PROPOSAL DEFENSE (IMRaD FORMAT)

A. INTRODUCTION
Why did you start?
1. Background
(HISTORY, RELEVANCE, AND SENSE)
⚫ Discussion of circumstances or conditions that led to the
conceptualization of the research
⚫ State the reasons the particular research problem is selected for
investigation
⚫ Cite the general scenario regarding the study
2. Rationale
⚫ Justify the purpose of the study
⚫ Make use of relevant literatures (i.e. Laws, policies, rules, regulations)
as bases in conducting the study
3. Current state of research in the field
⚫ What was I studying?
⚫ Why was this important question?
⚫ What did I know about this topic before I did this study?
⚫ Avoid lengthy or unfocused reviews of previous research
4. Review of Related Literature and Past Studies (Synthesis of the Art)
⚫ Review the pertinent literature
⚫ Cite peer-reviewed scientific literature or scholarly reviews
⚫ Avoid general reference books such as textbooks
5. Problem in the field
⚫ Given the Synthesis of the Art, what is the general problem in the field?
6. Gap to be bridged
⚫ Discuss the inconsistencies and vagueness of the findings of the studies
previously conducted
⚫ Present the difference of the present study being conducted in terms of
the respondents, areas being studied or the variables of the study,
methodology used, scope and limitations of the study
7. Objective of the Study (Thesis statement, Hypothesis)
⚫ This study will evaluate, assess, determine, construct, etc (main
problem, stating the concept of the study)
8. Key References
9. Theory (if relevant)
⚫ At least TWO theories
⚫ Dependent on the variables
⚫ The third theory may be on the theory on method or approach of the
study
10. Conceptual Framework (with Model)
⚫ Discuss the theory where the concept of the study is anchored
⚫ Provide discussions on the contribution of the theory to the field of
specialization being undertaken
⚫ Discuss also the use or its operationalization relative to the proposed
study
⚫ Focus on the discussion of the theory itself
⚫ Discuss the concept of the study based on the statement of the
problem
⚫ Discuss the variables of the study, extent of the study, purpose of the
study, etc.
⚫ Discuss the relationship of the variables
⚫ Discusss the indicators and indices of the variables

B. METHODS
What did you do?
1. Research Design
⚫ Describe the research design in detail
2. Who?What?Where?When?How?Why?
Materials, Interventions, Outcome Measures
⚫ Provide full details so that the experiment are reproducible
3. Statistical Analysis, Sample Size Calculations
 4. Ethical Considerations
⚫ Consent from persons, institutions , authorities
⚫ Confidentiality of names, data
⚫ Intellectual honesty
⚫ Credibility
5. Data Gathering Tools and Techniques
6. Tools of Analysis

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THESIS TITLE
1. The title is formulated before the start of the research work. It may be
revised and refined later if there is a need.
2. The title must contain the subject matter of the study, the locale of the
study, the population involved, and the period when the data are gathered
or will be gathered
3. It must be broad enough to include all aspects of the subject matter studied
or to be studied. Hence, the title indicates what is expected to be found
inside the thesis report
4. It must be as brief and concise as possible
5. Avoid using the terms “An Analysis of “, “A Study of “, “An
investigation of “and the like, All these things are understood to have been
done or to be done when a research is conducted
6. If the title contains more than one line, it must be written like an inverted
pyramid, all words in capital letters

RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

⚫ composed of dicsussions of facts and principles to which the present study
is related
⚫ studies, inquiries, or investigations already conducted to which present
proposed study is related or has some bearing or similarity; they are usually
unpublished materials such as manuscripts, theses and dissertations
A. Importance, Purposes, and Functions of Related Literature and Studies
1. Help / guide the reseracher in searching for or selecting a better research
problem or topic. By reviewing related materials, a replication of a similar
problem may be found better than the problem already chosen. Replication
is the study of a research problem already conducted but in another place
2. Help the investigator understand his topic for research better. Reviewing
related literature and studies may clarify vague points about his problem
3. Ensure that there will be no duplication of other studies. There is
duplication if an investigation already made is conducted again in the same
locale using practically the same respondents. This is avoided if a survey of
related literature and studies be made first
4. Help and guide the researcher in locating more sources of related
information. This is because the bibliography of a study already conducted
indicate references about similar studies
5. Help and guide the researcher in making his research design especially in
a. Formulation of specific questions to be researched on
b. Formulation of assumptions and hypotheses if there should be any
c. Formulation of conceptual framework
d. Selection and application of the methods of research
e. Selection and application of sampling techniques
f. Selection and / or preparation and validation of research
instruments for gathering data
g. Selection and application of statistical procedures
h. Analysis, organization, presentation and interpretation of data
i. Making of the summary of implications for the whole study
j. Formulation of the summary of findings, conclusions and
recommendations
6. Help and guide the researcher in making comparison between his findings
with the findings of other researchers on similar studies with the end in
view of formulating generalizations or principles which are the contributions
of the study to the fund of knowledge

B. Characteristics of the Materials Cited

1. Materials must be as recent as possible
 2. Materials must be as objective and unbiased as possible
3. Materials must be relevant to the study
4. Materials must not be too few but not too many

C. Sources of Related Literature and Studies

1. Books, encyclopedias, almanacs, and other similar references
2. Articles published in professional journals, magazines, periodicals,
newspapers, and other publications
3. Manuscripts, monographs, memoirs, speeches letters and diaries
4. Unpublished theses and dissertations
5. The constitution, and laws and statutes of the land
6. Bulletins, circulars and orders emanating from government offices and
departments
7. Records of institutions, public and private, especially reports of their
activities
8. Reports from seminars, educational or otherwise
9. Official reports of all kinds, educational, social, economic, scientific,
technological, political, etc. from the government and other entities

METHODS OF RESEARCH AND PROCEDURES

A. Method of Research
⚫ Historical, descriptive, or experimental
B. Method of collecting data and development of the research instrument
C. Sampling design
⚫ Size of the population
⚫ Study population
⚫ Margin of error and the proportion of the study population used
⚫ Type or technique of sampling used whether pure random sampling,
systematic random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling
or a combination of two or more techniques
 ⚫ Actual computation of the sample
⚫ Sample
D. Statistical treatment of data
⚫ Statistical methods help the researcher in making his research design,
particulary in experimenta research. Statistical methods are always involved
in planning a research project because in some way statistics directs the
researcher how to gather the data
⚫ Statistical techniques help the researcher in determining the validity and
reliability of his research instruments. Data gathered with instruments that
are not valid and reliable are almost useless and so the researcher must
have to be sure that his instruments are valid and reliable.
⚫ Statistical manipulations organize raw data systematically to make the data
appropriate for study. Unorganized data cannot be studied. No
inferencesnor deductions can be made from unorganized data. Statistics
organize data systematically by ordered arrangement, ranking, score
distribution, class frequency distribution or cumulative frequencies
⚫ Statistics are used to test the hypotheses. Statistics help the researcher
determine whether his hypotheses are to be expected or to be rejected
⚫ Statistical treatments give meaning and interpretation to data
⚫ Statistical procedures are indispensable in determining the levels of
significance of vital statistical measures. These statistical measures are the
bases for making inferences, interpretations, conclusions and
generalizations