Senior High School

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Lesson

4 Research Questions

What’s In

In previous lessons of this Module 3, you were taught how to design research that is
interesting and something that you are passionate about. You have learned that research
problems are actually within your environment or area of interest. You are given various
activities to learn how to come up with interesting and useful research problems.
Identification of the research problems and research questions will be furthered explained in
this lesson.

You have also learned how to craft qualitative research problems and questions
when you took Practical Research 1 In this lesson, quantitative research problems and types
of quantitative research questions will be elaborated.

What I Need to Know

Nature of Quantitative Research Problem

Once a person encountered uncertainty, being inquisitive, you will find ways for
answers or solution. Ignited by interest, curiosity, or need you will find yourself pondering
about the current problem you are facing. When you are thinking and behaving this way, you
are then confronted by a problem that can be a source of a research problem.

A research problem is simple as a problem you would like to research. Quantitative

Research Problem dealt more with the precision and specificity of the problem. Furthermore,
the quantitative research problem describes trends and patterns of a phenomenon.

When you have identified your quantitative research problem, you can now state it
and make sure to establish its place in your study. In your written paper, this can be found
as Statement of the Problem, where it formally introduces the problem that you want to
investigate or address. Then you will start specifying what you want to answer in your study.

Research Problem and Research Questions

 The research questions help to clarify and specify the research problem. Research
questions are also considered as sub-problems of your research problem. These questions
are informative in nature. It specifies the method of collecting and analyzing data and the
type of data to be collected since you are exploring a quantitative research problem.

What’s New

Activity 1: That’s a Good Question

Directions: Here are some samples of research questions. Rank them on a scale of 1 to 10
(1= lowest, 10 = highest) based on its feasibility and clarity as a quantitative
research question. Then provide a brief explanation of your rating.

Your
Quantitative Research Question Explanation
Rating
1. How many Grade-7 students are
enrolled in blended learning this
School Year?

2. Is modular learning or online learning

more effective in Language or
Science subjects?

3. Is there a significant relationship in

the number of households and
COVID-19 confirmed cases in a
Barangay?

What Is It

Characteristics of Good Research Questions

Once you have already enumerated your research questions for your study, it is
important that you consider its quality to answer and explain your research problem. The
following are good characteristics of research questions, as described by Fraenkel and
Wallen (2020).

Feasible. Consider the amount of time, energy, money, respondents, and even your
current situation as a student-researcher. Is the research problem possible? Will it not spend
unreasonable amount? Consider these examples: “How do parents feel about the blended
learning modality for elementary learners?” and “How would giving each learner their own
laptop to be used in this blended learning modality affect their performance tasks?” The first
example is definitely a more feasible research question. Considering the resources, it is
more possible to gather the data needed to answer the question.
 Clear. The clarity of how the questions stated lead to agreement of meaning of the
readers of your study. Since your research questions are also considered as the main focus
in the gathering and analyzing the data, it is therefore very important that these are stated
clearly.

Significant. Ask if your research questions are relevant or important to ask. Will
answering these questions provide an additional contribution to address the given research
problem? In other words, are the research questions really worth investigating?
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At this point, you do not just consider the time and money that you will spend, but
more importantly, the value of what you are trying to investigate. So aside from the reason
that your chosen research problem is within your interest, you should also provide a sound
justification of your choice as a researcher.

Ethical. Always consider the welfare of people, animals or who so ever involve in
your study. Look into ways of answering the research questions without inflicting physical
and psychological harm to persons involved.

Formulating Research Questions

Research questions can be generally classified into two: general and specific. The
general question of the study is derived from the research problem while the specific
questions are anchored on the general research problem.

For example:

This study aims to determine the relationship between the types learning delivery
mode and students’ learning styles. Furthermore, it seeks to answer the following research
questions: (1) What are the different learning delivery modes of the school? (2) What the
various learning styles of the students? (3) Is there a significant relationship between the
different learning delivery modes of the school and the learning styles of its students?

Notice that a general problem was presented first. Then it was followed by the
specific questions considered as research questions of the study.

In stating quantitative research questions, you should also consider the design of
your quantitative research. Quantitative research designs will be elaborated in Module 4. For
the purpose of writing your research question, here’s a quick guide of research questions for
descriptive research, correlational research, Ex Post Facto research, Experimental, and
Quasi-experimental research.

Research Questions for Descriptive Research focuses on observing and reporting

factors or aspects of the research problem. Phrases such as how often/frequently, how
many/much, what is/are, to what extent/degree, and the likes are used in these questions.
For example, you study the use of social media among Senior High School Students, you
can ask the following questions:

What are the various social media platforms used by Senior High Students?

How many hours students spend on social media per week?

Research Questions for Correlational Research aim to determine the

relationships among two or more variables in your research problem. Correlational research
questions usually begin with the phrases “Is there a significant relationship” or “What is the
relationship between/among”. In the study of use of social media and level of digital literacy
of students following questions can be asked:
 What is the relationship between the length of hours spent on social media and level
of digital literacy of students?

Is there a significant relationship between the type of social media used and the level
digital literacy of students?

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Research Questions for Ex Post Facto Research attempt to identify the causes of
the phenomenon in the context of your research problem. It is also assumed that no control
or manipulation of variable has been done in order to cause the effect. It is understood that
the cause of the problem already exists before you conducted your study. For example, ex
post facto study on family background and digital literacy of students, the following questions
can be asked:

Is there a difference in the literacy level of students between their cultural and
educational family background?

Research Questions for Experimental and Quasi-experimental Research

suggests that answers to these questions are brought about by manipulation or control of a
certain variable during the conduct of the study. These questions provide explanation to the
causal relationship of variables. The following research questions can be asked on studies
on elementary student’s remedial sessions and academic performance of students:

Is there a significant difference in the posttest scores of the control group and
experimental group?

What’s More

Activity 2: The Very Good Questions

Directions: Using the same examples in your Activity 1, rank them on the scale of 1 to 10 (1=
lowest, 10 = highest) based on the given parameters in writing a good research
question. If you find that the questions are not so good, then rewrite the
questions on the last column of the table. If your think it is already good, then
write your justification also.

Quantitative Research Your Rating Revised Question/

Question Feasible Clear Significant Ethical Justification
1. How many Grade-7
students are enrolled in
blended learning this
School Year?

2. Is modular learning or
online learning more
effective in Language
or Science subjects?
3. Is there a significant
relationship in the
number of households
and COVID-19
confirmed cases in a
Barangay?

Activity 3: Write the Questions

Directions: Write one general research question and two specific research questions for the
given research problem below. CHOOSE ONE RESEARCH PROBLEM ONLY.

Research Problem General Question Specific Questions

The Relationship
between Media
Exposure and Health
Anxiety

Organization’s
Leadership Practices
and Employee’s Job
Satisfaction

Effects of Parenting
Style and Children
Study Habits

Activity 4: Let’s go Online

Go to the link below and practice what you’ve learned from this lesson:

https://bit.ly/2zxLYS5
 What I Have Learned

Directions: As you have learned from this lesson, answer each question
comprehensively.

1. What I know about research question?

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2. I have learned that good questions are

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What I Can Do

State your Research Questions

Directions: Perform the following task. Referring to your background of the study and
research problem, list your research questions.

1. ___________________________________________________________________

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2. ___________________________________________________________________

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