RESEARCH PAPER

A research paper is a common form of academic writing. Research papers require students and academics to
locate information about a topic (that is, to conduct research), take a stand on that topic, and provide support (or evidence)
for that position in an organized report.
NOTE: To have an overview of Qualitative Research,
a sample research paper is provided. Please see the attached document on the first module.
The research shall be organized as follows:
Title Page Chapter III: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Approval Sheet
Abstract Chapter IV: CONCLUSION/S AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Acknowledgment
Table of Contents REFERENCES
 Using APA FORMAT 7th edition, create the
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION bibliography. Arrange according to books,
Background of the Study researches, online references
Framework of the Study APPENDICES
Statement of the Problem  Arrange the appendices according to the order of
Assumptions appearance based on the research stages
Scope and Delimitation
Significance of the Study The main treatment of Qualitative Data:
Definition of Terms THEMATIC ANALYSIS- present the data and interpret
Review of Literature
Main Research Tools:
Chapter II: METHODS AND PROCEDURES • Observation
Research Design • Interview
Population and Locale of the Study • Document Analysis
Instrumentation and Data Collection Go over the sample RESEARCH PAPER and analyze each
Validation part as presented in the given overview.
Treatment of Data
Ethical Considerations

RESEARCH TOPIC OR RESEARCH PROBLEM

You begin each work by identifying a topic/problem to work on. To finalize which topic/problem will you be studying,
you must engage in higher-order thinking strategies (HOTS) of interpretative, critical, integrative/synthesis, and creative
thinking.
The research problem states the area of concern of the research paper. These circumstances needing development,
difficulty requiring attention, or an inquiry necessitating an answer. However, it is important to note that this selection should
only state the problem and not preface or suggest a solution for it.

How can you come up with a research topic? Here are the guidelines in choosing a topic:

1. INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER

 Your interest in a topic may be caused by your rich background knowledge about it and by its novelty, meaning, its
unfamiliarity to you. Being curious about a subject, like a puzzle, makes you determined to unravel the mystery or
intriguing thing behind it. Your real interest in a subject pushes you to research, investigate, or inquire about it with full
motivation, enthusiasm, and energy.
 It is important to choose a topic that interests you because it will drive you into accomplishing your work. Working with
a topic you are not interested in will lessen the quality of the research work.

2. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION
 Collecting a lot of information as evidence to support your claims about your subject matter from varied forms of
literature like books, journals, and newspapers among others is part of any research work. Hence in choosing a topic,
you have to check the availability of materials on your chosen topic. Take also into consideration how updated the
materials are. You may ask yourself: are there available references/ sources for my topic? It is accessible? Is it updated?

3. TIMELINESS AND RELEVANCE

 You should select a topic that is “in-time”. Do not choose topics that concern events that happened in the past because
sources might be obsolete. Your topic, as much as possible, should be instrumental in societal improvement. It should
contribute to the society of with other people. In this way, your research can be beneficial.

4. LIMITATION ON THE SUBJECT

 Setting a limit or restriction on the chosen topic helps you to focus on the specific areas you want to deal in. The broader
your topic is, the more difficult it is to handle. This also applies to narrow topics.
5. PERSONAL RESOURCES
 Before sticking fully to your choice, assess your research abilities in terms of your financial standing, health condition,
mental capacity, needed facilities, and time allotment to enable you to complete your research. You have to consider
these things beforehand to save time, effort, and resources.

