Some Characteristics of Research

  1. – Research may be based on direct experience or observation by the researcher.  The gathering collection of data relies on practical experience without benefit of the scientific or theory.
  2. – Research may be based on valid procedures and principles.
  3. – Research uses proven analytical procedures in collecting data, whether historical, descriptive, and experimental or any alternative research methods.
  4. – Research shows careful and precise judgment.
  5. – Research is a repeated process.  It starts with a problem and ends with a problem.

Writing Definition of Terms

It is important to include definition of terms in your thesis or dissertation in order to understand the key terms being used in the study.  These terms should be clearly defined according how they are used in the study in order to make easy understanding of the problem and avoid ambiguous meaning to terms which can be otherwise interpreted in different ways.

Terms defined should be arranged in alphabetical order and acronyms should always spell out fully most specially if it is used for the first time and not commonly known.

Make sure to define though common may have special meaning or used differently. Complicated and lengthy definition should be included in your appendix.

Sample Recommendations

By: Engr. Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar, Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Thesis title: “Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools”

Recommendations
After a thorough analysis of data, the following recommendations are hereby made:

  1. This research study suggests that education managers study diffusion theory for three reasons. First, education managers and instruction technologists’ do not know why most instructional innovations are or not adopted. Some blame teachers and a resistance to change while the others blamed bureaucracies and lack of funding. In the Philippine context, it’s more a case of lack in funding and political interference, but by and large, schools are commonly viewed as resistant to change. By studying diffusion theory, education managers may be able to explain, predict and account for factors that influence or impede adoption and diffusion of innovations in teaching methods. Therefore, understanding the best way to present innovations for possible adoption of a method is through communication channels. Third, education managers may be able to develop a systematic model for innovative methods in teaching not only the basic courses but in the Makabayan learning area which is one of the study area of this body of research, in simple terms:    INNOVATIVENESS = RESOURFULNESS + ADAPTABILITY
  2. Given that food dehydration in some aspects is a technological innovation, it is useful to apply the tenets of diffusion theory to understand food dehydration’s diffusion in the social system. Diffusion theory provides a framework that helps food dehydration adopted, to be explained, predicted and accounted to by factors that increase or impede the diffusion of innovation. Diffusion theory helps the teachers in the education community identify qualities,ie. relative advantage, compatibility, triability and observability to potential adopters. The diffusion framework also provides a closer look at the communication channels used to spread the word about food dehydration, time span and the characteristics of the adopters.
  3. To provide a compelling argument as to the reasons behind the actions of individuals as adopters of an innovation, this study recommends for further research in the actuations of the adopters through the use of the actor-network theory (ANT) perspective. Diffusion theory approach is more of the cause and effect of innovation while actor-network theory traces the maneuvers, compromises, twists and turns of a negotiation as it is translated during the process of adoption. The scope of an actor-network theory (ANT) analysis is to yield a broader understanding relative to the professional development of the teachers concerned or attributed to in this study. In context, diffusion theory posits an innovation (food dehydration) ought to be adopted to be able to be diffused through a system (secondary education), while an actor-network theory approach will be primarily concerned with tracing the complex and contingent factors involved in the overall innovation process and the contributory influence to the education sector.
  4. For the source material, an inclusion of setting up a small home-based enterprise of the family size unit and its system operation and management information. This entrepreneurial segment runs parallel to what the Department of Education and the government would or have implemented starting school year 2006-2007 in key pilot areas, that is, business management for students in the secondary school level to prepare them after graduation and beyond. In the food dehydration craft technology segment, the teachers apply the study of science and technology to that of business management and economics that can be diffused to the students by their teachers as a learning paradigm to prepare them options after secondary school.

