Unit 8: The Concept Paper

Lesson 1: Features of a Concept Paper

Contents

Engage 1
Introduction 1
Objectives 2

Explore 2

Explain and Elaborate 3

Defining the Concept Paper 3
Parts of the Concept Paper 4
Examples of a Concept Paper 6

Extend 13
Activity 1 13
Activity 2 14

Evaluate 15

Wrap Up 18

Bibliography 19
Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. When an idea for research pops into your head, take that chance and write about it.

Before starting your research, you must first set how you are going to approach your entire
study. You can accomplish this by writing a concept paper first. A concept paper is an
academic paper that is essential in research, as it is meant to provide the idea of your study.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Before actually creating a full thesis paper, the concept paper also acts as a guide for others
to understand your research topic before executing the actual paper.
● Why is the concept paper needed before any research study is accomplished?

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Identify the functions of the concept paper.
● Enumerate the different kinds of concept papers.
● Identify the different parts of a standard concept paper.

DepEd Competencies
● Define what a concept paper is. (​CS_EN11/12A-EAP-Ig-j-19​)
● Comprehend various kinds of concept papers. (​CS_EN11/12A-EAP-Ig-j-22​)

Explore

10 minutes

Reflect on your chosen research topic for the semester. Create a step-by-step outline of how
you intend to execute the said research.

Guide Questions

1. What is your research topic about? What is the main idea of your research?

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

2. What steps will you take to accomplish your research?

3. Which steps are most important in accomplishing your research?

4. How do you intend to stay on schedule?

Explain and Elaborate

Defining the Concept Paper

The concept paper is a summary that informs readers about the purpose of the project or
research, the significance of the project, and how it will be carried out. It is a guide for the
researcher in order to see any holes or downfalls that may occur in the project before its
execution. It also gives readers an idea of what will be accomplished when the research is
done.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

The main purpose of the concept paper is to lay out the basics of a research proposal. Some
researchers would also use the concept paper to apply for any research grants for funding.
Writers use the concept paper for the following reasons:
● Interest potential funders
● Develop potential solutions or investigations into project ideas
● Determine whether a project idea is fundable
● Serve as a foundation of a full proposal.

The elements of the concept paper are as follows:

● Title in question-form
● A brief overview of the research topic with conceptual and background knowledge
● A brief statement of the problem that the project seeks to answer
● Explanation of the significance of the study
● Description of the methods to execute the project

Why would student-researchers need to produce

a concept paper?

Parts of the Concept Paper

The concept paper is usually two to three pages long, with at least 200 to 500 words. The
concept paper has five sections: Introduction, Purpose/Need/Rationale, Project Description,
which includes the project’s goals and objectives, methodology, and benefits, Support and
Budget, and lastly, Contact Information.

Introduction
The introduction contains how the researcher and the funder or project head’s missions
align with one another. It addresses why the funder should support the project of the
researcher.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Rationale
The rationale contains the general information about the topic, as well as the research gap
which the research intends to fulfill. The writer should state the need for the research and
why the project is the best possible solution to solve the problem. It also provides
statements addressing the significance of the study.

Project Description
This section includes the project’s goals and objectives, methodology, and benefits. The
project description also includes the actual solution to the addressed problem. This is the
part wherein the researcher ultimately sells the idea for the research. The goal addresses
the end or condition which the solution addresses, while the objectives are the measurable
outcome of the solution for the project. The objectives should detail how the researcher
plans to accomplish the goal. The next part of the project description includes the
methodology of the project. It is also known as the action plan. The action plan needs to be
aligned with the goals and objectives, as it should be executed and achieved in the
proposed timeline. Lastly, the benefits or anticipated outcomes concludes the project
description. It states who will be benefiting from the accomplished project.

Support
This section contains either an outline of the budget to be used for the project or the
projected amount for the project’s execution. It is recommended that a breakdown of
expenses is included for transparency purposes.

Contact Information
The last section contains the contact information of the project head or researchers.

How does the concept paper differ from an actual

research paper?

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Examples of a Concept Paper

Example 1
This qualitative study focuses on the perception of Generation X on the physical attributes
of transgender people in a senior high school in Cavite. This intergenerational problem
between Generation X and succeeding generations causes misconceptions in terms of
cultural, gender, and sex viewpoints, more specifically in the aspect of transgenderism.

