A Student Guide to Preparing a Thesis/Dissertation Manuscript

A thesis (MA) or dissertation (PhD) is a major milestone in graduate education. It is an

individual research project that is required by CHED (CMO No. 36, s.1998) and the Ateneo de
Naga Graduate School as a standard for completing graduate education. A thesis/dissertation is
intended to demonstrate the graduate students’ sound scientific thinking, proficiency in research
methodologies, and scholarly writing, through which they contribute to advancing the knowledge
and practice in their respective fields and to improving human society. This guide is offered to
assist graduate students in developing their thesis/dissertation.

CONTENT

Title Page [1 page; see Attachment A]

Abstract [1 page; 300-500 words; see Attachment B]

Consent Form (Optional) [1 page; see Attachment C]

Approval Page [1 page; see Attachment D]

Acknowledgement [1 page; see Attachment E]

Biographical Sketch [1 page; see Attachment F]

Table of Contents [see Attachment G]

List of Tables [see Attachment H]

List of Figures [see Attachment I]

Chapter I. Introduction

A. Background of the Study [not more than 5 pages]

 Brief overview of the topic with reference to existing literature
 To what extent has the topic been investigated?
 What particular “gap in our understanding” led to the current study?

B. Research Problem and Purpose of the Study [not more than 300 words]
 In what context does filling this particular “gap in our understanding” become
important?
 How does the study contribute to fill this gap?

C. Research Questions/Objectives [3-6 questions/objectives]

 What questions/objectives need to be answered/satisfied convincingly to fill the gap?

D. Research Hypothesis [when appropriate]

 What hypotheses need to be tested to answer/satisfy the research
questions/objectives?
 E. Significance of the Study
 What are the theoretical and/or practical applications of the study’s outputs?
 How does it respond to the needs of your field of discipline, global/regional/local
research agenda, policy and/or planning needs of your agency, etc.?

F. Scope and Delimitation

 What are the inherent limitations of the methods used in the study?
 How does it affect the internal and/or external validity of the results?

Chapter II. Review of Related Literature

 What does current literature say about the constructs/concepts included in the study?
 How would you integrate the various literatures regarding the constructs/concepts
included in the study?
 What is the state-of-the-art with regard to your topic of interest i.e., how would you
summarize the similarities, differences, inadequacies, inconsistencies in the
findings/explanations and methodologies used to address the topic?

Chapter III. Framework of the Study

A. Theoretical Framework [when appropriate]

 What theory/theories would best explain the research questions/objectives and/or
hypotheses?

B. Conceptual Framework
 What construct and concepts are included in the study? (With reference to the theory
put forth in Section III.A)
 How are these construct and concepts defined in the context of study?
 How are these construct and concepts related to one another?

C. Definition of Terms
 What variables are used to measure each of the construct and concepts included in
the study?
 How are these variables defined in the context of the study?

Chapter IV. Methodology

A. Research Design
 What type of research design was used in the study? (e.g., exploratory, descriptive,
causal, mixed design)
 What justifies the use of this research design?

B. Research Locale and Participants

 Where and from whom were the data collected?
 What inclusion/exclusion criteria were used in selecting the target
locale/participants?
 How did you arrive at the number of target locale/participants?
 C. Data Gathering Procedure
 What data gathering techniques were used in the study? (e.g., survey, FGD, KII, etc.)
 What justifies the use of these techniques?

D. Research Instruments
 What instruments were used to obtain the data? If researcher-made, how was it
developed?
 What justifies the use of these instruments? (e.g., related literature, results of pre-
test, results of test for internal consistency, etc.)
 How would you actually administer these instruments?
 How would you summarize the dataset collected using each of these instruments?
 How would you interpret each of the dataset and what would they help explain?

E. Ethical Considerations
 What did you do to protect the subjects (i.e., humans, animals, and environment)
involved in the study? (e.g., informed consent, freedom from coercion, humane
treatment of animals, minimize site disturbance, etc.)

F. Data Analysis
 What techniques were used to analyze the data? (e.g., content analysis, descriptive
statistics, inferential statistics)
 What justifies the use of these techniques?

