Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
Schools Division Office I Pangasinan
Pangasinan National High School
Lingayen, Pangasinan

MINI LECTURE AND ACTIVITY SHEETS

IN PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
QUARTER 3, WEEK 3

MELCs:
CS_RS11-IIIce-1 Designs a research project related to daily life
CS_RS11-IIIce-2 Writes a research title
CS_RS11-IIIce-3 Provides the justifications/reasons for conducting the research

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learners are expected to:
1. Analyze sample research projects related to daily life.
2. Plan and prepare for a research project related to daily life.
3. Explain logically the importance of conducting research in the area of interest through a good
purpose statement.
4. Write a research title in relation to the area of interest.
5. Justify the conduct of research by identifying its significance to the beneficiaries of the study
6. Write the background of research.

Prepared by:

MARILYN R. ROXAS
Master Teacher II
 IDENTIFYING THE INQUIRY AND STATING THE PROBLEM
(Part 1)

Lesson 1: Designing a Research Project Related to Daily Life

Designing a research is similar to making a house, car, bag, dress, cake, etc. which needs
appropriate materials and necessary process or steps to follow. Then, you have to consider whether
what you intend to make or invent has significance to you as a person. Otherwise, your efforts will not
be put to use.
In designing your qualitative research, the very first step is to choose a topic. You have to
consider whether the topic you have chosen is relevant to you as a learner, as a constituent in your
barangay, and as a citizen of this country.
Therefore, the first question you should answer is, “What is the issue, phenomenon or problem
in my school and community that needs my special attention by conducting a research?”
Examples:
1. In School
Based on observation, what are the issues and problems I encounter inside the classroom? Is it
the lesson, teachers, learners’ attitude and hindrances to graduation?
2. At Home
Considering my life on a daily basis, what are the things that bother me at home?
3. In the Community
What are the usual complaints of my neighbor regarding ordinances, practices and activities in
the barangay? Or, what are the situations in my community that need to be improved?

Qualitative research is an emergent design which means that it emerges as you make ongoing
decisions about what you have learned. As a design, qualitative research requires researcher’s
decision-making like:
▪ How to gather data
▪ From where and whom to collect
▪ When to gather
▪ For how long
Therefore, qualitative research experts say that there must be congruence between methods of
data analysis and the research questions, and where the method of data collection turns out data that
are appropriate to the method of analysis.
To have a holistic picture of qualitative research project, you have to remember that in deciding
on a topic, you have to consider the kind and the field it belongs, as well as its relevance to your daily
life.

Lesson 2: Writing a Research Title

A research title, also known as research project, is a product of real-world observations,
dilemmas, wide reading, selective viewing (television programs, films, documentaries, video, etc.)
meaningful interactions with significant others, and deep reflection.
A research title capsulizes the main thought or idea of the whole research paper, specifically,
it puts the research problem or inquiry in capsule form. It also reflects the variables under study. In
formulating the research title, make sure that it must clearly reflect the topic of investigation, and it
must be original, clear, concise, or specific.
 According to Maxine Hairstone and Michael Keene, a good title has several functions:
1. It predicts content.
2. It catches the reader’s interest.
3. It reflects the tone or slant of the piece of writing.
4. It contains keywords that will make it easy to access a computer search

The following parameters can be used to help you formulate a suitable research paper title:
▪ The purpose of the research
▪ The narrative tone of the paper (typically defined by the type of the research)
▪ The methods used

How to Write a Research Title

STEP ONE
▪ What is my paper about?
▪ What techniques/design will be used?
▪ Who/What will be studied?
STEP TWO
▪ Use your answers to list key words.
STEP THREE
▪ Create a sentence that includes the key words you listed.
STEP FOUR
▪ Delete all unnecessary/repetitive words and link the remaining.
STEP FIVE
▪ Delete non-essential information and reword the title.

Effective titles in academic research papers can have several characteristics:

1. Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study;
2. Rarely use abbreviations or acronyms unless they are commonly known;
3. Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate reader interest;
4. Use current nomenclature from the field of study;
5. Reveal how the paper will be organized;
6. Is limited to 2 to 15 words;
7. Takes the form of a question or declarative statement;
8. If you use a quote as part of the title, the source of the quote is cited.*
9. Use correct grammar and capitalization with all first words and last words capitalized, including
the first words of a subtitle. All nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs that appear
between the first and last words of the title are also capitalized;
10. Rarely use an exclamation point at the end of the title.