In choosing a topic, there are also things we should not consider in choosing a topic. Here are the guidelines:

1. Controversial Topics
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 • Topics that depend greatly on the writer’s opinion,
• May tend to be biased and prejudiced
• Difficult to adopt an objective attitude
• Example: Love and Religion
• Depends on subjectivity or personal thoughts and feelings
• Unsupported by facts

2. Highly Technical Subjects

• For a beginner, researching advanced topics, technical knowledge is a very difficult task.
• Technical equipment's, complex graphical representations, complicated operations are only done by technical expertise
• There are topics or scientific matters that are not for any researcher but for one who possesses knowledge of expertise

3. Hard-To-Investigate Subjects
• A subject is hard to investigate if there are no available reading materials or if materials are not up-to-date
• Good research requires the use of varied reading materials
• Using outdated references proves a junk research work

4. Too Broad Subjects

• Topics that are too broad will prevent you from giving a concentrated or in-depth analysis of the subject matter
• A remedy for this is to narrow the topic
• Focusing on broad topics ted to diffuse your attention to the main topic of your research

5. Too Narrow Subjects

• These are limited subjects or specific that intensive or thorough searching for information is unnecessary.
• a topic with little information does not have the characteristics of a good research
• Very narrow topics do not give justice to the true nature of research that demands a discovery of information from
varied sources to prove the truthfulness of something

6. Vague Subjects
• Vague subjects will prevent you from having a clear focus on your study.
• Determiners such as several, many, some, and the like – as seen: “Some Remarkable Traits of Filipino” or “Several
People’s Comments on the RH Law” is vague enough to decrease the
reader’s interest and curiosity Scan the code to learn more about choosing a
research topic. If internet connection is not
reliable, open “How to choose a Research Topic
Sources of Research Topics or a Dissertation or Thesis” in your flash drive.
• mass media communication
• Books, Internet, peer-reviewed journals, government publication
• Professional periodicals
• General Periodicals
• Previous reading assignments in your other subjects
• Work experience

Now that you have been oriented with the guidelines in selecting a
RESEARCH TOPIC, maybe you already have an idea of what topic/problem
you are going to tackle for your research paper. Type in your browser:
https://tinyurl.com/researchstep
Do not rush into selecting the topic. Consider the given guidelines and
ponder on them.

RESEARCH TITLE

The Research Title has the following characteristics:

 Showcases the study by providing a summary A research title needs to contain the following elements
 of the main idea is usually concise that serve as guides in constructing the statement of the
 It should summarize the main idea of the paper research problem:
 It should be a concise statement of the main topic  aim
 It should include the major variables of the study  topic
 It should be self-explanatory  place
 To describe or implied the participants of the study  period
 population or respondents

Research Title example:

Problems Met by Science and Mathematics Teachers in Public High Schools in NCR for the School Year 2005 – 2006
to School Year 2010 – 2011

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 “FEATURIZED” TITLE
 Title that seems to “feature” their topic. This makes the title unique and creative. However, this should not be
misleading.
Examples:
 Mangyan Courtship Dance: A Lost Tradition
 General Luna: A Worthy Leader
 Peer Pressure in School: Make or Break?
 Pinagtagpo Ngunit Hindi Itinadhana: A Case Study About Couples Who Had Long-Term Relationship But Did Not
Marry Each Other”

Note: If you opt to do a “featurized” title, the first paragraph in the background of the study must be devoted to explain the title.

MY RESEARCH TITLE

Note: The title you will write here will be the final topic of your research. You will not be allowed to change your topic unless suggested by the teacher. Refer
to your groupmates.

Why did you choose this topic?

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The first part of a research paper is called the Introduction or Chapter I. It is consisting of the following parts:

 Background of the Study  Scope and Delimitations

 Statement of the Problem  Definitions of Terms
 Assumptions  Review of Related Literature
 Significance of the Study

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

• cites the reasons why the researcher chooses to study a particular study
• describes the setting of the place where the research will take place or the needs of that particular locality
• presents relevant works of literature related to the study he/she is conducting
• gives information for the need for the research study.

The following questions can aid the researcher in formulating the background of the study.

