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Research Paper Guidelines and Discussions

Definition of Research

- “Careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in technique and method according

to the nature and conditions of the problem identified, directed toward the
clarification or resolution (or both) of a problem.” – Good, p.464

- “Research is, simply, the systematic search for pertinent information on a specific
topic of problem. After a careful, systematic search for pertinent information or
data on a specific topic or problem, and after the research worker has analyzed
and interpreted the data, he eventually faces another essential task – that of
preparing the research report.” – Aquino, p.1

- “The process of gathering data or information to solve a particular or specific

problem in a scientific manner.” – Manuel and Medel, p.5

- “Research in its broadest sense is an attempt to gain solutions to problems. More

precisely, it is the collection of data in a rigorously controlled situation for the
purpose of prediction of explanation.” – Treece and Treece, p.3

Purposes of Research (Aims, Objectives, Goals)

The main purpose and goal of research is the preservation and improvement of the
quality of human life.

Specific Purposes:

1. To discover new facts about known phenomena.

2. To find answers to problems which are only partially solved by existing methods and
information.

3. Improve existing techniques and develop new instruments or products.

4. To discover previously unrecognized substances and elements.

5. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science.

6. To provide basis for decision-making in business, industry, education, government, and

in other undertakings.

7. To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity.

8. To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods.

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Instructor
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The Scientific Method of Research

One of the characteristics of good research is that, it is systematic. It follows the

scientific method of research which includes the following sequential steps:

1. Determining(recognizing) the problem;

2. Forming a hypothesis;
3. Doing the library search;
4. Designing the study;
5. Developing the instruments for collecting data;
6. Collecting the data;
7. Analyzing the data;
8. Determining the implications and conclusions from the findings; and
9. Making recommendations for further research.

Standard Format of Thesis Writing

Chapter I “The Problem and its Setting” - step 1 and 2

Chapter II “Related Literature and Studies” - step 3

Chapter III “Methods of Research and Procedures” – step 4, 5, and 6

Chapter IV “Research Content” – step 7

Chapter V “Conclusions” – step 8 and 9

The Research Problem

A problem is (1) any significant, perplexing and challenging situation, real or

artificial, the solution of which requires reflective thinking; (2) a perplexing situation after it
has been translated into a question or series of questions that help determine the direction
of subsequent inquiry.

Elements of a Research Problem

1. Aim or purpose of the problem for investigation. This answers the question “Why?”
2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?”
3. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. This answers the question
“Where?”
4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. This
answers the question “When?”
5. Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. This answers the
question “Who?”

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Instructor
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The Title

Characteristics of Title

1. Generally, 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 were gathered or will be
gathered.
3. It must be broad enough to include all aspects of the subject matter studied or to be
studied.
4. It must be brief and concise as possible.
5. Avoid using the terms “An Analysis of”, “A Study of” and the like.
6. If the title contains more than one line, it must be written like an inverted pyramid,
all words in capital letters.

Example:

THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF

CAMARINES SUR BY THE SCIENCE TEACHERS AND

STUDENS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR 1989 - 1990

The contents as required by Guideline No. 2 are:

a) Subject matter: The teaching of Science;

b) Locale of the study: High Schools of Camarines Sur
c) Population involved: The science teachers and students;
d) Period of the study: School year 1989 – 1990

How to Write Chapter I - V

CHAPTER I

Introduction

The introduction should relate the background to the research, including a statement
of the problem, and the aims of the research. The research should be presented so that it is
related to an existing body of knowledge or work on the subject with a review of the
relevant literature.

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Instructor
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Guidelines in writing the introduction:

1. Presentation of the problem: The start of the introduction is the presentation of the
problem, that is, what is the problem is all about.

2. The existence of an unsatisfactory condition, a felt problem that needs a solution.

3. Rationale of the study: The reason why it is necessary to conduct the study must be
discussed.

4. A desire to have a deeper and clearer understanding of a situation, circumstance or

phenomenon.

5. A desire to discover something.

6. A link between the introduction and the statement of the problem: A sentence or two
should show the link between the introduction and the conducting of the researcher.

Statement of the Problem

Guidelines in formulating the statement of the problem:

1. The statement of the problem should be formulated first before conducting the
research.
2. It is customary to state specific problems in the interrogative form.
3. Each question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has only one meaning.
4. It is researchable apart from the other questions.
5. It must be based upon known facts and phenomena.
6. The answers to each question can be interpreted apart from the answers to other
questions.
7. The answers to each question must contribute to the development of the whole
research problem or topic.
8. Summing up the answers to all questions will give a complete development of the
entire study.

Example:

1. How effective are the methods and strategies used by the teachers in teaching
science?
2. Is there any significant difference between the perceptions of the teachers and
those of the students concerning the different aspects in the teaching of science?
3. What problems are being encountered by the teachers of science?

Definition of Terms

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Instructor
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Terms used that is unknown/ unfamiliar to most readers

Guidelines in defining terms:

1. Only terms, words, or phrases which have special or unique meanings in the study are
defined.

2. Terms should be defined operationally, that is, how they are used in the study.

3. Definitions may be taken from encyclopedia, books, magazines, and newspaper articles,
dictionaries, and other publications but the researcher must acknowledgement his sources.

4. Definitions should be brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible.

5. Acronyms should always be specified out fully especially if it is not commonly known or if
it is used for the first time.

CHAPTER II

Related Literature/Studies

Related literature is composed of discussions of facts and principles to which the

present study is related. Related studies on the other hand, are studies, inquiries, or
investigations already conducted to which the present proposed study is related or has
some bearing or similarity.

