Sample Research Thesis Writing

GOALS OF RESEARCHGOALS OF RESEARCH

• To measure certain specific characteristics of certain population

• To observe some phenomena (and causes of these phenomena) in the environment

• To assess the outcomes of some programs or activities being undertaken

• To generate and apply new knowledge and innovations

- formal, systematic and intensive process of carrying a scientific method of analysis

What is Thesis Writing?What is Thesis Writing?

- generally looks into original or raw data.- requires independent thinking both in perceiving and analyzing problems and in finding solutions to them

THE RESEARCH PROCESS THE RESEARCH PROCESS

A question strikes the mind of the researcher.

The researcher makes a sound guess or a temporary answer to

the problem. This is called hypothesis.

Literature are searched to look into some relevant facts and

possible answers.The researcher designs a

methodology to be used in terms of the goal of the

research and the needed facts.

The researcher gathers the facts.

The facts are subjected to analysis to comprehend their

meaning.

The researcher converts the question into a clearly stated

research problem. The hypothesis is tested whether it is true or not.

A conclusion is drawn.

Recommendations.

Selecting Research ProblemsSelecting Research Problems

1. Your topic should be something new.2. It must be original.3. It should be significant to your field of study.4. It must necessarily arouse intellectual curiosity.5. It should not be entirely foreign to you.6. It should depend on the level at which the work

is done.7. The topic should be clear, not ambiguous.

Consider the following:Consider the following:

1.Your interest and the interest of others.2. Your training and personal qualifications.3. Availability of data, methods and

techniques for gathering data.4. Financial capacity to support the project.5. Time factor.

Consider also….Consider also….

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MSIT) RESEARCH AGENDA

• Policy research on IT

• Technological research for the advancement of Philippine IT

• Globalization issues and technological development, e.g. technology transfer, impact of IT, technology application, etc.

• Programming and software development

Parts of a ThesisParts of a Thesis

PRELIMINARIES

Cover PageCopyright PageTitle PageCertification and ApprovalCertification of OriginalityAcknowledgmentAbstractTable of ContentsList of TablesList of Figures

Parts of a ThesisParts of a Thesis

Chapter 1THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

IntroductionBackground of the StudyTheoretical FrameworkConceptual FrameworkStatement of the ProblemHypothesis (if any)Scope and Limitation of the StudySignificance of the StudyDefinition of Terms

Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

AND STUDIES

Foreign LiteratureLocal LiteratureForeign StudiesLocal StudiesSynthesis of the Reviewed Literature and Studies

Chapter 3RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Method of ResearchPopulation, Sample Size, and Sampling TechniqueDescription of RespondentsResearch InstrumentData-Gathering ProcedureStatistical Treatment of Data

Note: Format of Chapter 3 may vary depending on the research design subject to the approval of the Thesis/Dissertation Committee.

Chapter 4 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION OF DATA

(Headings of topics/findings per problem)

Ex.

1. Features of the FIDES in Terms of Security Design Requirements, High Level Design, Low Level Design, Implementation Notes, and Evaluation and Case Studies

Chapter 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary (Gist of statement of the problems, hypothesis

(if any), research method and sampling designs, instrument/s and statistical tools used) Findings ConclusionsRecommendations

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BooksJournals and Monographs (research publications) Unpublished Theses/DissertationsPeriodicalsElectronic SourcesOther Print SourcesNon-Print Sources

APPENDICES

Questionnaire (with cover letter)Request letter to conduct surveyDocuments, memoranda, data/figures (if any)Sample statistical computations or print-outsCurriculum Vitae

The Problem and Its BackgroundThe Problem and Its Background

IntroductionIt is in this section where you discuss the overview of your research problem; Define major concepts; Discuss the factors that lead you to the conceptualization of the problem.

Background of the StudyDescribe prevailing conditions; Justify the chosen topic as a problem for research; Cite some facts/ figures or findings/conclusions of other research which prompted you to conduct a study or extension study on the problem.

