UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

Research Manual

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 1 of 31

 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
RESEARCH MANUAL
A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

Compiled by: Ms. Lalaine D. Madanlo, RCrim, MSCrim

Ms. Maria Cristine Joy V. Anter, LPT
Proofread by: Ms. Khareen B. Culajara, MA
Organized by: Mr. Conrado B. Panerio Jr., LPT
Mr. Eduard L. Pulvera, MSIS
Conformed by:
Dr. Tessie G. Miralles

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 2 of 31

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEMS PAGE
Policies and Guidelines 4
Procedures 4
Outline Proposal 4
Conduct of the Study 5
Final Defense 5
Thesis Report 5
Routing 5
Research Fees 5
Preparation for Publication 6
Steps in Writing Research 7
Research Process 9
Research Suggestions Per Chapter (Items for Review) 12
Appendices
Research Title Proposal Format
Title Defense Evaluation Form
Outline Defense Evaluation Form
Questionnaire Validation Sheet
Interview Guide Evaluation Sheet
Assignment of Research Personnel

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Policies and Guidelines:

1. A student is required to conduct one undergraduate thesis/ study as required

by his/her degree program.
2. The application, processing, submission, monitoring, and evaluation
procedures for undergraduate student thesis/ study as stated in the UM
Research Manual shall apply.
3. The conduct of undergraduate student thesis/ study shall allow the assistance
of faculty research personnel, consisting of an adviser, a statistician, and
evaluators. The research personnel shall be chosen according to the required
qualifications as stated in the research manual.
4. Performance of research personnel shall be evaluated at the end of the
course using standard forms.
5. Students enrolled in undergraduate thesis/ study shall be assessed a
research fee for payment of the research personnel.
6. Outputs of undergraduate student thesis/ study shall be owned by the
University. The researchers however, shall enjoy sole authorship of the
research.
7. The College and the library shall each keep a copy of the student’s research
report.

Procedures:

8. The researchers shall group themselves by three. They shall work as a team
from the initiation to completion of the research. They shall choose a research
topic/ theme/ subject that is aligned with the agenda of the College and the
University (OPM 14.03).
9. The student-researchers shall accomplish the Title Proposal format to be
submitted to the subject teacher together with the signed Undergraduate
Research Agreement (OPM 14.03).
10. Upon approval of proposed research title, the students may proceed with
writing the research outline proposal. At this point, research personnel
(adviser, grammarian, statistician, evaluators) shall be identified and chosen
for the research study as recommended by the Research Coordinator of the
College who shall ensure fair distribution of assignments of research
personnel based on their qualification subject to the approval of the Dean of
College.

Outline Proposal
11. The students shall submit the research outline of approved title written in the
prescribed format to the adviser who reviews the academic soundness,
departmental compatibility and appropriateness of the research proposals/
one week before the scheduled oral defense.
12. Upon the endorsement of the adviser, the students shall submit to the subject
teacher three copies of the research outline. The subject teacher shall
conduct initial review to check the eligibility of the outline. He/ she shall
coordinate with the research coordinator in setting of the outline defense
before a panel of faculty members.
13. The defense panel shall be composed of the research coordinator and a
faculty member with expertise in the field of study. The adviser shall be
required to be present and write the minutes during the outline defense.
14. The research study shall only be conducted after the approval of the outline
by the defense panel.

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Conduct of the Study
15. During the conduct of the study, the Research Coordinator shall monitor the
performance of assigned research personnel of their duties and
responsibilities as outlined in the University Research Manual. The adviser
shall serve as subject teacher for all of his/ her advisees.
16. Each research group shall be required to record all the activities and
consultation in the research consultation logsheet (see forms)
17. The thesis adviser/ subject teacher shall be consulted for any change/
modification in the methodology or for any incident that may affect the study.

Final Defense
18. The oral defense shall be conducted a month before the end of the semester.
The adviser/ subject teacher shall arrange the schedule of said defense in
coordination with the research coordinator (Research Manual, 2017)
19. The students shall submit 3 copies of manuscript to the subject teacher one
week before the scheduled final defense, for distribution to the panel
members. The thesis manuscript shall be endorsed by the thesis adviser.

Thesis Report
20. The research students shall revise/ improve the thesis report based on the
recommendations/ suggestions of the defense panel.

