Thesis/Dissertation writing

 What and Why Thesis?

 Structure of Thesis
 Evaluation of Thesis

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 What Thesis/ Dissertation?
 Thesis or dissertation is a document submitted in support of

candidature for an academic degree or professional

qualification presenting the author's research and findings.
 A written work resulting from original research, especially one

submitted for higher degree in a university

 In the process, you will learn

 How to do research

 How to write a report finding

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 Expectation from Thesis
Expectation from Thesis
 Identify and solve a problem which has not been previously

answered.
 Solve the problem at least contributed some facts for better
understanding on the topic selected.
Thesis categorized under
 Preliminaries
 Textual (Main) Body
 References.

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 Initial Pages
Initial pages includes the following

 Title Page

 Approval Sheet

 Abstract

 Acknowledgment

 Dedication

 Table of Contents

 List of Tables

 List of Figures

 List of symbols and Abbreviations

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 Title Page
 The following information needs to be on the title page:

 The title (and possibly the subtitle) of your thesis

 Title reflects content of the thesis

 Use concise but informative title

 First name, and Middle name of the author(s)

 Whether it is a ‘Bachelor’s thesis’ or a ‘Master’s thesis’

 Faculty/college, department

 Place and date of completion

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 Approval Sheet
 This is to prove that the authors have passed the requirements

needed for the thesis.

 This is signed by the thesis/FS adviser, panel and the Dean.

 This also states the grade obtained by the author/s.

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 Abstract
 An abstract presents a brief summary of your thesis.

 The aim of the abstract is to briefly provide the reader with

the most important information from the entire text.
 An abstract never contains new information.
 This summary is no longer than 2 pages of A4.

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 Acknowledgment
 This is a page focused on expressing gratitude to organizations,

agencies or individuals who, in one way or another, have aided

the researchers in finishing the thesis

Dedication
 This is the page for dedicating the thesis to certain people or

groups who have inspired the researchers while doing the thesis.

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 Table of Contents
 The table of contents is essentially a topic outline of the thesis.

 It is compiled by listing the headings in the thesis down to

whichever level you choose.

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 List of Tables/ List of Figures
 Include a list of figures (illustrations) and a list of tables if you have

one or more items in these categories.

 Use a separate page for each list.

 List the number, caption, and page number of every figure and table

in the body of the thesis.

List of Symbols and Abbreviation

 Include a list of full words for the corresponding acronyms and

symbols.
 Use alphabetical order.

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 Main Body of Thesis
What is in main body of thesis
 Addresses a problem or series of problems

 Describes what was known about the problem(s)

 What you did to solve the problems

 What you think the results means
 How further progress can be made

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 Structure of Main Body of Thesis
Introduction  What is Known?
 What is unknown?

Method  How do we show it?

Result  What are showing now

Discussion
 What do we show?
 What is known now?

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 Title of Chapters
 Each Chapters has the corresponding topics/subtopic

Chapter One: Introduction and Its Background

Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature and Studies
Chapter Three: Methodology of the Study
Chapter Four: Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

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 CHAPTER I
 Introduction and
Background of the Study
 INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND
 This is where you provide an introduction to the topic of your

thesis:
 It includes the subtopic of

 Introduction

 Background

 Significance of the study

 Statement of the problem

 Scope and limitation

 Conceptual framework

 Definition of terms

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 Significance of The Study
 This section will state the contribution of your study and

the usefulness of your study in the society.

 Focus on responding for the question of “Who will benefit

from the study?”.

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 Statement of The Problem
 The problem must be reflected to your title or the readers must

know your problem by just simply reading your topic.

 The problem must not be answerable by yes or no and must be

arranged in the flow of your documentation or study.

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 Conceptual Framework
 The framework may be summarized in a schematic diagram that

presents the major variables and their hypothesized relationships.

It should also cover the following:
 Existing research and its relevance for your topic

 Key ideas or constructs in your approach

 Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.

 Conceptualized relationships between variables

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 Scope and Delimitation
 The scope is mainly the coverage of your study and the

Delimitation is the limitation of your study or topic.

Definition of Terms
• The definition of terms must be arranged in alphabetically.
• It must be also stated if you used your definition of terms in
technically or operationally.

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 CHAPTER II
 Review of Related
Literature and Studies
 Literature Review
 ‘…a systematic…method for identifying, evaluating and

interpreting the…work produced by researchers, scholars

and practitioners.’
 In referring literature

 It must be related to your topic.

 Must be also organized to cover specific problems.

 Refer latest materials.

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 RELATED LITERATURE/STUDY
 In referring literature should incorporate

 An assessment of the strengths & weaknesses of some

of the theories
 A clear understanding of the topic
 A citing of all key studies in the subject territory

 A clear indication of how the review links to your

research questions

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CHAPTER III
 Methodology of the
Study
 Methodology of the study
 Provide detailed methodology used to conduct the
experiment
 Provide sufficient details but it is not expected to be written

like a laboratory manual!

 Highlight critical steps, algorithms or precaution

 Discusses how the study was or will be conducted

 There should have a short introductory statement (could be

one paragraph only) that describes what could be seen under

this part.