Subtitle is quite common in social science research papers. Here are some of the reasons why
you may include a subtitle:
1. Explains or provides additional context
2. Adds substance to a literary, provocative, and imaginative title or quote
3. Qualifies the geographic scope of the research
4. Qualifies the temporal scope of the research
5. Focuses on investigating the ideas, theories, or work of a particular individual
6. Identifies the methodology used
Sample Research Titles in Declarative or Statement Form
▪ A Qualitative Study on School Absenteeism Among College Students
▪ Childhood Obesity
▪ Teachers as Bullies
▪ Students’ Perception on School Environment
▪ Internet Addiction Faced by Young Kids
▪ Online Education for Disabled Students
Sample Research Titles in Interrogative or Question Form
▪ What is your View about Juvenile Punishment?
▪ Do Anti-Bullying Programs Work?
▪ Has Education Become a Business These Days?
▪ Do Advertisements Need to be Censored Strictly?
Research Titles with Subtitles
▪ Overcoming Adversity: Death of a Loved One
▪ High School Students’ Perceptions of Motivations for Cyberbullying: An Exploratory Study
▪ E-Business: to What Extent Entrepreneurs Get Advantages to Expand the Business Online

Guidelines in Choosing a Topic

1. Interest in the subject matter. You are interested about the topic because you have experienced
it.
2. Availability of information. It is important that when you decide on a topic, sources of
information are available.
3. Timeliness and relevance of the topic. The topic you have chosen can be of significance to the
community.
4. Limitations on the subject. Sometimes, topic is limited to what the teacher suggests.
5. Personal resources. Consider also if you can finish the research in terms of your intellectual,
financial physical capabilities.

Topics to be Avoided
1. Controversial topics. Avoid highly opinionated topics.
2. Highly technical subjects. Too technical topics requires expertise. If you don’t have enough
knowledge about it, then look for another one.
3. Hard-to-investigate subjects. Unavailability of reading materials and materials that are not
updated make the subject hard to investigate.
4. Too broad subjects. You lack focus if you deal with broad topics. The remedy is to narrow it
down.
5. Too narrow subject. Some subjects are too narrow that extensive and thorough reading are
required.
6. Vague subjects. Titles that start with indefinite adjectives such as several, many, some, etc., make
the topic vague.

Sources of Research Topics

1. Mass media communication-television, newspaper, ads, radio, films, etc.
2. Books, internet, journals, government publications
3. Professional periodicals- specialized periodicals in different fields
4. General periodicals- Reader’s Digest, Time Magazine, Women’s Magazine, etc.
5. Previous readings
6. Work experience
Examples of Research Topics and their Sources
Possible Area of Research Source Topic
Social Problems Magazines, books, journals, The problem on bullying
newspapers, social media
Wide Reading/Critical Film Varied reading materials- Address of President Rodrigo
Viewing books, journals, magazines, R. Duterte
newspapers, videos and
documentaries
Social Networking Social Media: Facebook, Symposium on Drug Addiction
Instagram
Replication of research Compilation of research in the Research that addresses
(theses and dissertations) library problems in Senior High
School
Gray Areas (points of interest Lectures, Talks, Seminars The fallacy about Coronavirus
but very little is known about
them) about issues,
phenomena, etc.

How to Narrow Down a Topic

1. You can narrow down the topic by exploring and extending the explanation of a theory.
2. Talk over ideas with people who know research.
3. Focus on specific group. Ex: Students, Mothers, Teachers
4. Define the aim or desired outcome of the study
a. Is the study exploratory, explanatory, or descriptive?
b. Is the study applied or basic?

Before deciding on your topic, ask:

1. What areas are not yet explored that I want to investigate?
2. Is my research useful to me, to my school, to my family and to my community?

