Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A short but attention-arousing title is preferred on thesis. The student may begin with a working title for the
research. Later on, she/he can improve this title as the work progresses to a finish, i.e., wisely choosing
word sand concepts that fit into the final thesis title (suggested number of words in a title: not
more than ten words).
WRITING THE THESIS
Approval Sheet
Acknowledgment Adviser(s) and anyone who helped: Intellectually (assistance, advice) technically (including
materials, supplies) financially (for example, departmental support, travel grants)
Abstract
The abstract explains in the first line why the thesis is important. It then g o e s o n t o g i v e a s u m m a r y o f t h e
m a j o r r e s u l t s . If qualitative, the researcher must summarize his/her major discoveries in the abstract. The final
sentences explain the major implications of the study.
The researcher then must point out the significant implication. Clearly, the abstract must be very compact, and
this requirement leads many inexperienced researchers to make it unintelligible. The researcher must
remove unnecessary words and eliminate less important details of method and results.
Table of Contents
The table of contents serves as a map to the entire thesis, not only for the reader but for the researcher as
well. The researcher must create a thorough table of contents before beginning to write and refer to it throughout the
thesis writing process. He/She must continually re-evaluate the order of topics and be sure that he/she has
included every relevant piece of information. The table of contents is a neat list of chapters, headings, and sub-
headings, along with the page numbers where each begins. It should be numbered using the Roman
numeral system.
*All of the above shall be paginated by using Roman numerals in lower case on the upper right hand
corner of the page.
*The succeeding parts of the thesis shall be paginated using the Hindu-Arabic numerals on the upper right hand
corner except the first page of every chapter (where it will therefore be hidden).
Chapter I:
1.1 Introduction
T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s h o u l d c o n t a i n n o t o n l y a c l e a r t h e s i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t describes the main idea
of the thesis, but also an interesting statement that would make the reader want to read the thesis. These are examples :
The introduction should explain why the researcher has chosen to writes bout the particular issue or
problem the thesis is addressing. The researcher should explain why it is important to study this
problem and assert that the thesis will help solved the problem. A good introduction establishes what
the body of the paper says. It contains an interesting lead. It should draw the reader in and make the
reader want to read the rest of the thesis. This is a statement that declares the importance of the
problem that the paper either solves or addresses.
T h e n , t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s h o u l d g o o n t o e x p l a i n w h y m o r e w o r k w a s necessary (this
thesis, of course.) It should be obvious where introductory material ends and the contribution of the thesis begins.
Re m e m b e r t h a t t h i s i s n o t a r e v i e w p a p e r . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s h o u l d describe the
previous work or works upon which the study was made and a p r o m i s e o f a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d a n a l y s i s
b y t h e t h e s i s r e s e a r c h e r t o move things forward. Many experts say that it is better to write the introductory
section(s) after the researcher has completed the rest of the paper, rather than before. This e n s u r e s t h a t t h e
r e s e a r c h e r i s c l e a r a b o u t w h a t t h e p a p e r s a y s a n d c a n therefore write a cogent introduction. The
introduction section is usually broken into smaller, logical segments by using subheads:
A good problem:
Do adult newspaper readers in a rural kebele setting have characteristics that are similar to adult newspaper readers in
general?
A poor problem:
W h a t a r e t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f r u r a l a d u l t n e w s p a p e r readers in a rural kebele
setting? (Too narrow)
A poor problem:
H o w c a n t h e X Y Z A g e n c y b e t t e r s e r v e r u r a l a d u l t newspaper readers?
(Not generalize)
1.3 Objectives
This section presents the General Objective which is the narrative form of the Statement of the Problem. The Specific
Objectives are the actions that the researcher plans to undertake in order to solve the problem/s presented.
1.7 Limitations
This portion is where the researcher acknowledges the limits in the conduct of the study
w h e t h e r i n t e r m s o f p a r t i c i p a n t s , m e t h o d s , a n d procedures. Problems that were encountered are also
discussed here.
