the research problem and research title

1. Practical Research
The Research Problem and the Research
Title

2. OBJECTIVES
1. DESIGN A RESEARCH PROJECT
RELATED TO DAILY LIFE; AND
2. WRITE A RESEARCH TITLE.

3. You may probably observe that you are living in a society where random changes occur. In a
similar way, you may also see that problems are everywhere – from hearing news in a television
or seeing timely posted issues in a social media site up to your daily common struggles as a
student such as a feeling of difficulty in answering a test or difficulty in transportation going to
school and the like. With such circumstances, we may say that this is how the society where we
are living is designed to – we constantly deal with these inevitable problems by conducting
researches and studies in order to find relevant solutions resulting in a change for improvement.
Now that you have acquired some basic knowledge of Research as a discipline, it is time for you to
step forward by initiating a self-observation of the happenings in the community where you belong.
Your journey in Research continues by looking for a problem appropriate to your needs, interests,
and understanding towards the issue. Hence, in this part of the module, you will be provided with
additional knowledge on how to design a research project as well as its possible research title
relevant to your daily experiences.
Lesson
1
The Research Problem and the
Research Title

4. What’s In
Write Agree if the given statement describes the qualitative research and Disagree if
not. Write your answers on your notebook.
1. Hannah conducts a study which focuses on the daily life experiences of
students with dyslexia.
2. To identify the participants of the study, Joshua simply employs
random selection technique.
3. In order to solicit responses from the participants, Patricia utilizes the
interview guide as her research instrument.
4. Since the study of Kyle aims to understand the culture of the
indigenous people, he then decides to immerse in their community for
certain months.
5. Clarisse employs an inductive approach in the conduct of her study.

5. 6. The study of Gerald aims to identify the significant relationship
between the reading habits and the level of reading comprehension skills
of the Grade 11 students.
7. To gather the data needed for the study, Paul utilizes an objective type of
survey.
8. To study the challenges faced by the COVID-19 patients in the
province of Bataan, Nelson interviews 15 COVID-19 survivors as his
research participants.
9. To analyze the gathered data, Oscar employs statistical formula.
10. Michelle carefully observes the emerging themes from the
responses she gathered from the interview to answer her research
questions.

6. What’s New
Read the short selection below and answer the corresponding questions.
In the Senior High School of Barangay Masigasig, there are four students who are being
admired by others because of their hard work. These students are Carlo, James, Sarah, and
Nica.
Carlo is a consistent top student who is enrolled in Arts and Design track. After attending
his classes, he performs extra work as a dishwasher in a carinderia near his house. On the
other hand, James is an athlete as well as a good leader of the school who is enrolled in
Sports track. He attends his extra work at printing services once his class hours are done.
Meanwhile, Sarah is enrolled in TVL track and is known as one of the good performers in
her class. She sells isaw, balot, and mani when the clock strikes at 06:00 pm. Lastly, there
is Nica of Academic track who always represents her school in different academic contests.
During her free time, she serves as a tutor of three pupils from different grade levels.
Being active students of their school and showing exceptional determination, Carlo,
James, Sarah, and Nica are tagged as the Masigasig Fantastic Four.

7. 1. Who are the Masigasig Fantastic Four from the selection?
a. Carl, Jake, Myra, and Lyca
b. Carl, James, Myra, and Lyca
c. Carlo, Jake, Sarah, and Nica
d. Carlo, James, Sarah, and Nica
2. What is common among the four students?
a. They are all school athletes.
b. They are all working students.
c. They are all taking academic tracks.
d. They are all leaders of school organizations.
3. Why are they called the Masigasig Fantastic Four?
a. because they are hardworking
b. because they are all great leaders
c. because they are passive students
d. because they always represent their school in academic contests

8. 4. What do you think can be the possible common struggle faced by
the students in the selection?
a. lack of focus
b. disrupted study habit
c. time management issue
d. all of the above
5. If you will formulate a research title based on the selection, what
would be its possible focus?
a. life of honor students
b. life of student-athletes
c. life of working students
d. life of struggling readers

