THESIS-DISSERTATION WRITING MADE SIMPLE AND EASY: A Guidepost DEVELOPED BY: DR. MINDANILLA B. BROTO Subject Professor UEP Graduate StudiesCHECKLIST ON THE CRITERIA OF A GOOD TITLE In Form: Ooooo0o0o000005 It should not exceed 4 lines. It must be written in inverted pyramid. It must not be more than 20 to 24 substantive words All words must be in capital letters No abbreviation and acronym should be used It must be arranged in thought phrases It must not be enclosed in quotation marks It must be simple and straight to the point No syllabication of words It must not indicate the time-frame of the study It uses the font prescribed by the schoo! It follows the prescribed format. In Content/Substance: 0 000 0000 ooogo0o0o0 Itis along one’s field of specialization It must be novel new It must possess originality It must be interesting It must be eye-catching It must be thought-provoking It must answer the questions who, what and where (In case of correlational study) It must seek solution to felt-need problem It must be timely It must be clear and specific It must excite the reader's intellectual curiosity to look further into the Study’s content. Itmust not be wordy (no flowery words used) It gives a very specific and accurate index of the study Itavoids the use of “A Study of “or” A Comparative Study of “or” An Investigation of *...” It must point out the variables to be investigated, the respondents/subject involved, and the place of the study.Chapter I INTRODUCTION In Form: goo0o000000 oooooo0o0o0 Should not exceed four pages Quotations must be typed in single space Quotations must not be more than five lines Indicate the source/author below the quoted lines No footnoting at the first page Should not be cut-and-paste Chapter title should be in capital letters Subtitles must be highlighted Only the first letter of the content words of the subtitles should be capitalized First line of the paragraph should be indented Number sub-topic properly. In paragraph form Has a subtitle (Objectives of the Study, Significance of the Study) Avoid long sentences Use simple words which are straight to the point Limit your borrowing of ideas Acknowledge the source of any idea copied even if it is paraphrased First page must be the original words of the researcher In Content/Substance: oO OO oO 0 oooo00 Must present latest statistical data/facts Must show gaps on available knowledge Present pronouncement of authorities Must have universally-held theories/principles/assumptions Must be specific Should not be a cut-and-paste Must include quotations that have significant bearing to the problem only Present existing problematic situation (good picture of problem based on observation experience and facts) Present the problem from global to local ‘There should be legal basis/striking facts, provocative statement, foreshadowed conclusion. Give justification for conducting/replicating the study It should be simple and direct to the pointOBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY In Form: Oo ma) ooo0o0008 Subtitle must be highlighted Only the initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle must be italized Introduction of the purpose or main objective must be in paragraph form In the general objective copy the title after the introductory phrase For the specific objectives use “Specificiall Each objective should be numbered and indented Use objective in behavioral terms Do not capitalize objectives if introduced by statement like “specially, this study aims to...” In Content/Substance: OO 000 0 ‘The first paragraph introduces the main objective, followed by the specific objectives The first objective presents the independent variable. The second objective will be the dependent variable The third objective will be the other variables (intervening, moderator, ete) For relationship/ diffirence, state the hypothesis of the study Atleast a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY In Form: O OO ooo00000 Subtitle must be highlighted Only the first letter of the content words should be capitalized Must be in paragraph form Spell out the names of agencies, institutions, other instrumentalities Underline the name of beneficiary Arrange beneficiaireis from the lowest to the highest category. Sentences should be in declarative form The first paragraph should discuss extensively the general benefits derived from the study (not just in 2 or 3 sentences). ‘The second paragraph should discusss specific benefits Present the individual beneficiary and the benefits derived in paragraph Form Indicate how the beneficiary will benefit from the study's findingsIn Content/Substance: oO Qo Discuss the importance of the study to: society country government institution agency concemed thesis/ dissertation writer oo0000 yund the study's probable impact to: education culture science and technology component researchers and others ooo Give justification of the study in terms of contributions to theory and practice Touch on the significance of the study to the researcher (2 What it does to his profession (1 The difference it makes to his own profession His/Her contribution to the body of knowledge The solution of the study is of main value to the society in general and to the author's field of interest in particular It involves a new or existing theory that is profoundly useful to the: agency administrator personnel teachers students. others: gooo0o00o0 Itis a