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Grade 8 STE- RESEARCH 2

Quarter 1 – Module 9:
RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS

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Grade 8 STE- Research 2
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 9: Research Questions and Hypothesis
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education – Schools Division of Sorsogon

Schools Division Superintendent – Jose L. Doncillo, CESO V
Asst. Schools Division Superintendent – Ma. Jeany T. Abayon
Curriculum Implementation Division Chief – Rolando F. Embile
Education Program Supervisor (Science) – Michelle H. Guadamor

DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

WRITERS: RONEL M. LLONA

EDITORS: CINDY D. GONZALES

JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

REVIEWERS: MICHELLE H. GUADAMOR

WELIMEN C. OSEO
REY EUGENE R. LEE
CARLA C. PAVIA
CINDY D. GONZALES
JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

LAYOUT ARTISTS: JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

JOHN BRYAN M. EVASCO

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GRADE 8 STE- RESEARCH 2

Quarter 1 – Module 9:
Research Questions and Hypothesis

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 Most Essential Learning Competency

Determine the appropriate steps in planning and designing

a research study.

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Research Questions and Hypothesis

Introduction

In the previous module, you have learned the

important features of an introduction/ background of
your study and on how to formulate an introduction/
background of the study of your identified research
problem.
In this module, you will identify the characteristics
of a research question and formulate a scientific
research question of your identified problem/ study.
Also, you will formulate hyphothesis of your identified
research.

Most Essential Learning

Competency & Objectives

In this module, you will determine the appropriate steps in planning and
designing a research study.

Specifically, you should be able to:

1. Identify the characteristics of research question.
2. Formulate scientific research question of the identified problem/ study.
3. Formulate hypothesis of the identified research.

Duration: 2 meetings

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 Pre-Test

Before we begin with our lesson, answer first these five

(5) questions below.

Direction: Read each statement carefully and choose the best

answer by writing the letter in your answer sheet.
1. Which characteristic of a research question should have some
bearing on the topic and remain within the limits that were set
beforehand?
A. concise C. focused
B. researchable D. relevant
2. Which characteristic of research can easily understand its purpose without
needing additional explanation?
A. researchable C. relevant
B. clear D. interesting
3. Which of the following characteristics of a research question is narrow enough
that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows?
A. focused C. relevant
B. researchable D. interesting
4. Which characteristic of research question is expressed in the fewest possible
words?
A. researchable C. relevant
B. clear D. concise
5. A group of young researchers wants to conduct a study of the effectiveness of
fish waste as organic fertilizers. They will compare it to commercial fertilizer.
Which of the following can be possible hypothesis of this study?
I. Fish waste is more effective than commercial fertilizer.
II. Commercial fertilizer is more effective than fish waste.
III. Both are effective as organic fertilizer.
A. I only C. I & II
B. II only D. I, II & III

How did you find the test? It’s okay if you’re not yet
sure with your answers. As you go on with this module, you
will learn and find out if you’re answers are correct. So
buckle up and get ready with your journey.

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 Learning Activities

E licit
In your previous lesson you have identified the
characteristics of a good research problem as well as the
important features of an introduction or background of your
study.
Now, let’s see if you can still remember those
concepts by writing the characteristics of research problem
inside the box below.

Research
Problem

I’m glad that you still remember your previous lesson

about the characteristics of a research problem to make
sure your research problem is effective.

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 E ngage
This time, read and analyze the situation below then
make at least three questions and formulate hypothesis.
Write your answers on the space provided.

Scenario:
A group of young researchers wants to conduct a
study of the effectiveness of Cogon grass cardboard
(Imperata cylindrical) as organic food packaging. They
will compare it to commercial plastic packaging.

Write at least three questions about the scenario:

1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________

Formulate Hypothesis:
______________________________________________________

To learn more on how to write scientific research

questions and formulating hypothesis, kindly perform the
next activity.

E xplore
Activity 1: A Good Research Question
In this activity you will identify the characteristics of a
research question.
Study and analyze the sample data on the next page
about good research questions and poor research
questions then answer the follow-up question.

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 Problem: Why do people get colds?

Good Research Questions Poor Research Question

Can you catch a cold from someone How long does a cold last for?
else?
Is there a relationship between getting How do I stop getting cold?
chills and catching a cold?
Does getting chilled cause colds? How many colds in a year is normal?

Based on the sample given what are the characteristics of a good research
questions?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Activity 2: Formulate your Research Question

This time you will apply what you have learned about
the characteristics of research question in formulating your
own scientific research question of your identified problem/
study. To give your study a clear direction, you have to break
this big, general question into several smaller specific research
questions. For example:
Research Title/ Problem: The Effectiveness of pH Water on
Radish Seed Germination
General Question: “What makes a seed grow?”
Specific Questions:
1. What are the essential factors necessary for seed germination?
2. What factors are necessary for radish seed germination?
Scientific Question:
“What effect does the pH of water have on radish seed
germination?”(State the final question in a way that can be answered
by investigation or experiment.)

A. Write your identified research title / Problem topic:

______________________________________________________________

B. General Question:
______________________________________________________________
C. Specific Questions:
1.____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________

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D. Write your final scientific research question.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
E. Hypothesis:
______________________________________________________________
Null: _______________________________________________________________
Alternative: __________________________________________________________

F. Write a sentence that describes what you will do in your research:

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Now that you come-up with the scientific research

questions and hypothesis of your identified study. Let us
have an in-depth understanding of these concepts as we
discuss your output.

E xplain
All research begin with a question derived from a
general topic that interest you, often through general
reading, discussion, lectures, own experiences, etc.

Characteristics of Research Questions

1. Relevant. The question should have some bearing on the topic

and remain within the limits that were set beforehand.
2. Interesting. Choose a topic that interests and stimulates you
otherwise searching could become tedious. Most researchers focus on topics they
are genuinely interested in the study. Writers should choose a broad topic about
which they genuinely would like to know more
3. Focused. It is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the
writing task allows. Research questions must be specific enough to be well covered
in the space available. Example:
Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?
Focused: What is the most significant effect of glacial melting on the lives of
penguins in Antarctica?

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4. Researchable. You should get a feel for what material will be available to you.
5. Clear. It provides enough specifics that one’s audience can easily understand its
purpose without needing additional explanation. With so much research available on
any given topic, research questions must be as clear as possible in order to be
effective in helping the writer direct his or her research. Example:
Unclear: How should social networking sites address the harm they cause?
Clear: What action should social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook take
to protect users’ personal information privacy.
The unclear version of this question doesn’t specify which social networking sites or
suggest what kind of harm the sites might be causing. It also assumes that this
“harm” is proven and/or accepted. The clearer version specifies sites (MySpace and
Facebook), the type of potential harm (privacy issues), and who may be
experiencing that harm (users). A strong research question should never leave room
for ambiguity or interpretation.
6. Concise. It is expressed in the fewest possible words: brief but comprehensive.

Research Question (RQ) Checklist:

 Is my RQ something that I am curious about and that others might care
about? Does it present an issue on which I can take a stand?
 Does my RQ put a new spin on an old issue, or does it try to solve a
problem?
 Is my RQ too broad, too narrow, or OK?
 Is my RQ researchable within the time frame of the assignment? And
given the resources available at my location?
 Is my RQ measurable? What type of information do I need? Can I find
actual data to support or contradict a position?
 What sources will have the type of information that I need to answer my
RQ (journals, books, internet resources, government documents)?

A hypothesis is defined as a wise guess that is formulated and temporarily

adopted to explain the observed facts covered by the study. A hypothesis guides the
researcher in that it describes the procedure to follow in conducting the study.
Hypothesis is important for it tells the investigator what to do and how to go about
solving a research problem. The researcher is in a much better position if there are
hypotheses to guide him on the kind of data to collect (Leedy, 1981).
The craft in hypotheses formulation requires you think of the following pointers (Mc
Bride 2013; Lapan 2012):
1. Express your hypotheses in a declarative sentence.
2. Support your hypotheses with ideas based on theories, known facts, previous
studies, or your own experience and wisdom.
3. Establish a logical relationship between the hypotheses and the research
problem.
4. Have your hypotheses predict the nature of relationship between or among
variables.

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 5. Ascertain the possibility of having some means of testing, analyzing, and
investigating your hypotheses.
6. Avoid wordiness by using clear, exact, or specific language in stating the
hypotheses.
There are two categories of hypotheses: null hypotheses and alternative hypotheses.

Now that you have understood the concepts and

gained ideas on how to write scientific research questions
and formulate hypothesis, let’s try to apply these in the next
activities.

E Laborate
Considering the guidelines: Write your improve and
revised research question and hypothesis for your
identified research problem.

Guidelines on Asking Good Scientific Questions

1. Begin by asking several questions about a topic.
2. Eliminate questions that cannot be answered by direct
observation or by gathering evidence.
3. Break broad questions into smaller questions that can be
investigated one at a time.
4. Word questions in a way that allows them to be answered by an
experiment.
Here are some good ways to begin scientific questions:
“What is the relationship between . . . ?” “What factors cause . . . ?”
“What is the effect of . . . ?”

Research Title/ Problem:___________________________________________________

General Questions:________________________________________________________

Specific Questions:
1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis:
____________________________________________________________________
Null: ____________________________________________________
Alternative: ____________________________________________________

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 Vocabulary List

Alternative hypothesis- is an affirmation of the existence of an observed

phenomenon.
Hypothesis- is defined as a wise guess that is formulated and temporarily adopted
to explain the observed facts covered by the study.
Null hypothesis- is a denial of an existence of an attribute, a relationship or a
difference of an effect. (Ardales, 1992)
Research problem- refers to statement expressed clearly in an interrogative or
question form always.
Research questions- are those that the researcher would like answered or
addressed in the study.

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 Post-Test

E valuate
We’re almost done! Let us know if you learned something
out of our lesson.

Direction: Read each statement carefully and choose the best answer
by writing the letter in your answer sheet.
1. Which characteristic of a research question should have some
bearing on the topic and remain within the limits that were set
beforehand?
A. concise C. focused
B. researchable D. relevant
2. Which characteristic of research can easily understand its purpose without
needing additional explanation?
A. researchable C. relevant
B. clear D. interesting
3. Which of the following characteristics of a research question is narrow enough
that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows?
A. focused C. relevant
B. researchable D. interesting
4. Which characteristic of research question is expressed in the fewest possible
words?
A. researchable C. relevant
B. clear D. concise
5. A group of young researcher wants to conduct a study of the effectiveness of
fish waste as organic fertilizers. They will compare it to commercial fertilizer.
Which of the following can be possible hypothesis of this study?
I. Fish waste is more effective than commercial fertilizer.
II. Commercial fertilizer is more effective than fish waste.
III. Both are effective as organic fertilizer.
A. I only C. I & II
B. II only D. I, II & III

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 Hooray, you have finished your first module for
research!
Please check your answers by referring to the answer key.
If you scored lower than 4, please go over the earlier parts
of this module and take on the activities once again. If you
scored 4 or above, you are now ready for the next module.
CONGRATULATIONS!

Answer Keys

Pre-Test Answer Keys

1. D 4. D
2. B 5. D
3. A

Learning Activities Answer Keys

Elicit:
Research Problem: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound.
Engage:
Question: Specific, Focused, Interesting, Researchable, Relevant. Answers may
vary.
Explore:
Answers may vary.
Elaborate:
Answers may vary.

Post-Test Answer Keys

1. D 4. D
2. B 5. D
3. A

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 References

Published references

Henson, R., and R. Soriano. 1999. Communicating Research: A Course Guide.

Booklore Publishing Corporation.

Ariola, M. 2006. Principles and Methods of Research. Rex Book Store, Inc.

Calmorin, L., and M. Calmorin. 2004. Methods of Research and Thesis Writing. Rex
Book Store, Inc.

Baraceros, E. 2017. Practical Research 1. Rex Book Store, Inc.

Baraceros, E.2017. Practical Research 2. Rex Book Store, Inc.

www.academia.edu

www.researchgate.net

http://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/tutorialsquestion

http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writerold/menus.htm#develop

www.vanderbilt.edu

www.library.weber.edu

www.writingcenter.gmu.edu

Teacher Graphics by freepik.com

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