Foreword
“Plagiarism is copying from one source. Copying from several sources is–research.”
This oft-quoted “definition” of research provided the confidence and the internet’s instant access to information made the task much easier in the development of this research Manual for the use of the faculty and scholars of Foundation University.
While substantial contents of the research Manual were sourced from the internet, I acknowledge the valuable insight I gained in reading the “Policies and Guidelines for Internally-Funded Research Projects,” published by the University Research Coordination Office of the De La Salle University-Manila.
The inclusion of the topics on trivial research and research misconduct was inspired by reports I came across in the internet besetting research programs throughout the academic and scientific communities–worldwide. I believe that these twin-issues associated with research programs have not been adequately confronted in the Philippines. It is our hope that with their inclusion in the FU research Manual, the appropriate regulatory agencies of government will deem it necessary to create a system that will deal with the problem. A strategy that could be adopted is the institutionalization of “research ethics committees” whose functions are to prescribe measures to minimize trivial research and to impose sanctions for research misconduct.
Present day strictures intended to protect intellectual property rights oblige researchers and teachers to be familiar with what is permissible in the use of copyrighted materials for research and teaching. The Manual cites various instances where copyrighted materials may legally be availed of.
Substantial investments in IT infrastructure enhance the competitiveness of Foundation University among leading educational institutions. These IT assets are crucial to the University’s research program. Thus, policies and guidelines pertaining to the proper use of electronic resources are included in the research Manual.
An interesting article on “participatory action research” is a fitting denouement to the research Manual. It is anticipated that with its publication, the Manual will stimulate and encourage the pursuit of high quality and ethics-based research work at Foundation University.
Judge Eleuterio E. Chiu, Dean of the College of Law & Jurisprudence; Dr. Eva C. Melon, Dean of the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy; Dr. Thelma E. Florendo, Dean of the College of Education; Acting Dean Marlon Tanilon of the School of Industrial Engineering; Mr. Joel Balajadia, Chair of the Department of Computer Studies, and myself, constituted the committee assigned to develop the research Manual.
Mrs. Otilia Gaudan of the College of Arts and Sciences did the editing work. Editing was not applied on the quotes and on the article on participatory action research to preserve their charming and unique messages. Encoding chores were done by student assistants Renee Cañete and Terese Pearl Lintag.
Foundation University administration officers, namely: Dr. Mira D. Sinco, President; Dr. Ester V. Tan, Vice-President for Academic Affairs; Victor Vicente G. Sinco, Vice-President for Finance and Administration; and Mr. Dinno Depositario, Vice-President for Student Life and External Affairs, provided uncompromising support for the project.
And, to those of you who will find use for this Manual, here is a piece of sound advice from-
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Landau, Susan: There’s a touch of the priesthood in the academic world, a sense that a scholar should not be distracted by the mundane tasks of day-to-day living. I used to have great stretches of time to work. Now I have research thoughts while making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sure it’s impossible to write down ideas while reading “curious George” to a two-year-old. On the other hand, as my husband was leaving graduate school for his first job, his thesis advisor told him, “You may wonder how a professor gets any research done when one has to teach, advise students, serve on committees, referee papers, write letters of recommendation, interview prospective faculty. Well, I take long showers.” In Her Own Words: Six Mathematicians Comment on Their Lives and |
Foundation University Aparicio H. Mequi, Ph.D.
Dumaguete City Dean, the Graduate School
Summer, 2006 Director of Research
