CAPSTONE

MODULE WEEK 1-2

➢ Capstone Project:
➢ Culminating assignment similar to a college thesis. Involves critical thinking,
deep analysis, and using various media. Can be classified into:
- Applied Research (practical solutions to problems) or
- Basic Research (seeks to expand knowledge in the field study).

➢ Steps in Developing a Capstone Project: (SDRP)

➢ Selecting a Topic:
- It’s maybe a design, a solution to an existing problem or providing new
information about a certain topic, etc.
▪ Choose a topic related to a problem, design, or new information in
your area of study.
▪ It can be a continuation of earlier research subjects (e.g., Practical
Research 1 and 2).

➢ Do a Literature Review:
- Background information to fill gaps that will give you a strong foundation
to work on and can spot any areas to improve upon.
▪ Conduct a review to fill gaps in existing knowledge.
▪ Provides a solid foundation and identifies areas for improvement in
your project.

➢ Research your topic:

- Make sure your research is on target with your readings, feasible, safe
(constraints in the new normal), and practical.

➢ Presenting the Proposed Study:

- Includes title proposal, scientific concepts the study is anchored,
variables, research questions, and sound methods.
 ➢ Skills Needed for Capstone Project Development: (CORTC)
➢ Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Analyze and evaluate information
deeply.
➢ Oral Communication: Be able to express ideas clearly.
➢ Research Skills: Efficiently gather and analyze relevant data.
➢ Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with peers or experts.
➢ Collaboration: Engage with the community to analyze important issues,
problems, and ideas.

NOTES:
➢ Scientific problem
This is the problem or question you want to address or explore. It's the gap in
knowledge or understanding that your research will attempt to fill. You need to
clearly state the issue or concept you're investigating.

Example: "The impact of climate change on plant growth in urban environments."

➢ Scientific concepts -These are the scientific principles or theories that guide
your study. It could involve biological, physical, chemical, or other related scientific
fields.

Example: "This study is anchored in ecology (effects of climate on ecosystems) and plant biology
(how plants respond to environmental changes)."

➢ Independent Variable: The factor you manipulate in your experiment.

➢ Dependent Variable: The factor you measure in response to changes in the
independent variable.
➢ Controlled Variables: The factors you keep constant to ensure that changes in the
dependent variable are due to the independent variable alone.

➢ Basic Research (also called fundamental research) aims to increase general

knowledge and understanding of a subject, without a direct practical application in
mind.
➢ Applied Research seeks to solve specific, practical problems using the knowledge
gained.
➢ Example:
- If the study is purely to understand how temperature affects plant growth, it's basic
research.
 - If the study aims to develop strategies for growing plants in urban areas under changing
climates, it's applied research.
MODULE WEEK 1-3

➢ Methodology:
- The Methodology section explains the process of collecting and analyzing data
in research.
- Describes the materials (what was used) and methods (how the research was
conducted).
➢ In scientific papers, this section is often labeled Materials and Methods in the
IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion).

➢ Key Points in Writing Methodology/Materials and Methods:

- Cite Proven Standard Methods: Adopt methods that are already established
and proven in research. Always cite these methods.
- Specify Changes: If deviations from standard methods are made, clearly
specify these modifications in your manuscript.
- Highlight Innovations: If your research involves simplification or innovation,
these changes should be noted, especially if the focus is on invention or new
processes.
MODULE WEEK 6-7_Q4

➢ IMRaD:
- stands for Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion.
- It is the standard structure for most scientific papers, widely used by journals
and research organizations.
- Other sections may include the Title, Authors, Keywords, Abstract,
Conclusions, References, and Appendices.

➢ Key Sections of IMRaD:

1. Cover Page & Approval Sheet:

➢ Include the title, authors, and approval sheet with signatures.
2. Title:
➢ Choose 12 keywords that describe both the independent and dependent
variables.
3. Abstract:
➢ Exactly 250 words summarizing:
▪ Background
▪ Objective
▪ Methods
▪ Findings
▪ Conclusion
4. Introduction:
➢ Explain why the study was undertaken and provide sufficient background.
➢ Structure:
▪ First paragraph: Current knowledge on the topic.
▪ Second paragraph: Existing gaps or previous work done.
▪ Third paragraph: Aim, hypothesis, design, and importance of the
study.
➢ Ensure in-text citation and paraphrasing is evident and discard weak studies,
focusing on valid and rigorous ones.
5. Materials and Methods:
➢ Describe the research design, procedures, data collection, and analysis.
➢ Ensure replicability and reproducibility.
➢ Specify materials with exact technical details, preparation methods, and
treatment forms.
➢ Describe widely known methods fully and uncommon methods in detail.
➢ Include statistical analysis details if applicable.
6. Results:
➢ Use a mix of text, tables, and illustrations to present findings.
➢ Begin with sample characteristics and baseline for comparison.
➢ Present research findings logically and tell the story in textual form.
➢ Tables and illustrations should be well-labeled, and statistics should
support conclusions without repetition in the text.
➢ Ensure illustrations (e.g., photographs, micrographs) are professionally
produced, protect anonymity (if applicable), and include scale measures.
7. Discussion:
➢ Begin with a summary of the key findings and their importance.
➢ Restate the aim of the study in general terms but avoid repeating exact
results.
➢ Discuss strengths and limitations of the study.
➢ Compare findings with existing studies or theories.
➢ Conclude with the scientific implications of your findings.
8. Conclusion:
➢ Answer the research questions without repeating previous data.
➢ Provide a descriptive summary of how the research questions were
addressed.
9. Recommendations:
➢ Acknowledge study limitations and suggest areas for future research.
➢ Endorse significant findings and their implications for future work.
10. References:
➢ Include bibliographical citations in APA format for all in-text citations.
11. Appendices:
➢ Provide supplementary materials, such as photographs, raw data, or statistical data
etc.
MODULE WEEK 6-7_Q3

➢ Hypothesis:
- A hypothesis is a tentative explanation to a research question about variables.
- It is tested through hypothesis testing, an analytical process to prove its truth
or falsehood.
➢ Types of Hypotheses:
- Null Hypothesis (H₀):
➢ Assumes that the sample observations are due to random chance.
➢ It suggests no significant effect or relationship between variables.
- Alternate Hypothesis (H₁ or Ha):
➢ Assumes that the sample observations are not by chance and are
influenced by non-random factors.
➢ It suggests a significant effect or relationship between variables.

➢ Example of Hypothesis in Research:

➢ Statement of the Problem:

➢ The study investigates the molluscicidal activity of tea seed powder against
the Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata).
➢ Specific Research Question:
➢ Is there a significant difference in the mortality of golden apple snails
exposed to varying concentrations of tea seed powder?
➢ Hypothesis:
➢ Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no significant difference in the mortality of
snails exposed to varying concentrations of tea seed powder.
➢ Alternate Hypothesis (Ha): There is a significant difference in the mortality
of snails exposed to varying concentrations of tea seed powder.
➢ Decision:
➢ Using inferential statistical analysis, the null hypothesis (H₀) will either be
rejected or accepted based on the data.

➢ In the IMRaD format, the hypothesis is not directly stated in the paper.
➢ It is implied and assumed in the last paragraph of the Introduction section.
➢ The results and outcome of hypothesis testing (statistical analysis) are discussed in
the Results and Discussion sections.