Theoretical Framework

Theories - sets of interrelated concepts, constructs, definitions and propositions that present systematic view of the phenomenon by specifying relationships among variables with the purpose of explaining and predicting the phenomena.

Conceptual FrameworkConcepts - abstractions; ideas

Statement of the Problem

This is where you state the general and specific problems for the research you choose to work on and hopes to achieve.

Hypothesis A hypothesis is a temporary answer to the specific problems stated. When it becomes necessary to test this hypothesis using some statistical tools, you need to state it in the null form.

Significance of the Study

This part discusses the groups of persons, institutions or offices which will be benefited by the results of the study. How these groups are benefited by the results must likewise be discussed.

Scope and Limitation Discuss inclusively the coverage of the study in terms of the population, time frame, variables; some specific items which should be excluded in the study; limitations in the methodology, sampling, instrumentation, etc.

Definition of Terms The main variables of the study including terms, words or phrases which have special or unique meanings in the study are defined.

Definition may be taken from encyclopedia, dictionaries, books, other scholarly publications but the researcher must acknowledge his source.

Definitions should be brief, clear and unequivocal.

Include the operational definitions which are specifically the meaning of the terms as they are used in the study.

Review of Related Literature Review of Related Literature and Studiesand Studies

This contains the literature and studies reviewed and the synthesis of the review.

This Chapter should only have five subheadings, namely, Foreign Literature, Local Literature, Foreign Studies, Local Studies, and Synthesis of the Reviewed Literature and Studies.

Purposes of Review of Literature

1. Provides the refinements the research needs in terms of formulating the research questions and the framework for the investigation to be done.2. To establish the facts which are already known from previous researches.3. To have a relatively wide range of information about the topic. 4. To get a clearer vision of the additional research that needs to be done.5. To enable the researcher to develop a theoretical/ conceptual framework for his/her research.

Things to consider:

1. Except for classical theories and other relevant literature, all the literature and studies included in the review must have been published or written (if unpublished, such as theses and dissertations) at least ten years prior to the conduct of the current study.

2. Except for exploratory studies, the minimum number of literature and studies to be reviewed is pegged at ten each for foreign literature, local literature, foreign studies, and local studies, and at least 10 journal articles for a thesis and 15 for a dissertation.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGYRESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Method

Population, Sample Size and Sampling Technique

Research Instrument

Three Options:

1. Look for previously validated questionnaire which has been used in the previous study.

2. Evolve an adaptation of a previously used or validated questionnaire. An adaptation results when a researcher modifies, replaces or deletes some items to make the set of items relevant to the study.

3. Construct a questionnaire based on the information needed for the study.

1. It deals with a significant topic, a topic the respondent will recognize as important enough to warrant spending his time in completing. The significance should be and carefully stated on the questionnaire, or in the letter that accompanies it.

2. It seeks only information which cannot be obtained from other sources such as school reports or census data.

3. It is as short as possible, only long enough to get the essential data. Long questionnaires frequently find their way into the wastebasket.

Characteristics of a Good Instrument Characteristics of a Good Instrument

4. It is attractive in appearance, neatly arranged, and clearly duplicated and printed.

5. Directions are clear and complete. Important terms are defined, each question deals with a single idea, all questions are worded as simply and as clearly as possible and the categories provide and opportunity for easy, accurate, and unambiguous responses.

6. The questions are objective, with no leading suggestions as to the responses desired.

7. Questions are presented in logical order, proceeding from general to more specific responses.

8. It is easy to tabulate and interpret.

Characteristics of a Good Instrument Characteristics of a Good Instrument

1. Get all of the help that you can in planning and constructing your questionnaire . Study other questionnaires, and submit your items for criticism to other members of your class or your faculty, especially to those who have had experience in questionnaire construction.

