Temario C. Rivera
U.P. Department of Political Science
Chair, CenPEG Board
Research and Publishing for
Higher Education
 Why do we need to do research as teachers
in higher education institutions?
 Research as an integral process of effective
teaching.
 Research as the production of new
knowledge.
 Research as an input for socio-economic
development for our country and people.
Research: Types and Approaches
Basic research and applied (policy-
oriented research).
Descriptive and Explanatory
(causal) research.
Research Methodologies:
Qualitative and Quantitative
Common Elements of Good
Research Writing
 Clarity: is the research problem clearly stated? The most challenging
and interesting research problem is usually framed as a “Why”
problem. (Why is the maritime industry/navy in the country relatively
undeveloped considering that we are an archipelago?)
 Cohesion: are the assumptions and arguments of the research
framework, methodologies used, and the findings, and policy
recommendations ( if policy-oriented) logically linked with each
other?
 Conciseness: is the completed paper concise enough to be published
as a monograph or a journal article?
 Highlighting what is new, innovative, appropriate and feasible in the
findings, especially for policy-oriented research studies.
How are Policy Research papers
different from other research papers?
 Key Difference: Policy papers aim not only to
understand and explain a specific problem but also
offer a set of policy proposals backed by research
findings to address the problem.
 Policy research papers are typically framed as “Why”
and “How To” problems.
 Much of policy research papers also aim to assess the
status and efficacy of existing policies and provide
alternative policies if such policies are seen as
ineffective.
Challenges of Publishing Policy
Research Papers
 Publishing in professional peer-reviewed journals.
International Scientific Indexed (ISI) journals in the
social and natural sciences and the humanities.
 Responding to the peer-review process. “Double-
blind” peer review system.
 Impact factor of professional journals.
 Publishing formats: book, monograph, journal article.
Improving research output and inhouse academic journals
 Conduct regular research seminars for the faculty with
emphasis on good writing and research
methodologies.
 Institute a system of academic awards and material
incentives for good research studies and published
works. For instance, the promotions and tenure system
can include an assessment of research and
publications record.
 For publications, aim for a system of “peer-review” for
published works.
Some Maritime studies-related
research problems
 Philippine compliance issues on the ratification of the
Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).
 Philippine compliance issues and policy responses to
the international convention on Standards of Training,
Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW).
 The CHED and MARINA: Professional and Regulatory
conflicts over maritime higher education institutions.
 Policy reforms to upgrade the country’s maritime
capabilities: the Navy, Coast Guard, and domestic
maritime transportation.
Some Policy Research Topics
 Politics:
Institutional reforms to strengthen political parties and weaken
electoral dominance by political families.
Alternative governance institutions to facilitate the peace process in
the Muslim-majority provinces in Mindanao.
Amending the Party List Law: Revisiting the recent Supreme Court
(Carpio ruling).
The Automated Election System: an alternative to the PCOS
 Economic development:
Development policy alternatives to the overseas employment (OFW)
program.
Socio-economic impact of the conditional cash
transfer (CCT) program.
Some ISI Philippine Professional
Journals