What I need to Know

Introduction
What makes human race distinct from each other, specifically on its uniqueness of traits, similarities and differences? In a
way, qualitative research can respond to such questions. According to Silverman (2013); Litchman
(2013); Walliman (2014); and Suter (2012), qualitative research is an act of inquiry or investigation of real-life events. It is
concerned with own experiences of a life event, and the aim is to interpret what has been said in order to explain why it is said. This is
called natural setting.
Qualitative research is important practically because most things cannot just be quantified: they need to be described.
Appreciating the nature of life and experience is vital than simply counting things .We need to understand the quality of some things
in order for them to have meaning.

This module will assist you in understanding….

Lesson 1 The Value of Qualitative Research

Its Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Kinds
Lesson 2 The Importance of Qualitative Research Across Fields of Inquiry

Learning Objectives
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. describe the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses and kinds of qualitative research; and
2. Illustrate the importance of qualitative research across fields.

What I know

Direction: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. It is the most familiar and applicable type of qualitative research which refers to the investigation of a culture through an in-depth
study of the members of the cultural society.
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
2. It is primarily used to generate theory through relevant information taken from very reliable sources and its focus is theory
development.
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
3. Which of the following types of qualitative research is designed to focus on the commonality of a “lived experience” with a
particular group and its aim is to determine what an experience means for the persons who have had the experience of living in a
certain community which is the subject of the research?
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
4. It is an exploration of a “bounded system” over time through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of
information rich in interesting stories.
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
5. It is a qualitative research which analyzes the language “beyond the sentence”. It is the study of the ways in which language is used
by the people, both written and spoken contexts.
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis

1
 c. Biography
d. Narrative Report.

6. “A student really idolizes his English teacher who is expert in grammar and literature. The former wants to write a scholarly
chronicle about the latter’s experiences including his family background, how he achieved his success in life, his likes and dislikes, his
achievements and struggles in life.” What type of qualitative research should a student employ?
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis
c. Biography
d. Narrative Report
7. It is a qualitative research in which data related to the past events are systematically collected and evaluated to describe potential
causes, effects, or trends related to those events.
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis
c. Biography
d. Narrative Report
8. All of the following are strengths of qualitative research EXCEPT
a. Explores sensitive issues
b. Captures diversity of experiences and perceptions
c. Allows participants to freely exchange ideas
d. Proves a certain theory or principle
9. Which of the following is one of the weaknesses of a qualitative research?
a. Results are limited as they provide less elaboration of human perceptions.
b. Data created through qualitative research are always accepted.
c. Data analysis involving numerical data is difficult.
d. There is a limited review of related literature or in-depth information about the topic.
10. Which of the following is EXCLUDED from the importance of qualitative research in daily life?
a. Qualitative unveils individual’s perception, feelings and attitudes about a certain phenomenon.
b. Qualitative research allows the researcher to immerse in the community where the participants live.
c. Qualitative research stimulates people’s interdependence or interpersonal relationship.
d. Qualitative research lets the researcher to validate the previously constructed theory or principle.

Lesson The Value of Qualitative Research

1 Its Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Kinds

The general purpose of qualitative research is to develop concepts which help you to understand social phenomena in,
wherever possible, natural rather than experimental settings, to gain an understanding of the experiences, perceptions and/or
behaviours of individuals, and the meanings attached to them. The effective applications of qualitative methods to other disciplines,
including health and education research have expanded. This module outlines the nature and potential value of qualitative research
features its various parameters.

What’s in?

In the previous module, you learned the nature of inquiry and research. Inquiry and research encourage high levels of critical
thinking in order to attain appropriate methods and resources .As a researcher you have to follow the different
processes in research equipped with the etiquettes in conducting your study. Those samples of research in areas of interest will help
you guide to choose you topic or research problem.

What’s New?

I. Definition of Qualitative Research

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Qualitative Research is a scientific method of observation to gather non-numerical data. It refers to the meanings, concepts,
characteristics, metaphors, symbols and description of phenomena, and not to their counts or measures.

II.Purpose of Qualitative Research

Qualitative Research promotes a deep, holistic understanding of a particular phenomenon.

