Mechanics of

Research Writing

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
General Characteristics
1. The research problem must have an element of
newness/novelty, that is not overstudied or saturated,
such that is a repetition or duplication of procedures.
2. The research study must be completed within a
reasonable period of time, within the competence level
of the researcher, has value to the researcher and
impact to the community (raises the quality of life).
3. The research study addresses priority development
issues and concerns (locally responsive and globally
competitive).

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
General Characteristics
4. The research study will benefit many and
varied users and beneficiaries, particularly
planners, policy-makers, administrators,
researches, etc, in government organizations
and non-government organizations.
5. The research team has capability
(administrative, technical, logistics) to
implement the research project.
6. Except in Chapter I, each chapter heading
must have a concise introductory paragraph.
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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
General Characteristics
7. The following consists of introductory
sentence:
- assumptions
- significance of the study
- definition of terms
- findings
- conclusions
- recommendations
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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
General Characteristics
8. Research report be presented in a
formal tone, projecting a dignified,
impersonal tone and objectively written.
9. The research report must be presented
in logical, coherent, systematic manner
and with consistent ideas.

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
Specific Characteristics
Title
1. It is clear, descriptive, and correctly
worded.
2. It is reasonably short but
comprehensible.
3. It must be printed in an inverted
pyramid format.
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 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH
Specific Characteristics
Title
4. it must not employ wording of an
unscientific, rhetorical, emotional, or bias
character, or catchy title.
5. Phrases like a Critical Study, An
Evaluation, An Assessment, A Study before
the problem area is inappropriate, but they
may be attached after the problem area
before a colon.
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THE ACADEMIC STANDING IN COLLEGE
AND THE CPA LICENSURE PER-
FORMANCE OF THE UL
BSA GRADUATES: A
CORRELATION

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 Rationale
1. Described the problem situation from the
global or national level down to the local or
institutional level that is from macro to micro
description (deductive presentation).
2. Support the problem situation with
theoretical and research literature, as well as
legal evidences and documents (constitution,
statutes, executive orders, memo-circulars)
as much as possible.
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 Rationale
3. The researcher must indicate what is
wrong with the present situation and
explain his/her desire to discover ways of
improving/strengthening/enriching the
problem situation.
4. The researcher should justify his/her
study and show why the study is needed.

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 Statement of the Problem
1. The general (major) problem, which is patterned
from the Research Title, consist of the what, who,
where, when (seldom) and why (seldom) of the
study.
2. The general problem is capable of being broken
down/sub-divided into researchable units.
3. The sub-problems (minor/specific) must be
researchable units logically arranged from factual
to analytical order.
4. Each sub-problem must be grammatically
worded in the language of research.
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 Statement of the Problem
5. Each sub-problem must be statistically
analyzed; findings, conclusions and
recommendations could be drawn from it.
6. One sub-problems should not overlap or
duplicate the others; otherwise, they are
fused or merged as one.
7. Sub-problems should not be answered by
YES or NO. In some institutions, however,
the YES-NO type question is allowed when it
pertains to to the determination of significant
differences/significant relationship.
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 Scope and Delimitation
• In a delimitation, state the variables or
concepts which are excluded (what are not
studied due to certain weaknesses); in a
limitation, indicate the variables that are to
be contained/studied.
• The first paragraph should be a discussion of
the scope (coverage) of the study, such as the
variables/concepts to be studied, locale, and
period of study and the persons involved.
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 Scope and Delimitation
• The second paragraph should consist the
delimitation (not covered by the study) and
justification for the non-inclusion of some
variables and concepts.
• A locale of the study or research setting
(when needed) can be placed in a separate
heading and accompanied by a map. In the
map, the exact location of the study must be
identified by identical colors or some other
marks.
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 Significance of the Study
• Only those who (individuals, agencies,
institutions who are concerned or affected)
should be given a place in this section.
• Their placement must be arranged in such
way that primary beneficiaries/end-users
must be ahead than secondary
beneficiaries, tertiary beneficiaries in that
descending order.

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 Significance of the Study
• There must be a short paragraph explaining
why the study is important (its practical
value) and what possible effects the results of
the study will have on present conditions. A
citation or listing of the individuals, groups,
agencies who may be concerned or affected
must appear in this paragraph.
• In the succeeding paragraph, specify the
beneficiaries/end-users accordingly an state
how the study benefit each of them.
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 Definition of Terms
• This section must have an introductory
sentence or paragraph.
• The terms to be defined are technical
terms which are used throughout or more
often in the study and such they are
difficult to be understood by ordinary
readers; or that the terms devote several
meanings. Never define a term that is
already universally accepted.

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 Definition of Terms
• When a term is lexically (dictionary
definition/authoritative definition)
defined, the source must be cited.
Operational definition (as used in the
study) follow the lexical definition.
• Terms are arranged according to their
degree of importance or utilization in the
study.

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