Writing Chapter V:

Chapter V Concludes the argument, but not the manuscript.

It contains the Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations.

Summary

This presents a short narrative from chapter I to Chapter IV.  There should be a range from 6 to 10 very short paragraphs for this.  1 to 2 paragraphs detailing each chapter.  When you write, you do not refer to the chapter number, but rather, narrate the journey of your thesis.  Tell how it came about, what the problem was, the objective and significance.  Of course in a summarized manner (1 paragraph may be enough).  This is followed by information on chapter 2.  This will be 1 to 2 paragraphs.  Highlight the themes and the significant authors and their findings.  At the end, mention how your thesis fills the gap of information in the progress of the literature on the topic.  After which will be a very short narration of what you did to gather data.  Sample would be… “The researchers visited city N to interview x number of residents.  This was for the pupose of describing the case of institutionalization of gay marriage…”  This part will range from 1 to 2 paragraphs depending on how many methods of data gathering used (e.g. some have interviews with 2 sets of people, some have 1 set of interview, and 1 set of fgd).  Last set of pragraphs summarizes chapter 4.  Simply gloss over what you have found.  What diagrams or tables are worth mentioning.

Conclusion

The conclusion should be 2 (at the very most, 3) average sized paragraphs.  Begin by making a very short narrative of the data gathering process or a very short description of the locale or phenomenon.  (E,g,  talk about media, or solid waste management…)  That’s just a couple of sentences.  Follow this with:  “The researchers conclude that (affirm the thesis statement).  Furthermore, this is supported by the following:  provide a summary of the findings as they answer the sub questions.  You may modify the wording, just follow the gist.  One principle to take note is that the conclusion should clearly and directly answer the statement of the problem.  They should match.  This is done in discussion format, where you address questions with answers in paragraph form (in contrast to the statement of the problem which was in paragraph followed by list).

Recommendations

In writing the recommendations, you don’t use subheadings.  But make sure that you have distinct paragraphs.

So what do you recommend?  There are at least some classes that I can name.  Theories, Norms, Procedures, New Researches, and Policy.

Theories: are new ideas that you found from the analyzed data.  Some are modifications to theories.  Some are suggestions to further analyze and test the theory as previously mentioned in Chapter 1.  This is the pinnacle of humanities research writers.

Norms: are suggested social guidelines regarding a particular topic.  They may also include new values and goals for groups of people.  E.g.  New Vision Mission for organizations, new values for residents.  Again, these should be based on the findings.

Procedures: are suggested new practices for people.  Again, based on findings, are suggested means to accomplish desired results.  Some of you might have asked “how questions”  these procedures can be helpful to people and organizations, mostly mentioned in the Significance of the Study.

New Researches: are suggestions for further research on the topic. Some of these are based on your limitations, some based on what you did not do in the methodology (if you are quali, you can suggest a quanti – note why?).  Some might be based on new ideas that came out while gathering data.

Policy: as social scientists, this is the pinnacle of research.  What new policies can you suggest to the government?  Why?  Again this is based on the data you found.

The writing of the recommendation is in paragraph discussion, where you make your suggestions to x, and justify them.  DO BOT JUST GIVE SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS, make sure you discuss and justify clear and in detail.

Writing Chapter IV: Presentation and Analysis of Data (part 1)

Important note:  Since my advisees come from various disciplines, pls exercise critical thinking.  These guides are meant to help you compose the content for particular chapters.  I'm using a generic system, e.g. Chapter IV is Presentation and Analysis of Data.  In some disciplines it's a different number.  Just think critically.

On this topic. how to write your presentation of Data.

First off, you need to have treated you raw information first.  These are encoded (in MS Excel) survey results for quantitative.  And transcriptions (in  MS Word) for qualitative.

QUALITATIVE TREATMENT

Transcriptions should have participant profiles at the beginning of the page just right before the actual transcription of the recording.  These include code name, what is this resource person (work/ affiliation) and other demographics (age, gender, etc.) that are RELEVANT to the study.  Again, only the RELEVANT ones.

