Tarlac State University

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS

San Isidro Campus, Tarlac City

RMA
Research Methods in Architecture

Writing a Thesis or Any Research

At the end of the lesson, the students should:
 Have gained insights on the selection of the topic for research
 Be able to conceptualize a topic in research

1. Research Methods in Architecture

What is research?
Ontology (is the study or concern about what kinds of things exist - what entities there are in the
universe. It derives from the Greek onto (being) and logia (written or spoken discourse) of
Research, Science, and Knowledge

2. Definition of Research
re · search
noun
1. diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise
facts, theories, applications, etc.
2. a particular instance or piece of research
verb
3. to make researches; investigate carefully
4. to make an extensive investigation into: to research a matter thoroughly

Origin:
1570-80; (v.) < Middle French rechercher –to seek, Old French, equivalent to re - re + cherche -
to search; (noun) < Middle French recherche

Synonyms
1. scrutiny, study
2. inquire, examine, scrutinize

WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research is the systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of answering
questions posted by the researcher (Parel).
It is a way of looking at accumulated fact so that those data become meaningful in the total
process of discovering new insights into unsolved problems and revealing new meanings (Leedy).

3. Characteristics of a research proposal:

1. Is a straight forward document
2. Is not a literary production
3. Is clearly organized

Research is NOT:
1. Is not to attract the reader’s attention only
ex: employment of the term “ Years of research” in products.
2. Is not information gathering only
ex: elaborate effort of collecting data from various documentary sources.
3. Is not fact finding and fact transcribing only
ex: transfer of information from one source to another documented paper.
How Is A Research Paper Different From A Research Proposal?
Your research proposal is the skeleton or framework upon which the meat of your research paper hangs.

The RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The research proposal is a written outline compiled for the purpose of laying out the research program.
This document should detail the intentions and strategies of your research path in order to establish what
the point and purpose of the entire range of experiments entails. Your proposal should be very detailed
and contain all the various aspects of the process.
The proposal should be a forward looking document that depicts the potentialities of the research
and must emphasize how required resources will affect the research if not successfully obtained (in the
case of funding, equipment usage, etc.)

The RESEARCH PAPER

In the case of the actual research paper, the conducted research, which will now have been carried out,
is documented in a detailed way whereby conclusions have been established and outcomes recorded.
This paper will probably be longer than the proposal because it will contain the step-by-step process of
the research done.

Broad Generic Areas of Research:

1. People
2. Things
3. Records
4. Thoughts and Ideas
5. Dynamics and Energy

Code of Ethics for a research project:

1. Maintain scientific objectivity
2. Must recognize their competence limit.
3. Right of privacy and dignity of treatment
4. Must avoid causing personal harm
5. Information confidentiality
6. Honest findings w/o distortion
7. Use prerogative for professional purposes
8. Acknowledge assistance, sources, collaborations.
9. Acknowledge financial support
10. Must not accept favors which would violate ethical principles

How to Select a Topic

 You can find a good topic by identifying an issue that concerns you or your work. It is a problem
that you are experiencing in the community. It could be a significant issue that causes a strong
reaction in you.
 The best topics are the ones you have a natural interest.
 Avoid overly familiar topics
 This enlightens you to bring insight to the situation and enlighten others

A research problem takes the question form. One can begin to ask:
Example:
On study habits
 Why are students these days too lax to study their lessons?
 What environmental conditions affect architecture students’ attitudes toward studies?
 What aspect of study habits make effective learning in architecture?
These are a few among too many questions that one can raise

The ultimate value of a student’s research project is probably determined more by imagination
and insight. After conceptualizing a question, one can think of many possible variables to explore.
The students’ first ideas for research are often immature; as the student continues to search,
however insights in the literature becomes sufficiently broad.
FOCUS YOUR RESEARCH.
If the topic is too broad, you will be overwhelmed by the information. If the topic is too
narrow, you may not be able to find enough information for your research paper. By defining too broadly,
it may sound better for you, but there is a great chance that it will be manageable as a research project.
Do not try to solve all the problems in one research project.
Example: Broad topic: “Student Discipline”
Focused topic: “Implementation of Student Discipline in Tertiary Schools in Tarlac City”

CONDUCT AN INTENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW.