9. As depicted from the scenario presented in the reading selection, students at their age can
also face different struggles. This further implies that nobody is exempted, that is,
problems which may be represented as a challenge or a difficulty can be possibly
encountered by anyone. Now, as a senior high school student, it is undeniable that
you are encountering problems as well. Perhaps, you may also relate yourself with the
situations of the characters from the selection whose problem may arise from issues and
concerns regarding time management, study habit, motivation, and the like which later
can affect the academic performance.
As a starting student-researcher, you must remember that a situation that brings you a
feeling of discomfort or something that you find as challenging and difficult can be
considered as a source of problem. Such a problem may later help you to design your
study which primary aims are to investigate, explore, and understand the phenomenon.
The findings then can be used to suggest what potential solution may address the
problem.

10. The Research Problem
In starting with a research project, the researcher must have a clear problem in
mind. Basically, a research problem refers to a statement that promptly
suggests for conducting an investigation. Moreover, a research problem to be
designed must deal with some concerns in a particular field that may need an
improvement or a solution. The researcher must also observe gaps in existing
scholarly literature, theories, and practices in order to come up with a good
and relevant research problem. This designed problem then will serve as a
guide to know what kind of research study will be most suitable to address the
perceived concern.
Sources of Research Problem
There is a need for a socially relevant problem when the researcher will attempt
to conduct a study. Hence, it is said that identifying and designing a research
problem is quite a challenging task.

11. Familiarity with the potential sources, meanwhile, may help the researcher to
come up with a good research problem. As cited from Sacred Heart University
Library (2020), four (4) varied sources can be considered. These are as follows:
1. Theory. Existing social philosophies and generalizations which the
researcher is familiar with may be of a great help to design a research problem.
The researcher may observe if there is a gap between theory and practice.
Difference between what is said by the elders and what the youngsters see and
observe may be a potential source of a problem.
2. Practitioners. Consultation with the people who have direct experiences in a
field of interest may provide the researcher an idea of what relevant problem
he/she may investigate. Practitioners such as teachers, social workers, health
care providers, etc. are considered to be a good source of problem since they
are directly experiencing difficulties and challenges which are needed to
be addressed.

12. 3. Personal experience. Daily experiences can provide the researcher
an idea of what problem that needs a solution. Observation on
what is happening in the community may allow him/her to
see the common concerns of people or institutions which may
be subjected for investigation.
4. Relevant literature. An extensive and thorough review of
literature and studies relevant to the problem interest of the
researcher may enable him/her to come up with a potential study.
Through reviewing other available researches, the researcher may
be able to determine gaps in knowledge and to subject them for
replication. Thus, a good research problem will be ensured.

13. Considerations in Formulating the Research Problem
As cited from the book of Cristobal and Cristobal (2017), there are criteria
which should be considered by the researcher in order to arrive with a good
research problem. Here they adopted the proposed criteria of Barrientos-Tan
(1997) from the book entitled A Research Guide in Nursing Education. These
are further subdivided into external and internal criteria.
1. External Criteria
a. Novelty. The research problem must carry “newness.” With this, its
practical value would be easily perceived.
b. Availability of subjects. A research problem, when is subjected to a
further investigation, requires data from the target subjects. Hence, the
researcher must ensure that there will be available participants who are
capable of providing data needed for the study.

14. c. Support of the academic community. The academic community, which consists
of administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents, should be considered by
the researcher in what particular problem will be investigated. Each member
plays a vital role in the conduct of the study. Hence, the research problem should
be clearly perceived as beneficial once it is subjected for investigation. In
addition, securing permission among the said members must be done before
conducting the actual data collection procedure.
d. Availability and adequacy of facilities and equipment. Necessary common
devices such as computers and telephones which will be used in undertaking a
study should be considered. Likewise, other needed materials required by the
research problem should be checked if they are available and sufficient.
e. Ethical considerations. A research problem, when is subjected to a study, must
not pose any unethical demands most especially on the part of the research
participants.

