Practical Research 1

GROUP TASK # 1

Exercise 3.1
A. Encircle and label the sentences representing each of the four components
in establishing the research gap.

The looming economic crisis in the Philippines has been a major concern of small,
medium, and large companies. Since small and medium enterprises (SMEs) cover a
great portion of our economy, they are confronting pressure in helping the Philippine
economy recover from its current condition. The impact of SMEs on the Philippine
economy has been widely investigated; however, results obtained from various studies
are contradictory and inconclusive. Moreover, most of these studies were quantitative.
Thus, this study sought to address this gap by examining the impact of SMEs on
Philippine economy using qualitative approach.

B. In pairs, complete the outline below to establish the research gap given the
following research title: The Impact of Heavy Traffic on Senior High School
Students in Metro Manila. You may use print and online references for the
activity.

I. Description of the current state of the field

II. Statement of the problem

III. Description of the current practices and conventions used in addressing the
issue

IV. The research gap

V. The current study

 Exercise 3.2
A. From the given list, encircle one general topic that interest you.

Peace and Order Energy Foreign Affairs Public

Infrastructure
Agriculture Environment and Health Labor and
Natural Resources Employment
Education Finance Law and Justice Science and
Technology
Tourism Business and Transportation and Politics and
Economy Communication Governance

B. Conduct preliminary research on your chosen general topic. You may use
up to 10 combined library and online resources. List the title and author of
your references, as well as the dates they were published.

Item Title Author Date Published

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

C. Using your references and background knowledge, prepare a concept map

for your focused topic, up to the cluster levels. Use a separate sheet for
your output. Once completed, encircle the focused topic that you want to
research on. Be sure that your chosen topic passed the criteria of
acceptability (relevance, interest, manageability, and availability of
resources). Write your focused topic and the general research question
derived from it.

Focused topic: ___________________________________________

General Research Question:________________________________

Exercise 3.3

A. Put a check mark before the thesis statements that are appropriate for
 research. Revise the thesis statement if it is not properly written. Write your
revision on the, space below the item.

1. The sleeping habits of digital natives differ from one another:,

_____________________________________________________________
2. Cebu is a great tourist destination,
_____________________________________________________________
3. Social networking sites should be banned in schools,
_____________________________________________________________
4. Playing online games increases health risks among children,
_____________________________________________________________
5. The academic performance of student-athletes is influenced by social, financial,
and personal factors.
_____________________________________________________________

B. Write your general research question on the space provided. Then, answer
this, question in a thesis statement. Be sure that specific research
questions can be, generated from your thesis statement.

General Research Question:

Thesis Statement: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Exercise 3.4

A. Using the given thesis statement as a guide, put a check mark before the
specific research questions that are appropriate for research. Revise the
specific research question if it is not properly written. Write your revision
on the space below the item.

Thesis Statement: Unemployment has several impacts on individuals.

_______1. What are the causes of unemployment?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

_______2. How does unemployment impact a person's psychological well-being?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

________3. How do individuals cope with the impact of unemployment?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
________4. How does unemployment relate to an individual's educational attainment?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

________5. How does unemployment contribute to financial instability?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

B. Write three specific research questions based on the thesis statement you
wrote in Exercise 3.3, Activity B (page 43).

Thesis Statement: _________________________________________________

Specific Research Questions:

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________

Exercise 3.5

In pairs or groups of three members, write a significance of the study section in

the two formats discussed. Use the specific research questions you listed in
Exercise 3.4, Part B (page 45) as your basis.

Paragraph format:

Enumerated format:

Exercise 3.6

In pairs or groups of three members, read the given scope and delimitation of a
study and analyze how it is structured and organized.

This study sought to investigate the factors that affect the academic performance of
student athletes. Primarily, the focus of this paper is to know how academic support,
family background, and personal traits influence the academic performance of student
athletes at C&E University. C&E University was selected as the setting for the study
because it is considered the first and only sports university in the Philippines (Garcia,
2015). Currently, the University has 898 student athletes enrolled in ten different
programs.

