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10
RESEARCH IV
QUARTER 1
Week 3

Capsulized Self-Learning Empowerment

Toolkit

Schools Division Office of Zamboanga City

Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga City

“Unido, Junto avanza con el EduKalidad Cree, junto junto puede!”

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 1

SUBJECT & Research

QUARTER 1 WEEK 3 DAY __________________________________
GRADE/LEVEL IV dd/mm/yyyy

TOPIC Research Problem and Specific Research Problem

LEARNING 8. Develop a research problem/question from the given situation/s
COMPETENCY 9. Write the main research problem and specific research problem
IMPORTANT: Do not write anything on this material. Write all your answers for the SAQ,
Let’s Practice Activities and Try Items on a separate sheet/s of paper.

UNDERSTAND
You have learned that a good research study starts with having a good research problem.
Recall that the following are some of the characteristics of a good research problem:
a. It should address a gap in knowledge.
b. It should be important enough to contribute to the present body of research. Good
research leads to new information.
c. It should lead to further research.
d. The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data.
e. It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources.
f. The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical. If the research poses
undesirable physical risks or invades a person’s privacy, the researcher should seek
another method to answer the question.
g. It must be do-able and should also be worth investigating.

What are the standards (criteria / checklist) used in evaluating a research topic?
The following are the criteria/checklist used in evaluating a research topic.

Table 1: CHECKLIST FOR SELECTING & EVALUATING A RESEARCH TOPIC

(Direction: Evaluate the research topic using the following criteria. Place a checkmark (/) on the
appropriate box (YES/NO) and justify/ explain your answer.)

Criteria Yes No Explanation

1. Is the problem interesting?
2. Will the research contribute to the solution of socio-
economical important problems?
3. Will the research generate new information?
4. Is the research novel?
5. Do I have the skills or knowledge necessary to
conduct the research or can I learn them within the
time I have?
6. Is the research feasible in terms of:
a. time required to finish the research?
b. the expense involved in conducting the
research?
c. availability of materials for experimentation?
d. accessibility of materials for experimentation?
e. risks and hazards involved for experimentation?
7. Is the research reproducible?

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 2

Table 2: Checklist for Evaluating a Research Title

(Direction: Evaluate the research title using the following criteria. Place a checkmark (√) on the
appropriate box (Yes/No) and justify /explain your answer.)

Checklist Yes No Comments (why)

A. Title
1.Is the title brief?
2. Is the title comprehensive?
3. Does the title specify the objectives of the
researcher?
4. Is the title relevant to the objectives of the
research?

Another important element of a research study is the research question.

What is a research question?

A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to

provide an answer to. It is the center of the systematic investigation of the
research problem.
A research question focuses on the research, determines the
methodology and hypothesis, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis,
and reporting.

What are the characteristics of a good research question?

The criteria below can be used to evaluate the strength of your research question.

A. Focused and researchable

Criteria Explanation

Focuses on a The research question should be related to your research problem.

single topic and If you have multiple research questions, they should all clearly
problem related to the central aim of the study.
Answerable The answer to the research question should be answerable by
using primary or collecting quantitative and/or qualitative data or by reading
secondary data relevant literatures on the topic. If this is not possible then the
researcher should change the research question.
Does not ask for Avoid subjective words like good, bad, better, and worse, as these
a subjective do not give clear criteria for answering the question. If your
value judgement question is evaluating something, use terms with more measurable
definitions.

X Which between fertilizer A and B is better?

Which between fertilizer A and B is better at improving the

height of the okra plant?
Does not Why questions are usually too open to serve as good research
ask why questions. There are often so many possible causes that a
research project cannot give a thorough answer. Asking
what or how questions are better.

X Why does fertilizer A work?

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 3

What are the active substances found in fertilizer A that

makes plants grow better?

B. Feasible and specific

Criteria Explanation

Answerable within Make sure that there is have enough time and resources
practical constraints to do the research required to answer the question.
Uses specific, well- All the terms you use in the research question should have
defined concepts clear meanings. Avoid vague language and broad ideas,
and be clear about what, who, where and when your
question addresses.

What is the effect of increasing the amount of sunlight

the plant receives on the plant’s height?

C. Complex and arguable

Criteria Explanation

Cannot be Closed yes/no questions are too simple to work as good

answered research questions — they do not provide enough scope for
with yes or no investigation and discussion.

X Does fertilizer A work better than fertilizer B?

Cannot be If you can answer the question through a Google search or by
answered with reading a single book or article, it is probably not complex
easily found facts enough. A good research question requires original data,
and figures synthesis of multiple sources, interpretation and/or argument to
provide an answer.
Provides scope for The answer to the question should not just be a simple
debate and statement of fact: there needs to be space for the researcher
deliberation to discuss/explain and interpret what the results of the study.

D. Relevant and original

Criteria Explanation
Has not already been You do not have to ask something groundbreaking that
answered nobody has ever thought of before, but the question should
have some aspect of originality.

How do you develop a research problem?

Examine the following situations and analyze how the research problem and
research questions were formulated.

SITUATION 1:
SpongeBob loves to garden and wants to grow lots of pink flowers for his pal Sandy. He
bought a special Flower Power fertilizer to see if it will help plants produce more flowers. He
plants two plants of the same size in separate containers with the same amount of potting

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 4

soil. He labeled one pot as Pot A and the other pot as Pot B. He places both plants in a sunny
window. He waters Pot A every day with fertilized water and Pot B with plain water.

