Procedures for the Conduct of Research at FU

I. Faculty Qualification

Research work and assistance extended are awarded to academic teaching faculty, with priority given to full-time faculty members.

The dean or department chair may recommend full-time probationary faculty members as research proponents, and in meritorious cases, they may likewise be considered as principal proponents, provided that the duration of the research undertaking or grant shall not go beyond the period of their temporary appointment.

Part-time members of the faculty, upon recommendation of the dean/chair, may be considered as co-proponent, and in meritorious cases, they may be considered as principal proponents, provided that they must have taught at FU for at least one year.

Faculty members below the rank of Assistant Professor are eligible to become proponents provided that the assistance extended shall be limited to deloading and not overloading.

Retiring faculty members may qualify as research proponents provided that the duration of any grant extended should not go beyond their date of retirement.

Visiting or exchange faculty members may qualify as proponents but only for the duration of their approved appointment period.

For group and inter-disciplinary research, the principal proponent must be a permanent full-time faculty member.

“In physics, mathematics, and astronautics, (elderly) means over thirty; in other disciplines,
senile decay is sometimes postponed to the forties. There are, of course, glorious exceptions,
but as every researcher just out of college knows, scientists of over fifty are good for nothing
but board meetings, and should at all cost be kept out of the laboratory!” Arthur C. Clarke

II. Categories of Research Proposals
Basic and Applied Research – Is the difference between basic and applied research a “black and white” issue? Here is an interesting observation on this subject:

“The distinction between basic and applied research isn’t always clear. It sometimes depends on your
perspective or point of view. One way to look at it is to ask the following question: “How long will it be before some practical application results from research?”

If a practical use is only a few years away, then the work can be defined as applied research.
If a practical use is still 20-50 years away, then the work is somewhat applied and basic in nature.
If a practical use cannot be envisioned in the foreseeable future, then the work can be described as purely basic. [From: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ELSI Project Website]

Based on guidelines of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), basic/pure/fundamental research involves experimental or theoretical study to acquire new knowledge without consideration for specific application for use. It may also be characterized as “curiosity-driven.”

Applied research involves an original investigation for the purpose of acquiring new knowledge about a specific practical objective. It may also be characterized as “demand-driven.”

The development of test and evaluation tools and course materials are examples of applied research.

The development of books, manuals, instructional materials in the various disciplines, including art, dance and music, in audiovisual or software format fall under the category of materials development involving applied research.

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.” Galileo Galilei

III. Criteria for Evaluating Research Proposals

In order to minimize, if not prevent, the proliferation of trivial research at FU, the following criteria will be applied in the evaluation of research proposals submitted for approval to the URO. All proposals will be evaluated by two members of the URC. In cases where the two evaluators differ in their assessment, the final decision shall be rendered by the Director of Research, in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The following evaluative criteria shall be applied on research proposals:

1. Significance of and contribution to education in the University, to the quality of life of the people in the community and regional locale of the University in particular, and the Filipino people in general.

2. Materials development related to Information Technology (IT).

3. Research thrust of the college/department from whence the proposal emanated.

4. Research final output has publishable potential.

5. Priority shall be given to the following:

(a) Development of urgently needed materials for a new course or program where no local materials are available.

(b) Research undertaking which involves inter-disciplinary/team approach.

IV. General Provisions

The URO at the start of each academic year shall issue a call for the submission of research proposals, indicating the deadline for submission.

The proponent will submit the project proposal following the format prescribed by the URO. The DR will submit the proposal to two (2) members of the URC for evaluation. Their report will then be evaluated by the DR who will make the final decision in case of differences between the two evaluators.

Researchers should possess the capability to undertake and complete research projects. Approval of a research proposal submitted by a proponent who has an ongoing research will be deferred until such time that the earlier study is completed.

If students will serve as subjects of the study, it is imperative that the time spent in the conduct of the research will not encroach on the time that is scheduled for class work, unless the research is part of the learning process for the particular class involved.

The care and safety of student-subjects for research work shall be the responsibility of the researcher. The necessary parental waiver should be secured by the researcher. The University will not be responsible for any liability incurred in the conduct of research by a member of the faculty, with respect to accidents or injuries suffered by student-subjects.

Unless negligence on the part of the researcher is made evident in the use of University facilities and equipment resulting in malfunctioning or damage to equipment and facilities utilized for approved research work, the concerned faculty member shall, in general, not be made accountable; however, should in exceptional cases, as determined through legal procedures, an accountability be incurred by a researcher, such accountability shall be assumed by him/her.

The researcher should purchase or use supplies, equipment, facilities and services that are available in the University campus (IT center, bookstore, library). Request for supplies, use of equipment, facilities and services shall be made by filling out appropriate forms endorsed by the URO. Purchases of items not available on campus should be submitted to the URO for endorsement to the Business Office. If the processing of request cannot be accomplished in two weeks time, the researcher has the option to request for a cash advance. Books may be purchased provided the total cost will not exceed P3,000.00, and these should be turned over to the Library upon completion of the research project. Permission for the purchase of books should be obtained beforehand.

Researchers must obtain prior approval to take out of the campus equipment and non-consumable items needed. The appropriate form endorsed by the Director of Research shall be coursed through the Office of the Vice-President for Finance and Administration.

Should the implementation of the project entails the hiring of personnel, the process will conform to the hiring policies of the University.

