Guidelines on Thesis Writing for Methods of Research

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Chapter 1: The problem and its scope

Chapter 1.a: Introduction
Parts:
Rationale:
“A rationale statement is a formal description (few paragraphs) to your reader, about your research topic
and the reasons for choosing the Topic/Problem /study. In your rationale statement, you should have
a brief reflection on your Primary research problem and its significance as a worth- while study
issue, problem or topic. The rationale statement should give clarity to the relevance of the topic
or the research problem. This (the main point of the rationale) helps the reader understand why
you chose the research problem. If its an academic paper/project; are there any academic goals
that you are achieving by conducting the research on the specific topic? Is your research
paper/paper indentifying, if not solving a social, economic, or technical problem? Our qualified,
properly trained, and experienced writers can give you one detailed page of a rationale statement
for your research paper.”

“The Rationale specifies the reasons for conducting the research in light of current knowledge. It
should include a well-documented statement of the need/problem that is the basis of the project,
the cause of this problem and its possible solutions. It is the equivalent to the introduction in a
research paper and it puts the proposal in context. It should answer the question of why and
what: why the research needs to be done and what will be its relevance. The magnitude,
frequency, affected geographical areas, ethnic and gender considerations, etc of the problem
should be followed by a brief description of the most relevant studies published on the subject.”

- Start your rationale with a statistic related to your research topic.

(e.g. According to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Bohol was thriving
with economic growth which includes multi-construction of buildings and establishment. The
Central Visayas economy was likely to grow 7.5 to 10 percent this year amid the calamities.)
- Write the a brief backgrounder of the research topic you have chosen.
(e.g. The production of limestone was widespread business in the Philippines because of its
abundance as a natural resource, most especially in the island of Bohol. About half of the province
is covered with limestone and other non-metallic minerals (Bohol.ph). )
- Include the relevance of your introduction to your research topic.
(e.g. In Bohol, limestone is used as alternative for river stone because of its abundance and cheap
price compared to the latter. Studying the strength of limestone is very significant nowadays after
the 7.2 magnitude that hit Bohol that caused massive destruction of the infrastructures including
Pagnitoan High School, Brgy. Pagnitoan, Maribojoc, Bohol.)

NOTE: 1.) It must be note less than 2 (TWO) pages.

2.) All your data must be from a legitimate site. DO NOT use Wikipedia! INCLUDE THE
SOURCE OF YOUR FACTS!

Theoretical Backgound:

- Summary of your readings from the different references (existing research papers) of
your topic. You must read as many as possible research papers that have been done. Make sure
that you are reading research papers that has the same concept, variables, and components of
your study.
(e.g. Topic: Using limestone as CHB alternative to fine aggregates.
Reading materials: Effect of Partial Replacement of Sand with Limestone Filler onSome Properties
of Normal Concrete; COMPRESSIVE AND TENSILE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE USING
LATERITIC SAND AND LIME STONE FILLER AS FINE AGGREGATE; calcium carbonate fines
for sustainable concrete; C17 - Journal Articles on Concrete Aggregates and so on)
 - On the reference research studies that you are reading, copy and take note of the
important variables that might help with your concept. The part of the research reference that
you need to check is the Abstract, Related Literature or Theoretical Background, Conclusions,
Recommendation. Do not forget citation for every copied statement from your reference.
(e.g. Topic: Using limestone as CHB alternative to fine aggregates.
Copied from the reference: Crushed limestone has several important advantages over
river gravel as an aggregate for concrete. First, for a given amount of cement in the mix, crushed
limestone concrete will have an approximately 10% strength advantage. This strength advantage
comes from the fact that cement bonds tighter to limestone than to a slick/smooth gravel and
the strength that is derived from the sharp angular faces of the crushed aggregate. Second,
because crushed limestone has a lighter unit weight than gravel, it will require about 12% less
crushed limestone than gravel to mix a cubic yard of concrete. Additionally, crushed limestone
concrete is easier to saw through than gravel concrete. This is because most gravel is silica. Silica
is almost impossible to cut with a steel saw. It has also a lower thermal coefficient of expansion
than gravel concrete. This means that slabs poured with limestone concrete will expand and
contract less than gravel concrete for a given change in temperature. (texascrushedstoneco.com)
- Start your Theoritical Background with an opening paragraph and closing paragraph
that will be able to transition to your copied statements from your reference
(e.g Topic: Using limestone as CHB alternative to fine aggregates.
Opening:
Calcium Carbonate (Limestone) existed before it has been proclaimed. So, the antiquity per se
will serve as a starting point. The information could be the basis and a proof that it must be good
resource in the building industry due to its abundance and properties. Some of the historical
infrastructures that limestone placed an important role are the following:

Closing: Some additional and also important uses of limestone include dimension stone in which
limestone is often cut into blocks and slabs of specific dimensions for use in construction and in
architecture. It is used for facing stone, floor tiles, stair treads, window sills and many other
purposes. Also, as roofing granules where crushed to a fine particle size, crushed limestone is
used as a weather and heat-resistant coating on asphalt impregnated shingles and roofing. It is
also used as a top coat on built-up roofs. And as Portland cement where limestone is heated in
a kiln with shale, sand and other materials and ground to a powder that will harden after being
mixed with water. (geology.com) But in this study, limestone will be used as a coarse aggregate.)

NOTE: 1.) It must be note less than 5 (FIVE) pages.

2.) All your data must be from a legitimate site. DO NOT use Wikipedia! INCLUDE THE
SOURCE OF YOUR FACTS!

Flow of Research Process

Input Process Output

•Your Main concept of •Methods that you are going to •The outcome that your
your study use. The experiments that you're study wishes to come up.
going to do and among others

•e.g.: Limestne as •e.g.: Creation of CHB using •e.g. A limestone CHB with
alternative fine different ratio of limestone its compressive stress
aggregates for the •Creating 3 samples per curing
CHB period per ratio
•and so on (dapat daghan)
Chapter 1.b: The Problem

Statement of the Problem:

- Write a main problem of your study and at least 3 sub-problems. These problems is your
guidance in making your research study. Also, the following questions will be answered in your
conclusion.
(e.g. The main aim of this study is to find out if crushed limestone can be used as alternative
aggregate in making concrete hollow block.
It also aimed to answer the following question:
1.) What ratio of limestone as aggregate yields the highest compressive strength of concrete
hollow block?
2.) Is there a significant difference in compressive strength between proposed concrete hollow
blocks with limestone as aggregate and the conventional concrete hollow blocks in Bohol and
Cebu?
3.) Is there a significant difference in the cost of concrete hollow blocks with limestone and that
of conventional Concrete Hollow Blocks?)
 Objectives:
- The goals or aims of your study. Must be SMART (S-specific, M-measurable, A-
attainable, R-realistic, T-time-bounded). You must have at least 3 goal of your study.
(e.g.
1.) The purpose of this study is to evaluate the compressive strength of the CHB using the
proposed ratio of limestone in comparison to the Bohol conventional concrete hollow block.
2.) To use the data gathered as basis for recommendation in the production of durable Concrete
Hollow Blocks (CHB) especially to the manufacturers in the province of Bohol and the whole
Philippines.
3.) To assess the compressive strength of concrete hollow block with limestone as aggregate.
4.) To evaluate the economical aspect of the produced Concrete Hollow Blocks.)

Scope and Limitations:

- To where your study is limited to, inclusion and its boundaries or limits. (Labot ug wlai
labot)
(e.g. The focus of this study is the compressive strength of concrete hollow block (CHB) which
contains crushed limestone as alternative to fine aggregate.
The limestone used was from Baclayon, Bohol. Compression test is used to have a better
understanding on the effects of limestone as an aggregate. This study only uses limestone
(CaCO3) which is insoluble in water. It does not cover quicklime (CaO) which is soluble in water
and other types of limestone that are not found in Visayas, specifically in Bohol. It also covers the
mechanical properties of limestone such as unit weight, specific gravity and water absorption.
The following cement aggregate ratios were used: 1:4, 1:6, 1:8
Proponents
Manufacturers of Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB) in the Province of Bohol
Time
The study started in June 2014 and ended on October 2015
Cost
Expenses for this study include:
Procurement of test specimen
Materials, labor and equipment costs for production of CHB using limestone)

Chapter 1.c: Significance of the study:

- Who will benefit your study?

