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Capstone Proposal Format
The Capstone proposal consist of the following:

Title Page
Chapter 1: The Problems and Its Background
 Introduction and a Review of the Related Literature and Study
 Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
 Statement of the Problem
 Significance of the Study
 Scope and Limitations
Chapter 2: Methodology
 Research Design
 Research Locale
 Data Gathering Procedure and Analysis
 HOW TO WRITE CHAPTER I
(THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND)
A. INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE AND
STUDIES

Introduction

The paper begins with an introduction. It offers the readers an idea of

what your article is about. The reader gets a general idea of what your work
is about in the beginning. The beginning should make an impression on the
reader or stimulate their interest in the work. The article's value should be
conveyed in the beginning through remarks supported and justified by
references to relevant studies.
 It's crucial to remember that reports or quotations from
references should not take up more than a third of a page. It's
important to remember that a research or capstone project paper is a
technical and objective document, not a literary work like the Iliad or
Noli Me Tangere, but one that focuses only on hard facts. While it is
permissible to express one's view, it should be backed up by
declarations from those in positions of authority or supported by
documents or records.
In writing the introduction, you may consider following the inverted
pyramid format.

1. Begin with a broad context. Starting the discussion with a broad

background will assist the reader in comprehending the nature of
the study. It will make it easier for them to follow the paper's
direction.

2. Determine whether or if there have been any critical debates about

what has been done. Discussing prior literature and research
relating to your subject or issue under examination aids the reader
in gaining a better understanding of the study. It also captivates
their curiosity and encourages them to continue with the study.
3. Knowledge gaps are identified. Researchers must identify gaps in
the discussion in the beginning based on the critical debates from
past studies. Gaps might be anything that past research have
missed and that the current investigation can fill up. The purpose is
to find research gaps from prior studies that the present study can
complete and add to the body of knowledge.

4. Objectives must be identified. After finding the gaps, objectives may

now be easily identified. These goals will aid you in determining the
scope of your capstone project.
Phases of Writing the Introduction

Evaluating
Executing
Planning (Checking ones
(Start writing)
work)
Planning
Think about what you want to write.
Be clear on the purpose of your paper; do your paper want to inform,
solve a problem, test a hypothesis, prove a notion, present
arguments, or discuss a process of development.
State your purpose in a sentence and make an outline of the parts of
your paper.
It is important that you plan how you want your readers look at your
paper. That way, you are also guided on how to navigate the direction
of your paper.
Start Writing
When writing, write in a comfortable place and time when you can
think better.
Get ideas by reading first. Do not write and read simultaneously. Read
as many articles and references related to your topic as early as
possible before you start writing. That way, you will have at least
some ideas when you write your introduction
You can think about several ideas to write if you have read enough
information that you need.
Guidelines in Writing the Introduction
1. Be thematically explicit. It should contain a general overview of the
whole paper. Introduce the themes that will run throughout the
paper. Give the reader an idea of the big picture
2. Contain the problem/objective you wish to discuss. This problem
can be a gap in current knowledge, a puzzle, a contraction,
unaccountable or conflicting data, etc.
3. Establish the cost to the reader of not solving this problem. In short,
it should answer the questions: So what? Typical costs could be
misunderstanding, unpredictability, etc.
4. The end of the introduction should outline your response or
solution to the problem. This is called the “paper point”.
Structuring the Paragraph
There are 2 sections when structuring the paragraphs
• An opening segment, called the Issue Position, that sets up the paper,
section, or paragraph;
• The body, called the Discussion, which completes, develops, or
discusses that opening segment.
Note: Use this pattern in single
paragraph because it is the easiest to
do well. Each paragraph should discuss
one, and only one point from your
outline. Each point in your outline may
have a separate paragraph.
Evaluating and Revising

Read your own work.

