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Research9 q3 Mod5 ResearchProposal v3
Research9 q3 Mod5 ResearchProposal v3
Research I
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Research Proposal
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Research I
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Research Proposal
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.
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 with 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
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of the research proposal. The scope of this module permits it to be
used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The activities are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. However, the order in which you read them can be changed
to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
What I Know
Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following best describes a research proposal?
a. statement of the dos and don’ts of research
b. written structure of the data gathered in experiment
c. a plan on how the experimentation will be conducted
d. a detailed written plan of how the project will be done
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4. Which statement signifies a null hypothesis?
a. A good study habit results in good grades.
b. A good study habit increases students’ grades.
c. A good study habit affects the grades of the students.
d. A good study habit does not affect the grades of the students.
10. Which of the following statements exhibits the scope of the study?
a. area of focus
b. literature review
c. previous research study
d. narrowed research area
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Lesson
Research Proposal
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A science investigatory project (SIP) refers to a science-based research project
or study that is performed by science research students. A SIP is typically a science
experiment performed in a school laboratory setting with the class separated into
small groups and can form part of a scientific congress or fair project. It aims to
provide students with an engaging way to learn more about science and the skills of
performing scientific research.
Students often find it difficult to start making an investigatory project.
However, taking the investigatory project by phase makes it easier.
Phases of Conducting Science Investigatory Project:
• Phase I: The Proposal - detailed written plan and design of the
experiment
• Phase II: The Experimentation – soon after the proposal is approved,
and entails skills for laboratory investigation
• Phase III. The Output – consist of the written report, the exhibit, and
oral defense
The proposal is a detailed written plan of how the project will be done. It is
like designing an experiment. It is simply a structured, formal document that
explains what you plan to research (i.e., research topic), why it is worth researching
(i.e., significance and relevance), and how you plan to investigate it (i.e.,
methodology). Since it is yet to be done, the future tense of the verbs is used.
Important points to remember:
• An organized, well-written, concise, and complete proposal is the key
to conduct a more straightforward experiment.
• In the world of scientific research, a good proposal leads to secure
possible funding.
• Good writing, when paired with a thorough understanding of the
subject matter, is a valuable skill to possess.
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What’s In
In our previous lesson about experimental design, you were introduced to the
experimental processes. These different processes can all be checked off during the
design phase of an experiment. If all the parts of the experiment have been accounted
for and considered carefully before the experiment is started it is more likely to be a
successful and beneficial experience for the student.
A hypothesis is a prediction for the outcome of the experiment. Normally
stating a hypothesis is using an independent and dependent variable following the
format, “If the (Independent Variable) is (describe change), then the (Dependent
Variable) will (describe change).”
After developing your initial research hypothesis (the prediction that you want
to investigate), it is important to restate the null (Ho), and alternative (Ha)
hypothesis in terms of the population parameter. The alternate hypothesis is usually
your initial hypothesis that predicts a relationship between variables. The null
hypothesis is a prediction of no relationship between the variables you are interested
in.
The average amount of sleep students at their school get per night is...
Ho: _______________________________________________________________________
Ha: _______________________________________________________________________
B. Which of the hypothesis is accepted? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
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What’s New
Directions: Read each question carefully. Relate each question to your interest either
in life and physical sciences or engineering projects. Your honesty and
open-minded attitude in answering the questions will help you develop
higher-order thinking skills and better prepare you to develop a study.
Guide Questions:
1. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? (What is the problem, issue, or specific topic?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IT? (What good will it bring if you will know it?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ANSWER IS? (What is the tentative answer?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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What is It
Before any research project begins, detailed plans are essential. Designing and
planning a whole research project involves choosing a researchable topic and
preparing a well-developed research proposal. These activities need to be carried out
under the guidance of a teacher-coach and qualified scientist who will advise on
methodological issues and reading materials that will help refine the research
project. Ultimately, a good proposal serves as a valuable direction finder that helps
the researchers to get going on their project with more confidence.
A. Rationale/Introduction
B.1. Research Question
2. Hypothesis or Engineering Goal(s) (for engineering project only)
C. Detailed description of the following:
1. Procedures
a. Materials
b. Methods
2. Risk and Safety Considerations
3. Data Analysis
D. Bibliography
Note: Subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your research
plan/project summary as applicable. Click the link:
https://sspcdn.blob.core.windows.net/files/Documents/SEP/ISEF/2019/Fo
rms/1A-Student-Checklist-Research-Plan-Instructions.pdf
Let us begin to unfold the elements of a scientific research proposal. In this
module, you will be guided in choosing a topic and will lead you to develop the
rationale, question/problem, and hypothesis. Other elements will be discussed in the
next module.
