Inquiries, Investigations

and Immersion
Quarter 3–Module 1:
Brainstorming for Research Topics
 You have learned the step-by-step procedure in writing a qualitative and quantitative research in your previous
subjects – Practical Research 1 and 2, respectively. As a culminating activity, Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion is
designed to heighten your critical thinking and problem-solving skills through conducting another meaningful study.
This module is designed to assist you in choosing a significant topic that will benefit your area of interest.

After this module, you are expected to:

1. identify issues and ideas in respective track or strand;
2. formulate a suitable research topic related to a track or strand; and
3. write a research plan about the selected research topic.

One of the most important considerations for every research is selecting a research topic. A research topic
serves as the basis of each research undertaking. It directs how the research will be carried out.
A good researcher must carefully choose a topic that is doable and significant to a certain discipline or field.
Many researchers find selecting a research topic a difficult task. Some do it through brainstorming or by observing their
surroundings.
In this module, you will be guided on how to easily choose a research topic from your area of interest.

A common challenge when beginning to write a research paper is determining how to narrow down your topic.
To assist you in the selection process, here are some guidelines given by Baraceros (2016:38-39):

1. INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER

Being interested in a topic is usually due to the richness of your stock knowledge about it or because of its
familiarity to you. Curiosity about an issue/topic is one of the factors that motivate a person to unravel the unknown in
a topic. Thus, the researcher’s interest increases the possibility of the success of the study.

2. RICHNESS OF AVAILABLE SOURCES OR SUPPORTING EVIDENCES

One of the things that you should do is to collect a lot of information on your topic of interest. This enables you
to find evidences that would support your topic. You must ensure that your sources come from a wide variety of
literature such as books, journal, periodicals, online articles, etc. Hence, going to the library and surfing the internet are
some of the activities that you should do as a researcher.

3. TIMELINESS AND RELEVANCE OF THE TOPIC

Your topic should be relevant and timely. A topic is relevant if it serves as an instrument in improving the society
or if it answers or solves current issues which are some of the reasons why research is conducted.

4. LIMITATIONS OF THE SUBJECT

 Aside from your interest, you must also consider the significance of the topic in your track and strand.
Remember that research is conducted to contribute something valuable to a particular area or discipline.

5. PERSONAL RESOURCES

Prior to finalizing your chosen topic, you must assess your research abilities as a student. You may do so by
taking your financial capability, health condition, personal qualifications, and trainings as a researcher, needed facilities
and time allotment into account. It is important that all these aspects are considered for you to guarantee the
accomplishment of your research.

Now that you have learned the considerations in formulating a research problem, here are the steps that will guide
you trim down your area of interest.
1. Focus on your track, strand, or area of specialization.
For example:
HUMSS
2. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective field or strand that has piqued or aroused your interest
the most.
• Public Speaking
3. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved problem from your chosen area or lesson.
•Why do people feel anxious when speaking in public?
4. Assess the question or problem based on the five guidelines stated above.
•I'm interested in the topic.
•There are available sources of data.
•It is timely and relevant.
•It will contribute to my strand.
•It is doable considering my personal resources.
5. Write your research problem.
•Factors Affecting the Speaking Anxiety of Students

When formulating an effective research title, take the following guidelines into consideration:

1. Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study.

2. The title must be limited to 10 to 15 substantive words. Conjunctions (and, but, because), prepositions (in, on, at)
and articles (the, a, an) are not counted.
3. Do not include analysis of, study of, an investigation of and the like.
4. The title must be in the phrase form.
5. Avoid title that gives too much information.
A. Let us apply the five steps mentioned previously for you to arrive on your specific research topic. Answer the following
questions briefly on your paper. (2 points each)

STEPS IN SPECIFYING THE RESEARCH TOPIC ANSWER

1. What is your track and strand?
2. What is the specific lesson or issue in your track and
strand that has piqued your interest the most?
3. What is the unanswered question or unresolved
problem, or issue involved in the lesson or issue?
4. Assess the question or problem based on the five • Is it within your interest?
guidelines. Yes___ No____
• Are there available data, resources and evidences that
will support the topic?
Yes___ No____
• Is it timely and relevant?
Yes___ No____
• Will it contribute to your track and strand?
Yes___ No____
• Is it within your personal resources?
Yes___ No____
5. If all your answers are yes, then write down your
specific research problem. If no, reevaluate your research
question or problem.

B. Based on the research problem that you have written above, write your research plan by answering the following
questions on the table below. Answer briefly on your paper. (2 points each)

RESEARCH PLAN
1. Research Problem:
(What is your research problem?)
2. Rationale:
(Why do you want to conduct this study?)
3. Significance:
(Why is it important to be conducted?)
4. Objective:
(What is your goal to achieve in this study?)
5. Method and Design: Respondents:
(Is it a quantitative or a qualitative study?) (Who or what will be the source of your data?)
Sample Size:
(How many respondents does your study need?)
Sampling Technique:
(How will you choose your respondents or source of data?)

References:

• Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion - Alternative Delivery Mode/Quarter 3 – Module 1: Brainstorming for Research
Topics/ First Edition, 2020
• Printed PDF Module from Department of Education – Region III, Schools Division of Bataan - Curriculum Implementation
Division/Learning Resources Management and Development Section (LRMDS)