Writing Thesis Title

LECTURES IN METHODS OF
RESEARCH
By
ROMEL R. COSTALES, Ph.D.
Faculty, Graduate School & Department of
Arts and Sciences
ISU-City of Ilagan Campus
HOW TO WRITE THE TITLE OF YOUR
THESIS OR DISSERTATION
Titles should be:

• Descriptive and explanatory, not general
• Precise
• Internally consistent
Titles should avoid using:

• Abbreviations, acronyms and initials
• A teasing or cute style
Descriptive and explanatory, not general
• Each word of your thesis/dissertation title carries a
meaning, i.e., it helps readers understand the core focus
of your thesis or dissertation.
• The title may help to explain some of the following:
Purpose of the research
The theory (or theories) that underpinned your research
What variables you examined (or tested)
Your research design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed)
The methodology adopted
The context and/or population studied
Etc…
Title should be precise
• The title should be concise., i.e., it explains the nature of
the research in fewest words possible.
• This can be done by using simple word orders and word
combinations:
Long and wordy concise, simple

The motivation of employees Employee motivation
Users of Facebook Facebook users
Stress in the workplace Workplace stress
Internally consistent
• Simply check that every component of your title reflects the
research you performed
• Be consistent with the language you use in the title and the
rest of the thesis or dissertation
Example:
“Fraternities and Hazing Incidents in State Universities and
Colleges of Region 02: A Case Study“
The word “ case study” must be reflected in the ABSTRACT,

INTRODUCTION and RESEARCH METHODOLOGY among other
chapters of your thesis or dissertation to be consistent.
A title should avoid:
Abbreviations, acronyms and initials
• Leave the use of abbreviations, acronyms and/or initials
to the main body of the dissertation (they could lead to
confusion as they have different meanings for different
people)
Example:
Fraternities and Hazing Incidents: A Case Study of

SUC’s in Region 02
A title should avoid:
Teasing or cute style
While teasing or cute title can be great as it sparks interest,
it can be confusing and makes it harder for the reader to
understand the nature of the thesis or dissertation before
reading your abstract.
Example:
“Paddle and Brotherhood : A Case Study of State
Universities and Colleges in Region 02”
“Something good, something bad: A longitudinal study of

behaviors of pupils in Ilagan West District”
WRITING YOUR THESIS OR DISSERTATION
TITLE
• A thesis or dissertation title should have a number of
components with each component telling the reader
something about your research.
• Choose only components that capture the essence of your
research
• Thesis/Dissertation titles should include the purpose of the
research.
The purpose of research can be explained in two ways:
1. Area of interest (theme or topic)
2. Focus (the particular angle or aspect of the topic)
Examples:
1. Barriers to Internet Banking Adoption: A Qualitative Study
among Corporate Customers in the Philippines
Barriers – focus
Internet Banking Adoption – Area of interest
2. Mentoring women faculty: An instrumental case study of

strategic collaboration
Mentoring – focus
Strategic collaboration – area of interest
3. The Effects of Integrating Science and Mathematics and
Varying the Pace of Learning on Science Achievement of Pupils
and Their Attitudes towards the Individualized Set-Up
Effects and attitudes – focus
Integrating Science and Mathematics and Varying the Pace of

Learning on Science Achievement and Individualized Set-Up –
Area of interest
Examples:
3. Conceptual Understanding and Processing of Algebra

Problems Involving Rational Expressions
Conceptual Understanding and Processing – area of interest here

is sufficiently narrow that you do not need to distinguish
between it and a particular focus
4. Development and Sensorial Evaluation of Ampalaya

Supplemented Noodle and Dishes
Development and Sensorial Evaluation – the particular focus of
an area of interest is not among the most important aspect of
research ; you may consider another component (e.g. research
strategy) to be more important. Thus, you include only the area
of interest in the title.
5. Strengths and Needs Assessment of the School Heads and
Teachers and the Performance of Public Secondary Schools in
Mandaue City, Cebu
Strengths and Needs Assessment of the School Heads and

Performance of Public Secondary Schools – multiple areas of
interest or sufficiently narrow /recognizable focus
6. Age, Sex, I.Q., and Entrance Examination Scores on Certain

Piagetian Tasks of Philippine Science High School
Age, Sex, I.Q., and Entrance Examination Scores – multiple areas

of interest or sufficiently narrow /recognizable focus
The outcome (s) of your research
• Sometimes you would want particular outcomes of your
research to be included in the title of your thesis or
dissertation as this outcome (s) is particularly important.
• The outcome is what the research attempts to achieve
Examples:
1. Implementation of Deming’s style of quality management:
An action research in plastics company
quality management – area of interest