III.Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Human understanding and interpretation in data analysis

2. Active, powerful and forceful in data gathering and rephrasing interview questions

3. Multiple research approaches and methods that allows you to plan your study and

being multi-method research

4. Specificity to generalization on specific ideas will lead to generalizations or

conclusions.

5. Contextualization - context or situation of individual’s life

6. Diversified data in real-life situations on collecting data in a natural setting

7. Abounds with words and visuals that presents people’s view in a picture, video,

drawing or graphs.

8. Internal analysis on examining the data yielded by the internal traits of the subject

persons.

IV.Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. It adopts a naturalistic approach to its subject matter.

2. Promotes a full understanding of human behavior/personality traits in their natural

setting.

3. It is instrumental for positive societal changes.

4. It engenders respect for people’s individuality.

5. it’s a way of understanding & interpreting social interactions.

6. Increases researcher’s interests in the study.

7. Offers multiple ways of acquiring and examining knowledge about something.

V.Weaknesses of Qualitative Research

1. It involves a lot of researcher’s subjectivity in data analysis.

2. It is hard to know the validity/reliability of the data.

3. It is open-ended questions yield “data overload” that requires long-time analysis.

3
4. It is time-consuming.

5. It involves several processes, whose results greatly depend on the researcher’s

views or interpretations.

VI. Kinds of Qualitative Research2

1. Case Study - Long time study of a person, group, organization or situation and an empirical inquiry that investigates current
phenomenon.
Example: “Teenage Pregnancy in the Public High Schools”

2. Ethnography- a study of a particular cultural group.

Example: “Cultural Awareness and Integration of Peace Education in the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Communities”
.
3. Phenomenology- “live-experienced” of a phenomenon.
Example: “Life without Gadget”

4. Content and Discourse Analysis-

 Content Analysis- is a research technique that analyzes the modes of communication such as letters, e-mails etc.

 Discourse Analysis- is the study of social life, understood through analysis of language it includes face-to-face talk,
non-verbal interaction, images and symbols.

Materials for Discourse Analysis include books, newspapers, periodicals, brochures and advertisements.

Example: “A Discourse Analysis on the Impact of Modern Technologies on Communication”

5. Historical Analysis- is a qualitative method where there is an examining of past events to draw conclusions and make
predictions about the future.

Example: “The Impact of Ferdinand Marcos’ Speech”

6. Grounded Theory- takes place when there is a discovery of new theory which underlies your study at the time of data
collection and analysis.
Example: “The Story Behind the Migration of Christians from Visayas and Luzon to Mindanao”

7. Narrative Report - designed to present things or events that have happened in the past through a logical progression of the
relevant information. The main purpose of a narrative report is to present a factual depiction of what has occurred.

Example: “Vocabulary Building of Students through Proper Solid Waste Management”

8. Biography- is the study of an individual’s life and struggles and how they reflect cultural themes of the society. It deals with
an interesting story found in documents and archival materials. It is concerned with the reconstruction of life histories and the
constitution of meaning based on biographical narratives and documents.

 Five common types of biography are

(1) Scholarly Chronicles -focus on the historical portrayal of an individual life.
e.g. “Biography of Gloria M. Arroyo, the First Woman President of the Philippines”
(2) Intellectual Biography- narrative of a life through the conceptual analysis of the subject’s motives and beliefs within the
world of ideas.
e.g. “Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal”
(3) Life History Writing- recording of life memories, experiences, whether one’s or another’s.
e.g. “The Hardships of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s)”.
(4) Memoir Biography- stylistic presentation of the biographer’s reflections and insights in relation to the factual account of
life.
e.g. “The Experiences of Stranded Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic”
(5) Narrative Biography-a nonfiction account of life experiences of a person.
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 9. Action Research- is a classroom-based or school-based research seeks transformative change through the process of taking
action and doing research, which are linked together by critical reflection. This type of research is commonly conducted by
the teachers to give solutions to the existing problems to improve students’ academic performance and positive attitudes.

_________________________
2
For more information on these kinds of qualitative research, see Palasan, E.B (2018). Qualitative Research: Importance in Daily Life
[PowerPoint] available online with http://www.slideshare.net.ppt

Activity 1: Question and Answer

Directions: Answer the questions briefly. Write your answers on the space provided.
1. How will you use qualitative research in real life?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the kinds of qualitative research?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________

What is it?