Routing
21. The final thesis report shall be submitted to the thesis adviser for review. The
statistician/ data analyst, and defense panel shall review the report as well
until recommendations/ suggestions are followed.
22. After review, the thesis shall be submitted to the editor for correction. An
editor’s certification shall be issued to the students upon compliance of the
corrections made. The thesis report shall undergo plagiarism check through
Turn-It-In, the plagiarism detection tool utilized by the University. This is done
before and after applying the editor’s correction. The maximum similarity
index allowed is 25%; hence, if after applying the correction, the similarity
index is still greater than 25%, the student researchers are obliged to edit the
report and submit the edited one to the Turn-It-In again.
Reminder: A payment of P500.00 per submission is applied after the
third Turn-It-In submission. Researchers are obliged to edit the report until
minimum level is achieved. Grammarly report shall be provided a certification.
23. After plagiarism check, the paper shall undergo grammar checking through
grammarly, the University’s grammar checking software. This shall be done
by the adviser. A minimum score of 90% should be achieved
24. The students shall accomplish the Approval Sheet.
25. The students shall submit two hardcopies and two e-copies (CDs) of the final
thesis report to the subject teacher.
26. The subject teacher/adviser shall forward the hard copies and the e-copies
(CDs) to the research coordinator for filing purposes.
27. The subject teacher/adviser shall assess overall performance of the students
and submit final grades of the students.

Research Fees
28. After the subject teacher/adviser submitted the certificate of completion to the
Dean, the Research Coordinator shall request the Accounting to release
payment for research personnel.

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 29. Students enrolled in undergraduate thesis shall be assessed P900 each. Fees
collected per group (2,700) shall be used as follows (subject to change):
• 1 adviser PhP1, 200
• 1 statistician/ data analyst 700
• 2 panel members @ P400 each 800

Preparation for Publication

30. The students should provide an article format of their study. It will be in
AIMRADR format (Abstract-Introduction-Methods-Results and Discussion-
References).

Sources:
Conduct of undergraduate thesis.14.03. Operational Procedure Manual.
(2016)

The University of Mindanao Research Manual. (2017). Davao City.

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 Steps in Writing a Research

1. Begin with a “felt difficulty.”

What is your interest? What questions do you want answered? How
might a theory be applied in a situation? What conflicting theories have you
found? The felt difficulty is the beginning point for any study.

2. Gather literature information.

What is known? Before you plan to do a study of your own, you must
learn all you can about what is already known. This is done through a
literature search and results in a synthesis of recent findings on the topic.
Also, this can be based from the research gaps of previously read literature.

3. Write a formal “Problem Statement.”

The problem establishes the focus of the study by stating the
necessary variables in the study and what you plan to do with them.

4. State hypothesis.
On the basis of the literature search, write a hypothesis statement that
reflects your best tentative solution to the problem.
a. The hypothesis(es) should be: (1) rational, involving at least two
variables; (2) precise and clear; (3) non-judgment, i.e. moral/value free;
(4) not answerable by yes or no; and (5) measurable.
b. The research hypotheses are stated in the alternative form however,
these are changed to the null form when they are tested statistically.
Only null hypotheses can be subjected to statistical testing.

5. Select a target group (population).

Who will provide your data? How will you find subjects for your study?
Are they accessible to you?

6. Draw one or more samples, as needed.

How many samples will you need? What kind of sampling will you use?

7. Collect data.
What procedure will you use to actually collect data from the subjects?
Develop a step-by-step plan to obtain all the data you need to answer your
questions.
a. Ask permission from the Dean.
b. Use standard questionnaires.
c. Disseminate the questionnaires to participants who
consented in participating in the study.
d. Tabulate the results and treat with necessary statistical tools.
e. Test the hypothesis and interpret.

8. Analyze data.
What statistic tools will you use to analyze the data? Develop a step-
by-step plan to analyze the data and interpret the results

9. Test the null, or statistical, hypothesis.

On the basis of the statistical results, what decision do you make
concerning your hypothesis?

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 10. Interpret the results.
What does the statistical decision mean in terms of your study?
Translate the findings from “statistics” to English.

Source:
Murcia, J. V. (2017). Lecture on the basics of research. Personal Collection of
J. V. Murcia, University of Mindanao, Davao City.

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 RESEARCH PROCESS

RESPONSIBILITY STEPS TASK DESCRIPTION

Submission of Title Accomplish Title Proposal Format then submit to

Proponent(s)
Proposal the subject teacher.

