Chapter 2

Writing the Components of Chapter 1

Intended Learning outcome

At the end of this chapter, the student will expected to;

● Differentiate thesis against a capstone project

● Be familiar with the different topics from which a good research problem
and/or design may be derived.
● Have a general overview on how to do a thesis and/or capstone project.
● Write a good introduction/project context/background of the problem;
● Formulate the statement of the problem and/or objectives of the study.
● Differentiate conceptual frameworks against a theoretical framework
What is Thesis?

● A thesis may be defined as the report of a scholar upon some piece of research which
he has completed.
● It is defined as a technical report on a systematic investigation of a problem that can
be solved using computing.
● It may include a solution, an approximate or partial solution, a scientific
investigation, or the development of results leading to the solution of the problem.
What is a Capstone Project?

● A Capstone Project is an undertaking appropriate to a professional field.

● It should significantly address an existing problem or need.
● An information System Capstone project focuses on business processes and the
implications of introducing a computing solution to a problem while the Information
technology (IT) Capstone Project focuses on the infrastructure, application, or
processes involved in implementing Computing solution to a problem.
Computer Science
Current Computer Science Topics:

Software and Development Theory Intelligent System

Mobile Computing Systems Game Development

Expert System and Decision Support System Computer Vision

System Software (software tools utilities,

interpreters, simulators, compilers, security Image Signal Processing
aspect)

Software Extensions or Plug-ins Bioinformatics / Graphics Applications

Cloud Computing/ Parallel Computing Embedded systems/Emerging Technologies

Information Technology

Software Development
● Software Customization
● Information System Development for an Actual Client (with pilot testing)
● Web Application Development (with at least alpha testing on live servers)
● Mobile Computing Systems
Information Technology

Multimedia Systems
● Game Development
● e-Learning System
● Interactive System
● Information Kiosks
Network Design and Implementation and Server Farm Configuration and
Management

IT Management
● IT strategic Plan for sufficiently complex enterprises
● IT Security Analysis, Planning and Implementation
Information System

Software Development
● Software Customization
● Information System Development for an Actual Client
● Web Applications Development
● Mobile Computing Systems
CHED’S Suggested Docummentation Template/Format
IT/IS Capstone Project
Introduction
Project Context
Purpose and Description
Objectives
Scope and Limitations
Review of Related Literature
Technical Background
Methodology, Results and Discussion
Requirement Analysis Requirements
Documentation
Design of Software
System, Product and /or Processes
Development and Testing
Description of the Prototype
Implementation Plan(Infrastructure)
Recommendation
Appendices
CS Thesis(Software Development)
Introduction
Project Context
Purpose and Description
Objectives
Scope and Limitations
Related Literature Technical Background
Methodology, Results and Discussion
Requirement Analysis Requirements
Documentation
Design of Software
System, Product and /or Processes
Development and Testing
Description of the Prototype
Implementation Plan(Infrastructure)
Recommendation
Appendices
Writing a Good Introduction
Guidelines in writing the introduction. A good introduction of an IT and IS capstone
project should contain discussion of all of the following;
1. Presentation of the importance of the system software, algorithms, process or an
enterprise resource plan to be designed and/or developed.
2. Research Locale.
3. The existence of an unsatisfactory condition; a felt problem that needs a solution. A
solution that involves development of a system software.
4. A desired to find a better way of doing something or improving the present system.
The following is a good introduction.

1. Presentation of the importance of the software to be developed.

2. A Description of the Area in Computer Science under study
3. A statement indicating that an improvement can be done.
4. A desire to find a better way of doing something or improving the present system.
Formulating the Statement of the Problem/Objectives of the Project

There should be a general statement of the whole problem followed by the specific
questions or sub-problems into which the general problem is broken up.
Guidelines in formulating the general problem and specific questions :

1. The general statement of the problem and the specific questions should be formulated
first before developing the software programs.
2. Each specific question must be clear and unambiguous.
3. Answer to specific questions must contribute to the development of the whole
research problem or capstone project.
4. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the whole problem or
case under study.
5. Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then broken up into
as many specific questions as necessary.
Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study guide the researcher and the reader to know what the
proponent(s) need to do. These usually follow the chronological sequence of the statement
of the problem and its specific questions.
Objectives are written by either beginning with an action verb or an infinitive.
The Significance of the Study

The statement of significance is an important part of a scientific report particularly in

computer science theses involving foundations of Computer Science. All scientific studies
should be significant in one way or another. The significance of the study therefore will
assert and explain the reader why the study is vital and essential.
Purpose and Description

● In writing the purpose and description, the proponent must state the function of his
capstone project
● It should not attempt to claim that the project will add to the body of knowledge;
○ It is for the reason that the authors humbly submit, that members of the panel of examiners should not
ask the proponent to the following questions;
■ “What is the contribution of your capstone project to the body of knowledge”
Purpose and Description

Hence, the importance of the capstone project must contain explanation or discussions of
any or all of the following;
1. The rationale, timeless and relevance of the study.
2. Possible solution to existing problems or improvement to unsatisfactory conditions
3. The beneficiaries, and how they are going to be benefited.
4. Possible contribution to the fund of knowledge
5. Possible implications.
Demo
Scope and Limitations of the Study

● The section may be subdivided into two parts, the Scope and Delimitation and
limitation of the study;
○ The Scope and Delimitation of the study should a brief statement of the general purpose of the study,
the target users/beneficiaries of the study, the period of the study and features of the proposed software.
○ The limitations of the study includes the weaknesses of the study beyond the control of the
researcher. This section may be not be included in the study if there is no such weaknesses of the study
beyond the control of the researcher
Definition of Terms

Generally, the Definition of Terms is not required either in Computer Science theses and
IT/IS Capstone project, however, in case your project will be using different terms which
will be susceptible to different interpretations, this section will be necessary,
Definition of Terms
Guidelines in defining terms:
1. Only terms, words,phrases, which have a special or unique meaning in the study, are defined.
2. Terms should be defined operationally, that is, how they are going to be used in the study.
3. The researcher may develop his/her own definition from the characteristics of the term
defined. Thus, level of efficiency of a system may be defined as a researcher-made scale to
measure the efficiency.
4. Defininations may be taken from encyclopedia, books, magazines, newspaper articles,
dictionaries, and other publications but the researcher must acknowledge his/her source.
Definitions taken from published materials are called conceptual or theoretical definitions.
5. Definitions should brief, clear, and unequivocal (no double meaning)
6. Acronyms should always be spelled out fully especially if it is not commonly known or if it is
used for the first time.
Definition of Terms

The two ways of defining the key terms of the study.

1. TECHNICAL DEFINITION, the meaning of terms is taken from the dictionary or
encyclopedia.
2. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION, the meaning of terms is based on an observed
characteristic and how it is in the study.
The Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Presents the theory from which