SAN JOSE – LITEX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Research Center

MODULE IN INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION, AND IMMERSION

Week 1 – Brainstorming of Research Topics
Introduction
In this learning material, you will study how to prepare a research plan and how to execute it
to achieve your goals and objectives as a young researcher. This will serve as your most valuable
guide towards successful research work. At the end of this course, you are expected to present your
research work to your fellow researchers, research adviser, and a panel of experts to gather
constructive remarks and suggestions to enhance your work.

You may have heard that research is complicated and that it is difficult to do. Many students,
and even professionals, would have that hesitation to do research. That is only one of the many cliché
misconceptions about research. Research is just any other task that we do. It is like a celebration or a
party that in order to be meaningful and successful, serious planning and careful execution are
necessary. It needs time and proper organization of things and ideas. Preparedness is the key!

Development
LESSON 1. Moore (2009), a contributor to Ezine’s articles offers five (5) things worth considering
when doing research work.
1. Never choose a topic that is out of personal interest. The success rate of your research work
is equal to the level of your interest and drive to do such research. It is always easier to do
something that you really like to do and be engaged with. Do not let yourself be in the
situation of losing that high level of enthusiasm towards your own research.
2. Never use needless words. Less is more. Sometimes, you would think that having so much to
say when it comes to research is an advantage. However, we have to realize that the longer or
the wordy our sentences become, the more they appear less relevant and needless to be
listened to or read.
3. Keep thoughts intact. Establishing that sense of focus on your research paper is one of the
most important characteristics that you should always observe. Clattering ideas will not make
your paper enticing.
4. Don't let failure distract you. Failure is normal. It is okay to fail at times in order for us to
realize what we have to do. Failure is an opportunity to recreate and refine our research work
at its best. Do not be afraid to fail!
5. Always consult the opinion of other people. Feedback from others especially of more
knowledgeable others is always good to hear. It widens our understanding and opens higher
chances of making the research better! Collaboration and teamwork do not only make the task
lighter, but rather more successful!

The Research Plan

In its simplest definition, a research plan is a document that includes preliminary and basic
information about the research work that you would like to do. It may contain details about the topic
that you intend to do, its importance or significance, the steps that you have already done, and the next
actions that you are going to do in order to meet your targets or until you have answered your research
questions. Technically, this is not a research proposal yet but more likely a concept paper. Although
there is no institutionalized formatting of a research plan just yet, the following are its basics:

I. Basic Information - This part of the research plan contains your basic information. For a Senior
High School Learner like you, it would be beneficial to include the following information:
A. Complete Name
B. Learner Reference Number (LRN)
C. School and Address0
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 SAN JOSE – LITEX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Research Center

MODULE IN INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION, AND IMMERSION

Week 1 – Brainstorming of Research Topics
D. Track and Strand
E. Complete Home Address

II. Background - short presentation of basic concepts and information about the research topic shall
be presented in this section. Include a few relevant readings and literature which serve as the major
background of your paper. Cite also your motivation for the topic and the reasons and importance of
your study.

III. Objectives and Methods - cite in this section the long-term and short-term objectives or targets
of your research work. Indicate also whether you are using a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-
method of research.

IV. Working Framework - through illustrative illustrations or diagrams, show the variables or
concepts that are involved in your paper. Show the connections and relationship and role of these
important constructs in achieving the results of the study. The Input-Process-Output Model is
commonly used. However, feel free to execute your creativity and ideas in crafting the framework for
your paper.

V. Assumptions - this part contains the expected outcome of the study. What results do you
anticipate? It is better that you construct positive results regarding the research that you plan to
undertake. This can be in numbered form, bulleted, or in a paragraph or two.

VI. Timetable - you may have heard about the Gantt Chart of activities. This section contains the
same concept but in a simplified and detailed format in order for you to plan things out even more
systematically and productively. A timetable guides you to be able to work on important activities
necessary for you to complete your research. Please study the example timetable below to get ideas on
what a plan looks like and what information can be included.

