Research Team Members Section: Grade 12 – St.

Valentine
Angelo Karl C. Araña
John Clarence Dominic Ramos Date: September 22, 2020

RESEARCH TOPIC AREA IDENTIFICATION

Step 1. After initial brainstorming, the following GENERAL TOPICS are being considered by our group:
The impact of online classes to the academic Students learning at home during this pandemic
performance of the students
The positive and negative effects of the internet The effectiveness of online learning
during this pandemic
The positive & negative effects of online learning The difficulties of online learning
Usage of social media during the pandemic A comparative analysis of student’s performance in
online learning vs face to face learning

Step 2. Of these general topics, decide on one topic that you want to work on.
A comparative analysis of student’s performance in online learning vs face to face learning

Step 3. The above topic is considered due to the following FACTORS and/or is inspired by the following
SOURCES: researchers’ observations, interests, experiences; deductions from theories; related literature;
and clarification of contradictory findings. Identify specific interests (e.g. consider social significance),
experiences, or observations (e.g. specific life situations), theories you want to test or literature that you’ve
read.
This study compared which is most effective in learning, the effectiveness of online or face to face learning
depends on the environment of the students. The researchers want to know if ones teaching techniques is
more significant than other techniques which is the traditional face to face learning. One of the most
significant differences between face-to-face learning and online learning is that face-to-face learning is
synchronous, or done at the same time. All instructors and students/classmates are present in face-to-face
learning. (uopeople.edu, 2019)

Step 4. Considering the above motivations and general topic of interest, is your group inclined towards
THEORY TESTING or THEORY GENERATION. If you are going for theory testing, identify here the
specifics of the theory (i.e. what is it about, what does it aim to explain, discuss the context and content). If
you are going for theory generation, what data does the topic suggest you look for?
The researchers want to use the theory generation, it tells the above motivations that our general topic is
focused on which is more effective and helpful to student’s studying routine. This study is conducted to
provide expectations on student’s academic performances between online learning and face to face
learning.

Step 5. Go online. Look for KEY LITERATURE OR STUDIES that might direct your topic selection further.
Identify at least three key literature or related studies that can help you. Give the author/s, year, journal
title, and key findings.
Although there were limitations to the study, this examination was conducted to provide us with additional
measures to determine if students performed better in one environment over another (Mozes-Carmel and
Gold, 2009).
 Hoxby (2014) examines the sustainability of online education at both non-selective and highly selective
institutions. She concludes that the massive use of online education is only sustainable with some non-
selective institutions.
According to Clark (1983), one should not expect the choice of media to have any effect on learning
outcomes. He argues that those studies that do find different outcomes are actually picking up the effect
created when an instructor switches to a new medium and must re-evaluate how the course material is
presented within the new medium (Clark, 1983)

Step 6. Narrow down your identified topic area. This helps you to make your topic clearer and potentially
easier to measure and address. This also becomes your RESEARCH FOCUS, which will sustain your interest
and imagination. It should be relevant enough to devote time in its investigation. You can also identify the
affected areas by your identified research focus.
Which is the most effective way of learning that can
affect the academic performance of the students Advantages and disadvantages of online learning

Advantages and disadvantages of face to face

Positive and negative effects of online learning

Step 7. Your research topic must be evaluated based on ACCEPTABILITY and APPLICABILITY. How is
your chosen topic both acceptable and applicable?
This study is acceptable mostly in our times right now that we are in a pandemic period, online classes is
used in everyday life of the students, and it is the main point of learning because we don’t have any face to
face classes that is available. This study is applicable because this is the only way that the students can
learn even if they are in the comfort of their homes.

Step 8. After evaluating your research focus, identify the RESEARCH PROBLEM, particularly its
RATIONALE.

The purpose of this study is to find out which is more effective between online learning and face to face
which is the most effective way for students to learn and affect their academic performances.
Caveat: This may not be your final research problem. This exercise scaffolds how your group can
propose research topics for the title defense through an organized brainstorming activity. You have
to prepare at least 3 topics for defense.

Research Log 1 (Individual) – Answer in the Shared Discussion in the Research 2 Course – Schoology.
What are the difficulties we encountered as a group in finding our research focus? Did we overcome this
difficulty? How?