Discussion of Activity 1
You just learned the valuable aspects of qualitative research.

1. Can you recognize the nature of qualitative research; its kinds, characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses? Kindly provide
your brief explanation.

2. How do the strengths and weaknesses help us in writing the research proposal?

What’s more?

On the table below, draft your proposed topics for a research paper. The first column is for the topic, second for the purpose
and third for the type of qualitative research to be used. Give five topics.

Topic Purpose Type of Qualitative Reserach

5
Example:
Post Traumatic Experiences of the To determine the experiences Phenomenological
COVID-19 Survivors of those survivors in the
COVID-19 phenomena.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What I have learned

Explain the concepts you have learned by answering the following questions.

1. What comes to your mind when you hear qualitative research?

______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

.
2. Pretend you are the subject of a phenomenological study, how will the researcher obtain data from you?
______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________

3. Name the type of qualitative research best suited for the following topics.
a. Grade 11 Science Textbook_____________________________
b. Filipino COVID-19 Front liners in Europe____________________
c. Travails of SHS Graduates in Public Schools_________________
d. The Ifugao Wedding Practices____________________________
e. Relatives of COVID-19 Victims____________________________

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 What I can do

Contemplate on the matters you see in your surroundings, your house, appliances and gadgets, school, your friends, etc.
Ponder over these things, think of a good topic you can research on qualitatively. Write a short descriptive paragraph on your chosen
topic applying what you have learned about qualitative research. Write in a separate sheet of paper.

Additional Activities

Choose five kinds of qualitative research and find one example of actual research studies/articles for each. Make a summary
for each study and explain why it belongs to that type of qualitative research.

Sample Article: Teenage Pregnancy in the Philippines

The issue of teenage pregnancy is widespread in various parts of the country. Today, we face the painful reality that at a
very young age, most young people have children of their own.

During the World Population Day Forum held in Quezon City last July 2019, the Commission on Population (Popcom)
raised concerns about early and unplanned pregnancies by citing that around 500 teenage girls have given birth in the
country every day as more adolescents engage in premarital sex. Popcom said some 196,000 Filipinos between the ages
of 15 and 19 years old get pregnant each year.

In the Philippines, according to the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and the 2013 Young Adult
Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFSS), the number of women aged 15-19 who have begun childbearing increased from
eight percent in 2003 to 10 percent in 2013.

7
Summary: The rising teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines has contributed to the
country's population crisis.
1

Assessment

3
Direction:

Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. “A student really idolizes his English teacher who is very expert in grammar and literature. The former wants to write a scholarly
chronicle about the latter’s experiences including his family background, how he achieved his success in life, his likes and dislikes, his
achievements and struggles in life.” What type of qualitative research should a student employ?
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis
c. Biography
d. Narrative Report
2. It is a qualitative research in which data related to the past events are systematically collected and evaluated to describe potential
causes, effects, or trends related to those events.
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis
c. Biography
d. Narrative Report
3. All of the following are strengths of qualitative research EXCEPT
a. Explores sensitive issues
b. Captures diversity of experiences and perceptions
c. Allows participants to freely exchange ideas
d. Proves a certain theory or principle
4. Which of the following is one of the weaknesses of a qualitative research?
a. Results are limited as they provide less elaboration of human perceptions.
b. Data created through qualitative research are always accepted.
c. Data analysis involving numerical data is difficult.
d. There is a limited review of related literature or in-depth information about the topic.
5. Which of the following is EXCLUDED from the importance of qualitative research in daily life?
8
 a. Qualitative unveils individual’s perception, feelings and attitudes about a certain phenomenon.
b. Qualitative research allows the researcher to immerse in the community where the participants live.
c. Qualitative research stimulates people’s interdependence or interpersonal relationship.
d. Qualitative research lets the researcher to validate the previously constructed theory or principle.
6. It is the most familiar and applicable type of qualitative research which refers to the investigation of a culture through an in-depth
study of the members of the cultural society
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
7. It is primarily used to generate theory through relevant information taken from very reliable sources and its focus is theory
development.
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
8. Which of the following types of qualitative research is designed to focus on the commonality of a “lived experience” with a
particular group and its aim is to determine what an experience means for the persons who have had the experience of living in a
certain community which is the subject of the research?
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
9. It is an exploration of a “bounded system” over time through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of
information rich in interesting stories.
a. Ethnography
b. Phenomenology
c. Grounded Theory
d. Case Study
10. It is a qualitative research which analyzes the language “beyond the sentence”. It is the study of the ways in which language is
used by the people, both written and spoken contexts.
a. Historical Research
b. Discourse Analysis
c. Biography
d. Narrative Report.

