Lesson 2: Developing a Research Problem perspective why it is relevant.

Describing your topic

briefly may give you an overview if the topic is feasible
Topic 1
to be researched about.
Identifying a Quantitative Research Problem
5. Read again.
Where should we get our research problems?
You must check the availability of the literature of your
How do we identify them? chosen topic as you may encounter modification in
research writing.
● Identify the range of topics in a field of inquiry.
It may include changing the topic itself, the variables
● Understand the process of identifying research and others as there may be too much or too little
topics. available literature.
How do you think can we identify where to get our 6. Formulate your working title.
topics from?
Your working title focuses on the direction of your
Why is identifying topics crucial at the beginning of study. It helps you determine your variables and may
research writing? give you a preview of its possible dynamics within your
Identifying the Area of Inquiry research.

The ability to choose a topic is an essential skill to start Working titles may change as the research writing also
a good research paper. It is important that you pick out progresses.
a relevant and valuable topic and maximize the How do you think variables are related with the range
resources that you have. of topics in the area of inquiry?
Steps in Identifying the Area of Inquiry Designing a Research Useful in Daily Life
1. Brainstorm for ideas. It is up to you to decide on what interests you and what
When brainstorming, it is more advisable to you view as relevant and present in your specific field of
concentrate on topics that interest you. It is also helpful specialization.
if you focus on your field. The following are topics in different fields that may be
Brainstorming helps you in narrowing down the topics used in research writing.
that you are mostly interested in and look at other Accounting
perspectives that might be related to it.
 Accounting systems
2. Read, read, and read.  Forensic accounting
You need to make sure that there are resources about  Collusion in auditing
 Tax minimization
your topic. It gives you a preview of the possible
 Accounting practices for online business
availability of related literature for your topic of
 Financial markets
interest. Business and Management
Use keywords and concepts related to your topics and  Green marketing
explore on different sources.  Online shops
3. Make your matrix.  Working environment
 Marketing strategies
Look into the research gaps when reading different  Budgeting strategies
resources and previous researches.  Leadership styles
Environmental and Earth Science
Research gaps are areas of the study that remain
unanswered, hence its openness to be researched  Marine pollution
about.  Genetics
 Conservation
Identifying research gaps may prevent the replication  Recycling
of the exact topics that were already studied before. It  Sustainability
helps you to get over the “so what” question.  Soil contamination
 Environmental ethics
Research gaps are helpful in exploring for potential Health Science
research topics. For instance, you may look into the
recommendations to future researchers in previous  Homeopathy
studies.  Tolerance
 Vaccination
It is also useful to review the scope of the study to help  Stress
you identify possible research gaps.  Mental health
 Global health security
4. Describe your topic of interest briefly.

Analyze the angle of the topic you are really interested

in. Know the value of the research topic to focus on the
Education
  Grit
 Inclusive education
 Teaching strategies
 21st century learning
 Homeschooling
 Motivation
Social Sciences

 Discrimination
 Equality in the electorate
 Stereotyping
 Patriotic sentiments
 Migration
 Juvenile delinquency
Humanities

 Taboo
 Symbolisms in art
 Folklore
 Film aesthetics
 Indigenous cultures
 Religious influences
Quick Check

How do you define research gaps?

Answer:

Research gaps are areas that were not explored and are
open for possibilities of new research.

Quick Check

What are the advantages of writing a working title?

Answer:

It gives you a preview of the direction of your research

and it helps you determine the variables of your study
and their dynamics.

Lesson 2: Developing a Research Problem

Topic 2
Writing a Research Title What method will I use in the study? How will I
measure my variables?
What is the importance of a well-written research title?
I plan on performing an experiment.
● Identify the characteristics of a well-written
research title. Who will be the respondents of the study?

