Research I: Quarter 3 - Module 5: Research Proposal
Research I: Quarter 3 - Module 5: Research Proposal
Research I: Quarter 3 - Module 5: Research Proposal
Research I
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Research Proposal
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Research I
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Research Proposal
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand
each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
In addition to the material in the main text, notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they
can best help you with your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any
part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and
tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering
the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you master the nature of the research proposal. The scope of this module permits it
to be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The activities are arranged to follow the
standard sequence of the course. However, the order in which you read them can
be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
What I Know
Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following best describes a research proposal?
a. statement of the dos and don’ts of research
b. written structure of the data gathered in experiment
c. a plan on how the experimentation will be conducted
d. a detailed written plan of how the project will be done
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4. Which statement signifies a null hypothesis?
a. A good study habit results in good grades.
b. A good study habit increases students’ grades.
c. A good study habit affects the grades of the students.
d. A good study habit does not affect the grades of the students.
10. Which of the following statements exhibits the scope of the study?
a. area of focus
b. literature review
c. previous research study
d. narrowed research area
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What’s In
The average amount of sleep students at their school get per night is...
Ho: _______________________________________________________________________
Ha: _______________________________________________________________________
B. Which of the hypothesis is accepted? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
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What’s New
Directions: Read each question carefully. Relate each question to your interest
either in life and physical sciences or engineering projects. Your
honesty and open-minded attitude in answering the questions will help
you develop higher-order thinking skills and better prepare you to
develop a study.
Guide Questions:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IT? (What good will it bring if you will know it?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ANSWER IS? (What is the tentative answer?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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What is It
Before any research project begins, detailed plans are essential. Designing
and planning a whole research project involves choosing a researchable topic and
preparing a well-developed research proposal. These activities need to be carried
out under the guidance of a teacher-coach and qualified scientist who will advise
on methodological issues and reading materials that will help refine the research
project. Ultimately, a good proposal serves as a valuable direction finder that helps
the researchers to get going on their project with more confidence.
A. Rationale/Introduction
B.1. Research Question
2. Hypothesis or Engineering Goal(s) (for engineering project only)
C. Detailed description of the following:
1. Procedures
a. Materials
b. Methods
2. Risk and Safety Considerations
3. Data Analysis
D. Bibliography
Note: Subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your research
plan/project summary as applicable. Click the link:
https://sspcdn.blob.core.windows.net/files/Documents/SEP/ISEF/2019/
Forms/1A-Student-Checklist-Research-Plan-Instructions.pdf
Let us begin to unfold the elements of a scientific research proposal. In this
module, you will be guided in choosing a topic and will lead you to develop the
rationale, question/problem, and hypothesis. Other elements will be discussed in
the next module.
Good topic
The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. A teacher
may assign a specific topic, but most often, the researcher is required to select a
topic of interest.
Use the following guide questions to help generate topic ideas:
Do you have a strong opinion on current social, health, and
environmental issues?
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Did you read or see a news story recently that has caught your
interest or made you think about it?
What is the science-related topic of interest that you would like to
know more about?
What Makes a Good Research Topic?
A topic must be narrowed and focused enough to be interesting yet
broad enough to find adequate information.
When you “think like a researcher” you are focused on a research
question rather than a research topic.
Be able to articulate the problem that underlies the question.
This problem must have social significance.
The solution being argued for in the proposal must be arguable and
feasible based on reliable evidence.
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Note: Connect your chosen topic to the ISEF Categories and Subcategories. Click on
the link: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/categories-and
subcategories/
Research Title
The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of a study. A good title contains
the fewest possible words needed to adequately describe the content and/or
purpose of the research paper. It is the part of a paper that is read the most, and it
is usually read first, therefore, the most important element that defines the
research study.
Problem
Main Problem
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main problem by reading reports, following up on previous research, and talking to
people who work and are experts in the relevant field. The main research problem
is usually divided into more manageable sub-problems. When writing the problem,
formulate it as a problem statement or research question.
Sub-Problems
The kind of question to be used depends on what to discover and the type of
research to be conducted. Scientific questions require explanations, prior
knowledge and are testable. A testable question can be answered by designing and
conducting an experiment. Note: Use prior knowledge regarding scientifically
testable questions.
Let us look at our examples:
Main Problem: What are the effects of using conventional farming?
Sub-Problems:
1. What are the major components used in conventional farming?
2. What are the effects of chemically made pesticides when used on plants?
3. What are the health and environmental issues related to the use of
pesticides?
4. What is an efficient alternative to counter the issues?
Hypothesis
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their contamination.
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Figure 3: Scientific Method vs. Engineering Goal
Source: Sciencebuddies.org
Both processes can be broken down into a series of steps, as seen in the
diagram table:
Rationale/Introduction
The rationale for research outlines why you wanted to research the topic of
your choice. It is the justification of the study and specifies the need to research
the topic.
Begin by doing a thorough literature review to understand what is already
known. Then, identify the gaps in knowledge or the problems that are yet to be
solved. Justify that the study will address a knowledge gap since no previous
research was done on this aspect. Explain the problem that the study addresses.
Then, give a brief background of the problem. After that, you should mention if it
has been addressed in any form before. It will lead up to the research question and
the aims of the study.
