Sets the initial impression of the study and effectively communicates the essence of your research. It serves as an important basis for formulating the research questions, identifying literatures that should be reviewed, narrowing down appropriate theories and frameworks, and planning data collection and analysis.

In choosing a topic consider the following questions…

•        Is the idea unique/new? Will it contribute to the body of knowledge? (novelty)

•        Who will be my respondents? Are they accessible to me? (participants/sample)

•        Can I use both qualitative and quantitative methods in this study? (applicability)

•        Will it cost us a lot of resources? (cost-efficiency)

•        Can I finish the tasks within the time allotment? (duration)

•        Is there a solution that I can provide?  (output)

GUIDELINES IN WRITING A RESEARCH TITLE

1. 1. 1. Be simple, concise, brief and direct.

      2. Think of your title as a product brand. Should not be misleading, informative, and memorable.

      3. Limit word count to 12 to 15 except for conjunctions, articles, linking verbs, etc.

      4. Do not use negative or concluding words like effectiveness, advantages, impacts, etc.

      5. Avoid use of abbreviations, initialism, and acronyms.

      6. Avoid use of highfalutin words, jargons, ambiguous, and technical terms.

Formats

•        One-part titles

•        Based on main idea

Relationship of Caffeine Intake of SHS Students in their Academic Performance

•        Based on Intended Output and Methods Used

Development of an Intelligent Autonomous Coffee Maker using Intelligent Control Methodologies

•        Two-part titles

•        Additional Context:

Lessons from Running a Coffee Farm Business: Factors Influencing Coffee Farmers’ Decision to Engage in the Coffee Industry

•        Temporal scope of research:

A Comparison: Coffee Consumption of Gen Z and Millennial Groups

•        Main approach used:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Motivational Reasons behind Consumer Choice in Branded   Coffee Shops

•        Methodology used:

•        A Correlational Study: Performance of Coffee Production Among Young and Seasoned Coffee Farmers in Batangas Province

Reminders:

•        Drafted titles for topic proposal are working titles.

•        Consider the time allotment, financial capability, experiences and capabilities of the researchers.

•        Consider the methods, data analysis to be used.

•        Consider the literatures to back up the findings.

GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Providing a solid background sets the stage for your research by highlighting it context and significance.

·        Clearly explain the historical, theoretical, or practical context of the research topic.

·        Identify gaps or unresolved issues in the existing literature that your study aims to address.

·        Justify the importance of the study by demonstrating how it contributes to knowledge or addresses a relevant problem.

Tips in Introduction Writing

•        Narrow down big concepts into chunks of smaller ideas.

•        Observe coherence and logical presentation of ideas.

•        Use templates in organizing the introduction.

•        List down questions to facilitate ease in writing.

•        Create an outline that will serve as basis for writing.

Introduction Structure

•        Hook

•        A catchy phrase or statement that will get the audience attention. It could be a research data, news report, remarks from known personalities or experts, and quotation.

Example:

Filipino students ranked low in PISA for mathematics and science, with 353 points and 357 points, respectively, against the 489 OECD….

•        Identified Problem/Need

•        Relate the opening statement to the identified problem or need in your study.

•        Show connection by citing your personal experience or own observation.

•        Take note: Opinionated statements should be avoided.

•        Example:

•        Despite the efforts of the teachers and schools to improve mathematics and science instruction, students were observed to be heavily influenced by…

•        Data / Supporting Literatures

•        Show salient findings from other authors concerning the problems that they have identified in their study.

•        Must present this part using CONTINENTAL APPROACH, to show that the problem is not just locally experienced.

•        In using this approach, literatures are organized based on the original of the study (Research conducted globally (UN, UNESCO, etc), within continents (North America, Asia, Africa), across continental regions (East Asia, South East Asia), national (country-wide research), and local (study conducted in your school, barangay, city)

•        Do not copy everything. You may use multiple or cross-citation in the discussion.

•        Example:

•        Actually, UNESCO (2020) found evidence that online technologies negatively affect the schooling of the generation of students today. In Asia, Tsui and Chao (2021) noticed an increase in the screentime exposure of students which reduces their reviewing and reading time.

