College of Business Administration Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina

10. GUIDELINES FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Ethical Considerations:
• Researchers are committed to practice ethical and professional conduct. It is a duty to
ensure that their work enhances the good name of the university.
• Researchers have an obligation to achieve and maintain the highest standards of
intellectual honesty in the conduct of their research.
• Researchers should only participate in work which conforms to accepted ethical
standards which they are competent to perform. When in doubt, the researchers must seek
assistance from their advisers.
• If data of a private nature are obtained, confidentiality must be observed and researchers
must not use such information for their own personal advantage.
• The researchers must ensure that others who have contributed to the work are
recognized in the research output.
• Ensure the accuracy of all data gathered and used in the research.
• Cite all sources and data included in your research.
• Give proper credit and acknowledgement to people or sources utilized in the
Research.
RESEARCH ADVISER:
The Adviser shall be chosen on the basis of the following criteria:
1. An MA or Doctoral degree holder in her/his line of expertise
2. An expert who has proven his/her ability in his/her craft
3. A full time or part-time college professor of the university
4. An experience researcher in her/his field of specialization
Duties and responsibilities of the adviser:
The College Research Coordinator with the approval of the Chair of the College Research
Committee and signed by the Dean of the particular discipline appoints the Adviser from
his/her roster of faculty.
Duties and responsibilities of the thesis adviser:
1. Guides the student during the preparation of the thesis proposal, discusses their
choice of topic who receives the appropriate advice and guidance
2. Approves the thesis proposal
3. Submits to the coordinator a copy of the approved thesis proposal
4. Monitors the progress of the research
5. Discusses the research status with the research coordinator.
6. Signs necessary forms for completion (consultation form, endorsement forms, etc.)
7. Documents the proceedings of the thesis defense and conforms with the members of
the panel.
8. Accomplish the forms pertinent to the conduct of thesis defense:
a. Adviser’s Notes
b. Endorsement of the Adviser

11. 10. Certify the readiness of the student researchers to undergo a thesis defense and
endorses to the research coordinator the thesis for oral defense(forms to be
accomplished: Endorsement of the Adviser).
11. Signs the consultation form to write the topics discussed during the consultation with
the advisees (forms to be accomplished: Mentor-Mentee Consultation Form).
12. Meets regularly with the students to evaluate the progress of their research, todiscuss
the problems that inevitably arise, and to provide whatever encouragement, and
direction proves necessary.
13. Submits the list of students’ names, to the research coordinator together with the list
of research advisers, and panelist two weeks before the oral defense for honorarium
purposes.
14. Approves the student’s thesis as complete and defensible prior to the review by the
panel.
15. Gives grades on the written thesis of students (60% of the total grade of students in
Research course)
PANELISTS:
The Panelists shall be chosen on the basis of the following criteria:
1. An MA or Doctorate degree holder in her/his line of expertise
2. An expert who has proven his/her ability in his/her craft
3. A full time or part-time college professor of the university
4. An experience researcher in her/his field of specialization
Duties and responsibilities of panelists:
1. Have thoroughly reviewed the thesis manuscript one week before the scheduled
defense.
2. Be in the defense venue at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time of defense
3. Ask questions and give comments after the presentation
4. Evaluate the oral defense based on the criteria of the Oral Defense Evaluation Tool
5. Write recommended revisions, suggestions, and comments after the oral presentation
on the pages concern of the thesis paper of the students.
6. Give grades based on the oral presentation of the students(40% of the total grade of
the students in Research Course).
7. Review suggested changes, suggestions and comments of the paper prior to its final
endorsement by the adviser
8. Signs in the “conforme” to attest the authenticity and entirety of the recorded
comments, suggestions and recommendations of the members of the panel of
reviewers.
9. Prepare a written comments, suggestions and recommendations for the improvement
of the paper should he/she will not be able to be physically present during the
defense. (Note: Panelists will not be given an honorarium if he/she fails to submitthe
required documents prior to thesis defense).
10. Panel chair will present the decision of the panel ofreviewers at the last part of the
defense.

