Thesis Writing: A Practical Guide

Dr. Felix Librero

Professor Emeritus
UP Open University

Random Thoughts in Graduate Education and Research

Functions of Graduate Education and Research

 Point of View of the Student

o To improve your market value
 Improve intellectual skills
 Improve research skills
o Raise self esteem
 Enhances self confidence
 Satisfies gratification needs
 Point of View of the University
o Satisfaction of social expectations (produce experts)
o Satisfaction of academic expectations (a university has to have graduate programs, for
example)
 Point of View of the Profession
o Upgraded human resources
o Strengthened disciplinal capabilities
 Point of View of the Knowledge Generator and User
o Improved capability to generate new knowledge
o Strengthened disciplinal human resources
 The Practical Function of Graduate Education and Research
o For further intellectual development, which may be achieved through knowledge
interpretation and analysis
o Knowledge generation through rigorous research to establish new knowledge
 Significant Concern in Graduate Research
o Generally, students do not show genuine interest in graduate research
o Graduate students may be dichotomized into the following research interests:
1. Knowledge seekers, those who have painstakingly identified and studied the issues
that they want to pursue and understand more;
2. Degree seekers, those who do not give importance to graduate research as long as
they ultimately get the degree

What is the thesis for?

 Thesis/disseration is the capstone for the academic degrees, master’s and doctoral
 Purpose of the thesis: it is a demonstration of your expertise in your discipline, hence it is
submitted in support of your candidature for the master’s degree or the doctorate degree
 Without the thesis (if the academic program requires it), you can never earn your academic
degree
Suggested General Manuscript Outline

Chapter I. Outline

Chapter II. Review of the Related Literature

If you cannot find literature in the specific area of interest, look for another area of interest
outside that particular point.

Chapter III. Framework of the Study

Chapter IV. Methodology

Chapter V. Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation

Bibliography

Appendices

Chapter I. Introduction

 Background of the Study

Historical note regarding the topic of research
 The Research Problem
Clear description of the problem and how it arouse
 The Research Objectives
 Hypotheses to be Tested
If your thesis requires empirical procedures, you need have hypotheses to be tested and
these should follow the description discussion of the objectives
 Significance of the Study
Strength of your thesis (do not overstate)
 Limitations of the Study
Do not overexpress
 Operational Definition of Terminologies
Term is defined in the manner that it is used in the research (different from definition of
standard dictionary)

Chapter II. Review of the Related Literature

 Begin with continental studies – major ones

 Narrow down to Asian studies (if the locale of the study is in Asia. Follow same pattern for other
locales.)
 Focus on Philippine Studies (if locale of study is the Philippines or follow same pattern for others
in similar fashion)
 Synthesis of all studies reviewed (paint what appears to be the current picture of the area of
concern based on the literature)
Chapter III. Framework of the Study

 The theoretical framework (what is the theory? What algorithmic means have been used in
presenting the theory before?)
 The conceptual framework (the conceptual framework is the operationalization of the theory.
How does it look like in diagrammatic form? What are the variables involved and how are they
related? What variables affect and what are affected in the interactions? Show the progression
of your analysis)
 The research framework (this shows how you shall actually proceed with your research. What
are the things you will undertake? What is their sequence or actual procedure?)

Chapter IV. Methodology

 The research design - Experimental, semi-experimental or non-experimental --- for

empirical/quantitative research – you will expect that something will happen
Qualitative research – do your thing; whatever comes out, then pagtugma-tugmain mo
 Variables of the Study – e.g. dependent, independent, intervening
 Respondents of the Study
 Sampling Procedure – for empirical (e.g. judgmental vs random sampling)
 The Research Instrument – refers to either the interview schedule/questionnaire/test – basis ng
kasagutan na hinahanap mo- instrument you will use in collecting data
 Procedure for Data Collection – steps, you can number it but should be systematic in
presentation – para clear sa readers.
 Procedure for Data Analysis – what kind of tables are you going to construct.. in constructing
statistical tables, it is always better to construct a multi-variable table (forget single variable
tables, just include information in the text)

Chapter V. Summary, Conclusion, Recommendations

 Summary – findings
 Conclusion (must reflect your research objectives)
 Recommendations (must reflect your research conclusions and objectives)

Bibliography – listing of all materials you used in preparing the thesis manuscript. Some materials may
not have been cited in the manuscript.

Literature Cited – listing of all materials that you cited in the manuscript

Appendices

 Includes all you used in the study, specially those produced for the exclusive use of the study but
may not have been included in the manuscript, like the research instrument (e.g. questionnaire),
letters to seeks permission to undertake the study, response of the agency, etc.
 Follow the style guide provided by the FICS (Doctor of Communication brochure?)
SOME NEEDED CLARIFICATIONS

 THESIS OUTLINE VS THESIS PROPOSAL

o Thesis Outline: The listing and arrangement of major aspects of the research that you
intend to undertake. This looks much like a topical outline. No need for details here but
you may number the items.
o Thesis Proposal: Usually written in narrative form; with much details explaining exactly
what you intend to do in implementing the study. You don’t number side headings and
paragraphs. In the thesis proposal, you include all details, even specific techniques that
you will follow in the conduct of the research.

 THESIS PROPOSAL VS THESIS MANUSCRIPT

o Thesis Proposal: This must be written in the future tense because it is supposed to be
yet undertaken. The proposal tells what is going to be done, not what has been done.
Do not write your proposal in the past tense.
o Thesis Manuscript: The manuscript describes what has been done and therefore, must
be written in the past tense. Never write your manuscript in the future tense because
this is the written description of what you have already done.

MIXED METHODOLOGY?

 Use qualitative procedures and techniques in collecting and analyzing qualitative data and
information; use quantitative procedures and techniques in collecting and analyzing quantitative
data.
 Compare, if you can, the results of your qualitative analysis with the results of your quantitative
analysis. DO NOT EVER use qualitative techniques to analyze quantitative data, not quantitative
techniques in analyzing qualitative data. This could result in inappropriate and erroneous
interpretation of results.

THESIS VS DISSERTATION

Thesis vs Dissertation is a document submitted in support of candidature for academic degree.

Thesis is usually the term used to refer to the document in support of candidature to a master’s degree.

Dissertation is usually the term used to refer to the document in support of candidature to a doctorate
degree.

*Dissertation is sometimes shorter than thesis but more in depth.