This document provides guidance on identifying a research topic area and focus. It discusses how to determine a good topic by considering personal interests and observations, as well as non-scholarly and scholarly sources. Key steps include identifying an area, focusing on a research problem or question within that area, and drafting a tentative title. The background of a study introduces readers to the research topic and problem to establish the importance and interest of the study. It provides context and discusses what prompted the selection of the research topic.

1. RESEARCH
TOPIC AREA
IDENTIFICATION

2. Objectives:
• Identify a good area for
research;
• Determine the research focus
or problem from the identified
topic area;
• Write a tentative title for the
research.

3. Research begins with an
inquiry which leads further to
discovery. In arriving at a
discovery, the person must be
guided by the standards in the
discipline so that the research
will be valid, scientifically done
and acceptable to the field.

4. Finding a topic to research
on is quite difficult for the
students. It is one of the first
and vital steps in the research
process because it sets the
direction of the research
project.

5. It becomes the basis for
formulating research questions,
identifying literature that should
be reviewed, narrowing down
frameworks and planning for
data collection and analysis.

6. A research topic may stem
from idea, problem or issue that
evokes your personal interest or
curiosity. Creswell (2014) defines a
research topic as “the issue or
problem leading to the need for a
research in order to come up with
a potential solution”

7. Sources of
Potential Research
Topics
(Johnson and Reynold, 2012)

8. Personal Sources
Stem from the personal
experiences, observations
and interests of the
researcher/s. These topics
are influenced by the
individuals perspectives,
inclinations and values.

9. For example , if you spend long
hours driving through heavy traffic
everyday, you might be inclined to
do research on the actual and
potential of different traffic
reduction schemes by exploring the
effects of number coding, reducing
of bus volume, phasing out of
jeepneys and other schemes.

10. Non scholarly sources
Include newspapers, magazines,
radio, television, and internet
sources. These sources provide
the researches information on
current affairs and political,
social, economic or cultural
issues.

11. • Teenage Pregnancy
• Harmful Effects of Stress
• Third sex relationships
• Misogyny on Women
• Difficulties in Learning English
• Waste Management
• Literacy Rate in the
Philippines

12. Scholarly sources
Scholarly literature includes
journal articles, books, research
papers and documents written
by academics, professionals and
research organizations.

13. • Factors Affecting the Attitude
Towards Mathematics
• Common Grammatical Errors
in Composition Writing
• Effects of Learning
Management Program in the
Academic Performance

14. The
Background of
the Study

15. The primary purpose of of
the background of the
study is to give the
readers an overview of
what the entire study is all
about.

16. It aims to introduce the
readers to the research
topic and problem that the
study is trying to address
that will persuade them that
the study is important and
interesting.

17. Writing the introduction
section or chapter demands
careful attention since it is
found at the beginning of
the paper and usually the
first thing that a reader
encounters.

18. A well written introduction
catches the attention and
interest of the reader. As
well, it persuades them to
read the rest of the study.

19. It provide the reader with the
context and explain the
circumstances that led to the
study. It can discuss briefly
the specific problem, situation
or conflict of ideas that caught
your attention and compelled
you to select your research.

20. The researchers goes on to
describe the specific situation
surrounding the research, using
facts from the literature to support
various arguments. In this section
also, the student researcher tries to
ascertain the suitability and
feasibility of the study, concluding
from the sufficient evidences drawn
from the previous literature.

21. In a nutshell, this is where the student
researcher initiates the subject of his
investigation using all obtainable
evidences and figures to establish its
groundwork. Note that even if there is
no standard number of pages that this
should take, the lengthier and well
focused the Background to the Study,
the better for a good and solid
groundwork for that research being
conducted.