Deming’s style – focus
Implementation – outcome of the research
2. Parenting Seminar and Pupils’ Academic Performance in Sto.
Nino District: Basis for Policies and Guidelines Formulation
Parenting Seminar and Pupils’ Academic Performance – multiple

area of interest
Basis – outcome of research
MAIN COMPONENTS OF YOUR
THESIS/DISSERTATION TITLE
Examples:
Barriers (focus) to Internet banking adoption (area of interest):
A Qualitative Study (qualitative research design) among
Corporate Customers (population) in the Philippines (place of
study/context)
English Lexical Knowledge ( area of interest ) of Pre-Service

Teachers (population) : Basis (expected outcome) for Teacher
Education Language Program Enrichment
CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC
RESEARCH TITLES
• Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the

study
• Use words that create a positive impression and
stimulate reader interest
• Use current nomenclature from the field of study
• Identify key variables, both dependent and
independent
• Reveal how the paper will be organized
• Suggest a relationship between variables which
supports the major hypothesis
• Limited to 5 to 15 substantive words
• Does not include redundant phrasing, such as “A
Study of,” “An Analysis of” or similar constructions
• Takes the form of a question or declarative
statement
• Use correct grammar and capitalization with all first
words and last words capitalized, including the first
word of a subtitle. All nouns, pronouns, verbs,
adjectives, and adverbs that appear between the
first and last words of the title are also capitalized
• Rarely uses an exclamation mark at the end of the
title
The Subtitle
Subtitles are frequently used in social science
research papers
1. Explains or provide additional context
e.g. “Competency of Edukasyong Pantahanan at
Pangkabuhayan (EPP) Teachers in City Division of
Ilagan: Its Relation to Pupils’ Achievement”
2. Adds substance to a literary, provocative, or

imaginative title or quote
e.g. “Listen to What I say, Not How I vote”: Congressional
Support for the President in Washington and at
Home”
3. Qualifies the geographic scope of the research
e.g. “Challenges and Needs of Grade VI Public School
Teachers: An Assessment of Information
Communication Technology (ICT) in Technology
and Livelihood Education Subject in Ilagan North
District ”
4. Qualifies the temporal scope of the research

e.g. “A Comparison of the Progressive Era and the
Depression Years: Societal Influences on
Predictions of the Future of the Library, 1895-
1940”
5. Focuses on investigating the ideas, theories, or
work of a particular individual
e.g. “ Political Ideology: A Critical Discourse
Analysis of Rodrigo Duterte’s Selected
Speeches”
6. Identifies the methodology used

e.g. Mentoring women faculty: An instrumental
case study of strategic collaboration
WRITING THE RESEARCH TITLE
Here are basic questions asked about the
research title:
• Does the title describe what the study is all

about?
• Does the title contain high specificity level?
• Is the title academically phrased and is not
verbose?
• Is the title within the twelve (12) substantive
word requirement of the American Psychological
Association (APA)?
Read the following titles. Do they meet the basic
questions?
1. Portfolios: A tool for Reflective Thinking in Teacher
Education
2. Impact of Parental Support on the Academic
Performance and Self Concept of Students
3. Influence of Family and Socio-Demographic Variables
on Students with Low Academic Achievement
4. Private Tutoring and Social Cohesion
5. Attachment and Socialization: The Positive Side of
Social Influence
Thank you for listening!

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LECTURES IN METHODS OF

Titles should be:

Titles should avoid using:

Long and wordy concise, simple

The word “ case study” must be reflected in the ABSTRACT,

Fraternities and Hazing Incidents: A Case Study of

“Something good, something bad: A longitudinal study of

2. Mentoring women faculty: An instrumental case study of

Effects and attitudes – focus

Integrating Science and Mathematics and Varying the Pace of

3. Conceptual Understanding and Processing of Algebra

Conceptual Understanding and Processing – area of interest here

4. Development and Sensorial Evaluation of Ampalaya

Strengths and Needs Assessment of the School Heads and

6. Age, Sex, I.Q., and Entrance Examination Scores on Certain

Age, Sex, I.Q., and Entrance Examination Scores – multiple areas

quality management – area of interest

Parenting Seminar and Pupils’ Academic Performance – multiple

English Lexical Knowledge ( area of interest ) of Pre-Service

• Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the

2. Adds substance to a literary, provocative, or

4. Qualifies the temporal scope of the research

6. Identifies the methodology used

• Does the title describe what the study is all

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