UP Graduate Research Proposed Standards

Re: UP Graduate Research Standards

Fr: David, C. P. (2011). What does it take to finish your graduate degree?: Issues, challenges and recommendations to the UP College of Science graduate program. Science Diliman, 23(1), 1-7.

I.             Definition (UP Faculty Manual, 2003)

MA Thesis: “ORIGINAL and SIGNIFICANT research or creative work”

PhD Dissertation: “original, significant, INDEPENDENT* scientific research or creative work”

II.           Standards

A.   From the UP Faculty Manual (2003)

1.    A CRITICAL EVALUATION of previous work done

2.    CLEAR, SYSTEMATIC, and SCHOLARLY presentation of findings

B.    Proposed Rubric (David, 2011)

Table 1. Matrix of proposed graduate research scope and depth

COMPONENT	MS THESIS	PHD DISSERTATION
Methodology	Use of existing / established techniques	Use of novel or revised, existing techniques
Data	Primary & secondary	Mainly primary
Data Validation	Proof of some statistical validity	Extensive statistical treatment
Data Analysis	May be analyzed by third party	Must be analyzed by student (INDEPENDENT)*
Experimentation	Recognize all variables; test ≥ 1 variable	Recognize all variables; test ≥ 2 variables
Hypothesis	Need not prove hypothesis; negative results acceptable	Need to prove hypothesis; POSITIVE result required
Scope / Depth	Replication of theory new to area / material / process	Test alternative aspects of theory to NEW area / material / process

COMPONENT	MS THESIS	PHD DISSERTATION
Evidence of Mastery	Mastery of tools & understanding of relevant theories	Contribute to international significance through development of NEW tools or theories
Other Requirements	Presentation in ≥ 1 national / international conference	Presentation of 2 chapters in conference; ISI publication

Table 2. Proposed presentation and publication requirement

DEGREE	PRESENTATION	PUBLICATION	AUTHORSHIP
MS	≥ 1 national or international conference	≥ 1 local scientific publication or full paper in a conference presentation	1st author in non-ISI or co-author in ISI publication
PhD	≥ 1 international conference	≥ 2 national or international or ISI publication	1st author in non-ISI publication