Research I 9
Research I – STE Grade 9
Quarter 2 – Module 5: The Research Problem
First Edition, 2020
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Research I 9
Quarter 2
Self-Learning Module 5
The Research Problem
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
Welcome to the Research I Self-Learning Module 5 on The Research Problem!
This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and
reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.
This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:
Notes to the Teacher
This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.
As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the Learner:
Welcome to the Research I Self-Learning Module on The Research Problem!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an
active learner.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:
Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills
that you will learn after completing the module.
Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson
at hand.
Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts
and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.
Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.
Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.
Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and
application of the lesson.
Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the
lesson.
Posttest – This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
EXPECTATIONS
The problems facing our society require a solution based on systematic
thinking since it affects the community's different organizations. Observing things
around us is the first step to identify the problem or loopholes in ideas and
principles adopted by the society. We need to express this problem so that it can be
investigated and provides solutions to contribute to the greater good of the
surroundings.
Integrated science process skills show how a researcher chooses a good topic
to focus on to identify problems easily. It involves the different variables that
should be considered in making research problems/questions. Researchers show
scientific behavior and skills in addressing the research problem.
In your previous topic, the nature of research gives you an idea of what
research is all about its characteristics and types. It also discussed the categories
of scientific research where you can quickly identify the category of the topic you
are interested in studying.
As a future science researcher, in this lesson, you are expected to identify
variables in a problem, specifically to:
1. Describe each type of variables.
2. Construct a research title showing variables.
3. Specify variables in the constructed research title.
PRETEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. A researcher wants to figure out if uncomfortable seats in a classroom will
increase the research participant’s attention to the lesson and decrease their
playing. Why are attention level and playing the dependent variable?
A. Because it is the variable that researcher is manipulating.
B. Because it is the variable the researcher is primarily interested in.
C. It isn’t; the dependent variable is the uncomfortableness of the seats.
D. Because it is the variable that the researcher changes to see how the
other variables will respond.
2. A factor in the experiment.
A. Variable
B. Control Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Independent Variable
3. When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the
same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What
type of variable is the water?
A. Confounding
B. Control
C. Dependent
D. Independent
4. A student hypothesized that robins prefer large birdhouses to small ones. He
builds four birdhouses of different sizes to test his hypothesis. What was the
independent variable in the students’ study?
A. The season of the year
B. The size of the birdhouse
C. The location of the birdhouse
D. The number of birds in the house
5. Variable that the SCIENTIST CHANGES or TESTS.
A. Variable
B. Control Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Independent Variable
RECAP
To recall the topics about the categories of science research, answer this
activity below:
True or False
Direction: Write True if the statement is correct, and False if incorrect.
______ 1. Parents may advice research topics
______ 2. Financial capacity of the researcher to support the project must also
be considered
______ 3. Research problems can be developed from friendly conversations
______ 4. Research problems should be ambiguous
______ 5. Research topic must be general
______ 6. Research topic must be of research adviser’s interest.
______ 7. Research topic should be the same with what has already been
written about.
______ 8. Researcher may extend the research already conducted.
______ 9. Researcher should consider the availability of data involved in the
study and the methods and techniques to be employed in gathering
them in selecting the topic.
______ 10. Time factor must be considered in choosing the research topic.
Now you recall the previous topic. Let us further discuss the nature of
research, specifically on how to choose a research topic.
LESSON
What is a Research Variable?
A research variable is also called a study variable which refers to the cause
and effect relationship in a study. There are a variety of research variables and that
includes independent, dependent, and intervening variables (Glen 2019). It is a
characteristic or feature that changes within the study. If a study involves the
investigation between male and female, we can consider that gender is a variable.
However, if it only affects females, gender is not considered a variable since it solely
focuses on women. Also, if you do not compare or interested in the difference
between male and female, still it is not a variable (Linda and Lake n.d.). Dependent
and independent variables are special terms applies in experimental investigations
(Mcleod 2019).
Independent Variable
The Independent variable is a variable that can be changed or controlled by
the researcher. The changes made have a direct effect on the dependent variable.
The typical example of independent variables is gender and educational level.
In doing experimental research, which is a common type of scientific
research, the researcher manipulates the variable that directly affects the other
variable. This variable is present in the experimental group.
The experimental group receives the treatment that is why it is also called
the treatment group. The group can be made up of test subjects like people,
animals, plants, cells, etc. The “treatment” is the variable you are studying. For
example, a group of people could receive a new medication, a different form of
counseling, or some vitamin supplements (Glen 2019).
