SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

Program: __________________________________ Course:

___________________________________
Adviser: ___________________________________ Advisee: __________________________________
Date Received: _____________________________ Date Released: ____________________________

Title of Research: _________________________________________________________________________

READ: This guide together with the thesis/dissertation will be returned to the adviser if found by
the panel that any of the items in column 2 has not been complied with.

Item ITEMS FOR REVIEW (√) Complied Page No. Adviser’s

(X) Not Com. If Complied Signature
No.
(“) Not App.
1 TITLE PAGE
 Title less than 20 words
2 APPROVAL SHEET
 Four panel members for thesis
 Five panel members for dissertation
3 PRELIMINARIES
 Acknowledgment
 Dedication
4 ABSTRACT
 Not more than 200 words; not indented; concise
single ¶; past tense; general objective/purpose;
method; key findings; conclusion; implications and/or
contribution
 Keywords not more than 15 words/items written in
italics following the order: field, variables, chief
statistical analysis/approach, Philippines (ex.
education, teaching practices, school climate,
transformational leadership, mediating effect,
Philippines)
5 TABLE OF CONTENTS/LIST OF TABLES/LIST OF FIGURES
 Page nos. match content

6 INTRODUCTION

Clearly state the problematic issues or concerns in

connection with your dependent variable (DV) or MAIN
TOPIC with sources
 Provide empirical and theoretical bases

___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

Discuss the importance of studying the DV and the

contributions of studies already conducted about it

Provide here the implications of previous works leading

to the reason and purpose of the current study

Describe the link/connection between IV and DV; IV and

MV; MV and DV

Present various literature and related studies that

describe the correlation between and among measures
involving: IV and DV; IV and MV; and MV and DV

Present one anchor theory that explains the

interrelationship between IV, MV and DV - a theory has a
name
 Discuss 3 support theory/ proposition/ model/
framework that describes the impact/influence of IV
and MV on DV
 Inject personal discourse on the chosen
theory/proposition/model/study

Present and discuss the conceptual framework of the

study. Introduce the source for every variable with
indicators
 Provide one author for every variable, not several
authors (refer to your adapted instrument)
 Define here your variables in the context of the
adapted instrument
 Provide one sentence definition for each indicator
under each variable

Discuss the research gap (what’s lacking/not yet explored

about the topic; uniqueness of the study), and its urgency
(reason for conducting the study in the locale)

Present the primary and specific objectives of the study

in paragraph form.
 Provide one descriptive objective for each variable &
another statistical/inferential objective (significance
of the relationship/ influence/
mediation/moderation)

Discuss the significance of the study:

___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

 Discuss the global significance (contribution to

literature) and social value (contribution to humanity
and community) of the study
 Identify the specific institution, sector, industry,
groups/community who will directly benefit from the
study. Include benefits to future researchers

7 METHOD

Research Respondent (or Dataset or Study Area)

Describe the target population/universe (key profile)

 Mention common attributes or characteristics
 State the sample size, the derivation process and
justification with literature support
 Describe the distribution of samples per category
or cluster (in paragraph form)

Describe the sampling technique or the selection

procedure and its justification for use with literature
support

Discuss inclusion, exclusion and withdrawal criteria of

target respondents or datasets or study area

Describe your study locale (no need for a map)

 Provide geographic descriptions of the locale
 Justify the selection of the study locale by describing
the condition or state of the main topic or the
dependent variable
Materials and Instrument

Describe the instruments used for each variable being

measured (e.g. form, scale, parts and source)
 Provide the appropriate interpretation scale that can
be used for all the data collected across the variables
used in the study

Discuss the pre-testing procedure if the instrument used is

a researcher-made (pilot testing), its reliability score and
description (Cronbach alpha test score). Also, state the
average validation rating of expert validators (if
applicable)
___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

Design and Procedure

Discuss the appropriate study design used with author;

justify its use & its perspective to the study (e.g.
education, business, etc.)
 Describe the special and/or specific approach or
technique or model or analysis to be used in the study
and its role in the achievement of study objectives
 Discuss typology of research in terms of objective
dimension and time dimension

Discuss in detail key steps and procedures that were

undertaken (from asking permission to conduct the study
up to tabulation of data) in the collection of data
 Include in the narratives personal experience in the
data collection
 Indicate time or period covered by the data collection

Enumerate the statistical treatments (e.g. descriptive,

inferential), and analysis (path analysis/Sobel z-test/SEM)
used to achieve each research objective

Discuss the nature and steps implemented to comply

with the research ethics
 No need to describe each of the ethics clause that was
complied. Just highlight key provisions
 Mention the approved or issued UMERC certification
number
 Compliance certificate from UMERC is required before
actual data collection

8 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Present the descriptive tables for each variable (present

the summary means of all indicators and the overall mean
of the latent variable)
 Present the level or extent of IV, DV and/or MV (if
applicable)
 Provide at least one paragraph to describe each table
(focus on the overall mean, the data patterns/trends,
the highest and lowest means and the standard
deviation)
 Literature support not needed in this chapter
___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

