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Website: www.sdssu.edu.ph

SELF- INSTRUCTIONALMODULE
IN
 Self- instructional module in Graduate Research
Seminar/GV Naga

Module 2

The Graduate Research

Overview:

This module presents helpful lessons for researchers to understandkeyconcepts in

graduate research. Various research methodologies ingraduatewill be presented in a

simple way. The research methodologies will includeexperimental research, quasi-

experimental research, ethnography, andcasestudy. The different concepts of qualitative

and quantitative researchwill behighlighted and the issues on reliability and validity of a

researchreport will be discussed briefly.

DURATION / HOURS 15 hours (Weeks 2

LESSON NO. 1

LESSON TITLE Elements of a Research Proposal (Writing Chapter 1)

 Specific LearningOutcomes
During the learning engagement, you will be
the research activity; ∙ identify the parts of a rationale and
ableto:
write a draft of Chapter 1.
be ableto

LESSON CONTENTS

INITIAL After you have initially identified your researchproblem, you are
PROCESSRESEARCH
now ready to work with your chosenresearch adviser to consult

and set the parametersyour inquiry. Some of the issues that you
of

needto
resolve together with your adviser are the following:
1. Type of research work, whether it shall be

exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory.

2. Sources that may be suggested by your advisersuch as

particular journals, books, websites,magazines, etc.

3. The time frame for the research project. 4. Other

general matters like: methods,instruments, participants,

data analysis, etc.

1
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

likewise be straightforwa
There are times that research advisers liketo the Research
by the reader
Proposal as a “workingowing to their experience that the

proposal canfurther be refined as the research moves along.

THE FIRST CHAPTER O

CHARACTERISTICSOF As you start working on your proposal, it is alwaysgood to

ARESEARCH
remind ourselves of the characteristicsgood research

paper:

1. ACCURATE and TRUTHFUL

concisely presented and

GOOD
PAPER
documented.

2. OBJECTIVE and must be based on facts andnot on personal

experiences or opinions.

words shouldbe simple but clear using correct grammarshould

 WRITING Chapter 1 of your proposal introduces your studywith the
BACKGROUND elements illustrated in Appendix Aof thismodule. How do you
THE
write each and
of these parts?
INTRODUCTION (Appendix B, p.27)
OF
STUDY
∙ This is the preview of the whole study.

with a general statementthe problem area, with a focus

onresearch problem, to be followedrationale or

justification of the study.

Any clarificationsthese points?
of
Writehere lest your forget thenraisedownof the study (“What are you doing?”) as well as
these concernsour “classroom
about specific
the rationale (Why arebyyou
thedoing it?”)
∙ Create reader interest in the topic, lay
in
extensive foundation for the problemthat
the focus
leads to the study.

torefer the
proposal”
of a

facts 2

properly
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

∙ Background information may be: (a)theoretical

interests or concerns, or (b)description and

analysis of aorganizational changes.

∙ Your analysis should lead you toyour own assumptions

about why theis significant.

research? From whose point of viewtheproblem is

significant? (Excerpts from Chapter 1, pp 2-4 of Bueno, DC)

 a
How do you understandthis part ofAccording to Navarro and Santos (2011).
the lesson?You may write
yourthoughts here. policy or
YourINTRODUCTION is similar to saying to the reader, “Hereis

what has been happening and so there

interrogate
reason to explore the problem or the issue. Therefore, you should
problem
be able to explain in your backgroundhow
about the the study will

contribute to the knowledge-baseof the field of study to which

the issue belongs.

In identifying the factors that contributeBackground

is good tothe
of the Study, you may ask yourselvesfollowing:
the

∙ What trends are occurring in the field?

developments are most promising

surfaced or maysurface?

∙ What is the impact of socio-cultural factors?

paper is read 25 years after itspublication, how would

the reader benefitfrom the study?

∙ What is the general state of knowledgeabout the

(Extracted from Research –Based Teaching andp.52)

Learning,

your
3
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga
SETTING OR RESEARCH LOCALE (Appendix“This studyanchored
C) onand FRAMEWO
Dunn LearningStyle Theory…”
place of the study in relation
Every research must have
subject of inquiry.
Both theoretical and conce
∙ This is to demonstrate that the study is basedona true-to-
gives vivid explanations reg
life setting about whichobservations and
variables.
measurement procedurescan be made.

∙ You may add a Figure 1 as the locationafter your is

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK t
description of the research
∙ States a theory whic
characteristicsthe place / locale that have somethingwith

the research writer and explain

(From Bueno, p. 6, and Navarro and Santos, p. 53) definition of conce

explained. Themus

(Ramos,p. 88)

∙ Uses abstract conce

relations that exp

phenomenaoperate

tothe

accurate

map

locale.

of

todo

of
by the and

exist and
theory

4
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga
 INPUT CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ∙ Concentrates on the specific

variables and

concepts focused on the study. It statesDrop-out

which concept or variable are dependentand what

indicators are used.(Ramos, p.88)∙ Elaborates the research

PROCESS probleminto relevant literature and considers suchmatters

as:

1. Existing literature and previous researchand its

relevance for your currentinvestigation.

2. key concepts, ideas, or constructs inresearch

OUTPUT
approach.

3. Possible lines or considerations of inquiryyou

want to track.

4. Relevant theoretical or conceptualperspective/s

based on theresearch studies conducted

literature review.