Chapter V. Results and Discussions

 What do the data show in the light of your research questions/objectives and/or
hypotheses?
 What do the results reveal in the light of your theoretical/conceptual framework and
review of related literature?
 How does it compare with a priori expectations and/or the results of similar studies? If
different, what would account for the differences in the result?

Chapter VI. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

 How would you summarize the key results of the study in relation to the research
questions/objectives and/or hypotheses?
 What do the results mean in relation to the theoretical/conceptual framework of the
study?
 What are the practical implications of your results?
 What would you recommend for further investigation in order to increase scientific
knowledge on the topic or to refine similar studies in the future in the light of the
methodological limitations of your study?

References
Use American Psychological Association (APA) style of referencing. Its guidelines are
readily available on the World Wide Web (e.g.,
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/)

Appendix [Label appendices A to Z]

A. Certification from Editor (if required; refer to University Research Council)
B. Certification from Statistician (if required; refer to University Research Council)
FORMAT

 Use 8.5 x 11 inches (letter size) bond paper; Substance 20, with header: 0.9 x 0.9 inches
standard Ateneo de Naga University black & white seal at top center of the page.
 Place 1 inch margin on bottom and right sides; 1.5 inches left side; 1.7 inches top side
 Font type is Times Roman; font size 12
 Double spaced except for the Title Page, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures,
and Abstract.
 Page numbers is placed at the bottom right corner of the page using the following format:
Title Page No page number
Abstract up to List of Annexes Lowercase Roman numeral starting at ii
Chapter I up to Chapter VII Arabic numeral starting at 1
References and Appendices Arabic numeral continued from Chapter VII
 Each chapter should start on a new page.
 Chapter Number, Chapter Title, Headings, Sub-headings, and Body Text should follow the
format in Attachment J.
 Tables and Figures should follow the format in Attachment K.
 The color of the hard cover of the manuscript is black for dissertation (PhD) and navy blue
for thesis (MA). Cover text should follow the format in Attachment L.
 [Line 5; Title; Times Roman; center aligned; bold; font size12; all caps]
THE IMPACT OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON
TURNOVER AND CORPORATE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

(Line 20; Full name of Author; Time Roman; all caps; bold; font size 12)
BENITO ABANTE CRISOLOGO

(Line 30; Times Roman; all caps; bold; font size 12; center aligned]
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF

[Line 36; Academic Program; Times Roman; all caps; bold; font size 12; center aligned]
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

[Date of Final Defense]

7 July 2017

[Attachment A: Title Page] Page Number

 ABSTRACT

Crisologo, Benito Abante. (June, 2017). The impact of human resource

management practices on turnover and corporate financial performance. Doctor of
Business Administration. Ateneo de Naga University.

Adviser: Dr. Efgh I. Jklm

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[Attachment B: Abstract] Page Number

 ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERISTY

[Line 6] TERMS OF USE

All content of the study:

Crisologo, Benito Abante. (June, 2017). The impact of human resource management
practices on turnover and corporate financial performance. Doctor of Business
Administration. Ateneo de Naga University.

inclusive of raw data, figures, tables, pictures, and textual material may not be copied,
reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way except for
your own personal, non-commercial use. Any other use requires the prior written permission of
the author or the adviser.

Author’s Name and Signature

Email Address:

Adviser’s Name and Signature

Email Address:

[Attachment C: Consent Form (Optional)] Page Number

 ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERISTY

[Line 6] CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL

The dissertation attached hereto, entitled “THE IMPACT OF HUMAN RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON TURNOVER AND CORPORATE
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE” prepared and submitted by BENITO ABANTE
CRISOLOGO, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF
BUSINESS ADMINSITRATION, is hereby accepted and approved by the Committee
on Oral Examination whose signatures appear below on this day 7th day of July 2017.