This study involved those who were at their third year of being a student athlete in order
to obtain rich data on the factors that are under investigation. Since it was found in
previous studies (e.g., Dones, 2016; Hartman, 2012; Youltz, 2010) that the needs of
male athletes are different from those of female athletes, an equal number of male and
female student athletes were selected to participate in this study.

Since the study focuses on the lived experience of student athletes, it did not attempt to
quantitatively test the relationship between their general weighted average and the
identified factors. In addition, this study did not focus on the factors that positively
contribute to their academic performance; rather, it placed prime importance on the
factors that adversely affect their academic performance with the aim to create a
remedial program for them.

Exercise 3.7

Put a check mark before the properly written research titles. Revise the research title if
you think it is not properly written. Write your revision on the space below the item.

______1. Digital Natives and Their Sleeping Habits

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______2. An Investigation of Students' Perception of Terror Teachers

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______3. How to Be Me, a Narcissistic

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______4. The Coming Out Experiences of Male and Female Transsexuals: A

Qualitative Analysis
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______5. Noise Pollution

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Exercise 3.8

In pairs, read the following text before writing your own paper. Discuss the following
questions with your partner and take note of your answers as you write your paper later
on.
1. What is the purpose of the given Introduction?
2. Has the writer achieved his or her purpose?
3. How is the text organized?

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

The Philippines ranks ninth among the countries in the world with a high burden of
tuberculosis (TB). TB is the sixth greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in the
country. Around 293 per 100,000 people are infected with the disease, and about 133
new cases are found per 100,000 people (Contreras, 2006).Approximately, 78 Filipinos
die from TB every day (WHO Global TB Report, 2006). In Region IX, TB still remains a
major health problem. It ranks as the third and fourth among the top list of Morbidity and
Mortality, respectively (Ahmad, 2004).

Tuberculosis affects people indiscriminately. It affects people regardless of occupation,

social stature (rich or poor), educational attainment, gender, and age. The most
common mode of transmission is through droplet nuclei infection, which is aerosolized
by coughing, sneezing, or speaking. Some people, however, are more susceptible in
acquiring this disease due to occupational or environmental risk hazards, their health
condition, or their degree of TB exposure. Occupational risk hazards for developing TB
include silica-using industries-quarrying, pottery and related products, non-metallic
mineral and stone products, ship and boat building and repair, hospitals, drivers,
agriculture, eating and drinking establishments, and janitorial/cleaning jobs (Rosenman,
1990).

Several studies were done to assess whether there is an increased risk of developing
TB among individuals who work in certain industries or occupations. Sir Thomas Oliver
[2006) from Ireland found that 3.06% of the TB-infected patients were coaches, car
drivers, and van men. In another study done by Rosenman and Hall (1990), they found
that truck drivers have elevated risk for TB. Similarly, Gary and Trinh (2000) found in
another study that 62% of taxi drivers were found to be positive for the skin test for TB.
Based on these studies, public utility vehicle drivers are at risk for developing TB. They,
in turn, can be agents for the spread of the disease.

In the Philippines, public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are one of the most commonly used
means of transportation among commuters. In Metro Manila, the University of the
Philippines College of Public Health found that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
or COPD was highest among jeepney drivers (32.5%), bus drivers(16.4%). and
commuters (14.8%). The same study also said that PUJ drivers are at risk of contracting
TB, and that 17.5% of them were already affected. Similarly, the Philippine Environment
Air Quality Monitoring Team, with the support from WHO, derived the same figure. It
was found that the TB prevalence among PUJ drivers was also 17.5%. In addition, the
TB prevalence among bus drivers was 11.5% while commuter TB prevalence was only
9%. Based on the figure presented by the two environment groups, the prevalence of
TB among PUJ drivers was 17.5%, which was relatively high.
Currently, there are roughly 2,500 PUJs in Zamboanga City, which serve the need for
transportation of the public. There are only seven barangays that have more than 100
PUJs operating to serve the residents of these barangays. In this research, two of the
seven barangays were selected. These were Barangay Sta. Maria and Barangay
Pasonanca that have a total of 210 members of the operator and jeepney association.
These barangays were chosen because the researcher knows several of the drivers in
these barangays and has already established rapport among these drivers, enabling the
researcher to conduct the research. Another reason was that, the loading, unloading,
and parking areas of these jeepneys were located in the same place, making it easy for
them to be gathered in a convenient place.

