Methods of

Research and
Thesis Writing

Introduction
Research is a key to progress.

There can be no
progress without research in almost if not all human
endeavors. In government, education, in trade and
commerce, and in all types and kinds of industries,
research is vital and essential. Therefore the methods
and techniques must be taught and learned in
graduate as well as in undergraduate educational work.
Definitions of Research
Research has been defined as the process of
gathering data or information to solve a particular or
specific problem in a scientific manner.(Manuel and
Medel)

systematic study or investigation of

something for the purpose of answering
questions posed by the researcher.(Sanchez)
A purposive, systematic and scientific process
of gathering, analyzing, classifying, organizing,
presenting, and interpreting data for the
solution of a problem, for prediction, for
invention, for the discovery of truth, or for the
expansion or verification of existing knowledge,
all for the preservation and improvement of the
quality of human life.

Purposes of Research
The main or principal purpose and goal of research is

the preservation and improvement of the quality

of human life.
Specific purposes and goals of research
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 provide basis for decision-making in business,
industry, education, government and in other
undertakings.

Characteristics of a Good Research

1. Research gathers new knowledge or data from
primary or first-hand sources.
2. Research is expert, systematic and accurate
investigation.
3. Research is logical and objective, applying every
possible test to verify the data collected and the
procedures employed.
4. Research endeavors to organize data in quantitative
terms, if possible, and express them as numerical
measures.
5. Research is carefully recorded and reported.

Scientific Method of Research follows 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 implications and conclusions from the
findings
9. Making recommendations for further research.

The Research Problem

A problem is 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.
2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated.
3. The place or locale where the research is to
investigated
4. The period or time of the study during which the data
are to be gathered.
5. Population from whom the data are to be collected.

Guidelines in the Selection of a

Research Problem or Topic:
1. The research problem or topic must be chosen
by the researcher himself.
2. It must be within the interest of the researcher.
3. It must be within the specialization of the
researcher.
4. It must be within the competence of the
researcher to tackle.
5. It must be within the ability of the researcher to
finance.
6. It is researchable and manageable.
7. It can be completed within a reasonable period

8. It is significant, important, and relevant to the

present time and situation, timely, and of current
interest.
9. The results are practical and implementable.
10. It requires original, critical, and reflective thinking
to solve it.
11. It can be delimited to suit the resources of the
researcher but big enough to be able to give
significant, valid, and reliable results and
generalizations.
12. There must be a return of some kind to the
researcher.

The Title
Guidelines in writing the title:
1. The title is formulated before the start of the research work.
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 and 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 as brief and concise as possible.
5. Avoid using the terms An Analysis of, A Study of, An
Investigation 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.

Parts of a Research Paper

Chapter I The Problem and its Background
1. The Introduction
The main purpose of the introduction is to give a
description of the problem that will be addressed.
The
researcher might discuss the nature of the
research, the
purpose, the significance of the research problem,
and the research question/s to be addressed.
The introduction should go directly into what the
problem is investigating.

Three essential parts of a good

introduction:
a)

rationale, where you need to inform the

reader the reason of your research. This is a
brief explanation of why your research topic is
worthy of study.
b)
purpose, which refers to the goal or
objective of your research.
c) the research question/s, which should be
related to your research purpose, must be
focused and clear.

2. Statement of the Problem

There should be a general statement of the whole problem

followed by the specific questions or sub-problems which
the general problem is broken down.
The statement of the problem must be precise, clear and
accurate.

3. Significance of the Study

This section of the research discusses the
convincing importance of the study to the society, the
government, the community, the institution, the
agency concerned, the curriculum developers, and to
the researcher /s ,readers, and how will they be
benefited by the results of the study.

4. Scope and Limitations of the Study

The delimitation of the problem sets the

precise boundaries of the problem area, the
variables and the sample; what researcher will
include and exclude.
The scope and limitations should include the
following:
a) An explanation of the nature, coverage, and
timeframe of the study.
b) The subject matter and topics studied and
discussed.

c) The locale of the study, where the data were

gathered or the entity to which the data

belong.
d) The population from which the respondents
were selected.
e)
The period of the study. This is the time,
either months or years during which the data
were gathered.

Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature and

Studies/ Theoretical Framework

Related literature is composed of discussions of
facts and principles to which the present study is
related. The materials are usually printed and found
in books, encyclopedias, professional journals,
magazines, newspapers, and other publications.
Related studies, on the other hand, are studies,
inquiries, or investigations, already conducted to
which the present proposed study is related. They are
usually unpublished materials such as manuscripts,
theses, and dissertations.

Research Paradigm
The research paradigm serves to simplify and
organize the process of research and provides the
grounds for interpreting and generalizing the
empirical data to be obtained later.
A paradigm is a diagrammatic representation of a
conceptual framework. It depicts in a more vivid way
what the conceptual framework wants to convey.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework is the schematic diagram
which shows the variables included in the study.

Arrows are properly placed and connected between

boxes to show the relationship between the

independent and the dependent variables. All the
independent and dependent variables should be
clearly discussed and explained as to how these
would influence the results of the study.
Theoretical Framework
This consists of theories, principles, generalizations
and research findings which are closely related to
the present study under investigation. Also, authors
of these theories and principles must be cited.

Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a tentative conclusion or answer to a

specific question
raised at the beginning of the
investigation.
Hypotheses are usually stated in a null form because
testing a null hypothesis is easier than a hypothesis in
the operational form.
Null hypothesis represents a theory that has been
put forward, either because it is believed to be true or
because it is used as a basis for argument, but has not
been proved.

Definition of Terms
This section gives the contextual and operational

meanings of the terms used in the study. All terms in

the title of the study and in the research paradigm
should be defined contextually and operationally.
The terms to be operationally defined are those used
throughout the study and may be a word or phrase.
The terms should be arranged in alphabetical order
and the definitions should be stated in complete
sentences.

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

Research Design
The method of research used, whether
descriptive, or historical should be explained
briefly. The procedural part of the method, its
appropriateness to the study, and some of its
advantages should be give attention and should
be well discussed.
Population and Sample
Population is the group from which your subjects
or respondents are drawn. Subjects or
respondents are the sources of your data.

Sample
A sample is the small group that you observe

and a population is the larger group about

which your generalization is made.
Sampling technique is the process which
involves taking a part of the population.
Steps in sampling include:
a) identification of the population
b) determination of the required sample size
c) selection of the sample

Research Locale the location or the place where the

study is to be conducted.
Research Instruments
Questionnaire a list of planned, written questions,
related to a particular topic, with space provided for
indicating the response to each question, intended for
distribution to a number of persons for reply.
Structured

Questionnaire asks a question and

provides several answers, the respondent is asked to
select the appropriate answer.(closed-ended questions)
Unstructured Questionnaire asks questions but no
suggested answers are given by the investigator.(openended questions)

Interview a face- to- face interpersonal pattern of

interaction in which the role relationship

interviewer and respondent is highly specialized.

of

Structured Interview the interviewer is not allowed

to change the specific wordings of the questions in the

interview schedule.
Semi-structured Interview the interviewer is
required to ask a number of specific major questions.
Unstructured Interview the interviewer has
complete freedom to develop each interview in the
most appropriate manner, he may revise, add, subtract
questions. This is the same as informal interview.

Validity is concerned with the soundness and

the effectiveness of the measuring instrument

(questionnaire). It refers to how accurately a
test measures and what it aims to measure.
Reliability deals with accuracy. How accurate
is the instrument that is used. For instance, if a
test is conducted and the mean is 75 and after
a certain period the same test is give to the
same group and the mean is also 75, the test
is reliable.

Data Gathering Procedure

The methods, techniques, tools or strategies for
data collection with corresponding statistical
instruments.
Statistical Tools
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
T-test; F-test
Analysis of variance
Chi-square

Decision Criteria
Timeline
Sources Consulted
Books
Journals
Theses and Dissertations
Online sources

Appendices
Questionnaire
Letter of Request to the Company
Letter of Acceptance or Approval from the Company
Sample Interview Questionnaire