There can be more than one experimental group with the same independent
variable but different measurements. For example, all the members of one group
will have the same level of the independent variable. A second group will have a
different level of that same variable, and the same for a 3rd or 4th group, if present.
Linda and Lake gave another example (n.d.). Below is the case:
Some investigators decided to compare three groups. One group participate in
a set of specific exercises four times per week; a second group would do the
same exercises, but only twice per week, and a control group would
participate in stretching exercises that would have no impact on strength. The
variable that differs between these three groups that are compared is
an Independent Variable. This independent variable has 3 LEVELS of the
SINGLE independent variable - in this example, it is the type of exercise.
Dependent Variables
The dependent variable is the one being affected when there are changes or
manipulation in the independent variables. The relationship between the
independent and dependent variables can be compared to cause and effect
relationships. The changes or manipulation happen to the independent variable
causes something to the dependent variables, which is the effect. This effect should
be observable and measurable, which can be tested through experimentation.
An example was given by Linda and Lake (n.d.). Below is the case:
Example: study title: Effects of a new toothpaste (YummyTooth) on the
incidence of caries in 1st-grade children.
The intervention group was given YummyTooth toothpaste, while the control
group was given an identical toothpaste that did not contain the secret
ingredient in YummyTooth. Subjects were observed brushing their teeth 3x per
day with the assigned toothpaste (by teacher or parent). 6 months later,
dental appointments were scheduled, and the number of dental caries present
in each child was reported.
In this study, the toothpaste was the independent variable; it was different
between the two groups: one level was the YummyTooth toothpaste itself,
and the second level (a control group) was the identical non-YummyTooth
toothpaste (a placebo [or control variable]). The outcome measure
(dependent variable) - that "depended" upon toothpaste, was the number of
dental caries.
From the example given, the dependent variable in the experiment was
tested and measured. The dependent variable is also present in an experimental
group.
Control Variables
A control variable refers to the subjects that cannot be changed, unlike the
independent variable, this one is always constant; that is why it is also called
constant variable. It is not part of the experiment, like the independent and
dependent variables, but it has a vital role in the result of the changes in the
independent variable. Controlled variables should always be identified, measured,
and recorded.
Example of Controlled Variables
“Temperature is a common type of controlled variable. If temperature is held
constant during an experiment, it is controlled.
Other examples of controlled variables could be an amount of light, using the same
type of glassware, constant humidity, or duration of an experiment (Helmenstine
2020).”
Confounding/Intervening Variables
This variable refers to the difference with the other group aside from the
independent variables. “That means that most members of a group are alike on a
variable, but different from the other group, e.g., if the control group was mostly
smokers and the experimental group mostly non-smokers. These variables interfere
with assessment of the effects of the independent variable because they, in addition
to the independent variable, potentially affect the dependent variable. Since they
cannot be separated from the independent variable, they are said to be confounding
variables (Linda and Lake n.d.).”
Since this situation shows that the difference between the group is not only
the independent variables, the confounding variables might also affect the result of
the experimentation; therefore, we cannot say that the one that affects the
dependent variable is only the independent variable. Researchers should be careful
with this variable since it can also affect the dependent variable increasing a doubt
to the result of the experiment.
To apply your understanding of this lesson, do the activity given.
ACTIVITIES
Activity 1: Dependent and Independent Variables
Objectives: Identify the independent and dependent variables in research topics.
Materials: Pen and paper
Procedure: Classify each of the underlined variables whether it is Independent or
Dependent of the following research topics. Write your answer on the space
provided.
1. Developing critical thinking with the use of logical thinking
Independent: _______________________________
Dependent: ________________________________
2. Effectiveness of Exposing Classical Music on Consumer’s Behavior.
Independent: _______________________________
Dependent: ________________________________
3. Impact of ICT on Student Achievement in Accounting
Independent: _______________________________
Dependent: ________________________________
4. Increasing Reading Interest through Paired Reading.
Independent: _______________________________
Dependent: ________________________________
5. The collaborative learning in increasing communicative competence
Independent: _______________________________
Dependent: ________________________________
Closure: Define what is dependent, independent and control variables for you
based on your understanding. You can give an example to support your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Activity 2: Science Investigatory Projects
Objective: Specify variables in the constructed research title for Science
Investigatory Project.
Materials: Paper, and Pen
Procedure: Supply the information needed below.
