PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

DESIGNING RESEARCH USEFUL IN DAILY LIFE

Steps in Developing Research Topic: Developing a research problem can be done in four (4) steps:

1. CHOOSE A BROAD TOPIC. The first step is quite simple. As a Senior High School student, these tips will
surely guide you in selecting a broad topic for quantitative research:

A. Choose an interesting topic.

Research is demanding but rewarding. Stay motivated and persistent by choosing a topic you're
passionate about. Accomplishing something meaningful to you is the ultimate satisfaction.
B. Select a significant topic.
Choose a research topic that addresses real-world problems in your community or surroundings. It
should have socio-economic relevance and offer a sense of accomplishment. Look closely at your
household, neighborhood, school, friends, or local community for common issues.
C. Choose a topic relevant to your field.
Choose a research topic aligned with your academic track—business and management for ABM
students or politics, culture, and arts for HUMSS students. Opting for a topic you can relate to will
make your research project more manageable

2. DO A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH. After selecting a broad topic, delve deeper by reading articles, journals,
and related research studies. Learn about data collection methods, research instruments, data analysis, and
key findings from other researchers. Note down relevant studies for reference. If you began with a literature
review in the first step, this second step is a continuation of that process. A more detailed discussion of the
literature review will be covered in Module 3
3. DEFINE THE PROBLEM. Gather information to narrow down your broad topic into specific and manageable
research questions. You can refine it by focusing on specific aspects like population, place, time, or
characteristics. Be cautious not to make it overly simple or redundant. For a more focused research question,
consider comparative studies or broadening the scope.

Descriptive Research Design:

Purpose: To describe and summarize data and characteristics of a phenomenon without manipulating variables.
Methods: Surveys, observations, content analysis, and cross-sectional studies.
Example: A survey that collects data on the demographic characteristics of a population.
Correlational Research Design:
Purpose: To examine the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them.
Methods: Correlation coefficients (e.g., Pearson's r), cross-sectional studies, and retrospective studies.
Example: Investigating the relationship between smoking and lung cancer incidence.

RESEARCH TITLE
BASIC GUIDELINES IN MAKING RESEARCH TITLE
The following are the basic guidelines in making a research study title:
1. Use an accurate description of the subject and scope of the study instead of using general terms.
2. Do not use abbreviations except for commonly known ones like DNA and ICT.
3. Do not include words like “The study of,” “analysis of,” “an investigation of” or similar construction as these
would only lengthen the title.
4. Include the main dependent and independent variables.
5. Be mindful of the proper use of grammar and punctuation.

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6. Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs as well as the first letter of the first and last
words.
7. State in a declarative form, although you may also see titles in question form from time to time.
8. The year the study has been conducted should not be indicated unless it is a historical study.
9. Use current terminology.
10. Depending on the institutional requirements, 5 to15 words are sufficient to describe the research study.
11. Use the common name instead of chemical formula (e.g., NH4)
12. Write and italicize the full scientific names.
13. Must reflect the tone of the paper. An academic research paper has title which is not casual, or informal,
or does not contain humor.

THE FOLLOWING STEPS CAN GUIDE YOU IN WRITING YOUR RESEARCH TITLE:
1. Determine what it is that you wish to accomplish or know from your study. Write one to two sentences to
state the main objectives of your research project.
2. Include important keywords and variables. Revise the sentences into one complete sentence that includes
important keywords and variables of the study.
3. Shorten the title by eliminating unnecessary words. You may also shrink a phrase into a simpler phrase or a
single word. In doing this, make sure that the main thought of the research study is retained.
4. Correct grammar and punctuation errors if there is any.
5. Observe proper formatting. The format may vary according to the requirements of the course or school.
Please seek guidance from your professor.

BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH
Background and Rationale of the Study
 The background of the study is the part of your paper where you inform the reader of the context of the
study. When we say context, it means the situation or circumstances within which your research topic was
conceptualized.
 Ideally, this part is written when you have already conducted a literature review and has a good perception of
the topic so you can articulate the importance and validity of the research problem.
 It is also in this part of the paper where you justify the need to conduct a research study about the topic
selected by establishing the research gap.
 A research gap is an under or unexplored area of a topic that requires further exploration. The gap can be in a
form of other variables, conditions, population, methodology, or test subject.
 To identify research gaps, an exhaustive literature review regarding the topic is required. You may have to look
for similar or related studies employing quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods from legitimate sources and
examine the gray areas. Reading through the Discussion, Conclusion, or the Recommendations sections of the
articles will help you know potential areas of study that need further attention. Identifying research gaps
sometimes would even make researchers modify their research problem as they get noteworthy ideas from
fellow researchers.

While both the Background of the involves reading past related studies. It is the introductory part of the
paper with the purpose of relaying the importance of your research study.

