RESEARCH WRITING GUIDELINES

Title
1. It must be reflective /general problem.
2. It must be short and of the concise, preferably not more than 14 key words or two
lines using the inverted pyramid format. (Articles, prepositions and conjunctions
are not included.)
3. Avoid the use of such starter phrases as “a study of. . . . ” an evaluation of . . . . .
” an assessment” of …”

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM

Rationale
1. Describe the problem situation--considering global, national and local forces.
2. Justify the existence of the problem situation by citing statistical data and
authoritative sources.
3. Make a clinching statement that will relate the background to the proposed
research problem.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework.

1. Discuss the thesis and/or concepts which are useful in conceptualizing the
research.

Paradigm
1. Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.
2. Present a schematic diagram of the paradigm of the research and discuss the
relationship of the element/variables therein.

Statement of the problem

1. The general problem must be reflective of the title.
2. It should be stated in such a way that it is not answerable by yes or no, not
indicative. of when and where. Rather, it should reflect relationships between and
among variables.
3. Each sub-problem should cover mutually exclusive dimensions (no overlapping).
4. The sub-problems should be arranged in logical order from factual to analytical
following the flow in the research paradigm.

Hypothesis (Optional)
1. A hypothesis should be measurable/describable. It expresses expected
relationships between 2 or more variables. It is based on theory/or empirical
evidence.
2. There are techniques available to measure or describe the variables. It is on a one
to one correspondence with the specific problems of the study.
 3. A hypothesis in statistical form has the following characteristics:
a. It is used when tests of significance of relationships and difference of measures
are involved.
a. The level of significance stated.

Assumptions (Optional)
1. An assumption should be based on the general and specific problems.
2. It is stated in simple, brief, generally accepted statements.
3. It should specify the conditions under which a variable is likely to occur.
4. It should help elaborate or delimit the theoretical foundation of the study.

Scope and Delimitation of the study

1. Indicate the principal variables, locale time frame and justification

Importance of the study

1. It describes the contributions of the study as new knowledge, make findings more
conclusive.
2. It cites the usefulness of the study to specific groups.

Definition of Terms
1. Only important terms taken from the title, statement of the problem, assumptions,
hypothesis and the research paradigm are to be defined.
2. The terms should be arranged alphabetically and should be defined lexically
and/or operationally.
3. The operational definition may include measures or indices used in measuring
each concept.
________
Do not cite in Rationale and Theoretical Framework unpublished
studies especially those conducted in the same institution.

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Literature
1. It should be organized thematically to conform to the specific problems.

Studies
1. It should synthesize evidence from all studies reviewed to get an overall
understanding of the state of knowledge in the problem area;
2. As must as possible, the reviewed studies should be limited within the last 10
years;
3. A clinching statement showing how the reviewed materials had assisted the
researcher in the present study should be the last part.
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

Research Design
1. The appropriate research design should be specified and described.
2. Don’t indicate descriptive-normative when the norms are not standardized;
normative when standards have been established just like ACSB.

Sources of Data
(From whom and from where?)

Instrumentation and Data Collection

1. Instrumentation – Discuss the different parts of the instrument, i.e. questionnaire
2. Data Collection

Tools for Data collection.