DR. ABC D. EFGH DR. HIJ K. LMNO

Member Member

DR. PQR S. TUVW DR. WXY Z. ABCD

Member Member

DR. EFGH I. JKLM

Adviser

DR. NOPQ R. STWX

Dean, Graduate School

[Attachment D: Approval Page] Page Number

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author wishes to acknowledge the help and encouragement of his boss,

mentor and friend Dr. XGYTH A. JDHBG.

The author received a full scholarship grant from the Asian State University under

the Faculty and Staff Development Program. He also received financial support for his

dissertation from the Ministry of Higher Education, USA, through the Scholarship

Assistance Program led by Dr. HKVLKPOE HLKDF. For these he is forever grateful.

He also wishes to thank Dr. KJDHF LKHV, Dr. KLKJHF A. HSGDG, and Dr.

KDFJHV HCYVFV of Asian State University for their invaluable advice, encouragement

and support during the entire course of this study.

He also wishes to thank the Barangay Council officials who participated and

shared valuable information and insights. He also wishes to thank the office and field

staff of the Community Learning Project for their assistance in conducting the study.

His love and gratitude goes especially to his wonderful wife, ABCD, and his three

children, LKDFB, HKJHYV and LJHFH, for their love and understanding.

[Attachment E: Acknowledgment] Page Number

 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

The author, Benito Crisologo, was born to AHBG BDYG, Sr. and FGHATFC on

December 14, 1970 in Manila. He completed secondary school at the Regional

Development College in 1987, where he also obtained his degree in Bachelor of Science

in Entrepreneurship in 1992. He later earned his degree of Master of Science in Applied

Economics at the Regional School of Commerce in 2007.

In 1992, he worked for Business Ventures Ltd., a private company, as a Credit

Specialist and later as Branch Manager. In 1996, he entered government service under the

Ministry of Trade and Commerce as Senior Financial Consultant for micro enterprises. In

2001, he joined the Asian State University where he is now working as Assistant

Professor for the Department of Business and Commerce.

He is happily married to ABCD, with whom he is blessed with three wonderful

children, LKDFB, HKJHYV and LJHFH.

BENITO ABANTE CRISOLOGO

[Attachment F: Biographical Sketch] Page Number

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE

Title Page i
Approval Page ii
Author’s Biography iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables vii
List of Figures viii
List of Annexes ix
Abstract x

I. INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study 1
Research Problem and Purpose of the Study 3
Research Questions 5
Significance of the Study 6
Scope and Delimitations 7

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Resilience: Conceptual Evolution 8
Resilience and Vulnerability 11
Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction 14
Community and Household Resilience 17
Resilience and Food Security 20
Resilience Assessment and Indicators 25

III. FRAMEWORK OF STUDY

Theoretical Framework 34
Conceptual Framework 35
Definition of Terms 37

[Attachment G: Table of Contents] Page Number

 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

1 Indicative return period for flood hazard 45

2 Factors for fatality for flood 46

3 Factors for property damage for floods: built-up areas 48

4 Factors for property damage for floods: agricultural areas 49

5 Prioritization criteria for risk of fatality 50

6 Prioritization criteria for risk of property damage 51

7 Components and indicators of community resilience 52

8 Integration matrix 54

9 Sample size and distribution 56

10 Shortlist of indicators of household resilience 57

11 Flood susceptibility and risk of fatality and property damage, 63

2012

12 Barangay disaster resilience index score and ranking by 76

barangay

13 Rotated factor patterns and final communality estimates 83

14 Brief profile of the respondents, 2012 86

15 Estimated coefficients and marginal effects from logit 87

regression

[Attachment H: List of Tables] Page Number

 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE PAGE

1 Resilience assessment framework 36

2 Location map 40

3 Administrative map 41

4 Approach to assessing resilience and household food security 42

5 Flood hazard susceptibility map, 2010 62

6 Risk of fatality, 2012 66

7 Risk of property damage to built-up areas, 2012 67

8 Risk of property damage to agricultural areas, 2012 69

9 Built environment index, 2012 71

10 Social environment index, 2012 72

11 Economic environment index, 2012 73

12 Institutional environment index, 2012 74

13 Composite barangay disaster resilience index, 2012 75

[Attachment I: List of Figures] Page Number

 Chapter I [title case; center aligned; bold font]