PARADIGM is a representation of the conceptualframework. The

most popular presentation is theProcess-Output Model.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUTStudents’

Students’ interest
Licensure
Performance
and aspirations
Examination
Rating
Results
Teachers’ Highest
Educational
Teaching
Qualification
Strategies

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The statement of the problemis the

5

relation

your

previous
and
Input-

most

Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

Did theregime important part of the research paper. It shouldprovide a

propaganda?
specific and accurate synopsis of the

Marcos
To what extentdid mass
use
mediacontrol
overall purpose of the study or the researcher’s
contribute
prolonged
Marcos intention and goal. Therefore, the statement has
regime?
clear and specific.

Is the
government Guidelines:
saving
 Aetas
frompoverty? 1. Generally, a complete or general statement to a

should be made but this should be

How
is the povertyalleviation
program into several specific questions as necessary.
the Aetas interms
2. Specific questions should be stated
ofhousing,
livelihood
health “what”, “how”, “will”, “is there…”
services?
the
3. Each question must be clear and

Avoid questions that may require

meanings.
effective
4. Each question should be answerable

be based on existing facts. No question

for
be impossible to answer.

5. Answers to each question must contributeto

and
the solution of the problem as stated andmusthelp in the

development of the wholeproblem.

(Guidelines taken from Ramos, pp. 86-87)

ASSUMPTIONS / HYPOTHESES

A hypothesis is a hunch and is stated by waydeclarative

sentence, relating either in general orspecific terms, the

Hypothesis: relationships of factors or variables.

“Group Hypotheses spells out the particular research

Variable
learning
contributes toClass
achievement.” hypothesis you will test or the specific objectives at 1
Variable which the research is aimed. Your hypotheses must high

concrete and clear, making sure that eachterms of observable

behaviour and which

 2
objective evaluation of the results.

6
tobe
brokenup

using

specific.
several

andmust
should
research

of a

be
is statedin
permits

Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

 Assumptions are presumed as true statement offacts related to

the research problemandstated to provide the reader a

foundation inthe conclusions that result from the assumptions.

In doing this, you must consider this question: Whatassumptions

have you made about the natureresearch you are investigating,

the conditions underwhich the behaviour occurs, the research

methods ordesign employed, measurements collected,

orrelationship of this study to other personssituations?

Snippets SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

You must convince the reader that your studysignificant
“The findings of
contributions in relation to
theaforementioned
study are helpful inthe
improvementthe teaching
learning process educational problem. It should indicate
andMathematics of
performance the importance of the study in terms of:
pupils.”

(a) its impact in the future;

The researcherbelieves
that thisstudy is beneficial
among
tothe following:”
(b) how the results will be implementedinnovations
that will come about;

(c) questions that can be reasonably answered;(d) its

meaning to the theoretical framework;
(e) suggestions for subsequent research that may
from the findings;

(f) what the findings mean to the

educator;
(g) the influence of the results to programs,
methods,and/or interventions;
(h) the influence of the results on educational
policydecisions;
 (i) improvement or changes that may happenresult of the
proposed research.

DEFINITION OF TERMS (Appendix E)

7
analysing

are clearly

of the

the

and

has
solving
and prove

andthe

arise

practicing

as a
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

There are two ways in defining the key terms foundin the
thesis:

✔Arrange CONCEPTUAL when the meaning of the termis usuallytaken

terms from the dictionary; and the
alphabetically.
✔list and
major terms OPERATIONAL when the definition is based
will use define
✔Emphasize observed characteristics and how it is used you
operational or study.
behavioural
definitions

REFERENCES

Bueno, D.C. (2016). Educational research writing. Quezon City:

Great Books Trading.

Navarro, R.L. and Santos, R. G. (2011).

Research-based
teaching and learning. Manila: Lorimar
Publishing,Inc.

Ramos, L. D. (2010). Developing skills in writingresearch.

Manila: Mindshapers Co., Inc.

TEACHING-LEARNING ACTIVITIES (Lesson 1)

 Worksheet 1. Variable/s Identification (IndividualWork)
Refer to the Activity 1 in Module 1. Basedyou have defended,

identify the different variablesrelated to the research title. You

can enumerateasmany variables as you can for the purposes

ofidentifying the scope of the investigation. Classifyvariables

according to PRIMARY and SECONDARY

and
on thetitle

the
on an in the
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga
Problems
variables.
title and

Worksheet 2. General and Specific(Individual Work)

Go back to your approved researchformulate the general and

specific problems byincorporating variables you have

identified. Writeatleast four to five specific problems.

can
Worksheet 3. Writing the Chapter 1
introduce
parts of the Chapter 1:
some

1. Introduction – Prepare the initial draft. Youhave

mapas
three to four paragraphs toyour research topic. You
Study)
may refer toprinted materials for your references.

2. Research Locale- include the locationyour Figure 1 (Map of

the Locale of the3. Paradigm of the Research Process –

picturetheinteractions of the different variablespresented.

Prepare the schematic diagramtoillustrate the interaction as

can
your Figure2(Paradigm of the Research Process) .Youhave

two or more illustrations. 4. Statement of the Hypothesis or

Assumption–Analyze your general and specificand think of

problems
the major relationshipsinteraction of the variables to answer
or
yourmain problem. This will serve as your hypothesisor

assumption.

5. Scope and Limitation – Go back togeneral and specific

problems andpossible research methodology youusing

yourdiscuss.
in your investigation and
think of the

will be

6. Significance of the Study – Reviewthe

Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga

 guidelines and principles in writingthesignificance of the
10
study. Identifybeneficiaries
the of your research /
investigationand discuss. You can have three to five

ofback
7. Definition of Terms – Go this. to your researchtitle, general

and specific problems –identify the key or important

then
terms. Haveterms alphabetically arranged
these
andoperationally or conceptually.
define
Self- instructional module in Graduate Research Seminar/GV Naga