Research Topic Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
1. Pyrolysis of Plastic Wastes for the
Production of Plywood substitute
2. The use of Eco Brick Project in
Waste Management Performance of
HUMSS students
3. The Effect of Eutrophication on the
Growth of Tilapia
4. The Absorbent Property of Water
Hyacinths (Eichhornia Crassipes) in
Effective Removal of Lead and
Mercury from Waste Water
5. Coconut Husk Biochar as Soil
Amendment for the Growth of
Onion Plant
Closure: Why is it important to identify the independent and dependent variable in
a study?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Activity 3: Variables for Common Events
Objective: Construct a research title showing variables.
Materials: Paper and Pen
Procedures:
1. Give the best possible variables or factors according to the given situations. It
can be an independent or dependent variable.
2. Construct a research title from your answer and the given situation.
3. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
Example:
Variables that could affect the population of endemic birds in the Philippines.
1. Over hunting and poaching
2. illegal logging of forest trees
Possible Title:
The Effects of Illegal Logging on the Population of Endemic Birds in the Philippines
IV: Illegal Logging
DV: Population of Endemic Birds
A. Variables that could affect human body’s cholesterol level.
1._________________________
2._________________________
Possible Title:
_________________________________________________________________________________
IV: ________________________
DV: ________________________
B. Variables that could increase the speed of a runner.
1._________________________
2._________________________
Possible Title:
_________________________________________________________________________________
IV: ________________________
DV: ________________________
C. Variables that might be affected because of lack of sleep.
1._________________________
2._________________________
Possible Title:
_________________________________________________________________________________
IV: ________________________
DV: ________________________
Closure: Why it is important to include the variables in a research title?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
WRAP-UP
Direction: Based on the concept you have read above, answer the following
questions briefly using your own words.
What is the difference between independent, dependent and control variables?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How can these variables affect the study?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Can confounding variables affect an experiment? how?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
VALUING
The Importance of My Title Proposal
Procedure:
1. Proposed a research title showing you independent and dependent variables.
2. Discuss how do you plan to do it by mentioning the different variables involved
(independent, dependent, and control).
3. State the importance of your proposed study to society.
Remember: Follow the guidelines for choosing a good research topic from the previous
lesson.
POSTTEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Variable that is MEASURED or OBSERVED; it DEPENDS on the independent
variable.
A. Variable
B. Control Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Independent Variable
2. Which of the following best describes control variables?
A. They are kept the same over multiple trials.
B. They increase the variability of the experiment.
C. They increase the participants’ control over the experiment.
D. They provide the researcher with control over the independent variable.
3. In an experiment to determine what type of acid is the MOST corrosive
(destructive) which of these would NEED to be a controlled variable?
A. Corrosiveness
B. The acids used
C. The material the acid is poured on
D. The size of the hole created by the acid
4. What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing the
effectiveness different types of paper airplane?
A. the paper used
B. the type of folds made
C. the distance of each plane's flight
D. None of the above is the independent variable
5. Variable that the scientist keeps CONSTANT or the SAME.
A. Variable
B. Control Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Independent Variable
KEY TO CORRECTION
References
Ballera, Charlene, Mary Jane Dalisay, Jonalyn Gungon, and Renee Rose Reyes.
Practical Research 2: SHS Learner’s Module. Pasig City: Rizal High
School, 2019.
“Evaluating Research Variables.” Quizizz. Last Updated 2019.
https://quizizz.com/admin/search/research%20variables.
Glen, Stephanie. "Research Variable / Study Variable" From StatisticsHowTo.com:
Elementary Statistics for the rest of us!. May 10, 2019. Accessed Date
August 21, 2020. https://www.statisticshowto.com/research-variable-
study/.
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "The Role of a Controlled Variable in an
Experiment." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/controlled-variable-
definition-609094 (accessed August 24, 2020).
Lahorra, Oliver A. Scientific Research for Junior High School. Taguig City: Oliver
Araneta Lahorra, 2020.
“Research Variables: Dependent, Independent, Control, Extraneous & Moderator.”
Study.com. n.d. https://study.com/academy/practice/quiz-worksheet-
research-variables.html.
Wright, Linda L., and David A. Lake. "Basics of Research for the Health
Professions." Basics of Research: Variables . N.p., n.d. Accessed Last
August. 21,
2020.http://www.pt.armstrong.edu/wright/hlpr/text/3.1.variables.htm.