Characteristics of Related Literature and Studies

1. The surveyed materials must be as recent as possible.
2. Materials reviewed must be objective and unbiased.
3. Materials surveyed must be relevant to the study.
4. Surveyed materials must have been based upon genuinely original and true facts or
data to make them valid and reliable.
5. Reviewed materials must not be too few nor too many.

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, and speeches
4. Unpublished thesis and dissertations
5. Bulletins, circulars and orders emanating from government, offices and departments
6. Records of schools
7. Reports from seminars, educational, or otherwise
8. Official reports of all kinds, educational, social, economic, scientific, technological,
political, etc. from the government and other entities.

Guidelines:
- Include only those references that have some immediate implications for the study.

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Instructor
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- The review should be in the form of an integrated presentation of all material. It should
not contain a simple listing (annotated bibliography).
- When summarizing or comparing studies be sure to note possible differences between
samples, measurement techniques, etc.
- The review of literature may contain both conceptual and research literature.
- Related literatures are recent and relevant
- Anchor provides solid background of the Research
- Sources are appropriately cited and noted
- Related studies are relevant and includes global and local scope

CHAPTER III

Research Methodologies

Method of Research Used

The method of research used whether historical, descriptive or experimental should be

explained briefly. The procedural part of the method, its appropriateness to the study, and
some of its advantages should be given attention and should be well discussed.

Method of Collecting Data and Development of the Research Instrument

The method of collecting data and the development of the instrument for gathering data
must also be explained.

Collection of Data

Data are a collection of numbers, quantities, facts, or records, used as bases for drawing
conclusions or making inferences. – Good, p.155

Method of Collecting Data

1. Questionnaire Method

2. Interview Method

3. Empirical Observation method

4. Registration Method

5. Experimental Method

6. Library Method

The Sampling Design

The researcher has to write about the complete procedure he used in determining his
sample.

a. The size of the population

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Instructor
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b. Type of techniques of sampling used

c. The actual computation of the sample

d. The sample

CHAPTER IV

Research Content

Analysis is the process of breaking up the whole study into its constituent parts of
categories according to the specific questions under the statement of the problem.

Presentation is the process of organizing data into logical, sequential, and meaningful
categories and classifications to make them amenable to the study and interpretation.

Three ways of presenting the data:

1. Textual Presentation – uses statements with numerals or numbers to describe data.

2. Tabular Presentation – uses tables to present data.

3. Graphical Presentation of Data – use graphs/charts such as bar graphs, linear graphs,
pictograms.

CHAPTER V

Conclusion

- Conclusions are attuned with the objectives

Guidelines in writing the conclusions:

1. Conclusions are inferences, deductions, abstractions, implications, interpretations,

general statements or generalizations based upon the finding/s.

2. Conclusions should appropriately answer the specific questions raised at the beginning of
the investigation in the order they are given under the statement of the problem.

3. Conclusion should point out what were factually learned from the inquiry.

4. Conclusions should be formulated concisely, that is, brief and short, yet they convey all
the necessary information resulting from the study.

5. Conclusions should be stated categorically. They should be worded as if they are 100
percent true and correct.

6. Conclusions should refer only to the population, area, or subject of the study.

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Instructor
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7. Conclusions should not be repetitions of any statements anywhere in the research.

APPENDICES

Bibliography

A list of the written sources of information on a subject.

Example:

Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10

The Manhattan Project: The Legacy of John Randel, Kevin Canfield, February 20, 2013

Information Technology in the 21st Century, Steve Jobs, March 2012,

http:/this_is_a_sample_link/

Curriculum Vitae

Summary of professional experience and educational background, along with other

relevant information regarding the candidate’s qualifications.

RESEARCH TEMPLATE/FORMAT FOR FINAL COPY

Title Page

Acknowledgement

Table of Contents

Chapter I

- Introduction
- Statement of problem
- Definitions of terms

Chapter II

- Review of Related Literature /Studies

Chapter III

- Research Methodology

Chapter IV

- Research Contents

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Instructor
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Chapter V

- Conclusion

Appendices

- Bibliography
- Curriculum Vitae

DOCUMENT FORMATTING STANDARDS:

a. Paper Size: 8.5 x 11
b. Orientation: Portrait
c. Substance: 20
d. Spacing: 1.5 inches
e. Indentation: 1 inch
f. Margins:
i. Top: 1 inch
ii. Left: 1.5 inches
iii. Bottom: 1 inch
iv. Right: 1 inch
g. Font
i. Sizes
1. Heading 1: 14
2. Heading 2: 12
3. Heading 3 and Content: 11
ii. Type: strictly Courier New
iii. Color: Black (Automatic)
h. Pagination
i. Bottom Right (no extra characters)

Submission Requirements (Final):

a. Printed Documentation
b. Use short bond paper
c. Softbound of Research (Compiled Research per Section)
d. Cover Page of Softbound (include School Name and address, Section Name, Class List,
Instructor, may include background)

Ms.Rosalie P. Fermante |
Instructor
 8

Sample Individual Title Page Format

Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation

Baras, Canaman, Camarines Sur

Research Title Here

Complete Student Name

Section

Ms. Rosalie P. Fermante

Instructor
Ms.Rosalie P. Fermante |
Instructor
 8

Sample Cover Page Format

Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation

Baras, Canaman, Camarines Sur

Compilation of Research Paper in

Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
in Basic Computer Operations

By

BSMARE-1B3

Ms. Rosalie P. Fermante

Instructor

Ms.Rosalie P. Fermante |
Instructor