8

Research I
Quarter 4 - Module 4:
Drafting a Research Proposal in their
Field of Interest
Research I – Grade 7
Self-Learning Modules
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or
office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.
Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of
royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim
ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education – Regional Office VIII

Regional Director: Ramir B. Uytico EdD, CESO IV
Assistant Regional Director: Arnulfo M. Balane, CESO V

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Arseno C. Hinay and Mariecelle M. Cabardo
Language Editors:
Content Editors: Maricel Sumbise
Illustrators:
Layout Artist:
Management Team:
Rosemarie M. Guino EdD, OIC – Chief, CLMD
Ryan R. Tiu EdD, EPS, CLMD – Science
Joy B. Bihag, EPS, CLMD – LRMS
Name, Chief, CID
Name, EPS, CID – Science
Name. EPS, CID - LRMS

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Regional Office VIII

Office Address: Government Center, Candahug, Palo, Leyte

Telefax: 053 - 3233156

E-mail Address: region8@deped.gov.
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand
each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

At the end of each module, you need to answer the test to self-check your
learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you will
be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they
can best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any
part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and
tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering
the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.

ii
For the learner:

Welcome to the Research 7 Self – Learning Module on

“Drafting a Research Proposal in their Field of Interest”

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action, and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create, and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

This will give you an idea of the skills or

Explore
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module. A brief drill or review to help you link
the current lesson with the previous one. The
new lesson will also be introduced to you in
various ways such as a story, a song, a poem, a
problem opener, an activity, or a situation.

This section provides a brief discussion of the

Learn
lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the answers
to the exercises using the Answer Key at the
end of the module.

This includes questions or blank

Apply sentence/paragraph to be filled into process
what you learned from the lesson.

Assess This is a task which aims to evaluate your level

of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

This contains answers to all activities in the

Answer Key module.

iii
 This contains the learner’s reflection. Learners
Reflect
are encouraged to think about the lessons
particularly the parts that went well (they have
understood) and the parts that were weak (they
have difficulty) and write about it briefly.
Learners can share their thoughts and feeling
about the lessons.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in
developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
3. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
4. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
5. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

iv
v
 Explore

Introduction:

After you have begun conducting a background research on your topic

and have a preliminary hypothesis, you will now write your research
proposal. A research proposal is a document that describes the proposed
experimental design of your research project. Essentially, it is a paper
written you have a testable research questions, and you have an appropriate
procedure to answer the following research questions. In the proposal, you
also address safety and ethical issues.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Draft Research Proposal in your field of interest.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Before you proceed in the drafting of your research proposal in mind,

let us first have a review on the parts of a research proposal that you have
studied and explored on the previews lesson.

 Activity 1.1: Recall and complete me!

Directions: Complete the following statements bellow by filling in the
following terms which can be found in the box.

*Introduction *Objectives of the Study/Research Question

*Materials and Methods *References

1. __________ explains how the present research is a solution to the problem

or gap.
2. The part of a research proposal wherein the details of how the
experimentation will be carried is explained under ____________.
3. _________ answers the question “what is your study?”
4. _________ provides the bibliographic information directing the readers to
relevant literature.
5. _________ contains the literatures that were cited in the research paper.
  Activity 1.2: Why plan?
Directions: Answer the following questions below which corresponds to
the given illustration. Use the space provided for your answers.

<https://five-stargroup.com/what-vital-fishers-listing-detail-is-hardest-to-nail-down>

1. What is this illustration called?

_____________________________________________
2. What is the purpose or use of this illustration?
_______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
3. Explain briefly the importance of preparing a good plan before doing a
task?
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________.

4. What do you think will happen if a person performs a task without

having a good plan?

__________________________________________________________________________.

A Research Proposal, in simpler words, is a plan that will guide a

researcher towards the conduct of the study. Having a good and well-
organized research proposal is important in order for the Science
Investigatory Project to be successful with a well-grounded inference or
conclusion. Just like in building a house, a blueprint is a useful guide for
builders to create a strong and well-designed home for people to live.
This learning module will help you in drafting a research proposal
which will serve as your blueprint in conducting your study in your field of
interest.
 LET US BEGIN!

Learn
According to official ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair)
rules, your Research proposal is a succinct detailing of the introduction,
research questions/Objectives of the study, Materials and Methods, and risk
assessment of your project completed before experimentation or the conduct
of the Science Investigatory Project. These are the parts of an Investigatory
Project Proposal in accordance to ISEF:
I. Introduction:
Based on what you have learned from your background
research, identify why your ISEF topic and project idea are important
and valid. How can this research project make an impact on the
world? It includes three main components according to the 2015-2016
Intel ISEF rule book:
A brief synopsis of the background that supports your
research problem with in-line or in-text citation of
author(s) following Chicago Style format.
An explanation of why this research is important
scientifically.
An explanation of the impact of this research on the
world/human society.
The “Introduction” is more than just a “literature review” (i.e., a
summary of all the journal articles you have read) or a collection of all
the background information you have gathered.

