Cagayan State University

Carig Campus
COEA, CE Department

CE 413: CE Project-1
(Research Methods) Emer T. Quezon, PhD-CPM, MSCE,
M.ASCE
Associate Professor
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +639451631743
Webpages:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user
=iyHneboAAAAJ
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emer-
Quezon
Chapter V: Writing-up of a Thesis
Project Proposal
Contents:
Topics for Discussions:
1) Developing a Research Plan
2) Research Proposal
3) Sample Contents of Research Proposal
4) Possible Contents Thesis Document for
Final Presentation & Defense
1) Developing a Research Plan

❑ This is essential specially for new researchers

because of the following:
✓ It helps to organize ideas in a form whereby
it will be possible to look for flaws and
inadequacies, if any;
✓ It provides an inventory of what must be
done and which materials have to be
collected as a preliminary step; and
✓ It is a document that can be given to others
for comment.
❑ Research plan may contain the following
items:
✓ Research objective should be clearly stated
in a line or two which tells exactly what it is
that the researcher expects to do.
✓ The problem to be studied must be explicitly
stated so that one may know what
information is to be obtained for solving the
problem.
✓ Each major concept which researcher wants
to measure should be defined in operational
terms.
✓ The plan should contain the method to be
used in solving the problem.
✓ The plan must also state the details of the
techniques to be adopted.
2) Research Proposal
1. General
❑ Before an attempt is made to start with a
research project, a research proposal should
be compiled.
❑ For the beginner researcher, this is usually
among the most difficult parts. It is, however,
the most important aspect of the research .
❑ This does not only require subject knowledge,
but also insight into the problem that is going to
be investigated.
❑ The purpose of a proposal is to explain the
type, scope, and nature of your research. The
proposal is the foundation of your thesis.
2. Title of the Proposal
❑ It is vital to pick a project topic that is feasible,
which means ‘do-able’ in the short time the
researcher would have.
❑ The proposal should include a “working title”
that is, one that may be “changed later.”
❑ A good title mentions the most important key
terms in the beginning, and uses clear,
unambiguous phrasing.
❑ Each topic that is proposed for research has to
be judged according to certain guidelines or
criteria.
❑ There may be several ideas to choose from.
Before deciding on a research topic, each
proposed topic must be compared with all
other options.
Title of the Proposal

❑ The guidelines or criteria for selecting a

research topic:
1. Relevance/Significance
2. Avoidance of duplication (Plagiarism
issue)
3. Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
4. Feasibility of study
5. Applicability of results
6. Interest to the researcher; and
7. Ethical acceptability.
Title of the Proposal

❑ The best projects are those where:

1. The topic is of particular interest to you.
2. You can easily collect information – the
information is readily available, or you
can collect and analyze it easily, and
within a short time period; and
3. The aim of the project is focused on a
particular aspect of a chosen topic.
3) How to Write a Research Proposal?
❑ Writing a proposal is the first formal step in writing the
thesis. Clearly defining your ideas and completing
each step of the “preparation stage” properly.
❑ A proposal is written in future‐tense and usually
consists of the first 3-chapters of the thesis:
(1)Introduction, (2) Literature review; and
(3)Methodology.
❑ Many people do not actually write the full three
chapters.
❑ A good way to start writing a proposal is to read an
example of one, to get an idea of what it should look
like.
❑ Your advisor should have some old proposals for you
to examine or you could find them on your own.
a. What is Research Proposal?
❑ After proper and complete planning of a research,
the plan should be written down.
❑ The research proposal is the detailed plan of your
study.
❑ The term "research proposal" indicates that a
specific course of action will be followed.
❑ It is a document which sets out your ideas in an
easily accessible way.
❑ The intent of the written research proposal is to
present a focused and scholarly presentation of a
research problem and plan.
❑ The objective in writing a proposal is to describe:
(1) What you will do?
(2) Why it should be done?
(3) How you will do it?, and
(4) What you expect from result?
❑ The written proposal:
1. Forces the researchers to clarify their
thoughts, and to think about all aspects of
the study.
2. It is a necessary guide if a team or group is
working on the research.
3. It is essential if the study involves research on
human subjects or on experimental animals,
in order to get the institution’s ethical
approval.
4. It is an essential component submitted for
funding.
❑ Once a proposal for a study has been
developed and approved, and the study has
started and progressed, it should be adhered
to strictly, and should not be changed.
❑ Violations of the proposal can discredit the
whole study.
❑ A well-thought and well-written proposal
can be judged according to three(3) main
criteria:
1. Is it adequate to answer the research
question(s) and achieve the study
objective?
2. Is it feasible in the particular set-up for the
study?
3. Does it provide enough detail that can
allow another investigator to do the study
and arrive at comparable results?
2. Components of Research Proposal
❑ The basic components of a research
proposal are similar in many fields.
However, how they are phrased and
staged may vary by discipline.
❑ The organization of the contents of a
proposal “may vary” somewhat with the
nature of the activity proposed.
❑ Generally, the basic components of a
proposal are described in this part in the
order in which they most logically appear
in a proposal.
Sample Contents of Research Proposal
Cover/Title Page
Declaration Page
Proposal Summary / Executive Summary
List of Tables
List Figures
Acronyms/Abbreviations
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Objectives of the study
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Significance of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES
✓ Previous research (others and yours);
✓ Interlocking findings and Unanswered questions;
✓ The remaining questions and inter-locking logic;
and,
✓ Rephrasing research question(s) in this context.
✓ Summary of literature review (1 page)
✓ Gap identified (3-4 paragraphs)

CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Study Area
3.3 Study Period
3.4 Research Design
3.5 Population
3.5.1 Sample Size and Selection
3.5.2 Sampling Techniques and Procedure
3.6 Study variables
3.6.1 Dependent Variable
3.6.2 Independent Variables
3.7 Software and instruments
3.8 Data Collection Process
3.8.1 Field Survey
3.8.2 Experimental or Laboratory Tests
3.9 Data Processing and Analysis
3.10 Expected Output
3.10 Ethical Consideration
3.11 Data Quality Assurance
3.12 Plan for Dissemination
4. Proposed Work Plan/Schedule
5. Proposed Budget Requirements
REFERENCES OR BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES/ANNEXES
 Possible Contents
Thesis Document
for
Final Presentation & Defense
Sample Contents of Final Thesis Document
Cover/Title Page
Declaration Page
Abstract
List of Tables
List Figures
Acronyms/Abbreviations
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Objectives of the study
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Significance of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES
✓ Previous research (others and yours);
✓ Interlocking findings and Unanswered questions;
✓ Rephrasing research question(s) in this context.
✓ Summary of literature review (1 page)
✓ Gap identified (3-4 paragraphs)

CHAPTER THREE
Materials and Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Study Area (Map & Description)
3.3 Study Period
3.4 Research Design (Flow Chart)
3.5 Population
3.5.1 Sample Size and Selection
3.5.2 Sampling Techniques and Procedure
3.6 Study variables
3.6.1 Dependent Variable
3.6.2 Independent Variables
3.7 Software and instruments
3.8 Data Collection Process
3.8.1 Field Survey
3.8.2 Experimental or Laboratory Tests

3.9 Data Processing and Analysis

3.10 Ethical Consideration
3.11 Data Quality Assurance
3.12 Plan for Dissemination
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Link with your Specific Objective #01.
4.1.1..
4.1.2...
4.2 Link with your Specific Objective #2.
4.2.1..
4.2.2…
4.3 Link with your Specific Objective #3.
4.3.1..
4.3.2…
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation
REFERENCES
APPENDICES/ANNEXES
ANY QUESTIONS
PLEASE ??