● Construct a research title. Engineering students from XYZ University

Writing Your Research Title 2. Make a list of keywords based on the segments of
the research details.
A research title concisely summarizes the content of
the study. It is important to ensure that it differentiates Sample Keywords
the study from other existing research.
Listening to classical music
Characteristics of a Well-Structured Research Title
Improving memorization
Focused and Direct
Experiment
 should include the variables and the field of
inquiry of the study Engineering students from XYZ university
 provides an idea of the study’s contents 3. Draft sentences that contain the keywords.
Characteristics of a Well-Structured Research Title
In drafting sentences that contain the keywords, be
Formal mindful of the length of thevsentence.
 formal tone Example of a sentence containing the keywords
 should not contain abbreviations, jargons, or
colloquial terms unless these are the main The study will conduct an experiment to test whether
focus of the study listening to classical music helps engineering students
Characteristics of a Well-Structured Research Title from XYZ University improve their memorization skills.
(23 words)
Brief but Substantial
Revise your research title as much as you need to
 usually composed of 16 essential words
 consists of the most important information throughout the writing process as long as the title still
about the study reflects the main topic of the paper.
A research title should be able to summarize the study 4. Formulate your research title.
in the fewest possible words.
Example of a possible research title
Characteristics of a Well-Structured Research Title
An Experimental Research on the Effects of Classical
Clear Music to the Improvement of Memorization Skills of
 benefits those who do not know much about Engineering Students of XYZ University (21 words)
the field of inquiry
Example of a possible research title
 helps those looking for references
Characteristics of a Well-Structured Research Title Effects of Classical Music to the Memorization Skills of
Engineering Students of XYZ University: A Research
Proper Grammar and Capitalization
Experiment (17 words)
 first letter of every word is capitalized except
for some words Example of a possible research title
 proper use of coordinating conjunctions, The Effects of Classical Music on the Memorization Skills
prepositions, and articles of Engineering Students in XYZ University (15 words)
How do guidelines help researchers in writing a
research title?

Steps in Writing a Good Research Title

1. Put the details of the research into segments.

The process of segmenting the details of the research

study is helpful in determining and organizing important
information.

What is the primary objective of your research?

The primary objective of the research is to know

whether listening to classical music helps students in
improving their memorization skills.
Lesson 2: Developing a Research Problem
What are the variables of the study?
Topic 3
Independent variable: classical music
Writing the Research Background
Dependent variable: memorization skills
What is the importance of a well-written research proper grammar spelling, and it should be clear
background? and understandable.

 Describe the background of the study. 2. It is concise. It should be written in a brief,

 Understand the process of writing a research organized, and coherent manner.
background.
 Characterize a well-written research 3. It is evidence-based. The research background
background. should be based on facts and evidence gathered
What makes a research background fundamental to from existing studies, and personal opinions of
any research paper? the researchers should not be included.

What makes up a well-written background of the 4. It is focused on the research problem. A well-
study? written research background highlights
important aspects of the research problem, and
What is the Research Background? unnecessary and unrelated information should
The research background is a brief and general not be included.
discussion of the study based on existing literature and 5. It explains the goals of the study. The research
should introduce its purpose and its relevance to the background should provide justification for its
field. It also highlights the research problem. possible contributions to the field.
The research background is more in-depth while the 6. It introduces the variables of the study. For
introduction only provides a brief explanation about quantitative research papers, the research
what the readers can expect from the study. background should clearly introduce and discuss
Steps in Writing a Research Background the variables of the study.

● Conduct preliminary research. 7. It cites related literature in the discussion. A

research background should provide context to
Preliminary research helps in grounding the current the current study based on existing literature.
research study within the parameters of previously
conducted research.

● Identify a writing style.

Deductive approach - general to specific

Inductive approach - specific to general

Steps in Writing a Research Background

● Emphasize the field of your research topic.

It should reflect an emphasis on the nature and the

field of the current study to make readers know its
focus.

● Read and use related literature.

The research background should include historical and

theoretical contexts of the current topic by reading
different sources.

● Focus on the relevance and contribution of the

study.

It should highlight the relevance and potential

contributions of the current study to its field.

Steps in Writing a Research Background

● Summarize the research background.

There must be a balance between discussing very little

information or elaborating too many details that might
make future sections of the paper redundant.

