CHAPTER 3: LESSON 1

WRITING THE TITLE FOR

YOUR RESEARCH
 Intended learning outcomes:
• This learning activity challenge you to:
1. identify problem situations in the school, in the workplace or
in the community where topics of research may be based;
2. write three to five topics for research and end with the
“best” single topic after a conference with the groupmates,
and
3. write a title based on the chosen topic according to
accepted standards
 THE TITLE OF THE A RESEARCH PAPER

• The title is the part of a paper that is read the most,

and it is usually read first.
• It is, therefore, the most important element that defines
the research study.
 THE TITLE OF THE A RESEARCH PAPER

• The title summarizes the main idea of the whole paper

and is the most notable part of the research paper.
Thus, it must be written using the fewest possible words
without compromising its clarity and idea.
 THE TITLE OF THE A RESEARCH PAPER

• Writing a research paper title may seem a simple

task, but it requires some serious thought.
• It is clear that the title of your paper is the most
important determinant of how many people will read
it.
THREE BASIC TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE WRITING A TITLE:

• 1] keep it simple, brief and attractive: the primary function

of a title is to provide a precise summary of the paper’s
content. So keep the title brief and clear. Use active verbs
instead of complex noun-based phrases, and avoid
unnecessary details. Moreover, a good title for a research
paper is typically around 10 to 12 words long. A lengthy
title may seem unfocused and take the readers’ attention
away from an important point.
 ACTIVE VERBS VS PASSIVE VERBS
Active Verbs Passive Verbs

Beat Was beaten

Take Is taken

Identifying Was identified

Speak Is spoken

Write Is written

Covering Is covered

Analyzes Is analyzed

Highlights Is highlighted

Sketches Has been sketched

 SAMPLE TITLE :
A Correlation on Motivation, Teaching Strategies and the
Students ‘ Performance in BLMS: Basis for Improving Instruction
 THREE BASIC TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
WHILE WRITING A TITLE:

2] use appropriate descriptive words: A good research

paper title should contain key words used in the
manuscript and should define the nature of the study.
Think about terms people would use to search for your
study and include them in your title.
 SAMPLE TITLE

Psychosocial Effects Of Drug On

Schizophrenia Patients: A Multicenter
Randomized Controlled Trial
 THREE BASIC TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
WHILE WRITING A TITLE:

3. Avoid abbreviations and jargon: known

abbreviations such as AIDS, NATO, and so on can
be used in the title. However, other lesser-known
or specific abbreviations and jargon that would
not be immediately familiar to the readers should
be left out.
 THREE BASIC TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
WHILE WRITING A TITLE:

Matrix Metalloproteinase Protein Expression

Profiles Cannot Distinguish Between Normal
And Early Osteoarthritic Synovial Fluid
 FRAMING THE TITLE
The title of your research should answer the following:
• THE WHAT-the variables and interrelationship of the study
• THE WHO-respondents, participants
• THE HOW-the method
• THE WHERE-scope and limitation
• Computer Assisted Instruction and its Effects on
the English Proficiency and Attitude of Grade 6
Students in Banyuhay Elementary School

• Identify The What, Who, Where And How

 FRAMING THE TITLE: VARIABLES

• A variable is any characteristic or quality that varies or is the same

for all members of a particular group.
• VARIABLES:
• INDEPENDENT –EXISTING, CAUSE
• DEPENDENT-CO-EXISTING, RECIPIENT OF EFFECT
• EXTRANEOUS- MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT THE
RELATIONSHIP
 INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN THE TITLE

•EFFECTS
•RELATIONSHIPS-CORRELATION
•DIFFERENCE-COMPARISON
 SAMPLE TITLE

• Computer Assisted Instruction and its Effects on the

English Proficiency and Attitude of Grade 6
Students in Banyuhay Elementary School
Computer Assisted Instruction and its Effects on the
English Proficiency and Attitude of Grade 6 Students
in Banyuhay Elementary School
• Identify the following:
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Relationship
• Respondents
 ANSWER:

• Independent variable- computer assisted instruction

• Dependent variable- English proficiency and attitude
• Relationship- effects
• Respondents- grade 6 students in Banyuhay
Elementary School
 A GOOD RESEARCH TITLE
•Condenses the paper’s content in a few
words
•Captures the readers’ attention
•Differentiates the paper from other papers
of the same subject area
 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH TITLE
1.Avoid an overly general title such as “exercise and weight.”
2.Refrain from using abbreviations unless they are commonly
known.
3.Avoid using phrases such as “a study of…” and “an investigation
of…” as they show wordiness. An example of this is “A study on
the effects of violent video programs on the students’ academic
performance.”
 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH TITLE
4. indicate the subject and scope of the study by specifying your dependent and independent
variables.

• independent variable is the cause that is responsible for bringing changes in a situation
• dependent variable- the changes occur due to introduction of an independent variable
• extraneous variable- are some factors involved in real-life situation that may influence changes in
dependent variable. These factors which are not measured in the research study could increase or
decrease the magnitude of relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
• intervening variable it links the independent and dependent variables. in some cases, relationship
between both variables cannot be established unless with the intervention of another variable.
EXAMPLE: The Effects of Cigarette Smoking to the Level
of Performance in Basketball by the Grade 11 Students
Independent Variable: cigarette smoking

Dependent Variable: level of performance in basketball

Extraneous Variables: affect the relationship (number of

students, age of students, strand and track)
 EXAMPLE: THE EFFECT OF TEACHING METHODS ON
ABM STUDENTS’ ASSESSMENT IN MATHEMATICS
• INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:

• DEPENDENT VARIABLE:

• EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE:

• SCOPE:
 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH TITLE

5. As much as possible refrain from indicating the year the

study has been conducted. An example of this is “Examining
the Study Habits of High School Students at Paco Public School
during School Year 2015-2016. “ However, there are
exceptions to this rule, such as in a historical study. In this kind
of research, the year covered by the study may be included in
the title.
 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH TITLE
6. Employ either the declarative or question form in formulating
your title, but take note that the question form is used less
frequently in research.

