DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

Chapter
02
CHAPTER 02: PRESENTATION OF DATA

2.1 DATA MANAGEMENT

After drawing a clear introduction and orienting your readers with
the particulars of your thesis, you are supposed to give them the
“meat” of the book in this chapter. However, you should be careful on
what to present. This is not a mere tally or a collection of
data. Presentation involves organization. To give you a clearer
picture, you may do the following suggestions:

1. Segregate the facts from the concepts. You probably know now what
the difference is between this two. Factual data are those
information based on what is existing, something which is of truth
and reality. Conceptual data may be written ideas which you could
use as basis for your study. It is necessary for you to
know this so as you would determine which data can be
processed and what are not.
2. Recognize what data to present. You might be tempted to present
several bits of information or a huge number of knowledge about the
topics you are studying.

DON’T. analyze the articles, tables, etc. and their relevance to

your thesis. Ask yourself. Are these really helpful? Are these
important? Can I do without them? You see, not because an article
or a clipping tells you about your topic, it would
automatically qualify and be accepted as data.

3. Organize your data. It would be necessary to have a

proper sequencing of the data you will be presenting. Sequencing
would mean developing your data presentation from the
simplest to the most complex ideas. It would also help if you
would relate topics after topics so that you would establish the
links between them, to later on be connected to the main thing.

Alright, you may be a bit lost about that, but here’s

a more comprehensible way of looking at it. The
following is a detailed discussion of the types of data to be
presented and the manner it should be presented.
 DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

2.1.1 PRESENT CONDITION

It is inevitable to come up with basic data about your proposal. These
come in statistical form. You may have come to come back to your god
old junior year in high school to be able to understand this. But hey,
haven’t you done this before when you were doing your research methods
a year ago? Yes, this is as simple as showing factual data to your
readers, whether in textual, tabular or graphical form

However, you have to take note that these are “statistical” data and so
these are data, already processed, initially, by the agency where you
got them. Population, vehicular volume and Growth in Rice
Production are just few samples of such.

2.1.2 PRIMARY DATA

Primary data come from original sources. They are not commentary about
the topic, but rather consist of information that must be commented
upon the succeeding topics.

Tactics that may be used to gather Primary Data include interviews,

listening (to symposia, lectures), focus groups, surveys
and observations (participatory, non-participatory)

TACTICS INTERVIEWS NON-INTERACTIVE

INTERVIEWS  IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS

 KEY INFORMANTS
INTERVIEW
 CAREER HISTORY
LISTENING  SYMPOSIA
 LECTURES
FOCUS GROUPS  DISCUSSION GUIDED TO
TEST IN SMALL GROUPS
 PARTICIPANTS HELP
CONSTRUCT THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
SURVEYS  MULTIPLE SORTING
 PROJECTIVE SURVEY
OBSERVATIONS  PARTICIPANT  NON-PARTICIPANT
OBSERATION OBSERVATION STREAM
OF BEHAVIOR
 CHRONICLES
 FIELD NOTES
 VISUAL MAPPING
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2.1.3 TABLES AND GRAPHS

You may be already identified these tables and graphs at the beginning
of your book you might be wondering where this will appear. If you
think that it they will all come in a single bulk in just a single
chapter, think again. This chapter may contain most of these figures
but you are free to present some whenever the need in
certain discussions arises. We are architects and so this
graphs and illustrations will be our most effective tools in
expressing our thoughts.

Now, the question you might have In your mind is what are
these tables? What about these graphs? A statistical table or simply
table is defined as a systematic arrangement of related data
in which classes of numerical facts or data are given each a row and
their subclasses are given each a column in order to present
the relationship of the sets or numerical facts or data in a definite,
compact and understandable form of forms. Now, you may
probably recognize a table when you see one, right?

A graph on the other hand is a chart representing the quantitative

variations or changes of a variation itself, or quantitative changes of
a variable in comparison with those of another variable or
variables in pictorial or diagrammatic form. There are some advantages
of using a graph over a table. These are:

1. It attracts attention more effectively than tables, and,

therefore is less likely to be overlooked. Your readers may skip
tables but pause to look charts.
2. The use of colors and pictorial diagrams make a list of figures
in thesis report more meaningfully.
3. It gives a comprehensive view of quantitative data. A moving line
exerts a more powerful effect in the reader’s mind that
the tabulated data. It shows what is happening and what is likely
to take place.
4. Its general usefulness lies in the simplicity it adds to
the
presentation of the numerical data.

But the graphs have disadvantages as well as advantages. They are

generally inaccurate, incomplete, more expensive and time consuming.
 DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

Further, graphs can only be made only the data have been tabulated.
Listed below are the varied types of graphs you may encounter:

1. Bar graphs
a. Single vertical bar graph
b. Sing horizontal bar graph

c. Grouped or multiple or composite bar graph

d. Duo-directional or bilateral bar graph
e. Subdivided or component bar graph
f. Histogram

2. Linear graphs

a. Time series or chronological line chart

b. Composite line chart

c. Frequency polygon
d. gives

e. Band chart

3. Hundred percent graphs or charts

a. Subdivided bar or rectangular bar graph

b. Circle or pie chart

4. Pictograms
5. Statistical maps
6. Ratio charts
You might just be copying these tables, graphs and charts as part of
your presentation of data. But you think it would be more fruitful on
your part if you’ll be doing these by yourself? Why not? You might have
already gathered your data and so you are in the right position to
process them yourself and show your readers these data as you
understand them.

