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Lesson 1: Features of a Concept Paper solution to solve the problem. It also provides
statements addressing the significance of the study.

DEFINING THE CONCEPT PAPER .

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

● The concept paper is a summary that informs ● This section includes the project’s goals and
readers about the purpose of the project or research, objectives, methodology, and benefits. The project
its significance, and how it will be carried out. description also includes the actual solution to the
addressed problem.
● It is a guide for the researcher in order to see any
holes or pitfalls that may occur in the project before its ● The goal addresses the end or condition of the
execution. It also gives readers an idea of what will be solution, while the objectives are the measurable
accomplished when the research is done. outcomes of the solution for the project.

● The main purpose of the concept paper is to lay out ● The next part of the project description includes the
the basics of a research proposal. methodology of the project. It is also known as the
action plan. The action plan needs to be aligned with
● Writers use the concept paper for the following the goals and objectives, as it should be executed
reasons: and achieved in the proposed timeline

1. To interest potential funders ● Lastly, the benefits or anticipated outcomes conclude

2. To develop potential solutions or investigations into the project description. These states who will be
project ideas benefiting from the accomplished project.
3. To determine whether a project idea is fundable
4. To serve as a foundation of a full proposal. 4. SUPPORT

● The elements of the concept paper are as follows: ● This section contains either an outline of the budget to
be used for the project or the estimated amount for its
1. Title in question form execution. It is recommended that a breakdown of
2. A brief overview of the research topic with conceptual expenses is included for transparency.
and background knowledge
3. A brief statement of the problem that the project
5. CONTACT INFORMATION
seeks to answer
4. Explanation of the significance of the study
● The last section contains the contact information of
5. Description of the methods to execute the project
the project head or researchers.

PARTS OF A CONCEPT PAPER. .

Lesson 2: Patterns of Concept (or Idea)
● 200 to 500 words (two to three pages)
Development

● Five sections: Definition Pattern of Development. .

1. INTRODUCTION
● The definition pattern of development aims to do the
following: clarify meaning, set the foundation of an
● The introduction contains how the researcher and
argument, and give background information about
the funder or project head’s missions align with one
a concept. The definition essay aims to go beyond a
another. It addresses why the funder should support
dictionary definition of a term or concept to deeply
the project of the researcher.
examine a word and to see how it is used in various
contexts. It will ultimately use the extended definition
2. RATIONALE
of the concept.

● The rationale contains general information about the

● In selecting the potential elements, the writer
topic, as well as the research gap that the research
should include the following:
intends to fill. The writer should state the need for the
research and why the project is the best possible
1. analysis of the term
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2. classification or categorization of the term of development may be helpful in writing a concept
3. unfamiliar concepts that may be associated with the paper.
term
4. traditional details about the term ● A writer can give the definitions and concepts
5. meanings the term does not cover presented in research studies and articles. These give
6. background information of the term the writer a foundation for the entire paper, especially
if he or she intends to make his or her own definitions.
● The definition pattern can be presented in a
paragraph or a full essay. A thesis statement should ● As a writer uses definitions and examples from the
contain the writer’s own personal definition of the different research of other authors, he or she also
concept, and that definition should be aligned with creates the contextual situation for his or her own
the discussion. The succeeding parts of the text project. This is also essential for the readers’
should present and explain the different ways to understanding.
define the term.
Lesson 3: Analyzing a Concept Paper
● In research, the definition of concepts is usually done
in the introduction of the paper. It is presented before
● The purpose and rationale of the study is essential to
the background of the issue or topic, methods,
identify whether the examples used to depict the
results, discussion, and conclusions.
concepts are appropriate for the defined context or
not. There must be an alignment between the
Exemplification Pattern of. Development . concepts and rationale using the goals and objectives
of the concept paper.
● The exemplification pattern of development utilizes
examples to clarify a point, give a picture or specific ● After determining if the project rationale is fit for the
instance, and to concretize an abstract idea. It study, you should be familiar with the methods of data
illustrates examples in great detail, which can help collection and analysis.
readers understand the points of the concepts.
● Once the plan of action is determined to be fit for the
● These examples must discuss the 5 W’s and 1 H study, the budget can be reviewed and discussed.
questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how With the review of the budget, you should be familiar
with the prices of materials, equipment,
● The examples should logically represent the main transportation, etc. This will be useful in determining if
idea or the concept being discussed. the budget is overinflated or not.

● When creating a paragraph or essay that uses Breaking Down the Concept. .
exemplification, the thesis statement should still
contain the concept being discussed and the specific
ways that it will be exemplified in the written output. If ● A reader can ask the following questions when
writing an essay, each body paragraph should contain breaking down the concept:
a different example in order to illustrate the main idea
more clearly and logically. 1. Who is the audience of the study? Who will benefit
from the study? Who are the authors of the said
concepts?
Expanding Ideas for the Concept Paper. . 2. Are the terms used well-defined? Are the terms used
consistent throughout the paper? Are the concepts
● These concepts and ideas, first presented in abstract discussed well?
form, are discussed in the introduction. They serve as 3. Are similar concepts combined? Can a layman easily
the backbone for the concept paper, as readers now understand the topic discussed, or should the reader
have more opportunities to understand the ideas have prior knowledge of the topic? Is the information
being developed in relation to the project or research organize and clustered well?
to be executed. 4. Did the author(s) compare or contrast the concepts in
the paper to show distinction?
● Since the writer should substantially discuss the 5. Are examples used to illustrate the concepts? Are the
concepts, the definition and exemplification patterns examples appropriate for the topics?
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6. Did the author show and describe cause and effect explain and contextualize the jargon for readers who
relationships among the concepts? Did the author(s) may not be familiar with the topic.
compare new concepts with old ones?
● The writer should also refer to himself or herself as
Lesson 4: Writing a Concept Paper “the researcher” instead of using personal pronouns
such as I, me, we, or us.

Prewriting the Concept Paper. . Position Paper

● Prewriting is the first stage of the writing process. Definition of a Position Paper. .
● Using a graphic organizer can create a visual
● A position paper is another form of academic writing
representation of the flow of your ideas for the
that is written after reading about and discussing a
concept paper. It can contain the steps involved and
particular issue.
the essential parts of the paper. It should be aligned
to the concept being discussed, the purpose of the
● A position paper, also called an argumentative paper
project, and the approach for execution.
or manifesto, is an essay that presents a person's or
group's position or stand on a particular issue.
● Different graphic organizers include:

1. a Venn diagram to show comparison and contrast; Parts of a Position Paper. .

2. a flowchart to show a process; and
3. a concept map to show the connections of different 1. ISSUE
ideas.

● An issue is an idea or question over which people are

Constructing the Concept Paper. . divided; it's also called a controversy.

● The Introduction focuses on why the project is 2. THESIS

necessary according to the goals of the organization.
● Your thesis, also called the claim, is a statement that
● The rationale discusses the definition of the concept expresses your stand on an issue.
and the research gap the project intends to fulfill. The
rationale also has the research questions and/or 3. REASONS
statements.
● The writer states the reasons in order to explain to the
● The Project Description contains the goals, reader why his or her position is logical, acceptable,
objectives, methodology, and the projected benefits of and believable. Another term for reasons is
the project. arguments.

● The support has the breakdown of the budget of

4. SUPPORT
expenses for the implementation of the project.
● Support refers to evidence or ideas to substantiate
● The Contact Information should have information
the reasons. Support may be classified into the
about the researchers.
following types:

● The concept paper is not meant to be persuasive; it

1. Facts - figures and the writer's own observations or
relies on facts and thorough explanations that justify
reports from scholarly studies
the need for the project. A writer cites sources when
2. Comparisons- similarities or differentiation between
necessary to explain concepts; there is also a need to
two ideas, concepts, or situations
give examples to concretize abstract ideas.
3. Examples - real-life demonstrations of an idea
4. Opinions - the author's feelings or generalizations
● The writer must use exact and precise language that
can be understood by readers. This is also imperative
5. OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS OR
when using jargon. The writer should be able to
COUNTERARGUMENTS
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● Opposing viewpoints, also known as data that can be counted or compared on a numerical
counterarguments, give the arguments opposing scale.
your stand. Your goal in presenting these is to refute
or discredit them, so that any opposition in the ● Survey questionnaires using the Likert scale and
reader's mind is dealt with. You refute by showing controlled observation methods, such as eye-tracking
weaknesses in the counterargument. and structured interviews, produce quantitative data.

Lesson 1: Organizing Data from Surveys QUALITATIVE DATA

● Qualitative data generally pertains to textual data,

Defining Data. . which mostly describes the qualities or characteristics
of your research topic.
● Data is any information collected, stored, and
processed to produce and validate original research ● It is usually collected using one-on-one and group
results. Data can be used to prove or disprove a interviews or observation notes. Surveys with
theory, bolster claims made in research, or further open-ended questions and written responses also fall
knowledge about a specific topic or problem. under this category.

● Data comes in different forms and can be gathered in ● Photographs, audio recordings of your interviews, and
multiple ways. These include raw and processed video recordings of your experiments are also
data, grids, maps, data spreadsheets, tables, and considered qualitative data.
even the survey data that you just collected.
Entering and Labeling Data. .
● It takes many different formats, including numbers on
spreadsheets, videos, images, artifacts, and
● Whether you have collected qualitative and
diaries.
quantitative data, you need to develop a system to
organize your data. Start by entering your data. It is
● The information you just collected is likely in a
best to do this right away after collecting your data.
raw format. Some examples of raw data are:

1. For quantitative data, use a spreadsheet software

1. Completed hardcopy surveys
program to enter your data in an electronic format.
2. Field notes
2. For qualitative data, type all your data using a word
3. Audio or video recordings of interviews or focus
processing program.
groups
4. Images or illustrations of observations
● Translate the important parts of the transcript
5. Handwritten notes on experiments conducted

● Labeling your data is just as important as entering

● Editing, cleaning, or modifying the raw data results in
your data.
processed data. The processed data is then the data
you convert to a format that can be analyzed and
1. You can create your own naming convention for
visualized.
qualitative data
2. For quantitative data, assign a unique participant ID
● Raw data, on its own, is not very useful. Without any
for your respondents. Organize your survey data
additional information, the table above does not make
according to the responses per item or question
sense. Processing the data involves not just
inputting the data into a comfortable format; it also
means preparing the data for analysis. Cleaning Data. .

Types of Data. . 1. SPOT-CHECK

● A spot-check is a technique that involves comparing

QUANTITATIVE DATA your raw data to your electronically entered data to
check for data-entry and coding errors. You can do
● Quantitative data is numerical data or information this by doing the steps on the following page.
that can be converted into numbers. It is a type of
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2. EYEBALLING data management and analysis updated. The steps
are:
● Eyeballing your electronic data means checking for
data-entry mistakes. For example, the midway STEP 1: PROCESSING AND COLLECTING DATA
usability test survey used a five-point Likert scale.
Therefore, the highlighted entries below are ● As soon as the data is collected, like an interview, you
erroneous and should be checked against the original should immediately organize and process it. Record
raw data survey. detailed notes, including

3. LOGIC CHECK 1. things that stuck out to you,

2. time and date details,
● A logic check involves a careful and thorough review 3. other observations, and
of the electronically entered data to make sure that 4. highlights from the interaction.
the answers to the question items “make sense”.
● It is recommended that you do this while the
interaction is still fresh in your mind.
Lesson 2: Understanding and Interpreting Data
from Surveys
STEP 2: ANALYZING EARLY DATA

Unit of Analysis. . ● As soon as you begin data collection, you should also
start your data analysis. Begin reviewing the data and
● A unit of analysis refers to what and who is being mentally process it for themes or patterns that are
studied and analyzed in the research. It pertains evident. Take note of these emerging data as these
specifically to the topic of interest in your study. It can serve as the foundation for your analysis.
includes individuals, groups of individuals,
organizations of individuals, countries, technologies, STEP 3: REDUCING DATA
and objects that are the aims of the research.
● After the data has been collected, you will need to
● Knowing the units of analysis early on can help you reduce your data in order to identify and focus on the
streamline your research and cut down on your data. information that is meaningful for your research.

● To determine your units of analysis, you need to ● This step does not happen in isolation; rather, it
review your background of the study and research occurs naturally during the first two steps. You reduce
questions. the data by not recording every single thing that
occurs in your data collection.
Analyzing Qualitative Data. .
● You can also reduce the data by looking for themes or
● Qualitative data analysis refers to the identification, patterns in the beginning.
examination, and interpretation of patterns and
themes in textual data. It also determines how these STEP 4: IDENTIFYING MEANINGFUL PATTERNS
patterns and themes help answer the research AND THEMES
question at hand.
● Identifying meaningful patterns and themes is
● The process of your qualitative data analysis will imperative in making your qualitative data
depend on: analyzable. This process is the core of
qualitative data analysis and is generally
1. your research questions,
conducted in two primary ways: content
2. the needs of those who will use your research output,
and analysis and thematic analysis.
3. your existing data.
● Content analysis is carried out by coding the
● The qualitative analysis process below may be data for specific words or content, identifying
sequential, but moving back and forth between steps ● patterns, and interpreting their meanings.
is likely and encouraged. Doing so keeps both your Coding the data means going through your
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textual data and labeling sections of text that
relate to your research questions.

● Thematic analysis is achieved by grouping the

data into themes that will help answer your
research questions.

STEP 5: DISPLAYING DATA

● In this step, organize, assemble, and compress

the data into a display that facilitates conclusion
drawing. The display can be a graphic, a table or
matrix, or a textual display

STEP 6: DRAWING AND VERIFYING CONCLUSIONS

● To draw reasonable conclusions, you will

need to:

1. take a step back and interpret what your findings

mean,
2. determine how your findings help answer the
research questions,
3. and draw implications from your findings.

● To verify your conclusions, you must revisit the

data multiple times to confirm the conclusions
you have drawn. This is also a way for you to
find additional evidence to back your findings.