RESEARCH FORMAT

IMRD Format adapted from 2017 International Research Conference on Higher Education

Paper Title
Author/s (family name, First name, middle initial)
Email Address

ABSTRACT
The abstract for the report comes at the beginning of the paper, but you should write it after you have
drafted the full report. The abstract provides a very short overview of the entire paper, including a
sentence or two about the report’s purpose and importance, a sentence or two about your methods, a
few sentences that present the main findings, and a sentence or two about the implications of your
findings. (See our handout on writing abstracts.)

INTRODUCTION
The introduction must include the rationale and the main objectives with proper discussion of
the variables as well as the significance of the study. This also includes the arguments and citation
of related literature and studies. Provide crisp and easy to read content. The article should be
readable by a normal user. Do not write complex sentences, multiple sentences for expressing same
content, quality of the article is directly proportional to the English used, and the way it handles
transition. Use simple expressions, properly convey the content within short sentences and focus on
making the reader understand the concept quickly. Curtail to the minimum number of words, the full
article may be completed within 3,000-5,000 words. Use high quality references using refereed
journals that match the content quality, use the details in the reference and properly.
Define abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used in the text, even after they have
already been defined in the abstract.
Please ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list. Arrange the
reference section in order of citation appearance. Use the common format, Author(s) name., year of
publication., Article title, Journal name, Volume(issue), page numbers. Do not give year in the last
and give it only after the author name, do not use the word Volume and Issue anywhere use only
volume and issue numbers like 2(3), 23-87. Please note that the references at the end of this document
are in the preferred referencing style. Give all authors’ names; do not use “et al.” This section may
vary according to the sequence and prescribed format by a certain international journal publication. If
the research paper of students/faculty members may be accepted in any internal journal publication,
only few modifications will be done on the reference section to follow the prescribed format. The
most important point here is the complete information of the citation.

FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY

A conceptual framework represents your synthesis of the literature on how to explain a
phenomenon. It maps out the actions required in the course of the study, given his previous
knowledge of other researchers’ point of view and his observations on the subject of research.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

State the general and specific objectives or purpose of conducting the study in paragraph format.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Describe the research method used in the study. Discuss comprehensively the sampling
technique used in selecting the participants if the study will not use the total population. It is very
important to explain the generation and validation of instrument. If the questionnaire or any data
gathering instrument used is not standardized, explain further the reliability tests or validation
procedures have done in the instrument.
In the event that you will not use human subjects as participants (which is highly recommended
for this requirement due to COVID 19 crisis) and you use data texts instead, describe
comprehensively these data texts.
The Data Collection Procedure must also be well defined. The statistical tools used in the study
must be well explained in the Data Analysis part. Ethical Considerations (if applicable) is also
considered important in informing the participants regarding the purpose of the administration of the
instrument or the main purpose of the study. Included here is the proper way of putting sub-headings
and its levels.
Sub-Heading (example 1: Research Design)
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph
Paragraph Paragraph

Sub-Heading (example 2: Data Text)

Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph
Paragraph Paragraph

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tables should follow the institutional format and keep it simple and minimum in number. In tables
font size 11 must be used and vertical lines must not be drawn. When the contents of the table cannot
fit into the table, font size 10 might be used. Number of the table and the title should be written above
the table. Tables (eg, Table 1) are also numbered consecutively, 1, 2, etc., from start to finish of the
paper, ignoring sections and subsections, and independently from figures.
In this paragraph, the table has to be introduced prior to the presentation of the paper.