Figure 1. Paragraph Organization for Introduction of a STEM Research Paper model from Harland (2011)
 The diagram above will help you in crafting a good
“Introduction” for your Investigatory Project proposal.
It’s important in this section to cite the sources of the
information you use. The full citation for each article goes in your
reference, with all the details required for Chicago-style citations.

II. Objective of the Study/Research Question

This part answers the question: “What will you study?”
 It clearly, accurately and briefly states the issue being studied.
 It may be stated in the declarative or interrogative form. However, it
is more often written as a simple statement followed by a series of
questions.

Example:
1. Determine the relationship of fired batch samples with desirable qualities in
terms of physical appearance and optical microstructure.
2. Test the effectiveness of human amniotic membranes in protecting living
cells from the harmful effects of radiation.

III. Materials and Methods:

In the “Materials and Methods” section, you describe how you
conducted the study, what equipment and techniques you used, and what
procedures you followed. Rebago (2004), explains the organization, style and
format on how this section should be crafted as explained in details below.
Organization, style and format:
The procedures are given in the order that the way it will be
conducted upon the conduct of the experiment.
Materials used in the study like glassware, equipment and
chemicals are mentioned as the details of the procedure are given.
They are not enumerated or listed individually as in a laboratory
manual. Amounts of materials indicated are accompanied by
appropriate unites of measurements.
Statistical tool for data analysis to be used are not describe in great
details such as including the formula especially if the data will not
be computed manually.
It may also include flow diagrams to illustrate the samples,
equipment, working model of the designed apparatus and
schematic outline of the processes employed.
Abbreviations are never used on first citations. Same rule applied
to scientific names.
In the research report, this section is written in the future tense.
Personal pronouns are not used instead the researchers are
alluded to use the third person.

III. Risk Assessment:

For each investigatory project, a very critical piece of your Research
Plan is the “Risk Assessment”. With any experiment, it’s important to
make considerations for your safety and the safety of your test subjects
and the environment. It is your responsibility to plan the following;
identify hazards associated with your project, and;
explain how you will either prevent these hazards or
protect yourself and others from them.

The table below will guide you whether your research proposal has
restrictions in compliance to the standard ethical measures, the possible
requirements, and the alternative topics if ever your research proposal in
mind, considering the methods, has ethical and safety restrictions.

Additionally, nonhuman vertebrates, human subjects, and potentially

hazardous biological agents have specific national regulations that must be
followed. Some do not allow high school students to study within these
topics at all; others place specific restrictions and require certain
documentation. Table above lists subcategories within a restricted research
topic, requirements that may be made by a fair or symposia organization,
and alternative project ideas.
IV. Reference:
In this section, you will include Chicago style-formatted citations for
the resources from your background accumulated readings.
 Below is an example on how the references are encoded and organized
in your proposal following the Chicago style-format. Depending on the
format prescribed by your school, or in a Science Fair that you are
participating, hanging indentation is commonly used in writing each of the
reference.

<https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-style/bibliography/>

Note: The most practical and useful way to arrange the reference entries is in
alphabetical order, listed by author.

Apply

Now that you have explored the parts of a Research Proposal, with its
corresponding characteristics, you are now ready to put what you have
learned into action by drafting your own proposal in your field of interest.

Activity 1.3 Drafting of the Research Proposal

Directions: Draft your research proposal of interest below following the
given format. You may use another sheet of paper is necessary.
The format below is adapted from the Intel-ISEF proposal form.

Name:_________________________________________________________
School: _________________________________________________________
Title of the Project:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
Research Adviser: __________________________________________________
Introduction:
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.
Objective of the Study/Research Question

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
Materials and Methods
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
Risk Assessment

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________.

References (at least three major references)

______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________
 Your drafted Research Proposal will be assessed by your Research
teacher if it is ready to be conducted in your Research II subject. You can
use the rubrics below as your basis to pre-assess your proposal if it is of
quality. GOOD LUCK!

Developing Accomplished Exemplary

Criterion (3) (4) (5)

Title lacks relevance or fails Title are relevant and of Title is concise, informative,
Title to offer appropriate details required size, offering details and clearly indicate the
about the proposed study or about the study. relevant details of the study.
is too lengthy.

Research issue is identified, Identifies a relevant research Presents a significant

but statement is too broad or issue. Research questions research problem related to
fails to establish the are succinctly stated, the chemical sciences.
importance of the problem. connected to the research Articulates clear, reasonable
The research purpose, issue, and supported by the research questions given the
questions, hypotheses, literature. Variables and purpose, design, and
definitions or variables and controls have been identified methods of the project. All
controls are poorly formed, and described. Connections variables and controls have
ambiguous, or not logically are established with the been appropriately defined.
Introduction: Problem, connected to the description literature. Proposals are clearly
Significance, & Purpose of of the problem. Unclear supported from the research
the Stud connections to the literature. and theoretical literature. All
elements are mutually
supportive

Elements are poorly formed, Research questions are Articulates clear, reasonable,
ambiguous, or not logically stated clearly and are and succinct research
connected to the description connected to the research questions, and questions are
of the problem, purpose or topic. fresh, interesting and
research methods. significant.