Crafting Background and Rationale for Your Research

The background and rationale of a study typically consist of several interconnected parts, each serving a specific
purpose in setting the context and justifying the research. Here are the key parts of the background and rationale
of a study:

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Background Information: This section provides the context and setting for the research. It includes information
about the broader field of study, relevant historical context, and any key trends or developments that have led to
the need for the research.
Historical Context (if applicable): If your research topic has a historical dimension, provide a brief historical
context that explains how the issue has evolved over time and why it is relevant today.
Statement of the Problem: This is a concise statement that outlines the specific research problem or question
that the study aims to address. It articulates the gap in knowledge or the issue that the research intends to
investigate.
Purpose of the Study: This part explains the main goal or objective of the research. It clarifies what the study
intends to achieve and why it is important.
Scope and Delimitation: Here, the researcher defines the boundaries of the study. It specifies what aspects will
be included in the research and what will be excluded. It helps to manage expectations about the extent of the
study.
Conceptual Framework: The conceptual framework is an essential part of the background. It presents a visual
representation or description of the theoretical underpinnings of the research. It often includes key concepts,
variables, and their relationships, helping to guide the study's design and analysis.
Literature Review: Summarize the existing body of literature related to your research topic. Identify key
theories, concepts, and previous studies that are relevant to your work.
Macro Context: This refers to the broader societal, economic, or cultural context in which the research is
situated. It helps readers understand how the research is relevant on a larger scale.
Micro Context: In contrast, the micro context focuses on the specific setting or context of the research. It
provides details about the particular environment, location, or conditions that the study addresses.
Gap Identification: Highlight the gaps, limitations, contradictions, or areas where the existing literature falls
short in addressing the specific problem you intend to investigate. This gap forms the basis for your research.
Significance of the Study: Explain why your research is important and why it matters. Discuss the broader
implications and real-world relevance of your study.
Purpose Statement: State the main objective or purpose of your research. Clearly define what you aim to achieve
with your study.
Practical Application: Discuss how your research findings might be applied in practical settings, such as policy
development, industry practices, or educational improvements.
Scope and Limitations: Define the scope of your research by specifying its boundaries and limitations. What
aspects will you cover, and what will you exclude?
Target Audience: Consider who your audience is. Your background and rationale should be written in a way that
both experts in your field and non-specialists can understand and appreciate.
Raison d'Être (Reason for Being): This is a philosophical or existential element of the background. It delves into
the deeper motivations or reasons why the research is being conducted, beyond the immediate problem. It can
include the researcher's personal interests, values, or the broader societal impact of the study.
Clarity and Conciseness: Maintain clarity and conciseness in your writing. Avoid unnecessary jargon or overly
technical language that might hinder understanding.
Revision and Proofreading: After writing your background and rationale, review and revise your text for clarity,
coherence, and correctness. Ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors.
Feedback and Adaptation: Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or advisors and be open to making revisions based
on their input and as your research progresses.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Statement of the Problem

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Once you have already enumerated your research questions for your study, it is important that you consider its
quality to answer and explain your research problem. The following are good characteristics of research questions,
as described by Fraenkel and Wallen (2020).

Feasible. Assess the feasibility of your research problem, taking into account factors like time, energy,
budget, respondents, and your student status. For example, compare questions like 'How do parents feel about
blended learning for elementary learners?' and 'How would providing laptops to each learner in blended learning
impact their performance?' The first question is more feasible due to the ease of data gathering and resource
availability.
Clear. The clarity of how the questions stated lead to agreement of meaning of the readers of your study.
Since your research questions are also considered as the main focus in the gathering and analyzing the data, it is
therefore very important that these are stated clearly.
Significant. Ask if your research questions are relevant or important to ask. Will answering these questions
provide an additional contribution to address the given research problem? In other words, are the research
questions really worth investigating?
Ethical. Always consider the welfare of people, animals or who so ever involve in your study. Look into ways
of answering the research questions without inflicting physical and psychological harm to persons involved.

Research questions can be generally classified into two: general and specific. The general question of the study is
derived from the research problem while the specific questions are anchored on the general research problem.

General Statement of the Problem:

The general statement of the problem provides an overall description of the research issue, often in broad terms.
It sets the stage for the specific problem by offering context and a general sense of what the research is about.
It outlines the broader topic or subject area that the research addresses. It helps readers understand the larger
context within which the specific problem exists.
Specific Statement of the Problem:
The specific statement of the problem narrows down the focus to a particular aspect or dimension of the general
problem. It defines the specific research question or issue that the study aims to investigate or resolve. It should
be clear, concise, and specific, leaving no room for ambiguity. It should be framed in a way that allows for empirical
investigation.

Descriptive Questions:
Descriptive questions seek to describe or summarize a dataset or a phenomenon without making any inferences or
generalizations to a larger population. They aim to provide a clear and detailed understanding of the data or the
subject under study. Descriptive questions are used to provide an overview, identify patterns, and summarize data.
They are often the first step in data analysis, helping researchers understand the basic characteristics of their
dataset.
Examples:
What is the average age of participants in a survey?
How many students passed the final exam?
What is the most common mode of transportation used by commuters in a specific city?

Inferential Questions:
Inferential questions go beyond describing data; they involve making predictions, inferences, or generalizations
about a population based on sample data. Inferential questions are used to make inferences about a larger
population based on sample data. They often involve statistical techniques such as hypothesis testing, regression
analysis, or confidence interval estimation.

Examples:

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Is there a significant difference in test scores between two groups of students?
Is there a significant relationship between music exposure and academic performance of the students?
Can we conclude that a new drug is effective in treating a specific medical condition based on clinical trial results?
Does a marketing campaign have a significant impact on sales?

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 WEEK 4 HANDOUTS