TITLING A RESEARCH : Understanding the

WHATs and WHYs

ERICSON OLARIO ALIETO, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

WMSU College of Teacher Education

Western Mindanao State University

WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Research Title
• The first thing noticed or being noticed.
• The only information fellow researchers see in database
or search engines
• Captures essential aspects of the study
• Accessible and Captivating to readers
Things to consider

• The title must reflect What the paper is all about.

Factors Affecting
Perceived
Offensiveness of
racial slurs
Language stress
and anxiety
Let us do some drill! Identify WHAT mainly the researches are about given the titles.
In some cases, the WHO of the study is reflected

EFL Students
In other cases, the context is provided instead of the respondents
Sometimes, the method or
design is reflected

The design – being a

Qualitative Study
was mentioned or
reflected in the title.
The time relative to date
gathering - Longitudinal
Sometimes, the result of the study is found in
the title.
• There is lexical bias identified.
Difference exists.
Semantic priming
influences
• There is a determined impact
Other essential notes:
• Average number of words is • The title must give away what
16 – research articles the study is mainly about
published across journals

• Be creative

• Titles must be attractive

Example:

The Main Variable :

Language Attitude toward English

Inclusion of the respondents
• Language Attitude towards English AMONG SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Inclusion of design
• Language Attitude towards English among Senior High
School Students : A Quantitative and Cross-sectional
Investigation
Further Refinements:
• Language Attitude towards English among FILIPINO
Senior High School Students : A Quantitative and Cross-
sectional Investigation
Final Title
• Language Attitude towards English among Filipino Senior
High School Students : A Quantitative and Cross-
sectional Investigation