SUPPLEMENTARY MODULE 1

PREPARATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL/REPORT: CHECKLIST AND GUIDELINE

Introduction

In Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL), Thesis Track students follow the conventional way of
preparing a thesis report. The format consists of 5 chapters. The Non-Thesis Track students follow the
IMRaD Format. In UST-L, a modified IMRaD format is used. These two formats are presented in this
module for your guide in preparing your research reports. Modification of the formats may have to be
done based on the nature of the problem under investigation.
For preparing the thesis proposal in the conventional way, only Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are
presented including the instrument(s). In preparing the proposal using the IMRaD format, only the
sections Introduction and Methods are presented and the instrument(s).

I. A CHECKLIST OF ITEMS FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN A RESEARCH PROPOSAL/REPORT*

CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM

[ ] Introduction
[ ] Background of the problem (e.g. trends related to the problem, unresolved issues, social concerns)
[ ] Statement of the problem situation (basic difficulty – area of concern, felt need)
[ ] Purpose of the study (goal oriented) – emphasizing practical outcomes of products
[ ] Questions to be answered or objectives to be investigated
[ ] Conceptual or substantive assumptions (postulates)
[ ] Rationale and theoretical framework (when appropriate)
[ ] Delineation of the research problem (explication of relationships among variables or comparisons to
be considered.
[ ] Statement of hypotheses (conceptual rendition subsequently followed by operational statements in
Chapter I or in the Methodology Chapter)
[ ] Importance of the Study – may overlap with statement of problem situation
[ ] Definition of terms (largely conceptual here; operational definitions may follow in Methodology
Chapter
[ ] Scope and delimitations of the study (narrowing of focus)
[ ] Outline of the remainder of the thesis or proposal

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

[ ] Organization of the present chapter – overview

[ ] Historical background (if necessary)

Purposes to be Served by Review of Research Literature

[ ] Acquaint readers with existing studies relative to what has been found, who has done work, when
 and where latest research studies were completed, and what approaches involving research
methodology, instrumentation, and statistical analysis were followed (literature review of
methodology sometimes saved for chapter on methodology)
[ ] Establish possible need for study and likelihood for obtaining meaningful, relevant, and significant
results
[ ] Furnish from delineation of various theoretical positions a conceptual framework affording bases for
generation of hypotheses and statement of their rationale (when appropriate)

Note: In some highly theoretical studies the chapter “Review of Literature: may need to precede “The
Problem: chapter so that the theoretical framework is established for a succinct statement of
the research problem and hypotheses. In such a case, an advance organizer in the form of a
brief general statement of the purpose of the entire investigation should come right at the
beginning of the “Review of Literature” chapter.

Sources for Literature Review

[ ] General integrative reviews cited that relate to the problem situation or research problem such as
those found in Review of Educational Research, Encyclopedia of Educational Research, or
Psychological Bulletin
[ ] Specific books, monographs, bulletins, reports, and research articles – preference shown in most
instances for literature of the last tens years
[ ] Unpublished materials (e.g. dissertations, theses, papers presented at recent professional meetings
not yet in published form, but possibly available through ERIC)
[ ] Selection and arrangement of literature review often in terms of questions to be considered,
hypotheses set forth, or objectives or specific purposes delineated in problem chapter
[ ] Summary of literature reviewed (very brief)

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY OR PROCEDURES

[ ] Description of research methodology or approach (e.g. experimental, quasi-experimental,

correlational, causal-comparative, or survey)
[ ] Research design (Spell out independent, dependent and classificatory variables and sometimes
formulate an operational statement of the research hypotheses in null form so as to set the stage for
an appropriate research design permitting statistical inferences.)
[ ] Pilot studies (as they apply to the research design, development of instruments, data collection
techniques, and characteristics of the sample).
[ ] Selection of subjects (This is concerned with sample and population.)
[ ] Instrumentation (tests, measures, observations, scales, and questionnaires)
[ Field, classroom or laboratory procedures (e.g. instructions to subjects or distribution of materials)
[ ] Data collection and recording
[ ] Data processing and analysis (statistical analysis)
[ ] Methodological assumptions
[ ] Limitations (weaknesses)
[ ] Possible restatement of conceptual hypotheses from problem chapter in operational form relative to
instrumentation and experimental procedures -or design followed (operationally stated hypotheses
can also be put in null form to furnish an optional third set of hypotheses amenable to statistical
testing) – if not done elsewhere.
[ ] Summary (optional)
CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS (ANALYSIS, DISCUSSION, AND EVALUATION)

[ ] Findings are presented in tables or charts when appropriate

[ ] Findings reported with respect to furnishing evidence for each question asked or each hypothesis
posed in problem statement
[ ] Appropriate headings are established to correspond to each main question or hypothesis considered
[ ] Factual information kept separate from interpretation, inference, and evaluation (one section for
findings and one section fo r interpretation or discussion)

Note: In certain historical, case-study and anthropological investigations, factual and interpretive
material may need to be interwoven to sustain interest level, although the text should clearly
reveal what is fact and what is interpretation

[ ] Separate section often entitled “Discussion,” “Interpretation,” or “Evaluation: ties together findings
in relation to theory, review of literature, or rational
[ ] Summary of chapter

CHAPTER V: SUMMARY. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS

[ ] Brief summary of everything covered in first three chapters and in findings portion of Chapter IV
[ ] Conclusions (“so what” of findings; often the hypotheses restated as inferences with some degree of
definitive commitment and generalizability)
[ ] Recommendations (practical suggestions for implementation of findings or for additional research].

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*Mainly drawn from Michael, J.J. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, & Michael, W.B.
University of California with modifications

II. GUIDELINE FOR PREPARING RESEARCH REPORT USING IMRaD FORMAT

IMRaD FORMAT**
(The APA Format)

Part Description (Substance and Style)

Title The title should be centered on the first page of the manuscript and
typed in upper-and lowercase letters. It should inform the readers
about the study by concisely stating the relationship between the
independent and the dependent variables. A typical title length is 12 to
15 words.

Name and affiliation of The names of any authors who have made a substantial contribution to
author(s) the study should appear immediately below the title and should be
 typed in upper- and lowercase letters and centered on the page. The
preferred form is to list first name, middle initial, and last name, with
titles and degrees omitted. The affiliation usually identifies the
institution where the investigation was conducted. Departmental
affiliation is included only if the author is not associated with the
department.

Running Head The running head is centered at the bottom of the first (title) page and
is typed in all uppercase letters. It is an abbreviated title of not more
than 50 characters in length, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces
between words.

SEE ILLUSTRATION 1

Running number and short The page number as well as a shortened title should appear in the
title upper right-hand corner of all manuscript pages except those
containing figures. The shorted title should consist of the first two or
three words of the running head, which will allow for identification of
the page of the manuscript if the pages are separated during the review
process. All pages should be numbered consecutively beginning with
the title page.

Abstract The abstract is a comprehensive summary of the contents of the

research report, 100 to 150 words in length. It is typed on a separate
page, with the word “Abstract” centered at the top of the page in
upper- and lowercase letters, without paragraph indentation. It should
include a brief statement of the problem, a summary of the method
used (including a description of the subjects, instruments, or
apparatus), the procedures, the results (including statistical significance
levels), and any conclusions and implications.

The research report begins with the introduction, which is NOT labeled
because of its position in the paper. The introduction is funnel shaped
INTRODUCTION in the sense that it is broad at the beginning and narrow at the end. It
should begin with a very general introduction to the problem area and
the start to narrow by siting the results of prior works that have been
conducted on the area and that bear on the specific issue that you are
investigating, leading into the statement of the variables to be
investigated. In citing prior research, do not attempt to make an
exhaustive review of the literature. Cite only those studies that are
directly pertinent and avoid tangential references. This pertinent
literature should lead directly into your study and thereby show the
continuity between what you are investigating and prior research. You
should then state, preferably in question form, the purpose of your
study. The introduction should give the reader the rationale for the
given investigation, explaining how it fits in with, and is a logical
 extension of prior research.

