WRITING RESEARCH

PAPERS

A PRESENTATION BY
EDNA L. BUENAVENTURA
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Research - any sort of careful,
systematic, patient study and
investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to
discover or establish facts and
principles, (Fraenkel & Wallen,
1994).
Attributes of a Good
Research
1. Systematic - orderly procedure
2. Analytical - thoroughly
studied data
3. Empirical -evidence reflects
authentic life experiences
4. Valid and verifiable - based on
findings and results
5. Controlled - variables, except
those tested should be kept
constant
General Research
Types
A. Descriptive Study
• uses the survey method
• summarizes the characteristics
(abilities, preferences, behavior) of
individuals or groups, physical
environment and changes in any of
these over time.
General Research
Types
B. Associational/ Relational Research
▪ investigates relationship
▪ uses correlational and
causal-comparative
methodologies
e.g. relationships between attitude and
achievement; teacher characteristics
and student achievement
General Research
Types
C. Intervention/Causal Study
▪ a particular method or treatment is
expected to influence one or more
outcomes
▪ experiment is the methodology used
▪ contributes to general knowledge by
confirming or refuting theoretical
predictions
Writing Research
Papers

Research papers are often required

of students in higher education.
Topic Selection
Select a topic that:

✓ interests you or is something you

want to know more about

✓ meets your adviser’s

✓ requirements

✓ has sufficient information that is

readily available
Research Paper
Contents
PRELIMINARIES

1.Title Page – contains the a) thesis

title, b) full name of the researcher/s,
c) the course for which the research
is presented
d) the month and year in which
the paper is completed.
PRELIMINARIES

2. Abstract

✓ presents the brief summary of the

content of the research topic
✓ description of the study
✓ framework of the study
✓Methodology
✓Major findings
✓Conclusions
✓Recommendations
✓Should not exceed 300 words
PRELIMINARIES

3.Table of Contents – contains a

listing of:
✓ chapter headings with page
numbers, including the
preliminaries
✓ chapter titles, sub-headings of
main headings
✓ references
✓ appendices
✓ curriculum vitae
PRELIMINARIES

4.List of Tables – made up of table

captions included by the
researcher. It consists of:

✓ table number

✓ exact caption of title

✓ the page in the research

where the table is given
PRELIMINARIES

5. List of Figures and Illustrations

- gives the number of figures,
exact caption or title with
corresponding pages

6.List of Appendices
- all materials used as
appendices appear chronologically in
the manner they are used in the
paper
CONTENTS OF
EACH CHAPTER IN A
THESIS
Chapter 1 – THE PROBLEM AND ITS
BACKGROUND
A. INTRODUCTION
❖ encapsulates what the study is all

about
❖ bridges the gap between the
phenomenon of the study and the
purpose of the study
❖ brief narration of origin of problem
and justification for topic selection
❖ ends with the general objective of
the study
B. STATEMENT OF
THE PROBLEM
❖ can be presented in statement of
problem form

❖ focus of a research investigation

❖ followed by specific problems of

the study generally stated in
question form

❖ number of specific problems

depends on what the study or
investigation wants to find out
PROBLEM
What are the effects of study
habits on academic performance
of selected CSA students?

The study will specifically answer the

following:
1. What is the profile of the respondents?
2. What are the study habits of selected
CSA students?
3. What is the academic performance of t
the respondents?
4. What are the effects of study habits on
academic performance?
5. Is there a dependency relation
between study habits and academic
performance?
C.
CONCEPTUAL/THEOR
ETICAL FRAMEWORK
❖ shows relationship of theories
with
the problem
❖ Includes the figure that
represents the paradigm or
model of the study
❖ Clarifies the relationship
existing between or among the
independent and dependent
variables in the study
D. HYPOTHESIS
❖ The non-directional of null
hypothesis is used

❖ Pertains to the question of

relationship or significant
difference between the
variables tested in the study
Some Examples
❖ Study habits of students do not
affect their class performance.

❖ There is no correlation between

student performance in English
and Algebra

❖ There is no significant difference

in the leadership capability of
male and female managers
E. Scope and
Delimitations of the
Study
Scope
❖ setting of the study or locale
❖ the time frame
❖ the number of respondents
❖ main focus of the research

Delimitations
❖ this part identifies the variable
of the study which the
researcher wishes to control or
limit
SCOPE AND
DELIMITATION
EXAMPLE
F. Definition of Terms
Clarify important terms used in
research by:
❖ Constitutive definition –
dictionary approach
❖ by example – description of
events
❖ Operational definition –
meaning as used in the study
REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
❖ presents the literature and
studies reviewed by the
researcher that have significant
bearing to the research
undertaking

❖ refers to the revisited and

gathered information taken from
books, journals, periodicals, on
line sources and related studies
taken from masteral theses and
dissertations
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
❖ use recent materials – copyright
date must be at most 5 years to
date

❖ order follows the presentation of

related topic headings or
variables of the study

❖ start with related readings from

foreign and local literature

❖ related studies come from

master’s theses and dissertation
papers relevant to research topic
Chapter 2 – Review of
Related Literature
❖ Authors or other sources of
information must be
acknowledged
❖ coherence in terms of
interrelationships of the studies
reviewed must be clarified
❖ Principle of coherence,
continuity of ideas and
chronological occurrence are
preferred
Review of Literature

Synthesis

❖ A brief account of how similar or different

the research is to the related studies

❖ An objective critical analysis/judgment is

needed to justify the inclusion of the
studies mentioned

❖ puts the bits and pieces of conceptual

literature and studies into a meaningful
whole
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY must include
❖ Summary of answers to major
and specific problems raised
❖ Hypothesis tested and
assumptions refuted
❖ Research design, research
instrument, respondents of the
study and statistical tools
employed
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
❖ General statements made
based on findings

❖ Must not contain

number/percentages or
statistical values

❖ Numbered based on the

problems cited in Chapter 1
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
❖ Based on the findings and
conclusions drawn from the
study

❖ There should be continuity as

well as consistency of findings,
conclusions and
recommendations.
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
IMPLICATIONS

Connect the study to the discipline in

which the degree is taken