INFORMATION SHEET # 2.

2-1
TOPIC: IDENTIFYING THE INQUIRY AND
STATING THE PROBLEM

Summary of learning content

At the end of this section, you will be able to:

a. design a research used in daily life;
b. write a research title;
c. state research questions; and
d. present written statement of the problem.
Motivation:
Directions: Decode the following to understand the given words.

1. 777- 33- 7777- 33- 2- 777- 222- 44 =

2. 8- 666- 7- 444- 222- 7777=

3. 7- 777- 666- 22- 555- 33- 6 =

4. 8- 444- 8- 555- 33 =

5. 77- 88- 33- 7777- 8- 444- 666- 66- 7777=

Developing a good research topic may not be easy for you but it is an important skill.
Your teacher may assign you a particular topic but often requires you to choose a topic
that interests you .In this lesson you are given the guidelines in choosing a topic when
you begin your research work.

In the previous lesson, you learned the nature of inquiry and research. Research may be
conducted in different forms. On this module, you will learn how to find research topic
and create research questions, problem statement and purpose statement.

LC2: Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the Problem

A. IDENTIFYING THE INQUIRY AND STATING THE

PROBLEM
A. RESEARCH TOPICS
Research topics are as varied and numerous as the
realities and complexities of daily life, on a personal,
institutional, national or global level.
 A research topic is the subject that a researcher is interested in when conducting
research. This is the starting point of every successful research project. This is an
ongoing process where the researcher explore and refine their ideas.

BROAD AND SPECIFIC TOPICS

1. Too broad topics will lead you nowhere.
2. Too broad topics will lead you
nowhere. Example:
Broad Topic Women’s Health

Narrowed Topic Women and Cancer

Focused Topic Women and Breast Cancer

Keep in mind that too broad topics prevents you

to focus on the subject matter of the paper.

Doing research always starts with a problem that leads to a topic to investigate. Obtaining
background information and formulating a research topic that addresses the issue is a
good place to start learning about your challenge.

B. RESOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

1. A feeling of discomfort like during
recitation or making projects
2. Perceived difficulties in the management
and leadership of the class president or the
adviser.
3. A gap between theory and practice
4. A daily experience of a person that requires
further inquiry especially if improvements are desired.
A problem is defined as "any important, intriguing, and challenging situation,
actual or imagined, involving reflexive thinking to solve." A research
problem is a general issue or concern about the research that narrow the topic.

C. CONSIDERATIONS IN FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. External Criteria
a. Novelty- The topic must not have
been used by many researchers
b. Availability of Subjects- Since this is
practical research, it is suggested
that you think of study participants
who are within your reach
c. Administrative Support- Refers to
the aid or assistance that can be
solicited from the school or extended
by the community
d. Availability and Adequacy of Facilities and Equipment- Devices such
as computers, telephones, wifi etc. in undertaking the research must be
considered
e. Ethical Considerations- Ensure that all
activities to be undertaken are acceptable
and are done in accordance with what is
legal and morally right
2. Internal Criteria
a. Experience Training and Professional
Qualifications- Constitute the researchers knowledge, expertise, and
experience in order for him/her to cope with the research demands
 b. Motivation, Interest, Intellectual Curiosity and Perceptiveness of the
Researcher- These are essential attitudes that bring anticipated
satisfaction or enjoyment in the completion of research tasks
c. Time Factor- Considers the fact that studies must be pursued in a given
time frame
d. Cost and Return- The amount of
funding necessary, depends on the
size of the sample, the place where
the research is to be conducted, the
research design, and the treatment
of data
e. Hazards, penalties and Handicaps- Determined by the researchers
physical and intellectual capacity and moral judgment

A research title is the first thing that the readers meet. Therefore, it should be clear to
express the content of the research.

D. RESEARCH TITLE
1. The research title summarizes the main idea or ideas of your study. A
good title contains the fewest possible words needed to adequately
describe the content and/or purpose of your research paper. (University of
Southern California, 2017)
2. FUNCTIONS OF A GOOD RESEARCH TITLE
a. Summarize the main idea of the paper
b. Be a concise statement of the main topic
c. Include the major variable/s
d. Show the relationship of the main variables of the
study
 e. Include the main task of the researcher about the major variables under
study
f. Mention the participants and the setting
3. STEPS IN WRITING A GOOD WORKING TITLE
STEP 1- Ask yourselves these questions and make note of the answers:
What is my paper about? (think about your chosen research topic)
Example: My paper is about determining
how much awareness students have about
the new modes of learning
Who/What is studied?
Example: I will determine the awareness
of Grade 11 students of Olivarez College
Tagaytay
STEP 2- Use your answers to list keywords
Example: Determining
How much awareness
New modes of learning
Grade 11 students
Olivarez College Tagaytay
STEP 3- Create a sentence that includes the keywords you listed
Example: This study is determining how much awareness Olivarez College
Tagaytay’s Grade 11 students have about the new modes of learning.
 STEP 4- Delete non-essential information and reword the title

Deleting Rewording

Example: This study is determining Example:

how much awareness Olivarez Determining
College Tagaytay’s Grade 11
how much - use its synonym
students have about the new modes
of learning. level Awareness

Olivarez College Tagaytay’s –

Olivarez College Tagaytay

Grade 11 students

the new modes of learning

4. FINAL TITLE
Determining the Level of Awareness towards the
New Modes of Learning of Grade 11 Students of
Olivarez College Tagaytay
Note: Consider the correct grammatical structure in arranging the words

E. GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. The formulation of the general problem statement that consists the
research question. The opening paragraph of the research paper contains
the general problem of the study
F. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
1. Main task – It satisfies the question “what to do” with the major variables
such as to associate, to relate, to assess, and to measure.
2. Main or Major Variables
 3. Participants: subjects or respondents
4. Specific Setting
5. Coverage Date
6. Intended Outputs: such as intervention programs, module, policies (if
Main Task
applicable)
Example: This study aims to determine the level of awareness towards the
Major Variables new modes of learning of Grade 11 students in Olivarez College Tagaytay
School Year 2020 – 2021. Participants Specific Setting

Coverage Date

G. RESEARCH QUESTION
1. The research questions logically proceed
from the context of the study. They are
formulated to clearly show the extent and
different angles of inquiry (ex: different
variables of interest, relationships to be
probed, geographical and temporal
scope).
2. Steps in writing a research question:
a. Choose the type of quantitative research
question. Therefore, in order to know
how to write your quantitative research
question, you need to start by selecting
the type of quantitative research question
you are trying to create: descriptive,
correlational and experimental research.
b. Identify the different types of variables that you are trying to measure,
manipulate and/or control, as well as any groups you may be interested
in.
 c. Selecting the appropriate structure for the chosen type of quantitative
research question, based on the variables and/or groups involved.

A research question narrows the purpose

into specific questions that the researcher
would like to answer in the study.

d. Write out the problem or issues you are trying to address in a form of
complete research question
Example:

Descriptive Research Correlational Research

What percentage of Filipino men What is the relationship between gender and
and women exceed their daily attitudes towards music piracy amongst
calorific allowance? adolescents?

Experimental Research (Product Development)

In 1 minute, how many voltage is produced using

the product? What are the benefits of monitoring
the

3. Steps in writing descriptive research question

STEP1- Choose your starting phase:
How many…? How frequently…?
How much…? What is the…?
What percentage…? What proportion…?
To what extent…? What are…?
 STEP 2- Identify and name the dependent
variable What percentage of Filipino
men and
women exceed their daily calorific allowance?
STEP 3- Identify group(s) you are interested in
What percentage of Filipino men and
women exceed their daily calorific allowance?
STEP 4- Decide whether the dependent variable or group(s) should be
included first, last or in 2 parts
Group 1st; dependent variable 2nd: What percentage of Filipino
men and women exceed their daily calorific allowance?
STEP 5- Include any words that provide greater
context to your question
What percentage of Filipino men and
women exceed their daily calorific allowance?
STEP 6- Write out the descriptive research question
What percentage of Filipino men and women exceed their daily
calorific allowance?

4. Steps in writing correlational research

question STEP 1- Choose your starting
phrase:
Two (2) variables:
What is the relationship between…?
Three or more variables:
What are the relationships of…?
STEP 2- Name the independent variable(s)
What is the relationship between gender and attitudes towards
music piracy amongst adolescents?
STEP 3- Name the dependent variable(s)
 What is the relationship
between gender and attitudes towards
music piracy amongst adolescents?
STEP 4-Name of the group
What is the relationship
between gender and attitudes towards
music piracy amongst adolescents?
STEP 5- Identify the appropriate adjoining text
What is the relationship between gender and attitudes towards
music piracy amongst adolescents?

STEP 6- Write out the correlational research question

What is the relationship between gender and attitudes towards
music piracy amongst adolescents?
 WRITTEN WORK 2.2-2
Writing Title, Gap, Statement of the Problem, Research Questions Rationale
(Concept Paper)

Learning competencies:
At the end of this lesson, the learners will be able to:
a. design a research used in daily life;
b. write a research title;
c. state research questions; and
d. present written statement of the problem.

Directions: Make a concept paper about your chosen topic. Follow the format and
example provided.

RESEARCH CONCEPT PAPER

PROPOSED TITLE: Non Drug Addiction: Nomophobia among Senior High School Students in
Olivarez College Tagaytay

BRIEF RATIONALE: New technologies have been largely a product of our lives. Smartphones and
their apps today play a vital role in social connections, expression, and
knowledge exchange, quickly expanding across the world. However, despite
its beneficial implications, it gives us a disadvantage of getting out of contact
with a cell phone in a pathological panic.

This study aims to fill in the gaps in the literature of nomophobia especially
GENERAL during this pandemic when the demand and usage of mobile devices are now
PURPOSE: highly consumed more than ever.
 ARTICULATION OF RESPONDENTS (SAMPLING TECHNIQUE), DESIGN AND METHOD,
INSTRUMENT, STATISTICAL TREATMENT/DATA ANALYSIS WITH THE SOPS
Statement of the Data Research Respondent Instrument Statistical Output
Problem Gathering Design (Sampling Treatment/Data
Method Technique) Analysis
1. What is the Quantitative Stratified Questionnaire Percentage and
demographic profile of Survey descriptive sampling frequency were
the respondents in terms research technique used to
of: design determine and
analyze the
Survey demographic
profile of the
A. Gender respondents
while the mean
B. Age score was used
to interpret the
2. What is the response of the
percentage of Senior participants on
High School students in the survey
Olivarez College questionnaire.
Tagaytay who are
possibly symptomatic
on nomophobia?
 RUBRIC FOR GRADING CONCEPT PAPER

5-4 3-2 2-1

Title Title is informative Title offers details Title fails to offer
and offers specific about the topic. appropriate details
details about the about the topic.
proposed study.
Research gap 5-4 3-2 2-1

The gap of The gap of The gap of knowledge

knowledge of the knowledge of the of the study is not
study is clearly and study is mostly clearly stated in
specifically stated clear and stated in paragraph.
in paragraph to paragraph to
convince convince
the readers of the the readers of the
need to conduct need to conduct
such study. such study
Objectives 5-4 3-2 2-1
Clearly stated and Mostly clear stated Objectives is not clearly
will address and will address stated and will not
knowledge knowledge specifically address
gaps/problems to gaps/problems to knowledge
be solved. be solved. gaps/problems to be
solved.
Introduction 15-10 9-5 4-1
Identifies a
Presents Research issue is
relevant research
significant identified, but statement
issue. Research
research problem is too broad or fails to
questions are
related to the topic. establish the importance
succinctly stated,
Articulates clear, of the problem. The
connected to the
reasonable research question,
research issue, and
research questions purpose, questions and
supported with the
given the purpose, controls are poorly
topic.
design, and formed, ambiguous, or
methods of the not logically connected
project. to the description of the
problem.
TOTAL: /30
 LEARNING FEEDBACK DIARY 2.2-3

Learning competencies:
At the end of this lesson, the learners will be able to:
a. design a research used in daily life;
b. write a research title;
c. state research questions; and
d. present written statement of the problem.

Directions: Answer the following question guide in a narrative form. Please write
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What significant experiences did you encounter?

2. What problem or difficulties did you experience in this topic?
3. How did you overcome it?
 WRITTEN WORK # 2.3-1
Short Essay

Directions:

A. In preparation for the upcoming Title Defense in which your title, gap,
statement of the problem, research questions rationale will be critiqued
thoroughly, a set of possible questions is provided below. Answer the questions
on the space provided. (5 points each)

1. Why did you choose this topic?

2. Briefly, explain what your research project is all about

3. What is/are the variable/s of your study?

4. What is the scope of the study?

5. What sampling technique will you use in choosing your sample?

6. What will be the significance of your research to Olivarez College Tagaytay?

REFERENCES:
IMAGES
How AI is transforming education and skills development. (2019). Retrieved from
http://cellit.in/how-ai-is-transforming-education-and-skills-development/

Company Valuations and Why They're the Wrong Metric for Business Owners. (2018).
Retrieved from https://www.divestopedia.com/2/1142/valuation/company-
valuations-and-why-it-is-the-wrong-metric-for-business-owners

A Look at Functional Medicine. (2018). Retrieved from

https://www.nwphysicians.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/July-Summer-
Edition.pdf

Business Software & Solutions. (2020). Retrieved from https://emirtech.ae/business-

software.html
Retrieved from https://www.pngwing.com/en/search?q=research

Retrieved from https://www.kissclipart.com/research-vector-clipart-search-engine-

optimization-1xxgie/

BOOKS
Cristobal, A. P. & De la Cruz-Cristobal, M. C. (2017). Practical Research 2 for Senior
High School. Quezon: C & E Publishing.