Table 1. The Arrangement of Channels

Channels Group 1 Group 2 … Group c
Main channel Channel 1 Channel 2 … Channel c
Assistant
Channel 2 Channel 3 … Channel 1
channel

The discussion shall be geared towards the results of the study as shown in the table. The
discussion shall at least follow the PAIS move structure. PAIS stands for Presentation Analysis
Interpretation and Support. The data gathered have to be presented first but the discussion should not
repeat the figure found in the table. Presentation of data gathered may begin be deductive or
inductive. It can be from specific to general or the other way around. Always go back to the statement
of the problem or objective of the study and make sure that all these are addressed in the results and
discussion.
Figures should be designated with Arabic numerals and upper case letters for their parts (Figure 1).
Each legend should begin with a title and should be sufficiently described so that without reading the
text, figure should be understandable. All figures, tables, etc. must have a caption, centre-justified.
Tables and figures should appear as close to their point of reference as satisfactory formatting of the
final document permits.
 Fig. 1. Magnetization as a function of applied field.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

A conclusion may review the main points of the paper, do not replicate the abstract as the
conclusion. A conclusion might elaborate on the importance of the work or suggest applications and
extensions.
APPENDIX
Appendixes, if needed, appear before the references.
REFERENCES
Strictly follow the numbered format of citation while observing the proper APA style of
referencing.
[1] Author Name (s). (Year). Title of the Paper/Article, Journal Name, Volume & Number, ISSN
No. (if any), pp. (Printed Pages i.e. pp. 45-51)
[2] Author Name (s). (Year). Title of the Book, Edition, Publisher, ISBN No. (if any), pp. (Printed
Pages i.e. pp. 45-51)
[3] Author Name (s). (Year). Title of the Technical Report, Publisher, ISBN No. (if any), pp.
(Printed Pages i.e. pp. 45-51)
[4] For online article: Author Name (if any), Title of the Article, URL: (i.e.
http://psychology.about.com/od/apastyle/ig/APA-Format-Examples/references.htm), date
retrieved:
[5] Author Name (s), Title of the Paper/Article, Proceedings of <Name of the conference>, Date &
Year, Place & Country, Volume No., ISBN No. (if any), pp. (Printed Pages i.e. pp. 45-51)
 RESEARCH PAPER RUBRIC
Criteria for Evaluation
The research proposal will be evaluated using the criteria/ rubric below:
INTRODUCTION
Indicators 5 4 3 2 1
1. The introduction consists of an adequate introductory discussion
of the problem
2. Factors that led to the problem are well-discussed in paragraph
3. The Literature Review is highly relevant to the study
4. The gap of knowledge of the study is clearly and specifically
stated to convince the readers of the need to conduct such study
5. The gap of the study is supported by literature review and/or
empirical data
6. The aims/ purposes or objectives were thoroughly presented.

LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Indicators 5 4 3 2 1
1. Cited literature and studies are adequate and relevant to the
research problem.
2. Related literature and studies are recent (five years ago to present
year of the study).
3. Foreign literature, studies, literature and local studies are present.
4. Synthesis of the reviewed literature and studies is well-organized,
concise (not too long nor too short) and is based on the
researchers’ logical analysis of the cited materials
5. The sources of the cited literatures and studies are appropriately
acknowledged and or credited.
6. The researchers were able to determine the construct and variable
of their study from the theory presented.
7. The statistical tool is brief and accurately used to answer the
queries or objectives of the study.

RESEARCH METHODS
Indicators 5 4 3 2 1
1. The research methodology is well-described and is suitable or
fitting to the research problem.
2. The participants of the study are well-described in terms of the
sample profile, sample size and sampling technique and or
procedure as applicable.
3. The research locale is described in terms of its location and
factors relevant to the scope of the study
4. The procedure and or techniques of gathering data are explained
in complete detail beginning from the time the researches sought
permission to conduct the study.
5. The research instrument is presented and discussed in terms of its
validity and reliability (in case of self-made instrument)
6. The research design and method employed by the researchers are
correct and relevant to the fulfillment of the accurate results of
the study.
7. The statistical tool selected is appropriate to gather the needed
data and answer the problem of the study.
8. The statistical tool is brief and accurately used to answer the
queries or objectives of the study

WRITING MECHANICS
Indicators 5 4 3 2 1
1. Generally, the continuity between topics/the transitions from
topic to topic is achieved
2. The manuscript includes complete sentences; uses parallel
construction; uses subject-verb agreement
3. Uses precise language
4. There are less than 5 errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
5. In general, the manuscript is scholarly written