What I know

Direction:
Read the following statements. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, FALSE if you think it is not.

_________1.Research studies what happens in any field of knowledge.

__________2.Scientific approach expresses and records your findings qualitatively.
__________3.Triangulation or mixed method enhances accuracy and interpretation.
__________4.Naturalistic approach is people oriented.
__________5.A qualitative research is exclusive to both hard and soft sciences.
__________6.Soft science studies human behavior in a scientific manner.
__________7.The scientific approach gives stress to measurable and observable
facts instead of personal views, feelings, or attitudes.
__________8.All research types apply to all data collecting techniques.
__________9.Reasons happens in just one field of knowledge.
__________10.Past events in a person’s life are the focus of triangulation.

9
Lesson The Importance of Qualitative Research Across Fields of Inquiry
2

Qualitative research is an emerging area of inquiry that graces through disciplines and subject matter. However it's also
essential to recognize that qualitative research is a method generally used in the social sciences searching social interactions, schemes
and processes. It delivers a detailed appreciation of the ways people come to understand and achieve their daily life in particular
situations.

What’s in?
(

In the previous lesson, you learned to describe the nature and characteristics of qualitative research with its kinds, strength
and weaknesses. Qualitative research is capable to give rich information about the respondents, be it humans or animals. Despite
having such strength, its weakness is perceived on its approach being not applicable to some research objectives. The kinds of
qualitative research will help you discover facts and information about the object of your interest and working with others. The lessons
you had learned will guide you to appreciate the importance of qualitative research across fields of inquiry.

What’s New?

Research in Different Areas of Knowledge

Research studies happen in any field of knowledge: Anthropology, Business, Communication,

Education, Engineering, Law and Nursing.

A. Basic Research Approaches in a Specific Area of Discipline

1. Scientific or Positive Approach

 Deals with empirical data instead of personal views, feelings or attitudes.
 Allows control of variables or factors affecting the study (Laursen 2010).
 Express and records findings quantitatively.
 Presents structured interviews, questionnaires and observational checklists.

2. Naturalistic Approach
 A people-oriented approach focusing on discovering the real concept or meaning behind people’s lifestyles and
social relations.
 Present things qualitatively through verbal language. Using words as unit of analysis.
 Bases determining universal social values to define ethical and unethical that society ought to know, not only for
the benefit of individual and community but also for the satisfaction of man’s quest for knowledge.” (Sarandakos
2013; Ransome 2013)

Example: Talking to ethnic groups or people with other culture in a natural setting. In this case, the researcher uses
unstructured interviews and the participants’ answer/response is not scripted.

3. Triangulation/ Mixed Method

 Allows a combination or a mixture of research designs, data collection and data analysis techniques.
 Enhance the validity and reliability of qualitative research design.
 Enhances accuracy of interpretation.
 Has an opportunity to view every angle of the research from different perspectives.

(3) Main Methods of Data Collection

10
 a. Interactive interviewing- people asked to verbally described their experiences of phenomenon.

b. Written descriptions by participant- people asked to write descriptions of their experiences of phenomenon.

c. Observation- descriptive observations of verbal and non-verbal behavior.

In the field of Humanities, researchers ought to focus not to man’s social life but instead studies it’s meanings, significance
and visualizations of man’s experiences in the field of Fine Arts, Literature, Music, Drama, Dance and other artistically
inclined subjects.

Humanistic Categories
1. Literature and Art Criticism
Focus on language depends on interpretative and reflective thinking.

2. Philosophical Research
The focus of inquiry is on knowledge and principles of being and on the manner human beings conduct themselves on
Earth.