Outlines are helpful in writing the research background.

Initial contents of the outline can come from
preliminary research on the topic.

Characteristics of a Research Background

Lesson 2: Developing a Research Problem
1. The research background should be written in
formal and academic language. It observes Topic 4
Writing a Research Statement for Quantitative Categories of Research Questions
Research
Evaluative research questions
Why is it necessary to formulate good research
● Evaluative research questions are formed to
questions?
assess a particular observation or phenomenon
 Identify the problem statements and research based on an established model or theory.
questions.
 Determine the characteristics of good research ● They are usually observed in organizations,
questions. workplace, programs, and effectivity of projects.
 Demonstrate the process of constructing the
Examples
statement of the problem.
You were given the opportunity to interview the ● How satisfied are you with the implementation
President of the Philippines about any problem of the of the K-12 curriculum?
country today.
● Did the art therapy program work for the
1. What kind of problem will you ask? patients with post-traumatic stress disorder?
2. What are the specific questions that you will ask Categories of Research Questions
to target this problem?
Explanatory research questions are formed to explain,
Statement of the Problem predict change or outcomes on observed relationships
between variables, and determine how one variable
A statement of the problem is an integrative but brief
may have an effect on another.
discussion of the research problem, its context, and the
questions of the study. Examples
It is written as part of the introduction and provides a ● How does nurse intervention affect a patient’s
concise overview of the topic in relation to the research presurgery stress level?
questions.
● How does employment tenure contribute to
Research Questions productivity of workers?
A research question identifies the specific aspects of the How are research questions related to the research
topic that the current study seeks to investigate and problem?
may vary depending on the extent of their focus.
Characteristics of Good Research Questions
A statement of the problem usually begins with
introducing your general problem statement followed Relevant - All research questions must be relevant to
by the specific research questions that aim to address the research problem.
the research problem. Specific - It must not be too broad or too detailed.
Categories of Research Questions Clear - Research questions should use simple language
Descriptive research questions to be comprehensible.

● Descriptive research question are used to Analytical - It does not simply ask “yes or no” questions
describe certain patterns and focus on single but needs complex analysis.
and noncomplex variables. Measurable - The measurability of research questions
● It may also be used to quantify or categorize indicate their feasibility and is measured through
variables in the study. standardized tests or experiments.

Examples Writing the Research Statement

● How frequent is the production of essential oils 1. Finalize the research topic.
for herbal medicines? This will allow you to draft a coherent statement of the
● What criteria are considered by customers in problem and give you guided starting point and inquiry.
choosing a store? Example
Categories of Research Questions Topic: Effects of Facebook photo “likes” on the self-
Comparative research questions are mainly used for esteem of teenagers
comparing and contrasting similarities and differences Independent variable
between groups and variables.
Facebook photo ‘likes’
Examples
Dependent variable
● What is the difference between the quality of
natural and synthetic ink? Self-esteem of teenagers

● How do Gen Z and millennials differ in terms of 2. Draft the research questions.
dating attitudes?
Based on the finalized research topics, the draft of the
research questions will reflect the aspects that the
research is focused on.

Examples

Explanatory

How do Facebook photo ‘likes’ affect the self-esteem of

female adolescents?

Descriptive

What are the factors that affect the number of

Facebook photo ‘likes’?

Writing the Research Statement

3. Write the general problem statement.

 The general problem statement establishes the

overall goal and direction of the research.
 It should contain the research topic, the main
objective of the study, and the variables.
Example

This study aims to find out the effect of Facebook photo

‘likes’ on the level of self-esteem of female senior high
school students in XYZ School.

4. Refine the statement of the problem.

 A refined statement of the problem includes the

research questions and the potential benefits of
the current study.
 The research questions should be written in
declarative sentences.

Keep the statement of the problem short and simple.

Make sure that the statement of the problem reflects
the research problem, research questions, and the aims
of the study.

Quantitative research questions must be relevant,

specific, clear, analytical, and measurable.