Subject Teacher Evaluation Review the proposal if it conforms with the

research agenda of the college and/or the
program.
(TITLE DEFENSE)

Research Selection Select research personnel and defense panel

Coordinator members.

Proponent(s) Outline Proposal -Proceed to the writing of the outline proposal.

- Secure endorsement of the adviser before
submission to the subject teacher.

Subject Teacher Initial Review of the - Follow up with the proponent the outline proposal
Adviser Outline Proposal one week after approval of the title.
- Conduct initial review and checking the eligibility
of the outline.

Research Outline Defense

Schedule the outline defense.
Coordinator

Proponent(s) Conduct of the - Commence the conduct of the study.

Research - Secure the endorsement of the Adviser/ Subject
teacher before submission of the thesis
manuscript to the RPC.
- Submit 3 copies of the manuscript.

Subject Teacher/ Eligibility Check

Adviser

Research Final Defense - Schedule and conduct the final defense.

Coordinator Note: the final defense shall be conducted 2
weeks before the end of the term. Students shall
submit 3 copies of the manuscript 1 week before
the scheduled defense.

Proponent(s) Submission of Report - After applying changes suggested/

for Plagiarism recommended after final defense, the paper must
Checking be submitted for plagiarism checking (Turn-it-in) to
the Research Office.

Proponent(s) Editing - Reviewing/ editing of paper. The Turn-it-in result

Adviser will be one of the bases for editing the paper.
Note: maximum plagiarism index allowed is 25%.
If after editing the index is higher than allowed, the
paper must be edited until it complies with the
allowed index.)

Proponent(s) Submission of Final Submit 3 copies of the duly approved hardbound

Report copies and e-copy of the revised final report.

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 THESIS REPORT FORMAT
Preliminaries
• Title Page
• Acceptance and Approval
• Acknowledgement
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• Abstract

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
• Background of the Study
• Statement of the Problem
• Hypothesis/es
• Review of Related Literature
Note: Present by topic according to the research variables.
• Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
• Significance of the Study
• Definition of Terms

Chapter 2 METHOD
• Research Design
• Research Participants
• Research Instruments
• Data Gathering Procedure
• Statistical Treatment of Data

Chapter 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Note: Present by topic according to the research problem/objectives.

Chapter 4 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations

REFERENCES
Note: In APA format. All in-text citations should match with references
contents.

APPENDIX
• Letter/s of Permission (Scanned copy with complete signatures)
• Letter to Validators(Scanned copy)
• Questionnaire Validation Sheet (Scanned copy)
• Research Instrument/ Questionnaire
• Certificate of Appearance (If study was done outside the campus)
• Summary of Data Collection Scheme (For Qualitative)
• Transcriptions and Translations (For Qualitative)
• Mean per Question (For measuring levels of variables)
• Statistician’s Certification (For quantitative)
• Analyst’s Certification (For qualitative)
• Turn-it-in Results
• Grammarly Results

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 • Appointment of Personnel(Scanned copy with complete signatures)
• Assignment of Research Personnel(Scanned copy with complete
signatures)
• Curriculum Vitae (Place formal 2x2 picture of each member)

