the set of sample research questions in boxes A and
B. Then, write your thoughts in a Venn diagram on a separate sheet of paper.

A B
 What effect does social media
have on people’s minds?
 Why is there a rising number of
overseas Filipino workers from the
Philippines?
 Do private hospitals provide
better healthcare system than
public hospitals?
 How did the Philippines gain
independence from the Spanish
colonizers in the 18th century?
 What effect does daily use of Facebook have on the
academic performance of high school students?
 How does the rising unemployment rate in the
Philippines affect Filipino workers from provinces?
 How do public and private hospitals in Region V
compare in health outcomes and patient satisfaction
among low-income people with chronic illnesses?
 How does the West Philippine Sea dispute affect the
way Filipinos view the Philippines’s territorial
sovereignty?

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Your thoughts…

Set A Set B

YOUR GUIDE

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research project,
thesis or dissertation. It will guide you in which information to search, data to be
collected, and how you’re going to design your writing process.

But what exactly is a research question?

A research question is simply a question related to your chosen

topic that needs to be answered. It is the question where your
research revolves.

For example, if your topic of interest 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?

TOPIC RESEARCH QUESTION

 Why do teenagers make up the

 Use of social media largest percentage of Instagram
users?

 How does frequent use of YouTube

affect people’s social behavior

Formulating a research question helps you focus your research into a specific
concern or issue by defining exactly what you want to find out.

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What makes a good research question? All research questions should be:

Focused Feasible

Specific Complex

Researchable Relevant

Let’s take a look at these questions from your initial task as an example.

What effect does social media have on people’s minds?

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.

Do private hospitals provide better healthcare system than public hospitals?

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.

How did the Philippines gain independence from the Spanish colonizers in the 18th century?

How does the West Philippine Sea dispute affect the way Filipinos view the Philippines’s
territorial sovereignty?

The first question is too simple that you can simply search the internet to find
answers. Also, it has already been answered so many times and contributing new
information is hardy feasible. The second question takes a specific argument and
has more relevance to current social concerns and debates.

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In a research paper, you will usually have to formulate only one
research question that will guide you as you proceed with your
research paper. However, in a bigger research project, such as a thesis
or dissertation, you might have multiple research questions, but they
must all be centered or focused on your research problem.

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.
2. Narrow the topic - Choose a certain aspect of your topic that you want to
focus on.
3. Ask some questions - think of some questions you can ask about it.
4. Focus the question - pick one and try to make it more specific and relevant.

For example, if your choice of topic is mental health, you can narrow the topic down
by simply choosing a certain aspect of it. (e.g. Factors that contribute to good mental
health, cases of depression and anxiety among teenagers). Once you have chosen a
certain sub-topic, think of some questions you would want to ask about it. Then,
choose one and develop it into a strong research question by making sure that it is
focused, specific, researchable, feasible, complex, and relevant.

Developing a Research Question: Example:

(Flowchart)

Topic Mental Health

Sub-topic
Deppression and anxiety among
teenagers
Questions

Focus Question * How does deppression and anxiety affect a

(RESEARCH QUESTION) teenager's academic performance?
* What effect do school's policies on bullying
have on the number of cases of depression
among high school students?

What effect do the Anti-Bullying Act of

2013 have on the number of cases of
depression among teenagers in
Philippine public schools?

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Another tip when formulating a research question:

After choosing a topic, do some preliminary reading to find out
topical debates and issues about it. This will also help you narrow
down your topic and help you think of relevant research questions.

YOUR DISCOVERY TASKS

Activity: Study each research question then fill out the table below by the needed
information. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

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

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

2. What are the causes of global

warming and deforestation?

3. How can drunk driving be prevented?

4. How have daily meditation affected

the stress levels of adults over 30’s?

5. Where do majority of Overseas

Filipino Workers work?

LET’S SUM IT UP

A Research Question is a question which states the aim of your research and pinpoints
exactly what you want to find out. To formulate your own research question, first, choose a
topic or research problem, decide what you want to know about this concern, write down
sample questions, then pick one and make sure that it is answerable, not too broad or too
narrow, relevant, and focused on your research problem..

Other things you might want to know:

 In which section of the paper should the research question be
included? – Typically, the research question is included at the end of the
Introduction section after setting the background and giving a review of the
existing literature.
 Now that I have already formulated my research question, what do I
do with it? – Your research question will be your guide on what resources
to find (e.g. statistics, interviews, articles, etc.) and what information to
collect. So basically, you can now start researching to find the answer for
your research question.

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YOUR FINAL TASK

Formulate your own research question using the flowchart below as your guide.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Topic:

Sub-topic:

Sample Questions:

RESEARCH QUESTION:

Congratulations for accomplishing the given tasks in this

module! Great job! But, if you are still having some difficulties
about this topic, don’t worry, there is always room for
improvement. Keep on learning and trying. All the best!

YOUR REINFORCER
For more information and further discussion on research question, watch these YouTube
videos. Links are provided below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJNO6PYZe4&t=199s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLYCYeCFak

YOUR REFLECTION/S
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___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________

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REFERENCES

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. "Rubric for assessing research questions." CORA (Community of Online Research
Assignments), 2017. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/rubric-assessing-research-questions.

Laurier Library, YouTube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJNO6PYZe4&t=199s

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Answer Key

YOUR READINESS CHECK:

(Learners may have similar answers like those given below)

1. What is a research question?

- A research question is a question based on your research topic/ problem that
you want to answer in your research paper.

2. How is a research question different from a research problem?

- A research problem is a certain area of concern or issue while a research
question gives focus as to what aspect of the research problem is to be
answered.

3. What are the characteristics of a good research question?

A good research question should be:
- focused - feasible/ answerable
- specific - relevant
- not too broad or too narrow

4. Why do we need to state a research question at the beginning of a research?

- The research question will serve as your guide on what exactly to find out. It
narrows down your research problem, and determines what kind of information
and resources you’ll need.

INITIAL TASK:
(Learners may have similar answer from the given below.)

Set A Set B

unfocused/ not specific focused & specific

too broad appropriately complex

answerable by yes/no relevant to current

social issues
no longer relevant
to current issues

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DISCOVERY TASK:
(Learners’ answers may vary from the given answers below.)

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

question? (YES/NO) If NO, rephrase the question
1. How does divorce influence The question is specific,
children’s social development? YES relevant, and appropriately
complex.
2. What are the causes of global What daily activities in
warming and deforestation? NO urban areas contribute the
most in global warming?
3. How can drunk driving be prevented? How do the number of cases
NO of traffic accidents in Region
V relate to drunk driving?
4. How have daily meditation affected The question is specific,
the stress levels of adults over 30’s? YES researchable, and relevant

5. Where do majority of Overseas What are the factors

Filipino Workers work? NO considered by OFW’s in
choosing the country they
want to work in since 2015?

FINAL TASK:
Rubric for Grading Research Questions

Exemplary Good Fair Unsatisfactory

(5pts) (3pts) (2pt) (1 pt)
Question Question Question Research question is
demonstrates a deep demonstrates good demonstrates minimal absent or posed as a
understanding of the grasp of the topic’s knowledge or depth of yes/no question.
topic and shows depth and complexity. the topic.
analytical and original
thought.

Question is well Question is fairly Question relates to Question is vague and

developed and focused and relates to the research topic but unrelated to the
appropriate to the the research topic. is overly broad or research topic.
research topic. narrow.

REFERENCE:
Gerstle, Steve. "Rubric for assessing research questions." CORA (Community of Online Research
Assignments), 2017. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/rubric-assessing-research-questions.