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 Methodology . . . (Cont’d)
 The Methodology part of the thesis should describe about

 Research Design

 Population and Sampling

 Data Gathering Procedure

 Data Analysis

 Statistical Treatment

 Research Instrument

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 Methodology . . . (Cont’d)
 Research Design

 The appropriate research design should be specified.

 Described how it is selected.

 Population and Sampling

 Describe the target group /population of interest.

 Describe what and why sampling technique is used in the study.

 Data collection instrument

 Describe the type of data used in the study? (Primary/ secondary)

 Describe the instrument (Survey questionnaire, interview form, . .

. etc.)
 Methodology . . . (Cont’d)
 Validation/Reliability Procedure

 Discuss how the validity and the reliability will be

established. Specify the level of reliability (probability).

 Data Processing Procedure and Statistical Treatment of Data

 Describe the processing and treatment of data

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CHAPTER IV
 Analysis, Result and
Interpretation of Result
 Analysis, Result and Interpretation
 Data Analysis

 Data may be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively depend.

 Analyze in depth to give meaning to the data presented in

the data presented in the table. Avoid table reading.

 State statistical descriptions in declarative sentences

e.g. in the studies involving:

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 Analysis . . . (Cont’d)
 Experimental result

 Present the findings of the study in the order of the specific

problem as stated in the statement of the Problem.

 Present the data in these forms:

Tabular

Textual

Graphical

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 Analysis . . . (Cont’d)
 Interpretation of The Result

 Establish interconnection between and among data

 Check for indicators whether hypothesis/es is/are supported

or not by findings.
 Link the present findings with the previous literature.

 Use parallel observations with contemporary events to give

credence presented in the introduction.

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CHAPTER V
 Summary of Findings,
Conclusions and
Recommendations
 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and
Recommendation
 Summary of Finding

 This section summarizes the problem, research design, and

the findings (answer to the questions raised).

 The recommended format is the paragraph form instead of

the enumeration form.

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 Summary of . . . (Cont’d)
 Conclusions

 Brief and generalized statements to the general and each

of the specific sub-problems.

 These are general inferences applicable to a wider and

similar population.
 It is not a must to state conclusions on a one-to-one

correspondence with the problems and the findings as all

variables can be subsume in one paragraph.
 Conclusions may be used as generalizations from a micro

to a macro-level or vice versa (ZOOM LENS approach).

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 Summary of . . . (Cont’d)
 Recommendation

 They should be based on the findings and conclusion of

the study.
 Recommendations may be specific or general or both.

They may include suggestions for further studies.

 They should be in non-technical language.

 They should be feasible, workable, flexible, doable,

adaptable.

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 Reference Section
 REFERENCE SECTION

 This is the third section of a research report. It consists of

generally the reference/bibliography and appendices.

 The bibliography and appendix are written on a separate page.

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 Reference/Bibliography
A bibliography reference is written in the following manner sequentially and

arranged alphabetically to facilitate the readers:

 Name of the author with the last name first and initials afterwards.
 The year of publication is given in bracket after the name of the author and
authors.
 Title of the book or the work is written, underlined and followed by a full
stop (.).
 Place of Publication followed by a colon (:)
 Name of the publishing agency and publishers and followed by comma (,).
 Total pages of the book/research paper referred are given.

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 Appendix
 It includes the material which can not be logically included in the

main body.
 Provides greater clarity and authenticity for the readers of the
thesis
 The appendix usually includes:
 Statistical tables
 Raw-data
 Letters,
 Interview sheets,
 Blank questionnaires
 Page numbers should be assigned in Roman Numbers (i, ii, xxi).

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 Evaluation of Research Report
 Your thesis has to successfully give response for the following

corresponding suggested question

1. The Title
 Is it clear and concise?

 Does it promise no more than the study can provide?

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 Evaluation . . . (cont’d)

2. The Problem
 Is it clearly stated?

 Is it properly delimited?

 Is its significance recognized?

 Are specific questions raised?

 Are the assumptions and limitations stated?

 Are important terms defined?

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 Evaluation . . . (cont’d)
3. Review of Related Literature
 Is it adequately covered?

 Are important findings-noted?

 Is it well organized?

 Is an effective summary provided?

 Is the researcher commented adequately?

 Has he/she justified that his study is related to the studies

and has the deviations from earlier studies.

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 Evaluation . . . (cont’d)
4. Methodology used for conducting the study:
 Is the research design described in detail ?

 Is the method adequate?

 Is the population defined properly?

 Is the sample described?

 Are the relevant variables recognized?

 Are appropriate controls provided?

 Are data collecting tools appropriate?

 Are validity and reliability established?

 Is the statistical treatment appropriate?

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 Evaluation . . . (cont’d)
5. Data Analysis, Result and Interpretation
 Is appropriate use made of tables and figures?

 Is the textual discussion clear and concise?

 Is the analysis of data relationships logical and perceptive?

 Is the statistical analysis accurately interpreted?

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 Evaluation . . . (cont’d)
6. Conclusions and Suggestions
 Are the results discussed at length adequately?

 Are the inferences stated appropriately?

 Are the limitations of the findings enumerated clearly

 Are the applications of the findings suggested adequately?

 Are some suggestions for further studies proposed appropriately?

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 Finished!!!
You did it!!!

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