Download - Writing thesis chapters 1-3 guidelines
WRITING THESIS /
DISSERTATION
Parts
A. Preliminaries
B. Text/Body
C. References
B. The Text
Five Major Sections
I. Introduction
II. Review of Related Literature
III. Methodology
IV. Results and Discussion
V. Summary, Conclusions, Recommendations
Note: In any section, if you’ll mention an idea which is not
yours please always rephrase and write your source.
I. Introduction
introductory statement about the study presents a general statement about the study (can be an issue or
claim)
presents support about the general statement (organization or beneficiaries can be introduce also)
last paragraph contains either the aims or problems that the study would want to achieve or solve
a. Statement of the Problem
b. Significance of the Study
c. Objectives of the Study
d. Time and Place of the Study
e. Scope and Limitation
f. Definition of Terms
Example of introductory
statement
a. Statement of the Problem
• describes the problems to be investigated
• contains a general problem written in the form of a
statement followed by the specific questions or sub-
problems
Example of statement of
problem
b. Significance of the Study
• discusses the reasons in conducting the research
• if you have few beneficiaries you can just write it in one or
two paragraph (why is it important to conduct the study &
all the beneficiaries and how they can benefit from the
study)
• but if you have many beneficiaries write the following:
1st paragraph (Why is it important to conduct this study)
2nd paragraph – main beneficiary (organization)
3rd paragraph – secondary beneficiary
4th paragraph – importance to the proponents/researchers
5th paragraph – importance to the future researchers
Example of significance of the
study
c. Objectives of the Study
• includes both the general and specific objectives (must be
parallel to your SOP)
Example of objectives of the
study
d. Time and Place of the Study
• includes the period when the study was conducted
starting from the preparation of outline, data gathering
(preliminary interview & RRL), conduct of survey to writing
of the manuscript
Example of time and place of
the study
e. Scope and Limitation
• describes the extent of the study
actual place where the study will only be conducted
duration of the conduct of the study
inclusions of the study (only specific aspect of the study or topic)
limit of the number of respondents
area limit (if applicable)
Example of scope and limitation
f. Definition of Terms
• key terms or phrases only used in the study
• brief but clear definitions
Example of definition of terms
Chapter II – Review of Related Literature
• there should have a short introductory statement (could be one paragraph only) that describes what could be seen under this part
Reminders
get facts/ideas from a reliable source (encourage a source with author)
jot down your source for reference writing later
make rephrasing a habit
write only those which are relevant to your study
at the end of each topic, write a paragraph which explains its significance or relevance to your topic
Chapter III - Methodology
• discusses how the study was or will be conducted
• there should have a short introductory statement (could
be one paragraph only) that describes what could be seen
under this part
a. Research Design
b. Sources of Data
c. Data Gathering Procedure
d. Data Analysis
e. Statistical Treatment
f. Research Instrument
a. Research Design
• write the type of research methodology you’ll employ with your study (reason out)
• write also the step by step procedure that you are going to do to conduct the research Descriptive/Qualitative - this type of research methods involve
describing in details specific situation using research tools like interviews, surveys, and Observations. It focuses on gathering of mainly verbal data rather than measurements.
Descriptive/Quantitative - this type of research methods requires quantifiable data involving numerical and statistical explanations. Quantitative analysis hinges on researchers understanding the assumptions inherent within different statistical models. It generates numerical data or information that can be converted into numbers. The presentation of data is through tables containing data in the form of numbers and statistics.
Correlation/Regression Analysis – this
research methodology involves determining the strength of the
relationship between two or more variables (e.g. are violent video
games correlated with aggression in children).
Quasi-Experimental - this research involves the comparison of two
groups, one which is influenced by an external source and another
which is not.
Experimental - involves the use of random assignment to place
participants in two groups: an experimental group which receives
intervention, and another control group without any intervention. It is
using a positive control for you to base it or compare it in your
result.
Meta-Analysis - this research method is useful for finding out the
average impact of several different studies on a hypothesis.
b. Sources of Data
• provides information about the respondents / samples
• mention also the description of population (write also the
total number of population)
• and write also how much percentage of the population
was used as the respondents and mention only what
formula did you use in order to get the number of
respondents
• indicate also the sampling technique (manner employed
in the selection of respondents / samples)
Sampling Technique
a. Probability sampling Simple random sampling - each individual is chosen randomly and
entirely by chance, such that each individual has the same probability of being chosen at any stage during the sampling process
Systematic sampling - a statistical method involving the selection of elements from an ordered sampling frame (criteria or reference/sequence of selection)
Stratified sampling - the population embraces a number of distinct categories, the frame can be organized by these categories into separate "strata." Each stratum is then sampled as an independent sub-population, out of which individual elements can be randomly selected.
These various ways of probability sampling have two things in common:
• every element has a known non-zero probability of being sampled; and
• involves random selection at some point.
Sampling Technique
b. Non-probability sampling
Quota sampling - the population is first segmented into mutually
exclusive sub-groups, just as in stratified sampling. Then
judgement is used to select the subjects or units from each
segment based on a specified proportion.
Accidental sampling - (sometimes known
as grab, convenience or opportunity sampling) is a type of
nonprobability sampling which involves the sample being drawn
from that part of the population which is close to hand
Panel sampling - the method of first selecting a group of
participants through a random sampling method and then asking
that group for (potentially the same) information several times over
a period of time.
c. Data Gathering Procedure
• explains the detailed description of how data used in the
study were collected (step by step)
d. Data Analysis
• write here how the gathered data were presented and
analyzed (usually through tables and graphs or charts)
e. Statistical Treatment
• mention and write the statistical method used in
conducting the study from identifying the respondents to
analyzing of data
f. Research Instrument
• describes the instrument (survey questionnaire or
interview form, etc.)