This document provides guidance on writing research titles. It defines key terms like research title and working title. It explains that a good research title should summarize the main idea, capture attention, differentiate the paper, and contain keywords. The document provides clusters of sample titles and discusses analyzing titles for common elements. It offers characteristics of good titles like summarizing the study, drawing attention, and predicting the content. The document provides directions and examples for writing a research title in multiple steps.

1. WRITING
THE
RESEARCH
TITLE

2. LESSON
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the
lesson, you are
expected to:
• Characterize a
researchable
topic;
• Choose a good
working title; and
• Write a research
title

3. RESEARCH TITLE
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Is the first thing that is read on
a research paper that outlines
the purpose of the research,
the methods used and the
overall tone of the paper.

4. WORKING
RESEARCH TITLE
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Contains few possible words
that could not adequately
describe the contents of
your research paper.

5. It is mostly presented before
an audience.
DIRECTIONS: Analyze
the titles written in
clusters. Identify the
common elements of
the titles and write
them in your
notebook.
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. How did the
researchers come up
with these titles?
2. What are the
common elements of
the research titles?

6. Cluster A
1. Reading Difficulties and
Comprehension Levels of
Freshmen
2. Factors Affecting the Learning
Styles of High School Students
(Naco, 2006)
3. Managerial Skills and
Difficulties of School Managers

7. Cluster B
1. The Effect of Computer to
Mathematical Competencies in
Algebra Among Sophomores
2. The Effect of Assisted Instruction
in Performance of Students in Asian
History and Civilization (Cuenca,
2008)
3. Correlation of English
Performance of Students in Selected
Schools (Valenton, 2009)

8. CHARACTERISTICS
OF A GOOD
RESEARCH TITLE
• summarizes the main
idea/s of your study
• it is the part of the
paper that is read the
most and is usually
read first

9. CHARACTERISTICS
OF A GOOD
RESEARCH TITLE
• captures reader’s
attention and draws his
attention at the research
problem being
investigated
• differentiates the paper
from other papers of the
same subject area

10. CHARACTERISTICS
OF A GOOD
RESEARCH TITLE
• Predicts content
• Contains keywords
that will make it
easy to access by a
computer search

11. PRACTICE
TASK
Among the listed
working titles below,
select the best three
and state your reasons
why. Write all your
answers on your
notebook.

12. PRACTICE
TASK
1. School Absenteeism among Students
2. Factors that Influence a Child’s
Decisions to Read Outside-Of-School
3. Internet Addiction faced by Young Kids
4. Online Education for Disabled Students
5. The Effects of Cooperative Learning on
Student Achievement

13. PRACTICE
TASK
6. Overcoming Death of a Loved One
7. Preventing Self-Harm
8. Side Effects of Body Piercing at a Young
Age
9. The Future of Different Sports in the
Philippines
10. The Impact of Using Nuclear Weapons

14. BASIC
REMINDERS
IN WRITING
A RESEARCH
TITLE

15. KEEP IT SIMPLE, BRIEF, AND
ATTRACTIVE
The primary function of a title is to provide a precise
summary of the paper’s content. So, keep the title
brief and clear. Moreover, a good tile for research is
typically around 10-15 substantive words long. A
lengthy title may seem unfocused and take the
reader’s attention away from an important point.

16. KEEP IT SIMPLE, BRIEF, AND
ATTRACTIVE
Avoid: Drug X has an effect of muscular
contraction for an hour in snails
Better: Drug X induces muscular
contraction in snails

17. USE APPROPRIATE
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
A good research title should contain key words
used in the manuscript and should define the
nature of the study. Think about terms people
would use to search for the study and include
them in the title.

18. USE APPROPRIATE
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
Avoid: Effects of Drug A on schizophrenia
patients
Better: Psychosocial effects of Drug A on
schizophrenia patients

19. AVOID ABBREVIATIONS AND
JARGON
Known abbreviations such as AIDS, HIV, and so
on can be used in the title. However, lesser-
known or specific abbreviations and jargon
that would not be immediately familiar to the
readers should be left out.

20. AVOID ABBREVIATIONS AND
JARGON
Avoid: MMP expression profiles cannot distinguish
between normal and early osteoarthritic synovial
fluid
Better: Matrix metalloproteinase protein expression
profiles cannot distinguish between normal and early
osteoarthritic synovial fluid

21. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CREATE A
‘WORKING’ RESEARCH TITLE FIRST.
This title helps focus the research and writing but
can be changed if needed. The final title should be
a phrase or a question that indicates the subject
and scope of the research while generating the
reader’s interest and enthusiasm for the topic.

22. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CREATE A
‘WORKING’ RESEARCH TITLE FIRST.
Avoid: MMP expression profiles cannot
distinguish between normal and early
osteoarthritic synovial fluid
Better: Matrix metalloproteinase protein expression
profiles cannot distinguish between normal and early
osteoarthritic synovial fluid

23. HOW TO
WRITE A
RESEARCH
TITLE
STEP 1: Ask yourself these
questions and take note of
the answers:
1. What is my paper about?
2. What techniques/designs will be
used?
3. Who/What will be studied?
4. Where is the setting of the study?
5. When is the period or duration of
the study?

24. HOW TO
WRITE A
RESEARCH
TITLE
STEP 2: Use your answers to list
key words.
STEP 3: Create a sentence that
indicates the key words you
listed.
Step 4: Delete all
unnecessary/repetitive words
and link the remaining.
Step 5: Delete non-essential
information and reword the title.

25. EXAMPLE

26. A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE
BEHAVIOR OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH ABSENTEE PARENTS OF TABACO NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018
From this title, you can find out a lot about the research
before reading the actual proposal or actual research report.
1. What are we looking at? The behavior of Senior High
School students with absentee parents
2. Who are the subjects? Senior High School students with
absentee parents

27. A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE
BEHAVIOR OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH ABSENTEE PARENTS OF TABACO NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018
3. Where is the setting/place of the study? Tabaco
National High School
4. What type of study is it going to be? It is going to
be a qualitative study, and phenomenology will be used.
5. What is the period covered of the study? School
Year 2017-2018

28. A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE
BEHAVIOR OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WITH ABSENTEE PARENTS OF TABACO NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018
6. What size is the sample? We will just be using a
small sample
7. What data-collection methods will be used?
Information from the participants will be obtained
through interviews, observation, open-ended
questionnaires, etc.

29. The table shows sample
research titles for the
different Senior High
School strands which
might be helpful for you as
you decide to have your
own research title/topic.

32. WRITING YOUR
OWN RESEARCH
TITLE

33. Before you make a final decision on your
topic, reflect on these questions:
1. What area/s not covered in classroom lessons/discussions
do I still want to know/investigate in my specific track?
2. If I do this research project, how useful will it be to me
as a senior high school student and to the community
where I belong, and even to the larger community, the
Philippines, the ASEAN, and the world?

34. PROPOSED TITLES
Think of three (3) good research titles that align with
your track/strand in Senior High School.
Strand: _____________________________________________________________
Topic: _____________________________________________________
Working Title: ___________________________________________________
Final Title: ___________________________________________________________