3. Historical Research
Investigation centers on events and ideas that took place in man’s life at a particular period.

II.Hard Sciences versus Soft Sciences 3

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Hard Sciences Soft Sciences

Studies natural data driven phenomenon. Studies human behavior in a scientific manner.
Objective Subjective
Tests Theory Develops Theory
Numbers Words
Cause and Effect Relationship Knowing meaning & discovery
Statistical Analysis and Generalizations Researcher’s interpretation
Examples: Examples:

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Earth Sociology, Psychology, Political Science,

Science Economics, Anthropology, History

 Qualitative and Quantitative Research can go together in a research approach.

 There is a symbiotic relationship between these two research methods, in which they reinforce or strengthen each
other.
 Moreover, any form of knowledge, factual or opinionated and any statistical or verbal expression of this knowledge
are deduced from human experience that is subjective. (Hollway 2013; Letherby 2013)

_________________________
3
For more information on these hard sciences versus soft sciences, see Palasan, E.B (2018). Qualitative Research: Importance in Daily
Life [PowerPoint] available online with http://www.slideshare.net.ppt.

Activity 1: Question and Answer

Directions: Answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Write your answers in a space provided.

11
 1. What are the three types of approach to basic research? Describe each type.

2. How do you differentiate soft sciences from hard sciences?

What is it?

You just learned the importance of qualitative research across fields of inquiry.

1. Can you figure out the importance of qualitative research? Organize your ideas by presenting three important functions of
qualitative research.

2. How do you inquire data in a certain field of study? Write your top three methods when collecting data and describe each.

What’s more?

As a continuation on Lesson 1 of this Module from the table you have drawn which listed your own three topics for a
qualitative research , purpose and type to use , add a fourth column as what approach of research you will use, and the fifth column
your choice of data collection. Copy your answers from the previous table to complete column 1 to 3.
Topic Purpose Type of Qualitative Research Data Collection
Research Approach Choice

Sample:
Post Traumatic To determine the Triangulation or Written
Experiences of the experiences of those Phenomenological mixed description/
COVID-19 survivors in the Interview
Survivors COVID-19
phenomena.

1.

12
2.

3.

What I have learned

Given the following Research topics, name the specific subject on each topic and give the importance on researching such
topic in a person’s day to day life. The first one is done for you.

1. Nutrient Contents of Spices and Herbs

2. Juan dela Cruz: A Filipino Inventor
3. Parents Views About The New Normal Education
4. Body Parts of a Korean Car
5. Bacteria in a Food
6. SHS Learners Study Habits
7. Medicinal Elements of Lemon Leaves
8. History Development of Asian Novels
9. Higa-onon Wedding Rites
10. The Nature of Corona Virus Disease

Topics Subject Importance of the Research

1 Spices and Herbs To know its nutrient content use as medicine

10

What I can do

What are your views to the qualitative research across fields of inquiry? Is research important? Why? Present your answers in
various viewpoints in terms of:

Sample: Health issues: Through qualitative research, we understand how HIV patient go through bodily changes, etc.

13
 1. Social:________________________________________________

2. Economical____________________________________________

3. Political:______________________________________________

Additional Activities

Ask somebody whom you know has already done a research work or is currently conducting a research study. Ask him the
details of his study and tabulate the results from your interview with him.
1. Title

2. Method of Research ( data gathering and data analysis)

3. Subject Area or areas of interest where the study belongs

4. The importance of the research work

Assessment

Direction:
Read the following statements. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, FALSE if you think it is not.

_________1.Research studies what happens in any field of knowledge.

__________2.Scientific approach expresses and records your findings qualitatively.
__________3.Triangulation or mixed method enhances accuracy and interpretation.
__________4.Naturalistic approach is people oriented.
__________5.A qualitative research is exclusive to both hard and soft sciences.
__________6.Soft science studies human behavior in a scientific manner.
__________7.The scientific approach gives stress to measurable and observable
facts instead of personal views, feelings, or attitudes.
__________8.All research types apply to all data collecting techniques.
__________9.Reasons happens in just one field of knowledge.
__________10.Past events in a person’s life are the focus of triangulation.

14
 Lesson
1 The Subject Matter of the Research

Developing a good research topic may not be easy for you but it is an important skill. Your teacher may assign you a
particular topic but often requires you to choose a topic that interests you .In this lesson you are given the guidelines in choosing a
topic when you begin your research work. These pointers will guide you in selecting a good topic. Other factors affecting in choosing
and writing your research are topics that need to be avoided this will help you focus clearly on your subjects. Likewise the sources of
information are important for you to know where your research topic may come from.

