Activity 1: Identifying Real-Life Problems: Learning Area 1: Brainstorming For Research Topics
Activity 1: Identifying Real-Life Problems: Learning Area 1: Brainstorming For Research Topics
Activity 1: Identifying Real-Life Problems: Learning Area 1: Brainstorming For Research Topics
LA 1. Activity 1
Objective
In this activity, you should be able to prepare a plan and a focus on issues and ideas in your
respective field.
● Communication
Opportunity to ● Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Practice the Following ● Information Literacy
21st-Century Skills
Recall
Research is a systematic process of gathering information to answer a question. It follows
a logically-ordered procedure of gathering source materials and data, analyzing these
materials and data, and using one’s analysis to answer the research question.
Types of Research
There are two main types of research: basic research and applied research. Basic
research is done to broaden understanding about a particular topic. It can generate
ideas, new concepts, and theories. Basic research may look like it does not have any direct
real-life application at first, but applied research does rely on the knowledge that basic
research provides us in solving real-life problems. Examples of basic research include
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LA 1. Activity 1
mathematical research (e.g., formulas, number theories) and laboratory research in the
natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics).
Applied research is done to address real-life concerns or problems. Applied research can
draw from the knowledge established by basic research. Examples of applied research are
the following: surveys on factors that boost television ratings, and studies on healthy
alternatives to white sugar. The outcomes of these applied research processes are directly
applicable to human experiences rooted in real life.
Importance of Research
More than simply getting answers to questions or problems, doing research is important
because:
● it widens one’s understanding of the world through various explanations behind
the occurrence of different phenomena;
● it allows for the resolution of problems by providing answers based on facts and
evidence; and
● it leads to the continuous production of knowledge as new questions stem from
existing research.
uick Tip
Q
Research begins with a question. This question can come from individual curiosities,
everyday life experiences, or reflections on previously-encountered research outputs.
Activity Instructions
If you were asked to think of possible topics for your research paper, where would you
start looking for ideas? Where would these ideas come from?
1. Write one topic related to your track/strand that has been featured in a news
article published in the past month. You may use printed newspapers or online
news articles. The following are sample topics: the development of a new vaccine,
successful elections in another country, and different management styles.
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LA 1. Activity 1
2. Based on your chosen topic, make a list of two key points that are interesting to
you as a student of your strand. These two key points may also be a specific topic
you would like to make a research on.
3. In three to five sentences, explain why these two key points are interesting to you
as a student of your strand.
Rubric for Grading
suggested
1 2 3 4 points
weights
The news article is The news article is The news article is The news article
Relevance of
the news not aligned with the slightly aligned with clearly aligned with is clearly aligned
article student’s strand the student’s strand the student’s with the
and was not but was not strand but was not student’s strand 20%
published within published within the published within and was
the last month. last month. the last month. published within
the last month.
Only one key point Only one key point Two key points Two key points
Explanation
of key points was identified from from the news article from the news from the news
the news article, was identified and article were article were
but it was not explained. identified but were identified and 30%
explained. explained in less explained in
than three three to five
sentences. sentences.
The significance of The significance of The significance of The significance
Discussion of
significance the key points was the key points was the key points was of the key points
of key points neither explained explained but was explained but was was clearly
nor related to the not related to the not clearly related explained and 30%
student’s strand. student’s strand. to the student’s clearly related to
strand. the student’s
strand.
Total 100%
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LA 1. Activity 1
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bibliography
O’Leary, Zina. The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: SAGE Publications, 2004.
Schutt, Russell K. Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, 9th ed.
California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2019.
Vanderstoep, Scott W., and Deirdre D. Johnston. Research Methods for Everyday Life: Blending
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009.
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LA 2. Activity 1
Objectives
In this activity, you should be able to do the following:
● Discuss the process of writing the background of the study.
● Draft a well-written background of the study.
Recall
Once the topic is all set and the area of inquiry is identified, you can now proceed to
introducing the topic of the research to your target audience. One of the key aspects to
doing this is to write a well-structured background of the study.
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LA 2. Activity 1
background delves into what makes the topic important and emphasizes the need to
explore it as it is backed up by previously existing sources, such as research and current
trends on the issue at hand. It also provides the readers with substantial information on
both its history and current information, which further proves its relevance in the field
of inquiry and strengthens the need for the research to progress.
Quick Tip
It will be helpful if you conduct tons of readings before you start the actual writing to
help you filter necessary and helpful information to include in your background of the
study.
