LESSON 1: RESEARCH QUESTIONS

EXPECTATIONS
As you go through this Unified Supplementary Learning Material, you are expected to:
• describe research questions;
• identify the characteristics, types, and guidelines in writing research questions; and
• present written statement of the problem.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
When you already have a well-defined research problem for your research study, the next step is to
formulate the statement of the problem.
Statement of the problem is composed of different questions that the researchers set and intend to
answer throughout the research process.
Research Questions can be non-researchable or researchable. Non-researchable questions are
questions of values. These are questions answerable by Yes or No. While researchable questions
are questions of values, opinions or policy raised to gather data. This involved the use of questions
such as what, who, where, when, why and how.
In formulating research questions, be guided by the following characteristics:
1. Focused. When the center of your study relies on a single problem or concern. Think exactly what
you want to investigate or achieve from the beginning till the end of the research process.

2. Researchable. When the research question is empirically1 verifiable and can be tested
scientifically.

3. Flexible. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the development of the
whole problem of the study. Make sure you have enough time and resources to answer the
questions.

4. Specific. When the research question is well defined and clearly stated. You must state your
research questions in a way that they include all dependent and independent and independent
variables referred to by the theories, principles or concepts underlying your research work
5. Complex. Research questions should not be answerable by “YES” or “NO” or by easily found
facts. Use the “How” questions instead of closed question to provide room for investigation and
discussion.
ACTIVITIES
Activity # 1 HOW TO FORMULATE RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
DIRECTIONS: Complete the mind map about research question below by adding
concepts to the branches.

How will you describe research question?_______________________________________

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Guide Questions:
1. What is the general/main problem in the given study?

2. What are the specific/minor problems in the given study?

3. How will you differentiate general from specific problem?

REMEMBER
Research Problem
Interrogative statement: What percentage of Manila private universities consider the use
of grammar textbooks as the most effective way to help college students attain
communicative competence?
Declarative statement: The main objective of this study is to find out the percentage
of Manila private universities considering the use of grammar text books as the most
effective way to help college students attain communicative competence.
Approaches to Quantitative Research Questions
Likewise, you may start asking research problems or research questions based on any of
these two approaches:
1. Deductive Approach
Your questions begin from “hunches or predictions” or expectations about the outcome
of your research. Ask questions centering on a theory or concept, discover the accuracy
of the theory, ponder on variables to represent the extent of the application of the
theory, and make up your mind on which variable to study through observation,
interview, or experimentation. Explaining the meaning of a variable based on its
involvement or role in the research process, particularly, in the measurement,
manipulation, or control of the concept application is giving such term its operational
definition.
2. Inductive Approach
Deductive approach goes from bigger ideas such as theories or concepts to smaller
ideas; conversely, inductive approach starts from smaller and simpler ideas to bigger or
more complex ones. Inductively formulated research questions focus on description of
things to prove an idea or a system. Central to this approach are specific details to prove
the validity of a certain theory or concept. (Walsh 2009)
• Statement of the problem is the core of the research study. It is composed of different questions
about the research problem. Thus, it should be specific, clearly, and simply stated and arranged
logically according to the research paradigm.
• Research questions depend on the type of your research study, set the direction to as to where
your study will go and state what you want to achieve in the study.
• Research questions must be SMART.
Directions: As you have learned from this lesson, answer each question
comprehensively.

1. What is the relevance of the Background of the Study in your research paper?
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2. Compare and contrast Background of the Study and Literature Review.

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3. What important components should be included in the Background of the

Study?
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