2. Try out your questionnaire on a few friends and acquaintances.

3. Choose respondents carefully. It is important that questionnaires be sent only to those who possess the desired information—those who are likely to be sufficiently interested to respond conscientiously and objectively.

Preparing and Administering Preparing and Administering the Questionnairethe Questionnaire

4. If schedules or questionnaires are planned for use in a government agency or institutions, asking for the responses of employees or workers, it is essential that approval of the project be secured from the administrator.

5. If the desired information is delicate or intimate in nature, consider the possibility of providing for anonymous response. The anonymous instrument is most likely to produce objective responses.


6. Try to get the aid of sponsorship. Recipients are more likely to answer if a person or organization, or institution of prestige has endorsed the project.

7. Be sure to include a courteous, carefully constructed cover letter to explain the purpose of the study.

8. Recipients are often slow to return completed questionnaires. To increase the number of return, a vigorous follow-up procedure may be necessary.


DIRECTION: Using the following scales, please rate your degree agreement on the following factors that influence

construction productivity:

1 - Strongly disagree 2 - Disagree3 - Somewhat disagree4 - Neutral 5 - Somewhat agree6 - Agree7 - Strongly agree

Sample Items:Sample Items: (Excerpt from Hewage & Ruwanpura (2006) (Excerpt from Hewage & Ruwanpura (2006)

Sample Items:Sample Items: (Excerpt from Hewage & Ruwanpura (2006) (Excerpt from Hewage & Ruwanpura (2006)

FactorsFactors Strongly Strongly disagreedisagree

(1)(1)

DisagreeDisagree

(2)(2)

Somewhat Somewhat disagreedisagree

(3)(3)

NeutralNeutral

(4)(4)

Somewhat Somewhat AgreeAgree

(5)(5)

AgreeAgree

(6)(6)

Strongly Strongly AgreeAgree

(7)(7)

Bonus or rewardsBonus or rewards

Amount of salaryAmount of salary

Tools and equipment Tools and equipment

Friendliness and Friendliness and helpfulness of co-helpfulness of co-workersworkers

determining the appropriate statistical determining the appropriate statistical techniques to be used in analyzing the techniques to be used in analyzing the collected information/datacollected information/data

STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATASTATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATA

Descriptive StatisticsDescriptive Statistics – procedures for summarizing, – procedures for summarizing, organizing, graphing, and in general, describing organizing, graphing, and in general, describing quantitative information. quantitative information.

Inferential StatisticsInferential Statistics – Statistics that allow us to draw – Statistics that allow us to draw conclusions or inferences from data. Usually this means conclusions or inferences from data. Usually this means coming to conclusions (such as estimates, coming to conclusions (such as estimates, generalizations, decisions, or predictions) about a generalizations, decisions, or predictions) about a population on the basis of data describing a sample. population on the basis of data describing a sample.

STATISTICAL PROCEDURES: STATISTICAL PROCEDURES: GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONSGENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICSDESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

Frequency and percentage distributionsFrequency and percentage distributions Measures of central tendencyMeasures of central tendency Measures of variabilityMeasures of variability

Examples:Examples:1. What is the profile of the civil engineer respondents in terms of 1. What is the profile of the civil engineer respondents in terms of

the following variables: the following variables: 1.1 sex,1.1 sex, 1.2 age,1.2 age, 1.3 civil status,1.3 civil status, 1.4 training and other relevant qualifications1.4 training and other relevant qualifications 1.5 position1.5 position 1.6 length of service?1.6 length of service?