Chapter II: Study Framework
This chapter picks up from the end of the previous chapter and clearly explains the research issue and
outlines the proposed solution or extension using someone else's theory or solution. When deciding upon which pre-
established theory to include in the thesis, the researcher must be clear about what she is claiming so that the readers
can keep it in mind while reading the thesis.
Theoretical Framework
What is the theoretical basis for the study? The researcher’s answer/s must use some major theory that applies to
the particular problem or question. The researcher should show t h a t t h i s t h e o r y a c t u a l l y a p p l i e s
well to the topic and leads the reader to a better answer than the alternatives, not only in
t h e abstract but also in this particular case. A theoretical framework guides the research, determining what
things the researcher will study and what relationships the researcher will
l o o k f o r . A t h e o r y i s a s t a t e m e n t a b o u t t h e phenomenon under study. A theoretical
framework is critical and deductive, theory-testing s t u d i e s w h e r e i t m u s t b e v e r y s p e c i f i c a n d
well thought out.
A theoretical framework is also important in qualitative, exploratory studies, where a researcher really does not know
much about what is going on, and is trying to learn more. There are two reasons why theoretical frameworks
are important. First, no matter how little a researcher thinks she knows about a topic, and how
unbiased she thinks she is, it is impossible for her not to have preconceived notions, even if they are of a very
general nature. A theoretical framework guides the researcher so that she can follow the unbiased leads of
the data in his/her study.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework is a collection of interrelated concepts that makes it easier for the
research to explain the topic further. T h e c o n c e p t u a l f r a m e w o r k i s a s e t o f a s s u m p t i o n s ,
v a l u e s , a n d definitions under which the researcher’s ideas work together. T h e c o n c e p t u a l f r a m e w o r k c a n
h e l p t h e r e s e a r c h e r d e c i d e a n d explain the route she is taking to achieve here objectives, why she
plans certain methods and not others to get to a certain point.
Chapter III: Study Design/Methods of Research
This chapter contains information that will allow the reader to assess the believability of the results
of the study, information needed by another researcher to replicate the experiment. T h e S t u d y D e s i g n
describes the materials and procedures planned to gather the data and come closer to the
s o l u t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e thesis. It includes the calculations, technique, procedure,
equipment, and c a l i b r a t i o n p l o t s a s w e l l a s t h e l i m i t a t i o n s , a s s u m p t i o n s , a n d r a n g e o f
validity that the researcher will use. This section should be able to:
- a l l o w o t h e r r e s e a r c h e r s r e p e a t t h e e x p e r i m e n t b y f o l l o w i n g t h e descriptions in
the research study
- provide enough information provided so that one can replicate the study under specific circumstances
Participants
It is important to be able to give the readers a good grasp of who the parti cipants are in the study by
including the following: the n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s i n v o l v e d w i t h a d i s c u s s i o n o f
t h e i r characteristics, i.e., age, gender, locale represented, socio economic s t a t u s , e t c ; a n d t h e m e t h o d o f
s e l e c t i o n ( S a m p l e a n d S a m p l i n g Technique). The setting in which the study will take place needs to be
extensively described (Locale).
A. Sample
B. S a m p l i n g T e c h n i q u e s
C. L o c a l e Instruments
REA PROFILE/DESCRIPTION
SAMPLING DESIGN
Discussion
The researcher should quarantine observations (the results) from the interpretations
(discussion). The researcher must make it crystal clear to the reader which statements are observation and
which are interpretation. I n m o s t c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e r e s e a r c h e r c a n b e s t a c c o m p l i s h t h i s
b y physically separating statements about new observations from statements about the meaning or significance
of those observations. Alternatively, t h i s g o a l c a n b e a c c o m p l i s h e d b y c a r e f u l u s e o f p h r a s e s
such as "The r e s e a r c h e r i n f e r s . . . " G o o d t h e s i s t h a t s u r v i v e a r e t h o s e i n
w h i c h observations were presented in stand-alone fashion, unmuddied by
whatever ideas the author might have had about the processes that caused the observed phenomena. T h e
d i s c u s s i o n p a r t o f t h i s s e c t i o n s h o u l d e x p l a i n t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e results, where they fit in
the current literature concerning the issue, and whether they concur with or deviate from other experimenters’
work.