•        In fact, in Netherlands, Brown (2019) found a link between student’s addiction to technology and their attitude in learning. Meanwhile, among the problems observed by authors in the Philippines include poor implementation of tech-use policies and rules at home (Adajar et al 2017), ease-of-access to mobile devices (Castillo and Mariano, 2019), toleration of teachers (Mendoza, 2020).

•        However, a study done in Bauan Technical High School by Agena et al (2020) indicated that students are able to focus in their academic engagement given that no cellphone policies are being enforced in the institution. 

•        Research Gap

•        It indicates area of research that are intended for exploration or improvement. This could be the identified limitations by the authors, given the complexity of their research. Some had it presented as part of their recommendations.

•        Also, it may involve underexplored areas that have scope for further research.

Example:

Even if numerous studies have been conducted showing the relevance of their topics to the present research, none of the authors have identified the root cause that lead to the persistence of this problem. It could be that…

•        Rationale

•        Present the intention of the researcher.

•        Highlight how this study will help you in your future career or present specialization in school.

•        Explain the underlying reasons that prompted you to conduct the study.

•        Summarize the presentation of the necessity (why is the study needed), novelty (how or in what way is this one unique), practicality (is the study practical to do in this time?, beneficiality (who will benefit in this study?), usability (after this, what will be the direction of your research? do you simply plan to stack your manuscripts on the shelves?).

•        Use the following prompts in writing the rationale:

•        The researchers, as would-be teachers, were triggered by the fact that…

•        The proponents were prompted to conduct this study to…

•        The researchers believe…

•        The study intends to… The intention of the study

•        The present research aims to…

•        This study explores (you may use explain, describe, investigate, delve into)

•        The researchers attempt to…

Reminders

•        Use third person pronouns (the researchers, proponents, authors)

•        Observe recency of the dates of the literatures to be included (past 10 years publication)

•        Avoid opinionated statements.

•        Use proper in-text citations (although this topic is to be discussed on the fifth week)

GUIDELINES IN DEVELOPING RESEARCH QUESTIONS

•      Note that a quantitative research questions revolve on the aspects that can be measured and are requiring the use of statistical tools, usually prompted by “To what extent…”, “What is…”, “How do the respondents assess…”

•      It requires large population represented by a sample respondents.

•      A hypothetical question written in its null form is usually written, following the two set of questions containing the dependent and independent variables.  

Key Considerations

•        Start with focus question words – “To what extent, How may, What is”.

•        Keep the research focused on a single concept or phenomena.

•        Avoid using the words such as “impact” or “effect” and directional phrases.

•        Avoid conclusive words like “effectiveness”, “advantages”, “benefits”, as these already suggest a result even if the study is yet to be conducted.

Research Question Prompts

Descriptive research questions

•        How do the respondents describe…

•        To what extent do the respondents…

•        As assessed by the respondents, what are…

•        What is the extent of manifestation of…

•        What is the…

•        How may the profile of the respondents be describe relative to (with respect to, as to, in terms of):

Hypothetical research questions

•        Is there a relationship between the X and Y?

•        Is there a difference between the X and Y?

•        How may the assessment of the respondents on …. be compared?

•        Does the assessment of the respondents on … vary?

NOTE: (Do not include the term “significant” as we are yet to know from the result of the statistical comparison or correlation if the relationship or difference is significant)

Descriptive

Question

What are the factors that influence Filipino college students to strive for academic honors?

Variable

Academic efforts

Group

A sample group of 100 students from the Top 5 Philippine Universities

Question

How do youth members assess the programs and activities implemented by Sangguniang Kabataan?

Variable

Assessment of SK programs and activities

Group

Sample group composed of registered youth voters aged 15 to 30

Correlational

Question

Is there a relationship between the parenting styles and socialization skills of the school-aged students?

Variable

Parenting styles (IV); Socialization Skills (DV)

Group

Sample group of respondents aged 6 to 12 years old

Question

Is there a relationship between the behavioral intentions and acceptance level among Junior High School teachers using the UTAUT Model.