2. 2. How do the respondents agree on the following How do the respondents agree on the following factors that influence construction productivity?factors that influence construction productivity?2.1 incentives2.1 incentives

2.2 working team (work participation)2.2 working team (work participation) 2.3 working conditions (work facilitation)2.3 working conditions (work facilitation) 2.4 management and supervision 2.4 management and supervision

2.5 intrinsic motives2.5 intrinsic motives

Statistical Treatments:Statistical Treatments: The respondents were described in terms of some The respondents were described in terms of some selected variables such as age, sex, civil status, selected variables such as age, sex, civil status, training and relevant qualifications, position, training and relevant qualifications, position, department to which each belongs, and length of department to which each belongs, and length of service.service.1.1 1.1 PercentagePercentage.. Percentage is used as descriptive Percentage is used as descriptive statistics, that is relating a part of the whole. This is statistics, that is relating a part of the whole. This is used in describing some personal characteristics of used in describing some personal characteristics of the respondents of the study such as sex, civil status, the respondents of the study such as sex, civil status, position, department and educational qualifications.position, department and educational qualifications.

1.2 1.2 Arithmetic MeanArithmetic Mean.. An arithmetic mean is used An arithmetic mean is used to find the average age and length of service of the to find the average age and length of service of the respondents.respondents.

1.3 1.3 Weighted Mean Weighted Mean.. To determine the degree of agreement of the respondents on the factors that influence construction productivity, a weighted mean is used.

Sample Thesis TitlesSample Thesis Titles

Bautista, R. V. (2008). An Intranet-Based Transcript of Record Builder for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Graduate School

Bonzon, M. Z. (2008). Paperless Document Routing and Approval System Using DIJKSTRA’s Algorithm

Revano Jr, T. F. (2008). Development of Automated Document Analyzer Using Text Mining and AHO CORASICK AlgorithmSicat, MGC. E. (2008). Online Back-up utility: An Application in Support to Remote Storage Services

Taguibolos, G. B. (2008). Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An Information Technology Tool to Improve Census Operations of the National Statistics Office

Sample Thesis TitlesSample Thesis Titles

Halnin, C. G. (2007). Enhanced Intranet System of a Philippine Government Science Research and Development Institute Santiago, DJ. A. (2007). Development of Data Model and Website for the University of Rizal System Cyberpark - Morong Campus

Wang, G. (2007). Electronic Mail Communication in A Power Corporation: An Assessment

Zhang, H. (2007). FIDES as a Software Solution for Fair Exchange in E-Commerce

Concepcion, S. (2006). Network Design for the Systems Interconnectivity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Best, J. W. (1981) Best, J. W. (1981) Research in Education. 4Research in Education. 4thth Ed Ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Birion, J. C. & De Jose, E. G. (1998) Birion, J. C. & De Jose, E. G. (1998) Glossary of Statistical Terms for Statisticians, Glossary of Statistical Terms for Statisticians, Researchers, and BeginnersResearchers, and Beginners. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc.. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Birion, J. C., De Jose, E. G., Dayrit, B., & Mapa, C. M. (2005) Birion, J. C., De Jose, E. G., Dayrit, B., & Mapa, C. M. (2005) Thesis and Dissertation Thesis and Dissertation Writing Without Anguish. Writing Without Anguish. Valenzuela: Mutya Publishing House, Co.Valenzuela: Mutya Publishing House, Co.

Diekhoff, G. (1992) Diekhoff, G. (1992) Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences: Univariate, Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences: Univariate, Bivariate, MultivariateBivariate, Multivariate. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. Wm. C. Brown Publishers

Elinwa, A. U. (2006). Experimental characterization of Portland cement-calcined soldier-ant mound clay cement mortar and concrete. Construction and Building Materials. Nov 2006, 20:9, 754-760.

Fortune, C. & Cox, O. (2005). Current practices in building project contract price forecasting in the UK. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 12:5, 446-458.

Hewage, K. N & Ruwanpura, J. Y. (2006). Carpentry workers issues and efficiencies related to construction productivity in commercial construction projects in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. August 2006, 33, 1075-1089.

Leonard II, W. M. (1976) Leonard II, W. M. (1976) Basic Social StatisticsBasic Social Statistics. New York: West Publishing Co.. New York: West Publishing Co.

ReferencesReferences

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