Good topic
The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. A teacher
may assign a specific topic, but most often, the researcher is required to select a
topic of interest.
Use the following guide questions to help generate topic ideas:
• Do you have a strong opinion on current social, health, and
environmental issues?
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• Did you read or see a news story recently that has caught your interest
or made you think about it?
• What is the science-related topic of interest that you would like to know
more about?
What Makes a Good Research Topic?
• A topic must be narrowed and focused enough to be interesting yet
broad enough to find adequate information.
• When you “think like a researcher” you are focused on a research
question rather than a research topic.
• Be able to articulate the problem that underlies the question.
• This problem must have social significance.
• The solution being argued for in the proposal must be arguable and
feasible based on reliable evidence.
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Research Title
The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of a study. A good title contains
the fewest possible words needed to adequately describe the content and/or purpose
of the research paper. It is the part of a paper that is read the most, and it is usually
read first, therefore, the most important element that defines the research study.
Problem
Main Problem
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Sub-Problems
The kind of question to be used depends on what to discover and the type of
research to be conducted. Scientific questions require explanations, prior knowledge
and are testable. A testable question can be answered by designing and conducting
an experiment. Note: Use prior knowledge regarding scientifically testable questions.
Let us look at our examples:
Main Problem: What are the effects of using conventional farming?
Sub-Problems:
1. What are the major components used in conventional farming?
2. What are the effects of chemically made pesticides when used on plants?
3. What are the health and environmental issues related to the use of pesticides?
4. What is an efficient alternative to counter the issues?
Hypothesis
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Hypothesis vs. Engineering Goals
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Both processes can be broken down into a series of steps, as seen in the
diagram table:
Rationale/Introduction
The rationale for research outlines why you wanted to research the topic of
your choice. It is the justification of the study and specifies the need to research the
topic.
Begin by doing a thorough literature review to understand what is already
known. Then, identify the gaps in knowledge or the problems that are yet to be solved.
Justify that the study will address a knowledge gap since no previous research was
done on this aspect. Explain the problem that the study addresses. Then, give a brief
background of the problem. After that, you should mention if it has been addressed
in any form before. It will lead up to the research question and the aims of the study.
These key elements are summarized as:
• Present the topic and get the reader interested - what is the topic and why
it is interesting or important.
• Provide background or summarize existing research - provide an overview
of the most relevant research that has already been conducted and a sort
of miniature literature review.
• Detail the specific research problem - clarify how the research fits in and
what problem it addresses.
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• Position your approach - specify what it intends to find out by presenting
the research question, hypothesis, and objectives clearly and directly.
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B. Scope and Delimitation of the Study
Scope and delimitations are important elements of a study. The scope of a
study explains the extent to which the research area will be explored in the work and
specifies the parameters within which the study will be in use.
In the above example, the researcher wants to know the effect of pesticides on
the contamination of plants. However, there is only a certain aspect the researcher
can cover, so the scope will have to be narrowed down to a certain section like what
specific chemicals are involved and on what specific plants will be used as
experimental units, and the method of testing to be performed.
Other practices in agricultural farming like chemical fertilizers, fungicides,
herbicides, and insecticides related to the contamination of plants will not be
investigated. These would form the delimitations of the study.
What’s More
Directions: Develop the topics accordingly and find keywords to use for gathering
information.
Guide Questions:
1. What are two narrow areas you could investigate that fit into these very broad
topics?
Pollution:_____________________________;_______________________________________
Bacteria/Virus: _______________________ ; _____________________________________
Plants: _______________________________ ; _____________________________________
2. What broader topic would cover the following narrow topics? In other words,
how could you expand these topics to find more information?
Organic fertilizer: _________________________________________________________
Graphene: ________________________________________________________________
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Activity 2: Rationale
Directions: Read the article below and write the portion of the key element being
identified.
Guide Questions:
1. Write a good title for the article.
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Write the background of the study.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Write the question/problem.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Write the hypothesis.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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What Have I Learned
Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if incorrect.
What I Can Do
1. Select three broad topics you find interesting. List them according to your
choice.
1st choice: ________________________________________
2nd choice: ________________________________________
3rd choice: ________________________________________
2. Based on the three broad topics you have selected, list two narrow topics you
find most interesting.
1st choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
2nd choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
3rd choice: ______________________________; _____________________________
3. Present these narrowed topics to the teacher for additional inputs and final
approval on which topic is feasible and researchable.
4. Read articles, journals, and published papers related to the approved topic.
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5. Develop and write the research proposal in the fillable template. Be guided
using the rubric for the research plan. (Note: Modified version of the research
proposal template and rubric are provided below).
Title/Topic
Hypothesis/Engineering Goals
Rationale
A brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and
explains why this research is important scientifically and, if applicable, explain your
research's societal impact.