Provide at least two discussion paragraphs for each

research objective (descriptive):
 Explain and interpret the results of the study
 Explicate and provide implication or meaning of the
findings
 Provide discussion on how the result of the study
supports or disproves the literature (both theoretical
and empirical evidence)

Enhance the discussion on descriptive findings by utilizing

the item statements from the tabulated results as
appended in the paper

Place the tables containing the indicators of the variables

along with the item statements in the appendix section of
the paper

Present the inferential tables (individual/aggregate

correlation/regression between variables) with reference
to study objectives indicating significance level and the
decision on the hypothesis or assumption
 Correlation/regression between IV and DV; MV and
DV; and IV and MV; Mediation/moderation role or
effect of MV (full or partial or none); Path Analysis
(analysis of different paths); SEM
 Provide at least one paragraph to describe each table
(focus on the overall significance level and the decision
on the hypothesis/assumption)
 Describe the significance level. If the probability value
is less than 0.05, hypothesis is rejected; if more than
0.05, not rejected
 Describe other relevant statistical significance and
inferential aspects of the results
 Literature support not needed in this chapter

Provide at least two discussion paragraphs for each

research objective (inferential):
 Explain and interpret the results of the study
 Explicate and provide implication or meaning of the
findings
 Provide discussion on how the result of the study
supports or disproves the literature (both theoretical
and empirical evidence)
___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

Remember that the discussion per paragraph must be

brief, straightforward yet very comprehensive in a story
line format

Note: Writing Mechanics

 Side head/label for every research objective in bold
font
 Statistical table for every research objective
 Table number in whole number placed in upper left
hand corner
 Table title in italics in upper left hand corner under the
Table number

9 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

Provide at least 3 paragraphs to encapsulate the results

and findings of the study
 1st paragraph: contains the descriptive findings
 2nd paragraph: contains the inferential findings on the
correlation/regression between variables;
mediation/moderation role or effect of MV (full or
partial or none); path analysis (analysis of different
paths); or SEM
 3rd paragraph: contains a statement whether the
results of the study support or disprove the theoretical
underpinnings of the study (the theoretical framework
of the study)
Recommendation

Provide recommendations that are based on the

findings/results of the study (utilize those items with the
lowest ratings in the appended result per indicator)
 Recommendation must be specific and viable, directed
towards those entities mentioned in the significance of
the study

REFERENCES
10  Follow prescribed referencing style (ex. Harvard, APA,
MLA)

___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

 Alphabetical order
 All in-text citations must appear in the reference
section (correct spelling, correct year)
APPENDICES
11  Page break for every appendix with page # but none
for appended documents
Suggested appendices:
 Specific item results (descriptive and inferential)
 Modified/contextualized/researcher-made survey
questionnaire/interview guide/checklist
 Research instrument validation sheets
 Summary of instrument validation ratings from panel
 Approved letters on the conduct of the study
 One sample filled-out Informed Consent Form (hide
respondent’s information)
 One sample of Certificate of Appearance
 UMERC certification
 Public forum/Paper presentation certification
 Editor’s Certification
 Grammarly Report
 Turnit-in Plagiarism Report
 Curriculum Vitae
FORMAT
12  Font size: 12”
 Font style: Arial
 Paper size: Short-size
 Margin: 1.2” left, 1” right, 1.2” top, 1.0” bottom
 Page # upper right hand
 No big vacant space within the chapter
 No artistic fonts for preliminary pages
 No word contractions (e.g. won’t, didn’t, etc.)
 Avoid one sentence ¶ and one whole page ¶
 Numbers below 1-9 (in words); Numbers 10-above (in
figures)
 Wiki and blogs are not acceptable references
 Avoid no year references/sources for cited author
 Citing the title of article (if no author) and only year of
retrieval (if no date)
 No web sites/search engines as in-text citation; only in
the reference section
13 Tenses:
 Introduction – present tense
 Method – past tense
___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza
SUGGESTED THESIS/DISSERTATION REVIEW GUIDE FOR ADVISERS & STUDENTS

 Result and Discussion – past tense but present tense for

inferential statements and general knowledge
 Conclusion and Recommendation – present tense but
past tense for statements referring to results and
literature review.

REMARKS

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________
Signature of Adviser

Note:
1. The ultimate use of this guide is to have complete, substantial paper before routing the revised thesis/dissertation to the panel for review.
2. Another use of this guide is for the adviser to have a thorough evaluation of the paper before endorsing for outline defense (Items 1, 6, 7, 10, 12
and 13) or final defense (all items).
3. No paper shall be allowed for defense unless this guide (accomplished by the adviser) is attached to the thesis/dissertation proposal

___________________________
Excerpt from the book of Dr. Gloria P. Gempes and Dr. Reynaldo O. Cuizon entitled Non-Experimental
Quantitative Research: A User Friendly Manual
Revised as of June 1, 2018
Updated as of January 3, 2021 by Dr. Joel B. Tan and Dr. Maria Linda B. Arquiza