Thematiing

The usual step in analysis qualitative data is through thematization of the statements.

Once transcribed, you subject the statements into the 1st stage of analysis called "cool analysis."

Cool analysis is reading and highlighting text that are significant to your research topic.  In MS Word, you do this by commenting using the review tool.  What comment you write is based on codes.  Either you begin with a predertermined set of codes (closed coding) or you just make codes as you progress (open coding).  Closed codes are used in phenomenology, narrative, and case study research designs.  Open coding is mainly used in grounded theory.

For your thesis you will both use closed and open codes.  The closed codes are themes that come from the conceptual framework.  That's why it's called a 'framework.'  It frames the thesis.  And Chapter IV is the part which contains the actual body of data o the thesis.  You will also use open codes because, there will always be new information.

So, what's happening is, you are affirming the theory by checking out if the field does match the concepts of the theory. Then, you add to, if there is any new information.  Remember, the conceptual framework was guided by the theory you proposed to use in the previous chapters.  Here is the part where you check if the theory is true or false, or if there is any twist to the theory since you have conducted a new research.

After reading and highlighting, you reread the material, and align the codes you used.  e.g.  You might have used the word "development" once, and realized that on the next set of highlights, you used the word "growth" as a code.  And you realize that the actual term you want to use is development.  So you check them.  This is already warm analysis.

Instead of simply using MS Word, you could use MaxQDA or any other software.  I, for one, use MaxQDA.  It will not think for you, but it will help in processing the highlighted data with codes and lines of connections, and even summary lists of codes and their respective quotes.  You can see me in person for MaxQDA basic learning.

Sample Excel tabulation of themes.  Notice that I've added filter tools to the headings of the top row.  Those help in sorting the date.  It will arrange them based on theme, sub-theme, etc.

Once done with the warm analysis, you harvest the highlighted statements by copy pasting each statement segment to an excel file.

You will have around 3 - 4 columns.  1st column is the transcription source.  Best is to fix the way you classify the source.  E.g.  Brgy Chair 1 (code name)  Ambassador 2 (code name)  Ambassador 1 (code name).  This will help you sort them one everything is in the excel.

2nd Column is the quote or statement segment.  It can be a sentence or part of it, or a paragraph.  It depends on how significant it is.

3rd column will be the corresponding theme.

4th column will be based on another set of analysis.  4th column may or may not be optional.  It depends on the data.  One sample is, as you look at all the themes, you might find that some themes belong to a superset or category, so, classify them as such.  e.g.  themes are fine, award, warning, compliant, subversive, brgy, women's association.  You classify fine, award, and warning under "responses."

Sometimes, the reverse is what's happening with the data, you will notice, that there are sub-categories under one theme, that you just create as you reread the excel file.  You just do so.  Hence, under fine, you can make specifics such as 500, 1,000.

The Simulacrum

You don't put the excel file or even a short version of it into the Chapter IV.  What you put there is the illustration of the idea, or a simulacrum.  In your thesis, it will be a repeat of your conceptual framework, but this time, with modifications.  This is because you were able to find new things from the field which either 1) change the framework into something different, or 2) modify the framework with new or additional concepts.  There will also be a possibility of several simulacra to come out of your analysis.

Sample Framework as used in the paper I presented in Thailand

Sample Simulacrum as used in the paper I presented in Thailand.  Notice the similarity and difference with the framework.

PRESENTING THE DATA

This will be how you write chapter IV.  The outline will be based on your conceptual framework.  Remember, I asked you to tabulate it's concepts with the statement of the problem along with the questionnaire questions.

Hence the outline, generically is.  Begin by talking about the simulacra.  How many are there?  You don't discuss by pointing out the simulacra.  You discuss in terms of what are each simulacra about.