Reread after revising.
Ask somebody to comment/edit your work.
Revise according to comments.
THE REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
AND STUDIES

The Review of Related Literature and Studies is the “use of ideas

in the literature to justify the particular approach to the topic, the
selection of methods, and demonstrations that this research
contributes something new”. It is a vital part of the research process
and the research itself. In looking at RRL, you may perform it from the
point of view of the researcher or from the point of view of the reader.
Organizing your RRL

Literature review may be organized based from the following:

Chronological Order

Thematic Order

Methodological Order
Chronological

The chronological framework arranges the material in

chronological sequence of publication. If you're writing about a particular
teaching approach, for example, you'd start with the resources that
originally presented the method. After that, you'd do case studies using
that strategy. You'd wrap up your evaluation with current publications
that may even provide a historical perspective on the approach from its
inception to how it's used today.
Chronological
• by publication:
If you see a succession of pieces produced in reaction to one another in one
publication, this structure will come in handy. You keep the chronological
sequence but split it up such that items that react to each other are grouped
together.
• by trend:
This framework examines various patterns and groups them into
chronological order. If you were looking at the history of assistive technology
in aiding students with disabilities, for example, you might group the reviews
by the disability being treated and then show the history of utilizing assistive
technology to treat that condition in chronological order.
Thematic
The theme framework is similar to organizing by trend, with the exception that you
are not arranging the reviews in chronological order. This isn't to say you won't
think about how a topic or issue evolved over time, but it does imply you won't
organize your evaluations chronologically. Rather, the focus will be on the themes
that emerge from the topic or issue — such as similarities — and then you'll fit your
assessments into the many concepts that emerge from there. If your review topic is
arts-based research, for example, you may concentrate on the various ways artistic
inquiry has been utilized to understand the creative process, focusing on the
principles rather than the progress.
Methodological
A literature review might be organized using the approach or practice
used in a case study. This framework focuses on how the author(s) or
person(s) in charge of a research used procedures that were comparable to
those used in another study. As a result, the categories of literature included
in a methodological framework-based literature review tend to be
comparable. If you were reviewing ways for treating post-traumatic stress
disorder, for example, the studies would be organized by the methods
employed to treat the patients rather than the order in which they were
published.
The purpose of conducting literature review
1. It helps shape the research
2. Earlier studies can help you identify a research problem or a
research gap
3. It broadens your knowledge in the research area
4. It provides important clues/leads to help you determine the topic of
inquiry
5. It shows “what is already known” vs “what needs to be known”
6. It provides the foundation and justification for your research
problem
The purpose of conducting literature review
7. It helps you framing the valid research methodologies, approach, goals, and
research questions in your study.
8. It provides clues/leads with regards the theoretical framework and
methodological approach.
9. It provides the bigger picture
10. It shares with the reader the results of other studies that are closely related
to the proposed study
11. It relates the proposed study to the on-going conversation on the topic
12. Provides the reader a benchmark for comparing your study with other studies
13. It helps the reader identify and appreciate the value-added information of
your study (originality)
Things to remember when conducting literature review

1. Write notes to yourself about the article you are reading regarding
issues, thoughts, or general comments such as “nice methodologies
for…”, “interesting definition of …”

2. Write references in APA Style; take note of page numbers, keyword,

ideas in each reference so that it’s easy to go back

3. Group together references from books, journals and periodicals,

unpublished researchers (dissertation/thesis), and
newspapers/magazines.
What to include in the review

1. Consider what material is to be extracted from a previous study or

journal article.

2. Points to be “extracted” from RRL

a. Problem being addressed
b. Central Topic/Purpose or theme of the study
c. Briefly state information about the sample, subjects of the
study
d. Review key results/conclusions of the study
e. Methodology – strengths and/or flaws
Things to remember to avoid plagiarism

1. Review the literature, don’t reproduce it

2. Refrain from copying verbatim what authors and researchers say;
3. Paraphrasing the literature in your own words also helps your
analysis of the text
4. Make sure that the source of text or idea is also indicated with your
notes
CONCEPTUAL/THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORKS
To start planning a research, you are going to set the study into a
framework that justifies the study and explains its structure or design.
This framework is like a house blueprint that provides the essential
support for the components of the study and also, clarifies the context of
the study for the reader. Construction of framework, you will not only
justify and explain the study to others but also check your own
understanding of the need for the study.
LITERATURE-BASED DEFINITIONS OF
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Before exploring the various understanding of conceptual

frameworks in depth, it is helpful to compare multiple definition of the
term. Some authors view conceptual and theoretical frameworks as
synonymous.

Table 1 displays different definitions of conceptual framework.