The negative notions that surround transgenderism have resulted to transgender people
becoming subjected to acts of discrimination and mistreatment. However, as newer
generations, namely Millennials and Generation Z, are empowered with technology, it is
possible for these individuals to be further enlightened by gaining proper knowledge
through external influences and not only through the opinions of the preceding
generations’, specifically Generation X. The intergenerational problem between the said
groups is evident as not much exposure to the concept of transgenderism was given to
individuals under Generation X, which led to their confusion and disregard for its existence.
Additionally, factors such as conservatism and the widespread belief in Christianity during
their period may also affect their views on transgenderism.

Hence, this research intends to answer how Generation X perceives the physical attributes
of transgender people in accordance with the practice of Lasallian values as its main
question. Furthermore, the researchers ought to determine the factors that influence the
perception of Generation X on transgender people, which may include the concept of
conservatism and current technology. The perception of said participants regarding specific
attributes of transgender people, such as clothing, gestures, and genitalia, will also be
tackled. Lastly, the study will also seek how the school’s values affect the perception of
Generation X on transgender people in terms of their tolerance and acceptance to the
individuals.

The school’s core values are integrated into this study to identify the parts that play a role in
affecting the social judgment of Generation X towards transgender people. The research
aims to promote a more harmonious school community in which inclusivity, regardless of
sex and gender, is practiced and observed through scrutinizing the policies and beliefs in

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

the institution that may negatively affect LGBTQ+ members. The study will be beneficial to
the authorities and administration of the University in the case of a situation wherein the
said individuals, especially transgender people, are part or seek to join the community,
which can also aid them in implementing policies in protecting the welfare of the
individuals. This may also influence other educational institutions in delivering awareness
on the said issues and can help establish movements to minimize discrimination against
genders and sexes, particularly transgenderism.

The goal of the study is to give focus on the viewpoint of Generation X towards
transgenderism. It will tackle how their social judgment plays a part in their perspective on
the physical attributes of the transgender people while associating the school’s values in
practice. In line with this, the study aims to answer how Generation X tolerates and accepts
transgender people in modern times with both external influences of current technology
and internal influences in terms of one's capacity of social judgment affected by social
norms, culture, and even religion.

The researchers have selected a qualitative approach that addresses Generation X and how
they perceive transgender people and members of the LGBTQ+ community, focusing
specifically on their physical attributes as a measure of their tolerance or acceptance to
these individuals. The research will be conducted in the senior high school of a university in
Cavite, wherein the researchers will gather data from six participants through in-depth
interviews, three of which are LGBTQ+ members while the latter are nonmembers. They will
be selected based on the following criteria: (1) The participants must be born between years
1965-1979 (40-54 years old); (2) The participants must have been in the Lasallian community
for three years or longer, as faculty or previous alumnae who worked as faculty; (3) The
participants must be working in the university at present.

The expense of the research will be allocated for the following:

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Table 1. List of necessary expenditures in conducting the study

Item Price

Printing of Paper ₱ 550.00

Payment for Research Adviser ₱ 1,000.00

Payment for Defense Panelist ₱ 1,000.00

Book Binding ₱ 250.00

Total Expenses: ₱ 2, 800.00

Explanation
The researchers of this project intend to conduct a qualitative research study to ascertain
the perceptions of people of a certain generation about the school’s transgender people.
The researchers introduced the topic at the beginning of the paper, then gave a rationale of
the study. Next, they discussed the methods to be used for the research and how the
methods for collecting data will fulfill the objectives and goals of the study. Lastly, the
researchers included an actual breakdown of the expenses for the research study.

​ ​Tip
Be sure to introduce the intention to use the funding for the project
using a table or outline to present the expenses.

Example 2
This research aims to use cellulose as an insulator to incandescent light bulbs. As research
continues to show innovation among bulbs, this study focuses on showing an improvement
in the surroundings around the said bulb, due to the fact that most incandescent light bulbs
show increased temperature around its surroundings. According to Francisco (2015),
incandescent bulbs can reach high temperatures, which can burn the skin of people. This is

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

caused by the way the bulb produces light through heating wire filaments utilizing
electricity. The bulb functions by sending electricity to curly tungsten filament. Due to its
long twisting path, the electrical resistance increases by the traveling electrons with
2726.85ºC temperature. The resulting produced heat will glow up into a yellowish-white
light. The incandescent bulb uses a massive waste of heat, but some devices are pros to this
mechanism, such as heat lamps, which are mainly used for heating. Incandescent bulbs are
improved each year. They can usually hold up to 100 days; however, compared to LED
bulbs, it has a massive difference because LEDs can last between 1000 and 2000 days. The
cost of replacement of bulbs (usually three to six months) is increasing; that’s why the life of
bulbs has a significant impact, especially to the consumers. Aside from the reduced lifespan,
an incandescent bulb is more fragile compared to other types of bulbs. The tungsten
filament and encasing glass part of the bulb can be easily broken, which may cause hazards
and may cost a lot for replacement or maintenance.

