GUIDELINES AND FORMAT OF THESIS

Thesis/Dissertation formats shall follow the basic formatting style of the 7th Edition of
the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2020).

1. General Rules

 The preferred APA font is a serif typeface, Times New Roman with 12-
point size for texts and tables. A sans serif font such as Courier is required
for figures.
 Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract,
text, headings, block quotations, reference list, table and figure
notes, and appendices, not justified.
 Have a 1 ½ inch margin for the left side while 1 inch for the other three
sides of the paper.
 Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.
 Insert a line segment with a width of 1.5 pt. in the header.
 Do not indicate the page numbers on the Title page and Chapter pages.
 Pagination of the Preliminary parts should be in Roman numerals, written
in lower case at the center of the bottom page.
 Pagination of the body, references, and appendices should be placed at
the upper right-hand corner below the top line segment.
 Provide separate title pages for references and appendices written in
boldface, and capital letters at the center of the page.
 The entire paper should be written in short-sized bond papers.
 The entire paper should be written in the past tense except for those
parts that need to follow the use of the present tense.

2. Italics
 Level 3 and Level 5 paragraph headings.
 Statistical terms such as M, SD, F, r, t, or p
 Titles of journals and books, and volume numbers
 Anchors of a scale such as 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)
 An important term or phrase that you wish to emphasize the first time you
mention it in your paper

3. On Tables (See Appendix A)

 The heading “Table 1” is bold and placed above the table. Tables require
a title, written in italics, title case, and should be placed below the Table
number.
 Use no vertical lines and observe the three-line rule.
 Use Note, when necessary, instead of Scale.
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  Number tables in the order they are first mentioned in the text.

 Do not write “the table above” or “the table below”. Use “As shown
in Table 2, the …” or (see Table 2).
 The Table should be placed (before) “after” (refer to page 7) the discussion of its
contents.
 Table body (cells) may be single-spaced, one-and-a-half-spaced, or
doubled-spaced depending on what format creates the most
effective presentation of the data.
 Table numbers should be left-aligned.

4. On Figures (See Appendix B)

 Number figures in the order they are first mentioned in the text.
 The heading “Figure 1” is bold and placed above the figure. Figures
require a title, written in italics, title case, and should be placed below
the Figure number.
 Within figure images, use a Sans Serif font (Courier) with a type
size between 8 and 14 pts.
 Do not write “the figure above” or “the figure below”.
 Place labels close to the identified item.
 Axis labels on graphs should be parallel to their axes.
 The words within the image part of the figure may be single-spaced, one-
and-a-half-spaced, or doubled-spaced depending on what format creates
the most effective presentation of the data.
 Figure numbers should be left-aligned.

5. Preliminary Pages

Preliminary titles should be centered, written in boldface, upper and lower cases.
Page numbers in lowercase Roman numeral form should be written at the center of the
bottom page of the paper, except the Title Page.

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 Title Page
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
The title simply summarizes the main idea of the study with a style. The title should
not be more than 15 words and should reflect the content of the paper. It is typed in boldface,
uppercase and lowercase letters, centered between the left and right margins. Elements of the
title page are double-spaced, and an additional double-spaced blank line appears between the
title and byline. At least one double-spaced blank line also appears between the final
affiliation and any author note.

The Title Page should be written at the center of the paper. It contains the title of the
study, name of the school, address of the school, department/college they/he/she belong/s,
name/s of the researcher/s, and year of completion. (See Appendix C)

Approval Sheet
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
The Approval Page contains the title of the study, name/s of the researcher/s, name of
the adviser, name of the Resource Teacher, and the Dean of the Undergraduate Program.
Texts are written in double space. (See Appendix D)

Acknowledgment
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
A two-page acknowledgment page is allowable.

Dedication (Optional)
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This should be placed in one page only.

Abstract
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)

It is a single paragraph written in block format (without paragraph indention), its

appropriate length should not be more than 250 words and double-spaced. It summarizes the
problem, participants/respondents, overview of methods, results and conclusions.

Table of Contents
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
It contains the titles of the preliminary pages, chapter titles and component parts with
their corresponding page numbers.

List of Tables
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
All table titles should be written with their corresponding page numbers.

List of Figures
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 (Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
All figure titles should be written with their corresponding page numbers.

List of Appendices
(Level 1 heading is centered, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section includes letters or business correspondence such as permit to conduct
the study, copyright permission, informed consent, letter of request to the validators to
validate the instrument, among others. It may also include data gathering instrument or
questionnaire, curriculum vitae, and other pertinent documents. Appendices can be labeled
as “Appendix A1”, “Appendix A2”, “Appendix B1”, “Appendix B2”, “Appendix C1”,
“Appendix C2” and so on, only if the indicated appendix has many types.

A. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

Chapter I
Introductio
n
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)

Background of the Study

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section presents the background, concepts and realistic observation of the existence
of the problem.

Statement of the Problem

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section presents the interrogative statements which the researcher- thesis or
dissertation student-would like to answer.

Hypothesis/es
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Here the null hypothesis/es of the study is/are stated which aim to establish associations,
correlations or comparisons.

Theoretical Framework
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section presents the outline that serves as basis of the study.

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Conceptual Framework
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
The conceptual framework discusses the different kinds of variables that will be used.
This also discusses the associations, correlations, and/or the comparisons between and among
the variables used.

Significance of the Study

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section details the essential contributions of the research and its results to the
people, institutions, and community.

Example:
School Administrators
(Level 3 heading is flushed left, boldface italic, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Text begins as a new paragraph.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section provides the subjects, time, and similar other variables of the study. This also
includes the constraints and restrictions of the study.

Definition of Terms
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Here, important terms – words, phrases, acronyms and the like – will be conceptually and
operationally defined. The terms should be arranged alphabetically. In cases where a term to
be defined has sub-terms, these become the Level 4 headings and still be arranged
alphabetically.
Example:
Learning Styles
(Level 3 heading is flushed left, boldface italic, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Text begins as a new paragraph.
Visual.(Level 4 heading is indented, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase, and
ending with a period)Text begins on the same line and continues as a regular paragraph.

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 Chapter II
Review of Related Literature
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Samples of related literature are presented according to concept, subject or issue
being supported, and based on the objectives and statements of the problem. Reports on
particularly each of the related studies should present an analysis of the problem/s related to
the present study. Thematic presentation of topics should be observed.
Note: (Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)

Synthesis
This portion discusses the major findings of the literature.

Chapter III
Methodology
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
Place the introductory paragraph here.

Research Design
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This portion presents the appropriate blueprint of the study.

Participants of the Study

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section presents the characteristics and population of the respondents and/or
participants of the study conducted. Also, discuss how the sample size is determined and the
sampling technique/s used.

Research Instrument
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section discusses how the data gathering instruments are formulated. This also
discusses how the instrument is validated and reliability-tested.

Data Gathering Procedure

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section presents the detailed procedures on how the desired data are gathered.

Data Analysis Procedure

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This section explains how the gathered data are processed and analyzed. It includes
statistical procedures for both the descriptive and inferential data.

Ethical Consideration
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
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 This section contains voluntary participation, informed consent, anonymity,
confidentiality, potential for harm, disposal of data and dissemination of results.

Chapter IV
Presentation, Analyses, and Interpretation of Data
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This chapter shows the findings with analyses and interpretations. Tabular and/or
graphical presentation of the data are placed after the discussions.

Subtopic Based on the Statement of the Problem

(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
An introductory statement, table or figure and discussions for each statement of the
problem are properly presented in this section.

Chapter V
Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
(Level 1 Heading Is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)

Summary
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This presents the objectives, methodologies, respondents involved, data collected,
statistical tools used, and pertinent findings obtained in the study.

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Conclusions
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
These are brief and direct statements of findings drawn from the study or based on the
results obtained. These statements are, in fact, answers to the objectives or statements of the
problem. The conclusions also answer the research hypotheses tested.

Recommendations
(Level 2 heading is flushed left, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase)
This presents the suggestions and proposals of the researcher based on the findings
drawn. The recommendation includes statements on how the results of the study could be
used by the research community for present or future researches, particularly on aspects
which are apparently unclear or which need further inquiries.

Proposed Program
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lower case)
(e.g.- A 5-year Development Plan Proposal)

References
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase, and written on a separate page)
Use the American Psychological Association (APA) style in citing the sources used in
the study.
Appendices
(Level 1 heading is Centered, Boldface, Uppercase, and written on a separate page)
This section includes letters or business correspondence such as permit to conduct
the study, copyright permission, informed consent, letter of request to the validators to
validate the instrument, among others. It may also include data gathering instrument or
questionnaire, curriculum vitae, and other pertinent documents. Appendices can be labeled
as “Appendix A1”, “Appendix A2”, “Appendix B1”, “Appendix B2”, “Appendix C1”,
“Appendix C2” and so on, only if the indicated appendix has many types.

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 Appendix A
Sample Table

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 Appendix B
Sample Figure

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 Appendix C
Title Page of Thesis/Dissertation

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Appendix D
Approval
Sheet

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