You must know your topic extensively. Critical review of the literature accustoms you with the existing
state of knowledge regarding your topic, and facilitates modification of your research problem. Evaluation
about previous research makes it less likely that you will repeat work that has already been done, and also
enables you to learn from the mistakes of other researches.

REVIEW WELL ORGANIZED RESEARCHES IN THE INSTITUTION WHERE YOU ARE ENROLLED.
Examine the overall style, headings and sub-headings, typeface and organization. Use them as a model
for the preparation of your own paper. In this way, you will have an idea of the beginning of your writing
what your finished research will look like.

BEGIN WRITING THOSE PARTS YOU CAN HANDLE.

Most research complain of the difficulty of beginning a paper. Begin writing those parts that you are most
comfortable with.. Then move to other sections that you could readily fill. Set off with what interests
you, start writing and then keep on the fire while it is burning!

When you sit down to type, your aim is something simpler. It is just to write a paragraph or section about
one of your sub-headings. It helps to start with an easy one: this gets you into the habit of writing and
gives you self-confidence. Often the Materials and Methods is the easiest to write – just write down what
you intend to do carefully, formally and in a logical order.

RESEARCH WRITING SHOULD BE CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS

Prepare a list of keywords that you will use in your research and then in writing your paper you should
use this set of keywords throughout. It will be very clear to the reader to know exactly what you are
referring to from the first part to the last page of your paper. For instance, if you mean “entrepreneur”,
do not substitute it with the word “magnate”, “tycoon”, “Industrialist”, or “financier”, Be consistent with
the word you will be using.

THE ROLE OF THE ADVISER IN CHECKING THE PAPER.

Suggestions and concerns are expected from your adviser. Your speed in writing the paper would depend
on how fast you could address the required changes and modifications.

There are 3 stages in the process of writing a thesis.

1. Selection of a topic which you must have conceptualized
2. Proposal defense
3. After finishing Chapter 5, it is time to go back to Chapter 1. Carefully guided by what you have
just completed, reread Chapter 1. You may rewrite some parts that may no longer agree with
what you wrote.

WRITING THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

1. RESEARCH WRITING SHOULD BE CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS.

The text must be clear. Good grammar will make the thesis easier to read. Technical writing has to be a
little formal. Short simple phrases, and words are often better than long ones. Avoid the use of flowery
words that would complicate the interpretation of facts. Sometimes it is easier to present information
and arguments as a series of numbered points, rather than as one or more long and awkward paragraphs.
A list of points is always easier to write.
 2. PRESENT FINDINGS BASED ON THE ORDER OF THE STATED PROBLEMS.
The problems posed in chapter 1 will be the main concern of your presentation, and analysis of data.

3. WRITING THE PARTS OF YOUR RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
 Know the basic concepts, theories and principles of educational research
 Apply various research methods and tools for research
 Write a research proposal

PARTS OF RESEARCH
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
This chapter reports the background of the study, the statement of objectives or problems, the
significance of the study, the scope and the delimitation of the study and the definition of terms. It is the
first thing that people see in your presentation.

1. INTRODUCTION
The introduction should present
 A comprehensible presentation of the broad problem(s) or research question(s) under
investigation
 Some background information about the topic under investigation in different
perspective; the international picture (mega level), the local level (macro level), the
context of the research by setting the scene (micro level)
 Details of any related theories
 Reason(s) why the research is conducted to justify it. The justification should state: why
the study is warranted; the potential value; to whom are the results of the study
important; and, in what way and how they are to be used.

How to write your introduction

Make your outline

Outline what you are going to do before starting the first draft. It will be easier for you to fill the
outline than to think of the whole paper.

Stay focused
Start straight with your variable. Do not open with broad topics or general ideas.