2.2 CASE STUDIES

This chapter us actually an extension of your Research Data. The
difference is that with Case Studies, you are analyzing existing
related structures, groups, localities and situations and you
might be getting information that may not be available in
textbooks or previous studies. This is especially true for local cases
 DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

that may have some connection with your project. Focus, however,
should be on the variable that may be difficult to determine
without actual reconnaissance. Do not forget that you are the one who
has the best understanding of your project and what information you
need from the case studies. That simply means that it is also
YOU who can conduct the studies most effectively.

If you need information regarding structures or scenarios abroad

(especially if you want to determine the applicability of
certain theories and principles to the Philippines , you may use
secondary data. It is best, in this case, to come up with at least one
local study (besides the foreign one) so that it would be easier to
determine the applicability and feasibility of foreign concepts in
local settings.

2.2.1 SCOPE and DELIMITATIONS

As you study different cases, it would become evident to you that each
structure, user group, locality or situation is made up of several
variables. A study of a municipality, for instance, could cover
its physical, cultural, historical, social and economic frameworks. But
not all of these may be relevant to your project. So, you have to
state in the SCOPE all the specific concerns that you will
focus on. You also have to discuss the extent of work that
you will cover in regard to these elements.

To further clarify matters, you can discuss all those concerns that you
will NOT be covering in the DELIMITATION. This will give your reader a
more simplified view of what to note in the cases under study.

2.2.2 CASE STUDIES

Each case study can be presented by first explaining how they are
related to your project. You can discuss the situation by dividing it
into sub components and presenting their respective merits. If you
think that sketches, maps, graphs, and photographs would help you
explain them better, then use them to support your data. Just remember
to provide proper captions or else, they may be useless.

Lastly, you have to maker sure that all the specific concerns are
discussed properly, and their relevance to the project stated
clearly. It is also advisable that you choose cases that are related to
your thesis in distinctly varied ways. One case study may be concerned
with a project similar to your proposal and another which employs a
technology which is comparable to what you are proposing. You
might also be able to draw more reliable conclusions by studying
both local and foreign cases.
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At least three TOPICS for study would be ideal -- a study of similar

user groups, a study of a case similar to the project (local and
foreign), and a study of the current trend/s (local and foreign)
pertinent to the project. It might also be useful to include a failed
case that used the same technique or was intended for the same user
group. Even the failed cases are helpful in your research as they
give you a fairly good idea of what NOT to do. However, please take
note of the word TOPIC. This does not mean that you have to limit your
case studies to three also.

2.2.3 SUMMARY and RECOMMENDATIONS

This is where you correlate a d summarize all the factors that you have
studied to see their implications to the project. You can end this chapter
by recommending and endorsing concepts and approaches learned from the
case studies according to their suitability to your project.

C. RESEARCH TOPIC (or you can write the TOPIC TITLE)

A research topic is something born with your thesis. Ideally

these topics should be thought of before the project since these are
basically the things of your interest.

But of course, we don’t want to be too idealistic here, and so they may
come together as a package, with the source of your project hooked on
these topics.

In selecting a research topic, you should look into your thesis project
and see the possible requirements or kind of character which will make
it unique or increase its architectural value. In other words, being
the “soul” of your book, this section will give your readers a great
deal of what they will be reading as they go along with your thesis.
These research topics do not only explain the essential things about
your study but clarify as well the theoretical or conceptual framework
you mentioned in Chapter1. This would require you to write the
applicability of these topics to your project and so you should
be wise in selecting the topics. Be very specific. Focus.
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How will you do this? First, you have to orient your readers why you
choose the topics as your focal points of study. You can very well do
this be reiterating the roots of your problem(s). You have to go
back to the background you have presented in Chapter 1 and
stress the need for the topics to be studied so as to have a clear
solution, in the end, to the problems posted in your statement.

THE RESEARCH BODY

This is the thorough discussion regarding your research. This should

contain studies, approaches as well as trends (of course
acknowledged)relative to your topic. But don’t be misguided. A common
mistake here is that the contents of the research body are lifted from
published work, completely! This is a big no-no! Any data or
information appearing on this part will have to be processed and
quoted.

Discussion should be paraphrased and again - for the nth time- properly
acknowledged! The information should be brief and discussions
well-organized. Again, the key is focus. If for example you
are to discuss behavioral analysis as a research topic, do you
need to write everything about behavior including the psychology of
the human mind if your readers about the basic, why not? But the
meat of the discussion should be on the psychology of children.
Focus! You may also want to mention cases and examples, but you
must not discuss them fully as you would be required to do in the Case
Studies.

APPLICATION

It was mentioned earlier that your research will not have any value or
significance unless you connect it with a project which will manifest
the studies made. This is the part where you relate your
topics with your project. Let us continue our example in the
behavioral analysis. It will be pertinent to note not only the theories
on behavior but its application to the architectural sense as well. You
may have to study theories on perception, color and space to support
your documented research when applied to the “real thing”. Again,
you have to be specific. Bear in mind that what you’ll be writing
should be something which will give your readers a clear understanding
of your thesis and not confuse them. So go straight to the point.
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However, you will not stop when you have given the application. You
still have to cross examine these data. Check on its economic
feasibility and other areas you might thinks its appropriate for
study.
DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021
DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021