Part Description (Substance and Style)

The primary purpose of the method section is to tell the reader exactly
METHOD how the study was conducted. This is the part of the research report
that must directly satisfy the criterion of replication. If another
investigator could read the method section and replicate the study you
conducted, then you have adequately described it. Stating exactly how
you conducted the study is necessary so that the reader can evaluate
the adequacy of the research. In order to facilitate communication, the
method section is typically divided into subsections: subjects,
apparatus, materials, or instruments, and procedure. Deviation from
this format may be necessary if the experiment is complex or a detailed
description of the stimuli is called for. In such instances, additional
subsections may be required to help readers find specific information

Subject The subject subsection should tell the reader who the research
participants were, how many there were, their characteristics (age, sex)
and how they were selected. Any other pertinent information
regarding the subjects should also be included, such as how they were
assigned to the experimental condition [if the study is experimental],
the number of subjects that were selected for the study but did not
complete it [and why]. And any inducements that were given to
encourage participation. If animals were used, their genus, species,
strain number, and supplier should be specified, in addition to their sex,
age, weight, and physiological condition.

Apparatus, materials, In this subsection, the reader can learn what apparatus or materials
measures, and were used. Sufficient detail should be used to enable the reader to
instruments obtain comparable equipment. Additionally, the reader should be told
why the equipment should be accompanied by the firm’s name and the
model number or, in the case of a measuring instrument such as an
anxiety scale, a reference that will enable the reader to obtain the same
scale. Custom-made equipment should be described, in the case of
complex equipment, a diagram or photograph may need to be included.

Design and Procedure In the procedure subsection, the reader is told exactly how the study
was executed, from the moment the subject and the experimenter
came into contact, to the moment their contact was terminated.
Consequently, this subsection represents a step-by-step account of
what both the experimenter and the subject did during the study. This
section should include any instructions or stimulus conditions
presented to the subjects and the responses that were required of
 them, as well as any control techniques used (such as randomization or
counterbalancing). In other words, you are to tell the reader exactly
what both you and the subjects did and how you did it.

The purpose of the results section is to tell the reader exactly what data
RESULTS were collected, how they were analyzed, and what the outcomes of the
data analysis was. This section should tell what statistical tests were
used. Significant values of any inferential tests (e.g. t-tests, F-tests, and
chi-square measures should be accompanied by the magnitude of the
obtained value of the test, along with the accompanying degrees of
freedom, probability level, and direction of the effect. In reporting and
illustrating the direction of a significant effect (nonsignificant effects are
not elaborated on for obvious reasons), you need to decide on the
medium that will most clearly and economically serve your purpose. If
a main effect consisting of three groups is significant, your best
approach is incorporate the mean scores for each of these groups into
the text of the report. If the significant effect is a complex interaction,
the best approach is to summarize your data by means of a figure or a
table. If you do use a figure or table (a decision that you must make),
be sure to tell the reader, in the text of the report, what data it depicts.
Then give a sufficient explanation of the presented data to make sure
that the reader interprets them correctly. In writing the results section,
there are several things you should not include. Individual data are not
included unless a single-subject study is conducted. Statistical formulas
are not included unless the statistical test is new, unique, or in some
other way not standard or commonly used. The time-series analysis
was not actually conducted because of the clarity of the results.
Fictitious statistical analysis are included to illustrate the manner in
which statistical tests are to be incorporated in the research report.

The purpose of the discussion section of the research report is to

Discussion interpret and evaluate the results obtained, giving primary emphasis to
the relationships between the results and the hypotheses of the study.
It is recommended that you begin the discussion by stating whether the
hypothesis of the study was or was not supported. Following this
statement, you should interpret the results, telling the reader what you
think they mean. In doing so, you should attempt to integrate your
research findings with the results of prior research. Note that this is the
only place in the research report where you are given any latitude for
stating your own opinion, and even then, you are limited to stating your
interpretation of the results and what you think the major
shortcomings of the study are. When discussing the shortcomings, you
should mention only the flaws that may have had a significant influence
on the results obtained. You should accept a negative finding as such
rather than attempting to explain it as being due to some
methodological flaw (unless, as may occasionally occur, there is a very
good reason why a flaw did cause the negative finding.
References The purpose of the reference section, as you might expect, is to provide
an accurate and complete list of all the references cited in the text of
the report. All of the listed references must be cited in the text.

**Reference:

Christensen, Larry B. (1991). Experimental Methodology, Fifth Edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.