COURSE MODULE Gingoog City Colleges, Inc.

MODULE WEEK NO.6

Macopa St., Paz Village, Brgy. 24-A, Gingoog City

(088) 861 1432 Ext 7385

University Logo

College/Department
EL 110: Language Research
1st Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction

The last stage of formal research is writing and documenting. A research report is usually
divided into five sections corresponding to five chapters of the study, namely; Chapter 1- The
Problem and its Setting; Chapter 2- Review of Related Literature and Studies; Chapter 3-
Methods and Procedure; Chapter 4- Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of data; Chapter 5-
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations.

Rationale

The last module expounds on the documentation of research reports, and is purported to allow
students to identify the different sections of the five chapters of a research and demonstrate ability to write
them, prepare a draft of the complete research, and acknowledge the important skills in research writing and
documentation as valuable to conducting research.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, students are expected to:

A. Identify the different sections of the five chapters of a research and demonstrate ability to
write them.
B. Prepare a draft of the complete research.
C. Acknowledge the importance of the skills in research writing and documentation as valuable
to conducting a research.
Activity

Workshop on the Draft of Research Report

Students will be working of the draft for their research report.

Discussion

1
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
A. PARTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT

1. Chapter 1 describes the problem and its setting and is subdivided into the following
headings:
a. Introduction. This provides general information about the topic chosen, its
role or importance in society and discusses the reason why the researcher
became interested in the study.
b. Setting of the Study. It specifically gives information regarding the locations
of the study, which may include the country, the province, the city, or the
institution where the study was conducted.
c. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework. It presents the theoretical basis of the
study which may be an established learning principle or theory. The
conceptual framework shows the process followed in the conduct of the
research.
d. Statement of the Problem. It is usually stated in one broad statement
followed by specific questions that relate to the problem.

Answers to the questions when put together provide answer to the general
problem. The following are general guidelines followed in the formulating the
statement of the problem:
 Begin with a broad statement expressing the general concern of the
study.
 Ask a series of three or more questions related to the general problem.
 Arrange questions in logical order.
 Avoid yes/no questions.
e. Assumptions of the study. Some extraneous factors in the study are beyond
the control of the researcher. He/she can only assume that his/her study was
conducted under required conditions.
f. Hypotheses. These are statements drawn regarding the outcome of the study
before the conclusion is reached.
g. Significance of the study. The researcher must justify his/her choice of
problem by showing its practical importance especially to the intended readers
of the study.
h. Scope/Delimitation and Limitations of the study. Scope delimitation states
what the study covers and fix its boundaries. Limitations specify certain
constraints in the study which are essential, but which the researcher has no
control of.
i. Definition of Terms. It is necessary to clarify terms used in the study by
defining them contextually or operationally. It may also include newly
invented or coined words, technical terms, or terms with special meaning.

The following guidelines help in making the definition of terms

 Arrange words in alphabetical order.

2
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
 Underline words followed by period.
 State definition in a complete sentence.
 Document the sources of definitions in the endnotes.

2. Chapter 2 contains the review of related literature and studies which is divided into
the following sub-sections:
a. Local Literature. This includes books, magazines, newspapers, and
journal articles written by local authors.
b. Foreign Literature. This includes the same type of materials in the
local literature but written by foreign authors.
c. Local Studies. These are studies that refer to graduate and
undergraduate these or dissertations. Those written by local authors
are classified as local literature; those by foreign authors are foreign
studies.
d. Foreign Studies. These are the same as local studies except that they
are done by foreign researchers.

3. Chapter 3 explains the methods and procedure which contain the following:
a. Method of Research. This specifies the research methodology of the
study, explains how the method will be used and how it will be applied in
the study. Most language researches use descriptive, experimental, or
correlational method. A description of a language proficiency of a
particular group is descriptive; testing the effectiveness of a teaching
strategy in language is experimental; showing the relationship of
academic grades in English with board examination ratings are
correlational.
b. Subjects of the Study. The subjects of the study refer to persons about
whom the research is conducted. In some cases, the subject are at the
same time the respondents. For instance, a study on the reading
proficiency of Grade 1 pupils may include their mothers who will be
asked regarding the reading habits of their children. Here, the subjects are
the Grade 1 pupils, but the mothers serve as the respondents of the study.
c. Sampling Technique. This is important when total population is big and
the researcher decides to use only a representative group for practical
reasons. The common types of sampling techniques are random,
purposive, and stratified. Using odd numbers in the list of students to
choose the respondents is a random sampling technique. Setting specific
criteria such as academic grades, age, nationality, etc. for selecting the
respondents is purposive. Getting a proportional number to represents
specific groups like year level, regional classification, etc. is stratified
sampling.
d. Procedure of Data Gathering. This explains the sources of data. It
differentiate instruments were used in collecting data, the study should

3
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
describe how they were utilized. For instance, a survey study using a
questionnaire should state whether it is an adapted or an original
instrument. Either way, the researcher should describe how it was adapted
or constructed and validated.
e. Statistical Treatment of Data. This enumerates the formulas used for
interpreting the data and explains why they are necessary. It also includes
the scale and verbal interpretation of scores. It professional help was
sought in statistical processing of data, the name of the office or agency or
person taking charge of it should be mentioned.