TABLE 1
DEFINITIONS OF CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS
Author(s) Definition
Ravitch and Riggan (2017) “An Argument about why the topic one wishes to study matters, and why
the means proposed ti study it are appropriate and rigorous.”(p.5)

Miles et al. (2014) “[An explanation], either graphically or in narrative form, [of] the main
things to be studied—the key factors, variables, or constructs—and the
presumed relationships among them.”(p.20)

Maxwell (2013) “The actual ideas and beliefs that you hold about the phenomena
studied, whether these are written down or not; this may also be called
the ‘theoretical framework’ or idea context’ for the study.” (p.39)

Marshall and Rossman “The first major section of the proposal—the conceptual framework—
(2016) demands a solid rationale. In examining a specific setting or set of
individuals, the writer should show how she is studying instances of a
larger phenomenon. By linking the specific research questions to larger
theoretical constructs, to existing puzzles or contested positions in a field,
or to important policies issues, the writer shows that the particulars of
this study serve to illuminate larger issues and therefore hold potential
significance for that field.”(p.6)
Literature-Based Definitions of Theoretical Framework
The definitions of conceptual framework by some authors do not differentiate
between conceptual and Theoretical. However, according to Maxweel (2013), Robson and
McCartan (2016), and Meriam and Tisdell (2016), they consider the terms synonymous.
A clear definition of theoretical frameworks and the relationship between
theoretical and conceptual frameworks comes from Ravitch and Riggan (2017). They
define theoretical framework as follows:

In the case of theoretical frameworks, the “parts” referred to in this definition are
theories, and the thing that is being supported is the relationships embedded in the
conceptual framework. More specifically, we argue that the parts are formal theories;
those that emerge from the and have been explored using empirical work,
(pp.11-12)
Literature-Based Definitions of Theoretical Framework

Ravitch and Riggan (2017) required that the theoretical framework be based
on the published, identifiable theories. In addition, theoretical framework resides
within the conceptual framework and it not the same with it. In other words, the
conceptual framework presents the overall structure of the study, and the
theoretical framework works within it explains the relationships that are explored
within the study. Therefore, theoretical framework define as the element of a
conceptual framework that situates the relationships explored in the study into the
context of developing a testing formal theories.
Purpose of Conceptual Framework

To construct an informative conceptual Framework, the

researcher must understand the purpose of a conceptual framework.
Different authors present the purpose of conceptual framework in
different ways (Table 2).
Table 2. PURPOSE OF CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS
Author(s) Purpose

Ravitch and Riggan (2017) Argue for why the topic matters and why the proposed design
and methodology are appropriate and rigorous (p.5)

Miles et al. (2014) Explain relationships among key factors/variables/constructs of

the study (who and what will be the study) (p.20)

Maxwell (2013) Clarify, explain, and justify methods (pp.39-40)

Robson and McCartan Specify the variable relationships and research design
(2016)

Marshall and Rossman Argue for the study in terms of meaning and contribution to
(2016) improving the human condition (p.67)

Merriam and Tisdell (2016) Generate study problem, research questions, data collection,
data analysis, and interpretation of findings (p.86)

Anfara and Mertz (2015) Explain the variable relationships (p.15)

Figure 1. displays the different purposes of conceptual frameworks: (a)
argumentation, (b) explanation, and (c) generation. Argumentation focuses on the
importance of studying the topic, the appropriateness of the design, and the
consistency of the methods. Explanation stresses the relationships among who and
what will studied. Generation gives rise to the problem, research questions, and
methods of the study.
Conceptual Framework

Argumentation Explanation Generation

Importance of Study Appropriate and Key factor relationships (who

consistent design and and what) Problem, research questions, data
methods collection, data analysis, finding
interpretation
Sources of Conceptual Frameworks
There are 3 sources, or stimuli, for creating a conceptual
framework:

Experience Literature Theoretical Framework

Conceptual Framework
Sources of Conceptual Frameworks

1. Experience
Personal interests, experiences, intuitions, and haunches as
stimuli are allowed as source for constructing conceptual framework
but personal experience alone is not sufficient. Personal issues may
point you in the direction of the study topic, but the topic must have
meaning for others in the field. In other words, there must be evidence
that others in the field share your concern and that addressing the
concern will advance knowledge. Such evidence rest in literature and a
theoretical base to support a conceptual framework of the study.
Sources of Conceptual Frameworks

2. Literature
An essential source for your conceptual framework is the
published research literature to your topic. The literature review
provides the evidence for the argumentation contained in a conceptual
framework.

3. Theory
It expressed in theoretical framework. The study may be focused
on generating theory or on testing that theory that has already been
constructed (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
Presentation of Conceptual Frameworks
There are two ways to present a conceptual framework----graphically
and narratively

1. Graphic Presentation. Also called concept map, a pictorial

representation of relationships. It shows how one idea or concept
connects to other ideas or concepts. A graphic provides an
organization tool that conveys readers more simply than written
text.
Graphic Presentation
 Robson and McCartan provided six specifications for developing
graphic representation:
 Contain graphic on one page.
 Include multiple inputs, such as prior research, including pilot studies;
relevant theories; ideas with regard to the phenomenon or variable
relationships and thoughts of other professionals in the field.
 Attain internal consistency within the graphical map
 Expect to produce multiple iterations of the framework graphic.
 Include an item, rather than exclude it, if unsure.
 Simply the graphic as you learn from experience.
Presentation of Conceptual Frameworks
2. Narrative Presentation. A text-based presentation of the
conceptual framework. Narrative presentation clarifies key aspects of
the study foundation and conveys an understanding of the overall study
in the context of knowledge in the discipline.
It is better if you can do both graphic and narrative
representation at the same on your study. Because it can give
comprehensive idea to the readers and express your complete thought
about the study.
Sample Conceptual Framework
GUIDE IN WRITING A PROBLEM STATEMENT/OBJECTIVE

What is a Problem Statement?

A problem statement is a concise and concrete statement, usually one,
two or three sentences explaining the problem your process
improvement project will address. In general, a problem statement will
outline the negative points of the current situation and explain why this
matters.
One of the most important goals of any problem statement is to define
the problem being addressed in a way that's clear and precise. Its aim is
to focus the process improvement and to the team’s activities and steer
the scope of the project.
GUIDE IN WRITING A PROBLEM STATEMENT/OBJECTIVE

We need to identify a research problem of your project. We can

do it by putting the problem in a context, answering the “What do we
already know?”. Describing the precise issues that the research will
address, highlighting “What do we need to know?”. Showing the
relevance of the problem,“Why do we need to know it?”. And showing
the relevance of the problem,“Why do we need to know it?”.
The following are the step process/ guide to come up with the
problem statements:

Step 1: Contextualize the Problem

The problem statement should frame your research problem in its
particular context and give some background on what is already
known about it.
• Focus on the concrete details of the situation:
• Where and when does the problem arise?
• Who does the problem affect?
• What attempts have been made to solve the problem?
 The research should be directly relevant to a specific problem
that affects an organization, institution, social group, or society
more broadly. To make it clear why your research problem matters,
you can ask yourself:
● What will happen if the problem is not solved?
● Who will feel the consequences?
● Does the problem have wider relevance (e.g. are similar issues
found in other contexts)?
The objectives are the concrete steps you will take to achieve the
aim:

• Qualitative methods will be used to identify…

• The researcher will use surveys to collect…
• Using statistical analysis, the research will measure…
Below are the example of Objective of the Study:

Objective of the Study

This study focused on the development and evaluation of a “Record
Management System for Guidance and Counseling Center of the Nueva Ecija
University of Science and Technology. Specifically, this study dealt with the following
concerns:
1. Development and Description of Records Management System based on the
following stages of system development:
1.1 Planning.
1.2 Analysis.
1.3 Design.
1.4 Coding.
1.5 Testing.
1.6 Implementation; and
1.7 Maintenance.
The following is an example from the significance of a study
that proposed the Development of Web-based Crop Production