CHAPTER TITLE [uppercase; center aligned; bold font]

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A. Level 1 Heading [title case; capitalize each word; left aligned; bold font]

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Body text [indent first line 0.5 inches; justified]. Body text body text body text body text

body text. Body text body text body text body text body text body text. Body text body text body

text body text body text body text body text body text body text

1. Level 2 heading [sentence case; capitalize first word only; bold font]

Body text body text [indent first line 0.5 inches; justified]. Body text body text body text

body text body text. Body text body text body text body text body text body text. Body text body

text body text body text body text body text body text body text.

1.1 Level 3 heading [capitalize first word only; indent 0.5 inches; italicize]

Body text body text [indent first line 0.5 inches; justified]. Body text body text body text

body text body text body text body text body text. Body text body text body text body text body

text body text body text body text body text body text body text body text.

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body text Body text body text body text Body text body text body text Body text body text body

text Body text body text body text Body text body text body text.

[Attachment J: Headings, Sub-headings, and Body Page number

text]
Table Format

[space]

The table should be separated from the body text by double spaces, i.e. before and after the table.

The table number should be in bold font. The table title should be in normal font, sentence case

(capitalizing only the first word), and, at the end to the table title, indicate the source and year

when the data was collected or published. For column headers, use title case, bold font, and

center alignment.

In setting the table properties, use “AutoFit to window”, cell height is at least 0.2, cell

margin is at least 0.3 on all sides. Paragraph spacing for table entries is single. For Table

borders, use ¾ pt. double lines for the outside top and bottom table borders. Do not place any

lines on the outside left and right table borders. The use of inside borders are discouraged, and

usually limited to the top and last rows only using ¾ pt. single lines. Make sure that the table is

referenced in the text. The table then is placed immediately after the paragraph referencing it or

on top most portion of the next page. Table 1 is provided below as an example.

[space]

Table 1. Table title table title table title table title table title table title table title, (source, year)

Column Header 1 Column Header 2 Column Header 3

Row item 1 [data entry] [data entry]
Row item 2 [data entry] [data entry]
Row item 3 [data entry] [data entry]
Row item 4 [data entry] [data entry]
Row item 5 [data entry] [data entry]
TOTAL [data entry] [data entry]

[space]

[Attachment K: Formatting Tables & Figures] Page number

Formatting Figures

As a general rule, the size of the figure should not exceed half of the page (about 3 inches

in height, 5 inches in width). Location maps, may occupy the entire page. The figure is placed

center aligned. Label the figures completely and clearly. In assigning colors, shades or fills, make

sure that it will be distinguishable when printed in grayscale or black and white. The figure is

separated from the body text by double spaces, i.e. before and after the figure. The figure number

is in bold font. The figure title should be in normal font, sentence case, and, at the end to the

figure title, indicate the source of the data and the year when it was collected or published. The

figure title is placed at the bottom of the figure and center aligned. Make sure that the figure is

referenced in the text. The figure then is placed immediately after the paragraph referencing it or

on top most portion of the next page. Figure 1 is below is an example.

[space]

Figure 1. Five-year enrolment trend, Ateneo de Naga University Graduate School (ADNU, 2017)

[space]

[Attachment K: Formatting Tables & Figures] Page number

 [Line 6; Title; Franklin Gothic Medium Condensed; Font size 16; all caps; center aligned; gold]
THE IMPACT OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES ON TURNOVER AND CORPORATE
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

[Line 25; Author’s full name; Franklin Gothic Medium Condensed; Font size 16; all caps; center aligned]
BENITO ABANTE CRISOLOGO

[Line 40; Month/year of final defense; Franklin Gothic Medium Condensed;

Font size 16; all caps; center aligned]
JULY 2017

[Attachment L: Hard Cover and Spine]

DISSERTATION: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT
SURNAME 2017

[Attachment L: Hard Cover and Spine]

THESIS: MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION SURNAME 2017