12. THE COLLEGE RESEARCH COMMITTEE:
Composition:
1. Chair (appointed by the President of PLMAR through the recommendation of the
Vice President for Research, Planning and Extension Services).
2. Secretary/Secretariat (functions as the liaison officer during the whole thesis defense
process).
3. Members – College Research Coordinators of each college (appointed by the
President of PLMAR through the recommendation of the Vice President for
Research, Planning and Extension Services).
Duties and Responsibilities of the College Research Committee:
1. Submit to the authority of the Vice President for Research, Planning and Extension
Services
2. Propose policies and guidelines in the conduct of Undergraduate Thesis
3. Determine and commission pool of advisers, statisticians, panelists relative to the
conduct of students’ undergraduate thesis.
4. Prepare the master schedule of thesis defense every semester.
5. Coordinate with the Academic Deans on matters pertaining to the conduct of
undergraduate research
6. Monitor the proceedings of the undergraduate thesis defense
7. The committee should meet once every month depending on the availability of all
members as will agreed upon during the committee’s first meeting.
8. Submit periodic reports to the office of the Vice President for Research, Planning and
Extension Services.
9. Act as a tribunal on matters of conflict and issues raised by the students and faculty
members that may affect the quality and integrity academic research exercise of the
university.
10. Release certificate of originality and completion as significant requisites for the
promotion of students.
11. Manages the fiscal and material resources for the equitable compensation of the
thesis/research personnel and for the integral services to the students.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Chair of the College Research Committee:
1. Reports directly to the Vice President for Research, Planning and Extension Services.
2. Supervise the College Research Coordinators on matters pertaining to the systems
and processes of executing undergraduate research.
3. Coordinate with the Dean of the College on matters pertaining to the systems and
processes of executing undergraduate research.
4. Coordinate with the members of the College Research Committee on matters
pertaining to the schedule of thesis defense, defense fees, defense panel report, etc.
5. Supervise and oversee the proceedings of the Undergraduate thesis.
6. Prepares the master schedule of the undergraduate thesis defense.
7. Schedule a twice a month meeting of the College Research Committee
8. Presides over the meeting of the College Research Committee
9. Act as chair of the all the sub-committees under the college research committee

13. Duties and responsibilities of the Research Coordinator:
1. Supervise and monitor the undergraduate research proceedings and other related
activities that may affect the undergraduate thesis of the students.
2. Recommends to the college research committee the candidates for membership to the
pool of advisers, editors, panelists and statisticians.
3. Prepare the college’s schedule of thesis defense
4. Coordinate with the Chair of the College Research Committee on matters pertaining
to the schedule of thesis defense, defense fees, defense panel report, etc.
5. Submit reports of the college research activities to the Chair of the College Research
Committee
6. Consolidate the grades of the students in the thesis defense and submit them to the
Dean of the college.
7. Supervise in the preparation of the defense panel report in every thesis defense.
8. Request for the honorarium of the research personnel (adviser, panelist, statistician,
etc.) for the college.
GUIDELINES BEFORE THE THESIS DEFENSE:
1. The research group should secure an adviser’s certification of readiness to undergo a
thesis defense.
2. The oral defense will proceed as scheduled. Students are expected to be in their assigned
room 30 MINUTES before the time.
3. All groups are required to use PowerPoint and Multimedia for their presentations. To
ensure that multimedia devices are available during your defense schedule, please
reserve a day ahead.
4. The 30-minute grace period should be enough for the preparation and setting up of
equipment.
5. The attire for the oral defense is CORPORATE. For men, slacks, long sleeve with
necktie, and leather shoes. For ladies, skirt, slacks blouse (with or without blazers) and
leather shoes.
6. Please make sure to wear nametags to facilitate grading of the panelist.
7. The duration for the entire exercise is for one hour only exclusive of setup time. The
breakdown of which is as follows:
Presentation 15 minutes
Interpellation, Question and Answer 45 minutes
4. For consistency among groups, the following parts of the thesis should be discussed or
presented within the 15 minute period:
a. Proposal Defense:
i. Brief introduction
ii. Statement of the Problem
iii. Theoretical / Conceptual Framework
iv. Methodology
b. Final Defense:
i. Brief Introduction
ii. Statement of the Problem
iii. Results and Discussion
iv. Conclusions and Recommendations