Review Related Literature (IMRAD format includes this part in the introduction,
however, it is a good practice to have a file of the sources used in the study)
Provide an overview of sources you have explored while researching a particular topic
and demonstrate how the current study fits within a larger field of study.
Materials List
List of ALL items used in research. Ensure concentrations of all chemicals, source
and amount of all living organisms, and all equipment used.
Conclusion
To be completed AFTER experimentation.
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Bibliography
List at least five (5) major references (e.g., scientific journal articles, books, internet
sites) from the literature review. Please use a variety of sources; five sources from
the internet will NOT suffice.
Source: https://studyres.com/doc/6525986/rsef-research-plan-template
https://www.societyforscience.org/
Rubric for Research Plan
Tentative Title:
________________________________________________________________________
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If Engineering
• If an engineering
project, goals are
specific & clearly
stated (6)
C. Procedures
• Sequential & detailed
(2)
• Includes Risk &
Safety (1)
If Experimental
• Tests hypothesis that
is stated in the above
section (2)
• Method for data
collection clearly
state (2)
• Control &
experimental group 11
identified & designed
correctly (2)
• Repeated Trials used
(2)
If Engineering
• Clear building plan
(thought was given to
materials) (4)
• Method of testing (4)
D. Bibliography
• Minimum of at least
5
science/engineering
major journal
articles, must
pertain to project
topic in proper APA
format (10) (minus 1
point for each error
in references, max 5 12
points)
• No spacing within
citation, single space
between citations (2)
• 2-point bonus for 10
or more references
(can only receive
once)
E. Format
• FUTURE tense (2) 10
• A, B, C, D Format (2)
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• Times New
Roman/Size 12 font,
Double Spaced (2)
• Title – Bold-faced
and centered (2)
• Research Plan is
written above title (2)
Rating:
Source: commackschools.org
Assessment
Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is the best way to do research?
a. use a variety of sources
b. use electronic sources only
c. use books and magazines only
d. use as few resources as possible
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5. Which statement describes the purpose of a research proposal?
a. document to critique the related study of other researchers
b. reference document to show how the research was carried out
c. document for scientific scrutiny for others to judge the appropriateness of
the project
d. overall plan, structure, and strategy designed to obtain answers to the
research questions
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Additional Activities
Directions: In addition to the five (5) references required by the ISEF, find five (5)
more references other than the ones used in your proposal. Use science
journal articles, books, and internet sites. Follow the correct APA format.
Journal articles:
Books:
Internet sites:
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What Can I Do Additional Activities
Answers may vary Answers may vary for this
depending on the students’ additional activity depending
presented research on the submitted references
proposal. by the students.
Assessment What’s More What’s More What I Have
1. a Learned
2. c Continuation: Activity 1: 1. True
3. b Activity 2: Students’ answers may vary 2. True
4. c 3. Question: depending on the 3. False
5. d 4. False
topic/problem presented.
6. c Could an increase in lake 5. True
Activity 2:
7. d temperature caused by 6. False
1. Title may vary.
8. c industrial thermal 7. True
9. d pollution affect the 2. Background of the study 8. True
10. b survivorship and 9. True
reproduction of D. magna? Daphnia magna are small 10. False
zooplankton found in
4. Hypothesis: freshwater inland lakes and
are thought to switch their
We hypothesized that D. mode of… by more than 15%
magna… compared with when expose to warm water
D. magna grown in water effluent from power plants,
temperatures of 20-22°C. paper mills, and chemical
industry (Baker et al. 2000).
What’s New What’s In What's In What I Know
2. Ho- not equal to 8 hours 1. Hypothesis: If cigarette 1. d
Students’ smoking increases, then the 2. d
answer may Ha- less than 8 hours risk of lung cancer also 3. a
vary. increases. 4. d
Alternative hypothesis is 5. a
accepted because based on Alternative hypothesis: 6. c
Cigarette smoking will 7. c
the result, the students
increase the risk of lung 8. b
mean sleep hors is 7.5
cancer. 9. d
which is less than 8 hours 10. a
and they predicted that Null Hypothesis: Cigarette
their hour of sleep is less smoking will not increase the
than 8 hours. risk of lung cancer.
Answer Key
References
Electronic Sources
International Rules: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs 2019– 2020,
societyforscience.org/ISEF2020.” Accessed January 2, 2021.
https://www.societyforscience.org/
Harris, Michelle and Batzli, Janet. “Writing an Introduction for a Scientific Paper.”
Accessed January 8, 2021. http://bit.ly/3q53DoF
Science Buddies. n.d. “Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the
Scientific Method.” Science Buddies. Science Buddies. Accessed January 10,
2021. http://bit.ly/3q3UP2s.
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