4. Chapter 4 presents, analyses and interprets the data arranged in the same order as the
specific questions in the statement of the problem in questions in the statement of the
problem in Chapter 1. This is the part of the study where tables are often constructed
to help clarify or simplify the presentation especially if the data consist of a large
number or statistical and numerical items.

A table includes a title, a number, a heading, a body, and if necessary, notes. The
following are helpful guides to table construction:

 How to phrase a Table Heading

a. A table heading is generally expressed in phrase or clause form. It should
be short and simple.
b. Table headings should follow a logical order. Demographic tables are
presented first, followed by non-demographic items in the questionnaire.
c. Headings should be expressed in parallel forms. Parallelism is the
deliberate use of similar grammatical elements in similar constructions to
ensure consistency of expression.

 How to phrase a body entry

The same rules that apply to phrasing a table heading also apply to
body entries, except that in the body, items may be expressed in
complete sentences. Entries in the body should also follow a logical
order and should be expressed in parallel form.

 How to format tables

a. Spacing. Tables placed within the text should be spaced 3spaces

about the last line of the paragraph and 2 spaces before the next
line. Table numbers should be separated from titles with a double
space. Titles should be separated from the first line of the table
also with a double space. Titles of two or more lines should be
single-space.

4
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
b. Capitalization. Titles of tables should capitalize all important
words. Unimportant words such as articles, coordinate
conjunctions, prepositions such as and, in and to, in an infinitive
should NOT be capitalized. Headings and body entries should
capitalize only the first word. Proper nouns or adjectives should
also be capitalize only in the first word. Proper nouns or adjectives
should also be capitalized.
c. Format. Three formats may be allowed in the numbers and titles
of the tables: inverted pyramid, paragraph and block styles.

5. Chapter 5 gives the summary of findings, conclusions, and recommendations

a. Summary of findings. Findings of the study are summarized

according to the questions asked in the Statement of the Problem. The
findings may be headed by the same questions asked in the Statement
or topics pertinent to the findings. Where figures are given, only the
highest or lowest figures and their implications are repeated in the
summary. Findings are stated using the past tense.
b. Conclusions. These should evolve from the findings of the study.
They state in general terms what are true about certain phenomena
investigated in the study. For instance, a study on comparing the
reading proficiencies of Grade 1 pupils in public and private schools.
From this finding, the researcher may conclude that pupils in public
schools have lower reading proficiency than those in private schools.
c. Recommendations. The researcher should make recommendations
based on the conclusions drawn. In the above conclusion, the
researcher may recommend to the Department of Education some
measures to improve the reading proficiency of Grade 1 pupils in
public schools such as a summer reading program prior to Grade 1. A
last recommendation is often directed to future researchers suggesting
other topics related to the study for research.

B. RESEARCH REPORT DOCUMENTATION

There are many types of documentations, and among the most commonly used in
schools are the Campbell Style, the Chicago Manual Style, and the Modern Language
Association of America (MLA) Style. For scientific researchers published in
journals, the trend is to use the American Psychological Association (APA) Style.
Most refereed journals prefer APA style, and universities to have researches refereed,
this module has included in the Appendix simplified guidelines on the use of the
format based on Dewey (2003)

Every style has guide handbooks which are available in libraries and bookstores.
Most of the time, when a research is part of an institution, the format decided upon
5
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
by the institution. The choice of style and format does not really matter as long as the
chosen is followed consistently.

Exercise
Instruction: Supply four sub-problems to each of the following main problems:

a. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the fourth year students’ final grades
in English and their performance in the college entrance exams.
b. The research seeks to identify the oral communication problems in English of graduating
college students.
c. The study aims to determine the learning style of students in English classes.
d. The research seeks to show cultural differences among five regional groups based on their
native dialects.
e. The study aims to determine the effectiveness on online learning to the teaching of English
in college.

Assessment

Performance Task: Draft of the Complete Research

Students will construct a research report with five sections corresponding to five chapters of
the study, namely; Chapter 1- The Problem and its Setting; Chapter 2- Review of Related Literature
and Studies; Chapter 3- Methods and Procedure; Chapter 4- Presentation, Analysis and
Interpretation of data; Chapter 5- Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations. Also, attached the
accomplish checklist for a research paper.

Reflection

Journal Writing
Instruction: Answer the following questions.
1. What are the basic parts of Chapter 1? What is the significance of each part?
2. Why is a review of related literature and studies necessary in research?
3. What are the common methodologies in language research?
4. How is random sampling carried out? How different is it from purposive and stratified
sampling?
5. How are the three sections of Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 connected to one another?

Resources and Additional Resources

 Language Research: Principles and Application

Additional Resources:
 Seliger, Herbert W. and Elana Shohamy. Second Language Research Methods. Walton Street,
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
 Go, Mildred B., Ma. Elouisa A. Pagapatan, Aida S. Villanueva. Technical Writing Manual.
Manila: Centro Escolar University, 2004
 http://www.mdrc.research.med.va.gov/mgt_research/testing.htm
 Dewey, R. APA Research Style Crib Sheet. http://www.Wooster.edu/psychology/apa-
crib.html.

6
COURSE MODULE MODULE WEEK NO.6
 Brown, J.D. Understanding Research in Second Language Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1988.