GUIDELINES IN THESIS WRITING

Starting a Research

1. A research Systematic investigation or process of systematic inquiry to what is

unknown
To investigate/inquire requires:
a. collection of data
b. documentation of critical data collected
c. naalysis and interpretion ofthe the data/information collected

2. How to start a research?

Start a research with a problem which is a question that the researcher wants to
answer. It is an issue or difficulty of some significance, urgency and priority whose
investigation will make a useful contribution to knowledge. A problem exists when:

a. there is an absence of informatin resulting in a gap in the knowledge;

b. there are contradictory results;
c. a fact exists and the researcher intents that the study will answer such fact.

The problem is found in the title of the research.

3. Reseach Title
The research title is the frame of reference of the whole thesis. The title must:

a. be clear and specific;

b. concise and informative, have specific rather than general terms, and
accurately describe the content
c. has few words that adequately describes the contents of the paper
 BODY OF THE THESIS

I. THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

A. Introduction
1. Start the research with a strong thesis statement. The opening sentence
should clearly indicate the topic with the first paragraph describing the context of the
study.
2. The introduction should answer the following questions:
a. “What is the problem?,” and this can be addressed by describing the
problem investigated.
b. Why is the problem important?
Describe the situation (based on authorities) - indicate what is wrong in
present system and explain the desire to discover ways to
improve the system, hence the study..
3. End the introduction by:
• a.
Stating the specific purposes to address the problem areas of the study
and clearly what the proposal intends to achieve.
• b.
Indicating what prompted the researcher to conduct a study on the topic.
B. Statement of the Problem (SOP)

1. A problem statement is a well-structured formulation of what the problem (or

the issue/gap/confusion) The title and the SOP are directly related/intertwined with
each other or directly related to the achievement of the solution of the problem
2. The problem must be reflected in the title (in other words, the readers must
know the problem by simply reading the topic.)

3. The SOP contains two problems.

a. The general statement patterned after the title and presents
the general purpose of the study.
b. The sub-problems or questions that support or reinforce the main
problem. The sub-problems must be connected wtth each other and
must be arranged in the flow of the researcher’s
documentation of the study.
4. The questions should not be answerable by “yes” or “no”

C. . Conceptual Framework
 1. The conceptual framework provides the structure/content for the whole study .
It explains the main thing to be studied - t(he key factors, concepts and variables) and
shows the relationship between these factors, concepts and variables.

2. Shows how the factors, concepts and variables will be relevant to the
research. It presents the relationship between variables.

3. It is presented in a diagram with an narrative description of the diagram.

D. Assumptions
Assumptions are statements presumed to be true or anticipated conclusions
related to the study. These are important facts presumed to be true but are not verified.
Assumptions must be clearly stated to give the readers a foundation to form
conclusions resulting from assumptions.

E. Significance of the Study

The significance of the study presents the practical value of the research and its
usefulness of the study to society. It mainly focuses on the question, “Who will benefit
from the study?” and states the contribution and usefulness to society.

The significance of the study consists of two parts:

1. introductory statement or a brief description of the section;
2. the beneficiaries of the studies and presented:
a. in hierarchical order - considering positions of the beneficiaries; or
b. order of importance - who would benefit more from the study.

E. Scope and Delimitation of the Study

Includes the coverage of the study and the variables excluded from or not part of
the study (delimitation). This section allows the writer to explain why certain aspects of
a subject were chosen and why others were excluded.
A limitation is a phase or aspect of the study which may affect the result
adversely over which the researcher has no control. It refers to the weakness or the
problems encountered by the researcher in conducting the study.

F. Definition of Terms or operational definition of variables.

1. Provide a short introductory statement e.g. For a better understanding of the
study the followings terms are defined in this chapter.
2. Terms to be defined are terms which are often used in the study that have
different interpretation or may be misiinterpreted. Terms may be defined:
a. lexically defined (specialized legal dictionaries)
b. authoritatively (published materials like jurisprudence, law;
c. operationally - how the term was used in the study.

For lexical and authoritative definitions, the authorities or the references for the
definitions must be properly indicated.
 3. The terms must be arranged in alphabetical order (not numbered), presented
in bold letters and underlined with a period at the end of the term.
4 The first line must be indented and aligned with the first sentence of the
introdcutory statement
5. Avoid lengthy definition.

II. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

The review of related literature and related studies is the process of collecting,
selecting, and reading books, journals, reports, abstracts, and other references and/or
materials. This sections contains:
Related Literature - written materials such as books, journals, magazines etc.
Related Studies - published and unpublished research.

The researcher has to

1. Provide a short introductory paragraph that describes what could be seen in
the chapter.
2. Review only materials/sources that are relevant or have bearing to the study.
3. The chapter should not include materials that will answer the research
questions because answers to the research questions must be found in Chapter IV.
4. The number of reviewed data must be sufficient to give the researcher basis
for the study. If the material reviewed is a study, it should include the findings,
conclusions and recommendations.
5. Articles should not be older than ten years and researches not older than 5
years.
6. Present the data in a logical manner-separating literature from studies.
7. Provide a synthesis at the end of the Chapter by showing how the
literature/studies relate to the study and how they assisted the researcher in undergoing
the research. Establish the connection and the ideas
*The chapter is not merely an enumeration of the information gathered by the
researcher. Before including the information in the Chapter, establish the relevance or
connection of the content of the readings to the study. To do this, the researcher
should thoroughly read the materials to determine its relevance . Establishing the
connection/relevance of the information wll lay the the foundation of the research and
justify the need to pursue the research.

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The chapter explains all methods and approaches used or to be used in the
study.

JD theses commonly use the descriptive method which describes the nature of a
situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular
phenomena. Descriptive research is of several types, these are:
1. case studies
 2. surveys
3. developmental studies
4. follow up studies
5. documentary analyses
6. trend analyses
7. correlational studies

CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Chapter IV presents the findings or data gathered and the discussions
concerning them. It explains why the results came out. Display the data with logical
development showing how the findings satisfy the statement of the problem. Take note that:

1. The discussions must be based on the statement of the problem and must
answer all specific questions in the SOP in the same sequence as the questions were
presented. Variables tied in the questions are included in the discussions.

2. The information reported must justify the claims made in the study - include
all relevant information. Findings that support the researcher’s predictions should not
be omitted.
3. Present the analysis in a clear, logically and organised manner. Establish
the interconnection between and among the data presented.
4. If there are tables to be presented, the heading must be in an inverted
pyramid form and must be consistent with the title under the table section of the List of
Tables.
5. Numerical data must be consistent with textual data.
6. Avoid over-generalizing and speculation that cannot be tested in the
foreseable future.

V. CHAPTER V SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS
The chapter contains the summary of findings, conclusions and
recommendations.

1. Summary of Findings
This section summarises the major findings discovered in each of the research
questions investigated and discussed in Chapter IV. Only the salient findings must be
presented - since it is condensed version of the findings. Follow the sequence of the
sub-problems in the Statement of the Problem (no new data must be introduced in the
Findings) No further discussion is needed in enumerating the findings.

The Summary of Findings should not be duplicated in the conclusion. Summary

of Findings are brief answers to the research questions while conclusions are general
ideas discovered from the results obtained after conducting the study.

2. Conclusions
 These are generalised statements that answers the sub-problems which are valid
outgrowth of the findings. The conclusions must be based only on the findings hence,
if there are three summarised results, there should only be three conclusions.
Flexibility may be considered in making conclusions. It is not a must that
concluions be on a one to one correspondence with the problems and the findings as
all variables can be subsumed in one paragraph.

C. Recommendations
Recommendations are drawn from the conclusions of the study and must solve
the problem. Recommendations are geared towards education and practical utilitiy.. i.e.
must be feasible to be implemented, workable, doable, adaptable and feasible.
If the researcher recommends the enactment of a law or amendment of a law (or
particular provision/s of a particular law) the researcher must draft the proposed law or
the proposed amendment. In addition, the researcher may recommend that a further
studies be conducted.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. CHAPTER
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Conceptual Framework
Assumptions
Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitations
Definition of Terms

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

III. METHODOLOGY OR RESEARCH DESIGN

IV. PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

V. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
CURRICULUM VITAE
 CHAPTER HEADINGS

1. The middle headings. Each chapter has a middle heading placed 3 single spaces
below the chaper number. The following are the middle headings written in all caps.
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
METHODOLOGY
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

2. Left side headings

CHAPTER I
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Conceptual Framework
Assumptions
Hypotheses
Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitations of the Study
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER II
Related Literature
Related Studies
Synthesis
Chapter II may have paragraph headings e.g. Foreign Studies, Local Studies

CHAPTER III
Research Design
Determination of Sample Size
Sampling Design and Technique
The Subjects
Research Instrument

CHAPTER IV - The left side headings are based on the specific questions in the
Statement of the Problem but are stated in declarative form. If there are four sub-
questions in Chapter I, there must be four left side headings.

CHAPTER V.
General Summary of the Study
Summary of FIndings
Conclusions
Recommendations
References:

Methods of Research and Thesis Writing by Laurentina Paler-Calmorin and Melchor

Calmorin
Thesis Writing, Judge Charito M. Sawali
Writing Publishable Format Research Papers, Dr. Jesus Briones