As an example.  You might have only one simulacra, which is your conceptual framework as applied to your locale.  Proceed with it.  Make a heading, title it as aligned on what the simulacrum is about.  Sometimes, you have more than one simulacrum.  E.g.  One simulacrum shows the process on how lgbtq organizations influence the political actions of lawmakers.  While another simulacrum shows problems encountered by these orgaizations.  If this is the case you introduce the chapter by giving a summary list of the general topics wich are what each topic of the simulacra are about.

So, if you have one simulacrum, introduce it.  If more than one, make an introduction covering them all, you will not discuss in full. You will give the reader a eneral idea that you have x topics to go over as you progress in the chapter.

Once done introducing, discuss the the simulacrum in full.  What is it about.  And then follow this with sub-headings.  Each subheading corresponding to each part of the simulacrum.  E.g. if the simulacrum is about how new infrastructure in rivers affect the lives of fisherfolk, and it shows:  a) economic (with sub-theme of * business and * household), safety, and social relations (sub-theme of *inter-fisher folk, *fisher folk and government, * fisher folk and non-government.)  Then these will be the same sub-headings.  And you will fully, clearly, and in detail, explain each of this.  Give examples coming from the field.  You describe the life in the field based on these.  Then you support what you describe with evidences.

Evidences will be in the form of pictures (pictures from the field, pictures of documents, pictures of conversations), and quotes (the statements that match each of the codes or themes when you thematized ).

Repeat the process with every simulacrum.

You also insert the diagrams of the simulacrum into Chapter IV.  Label appropriately, and in the discussions, refer to them.  e.g. "as an be seen in Figure 4: Problems Encountered by XXXXXX, there are actually 3 classes or problems.

Very important note.  Analysis does not only mean that you thematize only the transcribed files.  You can also include there pictures and documents.  E.g. you can quote from public documents.  or a certain idea from a picture matches a certain theme.

Analysis of Data


Simply presenting the data is not enough.  Panel reviewers will look for your analysis.  The cool and warm analysis you made earlier is not the full analysis.  At that time, you were simply making sense of the text.  Now, you have to make sense of the situation in terms of addressing your statement of the problem.

Obviously, the statement of the problem provides the next set of outline for this area of Chapter IV.  And no, you don't make the questions into sub-headings.  You make single statement answers to the quetions, and make those your sub-headings.

E.g.  Your sub-questions are:  What other institutions help the barangay in flood mitigation?  How do these institutions interact with each other?  Based on that, your sub-headings will be:
The 3 Institutions of Succesful Barangay Flood Mitigation
and
Strong Barangay-NGO Partnerships Towards Flood Mitigation
or
Two-Way Network Flow of Resources on Flood Mitigation


Then you discuss each, and again, be clear, be detailed, use samples, paint a clear picture, use evidence, and, also refer to the simulacrum.  

The sequence though will be
1st sub question
next
next
last- subquestion

Then the thesis statement (which is the answer to your main statement of the problem).

I hope this was clear enough.  But for questions, pls comment here.  Don't pm.  And don't ever say it's clear when it's not and your just being shy!!!

ASN 902: PPT: Space, Place, Mobility and Locality

Only UST email users can download.

Return Migration


Space and Mobility

Pol 3211 Presentation on NGOs and Networks

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cn3nxcGdrnogZAV_vfSvNn9w3eyjvMEg/view?usp=sharing

Also, note the concepts:

Top-down approach, and bottom-up approach in state-society relations.

Horizontal, or sidewards direction, and upwards or vertical direction in Civil society and organizations relations.

Parliamentary Procedure

Here’s the summary notes for parliamentary procedure.

The materials cme from the following sources:

https://fyi.uwex.edu/adams4h/files/2013/05/Parliamentary-Procedure-Basics.pdf

https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Education/activities/PDFs/SBSS_Lesson6_roberts_rules_of_order.pdf

They are pdf files. Some of you may want to read them in preparation for the activity.

I also include a link here to a decently made video if a parliamentary simulation.

Link

Scenario goals and guidelines for the simulation:

Body should elect it’s own officers.  Remember, officers are members of the bureaucracy, they will not participate in debates, and they will also have no voting rights.  They have their own official duties.

1 Chair

1 Secretary

2 Secretariat Members (1as sub secretary, 1 to design and create the official seal to be displayed above the seat of the Chair, and to be used along with letterhead on the official documents)

1 Sergeant-at-Arms 

Each student should’ve spoken at leadt 2x for the duration of the 2 sessions.  Once to speak for oragainst a motion.  Once to query a motion proponent or one of the speakers. (45 pts)

(15 pts)

There will be several sessions in 1 meeting.  Each begins w a call yo order and ends in adjournmeny.

1st session is election of officers and plotting if agendas for the next few sessions.

At least  3 motions discussed in the realm of local Philippine Politics.

Only 2 motions passed.

At least 2 Resolutions discussed in the realm of Philippine International Politics.

Only 1 resolution passed.

1 of the motions referred to a committee with instructions to report for the body to decide.

1 of the motions referred to a committee with powers to act.

1 of the motions should be unfinished business for the next session to finish.

1 of the motions should be log-rolled.

No motion should pass without being amended.

At least 1 amendment should be amended.

There should be at least 2 caucuses.

1 vote result should be recounted.

Rules should be suspended once for an important readon in the house.

Pol 3211: History of IR PPT and Sample Paper

All links accessible only by through official UST gmail accounts.

History of IR


Sample Paper 1


Sample Paper 2

3211 Comparative Politics: Discussion Area

Pls comment a query on the online lesson on the comment section.  Use your official UST google account.

Writing Chapter III

Chapter III is composed of 7 parts.

• Method
• Respondents or Participants/Selections
• Locale of the Study
• Research Instrument
• Data Gathering Method/Procedure
• Data Analysis
• Ethical Considerations

Many students and writers mistake that many parts of this chapter is a patch of paraphrases defining the parts.  Keep in mind that the thesis is YOURS.  Hence Chapter III is where you narrate and justify the procedure on how you intend to answer your problem, and to prove your thesis statement.

In method you will discuss 3 to 3.5 things.

• Method
• Approach
• Deisgn

There are two basic Methods:  Qualitative and Quantitative.

Advanced methods are Quanti-Quali and Quali-Quanti.

How does one determine or justify which one to use? 

Qualitative is used when there is not enough authorities or not enough data to conceptualize the thesis statement.  You will do qualitative in order to help gain insight into the essence of the phenomenon.  As extension.  Because of this, the writing of Chapyer IV should be more righ than rigorous.   It means, that there should be more high level of abstraction of concepts.  Deep explanations of ideas.

Quantitative if there’s an existing theory that rightly fits the phenomenon.  You will do quantitative in order to test the theory using statistical tools.  It will be more rigorous than rich.  It means that there will have to be more focus on the accuracy of the data in order to arrive at the conclusion.  It will be careful attention to details and ensuring that every detail match perfectly in order to avoid questions on accuracy.

There are three basic approaches:  Historical, Descriptive, and Experimental.

A qualitative historical research explains (studies) the past.

A qualitative descriptive or quantitative descriptive explains (studies) the present.

A quantitative experimental project or predicts (studies the possibilities of) the future.

Take note where the method and the approach matches.

A warning to keep in mind is that experimental approach may seem fancy as a word to use.  But again, make sure that you can justify.  It’s the most rigorous among the approaches.  And you will need cutting edge statistical designing for that.

For political science writers.  There is an additional approach.

You have to identify which approach in the study of politics does your research fall into:

• Institutionalism (old or new)
• Behavioralism
• Postbehavioralism / Normativism
• Postmodernism

Design varies depending on the goal of the research.

For qualitative:

There should be two basic designs.

Phenomenology – if the goal is to know based on the experiences of people.  If one’s purpose is to describe the phenomene based on the experience of the people involved.

