Writing the thesis

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
J199-rachel-e-khan,UP-CMC

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)

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

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.]

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Writing the thesis

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