RESEARCH PROBLEM:
To determine the effect of Flower Power fertilizer on flowering plants.

SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS/PROBLEM: (these are examples of specific research

questions/problems that can be drawn from the research problem formulated above)
a. Which plant bears more flowers?
b. What is the effect of using Flower Power fertilizer on flowering plants?

SITUATION 2:
A student wanted to test how the mass of a paper airplane affected the distance it would
fly. The student prepared three paper planes of the same size made of the same kind of paper.
He labeled the paper planes as X, Y and Z. Paper clips were added on each paper plane
before each test flight. Paper plane X was loaded with 2 paper clips, Y was loaded with 4
paper clips and Z was loaded with 6 paper clips. Each paper plane was tested to determine
how far it would fly.

RESEARCH PROBLEM:
To find out the effect of the paper plane’s mass on its distance of flight

SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS/PROBLEM:: (these are examples of specific research

questions/problems that can be drawn from the research problem formulated above)
a. What is the distance flight of Plane X, Y and Z?
b. What is the effect the paper planes mass on its distance of flight?

SITUATION 2:
Strawberry plant clones are given different amounts of water for a 3-week period. First
strawberry plant receives 400 millilitres (mL) a day. The second strawberry plant receives
200mL a day. The third strawberry plant receives 100mL a day. The fourth strawberry plant
does not receive any extra water; this plant only receives natural ways of receiving water. The
height of the strawberry plants is recorded daily.

RESEARCH PROBLEM:
To test the effect of different amounts of water on the growth of strawberry plants.

SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS/PROBLEM:: (these are examples of specific research

questions/problems that can be drawn from the research problem formulated above)
a. What is the height of the strawberry plant when watered with
i. 400mL of water
ii. 200mL of water
iii. 100mL of water
iv. natural ways of receiving water
b. What is the effect of the different amounts of water on the height of the strawberry
plant?
SAQ-1: What have you observed about the specific problems/questions in the given
examples?

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 5

Now it is your turn to formulate the research problems and questions

for the following experiments below.

Let’s Practice! (Write your answer on the separate sheet/s of paper.)

Read each situation below. Formulate the research problem (1) and specific research
problem (1).

1. Katiana wanted to figure out what type of liquid worked best for growing beans. She
watered one with coca-cola, one with lemonade, and one with just water. After one week, she
measured how high they had grown.

Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Amir wanted to find out what fertilizer worked best for growing marigolds. He put Miracle
Grow on one, Scotts fertilizer on one, and no fertilizer on another. He wants to observe the
plants’ time to bear flowers, the number of flowers it has and the plants height.

Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Ludz wanted to find out what soil works best for growing roses. He grew them in potting
soil, clay, sand, and soil he found outside his yard. After one week, he measured their height
and how many leaves they had.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Leo placed two circles of paper in a Petri dish (something used for growing bacteria). One
circle of paper was soaked in penicillin. The other had nothing on it. He poured a liquid filled
with bacteria into the Petri dish. Both circles of paper were placed in the Petri dish about 3cm
apart.
At the end of the experiment, a circle with a radius of 2cm formed around the circle of paper
soaked in penicillin. There were no bacteria growing in the 2cm circle. No change had
occurred around the other circle of paper. The bacteria were growing well.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 6

5. Florence wanted to see what battery lasted the longest. She put each battery into a clock
and recorded the time that the clock stopped. She used Duracell, Energizer, Kroger brand,
and EverReady.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

REMEMBER
Key points
▪ A good research question is important to guide the researcher in his study. It identifies
exactly what the researcher wants to find out and gives his study a clear focus and
purpose.
▪ A good research question has the following characteristics:
a. Focused and researchable
b. Feasible and specific
c. Complex and arguable
d. Relevant and original

TRY
Let’s see how much you have learned today!
Directions: Read each situation below. Formulate the research problem (1) and specific
research problem (1). Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Amanda was using steel to make rusted sculptures. After building each
sculpture, she caused the steel in the sculpture to rust by placing it into a tub
filled with salt water for eight hours. Amanda wondered if steel would rust
faster submerged in vinegar instead of salt water.

Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Different rose bushes are grown in a greenhouse for two months. The number of flowers
on each bush is counted at the end of an experiment.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________
3. You water three sunflower plants with salt water. Each plant receives a different
concentration of salt solutions. A fourth plant receives regular water. After a two-week period,
the height is measured.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School
 7

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

4. One tank of goldfish is fed the normal amount of food once a day, a second tank is fed
twice a day, and a third tank four times a day during a six week study. The fish’s body fat is
recorded daily.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________
5. Three wax palm trees are kept at different humidity levels inside of a greenhouse for 12
weeks. One tree is left outside in normal conditions. The height of each tree is measured once
a week.
Research Problem:
_________________________________________________________________________

Specific Research Question/Problem:

_________________________________________________________________________

McCombes, Shona. Scribbr: Research questions. Retrieved from

https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-
examples/, 2019.
REFERENCE/S
Raut, Bhagwaut. Slideshare: Sources of research problem. Retrieved
from https://www.slideshare.net/BhagwatRaut/sources-of-research-
problem,2018.

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WRITTEN BY: ABBYGAILE G. ABONALLA, T-III

Zamboanga City High School