1. Thesis/Capstone details

1.1. Overview

In this course, students develop their ideas about their research topic and create a proposal in addressing problems in the literature. The students will be doing their thesis individually. The thesis proposal includes the table of contents, introduction, review of related literature, conceptual framework, statements of the problems and hypotheses, significance of the study, methodology, results and discussion, references, and appendices section.

1.2. Whole format of the Thesis Paper

The format in both graduate and undergraduate thesis papers follow the APA format. Below is a general outline of the contents of the thesis papers. Some changes may be allowed based on justified reasons. Your respective research teacher will provide you with details about these sections.

• I. Cover Page
• II. Approval Sheet
• III. Acknowledgement
• IV. Table of Contents
• V. Abstract

CHAPTER 1

• VI. Introduction
• VII. Review of Related Literature
• VII. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework (1. main argument of the study, 2. conceptual and/or operational definitions, 3. other elements that the adviser and researchers find necessary for the paper)
• VIII. Statement of the Problem
• IX. Hypotheses (if applicable)
• X. Significance of the study (in the final paper, integrate this to the implications subsection of the general discussion)

CHAPTER 2

• XI. Methodology
• Research Design
• Participants and Sampling
• Measures/Tools
• Procedure
• Data Analysis (this is taken out in the final paper and integrated into the results section)
• Ethical Considerations
• Data Management
• Scope and Limitations of the study (in the final paper, integrate the ideas in the subsection limitations and recommendations)

CHAPTER 3

• XI. Results

CHAPTER 4

• XII. Discussion (includes both theoretical and practical implications integrated or in subsections)
• XIII. Limitations and Recommendations
• XIV. Conclusion
• XV. References (separate section)
• XVI. Appendices (separate section)

1.3. Ethical Considerations

1.3.1. It has to be noted that all research papers involving human participants will undergo ethics review at the university level. The forms and documents needed for the application for ethics review are sampled in Appendix B. Basic elements of Informed Consent Form and its sample are provided in Appendix A. Aside from the forms to fill-up, the researchers should also attach an entire copy of their thesis paper, and CV for all the researchers involved. Ethics clearance will be provided by the research instructor.

1.4. Rubrics for Research Proposal

The students are rated by the panelists in terms of the rigor, timeliness, and appropriateness of the thesis proposal. The rubrics for rating the thesis proposal both in written and oral forms are in Appendix C. Students are required to submit a copy of this rubric to their panelists together with their proposal paper. Each panelist should be given a copy of this rubric with the complete name of authors, title of thesis paper, and the date of proposal.

Computation of final grade is based on 40% from panel rating and 60% from adviser’s rating scheme which may include but not limited to peer rating, performance rating, class participation, attendance, meeting of deadlines. Passing percentage for this class is equal to 50 percent.

1.5. What to do after passing the research proposal

2. Thesis Data Gathering

This part of the thesis is when you gather data to address your research questions. After analyses and getting the results, you are to make sense of the findings by integrating the ideas in the literature review in the general discussion.

2.1. Make sure that you have conducted a pilot run. Pilot run helps researchers to improve their draft protocol before conducting the actual data gathering. This helps researchers ensure that psychometric properties of measures are established, that all procedures are refined, that researchers are well-practiced and prepared to gather actual data. Haphazard and mediocre preparations for actual data gathering may have some grave implications in the findings of the study. Thus, better preparation means better research output.

2.2. Strictly follow your timeline for data gathering. There are several distractions that may take up a significant portion of your time. Thus, strictly following your schedule of research activities will save you from being entangled with the battle of time and stress. Deadline for submission of completed thesis paper for defense is at least 2 weeks before the finals week. Submit 2 copies of the thesis paper with your names and contact numbers, adviser’s name, and the cover page.

2.3. Present your results and discussion in a well-thought-of manner. Generally, you present your study’s findings according to the order of your study’s statement of the problem and hypotheses. You may add exploratory findings if you find it necessary to further contribute to the literature. It is emphasized that you make sense of your results using the ideas you put forward in the literature review. Interestingly, you can add more ideas, theories, and concepts not discussed in the literature review in order to make sense of serendipitous and surprising findings.

2.4. Properly acknowledge your sources. Proper citation and providing a complete list of references reflect the researchers’ and the study’s scientific integrity. All throughout, students should follow the APA format. All research teachers have accounts that can detect plagiarism. With this, thesis students are required to submit their paper for plagiarism check (e.g., Turnitin account).

2.5. All verb tenses in the sections for proposal paper are to be transformed already in past tense in your final paper. Make sure that you are consistent with the English language you are using. If it is British English, then use it all throughout. If it is American English, then use it all throughout.

American English, then use it all throughout. 2.6. Rubrics for Research Paper defense. The students are rated by the panelists in terms of the rigor, timeliness, and appropriateness of the entire thesis paper. The rubrics for rating the completed thesis paper both in written and oral forms are in Appendix C. Students are required to provide a copy of these rubrics to their panelists during their thesis defense. Each panelist should be given a copy of this rubrics with the complete name of authors, title of thesis paper, and the date of defense.

3. Mechanics for oral defense

3.1. Each student is required to prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their completed thesis. The maximum number of slides is 15. This time, the focus of the presentation is on the methods, results, and theoretical and practical implications of the study’s findings.

3.2.A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for presenting the completed thesis paper. After the 15-minute presentation, the panelists are given 30 minutes to ask questions about the paper, to provide feedback, comments, suggestions, and corrections to improve the study.

3.3. The date, time, and room for the thesis defense will be announced and agreed upon by the panelists and by the student.

3.4 All interested psychology faculty and adviser of the presenting student are welcome to join the defense. The adviser who will join the defense are there to show support and not to answer and argue with the questions and feedback of the panelists. The adviser can ask further questions to the panelists after the defense session.

3.5. The thesis defense serves to provide a decision on what to revise about the study, whether the paper has remarks of pass, fail, or re-defense scheduled at an agreed date.

3.6. After the defense, all students are required to provide a summary of comments, suggestions, and corrections, and how they complied with these. Providing the page number in the paper of the contents of their revision will ease the process of further review from the panelists. This summary of compliance (see Appendix D) will be passed to panelists and adviser together with the revised paper. If the revisions suffice, the panelists and adviser will sign the compliance form and the approval sheet.

3.7. It has to be strictly noted that all signatures in the compliance form should be present before students print their study for hardbound purposes. For printed papers ready for hardbound, take note to adjust the left margin into 1.5” so as to avoid prints being covered during the binding process. Again, no students are allowed to proceed for submitting hardbound copies of their entire paper unless the approval sheets have complete signatures.