noteworthy contribution to the existing body of knowledge and for the practitioners in the field. SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY, In Form: Oo 0 Oo oO Neither too global nor too narrow in scope Subtitle must be highlighted Capitalize the initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle Must be in paragraph formooo 6O ‘The first paragraph must present the nature, coverage, subject area of the study, the actual number of respondents-adequate enough to render the study ‘widely for in depth treatment. ‘Time frame and the reason for delimiting the study ‘The second paragraph must contain the limitations or weaknesses of the study in terms of distance place and order situation, etc. ‘The last paragraph must contain the limitation in terms of variables of the study In Content/Substance: &) Sufficiently detailed in scope as stated in form (Delimit descriptive studies to one or two years only). Present clearly the scope of the study Reason/Justification for delimiting/limiting the study is clearly pointed out. Subtitle must be highlighted Capitalize the initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle It must be in paragraph form ‘The first paragraph contains the major or core theory Each of the remaining paragraphs should bear the supporting theories Each paragraph should specify the theorist, theory and what the theory is all about In Content/Substance: QOoo00 State the major/core theory, the theorist and what the theory is all about ‘Supporting theories follows (not less but can be more than three) ‘There should bé corresponding explanation of the theory in relation to the study ‘Supported by the citations of the well known authorities. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK In Form: H Subtitle must be highlighted Capitalize the initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle Must be in paragraph form Must have the assumptions of each variableOo Variables are presented in similar arrangement as those in the paradigm (1 The last statement will be “the conceptualization of the study is shown in Figure 1.” Presents the concepts of the study In Content/Substance: Should embody the criteria indicators and variables of the study (1 The text should show the schematic diagram well discussed and objectively portrayed. (2) Must have the variables involved in the study. Mast contain the explanation of the process (in evaluative study) © Conceptualization of the study is shown through the presentation of the schema or paradigm (1 Assumptions on the variables (between dependent and independent Variable) are clearly stated. (Present the variables and their relationship/differences. NULL HYPOTHESIS In Form: subtitle must be highlighted ‘The initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle must be capitalized (1 The first paragraph should be an introduction of the null hypotheses to be tested Specify the numbering of the null hypotheses Statement must be in deciarative form Each hypothesis should be numbered C1 Each hypothesis should be indented In Content/Substance: (1 Must be testable and stated either in the null form, directional or non directional, research hypothesis. [Should explain or present a relationship/differences between and among variables (if it is an evaluative study, use assumptions) 1 A very clear an objective direction on how the hypothesized variables are to be investigated [Should be welt-formulated and is relevant to the main objective of the study and its specific objectives. [1 __ Each stated hypothesis jibes with the pertinent specific objectiv [1 Inhistorical and qualitative researches, the term “hypotheses-free” is stated at the outset of the sectionDEFINITIONS OF TERMS In Form: 000 0000 Subtitle must be highlighted The initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle must be capitalized It must be in paragraph form, the first paragraph should be an introduction of the key terms Key terms should be presented in alphabetical order Words to be defined must be printed in dark letters underlined, and ended with a period. Allll important terms in the title should be defined conceptually and operationally Must have not less than 15 maximum words to be defined Alll conceptual definitions should be footnoted Use original source in footnoting (not www.com) In Content/Substance: Oo ooo Important words should be defined conceptually and operationally including the unusual or technical terms in the study Each term or variable is defined in the way it functions, operates, or is measured. Each defined term is stated in very clear and precise words to give the reader full understanding on how it is meant in the study ‘The place in the study’s in the title must be defined and described, but different in description from the locale of the study Chapter I REVIEW OF LITERATURE In Form: Title must be in capital letters Subtitle should be highlighted Present ROL by topic or variable (as sequenced in the objectives of the study) Capitalize the initial letters of the subtitle Mast be in paragraph form Discussion must be presented with sub-sections (title, place, respondents, variables, methodology (sampling technique, research design, research instruments and statistical treatment of data), All related literature and studies must be footnotedIn Content/Substance: Oo ooo oO 0 Must be very adequate and relevant to the problem under investigation taken from: [Z___ books (if related literature) [theses and dissertation (if related studies) Discussion of related studies should include the title: place respondents methodology used statistical treatment of data, major findings, conclusions and implications Discussion must be per topic or variable and arranged according to the objectives of the study. Cited works must come form both primary and secondary sources At least three (3) or more related literature for each variable Should indicate theories, concepts, facts and ideas of cited authorities Chapter TI METHODOLOGY In Form: oO oO Has sub-heading (locale, respondents, variables, etc) Subtitle must be highlighted Capitalize the initial letters of the substantive words of the subtitle Must be in paragraph form In Content/Substance: LOCALE OF THE STUDY O OOO OO Must be specific to the place; highlight the place of the study The research locale must be adequately and vividly described as to its physical layouts and features No presentation of respondents No appended map, except if the whole province is covered In case of an institution like UEP, show curricular offerings, indicate the area in hectare, population, number of colleges, faculty.students, location of building The rationale behind the choice of the research locale must be presented.THE RESEARCH DESIGN (Must state the research design used (if descriptive-correlational, descriptive- evaluative, experimental, case study, mixed studies, documentary analysis, (5) Must indicate “how” (indicate the research) it is used (Must point out the reason for its use THE VARIABLES OF THE STUDY © Describe the variables (© _ Categorize the variables, e.g., male, female, etc. CO Each variable must be under categorization; high-low performance; very satisfactory, not satisfactory. (Mast be arranged according to the objectives of the study. POPULATION AND SAMPLING [Sampling technique and procedure used must be very well-described C __ Step-by-step procedure in the selection of the sampling group must be presented. CT _ Inexperimental study, use/present the criteria for the choice of subjects to preclude bias. (2 The nature and characteristics of the sampling groups as well as the rationale for their choice must be well explained RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY [J The total populaion of the study/the number of samples subjects are stated in the discussion. ‘The nature of the respondents/subjects is explained The adequacy of the sampling group(s) is depicted by pertinent formula/ table that serves as a guide in determining sampling adequacy Computation is based on universally- accepted formula. OOo ‘THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENT Must be very adequately presented Must be very well-constructed and validated Its construction and validation must be very comprehensively discussed especially on how validatity and realibility indices are established Present the instrument as to its source, number of items, its use, to whom, it will be administered, number of hours in filling it up, its administrability. Oo oo0oo0o00 For psychological/mental ability test permit should be secured by the researches from the authors/ for its use. The content domain must be very appropriate and valid for the study ‘The groups of related questions and items must be sequenced after the order of the specific objectives of the study Must be enclosed as an appendix to the text, including the letter-request and approval by the agency concemed for its administration to the groups involved. SCORING AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA Oooo00 Must adopt a Likert- point seale questionnaire ‘Compute the range and give the corresponding categorization Get the mean and total mean scores Interpretation must include the meaning of the data Include comparison in the light of previous researches VALIDATION OF INSTRUMENTS oo oo ‘Must have pre-test of instruments if they are not standarized Pre-test must be done to those who are not involved in the study but of similar characteristics to those involved Revisions are made after the pre-testing, if flaws are found in the instruments State the number of hours consumed in pre-testing or in administering the test DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE Dao, Ao Oo Must be adequately explained Must have permission from the authorities concerned to conduct the investigation and to administer the research instruments to the respondents/ subjects including its approval which is attached as an appendix. Must have an orientation or training of trainees if there need be in the adminsitration of the research instruments Steps in the data gathering must be well-explained Controls employed to insure the validity of the results, environmetal conditions, and other occurences must be pointed out ‘The researcher conducts the gathering of date himsel/herself. STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATA. Oo Statistical measures must be appropriate for the kind of data usedOo 0000 Statistical tools, with the corresponding formulas and legends for the symbols must be well presented. Reasons for using such statistical test must be stated Dummy tables on the type of data must be presented Explanations on the scoring, weighing of scores, and other essential statistical facts must be made The level of significance, say, .05 or .01 must be stated when the treatment requires hypothesis testing.