The research design is The research design has been The purpose, questions, and
confusing or incomplete identified and described in design are mutually
given the research questions sufficiently detailed terms. supportive and coherent.
and strategy. Important Some limitations and Attention has been given to
limitations and assumptions assumptions have been eliminating alternative
have not been identified. identified. explanations and controlling
extraneous variables.
Appropriate and important
limitations and assumptions
have been clearly stated.

Materials and Methods
Procedures were confusing,
incomplete, or lacked
relevance to purpose,
research questions.
Procedures for project were Procedures were thorough,
identified and described in coherent, and powerful for
inappropriate fashion. generating valid and reliable
data. Procedures were
replicable.

Both descriptive and

Descriptive or statistical statistical methods were Analytical methods were
methods were confusing, identified. sufficiently specific, clear,
incomplete or lacked and appropriate for the
relevance to the research research question.
questions, data, or research
design.

Organization and neatness
of the proposal
The length of the narrative
exceeds the suggested limit
as indicated in the
solicitation. The ideas are
presented in a random
manner with no focus.
Proposal format has been The narrative has the
followed mostly. The appropriate length and the
narrative presents the ideas ideas are presented in a clear
in an almost structural and structural and logic manner
logical manner. identifying reasonable well
the reasons and means to
achieve the goal of the
proposal.

Rubrics retrieved from (http://sites.psu.edu/personality/wp-content/uploads/sites/29060/2015/07/Research-Proposal-

Presentation.pdf)
 Assess

Now that you have already explored and practiced drafting a research
proposal in your field of interest, check your learning and progress by
answering a short assessment below.

Directions: Put a check (/) if the following statements below follow the
proper way of drafting a research proposal and leave it blank if it does not.

_______ 1. In Materials and Methods, abbreviations are allowed to be used

on first citations.
_______ 2. References are arrange in alphabetical order.
_______ 3. The Objective of the Study/Research Question must be clearly,
accurately and briefly states the issue being studied.
_______ 4. An explanation of why this research is important scientifically is
not necessarily stated in the Introduction.
_______ 5. APA format will be used in in-text citation of references for SIP.
_______ 6 The Objective of the Study/Research Question can be stated in
the declarative or interrogative form
_______ 7. In Materials and Methods, Statistical tools for data analysis to be
used are describe in great details.
_______ 8. Materials used in the study are mentioned as the details of the
procedure are given.
_______ 9. Personal pronouns are not used instead the researchers are
alluded to use the third person.
_______ 10. The procedures under the Materials and Methods are written in
past-tense form in making a research proposal.
 Reflect

You can expect your teacher to have you write the proposal several
times until you have shown him or her that you have done adequate
research, that your research design is appropriate for testing your
hypothesis, and that you have taken appropriate safety and ethical issues
into account. As you receive feedback, think carefully about the questions
and comments posed by your teacher. Remember all suggestions are
meant to help you sharpen your ideas as well as your writing.
In order for your research teacher guide you in crafting your research
proposal, sharing your thoughts and experiences can very essential. Don’t
be hesitant to reach out and ask question.
 What part in writing a research proposal you find the most
challenging and why?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.
 What will you do in order to overcome these challenges?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________.

Answer Key

Activity 1.1 Assessment Explore

1. Introduction Activity 1.2
2. Materials and 1.___
Methods
3. Introduction 1. Blueprint of a house.
4. References 2. /
5. References
2-4. Answer may vary.
3. /

4.___

5.___

6. /

7.___
References

Harland, D. J. (2011). STEM student research handbook. NSTA Press.

Rebago, L. M., Joaquin, C. C., Cruz, J. M. (2001). Research-II: A guide to

investigatory projects. Department of Science and Techbology.
Science Educational Institute.

What goes on into the ISEF Research Plan?.

https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us/cms/lib/OR01001812/Centricity/Dom
ain/1012/Research%20Plan%20Instructions%20for%20Website.pf.
Date accessed November 19, 2020.
-bulb-creativity-set-2558678/.
Research Proposal Presentation Rubric.
http://sites.psu.edu/personality/wp-
content/uploads/sites/29060/2015/07/Research-Proposal-
Presentation.pdf.
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Regional Office VIII – Curriculum and Learning

Management Division (CLMD) - Learning Resources Management Section (LRMS)

Government Center, Candahug, Palo, Leyte, 6501

Telefax: (053) 323-3156; 323-3854; 824-4627

Email Address: *region8@deped.gov.ph

*clmd.region8@deped.gov.ph *lrmds.region8@deped.gov.ph