Vocabulary List
1. Keyword- a word or concept of great significance.
2. Research Design - framework of research methods and techniques
chosen by a researcher.
3. Thesis Statement - one sentence that expresses the main idea of a
research
paper.
DESIGNING A RESEARCH USED IN DAILY LIFE
Selecting a Topic
The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. But it is important to select your own topic of interest. When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do. The diagram below suggests what to undergo in choosing a research topic.
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Read general background information
• Focus on your topic
• Make a list of useful keywords
• Be flexible
• Define your topic as a focused research question
• Research and read more about the topic
• Formulate a thesis statement
Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas
Choose a topic that interests you. Use the following questions to help generate topic ideas.
Step 2: Read General Background Information
Read a general encyclopedia article on the top two or three topics you are considering. Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to a broader,narrower,and related issues.It also provides a great source for finding words commonly used to describe the topic.These keywords may be very useful to your later research. If you can't find an article on your topic, try using broader terms and ask for help from a librarian. Use periodical indexes to scan current magazine, journal or newspaper articles on your topic. Ask a librarian if they can help you browse articles on your topics of interest.
Step 3: Focus on Your Topic
Keep the topic manageable.
A topic will be very difficult to research on if it is too broad or narrow. One way to narrow a broad topic such as "online learning" is to limit your topic. Some common ways to limit a topic are:
(by geographical area) Example: What online learning issues are experienced by learners from Cities of Bicol Region?
(by culture) Example: How do the online learning issues fit into the Indigenous Peoples' world view?
(by time frame) Example: What are the most prominent online learning issues
during Enhanced Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine in
the Bicol Region?
(by discipline) Example: How does the online learning effect oral and written Communication skills of students today?
(by population group) Example: What are the effects of online learning to
kindergarten pupils?
Step 4: Make a List of Useful Keywords
Keep track of the words that are used to describe your topic. Follow this
guide.
*Look for words that best describe your topic.
•Look for them when reading encyclopedia, articles and background and general information.
*Find broader and narrower terms, synonyms,key concepts for key words to widen your search capabilities
•Make note of these words and use them later when searching databases and catalogs.
Step 5: Be Flexible
It is common to modify your topic during the research process. You can
never be sure of what you may find. You may find the topic so broad that you
need to narrow it; or so little that you need to broaden it. This is a normal part of the research process. When researching, you may not wish to change your topic, but you may decide that some other aspects of the topic is more interesting or manageable.
Keep in mind the assigned length of the research paper, project, bibliography or other research assignment. Be aware of the depth of coverage needed and the due date. These important factors may help you decide when you will modify your topic.
Step 6: Define Your Topic as a Focused Research Question
You will often begin with a word, develop a more focused interest in an
aspect of something relating to that word, and then begin to have questions about the topic.
For example:
Ideas =>Online learning
Research Question =>How do students adapt with online learning?
Focused Research Question = What are the issues and challenges encountered by students living in the cities of Bicol Region during the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine?
Step 7: Research and Read More About Your Topic
Use the key words you have gathered to research in the catalog, article
databases, and Internet search engines. Find more information to help you
answer your research question.
You will need to do some research and reading before you select your
final topic. Can you find enough information to answer your research question? Remember, selecting a topic is an important and complex part of the research process.
Step 8: Formulate a Thesis Statement
Write your topic as a thesis statement. This may be the answer to your research question and/or a way to clearly state the purpose of your
research. Your thesis statement will usually be one or two sentences that states precisely what is to be answered, proven, or what you will inform your audience about your topic.
The development of a thesis assumes there is sufficient evidence to support the thesis statement.