The discussion ties in the data to the researcher’s statements about the i s s u e s h e h a s s t u d i e d .
H e / S h e s h o u l d e x a m i n e t h e f i g u r e ( s ) o r t a b l e ( s ) pertaining to the result(s) and assess whether:
Implications
This is where the researcher contemplates on the future direction of the conclu ded research. It is
important that the resear cher is realistic as to how the research can serve as a springboard in improving or
starting other researches.
Chapter V: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
This section of the chapter should present the strongest and most important
statements that the researcher can make from the discussion. In t h i s c h a p t e r , t h e r e s e a r c h e r w r i t e s d o w n
w h a t s h e w a n t s t h e r e a d e r t o remember about her thesis. It briefly explains what has been learned,
explained, decided, and proven by the thesis.
Conclusions
Here, the researcher refers back to problem posed, and describes the conclusions that
s h e h a s r e a c h e d f r o m c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , listing down new observations, new
interpretations, and new insights that h a v e r e s u l t e d f r o m t h e p r e s e n t w o r k . S h e s h o u l d
i n c l u d e t h e b r o a d e r implications of her results. The researcher must be sure that this section is not a
reiteration of facts presented, but a serious discussion of conclusions and inferences that can be drawn from those
facts. This section is not a summary but a way to help the readers understand what conclusions they can
reasonably draw from the findings.
Caution: Do not repeat word for word the abstract, introduction or
discussion.
Recommendations
This section presents remedial action to solve the problem or to treat the problem when it presents
itself again in the future under different modes or circumstances. The research here suggests further
research to fill in gaps in understanding the problem or the issue. She underscores directions for future
investigations on this or related topics.
- What can be studied that will use this research and its findings as a foundation and expand forward?
- What is the future of the field and how does this research change that future or impact it in some
way?
- What natural next step can follow this research? This section should not end with a quote or
statement that could begin another paper.
References
This section should contain sufficient references such that a reader could achieve a sophisticated understanding
of the context and significance of the question by going to the library or reading the original work from the
citations. P r o p e r a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f t h e p r e v i o u s w o r k o n w h i c h t h e r e s e a r c h e r i s
building is of utmost importance. Every citation made in the body of the thesis must appear in the list of references.
The list of references is a measuring stick to evaluate the breadth of the research. The reader will typically review
the list of references to determine whether the researcher has consulted the appropriate works in the field.
U n l i k e a b i b l i o g r a p h y , w h i c h m a y i n c l u d e t i t l e s t h a t t h e r e s e a r c h e r d i d n o t directly refer
to in the text, every item in the list of references must refer to a citation from the body of the thesis.
Miriam College uses the APA format for students’ theses, based on:
- Cone, J.D. & Foster, S.L. (2006), Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology and
related fields. Washington, D.C.:American Psychological Association.
- American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual (5th Edition). Washington D.C.: Author.
Appendixes
A . S a m p l e Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
B . L i s t o f G u i d e Q u e s t i o n s
Appendixes include technical material (program listings, output, system flow diagrams, lengthy data
tables, complex charts and graphs, extensive listings of any kind, etc.) which would disrupt the flow of the
thesis if inserted in the body of the thesis.
Appendixes help explain or provide details to the curious reader. It contains the extras that did not fit
into the body of the thesis, extras that would h a v e d i s t u r b e d t h e s m o o t h p r o g r e s s o f i d e a s i n
t h e t h e s i s , a n d e x t r a s t h a t a r e overly technical, or are simply asides, but which should be available to the
reader to back up relevant points in the textual argumentation. What else to include in the Appendixes Section:
- Complex data that the reader needs for deeper understanding of the results
- Reference data/materials not easily available (theses are used as a resource by the department
and other students)
- Tables (where more than 1-2 pages)
- Calculations (where more than 1-2 pages)
- A key article that can explain any part of the research in deeper fashion
- A list of additional resource material, etc
- List of equipment used for an experiment or details of complicated procedures
Note: Figures and tables, including captions, should be embedded in the text and not in an
appendix, unless they are more than 1-2 pages and are not critical to the argument.