In the food dehydration craft technology area of this research study, the recommendations to the new design conceived are the following:

a)    a built-in thermometer, hygrometer and psychrometer should be installed to monitor the conditions inside the dehydrator;

b)    an additional circuit system designed to control the voltage input to the heating element for a stable hot air supply;

c)    the material of construction to be used should be made of stainless steel so as not to oxidize the food being dried because the prototype unit made use of Aluminum which is not recommended for use in food like fruits having a high acid content;

d)    the blower fans to be used should be regulated as low, medium and high for better regulation of the relative humidity inside the drying chamber;

e)    if the prototype dehydrator has been built, experimentations should be done on a variety of foods to test its efficacy to deliver the desired output.

From the design simulation, the following materials of construction are needed:

Table 16. Table of Specifications

table-of-specification

System Design

A system involving a small scale food dehydration enterprise requires minimal capital investment and technical and management skills. But changes due to market trends and to keep the business viable, managerial and technical skills are extremely important in any field where income generation is of primary importance, management knowledge is a must and that includes the teachers for whom this research study is attributed.
In systems management, emphasis must be in integrating entrepreneurial technology, finance and marketing strategies instead of transfer of technique only and the most ignored factor, gut feel of the economic factors to be considered.

Writing Recommendation

Recommendation is written in the last part of your thesis.  It appeals to people or entities concerned to solve or help solve the problems discovered in the inquiry.

The following are some characteristics of Recommendation

  • Recommendation should be seek to solve or help to solve problems discovered in the investigation.
  • It should be attainable, practical and feasible.
  • It should be valid and rational.
  • It should be addressed to person, entities or agencies, or offices who or which are ready to implement them.
  • It can be also a recommendation for the continuance of a system or recommendation for improvement.
  • It can have recommendation for further research on the same topic but different places to verify the findings of the study.
  • There should no recommendation for the problem or the things not yet discovered or discussed.

Sample Thesis Summary

Thesis title: “Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools”

Summary

This research study used the available resources on hand to be able to incorporate the technology aspect with the education milieu and as it progressed, data gathered and collated, it was possible to infuse food dehydration in the restructured basic education curriculum for the secondary level first through the teachers of the Makabayan subject.  It is through diffusion theory that the basis of integrating food dehydration in the Makabayan learning area has been conceptualized. Therefore, the research’s premise centers on the conditions of the likelihood that an innovative idea may be adopted in a given culture or system such as the Philippines’ secondary school education system And as mentioned, the viability of fabricating a food dehydrator for small scale livelihood can also be taught in the secondary level as an adjunct to the food dehydration subject. This aspect of the research study compliments the central objective of secondary education, that is, to provide young people with opportunities to acquire skills, aptitude, values, knowledge and experience needed to continue their education and be active and productive citizens.

In the secondary analysis of data from the experimental results of the previous prototype unit, simultaneous multiple regressions were used to compare the values that were calculated based on the output measured. In the statistical analysis, discrepancies in the percentage moisture removed were discovered and can be attributed to the conditions and materials of construction of the dehydrator unit, the very factors that influence the outcome of the experiments that were performed.

The research study made use of a simulation program to predict moisture removal from a hypothetical feed of food data from three fruit pieces, namely pineapple, banana and mango based on the weight and temperature within the drying chamber.

A manual outline that can be of use to elementary and secondary school teachers to facilitate the learning paradigm espouse by this research study.

A brief about a systems approach starting a farm or family entity in the food dehydration business and operation.

In the design aspect, a simulated dehydrator design with recommended materials of construction to be used that can adopted and possibly taught in the secondary level of education subject’s Teknolohiya, Edukasyon at Pantahanan to contribute to the basic skills that students can acquire through knowledge and understanding the theories and concepts to be learned.

By: Engr. Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar, Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Writing Thesis Summary of Findings

Summary of findings is the last part of the thesis or dissertation.  It is where the findings or the result of the thesis study is written.

Let’s find out some characteristics of summary of findings

  • Summary of findings should be a short statement such as the main purpose of the study, the population or respondents, period of the study, method of research used, research instrument and sampling design
  • Findings should be written in textual generalization, that is, a summary of the important data consisting of text and numbers.
  • Important findings should be included in the summary.
  • No new information or data should be included in the summary of findings.
  • Findings should be stated concisely, not explained or elaborated anymore.