15. 2. Internal Criteria
a. Qualifications of the researcher. These pertain to the expertise of
the researcher to the problem. It is important to the researcher that he/she
has enough knowledge and training when the research problem is subjected
to further investigation so as to ensure the success of the undertaking.
b. Motivation and interest of the researcher. The research problem which is
in the interest of the researcher may give him/her satisfaction and
enjoyment. Hence, completion of the research tasks will be efficiently
attained.
c. Time factor. A research problem, when is subjected to a study, should
suggest to be time-efficient. With this, the undertaking will be possibly
accomplished in a given time frame.

16. d. Costs and returns. It is also important that the researcher
should consider a research problem which suggests to be cost-
efficient. When it is subjected to a study, it must not be a sort of
an expensive undertaking.
e. Hazards and handicaps. This means that a research problem
should not put the researcher in danger. The proposed study
should be safe not only to the participants but moreover to the
researcher himself/herself. Physical and mental health of the
researcher must always be considered.

17. Research Title
Once the researcher has already had a problem that will be
subjected for a study, he/she may now begin formulating a good
research title that will best represent the problem and the study
itself in general. As cited from Sacred Heart University Library
(2020), a research title should help the readers to see the main idea
as well as the summary of the whole study. Further, it usually
contains fewest possible words that can bring understanding of the
content and the purpose of the study among the readers.

18. Characteristics of a Research Title
As commonly observed, a research title is the first one to be read before
proceeding to the other parts of the research paper. Hence, it is really
important to know for the researcher what makes a research title an effective
one in order to capture the interest of the readers towards the problem to be
investigated. Here are some of the characteristics of a research title that the
researcher should put into considerations:
1. It should be limited only to substantive words with high consideration to
the key variables such as the phenomenon under investigation, the
participants, and the setting of the study.
2. It should use words that can create a positive impression among the
readers. Avoid using abbreviations as well as some word constructions such
as: “method,” “result,” and “investigation.”

19. 3. It should be in the form of a phrase with correct use of
capitalization, that is, the first letter appeared in the title as well
as the first letter of each noun word should be capitalized.
4. It should be concise by adequately implying the participants and
the coverage of the study.
In addition, a researcher may also put a subtitle which is
commonly employed in social science research papers. This
subtitle may be done: (1) to state the scope, context, and theory
under investigation; and (2) to provide a substantive and
appealing literary title.

20. Examples of Qualitative Research Title
Similar with all other parts of a research paper, the title must be carefully
formulated. Other existing research titles may serve as a basis
especially for beginning researchers. Below are the examples of title in
qualitative research:
1. The ‘Need to Transcend’: A Phenomenological Study on the Lived
Experiences of Millennial Teachers (Lacdo-O et al., 2018)
2. The Educated Citizen: Cultural and Gender Capital in the Schooling of
Aetas’ Children in the Municipality of Janiuay (Moralista & Delariarte,
2014)

21. 3. This Too Shall Pass: A Grounded Theory Study of Filipino Cancer
Survivorship (de Guzman et al., 2012)
4. Local Studies Centers: Transforming History, Culture and
Heritage in the Philippines (Perez & Templanza, 2012)
5. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Political Speeches: A Critical
Discourse Analysis (Remorosa, 2018)
Now that you have already known the considerations in selecting a
research problem and in formulating its corresponding title, there is no
doubt that you may begin to propose a study by clearly indicating the
problem with its corresponding title that is highly relevant to your
need, experience, interest, and capability as a student- researcher.

22. What’s More
Write Yes if the given situation from each item indicates good practice in the selection
of the problem or in the formulation of the title and No if not.
1. Harold conducts a study which has already been done in his school with similar
objective and participants.
2. Jessica pursues her study because she observes that there are existing research
gaps in her field of interest.
3. Gerald plans to consult the SPED teachers in his community in order to know
the focus of his study regarding the life of SPED students.
4. Joana secures the approval of the school administrator before subjecting her
perceived problem into a study.
5. The research problem proposed by Ulysses requires more time and may exceed
the target time frame when it is subjected into a study.