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LA 2. Activity 1
The use of reliable sources is also very crucial at this point and should continue as the
research progresses. Reliable literature can help the research have an established body of
knowledge founded on previous research and proven correct information from various
sources.
In most cases, the writing style also plays a significant role in research writing since this will
dictate whether the reader will maintain interest in the study or not. The writing style
depends on the preference of the researcher and the nature of the research itself, but it
should still carry an academic tone. Also, varying sentence lengths (e.g., simple and complex
sentences) can help maintain the reader’s engagement all throughout the background of
the study.
Activity Instructions
1. Make an outline of your study before writing the background of the study. Write
keywords, trends, concepts, and possible sources.
2. Based on your outline, conduct a preliminary research. Look for relevant
literature that could support the background of the study.
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LA 2. Activity 1
3. Write the background of the study about your chosen topic. You should be able to
discuss the following in the background of the study:
● general information known about the topic;
● previous research done on the topic;
● gaps in the previous research; and
● purpose for conducting the study.
Completeness of More than three Two to three of the One of the All of the required
Ideas of the required required required discussions are
discussions are discussions are not discussions is not included in the
not included in included in the included in the background of the 25%
the background background of the background of the study.
of the study. study. study.
Information The output The output The output often The output
Literacy and exhibited loose exhibited some exhibited exhibited complete
Paraphrasing adherence to adherence to adherence to adherence to
ethical and legal ethical and legal ethical and legal ethical and legal
practices in using practices in using practices in using practices in using
information and information and information and information, and
often used often used used accurate used accurate 20%
inaccurate accurate information. The information.
information. The information. Some ideas and content The ideas and
ideas and of the ideas and were mostly content were
content were content were not paraphrased and properly
paraphrased paraphrased. not plagiarized. paraphrased and
improperly. not plagiarized.
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LA 2. Activity 1
Communication The ideas are The ideas are The ideas are The ideas are
and unorganized and slightly organized mostly organized organized and
Organization of incoherent. and coherent. and coherent. coherent.
Ideas Transition words Transition words Transition words
and phrases are and phrases are and phrases are 15%
somehow used for mostly used for the properly used for
the smooth flow smooth flow and the smooth flow
and transition of transition of ideas. and transition of
ideas. ideas.
Grammar and The submission The submission The submission The submission
Spelling contains both contains both contains very few contains minimal
major minor grammatical grammatical and to no grammatical 10%
grammatical and and spelling errors. spelling errors. and spelling errors.
spelling errors.
Total 100%
Bibliography
Alleyne, Stacy. “A Step-by-Step on How to Do a Background Study for a Thesis.” Seattle PI.
Hearst Seattle Media, LLC. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://education.seattlepi.com/
stepbystep-background-study-thesis-1626.html
Essays, UK. “Writing a Dissertation Background.” UK Diss. All Answers Ltd. Accessed April 9,
2020. https://ukdiss. com/guides/background.php.
“How to Write Chapter 1: The Introduction of Thesis.” Sharifyar Institute. Accessed April 9,
2020. http://sharifyar.com/how-to-write-chapter-one-the-introduction- of-thesis/.
“Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper.” USC Libraries. University of Southern
California. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/
background.
Sachdev, Rishibha. “How to Write the Background of your Study.” Editage Insights. Cactus
Communications. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://doi.org/10.34193/EI-A-10386.
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LA 1. Activity 4
Objective
In this activity, you should be able to prepare a plan and a focus on issues and ideas in your
respective field.
● Communication
● Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Opportunity to ● Information Literacy
Practice the Following ● Productivity and Accountability
21st-Century Skills
Recall
The Topic Proposal
A research paper starts with a topic proposal. The topic proposal is an indication of the
researcher’s intent to study a particular topic. It has the following main components: the
background of the study, the statement of the research problem, and the general and
specific objectives of the study.
Background of the Study
The background of the study is a general description of the topic. It contains the overall
context and essential information about the topic. The purpose of the background of the
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LA 1. Activity 4
study is to introduce the reader to the research topic and to locate the research problem
within the existing knowledge in the field of study. Relevant literature and past studies are
written on the topic being discussed in the background of the study.
The Research Problem
A research problem is a “problem or issue that leads to the need for a study” (Creswell,
2009). It is embedded in the discussion of the background of the study. The statement of a
research problem contains the topic of interest, the research questions in the form of a
declarative sentence, and the significance of the topic (Booth et al., 2008).
The statement of the topic of interest is drawn from the background of the study. The
research questions, as stated in the form of a declarative sentence, must be specific, clear,
feasible, and significant. The significance of the topic must highlight the potential practical
or theoretical contributions to the topic. A contribution is practical if it is applicable in
real-life settings. On the other hand, a contribution is theoretical if it furthers the
understanding of the topic without a direct application in real life.