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 ITEMS FOR REVIEW
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL SHEET
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
DEDICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
ABSTRACT
THE PROBLEMS AND ITS
SETTING
a. Background of the
Study
- A brief statement of the
origin of the problem. It is
an account describing the
circumstances, which
suggested research. It may
include a justification of the
selection or choice of the
study.
- Rationale of the study.
Chapter - What is your role as a
1 researcher in the research?
- Do not start with a
quotation.
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format
Title less than 20 words
Panel members
Page nos. match content
- 150-250 words,
- simple past tense, since you’re describing
what you did
- keywords in italics (field, variables,
research design)
- identify purpose - usually the last
research objective
- indicate the problem you want to resolve
- method - research design, sampling
technique, number of samples, statistical
tools,
- results/ conclusion - answer to your
hypothesis. Do not present anymore
results on levels. No figures for results.
Only qualitative statements, no authors, no
recommendations.
10-15 pages
1 ½ - 2 pages
- 4 paragraphs (5-8 lines per paragraph)
- 1-3 paragraphs - with authors
1stParagraph
General information, problems that you
encounter, what are the problems and
difficulties, usually negative, it will justify
that there is urgency to do the study.
- Problem situation of dependent variable
with sources.
- Problematic issues either global, national,
local problem situations.
2nd Paragraph
Introduce the importance of dependent
variable and studies/ researches on it with
source.
Ex. What is index crime and why do we
need to study it?
3rd Paragraph
- Link of the dependent and independent
variable with sources followed by one or 2
sentence discussion of independent
variable.
Ex. UM/ Digos/ DCJE Department
Justify the existence of the problems.
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b. Statement of the
Problem
- The problem studied must
be shown as one, which
arose from a situation of
need or unresolved
difficulties.
- The reader must be made
to recognize this need.
- The problem should be
stated precisely, accurately,
and clearly. The problem
should be defined in terms
of the data that can be
obtained.
c. Hypothesis
Assumption in research on
the basis of the literature
Chapter
search, write a hypothesis
1
statement that reflects your
best tentative solution to the
problem.
d. Review of Related
Chapter Literature
1 Sources:
Journals, books,
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format
4th Paragraph
- Research gap, urgency or significance,
localized version or observation, talk on
the problem in your locale, discuss the
setting of the problem. The contribution to
the literature and new knowledge if any.
Number of paragraphs may be increased
depending on the number of IVs.
- General objective convincing enough to
justify the conduct of the study.
1 page
- Present general problem statement
followed by the specific problem
statements.
2 parts:
1 - General Problem Statement
- Repeat the title in sentence form
- Declarative form
2 - Specific Problem Statement
- Present Tense
- Question form
- States the data you are gathering
½ page
- One for each objective on difference/
relationship/ influence/ prediction/ impact
whichever is applicable.
- The hypothesis (es) should be: (1)
rational, involving variable/s; (2) precise
and clear; (3) non-judgment, i.e.
moral/value free; (4) not answerable by
yes or no; and (5) measurable.
- The research hypotheses are stated in
the alternative form however, these are
changed to the null form when they are
tested statistically. Only null hypotheses
can be subjected to statistical testing.
- Include hypothesis if you will use
inferential statistics (Study on significant
difference - comparing)
- If you will use secondary data - no
hypothesis
- If you will use interview as your data or
descriptive methods, no hypothesis
needed
5-10 pages
- Sources is 2015-present
- Dates of sources for citation should
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 biographies, official coincide with the concept stated.
documents, institutional
reports, concept papers, Ex 1:
strategy papers, speeches, Smoking has been a serious problem in
letters, news reports, the different parts of the world.
internet resources (do not (American author, year; European, year;
include Wikipedia) Australian, year; Asian, year; African, year)
Techniques:
Inventory, resonation, Ex 2:
compare and contrast, Through the century, academic
reinforce and debunk, performance of students had been
arguing/persuading examined.
(combining) (Author 1, 1910; Author 2, 1920; Author 3,
1950; Author 4, 2000; Author 5, 2010;
Author 6, 2018).

- 10% from old articles may be allowed.

- Opening paragraph of the RRL should
introduce the variables with indicators and
their sources.
- Per indicator- at least 3 paragraphs
- Per indicator - 2 pages
- Per variable - 1 page
- Grouped by variable of the study and
relationship of variables (or difference,
impact, influence whichever is applicable).
- Classify RRL into 3 sections - 1st section
is the independent variable, 2nd is the
dependent variable, 3rd is the correlations
between measures. In case there are
several IVs and one DV, sequence of
categories should be the IVs, followed by
the DV and last is the correlation between
measures.
(Correlations between measures is the
most comprehensive/ important section of
the RRL. It should cover the relationship/
influence/ effect of IVs on DV with sources.
- Coherence between and among
paragraphs by using appropriate transition
terms.
- Every paragraph contains authors.
- Employ appropriate transitional devices
for continuity of the paragraphs.
- Citing family name only of author, year.
Ex. (Madanlo, 2018)
- Avoid starting paragraph with author’s
Chapter
name.
1
- An inventory of three or more authors
arranged in alphabetical order of a
particular concept present in majority of the
pages.
- You can cite abstracts of previous

