WRITING THE

THESIS Rachel E. Khan

Associate Professor of Journalism

College of Mass Communication

University of the Philippines

BASIC PARTS OF A THESIS

J199 I. Introduction II. Review of Related Literature III. Study Framework IV. Methodology/Research Design J200 V. Results and Discussion VI. Summary and Conclusion VII. Implications and Recommendations Bibliography Appendices

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WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

• Provides readers with background information for the research • Addresses the following:

a. invites readers’ interest; b. establishes the problem under study; c. places the study within the larger

context of scholarly work; d. reaches out to a specific audience; e. establishes the choice of

methodology (quantitative or qualitative)

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WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

• Style: a. Qualitative study – may be

written in 1st person (I, we) and present tense;

b. Quantitative study – employs 3rd person, past tense

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PARTS OF THE INTRO A. Background of the Study. This section must contain the following: 1. An introduction of the communication or media concern that the work seeks to discuss using historical and baseline data (e.g., timelines, statistical trends, population data, media facts and figures), and qualitative insights (e.g., quotations, anecdotes, reviews); 2. An introduction and explanation of the chosen cases (e.g., a media organization, the population of young adults, a specific geographical area) that are going to be used to study the communication or media concern. [For example, the introduction first introduces corruption in media outlets by explaining envelopmental and checkbook journalism. It then explains why beat reporters are the best people to study for this type of corruption in media.]

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PARTS OF THE INTRO

B. Statement of the Problem and Objectives. This section must not only be a listing of the problem and objectives. Instead, it must link the problem to the arguments presented in the background of the study (ideally, in a 100-word paragraph). The research problem itself must be a clearly articulated research question or a series of questions.

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PARTS OF THE INTRO

C. Significance of the Study. This must state why the study is being done. It must draw arguments from the background of the study, the related literature, the study framework to explain: 1) how the study can illuminate a specific

communication or media concern, and 2) why the chosen cases can best address this concern.

It must provide a preview of the implications and recommendations.

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PARTS OF THE INTRO

D. Delimitations of the Study. This must give full disclosure of what the researcher intends to do or does not intend to do. It also explains/justifies why the researcher is limiting his/her study to a particular focus. The researcher can also suggest areas of future researcher, with his/her own research as take off point.

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PARTS OF THE INTRO

E. Timetable This section discloses the research schedule and plan of the researcher, and answers the WHEN. It also serves as a guide to the thesis advisor.

Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Concept writing X

RRL X

Intro X

Frame-work X

1st draft X

Final draft of proposal X

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WRITING THE PROBLEM

The problem is the Y of any research project.

Without a focused problem, there is no research.

In order to be able to identify a

research problem, a researcher

needs to know what are the

available sources.

A research problem is usually

posed as a question, preferably a

direct and simple one.

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TYPES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

1. Descriptive research – asks “what is” and suggests a

survey research design;

Some examples:

• What is the prevailing organizational culture in

broadcast networks?

• What is the status of the professional

satisfaction of provincial radio journalists?

• What is the level of ethical awareness of

newspaper beat reporters in the Justice,

Congress and DFA beats?

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2. Relationship research – asks what is the

relationship between two or more variables and

implies a correlational design.

Some examples:

• Does a commitment to ethics among media

practitioners depend on their educational

or professional training?

• Has the number of students pursuing a

degree in journalism been affected by the

issue of slain journalists?

• How does the relationship between the

mayor and beat reporters affect the latters’

coverage of city hall?

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3. Difference research – asks what is the

difference between two or more groups/

approaches;

Some examples:

• Is there a significant difference in the

number of UP journalism and broadcast

graduates who actually pursue a career in

their field of study?

• Is there a difference between the work

values of journalists who come from the

State University vis-à-vis the private

schools?

• How do male and female journalists

compare in their coverage of disasters?

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There are generally two ways of stating a research

problem:

1. Declarative or descriptive – usually used in

stating the main problem/ general objective

2. In question form – usually used in stating the

sub-problems/specific objectives

Sub-problems/specific objectives simply breakdown

the main problem into small units. It should be:

• each sub-problem should be a completely

researchable unit;

• interpretation of data must be apparent with each

sub-problem;

• the sub-problems must add up to the totality of the

main problem.

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In any study, you need to define the key terms or

concepts in the statement of the problem to

avoid confusion or ambiguity.

e.g. This research shall attempt to probe the

relationship between the news about slain

journalists and the number of students

entering the journalism programs in Metro

Manila universities.

a. Slain journalists

b. Metro Manila universities

c. Journalism programs

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Two types of definitions:

1. Conceptual definition – definition of a term as given

by authoritative sources (e.g. Webster’s dictionary;

a well-known research study; textbook, etc..)

2. Operational definition – researcher’s own

definition, based on how it will be used in the study

• This requires the researcher to specify actions or

operations necessary to identify and measure

the term

• e.g. slain journalist – A Filipino reporter killed

because of his journalistic work

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To ensure the objectivity in the study of an

identified problem, the researcher has to be clear

as to what variables are to be examined or

investigated.

• A variable is a property or

characteristic that takes on

different values.

• It is a symbol to which

numbers or values can be

attached or assigned.

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Types of variables:

1. Independent variables – the cause supposed to be

responsible for the bringing about change in a

phenomenon or situation.

2. Dependent variables – the outcome of change

brought about by change in the independent

variable

3. Intervening variable – a variable whose existence is

inferred but cannot be manipulated or controlled

4. Moderator variable – a variable that may or may

not be controlled but has an effect on the research

situation/phenomenon.

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For example:

• Does a commitment to ethics among media

practitioners depend on their educational or

professional training?

1. Independent variable: educational attainment of

journalist.

2. Dependent variables: ethical behavior, knowledge

of Code of Ethics

3. Intervening variable: newsroom policies

4. Moderator variables: civil status, age, years of

work experience

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One way of making a study on a

problem more focused is by

delimiting it.

Delimiting research is giving full

disclosure of what the researcher

intends to do or does not intend to

do.

When a researcher is able to set the scope and

delimitation of his study, he can make his research

manageable. At the same time, this can direct him to

the choice of research method to employ.

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Points for delimiting study:

1. Purpose of study

2. Time coverage of investigation

3. Geographical coverage of inquiry

4. Variables to be studied

5. Specific indicators of variables

6. Types and size of respondents if the study

7. Data collection tools

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