So far, no TB screening has been done among this population as well as their
perceptions regarding pulmonary tuberculosis. It is the researcher's interest, therefore,
to know the perceptions of PUJ drivers regarding pulmonary tuberculosis and to screen
these drivers to determine the prevalence of TB.

1.2 Statement of Objectives

For the stated purposes, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary
tuberculosis (PTB) among public utility jeepney drivers plying along selected barangay
routes in Zamboanga City and their perceptions regarding TB. Specifically, the paper
aimed to address the following objectives:

1. Determine the perceptions of public utility jeepney drivers plying along the
selected barangay route in Zamboanga City regarding pulmonary tuberculosis.

2. Identify the TB symptomatic among the public utility jeepney drivers plying along
the selected barangay route in Zamboanga City.

3. Determine the prevalence of PTB among PUJ drivers plying along the selected
barangay route in Zamboanga City.

1.3 Significance of the Study

This study will help identify and evaluate the perceptions of public utility jeepney drivers
regarding pulmonary tuberculosis in the hope that whatever wrong perceptions they
have will be corrected. This study will also screen and diagnose public utility jeepney
drivers with TB among selected barangays. This will, in some way, stop the chain of
infection of tuberculosis by first identifying the symptomatic drivers and subsequently
treating them. Since these people are one of the underserved populations in terms of
health, this study will help extend health services to them, and therefore help in the
campaign of the Department of Health in fighting and eradicating tuberculosis. Lastly,
this study may provide baseline data on the prevalence of tuberculosis among public
utility drivers, and it may serve as a guide to other researches in the future.

1.4 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study included the public utility drivers of barangay Pasonanca and Sta. Maria,
Zamboanga City. The TB-DOTS clinical signs and symptoms guideline protocol was
used as a screening modality for the identification of TB symptomatic. The diagnosis of
tuberculosis was limited to the use of sputum microscopy for TB bacilli. Lastly, a
questionnaire was used to assess the perceptions of the subjects regarding TB.

Source: Suarez, M. (2006). The Perceptions and Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

among Public Utility Jeepney Drivers on Selected Barangays in Zamboanga City.
Unpublished Thesis, Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Exercise 3.9
Let's Check Our Understanding
Write T if the statement is true and F if false.
_____1. When a topic is interesting, it is automatically considered relevant.
_____2. A highly specialized topic should not be used for research.
_____3. One way to know that a research topic is manageable is if there are enough
references that can be used to make a scientific inquiry about it.
_____4. Preliminary research is useful in focusing the research topic.
_____5. Concept mapping helps you organize ideas for the drafting of the research
paper.
_____6. Newly introduced concepts should be defined briefly in the background of the
study.
_____7. The introduction shall be able to discuss how the study addresses the research
gap it identified.
_____8. Your study can be considered irrelevant if it does not fill a research gap.
_____9. You can justify your research by providing issues that have not yet been
addressed by current practices in your field of study.
_____10. Your focused topic is derived from your general research question.
_____11. A thesis statement is a one-sentence answer to the general research
question.
_____12. The readers' first response to your thesis statement should be "how” or “why”
_____13. The details in the thesis statement can be explicitly stated or implied.
_____14. A good research question is “who are the most famous philanthropists in the
Philippines?”
_____15. The scope and delimitation provides justification for the coverage of the
research.
_____16. The scope and delimitation of the study specifies the parameters under which
the research will be conducted.
_____17. The contents of the significance of the study are arranged chronologically.
_____18. A research title should be written creatively.
_____19. A research title is written as a declarative sentence.
_____20. Phrases such as “relationship between” or “effects of” suggest that the study
is qualitative in nature.

Exercise 4.0
Let's Practice

BRAINSTORMING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

A. Identify one specific issue that requires qualitative research in each of the
following areas. Make sure that the issues you identified are related to or
have impact on your everyday life. Use references such as newspapers,
magazines, books, interview with experts, and journals in identifying the
issues. Write your answers on the given table. Note that the specific issues
you will identify in this task will be the basis for your final research topic.

