World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.

Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway

Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

PRACTICAL
RESEARCH
2
Identifying the Inquiry and
Stating the Problem
(Module 2)

Subject Teacher: Angel Mae B. Janayan

1|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. identify the sources of research topics or problems;

2. construct a research title;
3. internalize the importance of formulating a topic in research.

✍ WARM-UP!
INSTRUCTIONS: Read carefully the sentences below and do what are asked.

1. Controversial Issue: Examine the treatment of a controversial issue in several

information sources (newspapers, scholarly journals, trade journals, blogs,
Twitter). Discuss the influences behind and implications of the process of
information creation and dissemination.

2. Interesting Research Topics: Look for 3 interesting research topics on the

web. Explain their concepts and describe the nature of each topic as your
potential research study.

LET’S TACKLE IT!

RESEARCH IN THE DAILY LIFE

From the ancient time to the present modern time, man has been continuously
finding ways to make daily life better and richer. A better and richer life include
not only the economic phases of life but as well, holistically the intellectual,
social, emotional, moral, spiritual, and aesthetic aspects.

Through technological research, man can communicate with each other better.
Through engineering research, man can build structures better. Through
educational research, man as teacher educates their learners efficiently and
effectively. Through psychological research, man has learned to deal with day-to-
day stress. Through economic research, man has learned to increase his wealth.
Thus, research, is here to serve man - to give him this better life.

RESEARCH AS AN INQUIRY

The word research is derived from the old French word cerchier, meaning to seek
or search. One seeks exhaustively for three reasons: (1) for more explanations, (2)
for verifiable truth , and (3) to make discoveries. The prefix re, meaning "again,"
signifies replication of the search. The goal of searching is to become certain of
the occurrence or existence of a certain phenomena (Estolas, 1973).

Research is an inquiry. It is a process that investigates or searches for problems,

possible solutions, theories, and relevant studies to come up with reliable
knowledge. It serves as a good inquiry because it finds answers to questions
through the application of scientific procedures. These procedures are developed
in order to increase the likelihood that the information gathered will be relevant
to the questions asked and will be reliable and useful.

2|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

THE RESEARCH TOPIC

Salmorin (2005) mentioned that the first major step in conducting a research work
is the formulation of a good research topic or problem. A research topic or problem
is something that starts from a situation of need, usually characterized by
difficulties (Andres 1998).

Finding the ideal research problem means going through the process of
discovering and then developing a topic with all the initial anxiety and uncertainty
such a choice entails. This is how you develop your capacity for independent
thought (Reis, 1999).

Then after discovering a topic of your interest, the next task is how to set the
limitations to the topic, it might be too broad or narrow. The problem in tackling
very broad topic is the volume of information it generates, that you might have a
hard time in sorting and analyzing them. On the other hand, sources of
information for a very narrow topic maybe so limited that you might find it hard to
the information you need.

So, it is worthy to note that the most successful topics are narrowly focused and
carefully defined, but are important parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem
(Reis, 1999).

SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS OR PROBLEMS

The key to succeeding in this information era is to harness the power of

information through effective thorough research.

A primary source is one containing the full research report including all details
necessary to duplicate the study. A primary source includes the description of the
rationale of the study, its participant or subjects, materials or apparatus,
procedures, result and references. In order to use primary sources, you have to
use documents such as letters and diaries that were created at the time when the
event you're researching occurred.

Traditional Secondary Sources Electronic Sources

(Print Materials)
 Websites
 Books  Blogs
 Academic Journals  Listservs, bulletin boards, and
 Trade Journal Articles discussion groups/forums
 Popular Magazine Articles  Multimedia
 Newspaper Articles  Newspaper Articles

Other Possible Sources of Good Research Topics or Problems:

 Personal Experience in Life  Further Inquiry of a Conducted

 Existing Programs that Need to Study
be Improved  Through Consultation with
Experts

3|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

 Through Extensive Readings in

the Libraries
Selecting the Research Topic or Problem

The International Journal of Research (1JR) Volume -1, Issue 4, May 2014
discussed important things to be considered in choosing the research topic or
problem:

Guidelines for Selecting a Problem

1. The problem should be such in which the researcher may be deeply

interested.
2. The problem should be related to the chain of thinking because the stray
problem can mislead the research project.
3. The problem selected should not necessarily be a new one. It may be old
problem or one on which work has already been done.
4. The problem should be written within meaningful limit and should be too
comprehensive.