Use noteworthy statements

Each sentence should contribute to the developments of your concepts. Give the readers an idea
of where you are going so they can follow along.

Use quotation that lend authority to your work

When quoting an expert or some prominent figure on your topic, you lift up your own work by
placing it in respected company. Opinions of respected figures could be used to support some
statements that you have written and make them more credible to your readers. Quote valued
figures to establish background information in a paper. This will make your readers perceive the
information as reliable.

Revise
Revise your introduction once you have completed the paper. Reread the introduction to check
whether the complete research is consistent with it. There are cases when their final paper does
not meet the preconceived expectations and objectives denoted in the first part of the research.
This part of the introduction should be revised.
 How to check your draft
Ask a peer to read your research and tell you what he expects the paper will discuss and what
kind of evidence the paper will use. If he is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you
probably have a good introduction.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY (optional)

The objectives provide the direction to be pursued by the study. The objectives of the
study may be classified as general or specific. The general objective is a broad statement of
purpose, which mirrors the title. The specific objectives are detailed targets to attain the general
objective. The objectives of the study should not only flow from the identified study but should
also lead to the statement of the problem.

3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The statement of the problem should be a simple, clear and unambiguous question
regarding the specific problem to be investigated.
 The problem should be stated precisely, accurately, and clearly.
 It can be stated either in the declarative or interrogative form.
 It can be either one main statement/question, or a series of statements/questions, or a
combination of these forms.
 The problem should be defined in terms of the data that can be obtained

The statement of the problem may be classified into two categories, the major and
specific. The major problem is a broad statement of the intent that reflects the general area of
investigation. It is usually an objective that mirrors the title. The specific problems are the sub-
problems into which the general problem is broken down.

4. HYPOTHESIS
Quite often we test hypotheses about statistical parameters. A statistical hypothesis is a
claim or a statement about the value of a single parameter or about the values of several
parameters. Setting up and testing hypotheses is an essential part of statistical inference. In
order to formulate such a test, a theory has to be put forward, either because it is believed to be
true or because it is to be used as a basis for argument, but has not been proved.

A statistical hypothesis test, is an algorithm to state the alternative (for or against the
hypothesis) which minimizes certain risks. It is the use of statistics to determine the probability
that a given hypothesis is true.

There are two types of hypotheses:

Hypothesis of relationship between or among variables (correlated) or
Hypothesis of difference between or among groups (comparative)

5. IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of the study reveals the intellectual merit of the proposed activity: how
the study shall advance knowledge and understanding, pressing reason why this study needs to
be conducted. It shall also indicate the broader impacts of the proposed activity on advance
discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, learning; and enhancing the
infrastructure for education and research, dissemination of the study to the broadest possible
audience and the benefit of the bigger society from the study.

6. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

Scope and delimitations comprise one important section of a research paper. Scope,
defines the limits of the study in terms of the area or locality, population and sample, sampling
design and the duration or period of the study. The nature of the variables as they are declared
in the statement of the findings and the treatments they received should be so stated.

Limitation are shortcomings, conditions or influences that cannot be controlled by the

researcher that place restrictions on your methodology and conclusions. Any limitations that
might influence the results should be mentioned (Drake, 2005).
 Delimitations provide the conditions beyond the control of the researcher. They are
made known because they may place restraint in writing the conclusions and their application to
other situations. Such delimitations could be on the definition of terms, selection and
maturation of the respondents.

Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries.

Q:What is limitation in research methods?

A: Limitation in research is the lack of adequate information on a given subject due to variables.
Limitation in research most often applies to academic research; however, there is limitation to all forms
of research because it is impossible to control all variables. For example, a study conducted in only one
city and involving only women has limitations that include gender, sample size and location.
Additionally, all research is limited by the perception of the researcher.

There are two types of research methods: qualitative and quantitative. Both research methods
involve gathering information on a subject.
 Qualitative research is used most often in the social sciences to study people, behavior,
language and culture. Examples of limitations in qualitative research include the number of
participants in the study and the scope of the research.
 Quantitative research methods are used in scientific research and in some disciplines, such as
economics. This kind of research involves quantifying, or measuring, a given subject, Scientific
research involving medication is most prone to limitations. This is due to the fact that
participants have different medical histories, health conditions, ages and so on that affect how
they react to the drug. These factors are all considered to be limitations.

7. DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE STUDY

The definition of terms serves two essential functions. First, it establishes the rules and
procedures the investigator will use to measure variables. Second, it provides unambiguous
meaning to terms that otherwise can be interpreted in different ways.

There are two major types of definition of terms used in the study – the conceptual and the
operational.
 The conceptual definition is the dictionary, which is the reference book of everyday
language.
 The operational definition is the meaning of the concept of term as used in a particular
study.

The clearer definition includes conceptual and operational or working definition; e.g.,
middle class is conceptually defined as a category of persons within the society. Operationally,
it is a group of persons whose average annual income is P10,000-P24,000 and a minimum
educational attainment of high school level.

Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
Literature shows the works of a researcher consulted in order to understand and investigate the
research problem. A critical review of the literature acquaints the researcher with the current state of
knowledge on the topic, and helps refine the research problem. Reading about previous research
enables one to learn from the mistakes of other researchers.
Materials to be reviewed are: books, journal articles, conference proceedings, government or
corporate reports, thesis and dissertations, internet materials, CD-ROMS, and magazines.

The main reasons for viewing the literature (Barber, 2004)

 To gain a full in-depth understanding of a subject
 To see if intended research subject has been done before and avoid duplication
 To avoid any errors made in similar research
  To enable to place the study within its context (so that the researcher can show how the
research will add to the existing sum of knowledge)
 To provide ideas to help you define or amend one’s own research topic
 To provide information with which to compare and contrast one’s findings

 A literature review is a critical review of literature to your field of study. It’s not a
summary a of a whole field, or of everything you have read in the field but an organized
and critical discussion that let your reader see what you have made of the literature
relevant to the topic of your thesis and your research question.
 It function to contextualize your research within that research field by identifying
where there are gaps in previous research that your own research will help to fill. To
see how a literature review can be organized so that it provides a critical review of the
field relevant to the research topic and shows how previous research both informs and
provide s a rationale (basis) for the suggested research.

RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Research literature and related studies refer to sources of readings that are significant
contributions to the present research.

The research literature consists of the articles, and books written by previous authorities giving
theories, ideas, opinions and experiences of what is good and bad, the desirable and undesirable within
the research problem; while related studies refer to the published reports on researches, and
unpublished manuscripts such as thesis or actual research studies done previously on the topic.

In making decisions about organization, you will sometimes need to choose a focus on what has
been found in previous research or on who has carried out previous but always make sure you have a
sound rationale for focusing on one rather the other.

Related Studies are sometimes mistakenly written up as just summaries of previous research
instead of critical pieces of writing that contextualize or provide background to a new piece of research.

Poor review summarizes research in the field without showing any evaluation via its organization
of focus, other than superficial (shallow) chronological organization of the research; it focuses on “who”
did the research instead of more appropriately on “what” had been done or found; and it doesn’t indicate
how that research relates to the writer’s own research.

Review of related studies serves as benchmark on how much has been done on the same field
of research; it differentiates the present study from previous studies to show that the present study has
novel ideas and variables.

Part 1
I. The problem and its background
Introduction
Objectives of the Study (optional)
Statement of the Problem
Hypothesis (especially for quantitative and experimental)
Significance of the study
Scope and Delimitation
Definition of terms used

II. Review of related literature & Paradigm of the study

III. Methods of the study and sources of data

Conceptual Framework

It expresses the relationship among the variables that are raised in the study. It discusses the
framework by which the variables work in the research. Basically, the researcher has to go back to the
statement of the problem because the specific problems shall serve as the framework by which the study
proceeds.

Conceptual framework is the researcher's understanding of how the particular variables in his
study connect with each other. Thus, it identifies the variables required in the research investigation. It is
the researcher's “map” in pursuing the investigation.

Example: