Inquiries, Investigations

and Immersion
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Brainstorming for Research Topics
Inquiries, Investigations and Immersion
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3 – Module 1: Brainstorming for Research Topics
First Edition, 2020

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Inquiries, Investigations
and Immersion
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Brainstorming for Research Topics
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions,
exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each

SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you
need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of
the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check
your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you
will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can
best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And
read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the
tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 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.

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 What I Know

There are 15 words that are possible sources for a research topic hidden in
the 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

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 Lesson
Brainstorming for
1 Research 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.

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.

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 Notes to the Teacher
This module will guide the learners about the things to
consider in choosing a research topic. There are also simple
steps included in this module to help them choose their
topics. A simple research paper relevant to their strand or
track will be the final output of this subject.

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 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 of interest. This enables you to find
evidences that would support your topic. 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.

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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 student. You may do so by taking your
financial capability, health condition, personal qualifications
and trainings as a researcher, needed facilities and time
allotment into account. It is important that all of these aspects
are considered in order for you to guarantee the
accomplishment of your research.

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 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

2. Recall the specific area, lesson or issue in your respective

field or strand that has piqued or aroused your interest the
most.
• Public Speaking

3. Generate an unanswered question or an unresolved

problem from your chosen area or lesson.

• Why do people feel anxious when speaking in public?

4. Assess the question or problem based on the five guidelines

stated above.

• I'm interested in the topic.

• There are available sources of data.
• It is timely and relevant.
• It will contribute to my strand.
• It is doable considering my personal resources.

5. Write your research problem.

• Factors Affecting the Speaking Anxiety of Students

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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.

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 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, resources c. interest in the subject matter
in terms of instruments, d. timeliness and relevance
facilities and time frame. e. richness of available resources or
2. This refers to the social supporting evidences of
applicability and appropriateness
appropriateness of the topic f. intellectual ability
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
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.

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