JOCELYN I. BARTOLATA, Ed.D

1. TITLE PAGE

This presents the title, full name of the author, submission statement (which includes the faculty and the institution), the degree sought, and the month and year when the degree is or will be granted.

Words such as “an analysis” should be avoided when redundant. Subtitles should be used when they contribute to the descriptive title of the research. This will be determined by the panel.

2. RECOMMENDATION FOR ORAL EXAMINATION/THESIS COMMITTEE

This contains the recommendation for consideration of the research by the adviser to the thesis committee. The page also bears the signature of the members of the committee recommending the thesis for oral examination.

3. RESULT OF THE ORAL EXAMINATION

This certifies that the thesis has passed the oral examination. It bears the signature of the members of the panel as well as the action taken by the members.

4. APPROVAL SHEET

The page provides space for the signatures of the research professor, the department chair and the dean to indicate their acceptance of the work.

(note: all names for signature should be typed in all capital letters.)

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

These are expressions of appreciation for support, assistance, guidance, generosity. Since this is considered the researchers’ page, only grammar and mechanics will be critiqued. There must be only one per study, even for tandem or group researches. First or third person may be used.

6. ABSTRACT

A one- or two-page descriptive summary of the research, not a repetition of chapter 1 nor chapter 5. It must briefly include the statement of the problem or issue, theoretical basis, research method and design, major findings and their significance and the conclusions. It is the research in capsule form.

7. TABLE OF CONTENTS

This lists all the elements with their respective pages. The numbering of pages, wording, capitalization, and punctuation should be exactly as they appear in the text.

(note: Capitalize titles of preliminaries, including in the table of contents.)

CHAPTER 1 – Introduction

Rationale. This provides a clear picture of the broad problem(s) or research question(s) under investigation; some supportive background information and the reason(s) why the research is needed. It is usually two to three pages long; is meant to capture the reader's attention and to introduce the topic; and is written in the present tense.

Statement of the Problem.

The general statement of the problem should be a single, clear and unambiguous question regarding the specific problem to be investigated. This part also contains the specific sub-problems which are feasible, clear, significant and ethical. The number of sub-problems will depend on the depth and magnitude of the problem, to be agreed upon by the panel.

Characteristics of Good Research Questions

a. The question is feasible - It can be investigated with available resources.

b. The question is clear - One way to clarify an ambiguous research question is to identify conceptual and operational definitions of key terms in the research question.

c. The question is significant - Why would it be important to answer this question? How might answers to this question contribute to my field?

d. The question is ethical - Any physical or psychological harm for anyone as a result of my research?

e. The question should be of your interest

Researchable vs. Non-Researchable Questions

A researchable question should contain information that can be collected in attempt to answer the question.

(examples)

“Should I put my youngster in pre-school?” (Not researchable)

“Do children enrolled in pre-school develop better social skills than children not enrolled?”

“Are some people born bad?” Not researchable.

“Do people who have personality disorders commit more crimes than others?”

Scope and Delimitation

Limitations are shortcomings, conditions or influences that cannot be controlled by the researcher. Any limitations that might influence the results should be mentioned.

Delimitations are choices made by the researcher which should be mentioned.

Significance of the Study

Explains the contribution of the research to the body of knowledge, its significance to theory and practice.

CHAPTER 2 - Review of Related Literature

Literature Review

This a review of non-research works & related studies. It establishes the value of the research and how it fits in with other research

The rationale for incorporating the review of the literature in the research is that when you substantiate what you say, you usually substantiate it through the literature you have read .The literature review is a series of references, not a bibliography. Only the literature that you have used to substantiate your problem is included in your literature review. Not everything that you have read about your problem is relevant to your research and therefore should not be included.

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Discussion may be around key variables or concepts. Do a brief review of information, not a comprehensive report. Always refer to the original source. Emphasize important results and conclusions of other studies, relevant trends and data from previous researches and methods and designs. Discuss how the literature applies to the study you are proposing. Summarize important aspects of the literature and interpret in terms of your problem.

Theoretical/Conceptual/Research Frameworks

A theory is a statement (or set of statements) that links concepts together in as explicit a way as possible. Following the example, a theory could be “hard work by students in preparation for their classes and exams causes their academic performance in college courses to be strong.”