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e. Theoretical and
Conceptual Framework
- Shapes the justification of
the research problems in
order to provide the legal
basis for defining its
parameters. This includes
existing accepted concepts,
principles, theories and
frameworks.
Theoretical Framework
(Theory based)
Conceptual Framework
- Variables/ paradigm/ model
- Your own version of your
theory or hypothesized
diagram.
- Your own model.
Chapter
1
f. Significance of the Study
- This section should show
why the problem investigated
is important and what
significance the results have.
It should include a statement
on relevance to felt needs,
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format
studies.
- If you cite something - include the author
- then explain what the citation is about.
- Synthesis at the last paragraph of RRL, a
general summary (not conclusion), each
group of reading classified by variables
and last sentence is contribution to the
study.
- Paraphrased, not copy pasted.
Tips: Ask the College Librarian about
Proquest, ebrary, etc.
2-3 pages
- Anchor: Theory/ Proposition/ Study with
author; link to the study justified
- At least three authors for support.
- Theory - your basis. The theory should
suggest connection of the variables and/ or
state the indicators per variable (if any).
- Discuss the theory
- 1 main theory
- 2-3 supporting theories
- Source/ Author for every variable with
indicators. Only one author for every
variable, not several authors.
- Discussion - one paragraph.
- One sentence definition of each indicator
under each variable.
- Anchor theory/ proposition should talk
about the association/ relationship/
connection between variables, taken from
the RRL in the correlation between
measures.
- Conceptual figure alone in one page right
after the page citing it.
- Redundancy of terms must be avoided.
- State each variable with its indicators and
sources followed by one sentence
definition of each indicator.
- A one paragraph explanation of the
conceptual framework must be provided.
1 page
- Possible beneficiaries (3-5 beneficiaries)
arranged from higher to lowest rank in one
paragraph or two if discussion is long
(arrangement: biggest to lowest institutions
- last is the students).
- Consistent: All persons or all
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 the potential contribution of organizations.
the research to new
knowledge, and policy
implications and other
possible uses for its results.

- Identify who would benefit

from the study and what
benefit they could get from it
(benefits of each beneficiary
from the study clearly
stated).
g. Definition of Terms - ½ page
- Terms (keywords in the - Only the keywords in the title are defined
title) operationally,
- Many terms are subject to a - Define terms in your title only - how they
variety of interpretations. are used in the study.
Such terms should be - Operational definition - based on the
defined operationally statement of the problem and based on
according to the precise how it is used in your study.
meanings they are intended
to convey.
- Clear definitions should be
stated for all important
variables, especially if
these are to be measured
by means of specific
instruments or a
combination of devices.
METHOD 3-5 pages
- How was it studied? - 3 methods
1 - Secondary data
Quantitative 2 - Survey
- You need to have a 3 - Interview
questionnaire first before
you can make the
statement of the problem.
- Researcher uses tools
(questionnaires or
equipment) to collect data.
Chapter
2 Qualitative
- Researcher is the data
gathering instrument.
Opening paragraph introducing the content
Introductory Statement
of the entire chapter.
a. Research Design ½ page
Framework of the research: - Appropriate design used with author;
Descriptive, correlational justification for its use and contextualized
causal/causative, to the study (e.g. education, business, etc.)
evaluative, exploratory - Typology of research in terms of objective
comparative, dimension and time dimension specified.
experimental - How do you discuss the research design?
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 16 of 31
 - Why is it appropriate?

Survey:
- Quantitative-Descriptive
- Quantitative-Comparative
- Quantitative-Correlational
- Quantitative-Predictive

- Relationship: Descriptive-Correlational
- Y only = Descriptive-Comparative
(Y-Demographic only)
- Single variable - Descriptive Survey
- Explain why you use that design; there
must be a source and author

Secondary Data
- Profiling of incidents
- Documentary research

Interview
- Qualitative - Words
- Quantitative - Numbers

Phenomenology
- 10-12 interviewees
Case Study
- 1-3 interviewees
b. Research Participants - 1 page
- Participants, place, time - Population and sample.
- This section describes the - Random - anyone in the population.
sources of data - whether - Description of population of the study and
primary or secondary. participants is clear (nature of work,
- The report should include lifestyle and other profile.
appropriate information on - Timeframe indicated.
the total population, the - Sampling procedure and its justification
sampling technique and the for use supported with author.
sources of evidences. How - Chart on the Distribution of Participants.
was the problem of missing - Profile of participants after the page citing
data handled? it could be a direct discussion with no
- To be valid, the supporting chart if there are only very few
Chapter
investigation must make items.
2
use of exact and complete
primary and/or secondary
information.
- Select a target group
(population).
- Who will provide your data?
- How will you find subjects
for your study? Are they
accessible to you?
c. Research Instrument 1 page
Construction, variation, - Source/ Author
scaling (with cited author) - Include details about the questionnaire.
Ex. Indicators, # of items per indicator, etc.
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 17 of 31