“Rosanoff: ‘Mr. Edison, please tell me what laboratory rules you want me to observe.’
“Edison: ‘Hell, there ain’t no rules around here. We’re trying to accomplish something!’ “
Martin Andre Rosanoff

V. Criteria for Assigning Research Unit Equivalence

As a general rule, research units should be part of the basic 12-unit teaching load.
Effective school year 1999-2000, any full-time member of the faculty who undertakes research may apply for a reduction in teaching load by one 3-unit lecture subject for one (1) semester or two (two) terms provided the following requirements are satisfied:The research to be undertaken is not a requirement for a course or degree.

a) The research to be undertaken is not a requirement for a course or degree

b.) The research topic should be covered by the CHED research agenda, with the theme “Higher Education for the Improvement of the Quality of Life of the Filipinos.” Scientific, applied or institutional researches may also be proposed.

c) If the area of interest is in scientific or in applied research, the applicant shall commit to demonstrate the outcome of his project.

d) If it is found, after evaluation, that the actual conduct of the research will require more time, the period of de-loading maybe extended up to one additional semester only.

e) If the researcher does not complete his research within the period agreed upon, he/she shall pay back the project cost to the University in terms of salaries equivalent to one (1) subject per term, and the money equivalent of materials and services used.

f) The completed research and any equipment acquired in the process of research shall be the property of the University.

g) A researcher who is funded by outside organizations may still apply for this grant.

h) The maximum research unit for materials development projects is three (3) units.

3. No research unit equivalence is granted to the following:

thesis or dissertation

i. project involves simple compilation or revision of existing materials

j. a sabbatical research project

An original research study is awarded higher research units than other types of research.

In cases where there are several researchers involved in a project, the distribution of research units among members will depend on the workload and number of hours which each proponent will devote to the project.

“To succeed in science, you have to avoid dumb people…you must always turn to people brighter than yourself.
And in the game of science—or life—the highest goal isn’t simply to win, it’s to win at something really
difficult. Put another way, it’s to go somewhere beyond your ability and to come out on top.” J.D. Watson

VI. Monitoring Research Progress

1. Researchers are expected to submit a progress as well as a final report. A progress report shall be submitted every four months and the final report at the end of the project. Whenever applicable, an audited report on supplies, chemical/reagent shall be included as part of the progress report.

2. Long overdue research projects may be terminated by the URO. Terminated projects may be taken over by interested faculty members who will enjoy the same benefits given but not availed of by the original proponent.

3. The honorarium of the faculty member who takes over a terminated project will be computed on the basis of rank and teaching rate at the time of the turnover.

4. Additional operational funds to continue the project are discouraged unless justified.

5. If a researcher fails to complete the project, she/he shall pay back the following:

a) research deloading/overload honorarium through overload teaching without pay;

b) direct expenses such as:

personnel fees (research assistants, encoder and typist, illustrator, fabricator, technician, consultant and others);

supplies, materials, chemicals, and other consumable items used in the project;

cost of left-over supplies and materials which cannot be used;

reproduction of materials;

communication, transportation and travel expenses related to the project;

other project-related expenses.

Unused supplies and materials that can be utilized for other purposes should be turned over to the proper office or department.

6. The researcher of a terminated project is given a period of one year, starting from the date of termination, to pay back expenses incurred in the project. Repayment shall be made through salary deduction. If the researcher resigns from the University, an automatic deduction from the last payment to be received shall be made. If the sum of the last payment is less than the liability incurred by the researcher, an appropriate procedure for settlement shall be worked out.

7. As a general rule, requests for extension of deadlines and additional funds, are discouraged. However, should there be a need for such request, the researcher should submit a letter addressed to the DR, attaching supporting documents to justify the request. Additional funding shall not exceed 10% of the original project cost.

8. Research projects whose implementation is delayed due to circumstances not attributed to the proponent (such as delay in the procurement of equipment), is allowed an extension up to one year. A project will automatically be terminated if the proponent fails to complete and submit the final report within the approved extension period.

“That is the nature of research—you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” Harold “Doc” Edgerton

VII. Evaluation and Dissemination of Research Output

1. All final reports of research projects should be submitted to the URO. These reports shall be submitted to members of the URC or specialists/experts in the various disciplines, for evaluation and possible publication in the University research journals.

2. The final report shall be submitted to two (2) evaluators in order to secure two separate evaluations. Their reports will serve as bases for further action to be taken by the DR.

3. Strict confidentiality in the evaluation of research reports shall be observed by keeping the identities of the proponent(s) and the evaluator(s) unknown to the parties involved. Any direct or indirect interaction between the researcher(s) and the evaluator(s) regarding the research report is strongly discouraged.

4. All recommended revisions by evaluators, where applicable, should be incorporated in the final report before the project can be considered as completed. If a researcher finds it necessary to be clarified on certain aspects of the evaluator’s report, she/he may write the evaluator, through the DR, who will then refer the matter to the evaluator concerned.

5. Materials development projects, will be subjected to a one-year trial application, after which any feedback given that may serve to improve/update the contents will be incorporated with the assistance and cooperation of the researcher.

6. The researcher, upon completion of the project, is expected to disseminate the findings to her/his colleagues in the department, and where appropriate, to a larger forum.

7. The completed research may be published in the FU’s research journals and publications, and shall be used for purposes of promotion in rank or awarding of points in the annual evaluation of performance.

8. Intellectual property rights shall be applied and protected by the University on the research work of faculty members. In cases where research output is produced by two or more individuals, they will jointly own the copyright and their respective rights shall be governed by the Rules of the Civil Code on co-ownership and all other provisions of law. Ownership of University-funded research projects shall be jointly owned by the author(s) and the FU.

9. Royalties derived from the sale of books and instructional materials that are exclusively used at FU shall go to the author(s). However, the FU Press and IT Center have the first option to the publishing and printing of all research studies, and materials development projects such as manuals, textbooks, posters, CDs and the like.

“You know you’ve achieved perfection in design,
Not when you have nothing more to add,
But when you have nothing more to take away.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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