What’s in?
(
In the previous lesson, you learned to illustrate the importance of qualitative research across fields of inquiry .Research can
be conducted in any field of knowledge .Whatever field you belong you can freely choose the basic research approaches either the
scientific ,naturalistic or mixed. The areas of disciplines that are classified into soft and hard sciences assist you to understand where
you really fit. These will guide you into this next learning of designing a research project and writing a research title.

What’s New?

I. What is a Research Title1?

1. The most important element that defines the research problem.

2. It is usually read first and the most read part of the research.
3. It contains the least words enough to describe the contents and the purpose of your research paper.
4. It can be revised any and many times as the research develops and reach its final phase. It becomes final on its final defence
before the panel of judges.

 Elements of a Research Title

The research title does not need to be entertaining but informative.

A part of a research title has the following information:

1. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. (“What?”)
2. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. (“Where?”)
3. The population like the respondents’ interviewees. (“Who”?)
4. The time period of the study during which the data are to be collected. (“When”?)

Example:

Subject matter: The teaching of English

Place or locale: in the high schools of Province A
Time period: during the school year 1989-1990
Population: as perceived by teachers and students

Subject matter: The effects of the use of cell phones on the academic performance
Population to senior high school students
Place or locale: at Department of Education
Time period: during the first semester, school year 2018-2019

II. Rules in Choosing a Research Topic1

15
1. Interest in the subject matter. Interest in a subject drives you to research, investigate, or inquire about it with full motivation,
enthusiasm, and energy.

2. Availability of information. Information will serve as evidence to support your claims about your subject matter from varied forms
of literature like books, journals, and newspapers, among others, is a part and parcel of any research work.

What to include in the investigation of the available materials?

a. Update and authority of the materials.
b. Copyright dates of the materials? Are they new or old?
c. Expert or qualification of the writers of reading materials about your topic

3. Timeliness and relevance of the topic.

How relevant is the topic?

a. It yields results that are useful in society
b. Related to the present. (Except for pure or historical research)

4. Limitations on the subject. Connect your choice with course requirements. You need to decide on one topic to
finish your course.

5. Personal resources. Do an assessment on your research abilities in terms of your financial standing, health condition, mental
capacity, needed facilities, and time schedule to enable you to complete your research. You have to raise an amount of money needed
to spend on questionnaire printing and interview trips.

III. Research Topics to be avoided1

1. Controversial topics.
It depends more on the writer’s opinion leading to biases. Facts cannot support
this topic.

2. Highly technical subjects.

Not advisable for beginners as these topics require an advanced study, technical knowledge, and skills.

3. Hard-to-investigate subjects.
Happens if there are no available reading materials about it and if such materials are not up-to-date.

4. Too broad subjects.

It prevents you from to focus on the subject matter of the paper.
Narrow down or limit the subject to eliminate the problem.

5. Too narrow subjects.

Subjects that are so limited where an extensive searching is necessary.

6. Vague subjects.
Titles beginning with indefinite adjectives such as several, many, some, etc., as in “Some Remarkable Traits of a Filipino” or “Several
People’s Comments on the RH Law,” are vague enough to decrease the readers’ interests and curiosity.

____________________
1
For more information about rules in choosing a research topic see Baraceros, E.L. (2016).Practical Research’s .Ist ed. Rex
Bookstore. Manila

IV. Sources of Research Topics1

1. Mass media communication – press (newspapers, ads, TV, radio, films, etc.)

2. Books, Internet, peer-reviewed journals, government publications

3. Professional periodicals like College English Language Teaching Forum, English

16
Forum, the Economist, Academia, Business Circle, Law Review, etc.

4. General periodicals such as Readers’ Digest, Women’s Magazine, Panorama

Magazine, Time Magazine, World Mission Magazine, etc.

5. Previous reading assignments in your other subjects

6. Work experience – clues to a researchable topic from full-time or part-time jobs, OJT (on-the-job training) experience, fieldwork,
etc.

Activity 1: Question and Answer

Directions: Answer the questions in 3-5 sentences only. Write your answers on the space provided.

1. What are the rules in choosing a research topic?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. What are those topics to avoid in preventing you to have a clear focus on your research paper?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________
3. Where can you find sources of research topics to create ideas of selecting a good subject matter?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________

What is it?