d. Data Gathering
Procedure
How the study is conducted?
e. Statistical Treatment of
Data
Statistical tools used in the
study.
PRESENTATION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS
Findings of the statement of
the problems
Chapter
3
Introductory Statement
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format
- For questionnaires using Likert scale,
include interpretation for the scale and
range of means for results interpretations.
Note: Interpretation for relationships of
variable should be included for correlation
studies.
- Divide it into 2 paragraphs IV and DV; 1st
paragraph is the IV with source of the
questionnaire followed by its range of
means; second is the DV with source
followed by its range of means. Additional
paragraphs needed for more variables.
- The last paragraph should state the
overall result of the validation and the pilot
test/ Cronbach alpha of the instrument.
- ½ page
- Explain in detail (it is like a diary from
beginning to end of data collection).
- What procedure will you use to collect
data from the subjects? Develop a step-by-
step plan to obtain all the data you need to
answer your questions.
- Ask permission from the Dean.
- Use standard questionnaires.
- Disseminate the questionnaires to
participants who consented in participating
in the study.
- Tabulate the results and treat with
necessary statistical tools.
- Test the hypothesis and interpret.
- ½ page
- Enumeration of appropriate statistics for
each research objective.
- What statistics will you use to analyze the
data? Develop a step-by-step plan to
analyze the data and interpret the results.
- On the basis of the statistical results, what
decision do you make concerning your
hypothesis?
- Usually determined by the statistician.
10-15 pages including tables.
Ex. 4 statement - 4 presentations of
findings.
- Opening paragraph introducing the
content of the chapter (start the discussion
with the overall result followed by the
highest to lowest indicators).
- Based on the statement of the problem
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 (side title for each presentation in bold
letters, single space)
- Supporting authors should be from RRL.
Chapter head Bold 1st level
- Bold no underline
- Side head label for every research
objective in bold font.
- What does the statistical decision mean in
terms of your study? Translate the findings
Chapter side head
from “statistics” to English.
- Explanation on significance level handled
with care. If the probability value is less
than 0.05, hypothesis is rejected, if more
than 0.05, not rejected.
Third level Indented bold (1 tab)
Table Format - Table label in whole number placed in
upper left hand corner.
- Table must be in one page. It should
always start on the top page, title must be
inverted pyramid; table # - Hindu Arabic
- Table title in italics should start at the left
margin.
- Each descriptive table followed by
sequential presentation: overall mean; then
indicator’s mean.
- Tables of indicators containing the specific
question items placed in the appendix.
- Table number should start also at the left
margin.
- Inferential tables explained correctly
indicating significance level and the
decision on the hypothesis.
- 2 spaces between the caption and the
table

Discussion - Literature support may be added on the

next paragraph after the presentation of
results. (Explanation is limited to what is
found in the table. All interpretations,
detailed explanation, literature support must
be comprehensively done in discussion
chapter.)
Discussion of Results should be sequential
Chapter following the arrangement of the statement
3 of the problem.
Mean per question table provided by the
statistician should be used to support
discussion per indicator.
- Explanation on statistical significance and
other inferential aspects referred to the
advisee’s statistician.
- However, if the study has a specific
objective for intervention, it is included
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 19 of 31