The statement of the research problem is a brief, concise, and clear description of what the
researcher intends to study. A research problem may be drawn from personal experiences,
encounters with a theory in a discipline, contemporary issues, or gaps in the literature
(Creswell, 2009; Leavy, 2017; and O’Leary, 2004).
Objectives of the Study
A topic proposal contains the objectives of the study, which are the general and specific
goals that the study seeks to achieve. The objectives of a study must be clear, direct, and
measurable. The general objective is a broader statement of the goals of the study. The
specific objectives are more detailed statements that would help achieve the general
objective.
Examples:
● General objective: To establish the relationship between social media use and study
habits of high school students
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LA 1. Activity 4
● Specific objectives:
○ To describe patterns of social media use among high school students
○ To explain the study habits of high school students in performing academic
tasks
● General objective: To identify the factors behind the brand preferences of fast-food
consumers
● Specific objectives:
○ To identify factors behind their general brand preferences
○ To examine patterns of fast-food consumption
○ To relate factors of brand preference to patterns of fast food consumption
uick Tip
Q
The topic proposal must contain the background of the study, the statement of the
research problem, and the objectives of the study. All three components reflect the
researcher’s intent to do research on the topic in consideration of its practical and/or
theoretical contributions.
Activity Instructions
General instructions: Write a three- to five-page topic proposal containing the following
main components: the background of the study, the statement of the research problem,
and the objectives of the study.
1. In eight to 10 sentences, write the background of the study. Include a discussion
on the general background of the topic, context, and other important information
to introduce the topic. Cite no less than three relevant sources.
2. In three to five sentences, make a statement of the research problem. It must
contain the research topic, the research question, and the significance of pursuing
the research problem.
3. Formulate one general and no less than two specific objectives of the study.
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LA 1. Activity 4
4. Use font size 12, 1.5 line spacing, and a citation style (i.e., APA, MLA, or Chicago
Manual of Style). Include a reference list, works cited, or bibliography section at
the end of the topic proposal.
5. You may follow the general topic proposal format indicated below.
Name:
References/Works Cited/Bibliography:
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LA 1. Activity 4
6. To submit Activity 1.4, create a separate document file. In the space provided,
write the file name, link to the file, and the date the link was sent.
File name:
Date submitted:
Rubric for Grading
suggested
1 2 3 4 points
weights
Components 10%
The topic proposal The topic proposal
Completeness The topic The topic
is missing three to proposal is proposal is contains all the
of Essential
four essential missing two missing one essential
Components
components. essential essential components.
1. Background of
components. component.
the Study
2. Statement of 10%
the Research
Problem
3. Objectives of
the Study
4. References
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LA 1. Activity 4
The statement of The statement of The statement of The statement of
Statement of
the Research the research the research the research the research
Problem problem is problem is problem contains problem contains
missing two out of missing one out of all three all three
the three the three components, but components, and
components. components. the discussion on all three 20%
any of the components are
components discussed in a
needs minor clear and concise
revision. manner.
The student used The student used The student used The student used
Bibliography
less than three no less than three no less than three no less than three
relevant sources, relevant sources, relevant sources, relevant sources,
and these were but all sources but at least one and all sources
not referenced were not source was not were referenced
properly at the referenced referenced properly at the
end of the properly at the properly at the end of the
proposal end of the end of the proposal 20%
according to the proposal proposal according to the
chosen reference according to the according to the chosen reference
style chosen reference chosen reference style
(APA/MLA/Chicago style style (APA/MLA/Chicago
Manual of Style). (APA/MLA/Chicago (APA/MLA/Chicago Manual of Style).
Manual of Style). Manual of Style).
Grammar 10%
The submission The submission The submission The submission
Grammar and
Spelling contains both contains both contains very few contains minimal
major minor grammatical and to no grammatical 10%
grammatical and grammatical and spelling errors. and spelling
spelling errors. spelling errors. errors.
Total 100%
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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LA 1. Activity 4
Bibliography
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research, 3rd ed.
Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Boudah, Daniel J. “Identifying a Research Problem and Question, and Searching Relevant
Literature” pp. 21-42, in Conducting Educational Research: Guide to Completing a Major
Project, California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2011.
Creswell, John W. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
3rd ed. California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2009.
Leavy, Patricia. Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Arts-Based, and
Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches. New York: The Guilford Press,
2017.
O’Leary, Zina. The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: SAGE Publications, 2004.
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