7. Use the current acceptable terminology in your field of study

when writing your research title.
 THINGS TO AVOID WHEN WRITING A TITLE
• If the title is too long, this usually indicates there are too many unnecessary
words. Avoid language, such as, "A study to investigate the...," Or "a review
of the...." These phrases are obvious and generally unnecessary unless they
are necessary to convey the scope, intent, or type of a study.
• On the other hand, a title which is too short often uses words which are too
broad and it does not tell the reader what is being studied. For example, a
paper with the title, "African politics" is so non-specific it could be the title of
a book and could literally examine anything associated with politics in Africa.
A good title should provide information about the focus of your research
study.
 THINGS TO AVOID WHEN WRITING A TITLE

• In academic writing, catchy phrases or non-specific language

may be used if it's within the context of the study
[Example: "Fair and impartial jury--catch as catch can"].
However, in most cases, you should avoid including words or
phrases that do not help the reader understand the purpose of
your paper.
 THINGS TO AVOID WHEN WRITING A TITLE
• Unlike everywhere else in a college-level social sciences research paper
[except when using direct quotes in the text], titles do not have to adhere to
rigid grammatical or stylistic standards.
• For example, it could be appropriate to begin a title with a coordinating
conjunction [Example: And, but, or, nor, for, so, yet] if it makes sense to do so
and does not detract from the purpose of the study [example: "Yet another
look at mutual fund tournaments"] or beginning the title with an inflected form
of a verb such as those ending in -ing [example: "Assessing the political
landscape: structure, cognition, and power in organizations"].
 THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS CAN BE USED TO
HELP YOU FORMULATE A SUITABLE RESEARCH
PAPER TITLE:
• THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH
• THE SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH
• THE NARRATIVE TONE OF THE PAPER [TYPICALLY DEFINED BY
THE TYPE OF THE RESEARCH]
• THE METHODS USED TO STUDY THE PROBLEM
To write your title, you must start with a topic.
WE CAN GET SOURCES OF ALL THESE TOPIC FROM WHERE WE ARE:

a. PROBLEM SITUATION
-In school, at home, in your community

b. Consider your passions or interest

-what are you passionate about? Or interest about? Where would you like a
difference?
Choosing a topic you care about will keep you interested and could result in you
making a difference where it matters to you.
To write your title, you must start with a topic.
WE CAN GET SOURCES OF ALL THESE TOPIC FROM WHERE WE ARE:
C. CONSIDER THE SETTING AVAILABLE TO YOU.

-in what places do you have convenient and regular access? What places will you be
able to get permission from participants?

d. Consider your subjects

-in order to study people, you have to gain their permission after thoroughly advising
them of such things as who you are, how you will keep their responses confidential, and
what happens if they want to quit.
 LET US TAKE THIS SAMPLE TITLE

• A Phenomenological Study of the Behavior of Students

with Absentee Parents

From this title, the reader can find out a lot about the
research before reading the actual proposal or actual
research report.
 A Phenomenological Study of the Behavior of Students with
Absentee Parents
1. What are we looking at? (behavior of students with
absentee parents)
2. Who are the subjects? (students with absentee
parents)
3. It is going to be a qualitative study, and we know
which will be used, (phenomenology)
 A Phenomenological Study of the Behavior of Students with
Absentee Parents
4. We will just be using a small sample.

5. Data collection will involve obtaining information from the participants

in some way-interviews, observation, open-ended questionnaires, etc.

6. Data analysis will not be statistical, but the title does not give us a clue
as to how the data will be analyzed.
 Another sample:
A Phenomenological Study of the Levels of Pain Experienced
by Children Aged 3-5 Years Undergoing an Intravenous
Injection in the Presence of their Mothers
1. What are we looking at? (levels of pain)
2. Who are the subjects? (children aged 3-5)
3. It is going to be a qualitative study, and we know which will be used (phenomenology)
4. We will just be having a (small sample)
5. Data collection will involve obtaining information from the participants in some way( interviews,
observation, open-ended questionnaires, etc.)
6. Data analysis will not be statistical, but the title does not give us a clue as to how the data will
be analyzed.
 MORE SAMPLE TITLES

• A Case Study of the Self-Confidence Levels of Children

Transferring to a New School

• A Grounded Theory Study on the Spending Practices of

Parents with Children Attending College
At this stage, YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE
FINAL TITLE OF YOUR FINISHED RESEARCH
YET. That will depend upon your results.
However, you do need to have a working
title, and this working title out of necessity will
encapsulate your proposed research.
Before attempting to write your research proposal
about the phenomenon of interest to you, you need to
have spent some time …
• THINKING ABOUT..
• READING ABOUT…
• THEORIZING ON…
• RETHINKING…
• AND DISCUSSING YOUR IDEAS WITH COLLEAGUES AND EXPERTS IN THE
FIELD OR IN YOUR AREA OF INTEREST.