Guidelines in Thesis/research Writing

Guidelines in Thesis/research Writing

Research is important to your pursuit of any degree or tranning. The proposal is, in effect, an intellectual scholastic (not legal) contract between you and your committee. It specifies what you will do, how you will do it, and how you will interpret the results. In specifying what will be done it also gives criteria for determining whether it is done. In approving the proposal, your committee gives their best judgment that the approach to the research is reasonable and likely to yield the anticipated results. They are implicitly agreeing that they will accept the result as adequate for the purpose of granting a degree.

Here are some guidelines in research or thesis however the guidelines is a work in progress, intended to organize the thoughts on the process of formulating a proposal. If you have any thoughts on the content, or even the notion of making this available to students, please share them with me.

TITLE:

1.     It must reflective of the general

2.     It must be short concise and brief preferably not more than 14 words or two lines.

3.     Avoid the use of such starter phrases as “A study of... “An Analysis of.... etc.

4.     Example:  “Busol Forest Reserve Degradation: An Assessment”

                                                             i.      “Potential Microorganisms Isolated from Compost Tea Against Cutworms and mites of Strawberry”

                                                           ii.      “Learning Strategy: A survey of Child and Adolescent restraint fatalities”

Background of the Study

1.     Describe the problem situation considering global national and local forces whenever applicable.

2.     Link the situation to the existing body of knowledge. Where applicable present historical developments leading to the occurrence of the situation . Preferably cite statistics and authoritative sources to support the ideas.

3.     Make a clinching statement that will relate the background to the proposed research problem.

Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework

1.      Identify and discuss the theory concept to be used in evolving the proposed research problem.

2.      Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.

3.      Construct the paradigm of the research and discuss the elements of variables therein. Paradigm is similar to the diagram of the study

Statement of the Problem, Assumption, and Hypothesis

1.     Concepts are clear and operationalized.

2.     There are techniques available to measure the variables. Z test SD etc.

3.     The hypothesis is specific

4.     It is related to a body of theory

5.     A hypothesis maybe in the statistical from characterizes as follows.

a.     It is used when the test of significance of relationship and difference of measures are employed .

b.     The level of significance is employed

c.      It refers to a specific statement

E.g. Ha ῦ1≠ῦ 2   Ho ῦ1=ῦ2   at ∞=.o5

Scope and delimitation

1.     Indicate the principal variables used in the study and the exclusion of other relevant variables not included in the study.

2.     Indicate the extent of the applicability of results arising from the sampling population.

3.     Include justifications for 1 and 2 above.

Other research named it as exclusion and inclusion criteria.

Operational Definition of Terms

The terns to be defined are those used throughout the stuff and maybe a word or a phrase usually from the title, the statement of the problem, assumptions and hypothesis.

1.     The operational definition of terms used may include specify tests, measures indices etc. Used in measuring each concept and as employed in the gathering of the data. It may refer to responses in the data gathering concepts.

2.     The terms should be arranged alphabetically, stated in complete sentences.

Importance of the Study

1.     The section describes the contributions of the study to knowledge. such contributions may be in the form of:

a.     New knowledge in the field.

b.     A check on the major findings or other studies.

c.      A check on the validity of the findings in a different population.

d.     A check on the trends over time.

e.      A check on other findings using a different methodology.

2.     It should describe its application to practice in the field and its applicability to specific group(s) under study.

The selection is also define as the Significance of the Study

Review of Related Literature

1.     It should be written in the terms of the purposes of the study.

2.     The literature reviewed should be evaluated considering the following factors.

a.     Formulation of the research hypothesis.

b.     Existence of biases

c.      Possible presence of effects related to research situation

d.     Overlooking important variables

e.      Critical evaluation of measurement techniques

f.       Critical evaluation of statistical analysis

g.     Presence of contamination

3.     It should give more weight to studies considered more authoritative as evaluated and should give preference to primary rather than the secondary sources.