Case study – is also experiential, but it’s purpose is to know what makes a particular situation unique.  Case studies are best used for model studies.  E.g.  You can’t propose solutions without models.  You can’t discuss problems also without any cases.  Case study fits best here.

To write: Identify and explain each. One to three paragraphs will do.

Respondents or Participants are terms used based whether you are using qualitative or quantitative methods.

The term, respondent, is best used in quantitative researches.  The people answer by responding to surveys.

Participant or Selection are used synonymously in a qualitative research.  The people participate in an interview, focus group discussion or any activity that can help in producing the needed data.

The number of respondents are determined based on sample size formula.  An important factor in this is the consideration of representation.  Is the population devided into different groups?  E.g. year levels of students? Programs?  Age groups?  Gender?  Do these need equal representation in the population?  Descriptive research may not require equali representation.  But experimental will have to considere having equal representation.

Selections are synonymous to participants because of the choosing.  They are not determined by statistical formula, but by arbitrary determination of best possible number.  You “select” participants because they will be your information base.  And the number ranges from 1 to 20.  This will depend on the design used.  For example.  A case study of a person who behaves politically based on TV exposure will be made to write in a Journal.  That one person can be the participant.  But more is better. 

The principle used in adding to the number is to gain saturation - in interviews, saturation happens when as you visit different people, there seems to manifest a particular pattern of answers.  You add because saturation is not yet evident.

This is different in an FGD.  You limit it to 7.  More will open the possibility of free riders, and one or a few will dominate the focus group.

To write: Identify and explain each. One to two paragraphs will do.

Locale of the Study is basic.  Simply justify why you chose the location.  The justification should be objective, not personal.

Research Instrument

The tool to gather the primary data.  For qualitative, the common instrument used is the Questionnaire Protocol.  For quantitative the common one is the Survey Questionnaire.

There are instruments that already exist, tried and tested. This is the best path for researchers.  But if it happens that you can’t find a suitable instrument.  You construct your own.

Constructing the instrument is based on the conceptual framework.  The questions to be rated or answered will be guided by the elements found there.  For qualitative, you are looking for indicators.  So you ask questions that can bring forth the indicators if such exist.  For quantitative, you quantify the parameters.  Such as rating performance, rating cleanliness.

Once composed.  The instrument must be pre-tested.  For qualitative, have 1 or 2 people who fit the same category as your selections (but not your actual selections) participate in a test interview.  For quantitative, have around 10 to 20 surveys accomplished by people who also fit the qualifications of your respondents (again, not your actual respondents) answer the survey.

Take note of how the test interview or the pretest survey happens.  The people will ract, not react, not understand your questions.  After that, note, does the answers satisfy the Problem?  Are they complete or incomplete?  Edit the instrument as necessary.

Data Gathering Method

This is where you narrate the actual process of how you will collect the data.  Will you do a survey?  An FGD?  An interview?  Is the interview structured or semi-structured?  Will you be using printed primary sources?  Will you interview people who experienced the phenomenon?  Or will you interview experts on the phenomenon?

Will the procedure be done in several steps?  Will it be in stages? Or Will it be in levels.

Identify each, then narrate and explain why you plan to do so.

Data Analysis Method

Reading the interview transcriptions is not analysis.  There are tools for analyzing the data.  And you choose the tools based on the approach and design that you use.  A correlational experiment will require T-Test or Perason’s R analysis.  Acase study or phenomenology will required data thematization, tabulation, and classification.  There are technologies that use these tools, such as MS Excel and SPSS for statistics.  And MaxQDA and AtlasTi for analyzing transriptions. 

Discuss in proper sequence and in detail, with appropriate justification why you plan to use which particular tool.

Ethical Considerations

This is where you narrate how you plan to protect the research subjects.  You declare a particular reference for research ethics.  And provide a summary of how you plan to comply. Do you brief your respondents and participants?  Do you ask for consent to answer questions?  Do you have plans and procedures to conceal their identities?  Enumerate and narrate.  Cite as needed.