GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

(PRELIMINARY PAGES)
TITLE

1. It must be reflective of the general problem.

2. It must be short, concise and brief, preferably not more than 14 words or two lines and written in
capital letters and written in capital letters.
3. Avoid the use of such starter phrases as “A Study of….”, “An Analysis of ….”, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Table of Contents lists the preliminary parts, the chapter titles and parts, the bibliography and
the appendices.
Type the phrase TABLE OF CONTENTS centered in capital letters. List first the preliminary parts,
starting with Approval Sheet and ending with the List of Tables. Exclude the title page as it is the first page of
the research manuscript. In typing the page numbers of the preliminary pages, use the lower case Roman
numerals. Be sure to align the last digit of the numeral. Use double spaces in between the preliminary
pages.
After the preliminary pages, type flush to the left margin the word “Chapter”, while the word Page is
flushed to the right margin. Capitalize only the first letter of the word. Two spaces after this line, type the
chapter number using Roman numbers below “p” in the word chapter, followed by a period. After two
spaces, type the chapter title all in capital letters. Then type the page number with the last digit aligned with
the letter e in Page.
For the subheadings of the chapter, type the title one double space below the first letter of the
chapter title. Capitalize only the first letter of the principal words of headings of subdivisions. Follow single
spacing between subheadings. For subheadings that extend beyond the leaders, type the carry-over title
next to the line following a two-space indention.
As usual, this page and the succeeding pages are numbered in Roman numeral lower case.

LIST OF TABLES

Tables should be listed separately from the chapter and section headings. Type and centered in
capital letters the phrase ‘LIST OF TABLES”. Three spaces after the heading, type the word “Table” flush to
the left margin. On the same line, type “Page” flush to the right margin.
Begin typing the first table by placing under the letter l in the word table, the number of the table in
Arabic numeral. The number is followed by a period.
Two spaces after the period, type the table title. Only the first letter of the first word is capitalized,
unless there are proper nouns in the title. If table title is long, carry-over title is typed single-spaced just
below the first letter of the first word in the title. Between tables titles, observed two spaces.
If another page is needed for the List of Tables, repeat on the second page the words Table and
Page as described earlier.
If you have tables appearing in the appendix, have a separate List of Appendix Tables.

LIST OF FIGURES
Titles of pictures, graphs, charts and other illustrative materials are all included in the List of Figures.
The phrase LIST OF FIGURES is typed in capital letters and centered. In typing the heading and page
numbers, follow the format suggested in the List of Tables, only the word figure is used.
Type the first figure number (in Arabic numeral) two spaces below U in the word figure. Put a period
after the number. Two spaces after, type the figure title with only the first letter of the first word capitalized,
except when there is a proper noun. Carry-over titles are typed the next line immediately.
A separate list of Appendix Figure is made.

LIST OF APPENDICES
This section presents a list of materials placed after the bibliography like protocol letters, research
instruments, dummy tables, sample computations of the data, other secondary data, flow charts and the
curriculum vitae of the researcher.
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ABSTRACT

The abstract is a brief summary of the research. The abstract allows readers to quickly view the
contents of the research report. The abstract should be 500 to 750 words for empirical studies, and for
methodological and theoretical studies, it should be 250-500 words.

In writing the abstract, include a brief description of the background and objectives of research; a
brief description of the research design, the samples, the research instruments, the data gathering process
and analysis data; the main findings, and conclusions. All of these should be presented in paragraph form.

The title of the page “ABSTRACT” is centered in capital letters, with no spaces between.

Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The introduction in the report should show that the author of report or report can demonstrate
familiarity with the literature by developing the background more comprehensively. This part of the paper
shows how the present study has evolved by highlighting the gap in the existing knowledge and how the
present study will attempt to bridge the gap.

Background of the Study

1. Describe the problem situation considering global, national and/local forces whenever applicable.
2. Link the situation to the existing body of knowledge, where applicable, present historical developments
leading to occurrence of the situation. Preferably cite statistics and authoritative sources to support the
ideas.
3. Make a clinching statement that will relate the background to the propose research problem.
4.
Statement of the Problem
1. The general problem should have the following characteristics:
a It results from a felt need (gaps/deficiencies in explanations, suggestions from readings, consideration
of existing practices, extension/replications of previous investigations, etc.).
b It must reflect a noteworthy contribution to knowledge.
c It must be within the researchers’ competence and interest.
d It must be within the resources of the researcher with reference to:
i. time (within report/report writing period)
ii. money (financial plan)
iii. workability(availability of data)
2. The general problem should be stated in such a way that it is not answerable by yes, no, when and where.
3. The sub-problem should be a result of logical and clear cut analysis of the general problem.
4. Each sub-problem should be as extensive in coverage as the others along mutually exclusive dimensions
(no overlapping).
5. The sub-problems should be arranged in logical order from factual to analytical.
6. Sub-problems on the background, expected conclusions, implications and recommendations of the
research should be excluded.
Objectives of the Study
1. This section contains a clear, complete, and logically arranged statements of the specific outcomes
anticipated from the research.
2. This section may include questions to be answered, descriptions or comparisons to be made, or
hypotheses to be tested.
Significance of the Study
1. This section describes the contributions of the study to knowledge. Such contributions may be in the form
of:

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a. new knowledge in the field;
b. major findings of other studies;
c. validity of findings in a different population;
d. trends over time; and
e. other findings using a different methodology.
2. It should describe each application to practice in the field and its applicability to specific group/s under
study.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
1. Indicate the principal variables used in the study.
2. Indicate the extent of applicability of results arising from the sampling population.
3. Include justifications for numbers (1) and (2).
Definition of Terms
1. The terms to be defined are those used throughout the study and maybe a word or phrase usually (but not
exclusively) taken from the title, the statement of the problem, assumptions and hypotheses.
2. The operational definition of terms used may include/specify/test measures indices etc. used in measuring
each concept and as employed in the gathering of data. It may refer to responses in the data gathering
instrument.
3. The terms should be arranged alphabetically and definitions stated in complete sentences.

Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
Literature Review
1. It should be written in terms of the purposes of the study.
2. The literature reviewed should be evaluated considering the following factors:
a. formulation of the research hypotheses;
b. existence of biases (deliberate, non-deliberate, sampling);
c. possible presence of effects related to research situation;
d. overlooking of important variables;
e. critical evaluation of measurement techniques;
f. critical evaluation of statistical analysis; and
g. presence of contamination (statistical, experimental).
3. It should give more weight to studies considered more authoritative as evaluated and should give
preference to primary rather than secondary sources.
4. It should use quantitative/statistical techniques for literature analysis.
5. It should be organized thematically to conform to specific problems.
6. It should synthesize evidences from all studies reviewed to get an overall understanding of the
state of knowledge in the problem area.
7. It may include expressed opinions of leading figures in the field/subject of study.
8. It should be exhaustive.

Conceptual Framework
1. Identify and discuss the concept to be used in evolving the proposed research problem.
2. Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.
3. Construct the paradigm of the research and discuss the element of variables therein.

Hypotheses
1. A hypothesis is an expected answer to a problem.
2. A hypothesis should be measurable. It states expected relationship between two or more variables
as answers to the problems stated.
3. It should be reasonable. It is based on theory and/or empirical evidence/s.
4. It is testable. The criteria for testability are:
a. Concepts are clear and operational, i.e. they have empirical referents.
b. There are techniques available to measure the variables.
c. The hypothesis is specific, i.e. predictions are spelled out.
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d. It is related to a body of theory/ies.
5. A hypothesis maybe in the statistical form characterized as follows:
a. It is used when test of significance of relationship and difference of measures are employed.
b. The level of significance is stated.
c. It refers to a specific problem statement.

Chapter III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design
1. This describes the research mode (experiment, survey, field research, qualitative research,
ethnographic research, etc.
2. It specifies the sampling of the different elements of the research which will bring about a logical
conclusion.

Respondents and Sampling Procedure

The methods of sampling the number of respondents, probable characteristic composition of the
sample are described. If a formula is used, it is stated as well as the source.
After knowing the desired sample size, explain how you will choose samples, either probabilistic or
non probabilistic.

Data Gathering Instrument

1. Identify the instrument to be used based on the problem and sub-problems e.g. questionnaires,
interview schedules, score card, etc.
2. Specify reliability data; describe validity information, and norms used if standardized tests were
utilized.
3. Give details of construction and data on validity and reliability if an instrument was constructed by the
researcher.
4. Give details of instructions if data were gathered by persons/assistants other than the researcher.
5. State qualifications of informants if used in the study.

Data Gathering Procedure

Describe in this subsection how the data are gathered. Include how the research instruments you
earlier described are/were used. For instance, in the case of tests, cite measures to be done to ensure that
the test data are valid and reliable. The same is true to the use of questionnaires. For instance,
independence of responses should be assured, that is, the response or answer of one respondent should not
influence another respondent to answer the same.
It is in this sub-section that you include the discussion of data gathering techniques like direct
observation, focus group discussion, Delphi technique, round table conference. Describe how each was
done to elicit the desired information from the respondents.
Include also in this section how you will use secondary data, those that were gathered by other
persons. These include statistical records or documents, memoranda, directives, and publications by
agencies. Be sure, however, to acknowledge the source/s of your secondary statistical data. Place the
source at the foot of the table or figure.

Analysis of Data
The scheme to analyze the data gathered should be spelled out. The choice of the appropriate tools
is largely determined by the manner in which the variables have been measured and the operational
definition of variables.
To describe and categorize the data, use the appropriate measure of central tendency and measure
of central dispersion. When describing weighted means, be sure to use a systematic and logical scale
points and descriptive equivalents. The appropriate tests of hypothesis for the data you are to gather or

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have gathered should be spelled out here. Provide reasons why one statistical tool is preferred over the
others. State also the level of significance you are going to use in rejecting the null hypothesis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This section of the research paper includes the references used in the writing of the research. The
references include books, periodicals, theses and reports, and many others. The sample entries illustrate
the variations in arranging the bibliographical data: author’s name, title of the book, place of publication, year
of publication and the publisher or the title of the article, the name of the journal, volume, number, and exact
pages, etc.