4.     It should use quantitative / statistical techniques for literature analysis.

5.     It should be organized thematically to conform to the specific problems.

6.     It should synthesize evidence from all studies reviewed to get an overall understanding of the state of knowledge in the problem area.

7.     IT MAY INCLUDE expressed opinions of leading figures in the field/ subject of the study.

8.     It should be exhaustive .

Research Design

1.     This describes the research model (experiment, survey, field research, qualitative research, ethnographic research, prospective, retrospective etc.)

2.     This describes the arrangement of the different elements of the research which will bring about a logical conclusion.

Population Sampling

1.     Describe the target population.

2.     Specify the sampling techniques used. Describe how the sample size is determined to include reliability and potable error.\

3.     Describe the sampling population. Indicate the sampling frame, where applicable.

Examples

Purposive sampling was used in study. This was done deliberately and in non-random fashion the respondents. A total of 61 respondents were considered four sectors in Baguio.......

The respondents were 160 intermediate teachers of public schools in the division of Baguio

Data Gathering

1.     Identify the instruments to be used based on the problem and sub problems.

2.     Specify reliability data, describe validity information and norms used if standardized test are utilized.

3.     Give details of construction and data on validity and reliability if an instrument is constructed by the researcher.

4.     Give details of instructions given to assistants if data are gathered by persons other than the researcher.

5.     State qualifications of informants if used in the study.

Treatment of Data

1.     Determine and justify the statistical treatment for each sub-problem.

2.     Determine and justify the scales to be used if any.

Presentation of Data

1.     Present the findings of the study in the order of the order of the specific questions under the Statement of the Problem.

2.     Present the data in these forms:

a.     Tabular

b.     Textual

c.      Graphical (optional)

3.     The ZOOM LENS approach may be used for purposes of clarity in the presentation of data.

Analysis of Data

1.     Data maybe analyze quantitatively and /or qualitatively depending on the level of measurement and the number of dimensions and variables of the study.

2.     Analyze in depth to give meaning to the data presented in the table. Avoid simple table reading.

3.     Use either descriptive or inferential analysis.

4.     Check if the data are sufficient, valid realistic, and accurate.

5.     State statistical descriptions in declarative sentences e.g. in studies involving:

a.     Correlation

                                                             i.      State whether positive or negative

                                                           ii.      Indicate the level of significance of the correlation.

b.     Difference of Measures

                                                             i.      State the obtained statistical results

                                                           ii.      Indicate the level of significance of the difference.

6.     Present the result of the analysis in a clear and logical organized manner.

Interpretation of Data

1.      Check for indicators whether hypothesis/ses is/are supported or not by findings.

2.      Link the present findings with previous/ related literature.

3.      Use parallel observations with contemporary events to give credence to the situational analysis presented in the introduction.

4.      Draw out implications.

Summary

This briefly describes the problems, research design and the findings.

For each problem, presents;

1.     The salient findings and

2.     The results of the hypotheses tested.

·        Recommended format is in paragraph form

Conclusion

1.     These are brief, generalized statements in answer to the general and each of the specific problems.

2.     This contains generalizations in relation to the population.

3.     Flexibility is considered in the making of conclusion.

4.     Conclusion maybe stated as generalizations from micro to macro or vice versa

Recommendations

1.     Recommendations should be used on the findings and conclusion of the study.

2.     Recommendations maybe specific or general or both. They may include suggestions for further studies.

3.     They should be in non-technical language.

4.     They should be workable, feasible and adaptable.

5.     An action plan is optional.

Bibliography

1.     The bibliography should include all materials used and reviewed by the researcher.

2.     The following should be considered in the choice of bibliographic materials.

a.     Relatedness to the research

b.     Inclusion of recent publications

Appendix

1.     The appendix may contain the following

a.     Instruments , if any

b.     Letters and other form of communication

c.      Additional tables and figures

d.     Statistical computations

e.      Curriculum vitae of the researcher

f.       Other pertinent materials.

2.     The contents of the appendix should be arranged in order in which they were presented or mentioned in the body of thesis,  or research.

Credits to my instructors.....