Remember, a research study must be significant enough to make it worth your efforts as the
researcher.
Example of a Broad Topic Narrowed Down to Specific One
General Concept: Early Pregnancy
Narrow: Early Pregnancy among Senior High School Students
Narrow: Prevention of Early Pregnancy among Senior High School Students

More Examples of Broad and Specific Topics:

Broad Specific
Lack of Self-esteem Lack of Self-Esteem among Introverts: Remedies and Intervention
Drug Addiction Health Hazards of Vaping: Prevention and Intervention
Suicide Suicidal Teenagers in Urban Areas: A Case Study
Coronavirus Causes, Prevention, and Treatment of Coronavirus

You may also gain ideas from the following research titles:
1. Study Habits of Senior High School Students in Public Schools of Bukidnon
2. Understanding the Academic Journey of Senior High School Students
3. The Pulse of the People on the Leadership Style of President Rodrigo R. Duterte
4. Phenomenology of Pioneering Senior High School Students of Private Schools
5. Body Tattoo: Is it an Art?
Lesson 3: The Background of Research

The background study for a research includes a review of the area being researched, current
information surrounding the issue, previous studies on the issue, and relevant history on the issue.
The purpose of a background study is to help you prove the relevance of your research question and
to further develop your research. (Hearst Seattle Media, LCC, 2017)

How to Describe the Background of Research

1. Describe the field you will be researching.
2. Tell why this field is important.
3. Describe the current (and relevant) “hot topics” in the field.
4. Describe the specific area you will be researching in the field.
5. Tell how your research will add to the field (explain why your work is important does it
address any unanswered questions in this field).
6. Describe your research as answers to research questions you have been assigned to research.
7. Summarize the current research base in your specific area of interest and highlight any gaps
in the research that you plan to address with your research.

Sample Background of the Study:

Lesson 4: Justifications/Reasons for Conducting Qualitative Research

Simply stated, conducting qualitative research is justified because it can help solve or shed
light on problems or issues encountered day to day by individuals, organizations, communities,
industries, business. among others.

The intent or purpose of the study shows succinctly the need for qualitative research on an
individual, or societal level. It may be stated just like what is given on the examples below:

The study intends to investigate the following:

1. the root causes and manifestations of lack of self-confidence in adolescents and to determine
ways of addressing or solving said problem
2. the impact of social networking in addressing problems, issues and concerns
3. the causes, prevention, treatment and care of Zika virus
4. the dangers to health of direct and indirect smoking, as well as their prevention and cure.
5. the success factors in marketing a selected popular garment brand
6. the causes of HIV, its prevention, treatment and care of patients
7. why some livelihood projects fail (or succeed)
8. how retail business succeeds
 9. why some barangays are successful in their peace and order campaigns or health and
sanitation projects
10. the humanitarian conditions of war victims and intervention done by peace-keeping agencies

Finding solutions, even tentative ones, to problems of daily life is one of the best justifications
for conducting qualitative research. Helping make life happy, peaceful, and meaningful, productive,
and progressive sustainable ways is the best justification.

Factors that Justify the Conduct of a Qualitative Research

1. Credibility. It refers to the “truth Value” of the qualitative study, its applicability, consistency
and neutrality
2. Validity. It refers to an in-depth description that shows the complexities of variables and the
embedding of interactions in data derived from the setting.
3. Transferability. It is the applicability of one set of findings to another context. (The use of
triangulation)
4. Dependability. It refers to the researcher’s attempts to account for changing conditions in the
phenomenon chosen for study, as well as in the design created by increasing refined understanding
of the setting.
5. Conformability. It answers the question: Do the data help confirm the general findings and lead
to the implications?

References:

Baraceros, Esther L. 2016. Practical Research 1. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Department of Education. 2019. "Practical Research 1 – Senior High School Alternative Delivery
Mode: Module 3." Cagayan De Oro City: Department of Education Region 10.

Garcia, Miriam Del Rosario, Violeta L. Jerusalem, Jonas M. Palencia, and Marjueve M. Palencia.
2017. Practical Research 1: Basics of Qualitative Research. Manila: Fastbooks Educational
Supply, Inc.

Prieto, Nelia G., Victoria C. Naval, and Teresita G. Carey. 2017. Practical Research I. Quezon City:
Lorimar Publishing, Inc.