CHOOSING AND

DEVELOPING A
TOPIC
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2
It is important that you
select a topic of interest
to you
When looking for a topic
consider:
Your favorite hobbies
Personal experiences
Values- what is important to you
Interests- what would you like to learn
more about?
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A TOPIC:

Is this topic appropriate to the occasion?

Will this topic appeal to my readers’
interests?
Is this topic something I can speak/write
about with enthusiasm and insight?
Will I be able to offer a fresh perspective on
WHEN NARROWING YOUR TOPIC ASK THE
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1. What does the readers most likely know about
this topic?
2. What elements are most important to this topic?
3. How much can I competently research and
report on in the time I am given to write?
What are included in Quantitative
Research?

• a comparison
• relating variables
• proving hypotheses
• measuring variables Office of Qualitative & Mixed
Methods Research, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln
INCLUDE WORDS SUCH AS:
• “relate”
• “influence”
• ”impact”
• “effect”
• “cause”
Office of Qualitative & Mixed
Methods Research, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln
IDENTIFYING A RESEARCH
PROBLEM
The first step in conducting
research is to identify a
researchable problem.
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
HOW DO I BEGIN?
IS YOUR TOPIC

SMART?
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-bound
What are the possible
sources of ideas when
you scout for a problem?
1. PEOPLE 2. PLACES
• Friends •Library
• Teachers •Research Institutions
•School
• Family •Community
• Scientists/Expert •Museums
• community •Parks
•Home
• School Officials
•River
• Professionals •internet
LITERATUR SOCIAL MEDIA
E
• Books • Documentary
evidences
• Other
researches
• Etc.
The research problem
may also come from:
INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY

This may involve the

analysis of needs, practices,
and observations.
For example two of your best
friends are displaying As a concern best friend you
different behavior towards
ask why do they have
your English class. Your best
different behavior towards
friend A always look forward
your English class. Asking
to your English time while
best friend B almost drags the question is being
herself in entering your curious and it is a starting
English class. point of an inquiry.
SERENDIPITY
Somebody with research interest
just comes up with so many ideas
about things and possibilities. The
testing of any these ideas can
become an investigatory project.
EXPERT OPINION
In view of experiences and exposures of
experts, their statements or opinions
can form part of the sources of
research problem. These opinions can
be sought in written communication or
in oral communication.
For example, you ask the question on why
the frequency of flooding in Tuguegarao has
increased. Experts will have varied opinions
like:
• Massive denudation of forest
• Silting of downstream Cagayan
• La Nina season, etc.
SHARPENING SKILLS FOR
DISCOVERING AND
IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM
[Link] a lot of
literature in your
field of
concentration and
being critical of
what you read
2. attending
professional
lectures

3. being close observant of

situations and happenings
around you

4. thinking out the possibility of research

for most topics or lessons taken in
content courses
5. attending research
colloquiums or
seminars

6. compiling
researches with
special emphasis
on content and
methodology
7. visiting various libraries for
possible discovery of
researchable topics

8. building - up a
library of materials
in your field

9. subscribing to journals in
your field and in research
Requirements of a
Good Research
Title
Title
•This should be short, sharp, and
describe what your research is
about: it may also be a ‘working
title’ that you will revise as your
project develops.
•The American
Psychological Association
guidelines set a 10-12 main
word limit for titles.
• Summarize main idea
•Have concise statement of
main topic
•Identify primary variables
and the relationship
between them
•Identify theoretical issues under
investigation and the relationship
between them (also include theory
name)
•Identify population(s) used in
research
•Are free of jargon and abbreviations
•Do not include the words "method
• Do not have redundancies such as
"study of" or "an experimental
investigation of" at the beginning of a
title
• Avoid using a "yes-no" question as a
title
• Only include words that provide
important information about the
research in both the main title and
ELEMENTS OF
A GOOD TITLE
1. Keywords and Key
Phrases
Keywords and key phrases are
the terms that describe the
topic of your article.
2. Emphasis
Emphasis means making sure that the
most important aspect of your article is
prominently included in the title.
Paying attention to emphasis helps you
make the most of the title and ensure
that it conveys your most important
point.
Careful emphasis also helps ensure that
your title describes the information in
your article without vagueness or
exaggeration.
3. Impact
A title with impact communicates why
readers should pay attention to the article.
Add impact to your title by indicating
what is novel or innovative about the
results, or how your work will affect the
field
The Title-Writing Process
The Title-Writing Process
1. Answer the questions “What
is my manuscript about,
specifically? What is the main
result I am reporting?”
The Title-Writing Process
2. Answer the questions “What
was the study design and who
were the participants?” Be as
specific as possible.
The Title-Writing Process
3. Identify the keywords and
key phrases in your answers.
Avoid using uncommon
abbreviations when possible.
The Title-Writing Process
4. Identify the most important
aspects of your answers that
you will emphasize to add
impact to your title.
The Title-Writing Process
5. Draft a title sentence
using the keywords and
emphasis and impact
information.
The Title-Writing Process
6. Revise the title to emphasize the important
information. Try placing the important
information first, and being specific about any
relationships (e.g., “reduces” rather than
“affects”). Make a statement rather than using
weak phrases like “The effects of…”
The Title-Writing Process
7. Revise the sentence to remove extra
words that detract from the title’s impact.
You can also try rewording the title to reduce
the number of words or improve impact.
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RULES IN DETERMINING WHETHER
THE PROBLEM CHOSEN HAS BEEN
WELL – DEFINED
1. Be sure that the topic is neither too vague nor
too broad in scope.
2. State the problem with a question that
requires a significant answer.
3. Carefully state the limits of the problem,
eliminating all aspects and factors which will
not be considered in the study.
4. Define any special term that must be used in
the statement of the problem.
Activity

Go back to your group. For 15 minutes

formulate a statement of problem for your research
title. Limit your sub-questions into three. Write it
down in the body part of your human image.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-BUREAU OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

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 What are the criteria to
be considered in
formulating good
research titles?

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-BUREAU OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

REFERENCE:

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