23. 6. In the formulation of his research title, Willy includes only
essential words and variables of the study.
7. To make her research title appears brief, April used
the abbreviation of a terminology.
8. Bea capitalizes all the first letters of each word appearing
in her research title.
9. Xian includes his participants and the setting of the study
in his research title.
10. In order to indicate clearly the context of her study, Olivia
used a subtitle.

24. What I Have Learned
Write the summary of your learnings by surrounding the light bulb with
important ideas you acquired from the lessons. Copy and answer the
illustration on your notebook.

25. What I Can Do
Formulate one qualitative research title based on the problem perceived in the
illustration below. Your answers will be graded through the provided rubric.
Scoring
system
Description
5 points Elements such as important
variables, participants and coverage,
correct use of capitalization, and
appropriate use of terminology are
observed. There is interrelatedness
of
the elements.
4 points Lack 1 element. There is
interrelatedness of the elements.
3 points Lack 2 elements. There is slight
interrelatedness of the elements.
2 points Lack 3 elements. There is slight
interrelatedness of the elements.
1 point Lack 4 elements. There is no
interrelatedness of the elements.

26. Assessment
Read each statement carefully. Choose the letter that corresponds to the
correct answer. Write your answers on your notebook.
1. Who is a practitioner?
a. a student
b. a professional
c. a critically ill patient
d. anyone who belongs in a community
2. Which of the following is the most efficient way to determine a research
gap?
a. interviewing at least a person
b. immersing oneself in a community
c. reading relevant literature and studies
d. synthesizing ideas from a day-to-day experience

27. 3. What does “novelty” suggest?
a. fairness
b. newness
c. conciseness
d. Completeness
4. What criterion in the selection of research problem emphasizes
the security and safety among the participants?
a. novelty
b. time factor
c. ethical considerations
d. availability of equipment

28. 5. Which of the following is an external criterion in the selection of
the research problem?
a. time factor
b. costs and returns
c. availability of subjects
d. interest of the researcher
6. Which of the following is not an internal criterion in the selection
of the research problem?
a. time factor
b. costs and returns
c. qualification of the researcher
d. support of the academic community

29. 7. What does “substantive” mean?
a. important
b. subjective
c. interesting
d. Researchable
8. Which of the following should be avoided in the formulation of a
research title?
a. subtitle
b. key variables
c. incomplete sentence
d. abbreviation of terms

30. 9. Which of the following should always be capitalized in a research
title?
a. first letter of a noun
b. first letter of an article
c. first letter of an adjective
d. first letter of a preposition
10. What is not indicated from the given research title below?
“Maninindigan ako”: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived
Experiences of Single Parents
a. setting
b. method
c. participant
d. main variable

31. Additional Activities
Think of a problem (e.g., societal issue) which you can relate to. Then,
formulate one qualitative research title that will seek to answer the problem
being perceived. Write your proposed research title on your notebook.
Your answer will be graded based on this rubric:
Scoring system Description
5 points Elements such as important variables, participants and coverage, correct
use of capitalization, and appropriate use of terminology are observed.
There is interrelatedness of
the elements.
4 points Lack 1 element. There is interrelatedness of the elements.
3 points Lack 2 elements. There is slight interrelatedness of the elements.
2 points Lack 3 elements. There is slight interrelatedness of the elements.
1 point Lack 4 elements. There is no interrelatedness of the elements.

32. 1.What is the central research question or
hypothesis addressed in your proposed title?
2.How does your proposed title stand out in
terms of its significance or relevance compared
to the others?
3.Can you briefly describe the research
methodology or approach you plan to use for
this title?
4.What unique contributions or insights does
your proposed research title offer compared to
the others?