PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

FORMAT AND STYLE

I. Margins:
1. Top: first page, 2 inches, other pages, 1 inch
2. Sides: 1 ½ inches at the left; 1 inch at the right
3. Bottom: 1 inch
II. Spacing:
A. Body:
1. Double-spaced with 5-space paragraph indentions.
2. Quoted material of four or more lines single-spaced and indented 5 spaces from both
margins, quotation marks permissible but not required.
3. Tabulated material: single spaced.
III. Headings and Sub-headings:
A. Main Headings:
1. Centered in all capital letters within writing line.
2. Followed by a triple-space.
B. First-Order Sub-Headings (Side Headings)
1. Typed at left margin on separate line and underlined or underscored.
2. Preceded by triple space and followed by double space.
C. Second- Order Sub-Headings (Paragraph Headings)
1. Indented as first line of paragraph and underlined or underscored.
2. Preceded by a double space.

GUIDELINES IN WRITING AND PREPARING THE MANUSCRIPT

1. Twelve-point Times New Roman is the prescribed font style.

2. The research manuscript must be double-spaced all throughout.
3. Use triple-space before side headings and after chapter title.
4. Chapter title should be in bold capital letters.
5. The use of personal pronouns should be avoided. Use the third person throughout.
6. Indent paragraphs five characters to the right.
7. Words should not be divided at the end of the line unless it will interfere with the margin. In
dividing or separating words, the rules on correct syllabication as cited in the English
dictionary should be observed.
8. Manuscript should be printed in black ink on a good quality bond paper. The prescribed size
is 8 ½ by 11 inches for all pages. Same kind of paper must be used throughout the copy.
9. Single spacing is used for long/extended quotations, materials in tables, captions of figures
and tables, appendices and Bibliographical entries.
10. No handwritten marks or corrections are allowed, no matter how minimal.
11. Within the text, numbers 0-9 are spelled out first before the number-figures are given in
parenthesis. Double digit numbers are not spelled out.

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12. Each table in Chapter IV should be presented or placed in its entirety in one page and should
not be divided/ split into halves. Each table should be properly labeled for easy identification
and reference.
13. Write in complete sentences. Remember that a sentence has a complete thought or idea and
can stand alone. It must have a subject and a predicate.
14. Never start a sentence with a numeral. Numbers should be spelled out at the start of the
sentence.
15. Proof-read everything in the manuscript, the grammar, spelling, syllabication and sentence
construction. Clarity of writing depends on correct use of the English language.

REMINDERS ON PAGINATION

1. Preliminary pages are paginated separately from the rest of the text. For preliminary pages,
lower-case Roman numerals are used.
2. Pagination begins with the abstract as page iii. The title page and the approval page are
counted (as page i and ii) but not paginated.
3. The text is numbered with Arabic numerals placed in the upper right-hand corner, 1 inch
from the top edge of the page.
4. Every first page of each chapter is not paginated but counted.
5. Back matters, the pages after the main text or body of the paper, are paginated consecutively
from the last page of the page of the text. The first page of the bibliography, the title page of
the appendix or appendices are counted but not numbered. Subsequent pages are numbered in
upper right hand corner, 1 inch from the top and 1 inch from the right.
6. Pages on which no numbers appear are the following:
Title page
Approval page
First page of each chapter
Title page of each appendix
The whole curriculum vitae
7. The Curriculum Vitae is not paginated but listed in the table of contents without the
corresponding numbers.

HOW TO WRITE CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

1. Introduction

- It does allow statements of the researcher’s own ideas or opinions but these must be
logically presented and supported by facts, records, documents, widely circulated
information and statements from persons of established authority.
- A good introduction must not be lengthy and should not be more than three (3) pages
long. A two-page introduction, if well-written can be sufficient.

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- Materials from other sources can be included to enhance the introduction but proper
documentation should be strictly observed throughout the research paper beginning with
the introduction.
- It should be worded in simple sentences to impart clearly its message.
- Create impact by briefly making the following discussions:
1. What the research is about – the overview of the specific topic.
2. The variables of the study which were discussed in sequence to arrive at statements
linking the variables.
3. The general reason why the researcher chose the topic – its importance.
4. Specific statements of people of established authority and/or integrity to support the
main idea of the researchers.
5. Timeliness of the topic in today’s modern world.
2. Background of the Study

- It discusses the historical background of the problem, when it started, how and where, if
possible.
- It describes the problematic situation, the extent and gravity of the problem, who are
affected by it, its effects, etc. and how it led the researcher to conduct the study and
conceptualize the research problem.
- Pertinent statistical data can be cited to support the researcher’s claim of the existence of
the problem.
- It would be helpful for the researcher to bear in mind that the problematic situation
should be extensive/ troublesome enough, or worth looking into to merit conducting a
research work.
- It provides the overview of the study discussing the factors that led to the
conceptualization of the problem.
- Example: There has been a scarcity of local studies on the topics of PTSD among
sexually-abused adolescents. The researchers find it necessary and worthwhile to
contribute additional knowledge, data and insights for a better understanding of this
condition (Pamintuan, 2005).

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