1 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

School of Architecture, Industrial Design and the Built Environment
Interior Design

THESIS BOOK FORMAT

A. GENERAL FORMAT AND STYLE

1. PAPER
• White bond paper of uniform size (8-1/2” x 11”) must be used throughout the thesis.

2. COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS
• If a thesis includes color photographs, the copy with the original photographs is to be
submitted to the Department. The other copies may contain black and white copies of
good tonal value and contrast. All photographs must be appropriately titled and
described. The title and description must be consistently used through the book.

3. ILLUSTRATIONS
• Only illustrations in the Body of Text may be produced via manual or computer
techniques, or both. All illustrations must be appropriate titled and described. The title
and description must be consistently used through the book. All formal drawing
documents shall be digitally-produced.

4. OVERSIZED PAGES
• Oversized pages can be included in the thesis as fold-outs. Consult with the bindery
about the proper method of folding these pages.

5. TYPEFACE AND TYPE SIZE

• Only Times New Roman 12-point size or Arial 11-point size is acceptable.

6. JUSTIFICATION
• The thesis must be left-justified, and the justification must be consistent throughout the
body of the thesis.

7. MARGINS
• A minimum left margin of 1-1/2 inch on all pages is required. All other margins must be
one inch.
• All items on the Title Page must be centered within the margins.
• The full title of the thesis cannot be longer than 240 characters (including letters, figures,
symbols and spaces).

8. SPACING
• The abstract, acknowledgements and general text (except for block quotations) must all
be double-spaced.
• Single-space each footnote and bibliographical entry, with a blank line between each
entry.
• Use single-spacing for long tables, block quotations, tables, figure or illustration
headings, and multi-line headings.
• Appendices may be single or double-spaced depending on the nature of the material.

9. PAGE NUMBERS
2 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

• All pages must be taken into account in the numbering: this includes all pages of figures,
tables, legends, etc. Every single page in the thesis must be numbered except the title
page and the frontispiece (if applicable).
• Pagination begins with the Curriculum Vitae Page, which is always Page ii. The lead
(prefatory) pages up to the beginning of the text are to be numbered with the lower case
Roman numerals centered at the bottom of the page.
• Appendices must also be numbered following the rest of the thesis.

10. TRANSLATION
• When long passages of translation are necessary, use a side-by-side columnar format.

11. HEADINGS
There are 5 heading levels in APA. The 6th edition of the APA manual revises and simplifies
previous heading guidelines. Regardless of the number of levels, always use the headings in
order, beginning with level 1. The format of each level is illustrated below:
APA Headings
Level Format
Major headings appear centered in all capitals and begin 2 inches
Major Headings
from the top of the page.
1 Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Headings
2 Left-aligned, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
3 Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with a period.
4 Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase heading with a period.
5 Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with a period.

Centre the major heading (example) CHAPTER ONE 2" from the top of the page. Leave one
space and then type the title of the chapter, as an inverted pyramid if more than one line, bold
and all capitalized.

12. CITATION FORMAT

• Follow the APA in-text citation format.

B. ARRANGEMENT OF CONTENTS
• Frontispiece or Quote page
• Title Page – see Example 1
• Biographical Sketch
• Approval Page – see Example 2
• Abstract
• Preface (Optional)
• Dedication (Optional)
• Acknowledgment (Optional)
• Table of Contents – see Example 3
• List of Tables
• List of Figures and Illustrations
• List of Plates
• Body of Text
• Endnotes (if any)
3 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

• References
• Appendices
• Index (Optional)

1. FRONTISPIECE
• This refers to an empty page before the title page.

2. TITLE PAGE
• The title should be bold and all capitals and written in an inverted pyramid if more than
one line long.
• The date should give the month and year the thesis was submitted.
• See Example 1 for the prescribed format.

3. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
• This contains information on the Thesis Student in essay format. It shall be not more
than 150 words.

4. APPROVAL PAGE
• All items on the Approval Page must follow the model exactly (see Example 2).
• The title of the thesis on the Approval Page must be exactly the same as the title of the
thesis on the title page.
• The Approval Page must be double-spaced.
• The date at the bottom is the date on which the Adviser signs the Approval Page
indicating that all corrections have been made and the thesis has final approval.
• All signatures must be obtained prior to submitting the bound thesis to the Faculty of
Interior Design.
• All signatures must be originals, no faxed, stamps, photocopies or other reproductions
will be accepted.
• Students should have a minimum of three copies of their Approval Page signed by the
Thesis Committee during the deliberations.
• The Approval Sheet will be brought to the Department Chair and the Dean for signature
upon the submission of the revised and bound thesis books.

5. ABSTRACT
• Consider the abstract a short summary of the thesis.
• It shall be between 100 and 150 words and include a summary of the major areas of the
paper which are the problem or original theory, the methods, the characteristics of the
present study, the results, and conclusion.

6. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• The Table of Contents must include all the items in the thesis in the order in which the
items are assigned.
• Everything except the title page and the frontispiece, including the Table of Contents
itself must be listed in the Table of Contents.
• Heading and sub-headings must be consistent between the Table of Contents and the
body of the text.
• All capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations, etc. must be consistent amongst the titles
in the Table of Contents and the List of Tables and Figures, and the actual titles as they
appear in the body of the text.

7. LIST OF TABLES AND THE LIST OF FIGURES

• The List of Tables and the List of Figures must include all the tables and the figures
respectively in the thesis in the order in which they were assigned.
4 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

• The table caption goes above the table. The table number goes on one line. The
italicized title appears on the next line. Capitalize each major word in the table title.

Sam ple Table

Table 1
Comparison of the Effects of Instruction on Students’ Achievement and Attitudes
Outcome Measures With Instruction Without Instruction
Achievement 75.23 61.05

Attitudes toward subject 10.48 8.83

matter

Attitudes toward learning 9.14 8.65

• The figure number and caption go at the bottom of the figure on one line (unless it is too
long). Figure and the number are italicized, but the caption is not. Capitalize only the first
word and proper names in the caption.

Sam ple Figure

Figure 1. Diagrammatic illustration of the overlap between curriculum and instruction.

• Heading and sub-headings must be consistent between the Lists and the body of the
text.
• All capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations, etc. must be consistent amongst the titles
in the Lists and the actual titles as they appear in the body of the text.

8. THESIS SECTIONS
a. Chapter 1 Introduction: The Introduction contains prefatory paragraphs that narrate the
background of the study.
i) Background of the Study: The background section is the existing state of affairs for
the project. The background section provides the necessary background information
needed to thoroughly understand and design the project. One should describe the
context in which the project must be designed. In a sense, the project background
explains the existing constraints or conditions for the project. It should also provide
an overview of the significance of the study. This section should be at least two
pages in length.

This section should include the following:

(1) Brief description of the project
(2) Brief description of the site including the square footage for the project
(3) Historical background of the project
(4) The primary challenges should be discussed in this section
(5) An overview of the theoretical framework, if any.
5 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

The Background of the study must be at least two pages long.

ii) Statement of the Problem: This portion presents the problem being investigated. It
contains the main problem and the specific problems of the study.

iii) Objectives of the Study: Presents the purpose of the study in direct reference to the
problems stated. This will be the basis for the selection of the research methods,
tools and procedures.

iv) Significance of the Study: Sates the usefulness of the study to the researcher, to the
respondents and to the others who may be affected or interested by the study. The
contribution of the study to the general body of body of Interior Design.

v) Scope and Limitations: Defines the boundaries of the study (when and where the
study was conducted, who the respondents are, and the variables that will be
undertaken). The scope thus sets the delimitation that is the limits which are
deliberately fixed by the researcher. Limitations may also refer to the restrictions that
may be encountered during the course of the research.

b. Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature: A survey and discussion of the literature in a

given area of study.
i) Theoretical Framework: A theoretical framework is a collection of interrelated
concepts, like a theory but not necessarily so well worked-out. A theoretical
framework guides your research, determining what things you will measure, and
what statistical relationships you will look for.
ii) Related Literature: This section generally outlines or discusses findings reported by
others in books and journals, relating to and leading to the proposed investigation as
related in the thesis.

c. Chapter 3 Conceptual Framework: Presents a concise discussion of the relationship

between and among the major variables of the study. It is illustrated by a research
paradigm and a narrative explanation of the paradigm.
i) The research paradigm
ii) Definition of Terms
(1) Significant word/s in the title, and unusual or technical terms found in the study
are defined in this section.
(2) Definitions include operational definitions, that is, definitions particular to the
research; and definitions taken from other sources.
(3) Recognize the source of definitions taken from other authors with use of
appropriate in-text citation.
(4) Organize in alphabetical order.

d. Chapter 4 Methodology: Methodology refers to the actual procedures used to perform

the research. Usually includes the research design, sampling method, subject attributes,
and possibly pretest findings.

i) Research Design: Presents the selected research methodology that will be used to
carry out the investigation. The rationale behind the choice is explained.
ii) Sampling Design: Describes the sampling design, the sample respondents and the
sampling procedure to be undertaken.
iii) Instrumentation: this contains the instrument/s or measurement devices (survey,
test, questionnaire, etc.).
6 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

iv) Procedures for Data Gathering: Data gathering means and evaluative treatments will
be discussed. Data gathering instruments should be properly labeled or suitably
named for easy reference.
v) Treatment of Data: Identifies and defines the type of treatment of data that will be
used. How the treatment was applied in the study should also be discussed.

e. Chapter 5 Results/Discussion of Gathered Data: This section can be written as a

combination of the two or as separate entities. The section relates the information,
experimental data or observations resulting from the study and describes the findings
and what they mean are described logically, leading up to a set of conclusions. The
following should be presented and discussed in this chapter:
i) Site Description
ii) Existing floor plan
iii) Activities Analysis
(1) A listing of common activities that will be performed in the space. The activity is
listed without reference to a space. For example: reading, computing, standing,
talking, etc.
(2) Once the activities have been identified, potential problems and solutions to
those problems are listed.

iv) Space Analysis

(1) Space Summary
• Each space, including storage/auxiliary areas, is listed with assigned square
footage and indication of how each area was determined (e.g.,
recommended design standard, building code, or sqm. per person x no. of
users = total sqm.)
• Total net area
(2) Detailed Space Listing (this is your main programming information)
• Room or area description/name and square footage
• No. of occupants
• Description of use/activities
• Furniture/fixtures and equipment details
• Environmental requirements (describe needs for each)
a. adjacencies
b. access
c. degree of privacy
d. enclosures (floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows)
e. mechanical
f. lighting
g. power/electrical
h. acoustics
i. life safety
j. security

v.) Other Data Gathered from Instruments

f. Chapter 6 Treatment of Data

Among others, this chapter should contain the following:
i) Qualitative and/or quantitative treatments of data which may include schematics.
Schematic drawings: document the design development of the space with a series of
process drawings including bubble diagrams, adjacency matrix, rough layouts,
thumbnail sketches, and others. Drawing content should portray the development of
7 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

circulation paths, lighting schemes, furniture and material needs, code issues,
aesthetic considerations, and notations of any significant features. Hand-drawing and
sketching is highly recommended

ii.) Concept Statement: Create a statement describing the inspiration and the abstract
conceptual ideas that formulate throughout the design process.

iii.) Drawing documents: Scaled construction and presentation drawings in computer-

aided format.
(1) Existing floor plan and furniture layout
(2) Furniture layout
(3) Reflected Ceiling Plan
(4) Elevations and sections
(5) Detail drawings
(6) Perspective(s)
(7) Furniture schedule

g. Chapter 7 Conclusions and Recommendations: Presents a summary of the principal

features of the study and recommendation and suggestions for future research that are
envisioned to improve the pertinent variable of the investigation. Recommendations to
concerned agencies and institutions may also be stated.

21. FOOTNOTES
h. Footnotes may be placed at the foot of the page, in a group at the end of the chapter
(called “Notes”), or grouped at the end of the thesis before the references (called
“Endnotes”).
i. If notes or endnotes are collected at one place in the thesis, their location must be
shown in the Table of Contents by title and page.

22. REFERENCES: An alphabetical listing of authors of literature cited in APA format in the thesis.

23. APPENDICES: Appendices are repositories for details that must be recorded because they
may be needed, but would slow the reader down unnecessarily if placed in the body of the
thesis. This section should include:
• All drawing documents
• Sample instruments
• Estimated project cost.
8 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

Example 1

THESIS TITLE

Name of Proponent

An Undergraduate Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of the Interior Design Program
In Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design

Mapua Institute of Technology

Intramuros, Manila

School of Architecture, Industrial Design and the Built Environment

(Month, Year)
9 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

Example 2

MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM

APPROVAL SHEET

This undergraduate thesis attached herewith entitled (TITLE OF THESIS), prepared and

submitted by (NAME), in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of

Science in Interior Design is hereby accepted.

(NAME)
Adviser

(NAME)
Chairperson, Thesis Committee

(NAME) (NAME)
Member Member

ACCEPTED:

(NAME)
Dean

________________________________
Date
10 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

Example 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Curriculum Vitae (or Biographical Sketch) ii

Approval Page iii
Abstract iv
Acknowledgment
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Table
List of Figures
1
Chapter I: Introduction 2
Background of the Study 2
Statement of the Problem 3
Objectives 4
Significance of the Study 5
Scope and Limitations

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature 12

Theoretical Framework
Related Literature

Chapter III: Conceptual Framework 36

Research Paradigm 36
Definition of Terms

Chapter IV: Methodology 39

Research Method 39
Sampling Design 40
Instrumentation 42
Procedure for Data Gathering 43
Treatment of Data 44
11 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

Example 4
Sample
CHAPTER TWO

Heading Level 1

Heading Level 2

Heading level 3. (Note the indent and period, and note how the capitalization

works. You will probably never go deeper than the third heading level.)

Heading level 4.

Heading level 5.
12 Interior Design Thesis Book Format/Mapua Institute of Technology

Example Space Analysis Table

Table # __: Space Analysis

Room Type/Area No. of Description FF & E Environmental requirements
occupants of
use/activities