Discussion of Activity 1
You just learned the rules in choosing a research subject. These includes topics to be avoided and the sources of where to search.
1. What topics you find most relevant in your daily life potential to research? Cite two issues.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________

2. How about a writing a good research title? Present (1) one good example of a research title and (1) NOT so good title.
Describe each.
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What’s more?

Narrowing Your Topic

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Given the following broad topics for research, select one topic of your choice and narrow or limit the topic to make it specific. Use the
narrowing chart to fill in the topic.

Topics to choose:
1. Climate Change
2. Social Networking
3. Communication Skills
4. Medicinal Plants
5. Cultural Beliefs
Example: Topic Chocolate

Topic Chocolate

Sub-Topics History of chocolate, making of chocolate, health

aspects of chocolate, chocolate addictions, brands of
chocolate

What sub-topics are of most interest to you? Health aspects of chocolate.

What new questions do you have about your topic? Are there health benefits to eating chocolate? Can
chocolate boost your mood? Is chocolate addictive?

Develop a topic statement I will explore the health benefits of eating chocolate,
specifically focusing on how chocolate affects moods
and brain chemistry.

Narrowing Chart

Topic

Sub-Topics

What sub-topics are of most interest to you?

What new questions do you have about your topic?

Develop a topic statement

\
What I have learned

Think of this statement: A good research is seen in the way its topic is outlined. When you choose topics for your research, you have
to think about the reasons why you identified those topics.
How will you write a good research topic?
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What I can do

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Recall or search on the following as a research topic:
a. Essays or reflections you have written from past classes and other activities you have taken or a lecture you have attended
b. Life experiences
c. Issues or problems observed in your surroundings

Thinking back, what subject matter most interesting to you?

Propose a title out of the above research topics. Write your title on the spaces provided. (Save the titles for the additional activity to
be done)
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Additional Activity

From the topics or titles you had saved, browse through some current articles that relates to the subject matter that interest you to
research. Read and summarize the topic using the narrowing chart on page 9 of this lesson. It is important that you save this task for
your next lesson.

Assessment

Direction: Identify how a research project is described on the following statements. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer

1. Which of the following is a good way to find a research topic?

a. Personal experience
b. Getting an idea from your advisor
c. Looking for the next step in the research process
d. All of the above
2. What is a not true of a research title?
a. Read the most, and it is usually read first
b. Least important element that defines the research problem.
c. Contains few words that describe the purpose of the research
d. All of the above

3. What is the reason for consulting handbooks, yearbooks, encyclopedias, or reviews in the initial stages of identifying a research
topic?
a. They are readily available.
b. They provide an overview of the issues related to a topic.
c. They are primary sources.
d. They avoid reporting statistical data to interpret the results more readily.
4. Which of the following are excellent sources for research topics?
a. Theory
b. Personal experience
c. Replication of prior research
d. All of the above
5. Mr. Santos identified his research topic as "classroom assessment." He recognized very quickly his topic was far too broad. Which
of the following is likely to have led to that conclusion?
a. There was far too much written on the topic to understand it all.
b. It was difficult to organize the material collected in an effective manner.
c. The potential problems he began thinking would be next to impossible to study.
d. All of the above.
6. What is a research project?
a. A way of conducting research that is not grounded in theory.
b. A choice between using qualitative or quantitative methods.
c. A style in which you present your research findings, e.g. a graph.
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 d. A framework for every stage of the collection and analysis of data.
7. Which of these would be assured by you when selecting factors for a study in general?
a. They have been investigated before
b. They are available to investigate
c. They are not of interest to you
d. They do not lead to another question
8. A business student plans a research project; it is called a description of an online business. On the limited information (the title),
which one of these best applies to the idea?
a. It is too broad.
b. It is a highly technical subject.
c. It has an acceptable method.
d. It has an acceptable purpose.
9. What is the main advantage of producing a written research project?
a. Helps with liability.
b. Helps the society.
c. Informs all interested parties.
d. Helps keep people employed.
10. Good research proposals will always:
a. Focus on the written style.
b. Provides respondent names and addresses.
c. Consider all possible research previously been done on the topic.
d. Focus on addressing the research objectives.
d. They do not lead to another question

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