THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MOTHERS

CARING FOR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED

WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

A Research Proposal
Presented to the
Faculty of
Maranatha Christian Academy
City of Imus, Cavite

In Partial fulfillment of the

Requirements for the course
Practical Research 1

Bonifacio, Andres B. Dela Cruz, Juan A.

Luna, Antonio H. Rizal, Jose Protacio R.
Silang, Gabriela P.

May 2023
GENERAL FORMAT OF THE PAPER
1. ALL ENTRIES SHOULD BE ARIAL, FONT SIZE 12, DOUBLE SPACE, JUSTIFY
margin. FOLLOW THE STYLE IN THIS FORMAT.
2. PAGE SHOULD APPEAR ON THE RIGHT UPPER CORNER, NO PAGING ON
SHEET WITH “CHAPTER 1, 2, 3” BUT INCLUDED IN COUNTING OF PAGES
(EXAMPLE- Chapter 1 is page 1 but “1” should not appear in the paper, next page will
be the page 2), PAGING SHOULD BE CONTINUOUS UP TO APPENDICES EXCEPT
FOR CV.
3. Follow the correct format for REFERENCES
• For textbooks or other reading materials- Author (Last name, First name), year.
complete title with number of edition , if any. Place of publish and name of publisher
• For Internet sources- Author, year. complete title. complete url or webpage.
Retrieval data
4. Related Literature and Studies should be from 2018 & up, or otherwise rephrase
if your related literature is “old”.
5. MARGIN: 1.27 INCHES ON TOP, 1.5 LEFT; 1 INCH RIGHT & BOTTOM.
6. EVERY CHAPTER SHOULD START ON A NEW SHEET.
7. SINCE THIS IS A PROPOSAL, DO NOT USE PAST TENSE.
8. Do not use 1st person account such as I, you, me, our..Refer to yourself as the
researcher.
9. Do not use block style; 1st sentence for each paragraph must be indented.
 ABSTRACT
Decision-making is a complex, vital, and essential process that individuals engage.
This is particularly true for those working in the health care sector. Nurses are health care
personnel who are primarily involved in decision-making. Given the changing times as
characterized by technological advances, changes in policies and regulations necessitate
a higher level of mature, comprehensive, accurate, and cognitive degree of decision
making. Decision-making processes are often obscured and not easily explained. They
know which antecedents are significant need to be considered when making a decision.
A quantitative, descriptive correlational study included a randomized sampling of 210
clinical nurse managers working in two different hospitals in China. The study used the
Theoretical Literacy Scale (TLS), the Role-required Skills Scale (RRSS), the
Transformational Leadership Scale (TFLS), and the Decision-Making Style (DMS).
Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and multiple linear
regression analysis were used to examine, interpret and analyze the gathered data.

Keywords: Theoretical Literacy; Role-Required Skills; Transformational Leadership;

Clinical Decision Making; Nurse Manager; Benner's Theory

IMRAD format:
Introduction (3-5 sentences) which includes the identification of the main problem.
Methodology (3-5 sentences)
What would be the output/how possibly the research will be able to help the area?

The thesis abstract contains essential statements about the research paper.It presents
the summary of the content of research topic. The abstract contains the rationale of the
study, framework of the study, AND methodology. It should not exceed 250 words.
APPROVAL SHEET
Approval sheet should follow the wordings and format given in the sample format.
Make sure that the proper term colloquium defense or final oral defense is used
depending on what is being applied for. Before submission, please make sure that the
complete name and proper title of the adviser and panel members are written.

Approval Sheet
This research proposal entitled, “The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Caring For
Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder,” prepared and submitted by
Andres B. Bonifacio, Juan A. Dela Cruz, Antonio H. Luna, Jose Protacio R. Rizal, and
Gabriela P. Silang, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course Practical
Research 1 Nursing has been examined and approved for oral defense.

[Name of Research Adviser]

Research Adviser
Thesis Review Panel
Approved by the Committee on Research Colloquium with a grade of _______.

Name Name
Member Member
Name
Chair
Approved and accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course
Practical Research 1.