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These key elements are summarized as:
Present the topic and get the reader interested - what is the topic and why
it is interesting or important.
Provide background or summarize existing research - provide an overview
of the most relevant research that has already been conducted and a sort
of miniature literature review.
Detail the specific research problem - clarify how the research fits in and
what problem it addresses.
Position your approach - specify what it intends to find out by presenting
the research question, hypothesis, and objectives clearly and directly.
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In the example rationale, the knowledge gap may be the adverse effect of
pesticides on plants, its chain effects on humans as consumers, and the balance in
the ecosystem. The broad significance of the study would be in the understanding
of conventional farming using these chemically made pesticides. The specific
contribution has been to show a significant difference in the use of the alternative
solution to the problem, its benefits, and the improvements it offers.
What’s More
Directions: Develop the topics accordingly and find keywords to use for
gathering information.
Guide Questions:
1. What are two narrow areas you could investigate that fit into these very
broad topics?
Pollution:_____________________________;______________________________________
_
Bacteria/Virus: _______________________ ; _____________________________________
Plants: _______________________________ ;
_____________________________________
2. What broader topic would cover the following narrow topics? In other words,
how could you expand these topics to find more information?
Organic fertilizer: _________________________________________________________
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Graphene: ________________________________________________________________
Activity 2: Rationale
Directions: Read the article below and write the portion of the key element
being identified.
Guide Questions:
1. Write a good title for the article.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_
2. Write the background of the study.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___
3. Write the question/problem.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___
4. Write the hypothesis.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___
What I Can Do
1. Select three broad topics you find interesting. List them according to your
choice.
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1st choice: ________________________________________
2nd choice: ________________________________________
3rd choice: ________________________________________
2. Based on the three broad topics you have selected, list two narrow topics
you find most interesting.
1st choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
2nd choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
3rd choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
3. Present these narrowed topics to the teacher for additional inputs and final
approval on which topic is feasible and researchable.
4. Read articles, journals, and published papers related to the approved topic.
5. Develop and write the research proposal in the fillable template. Be guided
using the rubric for the research plan. (Note: Modified version of the research
proposal template and rubric are provided below).
Title/Topic
Hypothesis/Engineering Goals
Rationale
A brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and
explains why this research is important scientifically and, if applicable, explain
your research's societal impact.
Review Related Literature (IMRAD format includes this part in the introduction,
however, it is a good practice to have a file of the sources used in the study)
Provide an overview of sources you have explored while researching a particular
topic and demonstrate how the current study fits within a larger field of study.
Materials List
List of ALL items used in research. Ensure concentrations of all chemicals, source
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and amount of all living organisms, and all equipment used.
Conclusion
To be completed AFTER experimentation.
Bibliography
List at least five (5) major references (e.g., scientific journal articles, books,
internet sites) from the literature review. Please use a variety of sources; five
sources from the internet will NOT suffice.
Source: https://studyres.com/doc/6525986/rsef-research-plan-template
https://www.societyforscience.org/
Rubric for Research Plan
Tentative Title:
________________________________________________________________________
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If Experimental
Research Question is
clearly stated &
specific and logical
(3)
Hypothesis clearly
stated with
Hypothesis
explanation: specific
cause & effect
identified (3)
If Engineering
If an engineering
project, goals are
specific & clearly
stated (6)
C. Procedures
Sequential & detailed
(2)
Includes Risk &
Safety (1)
If Experimental
Tests hypothesis that
is stated in the above
section (2)
Method for data
collection clearly
state (2)
Control &
experimental group 11
identified & designed
correctly (2)
Repeated Trials used
(2)
If Engineering
Clear building plan
(thought was given to
materials) (4)
Method of testing (4)
D. Bibliography
Minimum of at least
5
science/engineering 12
major journal
articles, must
pertain to project
topic in proper APA
format (10) (minus 1
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point for each error
in references, max 5
points)
No spacing within
citation, single space
between citations (2)
2-point bonus for 10
or more references
(can only receive
once)
E. Format
FUTURE tense (2)
A, B, C, D Format (2)
Times New
Roman/Size 12 font,
Double Spaced (2) 10
Title – Bold-faced
and centered (2)
Research Plan is
written above title (2)
Rating:
Source: commackschools.org
Assessment
Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is the best way to do research?
a. use a variety of sources
b. use electronic sources only
c. use books and magazines only
d. use as few resources as possible
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c. writing a conclusion
d. developing questions
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Additional Activities
Directions: In addition to the five (5) references required by the ISEF, find five (5)
more references other than the ones used in your proposal. Use science
journal articles, books, and internet sites. Follow the correct APA format.
Journal articles:
Books:
Internet sites:
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Answer Key
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References
Electronic Sources
International Rules: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs 2019– 2020,
societyforscience.org/ISEF2020.” Accessed January 2, 2021.
https://www.societyforscience.org/
Harris, Michelle and Batzli, Janet. “Writing an Introduction for a Scientific Paper.”
Accessed January 8, 2021. http://bit.ly/3q53DoF
Science Buddies. n.d. “Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the
Scientific Method.” Science Buddies. Science Buddies. Accessed January 10,
2021. http://bit.ly/3q3UP2s.
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