Considerations in Selecting Research Topic or Problem:

1. Interest 5. Availability of 8. Original

2. Magnitude Data 9. Feasible
3. Level of Expertise 6. Ethical Issues 10. Researchable
4. Relevance 7. Significant 11. Current

According to Salmorin, et al. (2005), there are some functions that the title serves
as it is used in a study among which are the following:

 It draws, in summary form, the content of the entire investigation.

 It serves as a frame of reference for the whole thesis.
 It enables the researcher to claim the title as his own.
 It helps other researchers to refer to the work for possible survey of theories.

The following are suggestions of Salmorin et al. (2005) in selecting and writing the
research title:

1. The title should be written clearly and specifically.

2. The main concepts should be included.
3. The variable being investigated should by all means be written as part of the
title.
4. In case of studies where many variables are being studied there must be
some ways to choose terms that will summarize these variables.
5. Maximum of twenty substantive words was set by Baker and Schultz (1972),
function words not included in the counting.
6. "A Study of', "An Investigation of', An Inquiry Into", "A Comparison of" be
dropped from the title since all theses or dissertations are investigations.

What makes a good title?

4|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

The research title provides a terse summary of the content of your study. It
may also inform the readers of the findings and result of your research.
Therefore, it should be specific, concise and most importantly, informative.
A misleading title can rightly lose the interest of the reader, sane is rue when
the title is too wordy and uses words that are difficult to understand. However,
we must also be sensitive of using too catchy titles as it can also distract
serious note-takers and readers. A good research title is straightforward,
interesting and uses keywords, new phrases and informative words that are
related to the field being studied.

Don'ts in Formulating the Working Title:

1. Do not use passive voice in your research title and avoid being
wordy and lengthy. Lengthy titles are often too difficult to
understand in a single skimming situation. Wordy titles are
overlooked and are uninteresting to read for most researchers that
values time and effort in doing their research.

2. Do not use unusual acronyms. Some usual acronyms are HIV, STD,
DENR, and DEPED. However, it is still important to note its
definition in your study as acronyms and abbreviations overlap
across subjects and fields.

3. Do not write your research title in wh-format. As a beginner in

research, it is very unusual that wh-format in a working title is use
unless proven and would be answered in the study.

4. Never use contractions as can't, doesn't, isn't and the like.

5. Avoid using brand names, company names and trademarks in your

study unless it is a research study funded by the mentioned
company.

Sample Research Titles:

 Development of Learning Style-Based Teaching Strategies of Effective

Listening Skills of K to 12 Students

 Factors in Parental Behavior and Personality as Related to Problem

Behavior in Children

 Supervisory Management Skills of Selected Public Elementary School

Principals: Basis for an Enhancement Program

 Use of Context Clues towards Reading Comprehension Skill of Grade

9 Students

5|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

 Study Habits and Academic Performance of Selected Grade 4

Students of a Selected Public Elementary School in Bulacan
🚸 TRY THIS!
INSTRUCTIONS: Review the primary and secondary sources of the research topic
you are interested of. Use the library in your reference hunt.

 Finding Sources

Under three chosen areas of primary and secondary sources, specify the topics
which you believe can be good topics for research.

Primary Sources:
Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

Secondary Sources:
Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

Area:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________

🧐 LET’S CHECK WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR!

INSTRUCTIONS: Put a Check. Below is a list of inquiry. Which of them can be
verified by research? Put a check ✔ on the blank provided for each number.

6|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2

 World Maritime Academy & Training Center, Inc.
Cuadra Hontanosas Farm, Km. 20, South National Highway
Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6217
Cell #: 0935-275-1644/0991-642-3995
E-mail: wmadgte@gmail.com

____1. Is the quality of teaching in the Philippines improving?

____2. How safe is food that has been genetically modified?
____3. Is there life in Mars?
____4. Are leaders born or made?
____5. Is mercy killing moral?
____6. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
____7. Is music sharing on the internet considered piracy?
____8. How does money laundering work?
____9. Why are Filipinos hooked on telenovelas?
____10. Is gender related to make better president?

📝 HOMEWORK:

INSTRUCTIONS: Read carefully the question. Write your answer in your

notebook.

 Why is the formulation of a topic important in research?

REFERENCE:
 Aguilar, J.C. B. et al. (2017). Research in Daily Life (Practical Research) 2 .
Jenher Publishing House, Inc.

7|Page PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2- MODULE 2