[Name of Principal]
Principal
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ABSTRACT
APPROVAL SHEET
CHAPTER
1. THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Conceptual Framework

Statement of the Problem

Assumption

Significance of the Study

Scope and Limitations of the Study

Definition of Terms

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Themes (Arranged by topic)

Synthesis
3 METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Population and Sampling

Participants of the study

Instrumentation

Validation

Data Gathering Procedure

Data Analysis

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

CURRICULUM VITAE
 Chapter 1 (Separate sheet)

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction
An introduction is a crucial part of the study because it gives the readers a road map of
what they can expect in reading the paper. It is important to write a solid background of
the study. It must fulfill at least two (2) major tasks. First, it must provide the big umbrella
under which the topic is found. This helps the researcher situate the study within the larger
realm of things and within the researcher’s field of experience. Second, it must generate
curiosity in the readers to know more about the study. In the background of the study, it
is important to state some of the disturbing, shocking, surprising, exciting facts about the
topic the researcher is writing about. The researcher must have a clear idea of what the
problem is. The researcher may use personal experiences, practical situations, or social
/political issues of literatures in exploring the problem. The researcher should start with
the strengths, the best practices of the organization, institution, or research setting that
the researcher is planning to explore. A literature review should provide an overview of
concepts that will be discussed in the study. It should better prepare the reader for the
study and results. The literature review sets the context, the stage of the study. The
researcher needs to include literature review to establish the purpose of the study and
what needs to be done. Unlike quantitative research, the review of related literature in
qualitative research is only cursory or not extensive to help focus the study. It may also
provide an orienting paradigm and the thorough review of what is already known about
the subject of the research to be done after data generation and analysis. However, it is
the prerogative also of the researcher to discuss the RRL extensively but should take
note of the dangers/red flags when writing it extensively as it will be discussed also in
data analysis.
In the introduction, the researcher may opt to use first person or third person but must be
consistent all throughout the study.

Three things to consider when writing the literature review:

1. Write a synthesized synopsis of current literature; not a list of everything that has ever
been written about said subject.
2. The review should include 3-5 important concepts the readers need to understand to
be properly setup for the study and findings.
3. Include any theories that will be used in data collection and data analysis.
Format
3 – 5 pages only
• from macro to micro point of view
• support with previous studies conducted (2018-2023)
• 1-3 pages introduction
• last paragraph (what motivated you to conduct the study?)
• Ideally, minimum of 6 paragraphs and with 5 – 10 sentences per paragraph.
Consistency on the sentence statement is needed as 10 to 15 words. Use of
transitional devices are encouraged. APA 7th referencing style.
• 1st paragraph – general ideas, could be macro to micro depending on the
research gaps, research locale, & research methodology. First paragraph must be
striking to catch the attention of the readers but consider the research topic and
research design.
• 2nd paragraph – this entails the research gaps and the local gaps to capture the
bigger picture of scenario
• 3rd paragraph – this must be seen highlighting the problem of the study. There
is a need to really establish the seriousness of the problem
• 4th paragraph - the possible solutions and interventions of the study. Provide at
least one sentence on how beneficiaries will be benefited.
• 5th paragraph – miscellaneous supports (legal sources, technical guidelines,
national and international sources) to intensify the cause of doing the research
• 6th paragraph– personal conviction (what prompted you to consider the topic)
and also the relevance of the topic to you as the researcher.
• Note: 3Cs in Chapter 1 – Clarity, Coherence and Comprehensiveness
Add ons:
• Local data
• Addresses the challenges
• Specific details about the problem
• Local studies (research gaps)
• Possible local solutions (output)
Sample:

Theoretical Framework (look for theories that are related to your study)
Sample:
The present study was conceptualized along Theodore W. Schultz’ (1961) Human
Capital Theory.
Theodore W. Schultz’ (1961) Human Capital Theory rested on the assumption that
formal education is highly instrumental and even necessary to improve the production
capacity of a population. In short, the human capital theorists argue that an educated
population is a productive population.
Human capital theory emphasized how education increases the productivity and
efficiency of workers by increasing the level of cognitive stock of economically
productive human capability which is a product of innate abilities and investment in
human beings. The provision of formal education is seen as a productive investment in
human capital, which the proponents of the theory have considered as equally or even
more equally worthwhile than that of physical capital.
This theory is relevant to the present study since education, training or professional
development raise the productivity and employment status of employees by acquiring
and imparting knowledge and skills.
The belief that education is an engine of growth rests on the quality and quantity of
education in any country and highly instrumental and even necessary to improve the
production capacity of a nation.
Note: Discussion of the relevance of the theory is indeed necessary to explore its details
to the present study. If theories used alone, a framework or illustration on theoretical
framework may be further used.

Conceptual Framework/ Research Paradigm

• This part also includes the figure that represents the paradigm of the study. Prior
to the presentation of the paradigm, there is a need to discuss/explain the figure
clearly, completely and comprehensively. Clarifies the relationship existing
between or among the independent and dependent variables in the study.
• Its mandatory that all studies are required with conceptual framework and
paradigm.

“A conceptual framework is an analytical tool that is used to get a comprehensive

understanding of a phenomenon. It can be used in different fields of work and is most
commonly used to visually explain the key concepts or variables and the relationships
between them that need to be studied.”

“A paradigm is a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. A paradigm is a way of looking

at something. The word paradigm comes up a lot in the academic, scientific, and
business worlds. ... When you change paradigms, you're changing how you think about
something. A paradigm is a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. A paradigm is a way
of looking at something. The word paradigm comes up a lot in the academic, scientific,
and business worlds. ... When you change paradigms, you're changing how you think
about something.”
Though the terms might have been used interchangeably, in fact, they refer to different
things. Theoretical framework in a study is based on an existing theory or theories (e.g.,
a theory of motivation). The conceptual framework, on the other hand, is something you
can develop yourself based on this theory.
A conceptual framework is a description or depiction of any given system that illustrates
the key relationships between the elements of that system. Their purpose is, generally
speaking, to facilitate an understanding of a network of ideas in accessible terms
If you will use Independent Variables- Dependent Variables, use conceptual theory that
will best support your research paradigm.
(Note: For qualitative study, use Conceptual Framework- this is a researcher-made
framework)
Purpose Statement / Research Objectives (Qualitative)
The purpose statement is a statement that evolves the overall direction or focus for the
study. It is the main goal of the study. It must be aligned very closely with the problem
statement and the title of the study. A purpose statement is a declarative sentence which
summarizes the specific topic and goals of a document. It is typically included in the
introduction to give the reader an accurate, concrete understanding what the document
will cover and what the researcher can gain from reading it. It is also in the purpose
statement where the grand tour question is stated.
To be effective, a statement of purpose should be:
• Specific and precise - not general, broad or obscure
• Concise - one or two sentences
• Clear - not vague, ambiguous or confusing
• Goal-oriented - stated in terms of desired outcomes
The “script” for a qualitative purpose statement is the following:
The purpose of this _________________(strategy of inquiry, such as phenomenology,
descriptive qualitative or other type) study is to ____________ (understand? Describe? Develop?
Discover?) the ____________(central phenomenon being studied) for __________ (the
participants, such as the individual, groups, organization) at ____________(research site). At this
stage in the research, the ____________(central phenomenon being studied) will be generally
defined as ____________ (provide a general definition).

Additional Tips:
• Writing your statement of the problems varies according to the research design.
The SOP/ Research Objectives must have a general problem ending with a period
(declarative statement) while your specific problem ends with an interrogative question.
The General problem of the study must be anchored to its representation in the title.
• Specific problems must answer the general problems as well.
• Research Objectives are more general and may not be addressing directly or yet
a problem
• Sources of SOP/Research Objectives: Review of literature and studies, theories
and preliminary data gathering especially in qualitative research that is why it is
important to conduct a non-formal interview in this manner.
• Qualitative designs begin at central questions and specific questions are
depending on the said philosophy.
Assumptions (Qualitative)
An assumption is an unexamined belief: what we think without realizing we think it. Our
inferences (also called conclusions) are often based on assumptions that we haven't
thought about critically. A critical thinker, however, is attentive to these assumptions
because they are sometimes incorrect or misguided. The assumption should be used
for qualitative research. It also indicates a prediction, a statement of what specific
results or outcomes are expected in the study.
Sample:

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The scope of a study explains the extent to which the research area will be investigated.
It also specifies the parameters within which the study will be operating. This simply
means that it clarifies what the study is going to cover and what its concentration is.
Similarly, the study also needs to specify what the study is not going to cover and this will
come under the limitations.
• This refers to answer the following questions:
What is the study all about?
Who will be part of the study?
When and where the study to be conducted?
How the study will be conducted? Includes Inclusion and Exclusion criteria but
avoid repetition in the Chapter 3
Why the study needs to be conducted (DELIMITATIONS)?
Declare the WEAKNESS OF THE Study
Declare the things that you cannot do anymore but important to the study
Sample:
Significance of the Study
The significance of the study basically highlights the importance of the research
study being conducted. It determines who benefits from the study and how that specific
audience will gain from its findings. It may be stated primarily in a broader sense and
then narrowed down to demonstrate the specific group that will benefit from the study.

Findings and recommendations of this study could be beneficial to the following:

• This refers to the beneficiaries of the study. Identify at least five (5) beneficiaries.
• Must be arranged from mostly to least benefited (macro to micro benefits)
• Consistency is required, it must answer the following questions: Whom will be
benefited? What are the benefits? How they will be benefited? and why they must be
benefited?
• 3 to 5 sentence-discussions are expected for each beneficiary

School Administration. …

School of Nursing. …

Clinical Instructors….

Nursing Students. …

Future Researchers (should be the last)

NOTE: Identify who will benefit from your study and how will they benefit from the
results of the study. Arrange from most to least benefited.

Definitions of Terms
This part is intended to assist readers in understanding terms used in the study.
Such terms may include general words and/or phrases defined within the context of how
they are applied in the study. It is essential that important terms be defined so that a
common understanding of key concepts and terminology between the researcher and
his/her audience is ensured. This is most especially true if the term is unusual or not
widely known.
The following terms are operationally defined within the scope of the study:
(Key words can be identified from the title and variables that need to be defined in
relation to your study. Remember operational, not conceptual definition.)

Clear definitions should be stated for all important variables, especially if these
are to be measure by means of specific instruments or a combination of devices.
This includes conceptual and operational definition of important terms as used
in the study.
Operational Definition means how the terms are used in the study. Although,
content and conceptual definition may also be included, operational definitions are
preferred. The terms are arranged in alphabetical order and should be written in
complete sentences.
Sample:
 Chapter 2 (on separate sheet)

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES (should be about at least 10

pages/ 20-30 pages)

This chapter provides review of related literature and studies, both local and
foreign which are related to the study.

It should be presented by THEMES

Caring
Caring Behavior
Nursing and Caring

(This chapter should be arranged by topic, integrating both local and foreign literatures
and studies). Areas of research are as ff:

Local Literature – includes primary or secondary related literatures from reference

materials such as books, journals/ periodicals, websites, newspaper, speeches,
encyclopedia, patient’s medical records, handouts, manuals, etc… Local or Filipino
authors

Foreign Literature – includes primary or secondary related literatures from reference

materials such as books, journals/ periodicals, websites, newspaper, speeches,
encyclopedia, nursing literatures, etc with foreign authors, nursing theorists or other
theorists from different fields of studies- medicine, psychology, sociology, education, etc
that are relevant to your study

Local Studies- includes research studies, undergraduate/ graduate theses or doctoral

dissertations from Filipino students or researchers, thesis review, abstract of studies,
published or unpublished

Foreign Studies – as above but with foreign authors, published or unpublished, internet
sources
(Arranged by topic with sources – author/s and year of publication only; proper citation)