Theories are not testable. They represent perceptions and thoughts that need expression in more operational terms

A framework is simply the structure of the idea or concept and how it is put together. A theoretical framework, then, is an essay that interrelate the theories involved in the question.

Remember, a theory is a discussion of related concepts, while a concept is a word or phrase that symbolizes several interrelated ideas. Unlike a theory, a concept does not need to be discussed to be understood. However, since you are using several interrelated concepts in a new way, your conceptual framework must explain the relationship among these concepts. Even if your question does not include a theory, there is no doubt that it contains at least one concept that needs to be explained or described in relation to the question as a whole.

Look at your question again. How many ideas—as expressed in words—does your question contain? Look at each of your definitions. More than likely the question is a sequence of related ideas that form a concept rather than a single idea. If so, you must write a conceptual framework that explains the interrelationship of all of the ideas in your question.

Examples:

The author’s psyche is reflected in his literary works.◦ Personal experiences◦ Hidden desires◦ Personal beliefs

The Legacy of Greek Drama on Modern Drama◦ Conventions in terms of the elements of fiction◦ Similarities and Differences◦ Function of the myth

Theoretical Model. A structural/graphical representation of the theoretical framework.

Conceptual Model. A structural / graphical representation of the conceptual framework.

Definition of Terms

Definition of Terms is a very brief section consisting of a series of definitions of the key terms or concepts found in the proposal. Since some words like "recreation" or "leisure" may have various meanings, it is important to clarify to the reader the way they are used in the proposal. Unfamiliar or technical words may also require an exact definition.

Conceptual definition◦ - A dictionary-like definition.

◦ - It broadly defines a term.

◦ - It helps researchers to say more clearly what is meant.

◦ - Sometimes, not clear enough for a specific situation.

• Operational definition◦ - A situated definition that a researcher intends to look

at.

◦ - It precisely defines a term to be measured or identified.

For easy reading, terms should be highlighted and in alphabetical order. (researchers should look for definitions that fit the purpose, not just any definition they come across.)

Primary sources are original, first-hand documents such as creative works, research studies, diaries and letters, or interviews you conduct. Secondary sources are comments about primary sources such as analyses of creative work or original research, or historical interpretations of diaries and letters.

CHAPTER 3 - Research Design and Methodology

Research Method. This tells the type of research (descriptive, historical, experimental, ethnographic, etc) used; data collection technique or the means of gathering data – content analysis, interviewing, questionnaire, etc.

Sources of Data. Individuals (key-informant, interviewees, respondents) and documents (newspapers, magazines, story, novel, poetry). Should the sources of data be the respondents alone, “Respondents” may be used as sub-heading.

Data Gathering Procedure. Explains in detail how data are gathered. Also includes how the analysis is done.

CHAPTER 4 – Results and Discussion

(Here, data are presented, analyzed and interpreted according to the sub-problems). Remember the characteristics of research. A summary of these characteristics is made by Best and is presented as follows:

1. Research gathers new data or knowledge from primary or first-hand sources.

◦ Do not merely restate or reorganize what is already known or what has already been written.

2. Research is expert, systematic and accurate investigation. As a researcher you should know what is already known

about your problem. Data are gathered, recorded and analyzed with as much accuracy as possible.

3. Research is logical and objective, applying every possible test to verify the data collected and the procedures employed.

Research endeavors to organize data in quantitative terms, IF POSSIBLE.

Research is patient and unhurried. You should be willing to exert painstaking effort, suspending judgment to permit the data and logic to lead to a sound conclusion.

4. Research is carefully recorded and reported. All references are carefully documented All interpretations are carefully arrived at

CHAPTER 5 – Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations

Summary of Findings. These are brief statements of findings, as summarized from Chapter 4.

Conclusions. These are generalizations that answer the research problems. These are end-results of induction.

Recommendations. These are usually recommendations along the sub-problems and recommendations for further study.

(note: Chapter titles should be written thus: CHAPTER (all caps) 1 (Arabic numeral); Introduction (upper/lower case, in boldface)

Back Matter includes the bibliography, appendices and curriculum vitae.

Bibliography. This cites references actually used as properly classified. (Chicago Manual)

Appendices. These are materials which are relevant to the understanding of research but do not have much place in the body.

Curriculum Vitae. This highlights credentials of researcher/s. Picture/s of researchers in this section should be formal