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This proposal aims to facilitate the most efficient and convenient way to
introduce modern methods of farming to the:
Farmers, to encourage continuing crop production not just only to the senior
farmers but most especially to the younger generations who are drastically
losing the interests in farming by promoting easiest method of farming and
removing the middle man in the equation. In short, the system gives them
the greater benefits they deserve for working hard under the sun.
Philippine Government, to persuade them to focus on the farmers’ benefits
and to maximize the use of land as a solution to food insufficiency of the
Philippines.
• Agricultural Crop Experts, to give them the chance to share their
thorough knowledge and expertise on this field and making them the
most trusted authority.
• Traders and Suppliers, to allow them to collaborate directly to the
farmers and other concerned institutions thus eliminating the use of
middle man for every transaction and providing them a wide
marketing platform to meet more clients.
• Researchers, to offer them the chance to innovate the system based
on their knowledge and to improve their skills along the way while
developing the system.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE
STUDY
The terms "scope" and "limitations" refer to the details of a capstone
project. The project's scope refers to the problem or topic that the
researcher wants to tackle; It explains how in-depth your capstone
project will be to answer the research question and the demographic
and timeframe in which it will operate.
Limitations are the term used for restrictions that impact the
researcher's ability to study the project's scope effectively.
Difference Between Delimitations and Limitations
• The term delimitation is used when exclusions of the study were
made and decided by the researcher due to justifiable reasons; thus,
it narrows the capstone project to make it more manageable and
suitable to what you are trying to prove.
• Limitations are the exclusions from the study that were beyond the
researcher's control. These research design or methodology
characteristics are not your control but affect your research findings.
• Limitations are the things the researcher cannot do due to factors
outside their control, and delimitations are those outside the
researcher's boundaries that they will not do. Both are important
because they help put the capstone project's findings into context.
Although they explain how the project is limited, they increase the
credibility and validity of a capstone project.
How to Identify the Project Scope

Identifying the project's scope can take days or even weeks for
researchers to establish a reasonable scope for their project. To study a
problem as large a sample as possible usually isn't the best idea for an
efficient capstone project. It's time-consuming and expensive to examine
a problem when the scope is too broad. A better option is to use a more
limited scope for the capstone project and always keep the intended
users of your project in mind.
Guidelines on How to Write a Scope
Why – the capstone project's general purpose.
What – the subject to be researched, and the variables included in the
capstone project.
Where – the place or environment of the project.
When – the time within which the data is to be gathered.
Who – the study category and the population from which they will be
selected.
How – how the capstone project is to be conducted, including a description
of the research design (e.g., experimental research, qualitative research, or a
case study), methodology, research tools, and analysis techniques.
To make things as specific as possible, you should also state why distinct
variables were omitted from the research scope and whether it was a
delimitation or a limitation.
How to Start Writing the Scope of your Study
Use the following prompts as an effective way to start writing your
scope:
• This study is to focus on…
• This study covers the…
• This study aims to…
A clear scope of the study can be written in one paragraph.
Capstone Project Limitations
Every project has its limitations. When you summarize your
research findings, it is crucial to include the limitations in your report.
Your audience will more likely view your results as credible if they know
you have considered and explored elements that impacted your ability
to study the topic properly.

The limitations of the study can also be presented in one

paragraph.
Examples of Limitations in Capstone Project
• Issues with model and sample,
• Inadequate sample size, population attributes, or specific participants
for statistical value,
• Lack of prior research studies on the subject matter which has
allowed for further research,
• Limitations in the technology used to collect your data,
• Limited financial resources or funding.
Guidelines on How to Write Delimitations
Since the delimitation of the study is within the researcher's
control, your audience needs to know why they were set, what options
were available, and why the researcher rejected these options.
The reasons for selecting the delimitations should always be
connected to your research question. All delimitations should make
your capstone project more relevant to your scope.
When drafting your capstone project, the scope and
delimitations are frequently discussed together.
How to Start Writing Your Study
Delimitations
• This study does not include…
• This study is limited to…
• The following has been excluded from this capstone project…
Examples of delimitations include:
 research objectives,
 research questions,
 research variables,
 target populations,
 statistical analysis techniques.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The scope of this research study shall be the construction of a Crop Production and Decision
Support System through the use of PHP Scripting Language in conjunction with HTML and other
Web Languages. This responsive web application can be used in different platforms and browsers.
It provides a database management system called MySQL where all the records of crop
information and user accounts can be safely stored in the database. The system is user friendly.
This study is concerned with the following delimitations:
• The system will not work without or slow internet connection.
• Weather forecasting is hard to update regularly because of third party
application thru API.
• Unaware of Assumptions. A decision maker must realize that a computerized
decision support system is only a supporting tool. They must consider an unstructured or
partially structured situation in-depth and analyze the limitations and assumptions.
• Difficulty in Collecting All the Required Data. While some data is difficult to record,
some cannot be recorded at all.
• Lack of Technology Knowledge in Users: Although decision support systems have
become much simpler over the years, many decision makers still find it difficult to
use. Lack of technological knowledge remains an issue. That is why millennial and
gen Z are the target of this study.