Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

BULAN CAMPUS
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Bulan, Sorsogon

GUIDE IN WRITING THE THESIS MANUSCRIPT

(Chapters 1 TO 5)

Abstract [1 page; 300-500 words]

▪ Provide a short summary of your study.
▪ It should contain significant but few sentences related
to:
o background of the study
o main research objectives
o methodology
o results and findings
o implications and recommendations of the study.
▪ In single spaced

Chapter I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study [3-5 pages]

▪ Brief overview of the topic with reference to existing
literature, such as studies, news, online, reports, etc.
In other words, what is known or happening in relation to
that topic. (If applicable, you may present it from a
macro to micro level or from a global/national
perspective to your research locale)
▪ Identify the problem/gap and justify the need to be
addressed.
▪ What is the main goal of the study?
▪ What is the main argument or the thesis statement? It is
what the researchers believe about the topic under study.
▪ What is the contribution/significance of your study to
the field of Public Administration and Management [for
BPA] or field of Business, Management and Accounting [for
BSA/BSAIS]?

B. Statement of the Problem [3-6 specific questions/objectives]

▪ What is the main and general statement that needs to
be done or accomplished in the study?
▪ What are the specific questions/objectives need to be
answered/ satisfied convincingly to fill the gap?

C. Significance of the Study

▪ Identify the different stakeholders that will benefit
in the outcome of the study and state the practical and
theoretical benefits to each of them.
▪ The stakeholders are the concerned groups and
individuals (including future researchers) who are the
beneficiaries of the study’s result.

D. Scope and Delimitation

▪ When, who, where, and what are coverage and are included
in the study?
▪ What is the limitation or shortcomings of the study
and where the results (of the study) may not apply?
E. Definition of Terms
▪ How are the different key concepts and variables defined
in the context of the study? (You can find the key
concepts & variables to be defined from the statement of
the problem). Define them operationally based on how they
are used or what they mean in the study.
▪ Also, indicate how they are measured in the study? (if
applicable)

Chapter II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE & STUDIES

A. Relevant Theories
▪ Cite related theories (at least 2) that provide the
study with a general framework in conducting the study
and in data analysis.
▪ How do these theories serve as guide, model or
framework to your study?

B. Related Literature and Studies

▪ Organize the review of related literature using the

Thematic method (or you may use Chronological,
Methodological & Theoretical, if applicable)
▪ Identify the key themes/constructs of your study and
integrate the various existing literature and studies
regarding the constructs/concepts included in the study.
▪ Identify the similarities, differences, inadequacies,
inconsistencies in the findings & methodologies used in
those various related literature and studies to address
the topic?

C. Synthesis of the state-of-art

• Summarize the general findings of the various related

literature and studies cited, according to the key
construct or variables of the study.

D. Gap bridged by the study

• Briefly point out the “gap” that your study fills in.

E. Conceptual Framework

▪ Identify the constructs/concepts/variables (that are used

in the study) and describe their relation to one another.
[you can find this from your statement of the problem].
▪ Use an illustration to demonstrate their relation.

F. Hypothesis of the Study

• With reference to the theories and literature review,

what are the hypotheses that the researchers can
speculate in regard to the results of the study.
• Using the statement of the problem and the research
questions of the study, provide your hypothesis of the
study (by stating your answers to each question).
• For qualitative and descriptive research, and when there
are no test of difference, correlation or association to
be done, there is NO NEED TO FORMULATE HYPOTHESIS.

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 Chapter III. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

A. Research Design
▪ State the type of research design used in the study?
(e.g., exploratory, descriptive, causal, qualitative,
quantitative, mixed design)
▪ What justifies the use of this research design?

B. Respondents of the study

▪ Identify the participants/respondents of the study and
where is the locale of the study?
▪ Explain the choice of the locale and the target
respondents.
▪ Describe the sampling technique used in selecting the
target participants/respondents.
▪ Describe how did you arrive at the number of target
participants.

C. Data Gathering Procedure

▪ Describe the data gathering techniques were used in the
study (e.g., survey, FGD, KII, etc.). Explain your choice
of the technique/s.
▪ Narrate how the data gathering goes in a chronological
fashion.

D. Research Instruments
▪ Describe the instruments were used to obtain the data.
▪ Provide justification or explanation the use of these
instruments. (e.g., related literature, results of pre-
test, results of test for internal consistency, etc.)
▪ Describe how the obtained data will be interpreted.

E. Data Analysis
▪ Describe the techniques/tools to be used to analyze the
data. (e.g., for quantitative research, descriptive
statistics, inferential statistics; and for qualitative
research, coding, thematic analysis, documentary
analysis, etc)
▪ Provide explanation or justification the use of these
techniques.

F. Ethical Considerations
▪ Describe what you intend to do to protect the rights of
the participants in the study? (e.g., right to privacy,
confidentiality, informed consent, etc.)

Chapter IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Demographic Profile of the Respondents (if only applicable

or suggested)

B. Section this part according to the Research Questions in the

Statement of the Problem or to the key constructs/themes of
the study.
▪ State the general results or findings of the study in
relation to the research questions/objectives.

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 ▪ Present an illustration of the results using table or
figure.
▪ What do the results mean? Make sense of the results in
relation to the theoretical/conceptual framework of the
study.
▪ What are the practical implications of your results?
▪ How does it compare with the results of similar studies?
If different, what would account for the differences in
the result?

Chapter V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Summary
▪ Provide the summary of the results and findings
according to your research objectives

B. Conclusion
▪ Provide a summary of the conclusion drawn in the light
of the research results or findings

C. Recommendations
▪ State or enumerate the recommendations that can be
drawn in the light of the research results/findings
and the conclusion of the study.

REFERENCES

Use American Psychological Association (APA) style of

referencing. Its guidelines are readily available on the
World Wide Web (e.g.,
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/)

[Book]
Ariola, M.M. (2006). Principles and Methods of Research. Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book
Store, Inc.

[Article from the Internet]

Aznar, J. (2017, March 2). Condom plans get killed as HIV soars. Retrieved from
http://inquirer.net/newsinfo/876697

[Website]
Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA]. (2016, December). Philippine standard and
geographic code. Retrieved from https://www.nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc

[Journal, from Internet]

Rosenstock, I. (1974). Historical origins of the health belief model. Health Education
Monographs Winter, 2(4), 328-335. Retreived from http://heb.sagepub.com

Prepared by:

GRAHAM M. NAZ
Assistant Professor 1