1. What is the rationale of the problem?

 This question is answered by sharing the reasons why the researcher decided to look for solutions to the problem.
 The researchers should describe the existing and prevailing problem based on his or her experience. The scope may be
local, national, international. Ideally, the finale can start from a global perspective the more personal one.

example:

As a grade 12 student, Arjohn David, experienced some difficulties in performing well because various
factors such as the attitude of his teachers as well as their teaching methods, the absence of laboratory
facilities, and inadequacy of books in the library. He is having difficulties in his quizzes in class performance

2. What is the setting of the problem?

 This describes the place where the research was conducted since the setting has a significant bearing on the variables
being studied.

example:

Putting Capunitan Elementary School is one of the barrio schools in Orion, Bataan where most enrollees are
from disadvantaged families whose immediate ancestors in the laborers or fisher folks. This school is one
of the schools with poorly performing students in the division according to the Department of Education.

3. What is the basic literature foundation of the study?

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  This part is to provide the researcher clarity on the terms are variables used in the study.
 This part is derived from different literature sources. The use of various references is crucial in this part of the first
chapter.

example:
As teaching is considered to be a complex activity (Mendel, as cited in Iqbal, 1996), the scholars and
researchers in the field of education have since long been exploring into and analyzing the teaching
phenomenon. Teaching is an arrangement and manipulation of the situation in which a learner tries to
overcome the learning problems. Teaching is also a multidimensional set of activities intended to facilitate
learning (Torrington et al., 2003). However, it is universally recognized the teachers’ instructional
performance place a key role in students’ learning and academic achievement (Panda and Mohanty, 2003).

4. How serious is the chosen research problem?

 The researcher’s task is to identify the intensity and magnitude of the problem.

example:

Based in the Department of Education Division Memo Series 2012, among the 12 schools with the most
poorly performing students, Putting Capunitan Elementary School ranked 12th.

5. What is the general objective of the problem?

 This is a general statement of the problem are the major tasks of the researcher to discharge and should also be the
basis of the enumerated statements of specific problems.

example:

With the above-mentioned scenario and situations, it is the main objective of the researcher to determine
the common reasons of the poor performance of the students. Therefore, the research findings and objective
become the basis of the intervention program for school effectiveness.

6. What is the overall purpose of the problem?

 It is important to note that the researcher must be aware of the purpose of the research problem.
 The researcher must fully understand the implications of the resulting findings of the study.

example:

This is mainly for the purpose of letting the students acquire the needed competency before the division in
enabling the school to perform better in the Regional Achievement Examinations.

Note: Remember that paragraphs must come from the researcher/’s’ own idea. This must not be copied from any article

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

• This is also called the heart of a research study, where the general and specific problems or objectives are presented.
• The introductory statement in this section is usually the general problem for goal-based from the research title. This is
followed by specific problems or objectives that will be thoroughly studied in the course of the research.
• More often, specific problems are seated interrogative form, while research objectives are stated in the declarative form.
• This should be written in the present tense.

Here is an example:

Research title: The Impact of the El Niño to the way of Life of the Filipino Farmers

General Problem: This study attempts to document the effects of El Niño on the ways of life of the Filipino Farmers

Specific Problems:
1. What are the effects of El Nino on the production of agricultural products of the Filipino farmers?
2. What are the effects of the said environmental phenomenon on the social and economic interactions of the Filipino
farmers?
3. What practices are adopted by the said farmers to limit the effects of El Niño to the way of life.

GENERAL PROBLEM SPECIFIC PROBLEM

 To give your study a clear direction, you have to  The specific questions, also called sub-
break this big, general question into several problems, identify or direct you to the exact
smaller or specific research questions aspect of the problem that your study has to
focus on.
 Beset by many factors, the general question or
research problem is prone to reducing itself to  In qualitative research, one central question is 4
several specific questions, seeking conclusive allowed, provided it already encompasses the
answers to the problem. entire thrust of the research.
 C. ASSUMPTIONS

• An assumption is a realistic expectation which is something that we believe to be true. However, no adequate evidence
exists to support this belief
• Assumptions are principles that a reaccepted as being true based on logic or reasons but without proof or verification
• If you are writing qualitative research, here are some common assumptions to consider:
 The participants will answer the interview questions in an honest manner
 The inclusion criteria of the sample are appropriate and therefore, assures that the participants have all
experienced the same or similar phenomenon of the study
 Participants have a sincere interest in participating in your research and do not have any other motives, such
as getting a better grade in a course if they are college students

For you to have an idea about this, take a look at the given Research Paper example and go over Chapter I.
Try to look at the Research Problem stated and the Assumptions.

