LA 1. Activity 4 
 
 
 

Learning Area 1: Brainstorming for Research Topics 

  Activity 4: Writing a Topic Proposal 
The outputs of this learning area will complete the ​topic proposal​ of your research. 
 
 

  Objective  
In  this  activity,  you  should  be  able  to prepare a plan and a focus on issues and ideas in your 
respective field. 
 
 

● Communication 
 
 
● Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving 
Opportunity to  ● Information Literacy 
Practice the Following  ● Productivity and Accountability 
21st-Century Skills 
 

  Recall 
 
The Topic Proposal 
A  research  paper  starts  with  a  ​topic  proposal.  ​The  topic  proposal  is  an  indication  of  the 
researcher’s  intent  to  study  a  particular  topic.  It  has  the  following  main  components:  the 
background  of  the  study,  the  statement  of  the  research  problem,  and  the  general  and 
specific objectives of the study. 
 
Background of the Study 
The  ​background  of  the  study  ​is  a  general  description  of  the  topic.  It  contains  the  overall 
context  and  essential  information  about  the  topic.  The  purpose  of  the  background  of  the 

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
study  is  to  introduce  the  reader  to  the  research  topic  and  to  locate  the  research  problem 
within  the  existing  knowledge  in  the  field  of  study.  Relevant  literature  and  past  studies  are 
written on the topic being discussed in the background of the study. 
 
The Research Problem 
A  ​research  problem  ​is  a  “problem  or  issue  that  leads  to  the  need  for  a  study”  (Creswell, 
2009).  It  is  embedded  in  the  discussion  of  the  background  of  the  study.  The  statement of a 
research  problem  contains  the  topic  of  interest,  the  research  questions  in  the  form  of  a 
declarative sentence, and the significance of the topic (Booth et al., 2008). 
 
The  statement  of  the  topic  of  interest  is  drawn  from  the  background  of  the  study.  The 
research  questions,  as  stated  in  the  form  of  a  declarative  sentence,  must  be  specific,  clear, 
feasible,  and  significant.  The  significance  of  the  topic  must  highlight  the  potential  practical 
or  theoretical  contributions  to  the  topic.  A  contribution  is  practical  if  it  is  applicable  in 
real-life  settings.  On  the  other  hand,  a  contribution  is  theoretical  if  it  furthers  the 
understanding of the topic without a direct application in real life. 
 
The  statement  of  the  research  problem  is  a  brief,  concise, and clear description of what the 
researcher  intends  to  study.  A  research  problem  may be drawn from personal experiences, 
encounters  with  a  theory  in  a  discipline,  contemporary  issues,  or  gaps  in  the  literature 
(Creswell, 2009; Leavy, 2017; and O’Leary, 2004). 
 
Objectives of the Study 
A  topic  proposal  contains  the  ​objectives  of  the  study,  ​which  are  the  general  and  specific 
goals  that  the  study  seeks  to  achieve.  The  objectives  of  a  study  must  be  clear,  direct,  and 
measurable.  The  general  objective  is  a  broader  statement  of  the  goals  of  the  study.  The 
specific  objectives  are  more  detailed  statements  that  would  help  achieve  the  general 
objective. 
 
Examples: 
● General  objective: ​To establish the relationship between social media use and study 
habits of high school students 
 

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
 
● Specific objectives: 
○ To describe patterns of social media use among high school students 
○ To  explain  the  study  habits  of  high  school  students  in  performing  academic 
tasks 
● General  objective:  ​To  identify  the  factors behind the brand preferences of fast-food 
consumers 
● Specific objectives: 
○ To identify factors behind their general brand preferences 
○ To examine patterns of fast-food consumption 
○ To relate factors of brand preference to patterns of fast food consumption 
 

​ uick Tip 
Q
The  topic proposal must contain the ​background of the study, the statement of the 
research  problem,  ​and  the ​objectives of the study. ​All three components reflect the 
researcher’s  intent  to  do  research  on  the  topic  in  consideration  of  its  practical and/or 
theoretical contributions. 

  Activity Instructions 
General  instructions:  ​Write  a  three-  to  five-page  topic proposal containing the following 
main  components:  the  background  of  the  study,  the  statement  of  the  research problem, 
and the objectives of the study.  
 
1. In  eight  to  10  sentences,  write  the  background  of  the  study.  Include  a  discussion 
on  the  general  background  of  the  topic,  context, and other important information 
to introduce the topic. Cite no less than three relevant sources. 
 
2. In  three  to  five  sentences,  make  a  statement  of  the  research  problem.  It  must 
contain  the  research  topic,  the research question, and the significance of pursuing 
the research problem. 
 
3. Formulate one general and no less than two specific objectives of the study. 

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
 
4. Use  font  size  12,  1.5  line  spacing,  and  a  citation  style  (i.e.,  APA,  MLA,  or  Chicago 
Manual  of  Style).  Include  a  reference  list,  works  cited,  or  bibliography  section  at 
the end of the topic proposal. 
 