(e.g. To the consumers
People would be satisfied by the performance of the proposed CHB with better quality and higher
compressive strength for its reasonable price.
To the manufacturers
Manufacturers would know the appropriate ratio of the limestone with the better compressive
strength of the CHB. It would allow them to produce a good quality of CHB in the market that is
much safer for people to use.
To the respondent of the study
The Pagnitoan High School, Brgy. Pagnitoan, Maribojoc, Bohol can have a faculty room that is
more economical and safe.
To future researchers
Many studies have been conducted regarding with the use of different aggregates in the Concrete
Hollow Blocks (CHB) to enhance its compressive strength. This study aimed to serve as a bridge
for further scientific advancement research in creating, developing and improving construction
materials.)

Chapter 1.d: Definition of Terms:

- Supposed to be the last part of research writing or after coming up with all the Chapters.
We cannot identify all the CE terms to be included in writing our research in the pre-liminary
paper (Chapter 1: Introduction). But for the sake of complying the requirement set by the dean.
 - Assume that your readers are not CE or knowledgeable about CE terms. So include all
CE terms in the definition of terms. The simplest “cement” may be included.
- The meaning of those terms MUST NOT BE from the dictionary but define it as how it
is being used in your research.

(e.g LCHB -Limestone Concrete Hollow Blocks; a masonry building unit of concrete that has been
cast into a standard shape, size, and style; composed of water, cement and crushed limestone as
a substitute to gravel and sand.
Alternate Aggregates – 20mm and less crushed limestone
Compressive Strength – This refers to the capacity of a material to withstand axially directed
pushing forces. It is the maximum stress that a material can sustain under crush loading. When
the limit of compressive strength is reached, materials are crushed.
Curing – is within for 7, 14 and 28 days by water spray
Insoluble Limestone – composed of calcium carbonate
Soluble Limestone – composed of sodium and potassium carbonate that produce alkaline
solution in water
Molding – compacting the mixed ingredients to fill air pockets with concrete and form the CHB
to the desired shape
UTM – Universal Testing Machine; used to determine compressive strength of CHB samples

Chapter 1.e: Research Design:

Research Methods
- List down the materials to be gather and the equipment to be used
- Write down the procedures of your research. Step by step procedures just like the
instructions from your laboratory manuals in your Soil Mechanics and Chemistry.
- Make sure you do it by phase if your research study has different transitioning. Like
gathering of variables, making of the samples, analyzing and testing your samples and so on.

Note: Use a third person narrative in constructing your sentence. (e.g The researches will be using
the equipment ….)

Research Environment
- The map of your research site or prospect area of study. Google map will do and indicate
markings like arrows or enclose in a box if necessary.

Research Respondent
- N/A

Data Analysis
- This part indicates the necessary formulas you will be using all throughout your
research. Determine the variables within the formula and how to get it in actual.
(e.g. Topic: Compressive Strength
Formula: Stress = P/A; P = stand for the force (in kN) applied to the sample and on this study the
force will be provided by the Universal Testing Machine per sample
A = stand for the surface area of the sample where the load is applied and will be acquired using
a planimeter for accuracy.
- If your study is using standards from DPWH specifications, NSCP standard
specification, contour map for your elevation measurements or tables and graph to set as basis to
your study then include it here. Tanang engineering reference, formula, graphs, charts and others
nimo nga magamit sa inyong study. When you define the variables make sure you define them
according to how you use it in your study.
(e.g Topic: Transportation Engineering for Proposing a Traffic Light in an intersection.
Table: Coefficient of Road Queuing)

Note: COPY PROPERLY ALL THE NECESSARY THINGS TO BE PUT IN HERE.

NOTE: DO NOT COPY MY EXAMPLES (E.G.)