Inquiries,

Investigations and
Immersion
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Brainstorming for Research
Topics

What I Need to
Know
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 particular
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.

What I Know

There are 15 words that are possible sources for a research topic hidden in the
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wordsquare below. Words appear vertically, horizontally, diagonally, backwards and
forwards. Search for these words and write your answers on your notebook.

T H E O R I E S D E E N X O N
I R X E S E A P R O B L E M S
N R P C I N T E R E S T H Q U
T Z E E D F H C G S U W V V A
U E R R I P H I L O S O P H Y
I R I U A X E A E L B B O A S
T M E T O D U L S E I S S O T
I H N A A R D I S S U E S U U
O G C R H C O Z O V I R D P D
N A E E N E D A N M I V C L I
O C S T C K D T S O W A N Q E
U A R I A N E I T E D T U C S
A T V L I O N O R E S I E A R
C D I S F U N N Z X E O E W Y
A P N O I T A S R E V N O C M

Lesso
n Brainstorming
for Research
1 Topics
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.

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In this module, you will be guided on how to easily choose a research
topic from your area of interest.

What’s In

Taking into consideration your experiences from your previous research

subjects, decide whether each sentence must be a criterion in choosing a
good research problem. On your notebook, write YES if the statement can
be considered as a criterion and NO if otherwise.

A research topic should…

1. be original.
2. be ambiguous.
3. fill in a research gap.
4. be costly and ambitious.
5. be general and not specific.
6. arouse intellectual curiosity.
7. be within the researcher’s interest.
8. make use of ineffective research instrument.
9. be completed beyond the given period of time.
10. be insignificant to the field of study or discipline.

What’s New

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
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 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

What is It
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

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2. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective field or strand that has piq
Public Speaking
5
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.

What’s
More

A. Match the following descriptions in column A to their respective

guidelines in choosing a research topic in column B. Write the letter of the
correct answer on your notebook.

A B

1. This refers to the a. limitations of the subject

researcher’s abilities, b. personal resources
financial capacity, c. interest in the subject matter
resources in terms of d. timeliness and relevance
instruments, facilities and e. richness of available resources
time frame. or supporting evidences of
2. This refers to the social appropriateness
applicability and f. intellectual ability
appropriateness of the
topic to the current
situation.
3. This refers to an
individual’s interest in a
topic driven by his or her
schema about it.
4. This refers to the
availability of needed
resources as evidence for
the topic.
5. This refers to the topic’s

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contribution to a
particular field or
discipline.

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B. Arrange the following steps in correct sequence using numbers 1-5.
Write your answers on your notebook.

6. Write your research problem.

7. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved problem from
your chosen area or lesson.
8. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective field that
has piqued your interest the most.
9. Assess the question or problem based on the five guidelines
stated above.
10. Focus on your track, strand or area of specialization.

C. Read each statement below carefully. On your notebook, put a if

the statement is correct and if
otherwise.

11. The title must include the accurate scope of the study.
12. Choose a title that is a sentence than a phrase.
13. Very long titles are preferable than short ones.
14. If possible, titles must not exceed 15 substantive words.
15. Analysis of, A Study of, An Investigation and the like are
not encouraged.

What I Have
Learned
Test your wits and complete the paragraphs below by sharing your
learnings from the previous discussions. Write your answers on your
notebook.
(15 points)
What I Can Do
When deciding on a research topic, there are guidelines that we must follow. These
, and. These guidelines must be considered because.
The research topic must be simple and specific enough for us to accomplish it with con
. After this, we mustto be followed by. To complete the procedure, we can now
.

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Think of at least two specific research topics from the broad topics listed
below following the guidelines explained above. Write your answers on
your notebook. (5 points each)

 Fingerprinting  DNA
 Ethics and Genetics  Insecticides
 Humans and Wildlife  Export and Import
 Malnutrition  Intermittent Fasting
 Psychology of Plastic  Food Nutrition
Surgery
 Privacy Issues
 Vaccines
 Mobile Games
 Violence
 Computer Literacy
 Racism
 Online Selling
 Sex Education
 Accounting System
 Social Media
 Marketing Strategies
 Terrorism
 Technology and Business
 Online Learning
 Thermal Insulation
 Gender Roles

For example:

Broad Topic: Online Selling

Specific Topic: Influence of Internet Based Marketing Activities on
Digital Consumer’s Mind

1. Broad Topic:
Specific Topic:

2. Broad Topic:
Specific Topic:

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 Assessmen
t

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 notebook. (2 points each)

STEPS IN SPECIFYING THE ANSWER

RESEARCH TOPIC
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  Is it within your
problem based on the five interest? Yes No
guidelines.  Are there available data,
resources and evidences
that will support the topic?
Yes No
 Is it timely and
relevant? YesNo
 Will it contribute to your
track and strand?
Yes No
 Is it within your
personal resources?
Yes No

5. If all of 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 notebook. (2 points each)

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 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 Respondents:
and (Who or what will be the source of your data?)
Design: (Is
it a Sample Size:
quantitativ (How many respondents does your study need?)
e or a
qualitative Sampling Technique:
study?) (How will you choose your respondents or source
of data?)

Additional Activities

Using the guidelines stated above, formulate a tentative research title

based on your chosen research problem in Assessment. Write your title on
your notebook. (15 points)

Research Problem: Tentative Title:

The checklist below will guide you in assessing the tentative title you have
written. However, the research title may still be changed along the course
of the study.
Self-Assessment Checklist YES NO
1. Is it original?
2. Is it concise?
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3. Is it clear?
4. Is it specific?
5. Does it reflect the topic to be
explored?

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Rubric for What I Have Learned
5 3 1
Criteria/ Excellent/ Satisfactor Needs
Indicators Outstanding y Improveme
nt
Completeness All of the Two sections None of the
sections were were sections
answered unanswere were
d answered
Quality of All of the Some of the None of the
answers responses were responses responses
discussed were were
substantially and discussed discussed
comprehensively substantially substantially
and and
comprehensively comprehensively
Appropriate All of the Some of the None of the
ness of responses responses responses
answers correspond to correspond to corresponds
the needed the needed to the needed
information in all information in information in
of the some of the all of the
sections sections sections

Rubric for What I Can Do

5 3 1
Criteria/ Excellent/ Satisfactor Needs
Indicators Outstanding y Improveme
nt
Feasibility of The research The research The research
Research problem is problem is problem is
Problem practical and slightly completely
doable practical and impractical
may be and
doable undoable
Specificity of The research The The research
Research problem uniquely research problem is
Problem belongs to a problem is still broad
specific area of slightly
the topic ambiguous
Timeliness The research The The research
Relevance of problem is highly research problem is
Research significant at the problem is insignificant
Problem time being slightly at the time
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 significant being
at the time
being

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Rubric for Additional Activity
15 POINTS
Criteria/ Originality Clarity Conciseness Specificity
Indicators The title The title The title is not The
is new is clear and stuffy and dull
and straight- but gives readers title
different forward. some idea at the demonstrates
from (4 points) outset of elements
what the that point
what has research will out the angle
already contain.
been (4 points) of
written inquiry.
about. (3 points)
(4 points)

SCORE
TOTAL

15