Term: I Name: _______________
Session 2025-2026 Section: ______________
Date: ________________
TOPIC: CONSTRUCTING RELEVANT RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Global Topic: Poverty and Disease
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Objective: To demonstrate your understanding of the research process by writing a clear and well-
structured report based on your group’s investigation into the connection between poverty and
disease.
Task Instructions:
Working as a group, write a report summarizing your research into the link between poverty and disease.
Your report should show how your group developed a research question, carried out the investigation,
and reflected on the process.
Your report must include the following sections:
1. Research Question Development
Research Question Title: ___________________________
Justification (Why did you choose this research question): ______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Summary of Research Findings
Your findings must be based on three different sources of information:
One local source (e.g. community health report, interview, local article)
One national source (e.g. government website, national news)
One global source (e.g. WHO report, international journal, global NGO)
Highlight the main connections between poverty and your chosen disease, using facts or statistics from
your sources.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Use of Sources
Provide a list of all sources used in your research using APA style. Example of APA style:
World Health Organization. (2021). Global tuberculosis report 2021.
[Link]
Then answer the following:
1. Were the sources useful and reliable?
2. How well did they help you answer your research question?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Reflection on the Research Question
Revisit your research question and reflect on the process.
Answer the following:
o Was the question clear and focused enough?
GP –Yr IX Assignment Guide Term I (2025-26)
Term: I Name: _______________
Session 2025-2026 Section: ______________
Date: ________________
o If you could change or improve it now, what would you do differently and why?
EXAMPLE RESEARCH REPORT ON TB AND POVERTY
Global Topic: Poverty and Disease
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1. Research Question Development
Research Question Title:
How does poverty affect the spread and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines?
Justification:
We chose this research question because TB remains one of the leading infectious diseases in the
Philippines, and it disproportionately affects people living in poverty. We wanted to explore the
connection between economic hardship and the spread, diagnosis, and treatment of TB. Our goal was to
better understand how poverty influences the risk of infection and access to healthcare, and why
addressing TB also means addressing underlying social and economic challenges.
2. Summary of Research Findings
Our findings are based on three different sources: one local, one national, and one global.
Local Source (Cebu):
An article from Cebu Daily News (2023) reported that in Barangay Mambaling, an urban poor
community in Cebu City, over 300 active TB cases were recorded in 2022. These cases were
linked to overcrowded housing, poor ventilation, and limited access to health centers. Patients
often skipped treatment due to the cost of transportation and fear of losing their daily income.
National Source (Philippines):
The Department of Health (DOH) reported that the Philippines had an estimated 740,000 TB
cases in 2021, with only about 58% of them being diagnosed and treated. The disease is more
widespread in low-income communities where people struggle with poor nutrition, sanitation,
and healthcare access. The DOH highlights that poverty is a key barrier to TB elimination efforts
in the country.
Global Source (WHO):
The World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 states that globally, TB caused
1.5 million deaths in 2020 and infected 10 million people. It is the second deadliest infectious
disease worldwide. According to WHO, TB is a “disease of poverty” because it spreads more
easily in environments where people face undernutrition, crowded living spaces, and weak
health systems.
GP –Yr IX Assignment Guide Term I (2025-26)
Term: I Name: _______________
Session 2025-2026 Section: ______________
Date: ________________
Main Connections Between TB and Poverty:
Poverty contributes to poor living conditions, which increase the risk of TB transmission.
Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infection.
People in poverty often delay or avoid seeking treatment due to cost, distance, or lack of
awareness.
Incomplete or delayed treatment can lead to drug-resistant TB, which is harder and more
expensive to cure.
3. Use of Sources
APA References:
Cebu Daily News. (2023, March 14). TB cases rising in poor urban communities.
[Link]
Department of Health. (2022). National Tuberculosis Control Program.
[Link]
World Health Organization. (2021). Global tuberculosis report 2021.
[Link]
1. Were the sources useful and reliable?
Yes, all sources were useful and reliable. The WHO is a global authority on health, the DOH is the official
health department of the Philippines, and Cebu Daily News provided a relevant and updated local
context. These sources gave us accurate and evidence-based information to support our findings.
2. How well did they help you answer your research question?
The sources helped us answer our question by providing data at the local, national, and global levels.
They showed clear connections between poverty and TB outcomes, helping us understand how economic
status affects both the risk of infection and the ability to get proper treatment.
4. Reflection on the Research Question
Was the question clear and focused enough?
Yes, our research question was specific and clear. It helped guide our investigation and allowed us to
focus on the direct relationship between poverty and tuberculosis in the Philippines.
If you could change or improve it now, what would you do differently and why?
If we could improve our question, we might focus on a more specific population group, such as children
or elderly people in low-income areas. This would allow for a deeper investigation and possibly lead to
more targeted recommendations. We could also consider comparing rural and urban settings to explore
how poverty affects TB in different environments.
GP –Yr IX Assignment Guide Term I (2025-26)