The Psychology Research Program (PRP)

Introduction

As part of the BA Psychology curriculum, the students majoring in this course are required to take 6 units of Research Methods. Research Methods I is offered during the first semester of the final year and Research Methods II is taken in the second semester of the same year.

The PRP requires a student to come up with a research study based on relevant issues and problems in real life situations, and to present and successfully defend the study before a panel of psychology experts. Through the conduct of the study, the students are given the opportunity to integrate everything he / she has learned in the four year psychology course. The research outcome can also be used as basis for determining the readiness of the student to enter the actual world of work.

Research Method I

RM 1 is a 3 unit subject usually taken by the student in the first semester of his/ her finally year in school. The students are given the opportunity to understand the concepts and the process of research and enhance their knowledge on the different aspects of research. The output required of the student is to be able to

  1. formulate and defend a research topic
  2. Present the methodology to be used in completing the research report. Methodology must include the description of how the student intends to investigate the topic, what institutions will be involved, number of samples/ respondents, how the gathering of data and information will be done, what statistical treatment will be used, how to analyze the results of the study, and how to formulate the recommendations.
  3. Furnish an initial list of data and information source needed to write the research report. The list should contain the publications, books, articles, periodicals, magazines, institutions, samples, etc. which the student expects to tap for data and information.

The faculty handling the subject should make sure that the proposed topic is extensive enough and findings of which are useful to the community or can be used for further study.

The research proposal should be typewritten or computer printed on short bond paper with one-inch margins in all sides. All paper s and appendices, if any, should be placed in a short folder and submitted to the subject instructor, on or before the designated due date. Two copies should be submitted.

To evaluate a proposal, the instructor should grade it based on the following points:

  1. Extensiveness of the proposed topic- the topic should be broad and deep enough for substantial research, analysis and writing.
  2. Relevance- the topic should be appropriate for the abilities expected of a psychology major, and should enable the student to integrate the knowledge gained from the course.
  3. Comprehensiveness and correctness of the proposed outline of the study- it should be comprehensive enough, complete and properly formatted to ensure quality documentation.
  4. Appropriateness of data and information sources- the proposed list should be appropriate and exhaustive enough for the proposed study.

Criterion

Points

extensiveness

20

Relevance

20

Comprehensiveness

25

Completeness

25

Appropriateness

10

After grading the research proposal, the instructor should indicate whether it is approved or disapproved and to write any comments and suggestions to further improve the proposal. The original copy and its attachment should be returned to the student concerned. The duplicate copy should be kept on file at the chairperson’s office for future reference. If the proposal is disapproved, the student is given the chance to improve the research proposal. A failing grade is given if a student fails to submit the proposal by the last class day of the semester.

Research Method II

It is a 3 unit subject enrolled by the student in the second semester of his/ her final year in school. It is a non-lecture subject and requires no major examination but the grade earned by the student is included in the computation of the student’s CQPA. The RM II is a continuation of RM 1 and focuses on the actual writing of the thesis. The student is assigned a faculty adviser who is expected to assist the student in coming up with an exemplary research paper and to successfully defend his/ her study. The chairperson has the option to decide whether the thesis writing be done individually or in-group.

Appointment of RMII advisers

The chairperson should select possible advisers from the line up of Psychology faculty before the start of the course. The advisers to be selected should have the dedication, and time to assist the students. The faculty’s consent must be sought first before he/she will be match with the students. The chairperson can assign more than one student/ group to a faculty, depending on his/her schedule and workload. The students will be informed of their assigned advisers. They have the responsibility of regularly consulting their official thesis advisers.

Duties of the thesis advisers

The advisers are expected to make themselves available to their assigned students as much as possible. Consultations may be done in the school or outside the school. Consultations outside the school should however not compromise the sacredness of the faculty-student relationship.

The advisers are not required to and should not in anyway offer to do the research for the students, write any portions of the student’s thesis, perform any analysis of the data or formulate any conclusions or recommendations for the students. He/ she should only provide guidance, insights, options, judgements, hints, tips or advice on the gathering of the data, analysis of findings, statistical treatment, writing of the reports, formulation of conclusions and recommendations and packaging of the final research study. He/she may check the grammar and may also coach the students in the presentation of the thesis.

If the adviser should find it necessary to withdraw from the advising at any point, he/she should inform the chairperson so that adjustments in the assignments may be made promptly.

Duties of the chairperson

The chairperson has the sole responsibility of

  1. Choosing the members of the panel for the oral defense
  2. Scheduling of the oral defense
  3. Selecting thesis advisers for the students
  4. Preparing the final grade in RMII. Grades are based on the rating given by the members of the panel after the oral defense. A failing grade is given to students who are not able to defend and submit his/her thesis on the designated time.
  5. Reviewing, evaluating and approving the research proposal before the final thesis writing. The proposals should be submitted by the RM1 faculty together with the RM I final grade.
  6. In cases when the panel would suggest that revisions be done, the chairperson should inform the student and adviser concerned and set a deadline for the submission of the revised paper.
  7. Providing the members of the panel copies of the research papers at least a week before the scheduled oral defense.
  8. Making sure that suggested revisions were made, before the printing of the final copy.

Criteria for the oral defense

Global significance/ relevance to the field of psychology

Comprehensiveness of the content

Correctness of the format

Oral presentation (Mastery & Competency)

Appropriateness of the treatment used

Synthesis and Analysis of findings.

Format to be followed in the writing of the thesis

 

  1. Title page
  2. Acknowledgment
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Introduction
    1. The problem and its background
    2. Theoretical framework
    3. Statement of the problem
    4. Assumptions
    5. Hypothesis
    6. Significance of the study
    7. Scope and Limitation
    8. Definition of terms
  5. Review of Related Literature and studies
    1. Local literature
    2. Foreign literature
  6. Methods and Procedure
    1. Research Design
    2. Sampling Method and Participants
    3. Research Tool and Instruments
    4. Statistical Treatment
  7. Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
  8. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
  9. Bibliography
  10. Appendices

Final paper:

After the oral defense, the members of the panel should affix their signature on the approval sheet (in triplicate) write the grade and note the revisions to be done if there is any. The chairperson sets the deadline for the submission of the revised paper. He/ she has the responsibility to make sure that the suggested revisions are done before signing the approval sheet.

The student should submit two hardbound copies of the final paper with the approval sheet attached to the first page. One copy should be kept in the library and the other copy for the Psychology department.