5. You may follow the general topic proposal format indicated below. 
 
Name: 

Short title of the topic proposal: 

 

Background of the study:  

 
The phenomenon of online shopping began . . . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Statement of the research problem:  

 
This research looks into . . . 
 
 
 
 
 

Objectives of the study: 

 
General objective: To examine . . . 
Specific objectives: 
1. To describe . . . 
2. To identify . . . 
 

References/Works Cited/Bibliography: 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
 
 
6. To submit Activity 1.4, create a separate document file. In the space provided, 
write the file name, link to the file, and the date the link was sent. 
 
File name: 

Link to the file: 

Date submitted: 
 
 

 
Rubric for Grading 
 

suggested 
1  2  3  4  points 
weights 
Components  10%   
The topic proposal  The topic proposal 
Completeness  The topic  The topic   
is missing three to  proposal is  proposal is  contains all the 
of Essential 
four essential  missing two  missing one  essential 
Components 
components.  essential  essential  components. 
1. Background of 
components.  component. 
the Study 
2. Statement of  10% 
the Research 
Problem 
3. Objectives of 
the Study  
4. References 

Component Grades  80%   

The student failed  The discussion of  The discussion of  The student 
Background of   
to provide a clear  the background of  the background of  provided a clear 
the Study 
discussion of the  the study needs  the study needs  and concise 
background of the  major revisions.  minor revisions  background of the 
study. Elements  only.  study. Elements 
such as contextual  such as context, 
information,  important facts, 
20% 
relevant facts,  and/or the place 
and/or the place  of the topic within 
of the topic within  the field are 
the field are  satisfactorily 
missing.  discussed. 

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
The statement of  The statement of  The statement of  The statement of 
Statement of   
the Research  the research  the research  the research  the research 
Problem  problem is  problem is  problem contains  problem contains 
missing two out of  missing one out of  all three  all three 
the three  the three  components, but  components, and 
components.  components.  the discussion on  all three  20% 
any of the  components are 
components  discussed in a 
needs minor  clear and concise 
revision.  manner. 

The student only  The student  The student  The student 

Objectives of   
the Study  provided one  provided general  provided general  provided general 
objective of the  and specific  and specific  and specific 
study that is not  objectives of the  objectives of the  objectives of the 
clear, direct,  study, but both  study, but at least  study that are all  20% 
and/or  are not clear,  one objective is  clear, direct, and 
measurable.  direct, and/or  not clear, direct,  measurable. 
measurable.  and/or 
measurable. 

The student used  The student used  The student used  The student used 
Bibliography   
less than three  no less than three  no less than three  no less than three 
relevant sources,  relevant sources,  relevant sources,  relevant sources, 
and these were  but all sources  but at least one  and all sources 
not referenced  were not  source was not  were referenced 
properly at the  referenced  referenced  properly at the 
end of the  properly at the  properly at the  end of the 
proposal  end of the  end of the  proposal  20% 
according to the  proposal  proposal  according to the 
chosen reference  according to the  according to the  chosen reference 
style  chosen reference  chosen reference  style 
(APA/MLA/Chicago  style  style  (APA/MLA/Chicago 
Manual of Style).  (APA/MLA/Chicago  (APA/MLA/Chicago  Manual of Style). 
Manual of Style).  Manual of Style). 

Grammar  10%   
The submission  The submission  The submission  The submission 
Grammar and   
Spelling  contains both  contains both  contains very few  contains minimal 
major  minor  grammatical and  to no grammatical  10% 
grammatical and  grammatical and  spelling errors.  and spelling 
spelling errors.  spelling errors.  errors. 

      Total  100%   

 
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LA 1. Activity 4 
 
 

  Bibliography 
 
Booth,  Wayne  C.,  Gregory  G.  Colomb,  and  Joseph  M.  Williams.  ​The  Craft  of  Research,  ​3rd ed. 
Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2008. 
 
Boudah,  Daniel  J.  “Identifying  a  Research  Problem  and  Question,  and  Searching  Relevant 
Literature”  pp.  21-42,  in  ​Conducting  Educational  Research:  Guide  to  Completing  a  Major 
Project​, California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2011. 
 
Creswell,  John  W.  ​Research  Design:  Qualitative,  Quantitative,  and  Mixed  Methods  Approaches​, 
3rd ed. California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2009. 
 
Leavy,  Patricia.  ​Research  Design:  Quantitative,  Qualitative,  Mixed  Methods,  Arts-Based,  and 
Community-Based  Participatory  Research  Approaches.  ​New  York:  The  Guilford  Press, 
2017. 
 
O’Leary, Zina. ​The Essential Guide to Doing Research. L
​ ondon: SAGE Publications, 2004. 
 

 
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