Variable

Behavioral intentions through UTAUT Model (IV); Technology Acceptance (DV)

Group

Sample group of teachers from Bauan West District

Comparison

Question

Is there a difference between the assessment of Poblacion 1, 2, and 3 in the implementation of the Waste Management Program

Variable

Implementation of Waste Management Program

Group

Sample group of household from Poblacion 1, 2, and 3

Question

Does the satisfaction level of patients in public and private hospital on the medical services vary?

Variable

Medical Services

Group

Sample group of respondents from public and private hospitals

Guidelines in Writing the Scope and Limitations

Scope

•        Recall your research question and problem statement. These aspects set the direction for your study.

•        This part states the general aim, defines where and when the study was conducted and who the subjects where, the time period, research site, subjects/participants, context, and variables included in the study. It therefore presents the coverage of the study.

Limitations

•        Also known as the bounds, are influences that the researcher cannot control.

•        They are the shortcomings, conditions, or influences that cannot be controlled by the researcher that place restrictions on your methodology and conclusions.

•        Characteristics of design or methodology that influenced the interpretation of the findings from your research

•        This may include constraints on generalizability, applications to practice, and utility of findings.

•        It points out strengths and weaknesses of the research.

•        It may include the following methodological limitations like research design, sample size, lack of available data, instrument, time constraints, limited literatures, access, duration, cultural and other type of bias, variables, and fluency in language.

Delimitations

•        This section allows the researchers explain why certain aspects of a subject were chosen and why others were purposely excluded.

•        These are definitions you set as the boundaries of your own, so delimitations are in your control.

•        These are set so that your goals do not become impossibly large to complete.

•        Examples of delimitations include research questions, variables, theoretical objectives that you have adopted, research instruments, and population chosen as targets to study.

Example:

This correlational research attempts to describe the relationship between the attitude of the students and the implementation of modular distance learning among Senior High School students of Bauan Technical Integrated High School for the school year 2022 - 2023. This will also looked into the challenges, issues, and coping strategies of the students in MDL.

Given the quantitative nature of this research, the use of survey questionnaire is one of its limitations. It will be participated by 255 students enrolled for the said school year. It is therefore delimited to use of interview and observation. Students from other track and strand will not be included in this study.

You may use the following key phrases in writing this section such as:

·        “The coverage of this study …”

·        “The researcher limited this research to …”

·        “The study covers the …”

·        “The study does not cover the …”

·        “This study is focused on …”

·        “This study is limited to …”

Guidelines in Writing the Significance of the Study

This section usually requires the researcher to describe the implication of his or her research to several audiences to assert its importance and potential benefits to be gained from reading and using the study (Creswell, 2014, 119).

There are several question that you may reflect on when writings this portion. These include the following. 

·        Who may possibly benefit from your research?

·        What crucial information can you bring?

·        What knowledge might they be interested in that they could get from your research?

·        What possible impact can your research have on the existing body of knowledge about the topic?

·        What practical implications does your research have?

·        Will your research bring forth recommendations to policy and decision-making?

·        Will your research have impact on practice?

Useful Prompts

•        Researchers may find the findings useful as…

•        This study will encourage them to…

•        It will also serve as basis in the study of…

•        This study will contribute to…

•        The study will provide…

•        This study can help boost the…

•        Through this study, students will become aware of…

•        The results of this study will provide some insights and information on how they…

References:

Amorado, R.V., and Talili, I.N. (2017). Qualitative research a practical approach. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House.

Henson, R.M., and Soriano, R.F. (2016). Practical research 1 qualitative research world of reality dissections. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House.

Clemente, R.F., Julaton, AB. E., Orleans, A.V. (2016). Science in today’s world for senior high school research in daily life 1. Quezon City: Sibs Publishing House, Inc.

Torneo, A.R & Clamor-Torner, H.S. (2017). Practical Research 2: An Introduction to Quantitative Research. Sibs Publishing House, Inc.: Quezon City