Tips for Related Literatures/ Studies

The study should use ONLY RECENT MATERIALS (the date must be at most
ten/ but prefer five (5) years to date) except for Historical, Ethnographic and Grounded
Theory design
The order follows the presentation of the variables of the study. For each
variable, the related literature and studies are presented in accordance to the
PARADIGM OF THE STUDY
This could be presented thematically based on the relevance of the variables in
the present study
Use transitional devices in the connecting the relevance of each study
*an antiplagiarism is to be used (TURNITIN) to detect copy and paste insights of the
review of literature and studies. Sources may be rephrased in the context of the original
author.
Sample:
Synthesis
Includes the summary of related literatures and studies, pointing their similarities
and differences from your present studies. 1 – 2 pages only.
Sample:
 Chapter 3 (separate sheet)

METHODOLOGY

Research Design
This study will use the _________________________ research design to (state
purpose of the study), (You may define or state the purpose of the study… you may
quote the definition from the book and cite your source/s).
RESEARCH DESIGN – is a plan, structure, strategy of investigation so conceived as to
obtain to answers in research questions or problem. The plan is the complete scheme
or program of the research.
Identify your methodology and its specific strategy relevant to your undertaking in this
Thesis and Dissertation. Explain what is the methodology and how it will be
implemented in terms of its strategy (e.g. Mixed Methodology Sequential Exploratory or
Descriptive Correlation or Qualitative – Phenomenology). It is more important to
discuss how the methodology be applied in this study. Considering the framework. It is
necessary to be more specific in the methodology
(e.g. Quantitative –Descriptive Cross-Sectional Design – Applied Research thru Non-
Experimental Retrospective Approach).
Things to ponder!
1. How to choose a research design?
1.1 nature of the research problem
1.2 amount of resources available to do the research
1.3 amount of time available to do research
1.4 possible danger to health or safety of people
1.5 field where little research has been done previously
1.6 availability of valid, reliable, sensitive, meaningful measurements, degree of
refinement of the measurement of variables
1.7 extent to which we can enlist the cooperation of our study – easier to obtain
cooperation
1.8 degree to which we (the researchers) hope to explain causality
2. Types of designs
2.1 According to time element – historical, descriptive, experimental
2.2 According to level of investigations – descriptive, experimental, exploratory
2.3 According to motives/intention – pure or basic and applied or practical
2.4 According to duration/time – retrospective, prospective, longitudinal and cross-
sectional
2.5 According to types of data – quantitative and qualitative / triangulation

Population and Sampling

This section describes the target population and the sample frame. Population refers to
the complete enumeration of the individuals possessing the characteristics which are of
interest to the researcher for inferential purposes. The study population is required for
studies involving humans and animals. This section states the number of study subjects
required to enter and complete the study. A brief definition of the type of study subject
required is also described. Sampling or sample, on the other hand, is a procedure of
drawing a fraction of the population for the purpose of determining certain
characteristics of the population.
The researcher describes the sampling procedures in detail. The sampling technique
used in the choices of subjects/ respondents for the study explains how the sample /
group was selected, whether it is representative of the population of interest.
Participants of the Study
The student researchers place here the well-defined population and the total enumeration
or delimited population in terms of the percentage of samples or respondents used in the
study. Student researchers should explain very well in this part of the study the
characteristics of the respondents and the reasons why they have been chosen as
respondents. The number of respondents depends on the extensiveness / intensiveness
of verifiable data needed in the study. The inclusion criteria describe the criteria each
study subject must satisfy to enter the study. These criteria may include, but are not
limited to the following: age, sex, race, diagnosis/condition, method of diagnosis, and
diagnostic test. The exclusion criteria detail the criteria that would eliminate a study
subject from participation in the study.

Research Instrument
A Research Instrument is a tool used to collect, measure, and analyze data related to
your subject. In qualitative research, the primary instrument is the researcher but
assisted with guided questions.
Content of Questions:
• Must pertain to the hypothesized relation of variables
• Must provide answers to the stated research questions
• Must attain the research objectives
• Must relate to the theoretical framework
• Must be stated in words whose meaning is understood in the same way by the
respondent and the researcher

Researchers may consider the following characteristics of a good research instrument:

1. It has been validated and has been proven reliable. It should be one that can
collect data in a way that’s appropriate to the research question being asked.
2. It must be able to assist in answering research aims, objectives, and research
questions.
3. It should not have any bias in the way that data is collected and it should be clear
as to how the research instrument should be used appropriately.