AREAS SPECIFIC ISSUES SOURCES

Peace and Order Increasing incidents of cell Title: The epidemic of cell
phone snatching phone theft

Author: Linda Bolido

Date: July 17, 2013

Source: Philippine Daily

Inquirer

Agriculture Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Education Title:
 Author:

Date:

Source:

Energy Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Environment and Natural Title:

Resources
Author:

Date:

Source:

Finance Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Foreign Affairs Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Health Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Law and Justice Title:

 Author:

Date:

Source:

Labor and Employment Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Public Infrastructure Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Science and Technology Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Tourism Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Business and Economy Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

Transportation and Title:

Communication
Author:

Date:

Source:

Politics and Governance Title:

Author:

Date:

Source:

B. Choose three issues from those you have listed in Activity A. Consider
your interest and knowledge of the issues when making your choices.
Make a research question and research title for each of the issues you
selected. Below is an example of what you will do.

Issue: Increasing incidents of cell phone snatching

Question: How does cellphone snatching impact the teenage victims?
Research title: Impact of cellphone snatching on teenage victims

Issue 1:__________________________________________________________
Question: ________________________________________________________
Tentative Research Title: ____________________________________________

Issue 2: _________________________________________________________
Question: ________________________________________________________
Tentative Research Title: ___________________________________________

Issue 3: _________________________________________________________
Question: ________________________________________________________
Tentative Research Title: ____________________________________________

C. Choose your research topic based on the criteria below. Assign a score
from 1-10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Be objective on
your evaluation

Topi Relevance Interes Manageability Availability of Resources Total

c t
1
2
3
 Total the scores per topic. The Topic which is scored the highest shall be
your proposed research topic. This topic shall then be subjects to your
teacher’s approval.

PREPARING THE RESEARCH

A. Conduct preliminary research on your chosen research topic by visiting

your library and surfing the Internet. Here are the guidelines for this task:

1. Obtain copies of at least 10 reference materials that are relevant to your chosen
topic and taken from reliable sources (e.g, books, scholarly journals, Google
Scholar, and other reputable online sources).

2. Take note of the bibliographic information of the materials you gathered. These
include the following:

a. Author and title of the source

b. Date and place of publication
c. Edition and name of publisher
d. Volume and issue number
e. Link where the material can be accessed and date the material was retrieved
(for online sources)

4. Choose reference materials that will also help you establish the need to conduct
the study or justify your research topic.

5. Compile the resources, references and attached it to this file.

B. Using the available reference materials, come up with a tentative thesis

statement for your selected topic. Be sure to apply the guidelines in writing an
effective thesis statement.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

C. Using your thesis statement as basis, list three to four specific research
questions for your study.

1._______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________

D. Provide the background of your study. Use relevant print and online
references. Write down the information you have gathered regarding the
 following:

1. The current state of the field

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

2. The research problem (the issue/s to be addressed by the study)

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. The current practices and conventions used in addressing the issue
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. The research gap
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. Your current study and its contribution to addressing the research gap
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

E. Indicate the scope and delimitation of your research by specifying the

areas that will be covered by your research and those that will be excluded.

Areas that will be covered:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Reason for the inclusion of each item:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Areas that will be excluded:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 Reason for the exclusion of each item:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

F. Enumerate at least three agencies or organizations and groups ofpeople

that will benefit from the results of your research. Briefly explain how each
of them will benefit from your study.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

G. Before writing the Introduction of your research paper, reread the given
sample in Exercise 3.8 (page 50-52). Pay attention to its structural features
and answer the questions below. Then, discuss your observations with
your groupmates.

1. How does the text begin?

2. What organization does the text follow? How is it structured?
3. How will you describe the style and approach of the presentation of ideas?
4. How are the supporting details presented? Are the explanations sufficient?
5. What devices were used to improve the flow and clarity of ideas?

H. Prepare a preliminary outline for your Introduction. You may follow the
structure of the sample text given in Exercise 3.8 (page 48). Be sure to
follow the principles and guidelines for an effective outline. Seek the
approval of your outline from your teacher before proceeding to the actual
writing.