Aside from aiming to decrease the light bulb-related fire cases, this study also projects to
create a more efficient incandescent light bulb that has a slower heat increase. Only 10% of
the energy used by an incandescent light bulb is converted to light; the other 90% is lost as
heat. Therefore, it means that most of the electricity becomes heat, which makes the bulb
heat up faster than other bulbs. The research targets to design a model to reduce the heat
being released by incandescent light bulbs. Applying cellulose with the contents of cotton
will address the said problems in the light bulb.

The following groups will benefit from this project: the community, who need the
occurrence of fires caused by incandescent light bulbs to decrease; the scientists, who want
to incorporate this research into future innovations; the engineers, who will be able to use
this study to find new ways or alternatives to improve the incandescent light bulbs; the
manufacturers of incandescent light bulbs, who will be able to innovate the structure and
components of incandescent light bulbs through this research; and lastly, the student
researchers, who may want to pursue this as a field of their study.

Some people prefer to use incandescent light bulbs rather than a more advanced and
alternative type of bulbs, such as LED, due to its price difference and adaptability.
Incandescent bulbs are cheap to manufacture and purchase; they are widely available and

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

adaptable to a broad range of voltages. Due to the incandescent light bulb’s capability to
rise to the temperature of its surroundings, the study will explore how to decelerate the rise
of temperature of the light bulb and add a fire-retardant property to its structure.

The study will be used to determine if the application of cotton in the incandescent light
bulb can slow down the rapid rise of temperature in a certain room. Furthermore, applying
cotton will give a retardant property to the said light bulb due to its capability to produce a
large amount of wasted heat. To use the fire-retardant feature on the bulb, the researchers
will perform the sodium borate bath treatment for cotton. The researchers would like to
create a comparative research between the normal incandescent light bulb and the
experimental cotton-based bulb. It will be observed in a different mini room made from
plywood to determine the difference in temperature. The researchers will be collecting data
every 30 minutes within 2 hours in each trial of the experiment. After that, they will use the
t-test to determine the significance of the average in each trial. Lastly, they will perform a
t-test again to find the average of the averages.

Table 1. List of necessary expenditures in conducting the study

Materials Quantity Cost / Price Total Cost

Plywood 6 4ft x 4ft 200 1200

Sodium borate 1 kg 159 159

Incandescent light bulbs 12 56 672

Bulb socket 2 39 78

Cotton (​Gossypium​ ​Hirsutum) 2 kg 84 168

Stainless grills 12 40 480

Saw 1 200 200

Measuring tape 1 49 49

Hammer 1 150 150

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Materials Quantity Cost / Price Total Cost

Concrete nails ¼ Kg 30 30

Thermometer 1 390 390

Overall Cost 3,576

Explanation
The researchers of this project intend to conduct an experimental study to test if cotton can
slow down the rise of temperature of iridescent light bulbs. The researchers introduced the
topic at the beginning of the paper, then gave a rationale for the project. They were also
able to mention a lot of conceptual knowledge using facts cited from other sources. Next,
they discussed the methods to be used for the research and how the methods for collecting
data will fulfill the objectives and goals of the study. Lastly, the researchers included an
actual breakdown of the expenses for the research study. This breakdown is very specific in
terms of quantity, which is essential in laboratory experiments.

​ emember
R
The concept paper uses its own format. The three-part essay and
IMRaD structure are not applicable for the concept paper.

Example 3
One of the necessary needs of a person is clothing. According to Hardcastle (2006), one of
the priorities of the use of clothes is to protect the human body from the harmful effects of
climate change. Studies show that almost 4% of the global share market is in the clothing
industry, proving its importance to the people. The top three massive leading companies in
the clothing industry are VF Corporation, TJX Companies, and Nike (Global fashion industry
statistics - International apparel, 2019). Technically, the United States was the reason why
some of the outlet companies were influenced by introducing clothing products, but still, the
country that leads in that way is China (Kane & Statz, 2015). As a year passes by, clothing

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

changes to and from different styles; from conservative to provocative, from street style to
formal, from summer to winter, etc. Therefore, trends have been adapted by the clothing
industry in order to survive.