Validation of the Research Instrument

The student researchers include here the procedure that the instrument was validated.
Student researchers cite only the position / expertise of the people who validated the
instrument. Their full names and designation should be mentioned in the
acknowledgment. The student researchers are therefore required to indicate the result
of the test of the reliability of the instrument (if any).
Data Gathering Procedure
This section contains the procedure followed by the researcher from the time of
distribution of the instrument / questionnaire up to the time of retrieval. The student
researchers give a precise narration of the procedure. They explain the details of every
step / procedure undertaken in the course of gathering of data. The student researchers
shall mention the name of the officials where they sent the letter of permission to conduct
the data gathering. The research instrument should consider an ethically sound data
gathering procedure.

Data Analysis
Data analysis is defined as a process of cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to
discover useful information for research-based decision-making. The purpose of Data
Analysis is to extract useful information from data and taking the decision based upon the
data analysis. This section presents in detail how the researcher arrives at meaningful
insights from a mass of data. Depending on the method chosen, the researcher needs to
discuss this in detail. The last part of this section discusses reflexivity or how researcher
bias/es is/are reduced in the course of data collection and analysis (since these are
concurrent processes). There are various tools that can be used to analyze qualitative
data. Among these are content analysis, comparative analysis, pattern matching and
those proposed by Colaizzi, van Kaam, Giorgi, van Manen, and Streubert (as cited in
Streubert and Carpenter, 2011). The most common and generic qualitative data analysis
approach is the thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke (2012).
Ethical Considerations
Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of research. In addition,
it educates and monitors scientists conducting research to ensure a high ethical standard.
In practice, these common ethical principles mean that as a researcher, you need to: (a)
obtain informed consent from potential research participants; (b) minimize the risk of harm
to participants; (c) protect their anonymity and confidentiality; (d) avoid using deceptive
practices; and (e) give participants the right to withdraw.

Research Misconducts
a) Fabrication - making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
(b) Falsification - manipulating research materials, or changing or omitting data or
results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
(c) Plagiarism - the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words
without giving appropriate credit.
(d) Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
*There is a need to secure approval from the PWU Ethics Committee and permit to
respectives research locale
References
1. The full publication information of all sources cited in the manuscript should be
provided in a References which is placed after the text but preceding the Appendix. The
layout as well as the title of the References (Works Cited, References) using APA 7th
Edition depends on the guideline that is being followed. Use year 2017 up.
2. If the thesis/dissertation has been compiled from a series of articles, the
references must still be combined into a single, comprehensive Bibliography.
3. References are listed alphabetically. No need to categorize whether the
references are in Book/ Journals/ Electronic Sources/ Unpublished Thesis/Dissertation.
Encouraged to use published credible materials with known resources.
Appendices
1. The appendices contain material that is pertinent to the text, but not directly
included (raw data, questionnaires, consent forms, etc.). If there is only one appendix, it
is called "APPENDIX” (not Appendix A) and is given a title.
Appendix should include:
• Sample Letter : a) Letter of Request to __________ (to request permission to
conduct study) ; b) Letter to Heads (if needed); c) Letter to Participants (for consent); d)
Letter to Validators (if needed)
• Sample questionnaire

Curriculum vitae: This includes

the name and picture of the researcher (note: formal 2x2 pictures should only be
accepted),
personal details (address, age, date of birth, place of birth, civil status, nationality
religious affiliation, telephone number, cellphone number, and email account),
educational background (primary to secondary, inclusive years, name of school
and address of the school),
awards and honors (type of honor and date, place or setting where the award
was given),
affiliations (organizations and inclusive date of membership),
related extra-curricular activities (clubs and other organizations related to
academics); and
interests
2-3 pages only