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Summary
Note: Restatement of the
SOP in verbatim should not
be done.
Chapter
4
b. Conclusion
- Based on the findings but discussion section.
answering the problems - A distinct closing that briefly summarizes
qualitatively (Per SOP).
c. Recommendations
- Enumerations 1,2, 3,... for Remember:
the beneficiaries under
significance of the study;
research gap for further
study.
Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format
inChapter 3 making it as the last section of
the chapter.
Remember:
Objectives dictates the data, hence results
and discussion will always depend on the
objectives of the study.
- What are the data? (tables, graphs, etc)
produced? Arranged them, reflect, and
what authorities (literatures) say about your
results?
3-4 pages
- Introductory statement, research
problem, hypothesis, summary of findings,
answering quantitatively the specific
problems.
- Opening paragraph introducing the
content of the chapter.
- Follow sequence of discussion in
Chapter 3.
- At least one paragraph for each research
objective explaining new understanding of
the problem.
- Relating work to the findings or other
studies including ones’ previous studies.
- The anchor theory discussed in the last
paragraph of the chapter explaining
whether the result of the study supports or
does not support it.
- Other sources found in the theoretical
framework discussed also in this section,
providing the appropriate link to the study
and not a mere citation without bearing at
all.
- Discussion per paragraph is very
comprehensive, citing works of several
authors taken from the literature in
Chapter 1.
- A brief paragraph summarizing the
what the paper proposed, discussed and
concluded.
- Conclusion is objective-based.
- If study involves hypothesis testing, state
decision for hypothesis.
- Based on the findings in paragraph form.
Recommendations should always be
within the bound of your results - NOT
product of your imagination, passion,
emotion, etc.
- Be careful in citing an author to support
Page 20 of 31
 the result.
- RRL used as support to the result should
come from the RRL of Chapter
- Correlation between measures and
regression discussions should be
comprehensive compared to descriptive
section levels. Cite as many sources
coming from your RRL.
- For every result, there should be a
recommendation.
- APA format, hanging indent
- ECM for Capstone
- Alphabetical order
References - All authors cited in the reference, correct
spelling, correct year.
-2 single spaces after every bibliographic
entry.
- Page break for every appendix with page
# but none for appended documents.
-Letter/s of permission (with signature;
scanned copy)
- Questionnaire
- Questionnaire validation sheets
(Scanned copy of the one filled-in by the
validators; with validator’s signature)
Appendices
- 3 sample letter request for survey.
- 3 sample certificates of appearance.
- Grammaly Certification
- Statistician Certification
- Turn-it-in Results
- Other documents deemed important.
- Curriculum vitae(If picture is placed, use
one taken in formal manner, not selfies)
- No big vacant space within the chapter.
- Wiki and blogs not acceptable
references, hence not included.
- No artistic fonts for preliminary page.
- No year for original source cited by the
author of the article you reviewed.
- No web sites/ search engine in the text,
only in reference section.
- Citing key words of article title if no
author and only year of retrieval if no date.
Format
- No contractions (e.g.;. won’t, didn’t, etc)
- Margin:1.5” left, 1.0” right, 1.0” top, 1.0”
bottom
- Page # upper right hand (No page
number on chapter heading page.
- Avoid one sentence paragraph and one
whole page paragraph.
- Numbers below 10 - in words; Numbers
10 & above - in figures
- Avoid numbered enumeration in

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 21 of 31

 literature review. Must be in paragraph
form.
Chapter 1 Present tense
Past tense (Future Tense for Outline
Chapter 2
Defense, Past tense for Final Defense).
Past tense but present tense for inference
Tenses Chapter 3 statements and statement on general
knowledge.
Present tense but past tense for
Chapter 4 statements referring to results and
literature review.

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 22 of 31

 Research Title Proposal Format

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 23 of 31

 Research Title Evaluation Sheet

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 24 of 31

 Assignment of Research Personnel

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 25 of 31

 Thesis Outline Defense Evaluation Form

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 26 of 31

 Thesis Outline Defense Evaluation Form

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 27 of 31

 Questionnaire Validation Sheet

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 28 of 31

 Thesis Final Defense Evaluation Form

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 29 of 31

 Thesis Final Defense Evaluation Form

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 30 of 31

 REFERENCES

Amorado, R. (2011). Lecture on techniques in writing of thereview of related

literature. Personal Collection of R. Amorado. Ateneo De Davao University,
Davao City.

Conduct of undergraduate thesis. 14.03. Operational Procedure Manual. (2016).

Cuizon, R. & Balacy, G. M. (2015). Lecture on maximizing faculty and student

scientific contribution. Personal Collection of Cuizon, R. & Balacy, G. M.,
University of Mindanao, Digos City.

Gempes, G. (2015). Thesis/dissertation adviser’s review guide. (Class handout).

Professional Schools, University of Mindanao, Davao City.

Medina, M. N. (2017). Lecture on writing publishable scientific papers and basic

mentoring. Personal Collection of M. N. Medina, University of Mindanao,
Davao City.

Murcia, J. V. (2017). Lecture ondesigning research concepts, hypotheses and

measurement. Personal Collection of J. V. Murcia, University of Mindanao,
Davao City.

Murcia, M. (2017). Lecture on discipline-based and action research writing.Personal

Collection of J. V. Murcia, University of Mindanao, Davao City

Murcia, J. V. (2017). Lecture on the basics of research. Personal Collection of J. V.

Murcia, University of Mindanao, Davao City

The University of Mindanao research manual. (2014). Davao City.

Undergraduate Research Manual – UMDC Format Page 31 of 31