Research Problem:
1. What are the factors affecting the failure of students in College Algebra?
2. What are the ways in improving students’ performance in College Algebra?
Research Assumption:
1. The factors affecting the performance are personal and environmental.
2. The recommendations on how to improve the performance of students in Algebra are the provisions of tutorials, peer
tutoring, and partner learning.

D. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

• Scope and delimitations are two elements of a research paper or thesis. The scope of a study explains the extent to
which the research area will be explored in the work and specifies the parameters within which the study will be
operating.

SCOPE
• Determined primarily by the selection of variables that the research study will focus on
• Defining the scope of research requires the careful selection of variables that will be investigated, as well as the
attributes that will define and measure these variables

VARIABLE
• Characteristics that can have different values or traits that may vary across participants.
ex. Age, gender, height, weight, etc.
• Based on the research problem, the researcher identifies the possible variables that will be investigated to address the
problem.

DELIMITATION
• Describes the various limitations that arose during the design and conduct of the study.
• The limitations of the study are defined primarily by the scope of the study.

The scope and delimitation should include the following:

1. A brief statement of the general purpose of the study.
2. The subject matter and the topics studied and discussed.
3. The local of the study, where the data were gathered of the entity to which the data belong.
4. The population from which the respondents were selected. This must be large enough to make the generalization
significant.
5. The period of the study. This time, either months or years, during which the data were gathered.

Examples:

The respondents of the study are the students who were failing in College Algebra during the midterms
of the 2015 summer term at Candon National High School, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur
Why Did the Boat Sink?: The Reasons of Failures n Algebra Navalta et al

The study assessed the intrapersonal competencies of the school managers in the Division of Bataan,
school year 2001-2002. the school managers that were included in the study were the secondary school principals
and head teachers of big national high schools in the division. Moreover, teacher respondents included only the
teachers who are teaching Teknolohiya, Edukasyong Pangkabuhayan, at Pantahanan subject.
The Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Competencies of School Managers: Basis for the Formulation of the Human Relation Intervention
(Cristobal, 2003)

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 E. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• The researcher also has to identify the beneficiaries who will directly gain from the results of the study.
• Beneficiaries should be listed according to the significance of the study’s result to them.
• This part explains how the study will be beneficial to the different stakeholders of society.
• It identifies the target beneficiaries or target users of the current study.
• The significance of the study can be written deductively – from general to specific benefits of the study, or inductively –
from specific to general benefits

Note: To have an overview of this part of the research paper, please refer to the given research paper example.

F. DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Presents the key terms used in the study

• Two ways on how a key term can be defined – CONCEPTUALLY and OPERATIONALLY
• Start with a simple introductory paragraph followed by the alphabetical list of terms and their corresponding
definitions

Conceptual Meaning
 Explains the meaning of a particular term using the dictionary
 Based on established concepts and ideas that have been already defined and is commonly used and understood by
readers

Operational Meaning
 Describes a term by how the researcher used it in his/her study

• The use of both types of definitions is encouraged to make the meaning clear to the readers.
• A term may start with its conceptual and followed by its operational definitions
• Definitions should be as brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible

To further understand this research, the following terms are operationally defined:
College Algebra. This is a 3-unit requisite subject in college which includes elementary topics, special product
and factoring patterns, rational expressions, linear equations in one unknown, systems of linear equations in two
unknowns and exponents and radicals.
Factors Affecting Failures. These are the possible reasons why a student fails in College Algebra. These could
either be personal or environmental.
Failures. These refer to the very poor performance of students in the classroom.
Why Did the Boat Sink?: The Reasons of Failures n Algebra Navalta et al