VII. List of References - present here the references that you used in the formulation of the research
plan. Use the format of the American Psychological Association (APA) 6th or 7th edition style/format
in constructing the entries. Ensure that the entries are alphabetically sequenced. Please revisit the
styling book, so you will be guided in making the citations.

LESSON 2. Formulating Clear Statement of Research Problem

A research problem is a statement of concern in any area, a problem that needs an immediate
solution, a recurring difficulty that is necessary to be taken out of the situation, or a practical question
from a scholarly inquiry in different disciplines. As an intelligent recall, Clemente, Julaton, & Orleans
(2016) noted some criteria for evaluating whether or not a research problem or statement is good. May
it be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method research, the research problem should bear the
S.M.A.R.T. characteristics.

1. Specific. This refers to the quality of being exact or particular. A research problem statement
should be able to communicate the specific inquiry or question that needs to be answered.
2. Measurable. This is never an issue in a quantitative method of research. However, in terms of
the qualitative research method, the measurability of a research statement refers to its
epistemological aspect or the state of being objectively observable. More than that,
instruments of data-gathering should be present.
3. Attainable. The research questions should be easily answered or achieved when the
appropriate procedures are performed.
4. Realistic. The possibility of being carried out should always be observed in formulating the
research problem especially when there is a need for experimentations and observations.
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 SAN JOSE – LITEX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Research Center

MODULE IN INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION, AND IMMERSION

Week 1 – Brainstorming of Research Topics
5. Time-Bound. Time is an important element in the research work. The research questions
should be narrowed enough to be attained within the set time frame.
Meanwhile, Calderon and Gonzales (2014) specified general guidelines in formulating the general
problem and the specific sub-problems or specific questions.

1. The general statement and specific sub-questions should be formulated before carrying out
actions in the conduct of the research work.
2. State the specific sub-problems in interrogative form.
3. The specific question should bear only one clear meaning.
4. Every question should not be dependent apart from other questions — that is requiring
answers far from other questions.
5. It must be based on facts and phenomena.
6. The answers to each specific question should be contributory to the development of the
general problem statement.

Engagement
Written Task (10 points): Direction: Write at least 5 words that come to your mind. Take your
thoughts in the situation where you find yourself most interested in.
Random Words

The random words that you have written on your notepad are your personal interest.
These are the topics or subjects that first inspire your interest. These are the concepts and constructs
that your mind has which will serve as the baseline of your formal research topic.
Example of Research Interest: agriculture

1. Give a specific description of the topic. Agriculture during the Pandemic

2. Mention an aspect of the specified Possibility of doing agriculture at home

topic.

3. Note – down extra specifics about the Planting and growing indoor crops.
topic.

4. Construct a topic – statement. Growing indoor crops can help lessen

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 SAN JOSE – LITEX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Research Center

MODULE IN INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION, AND IMMERSION

Week 1 – Brainstorming of Research Topics
household expenses while maintaining a
healthy lifestyle.

5. Refine it by adding an element of time, Indoor agriculture supports a healthy

place, and relationship. lifestyle and promotes practical living.

Assessment:
Performance Task 1 (30 points) Direction: Create your own Research Plan by following the
lesson provided above. Follow the template below.

Research Plan
Initial Research Topic: _____________________________________________________________
I. Basic Information
A. Complete Name: __________________________________________________________
B. LRN: ___________________________________________________________________
C. School and Address: _______________________________________________________
D. Track and Strand: _________________________________________________________
E. Complete Home Address: ___________________________________________________
II. Background
III. Objectives and Methods
IV. Working Framework
V. Assumptions
VI. Timetable
VII. References

Performance Task 2 (15 points): From your initial topic in your research plan, construct your
research questions by answering the template below.

Research Title: ____________________________________________________________________

Research Questions:
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________

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