Branding is a tool for the clothing industry that establishes trust with their customers.
Branded clothes companies include their name, logo, symbol, and design that helps it to be
distinguished (Smithson, 2015). Fabricated products can be seen in just one click of a
camera, but the original value and quality of a branded product cannot be denied. The
Philippines is labeled as a resurfacing market towards the clothing industry. According to
the Department of Trade and Industry in 2019, from 2005 to 2011, the clothing industry had
a decline of 39% in terms of exporting the product. Through time and a recovering process,
the clothing industry showed an improvement — a ten percent to twenty percent growth
forecast in exports (Kastner, 2019). According to Statista 2019, the Philippine demand from
the industry also grew from 10.7 US Dollars in 2017 to 11.9 US Dollars in 2018.

The purpose of this study is to determine the importance of branding and to know if the
subjective norm and the attitude of the students affect their engagement on branded and
unbranded clothes. The study will be conducted within the premises of a university in
Cavite, with the selected grade 12 students being their respondents. The respondents are
chosen through multi-stage sampling. This research has two variables: branded clothing and
unbranded clothing. Its goal is to compare the intentions of the participants to engage in
branded and unbranded clothing. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) will be used for this
study, which explains that social norms and specific attitudes affect the person's behavior
towards the object. This data will be obtained through surveys that will be answered by
participants. The data will be treated with confirmatory factor analysis and t-test.

​Table 3. List of necessary expenditures in conducting the study.

Item Amount

Paper 200 PHP

Ink 300 PHP

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Item Amount

Transportation 500 PHP

Total 1,000 PHP

Explanation
The researchers of this project intend to conduct a descriptive research study to determine
the significance of branding for students in the university, specifically if there is a
relationship between the students’ attitudes and their perception of branding. The
conceptual knowledge presented in the introduction gives importance to branding and how
it can be seen through what one wears. The methods the researchers intend to use to
collect data is aligned with a theoretical framework. Lastly, the budget breakdown is
included, and although it does not involve too many materials, the researchers intended to
be transparent with the organization about their expenses.

Extend

Activity 1
Create your goal(s), measurable objective(s), and research question for your own research
topic.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

​ uide
G
Keep your goal, objective, and research question aligned with your institution and
your own vision as a researcher.

Activity 2
Reflect on the research topic you thought of at the beginning of the lesson. Justify whether
your topic is feasible for execution. Create a proposed schedule for your own research.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

​ uide
G
Recall and adjust your goals, objectives, and research questions according to the
proposed timeline and intended methodology for your research topic.

Evaluate

A. Answer the following questions as accurately and

precisely as you can.

1. What is a concept paper?

2. What are at least two functions of the concept paper?

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

3. What is the difference between a goal and an objective?

4. Why is the concept paper relevant in research writing?

5. Why should the methodology and time frame be specified in the concept paper?

B. Carefully think before writing a complete answer for each

question.

1. Justify the most important part of the concept paper.

2. Why would the guidance office approve student-led research about mental health
myths and facts amongst the senior high school population?

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

3. Justify the need for a breakdown of expenses in a concept paper.

4. Give a projected budget for the materials of a research paper with a data collection
method of distributing questionnaires to 30 respondents.

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

5. Give the possible reasons for research in a senior high school to conduct a survey on
the improvement of the TLE laboratory facilities.

Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● The ​concept paper is a summary of a possible project or research done before

any research proposal and execution.
● The concept paper contains how a writer intends to accomplish the said project or
research by presenting conceptual knowledge, purpose, description of the study,
budget, and contact information.
● The concept paper is usually presented to faculty or organizations who may fund
the research or check if the research is aligned with the objectives of the said
organizations.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 8.1: Features of a Concept Paper

Bibliography

“Brief: How to Write a Concept Paper.” hannoverhighresearch. hannoverhighresearch.com,

n.d. https://www.uccs.edu/research/sites/research/files/inline-files/How to Write a
Concept Paper - Hanover (2).pdf.

Editage Insights. “What Is a Concept Paper?” Editage Insights, April 14, 2019.
https://www.editage.com/insights/what-is-a-concept-paper.

“Sponsored Research.” Ithaca College, n.d.

https://www.ithaca.edu/sponsored-research/acadfund/grantwriting/?item=7838#tab_
grant-writing_tutorials.

The Grantsmanship Center. “Concept Papers and How to Use Them.” The Grantsmanship
Center, February 7, 2020.
https://www.tgci.com/blog/2017/02/concept-papers-and-how-use-them.

“What Is a Concept Paper?” The Concept Paper, n.d.

http://sociology.morrisville.edu/perpetual/Writing/What_Is_A_Concept_Paper.htm.

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