14. However, this does not mean that the group will not put emphasis on other parts of the
thesis not mentioned in this section.
GUIDELINES DURING THE DEFENSE:
1. The Adviser shall briefly introduce the students and their thesis topic to the panelists
2. The Chair of the Panel shall give the students the go signal to start the defense. He/She
shall keep the time and see to it that the time allocation for presentation and interpellation
will be followed.
3. After the presentation, anyone of the panelists can start asking questions. The Adviser
can just observe and take note of the salient points in the defense but cannot help the
students, in case they find some difficulties in answering the questions of the panelists.
4. The adviser will act as a recorder in which he or she will read the summary of the
proceedings at the end of the defense.
5. The Chair shall summarize/recapitulate all the suggestions of the panelists to improve the
manuscript.
6. Once finished, the panelists shall give ratings using the oral defense evaluation tool.
7. The evaluation of the students’ performance will come from two (2) sources:
a. Evaluation from the adviser: 60%
b. Evaluation from the panelists: 40%
8. The panelists will grade the groups based on the following criteria of the rubric or
evaluation scheme:
Undergraduate Evaluation Tool
PROPOSAL DEFENSE:
Chapter 1 Background and Statement of the Problem 15%
Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature 15%
Chapter 2 Methodology 15%
Overall presentation of the Paper 5%
Group Oral Presentation (Group Rating) 25%
Individual Oral Presentation 25%
TOTAL: 100%
FINAL DEFENSE:
Chapter 1 Background of the Study/Statement of the Problem 5%
Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature 5%
Chapter 3 Methodology 5%
Chapter 4 Presentation of Findings 15%
Chapter 5 Summary, Conclusion, Recommendations 15%
Overall presentation of the Paper 5%
Group Oral Presentation (Group Rating) 25%
Individual Oral Presentation 25%
TOTAL: 100%
9. The panel’s decision on whether the students passed or failed the oral defense shall solely
be based on the content of the manuscript using the standard oral defense rating scale.
The group members, however, will not necessarily get the same score since they will be
graded individually using other criteria such as knowledge/Mastery of the study, use of
language and communication skills etc., Directness and correctness of response.

15. 1. The Chair shall finally announce the result of the evaluation.
2. The panelists will certify the veracity and thoroughness of the adviser’s minutes for this
is the basis for the revision of the research paper.
3. Both thesis adviser and student should be cognizant of deadlines.
GUIDELINES AFTER THE THESIS DEFENSE:
1. Length of time allotted for revision of the manuscript: The students are given two (2)
weeks to complete the revisions and suggestions of the panel.
2. Students show the corrected manuscript to the thesis adviser.
3. Adviser and students review the suggestions and revisions for further improvement of the
paper.
4. Adviser approves corrections and revisions
5. Students apply for technical editing (APA Style and Grammar editing)
6. Final typing of the research paper
7. Submission to the adviser for endorsement to the research coordinator.
8. Dean signs the final research copy.
9. Submit a soft (in CD) and hard copy (hard bound with color coded cover) to the dean’s
office as a requirement for graduation
OTHER MATTERS:
As a general rule, the scope of the advisory relationship should encompass from 36 to 40
hour meetings (see Consultation Form), beginning with the initial meeting with the students in
the first part of the semester and ending with the thesis defense. Both adviser and students must
agree beforehand on the subject of the meeting and the issues/questions to be discussed. In the
final writing phase, the subject will usually be drafts of sections of the thesis, which should be
submitted to the Adviser.

16. APPENDICES:
Color of the cover of hardbound copies:
CBA and Accountancy: Yellow
Nursing: White
Criminology: Red
Education: Blue
Hotel and Tourism Management: Orange
Mass Communication: Maroon
GRADUATE SCHOOL: BLACK