Lesson 5

How to Title a Research Problem & Basic Guidelines in Writing the

Title of a Research Problem

Overview
This lesson will help you to understand how to title a research problem and basic
guidelines in writing the title of a research problem.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
a. discuss how to title a research problem;
b. explain the guidelines in writing the title of a research problem; and
c. cite examples on how to write a research title.
Materials
a. Laptop/Gadget
b. Power Point Presentation/ApowerREC
c. Module in ELT205

Duration : 3 hours

Lesson Proper

How to Title a Research Problem

Titling a research problem is a neglected, but important task for writers. There
are some functions that the title serves as it is used in the study. Some of these
functions are as follows:
1. It draws in summary form, the content of the whole investigation
2. It serves as a frame of reference for the whole thesis.
3. It enables the researcher to claim the title as his own.
4. It helps other researchers to refer to the work for possible survey of theory.
 Kristen Hamlin states, "A good research paper captures the gist of the paper and
She presents helpful tips on how to choose a title for a sparks interest in the content.
research title.

Step 1. Write your paper. As you write, make notes of sentences, phrases, or ideas that
capture the main ideas of your paper and could be used in the title.

Step 2. List all the questions that your paper will answer. If the problem is well- defined,
the list may be a short one. However, list may help you narrow down a title for your
paper by focusing your efforts. Craft a title that hints at the information contained in the
paper.

Step 3. Be interested in reading your paper. Use clear language when reading it. Use a
thesaurus when needed to find appropriate terms. Your title should spark interest in the
content of the paper

Step 4. Use your hypothesis as the basis of the title. Write the conclusions as definitive
statement that would capture the main idea of the paper and use it as the title.

Step 5. If your work is of a literary analysis, include a quotation from the work that
supports the thesis. Otherwise, research quotations that relate to the problem could be
used as a title. This should however be followed by a subtitle that gives details of the
subject of the paper.

Step 6. If possible, divide the title of your paper into a title and a subtitle. The title can be
more literary or descriptive, while the subtitle gives details about the specific problems
in the paper.
Step 7. Make sure of the tone of the paper. If the research paper is a serious and
conventional academic study, do not write a title using casual terms or containing
flowery words.

Step 8. Write a title containing 15 to 20 words. The title should attract interest in the
paper, and would give readers with a gist of information included in the research paper.
A too long or too complicated title, may tum off the readers even before they start
reading the paper.

Basic Guidelines in Writing the Title of a Research Problem

In view of the identified functions of the title of the research problem, the
following guidelines in writing a research title should be considered:

1. The title should be stated clearly and specifically.

2. The main concepts should be included such as the subject matter of the study, the
place where the study is conducted, the population involved, and the period when the
data were gathered.
3. The variables being investigated should always be written as part of the title
4. The number of words in the title should not exceed twenty substantive words,
function words should not be included in the counting
5. Avoid certain forms of title phrasing such as:
Study of…
A Scientific Study of..
An experimental Investigation…
A Preliminary Study of…
These are vague and NOT acceptable for inclusion in research title
6.If the title contains more than one line, it must be written in an inverted pyramid form,
with all words in capital letters.

Examplee1:
a Subject matter: The teaching of science
b. Locale: MSU-Maguindanao lLSHS
c. Population involved: Science teachers and students
d. Period of study: school year 2017-2018
e. Complete title:

The Teaching of Science in MSU-Maguindanao Integrated Laboratory Science in

School as Perceived by the Science Teachers and Their Students
during the School Year 2017-2018.

f. A brief and concise title will be

“THE TEACHING OF TEACHING AT MSU-MAGUINDANAO ILSHS"

Example 2

Poor Title:
A Study of the Relationship between IQ Socio-Economic Status, Personality,
Work Values, and Career Preferences of Fourth Year
High School Students of Cotabato City

Improved Title:

IQ, Socio-Economic Status, Personality, Work Values and Career Preferences among
Fourth Year High School Students of Cotabato City