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PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
Quarter 3 – Module 3

Camille Joy P. Alvarez

Teacher
 “Ask me How”
Stating Research Question
Hello! Thanks for being here once again to learn more about research.
Asking a question seems very simple, however, it plays a very
important role in research. It is like a lighthouse that will guide you and
give your work a purpose. So, let us find out what a research question
is, why you need one, and how to create a good research question.

Specifically, after working on this module, you should be able to:

1. define and identify a good research question;

2. develop and state a good research question for your chosen topic.

YOUR READINESS CHECK

Before we start, let’s find out how much you know about this lesson by answering the
questions below.

1. What is a research question?

2. How is a research question different from a research problem?
3. What are the characteristics of a good research question?
4. Why do we need to state a research question at the beginning of a research?

YOUR GUIDE

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research project, thesis or
dissertation. It will guide you in which information to search, data to be collected, and how
you’re going to design your writing process.

But what exactly is a research question?

A research question is simply a question related to your

chosen topic that needs to be answered. It is the question
where your research revolves.

For example, if your topic of interest is social media, you can formulate research
questions like, “ Why do teenagers make up the largest percentage of Instagram
users?” or “ How does frequent use of YouTube affect people’s social behavior?
 TOPIC RESEARCH QUESTION

Why do teenagers make up the

 Use of social media
largest percentage of Instagram
users?

 How does frequent use of YouTube

affect people’s social behavior

Formulating a research question helps you focus your research into a specific concern or
issue by defining exactly what you want to find out.

What makes a good research question? All research questions should be:

Focused Feasible

Specific Complex
Researchable Relevant

Let’s take a look at these questions from your initial task as an example.

What effect does social media have on people’s minds?

What effect does daily use of Facebook have on the academic performance of high
school students?

If you have observed, both questions are focused on the topic, social media. However, the
first question is not specific. What social media are you going to consider? (Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, YouTube, etc.). Who are the “people” you are talking about?

The second question on the other hand is more specific by narrowing down the “social
media” into Facebook, “people” into high school students, “minds” into academic
performance, and adding daily use to show frequency of usage.

Do private hospitals provide better healthcare system than public hospitals?

How do public and private hospitals in Region V compare in health outcomes and
patient satisfaction among low-income people with chronic illnesses?

The first question is not researchable since there is no exact criteria for what counts as
“better”. Also, it’s not complex enough since it can easily be answered by yes or no. The
second question is much more researchable since it uses more specific terms and is
complex enough for a more in-depth investigation.

How did the Philippines gain independence from the Spanish colonizers in the 18th
century?

How does the West Philippine Sea dispute affect the way Filipinos view the
Philippines’s territorial sovereignty?
 The first question is too simple that you can simply search the internet to find answers. Also,
it has already been answered so many times and contributing new information is hardy
feasible. The second question takes a specific argument and has more relevance to current
social concerns and debates.

In a research paper, you will usually have to formulate only one

research question that will guide you as you proceed with your
research paper. However, in a bigger research project, such as a
thesis or dissertation, you might have multiple research
questions, but they must all be centered or focused on your
research problem.

How do I formulate a research question?

1. Choose a topic - For this step, it will be helpful if you choose a topic you’re
interested in since you’ll be working on it for some time.
2. Narrow the topic - Choose a certain aspect of your topic that you want to
focus on.
3. Ask some questions - think of some questions you can ask about it.
4. Focus the question - pick one and try to make it more specific and relevant.

For example, if your choice of topic is mental health, you can narrow the topic down by simply
choosing a certain aspect of it. (e.g. Factors that contribute to good mental health, cases of
depression and anxiety among teenagers). Once you have chosen a certain sub-topic, think of
some questions you would want to ask about it. Then, choose one and develop it into a strong
research question by making sure that it is focused, specific, researchable, feasible, complex,
and relevant.
 Developing a Research Question: Example:
(Flowchart)

Topic Mental Health

Sub-
Depression and anxiety
among teenagers
topic

* How does depression and anxiety affect a

Question teenager's academic performance?
* What effect do school's policies on
bullying have on the number of cases of
depression among high school students?
s

What effect do the Anti-Bullying

Act of 2013 have on the number
of cases of depression among
teenagers in Philippine public
schools?

YOUR DISCOVERY TASKS

Activity: Study each research question then fill out the table below by the needed
information. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Research Is it a good If YES, justify your answer

Question research If NO, rephrase the
question? question
(YES/NO)
1. How does divorce influence
children’s social development?
2. What are the causes of global
warming and deforestation?

3. How can drunk driving be prevented?

4. How have daily meditation affected

the stress levels of adults over 30’s?
 5. Where do majority of Overseas
Filipino Workers work?

LET’S SUM IT UP

A Research Question is a question which states the aim of your research and pinpoints
exactly what you want to find out. To formulate your own research question, first, choose a
topic or research problem, decide what you want to know about this concern, write down
sample questions, then pick one and make sure that it is answerable, not too broad or too
narrow, relevant, and focused on your research problem..

Other things you might want to know:

 In which section of the paper should the research question be
included? – Typically, the research question is included at the end
of the Introduction section after setting the background and giving a
review of the existing literature.
 Now that I have already formulated my research question,
what do I do with it? – Your research question will be your guide
on what resources to find (e.g. statistics, interviews, articles, etc.)
and what information to collect. So basically, you can now start
researching to find the answer for your research question.
www.shsph.blogspot.com
YOUR FINAL TASK

Formulate your own research question using the flowchart below as your guide. Write
your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Topic:

Sub-topic:

Sample
Questions:

RESEARCH
QUESTION: