NBHS4126

RESEARCH PROJECT
GUIDELINES

BACHELOR OF MEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES with HONOURS

NOMINATION OF SUPERVISOR
SUBMISSION OF RESEARCH PROJECT

OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

V1_Nov2020
 INTRODUCTION

This guideline aims is to assist learners in academic writing process for their course NBHS4126
Research Project. All learners pursuing Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences with Honours
(BMHS) program are required to undertake this research project (maximum within three (3)
semester).

1. NOMINATION OF SUPERVISOR

1.1. Learners are required to find a supervisor by submitting a Nomination of Supervisor

Form to the Research & Project Management Unit (RPMU) via e-mail together with
his/her curriculum vitae.

RPMU address and contact number as follows:

Research & Project Management Unit (RPMU)

Open University Malaysia
Level 9, Block C, Kompleks Kelana Centre Point
Jalan SS 7/19, Kelana Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tel: 03-7801 1812

Email: helmi_alil@oum.edu.my

1.2. Criteria of supervisor selection as follows:

i. Master’s Degree holder or Bachelor Degree holder that have conducted

research project; and
ii. Background in Medical Health

1.3. A supervisor is appointed for the duration of the project. The supervisor nominated
should NOT be in any way related to the learner.

1.4. During this period the learner with the assistant of the supervisor are required to follow
the ‘Research Project Guidelines’ when preparing the research project.

2
2. RESEARCH PROJECT PAPER REPORT - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

2.1 Language

• The project report can be written in English or Bahasa Malaysia.

2.2 Font type and size

• The entire text of the project report including title and page number should be
in font size 12 and font type Times New Roman or Arial

2.3 Margin

• The first page of each chapter should have the following margins:

Top 5 cm/2 inches

Right 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left 3.5 cm/1 ½ inches
Bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch

• The text in the subsequent pages should have the following margins:

Top 2.5 cm/1 inch

Right 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left 3.5 cm/1 ½ inches
Bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch

• These specifications should be adhered to in order to facilitate binding.

2.4 Line Spacing

• The body of the text should be double-spaced.

• Single spacing is only permitted in tables, long quotations, short footnotes,
notes, multi-line captions and in the references

2.5 Page Numbering

• Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc) should be used in the preliminary section. All
pages in the preliminary section are to be numbered at the centre of the
bottom. The title page should not be numbered.
• Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc) are used on the pages of the text
• Words, dashes or any other symbol before or after the page number is not
allowed.
• The font size of page numbers should be the same as the text in the project
report

3
 2.6 Page Layout

• Text should be typed on a portrait layout

• Landscape layout is allowed for tables and figures

2.7 Subdivisions

• The internal organisation of the text should be consistent throughout the

dissertation.
• The text should be divided into chapters, for example, Chapter 1, Chapter 2,
etc. Subdivisions can also be used.
• Content of each chapter may be divided under headings and sub-headings
such as 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 and so on.
• Headings should only be presented at a maximum of three levels, as shown
below.

(5 cm/2 inches)

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER HEADING

1.1 Main Heading 1

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3.5 cm/1 ½inches) (2.5 cm/1 inch)

1.1.1 Sub – heading 1

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1.2 Sub – heading 2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1.3 Sub – heading 3

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2.5 cm/1 inch)

4
2.8 Project Report Submission

• Upon completion of the Research Project in the third semester (3rd semester)
the learner submit ONE (comb binding) copy of the project report for
supervisor and ONE soft copy (in CD/Thumbdrive) of the full report to
RPMU.

• Submission dates are as below:

Research Registered Date

Submission Date
(Semester)
In January semester 15st December
In May semester 15st April
In September semester 15st August

• The supervisor will assess the project report. Then, they will submit a written
report to the RPMU and enter marks in OSEM.

THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

5
The Process Flow for these procedures is presented in Figure 1 below

Figure 1: Flow Chart of Research Project process flow

6
3. RESEARCH PROJECT PAPER FORMAT

3.1. The Project Report should comprise written documentation between 50 to 60 pages
excluding tables, figures, references and appendices

3.2. Chapter Organisation

The project report is a scientific document, hence should comply with a systematic
writing sequence as shown below:

3.2.1 Front Section

a) Title page should include the following:

▪ Project Title
▪ Author’s Name
▪ Programme name (Refer Appendix B)

b) Abstract
Pay attention to the preparation of your abstract. The abstract should be
as informative as possible and cover six key areas:

▪ Purpose
▪ Scope
▪ Methods used
▪ The results
▪ Conclusions; and
▪ Recommendations

Limit your abstract to 350 words (Refer Appendix D)

c) Acknowledgement
This section allows author to express gratitude to people and
organisations that have assisted in completing the dissertation
successfully such as your supervisor, family members, organisations, etc.

d) Originality Declaration
The author declares that the work carried out in completing the Project
Paper is original, true to research ethics and without plagiarism (refer to
Appendix C).

e) Table of Content
Provides guidance to readers of the main and sub-topics discussed in the
Project Paper (refer to Appendix E)

f) List of Tables and Figures / Illustration

Title of tables and figures / illustration should be written in the same
manner as in actual text.

7
3.2.2 Main Section

Chapter 1: Introduction

(a) Background of study

(b) Problem statement
(c) Research question
(d) Study objectives
(e) Hypothesis
(f) Study contribution
(g) Limitation of study

Chapter 2: Literature review

(a) Review of literature

(b) Concepts and theory
(c) Conceptual framework

Chapter 3: Methodology

(a) Research design

(b) Sample and sampling
(c) Instrument
(d) Research method
(e) Data collection
(f) Data analysis

Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion

(a) The results section will have the plots that show your results.
(b) Your text will describe what you see in the figures in some detail. Point
out significant observations.
(c) Describe what is there factually.
(d) The discussion section explains your deductions about the data, your
speculations and describes how these fit into the general project and the
implications of the results.

Chapter 5: Conclusion

(a) Summarises the preceding chapters;

(b) Discusses any constraints, failures or weaknesses of your project;
(c) Emphasises the research ‘s contributions to the field;
(d) Indicates possible future research;
(e) States the potential impact of your accomplishments if work on the project
were to continue.

8
3.2.3 Back Section

Formatting the References List

(a) Start the reference list on new page, with the word References in the top
centre of the page
(b) Arrange the items alphabetically by author (if no author is given, then start
with the title).
(c) Do not spell out an author’s first or middle name:
Shock, P.J. (not Shock, Patti J.)
(d) In titles of books, articles, websites and other major works, only the first
words of the title and subtitle are capitalised (except proper nouns, which
are still always capitalised): Conferences and Conventions: A global
industry. However, significant words in the titles of journals, magazines
and newspapers are capitalised: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
Research

Reference List Examples

• Journal or Magazine Articles

Print version:

Monteson, P.A., & Singer, J. (2004). Marketing a resort-based spa. Journal of

Vacation Marketing, 10(2), 282-288

Electronic version:

Milman, A., & Ricci, P. (2004). Predicting job retention of hourly employees in the
lodging industry. Journey of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 11(1),
28-41. Retrieved from the Hospitality & Tourism Completed databased.

Schoolfield, J. (2008). Desert oasis. Funworld March 2008. Retrieved April 9,

2012 from http://www.iaapa.org / industry / funworld / 2008 / mar /
features / DesertOasis / DesertOasis.asp

• Books

Parker, R.M., Jr. (2003). Bordeaux: A consumer’s guide to the world’s finest
wines (4th rev. ed.). New York: Simon & Shuster

O’Halloran, R. M., Jarvis, K. & Allen-Chabot, A. (Eds.). (2006). Cases in

hospitality and tourism management. Upper Saddle river, N.J.: Pearson /
Prentice Hall.

9
• Chapter in an Edited Book

Whorton, J. C. (2000). Vegetarianism. In K. F. Kiple & K. C. Ornelas (Eds.),

Cambridge world history of food (pp. 1553-1564). Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press

• Brochure / Pamphlet

Print version:

Crystal Cruises. (2003). Cruise guide 2004 [Brochure]. Los Angeles: Crystal
Cruise.

• Web page

Cope, J. (2003). Towards a dynamic learning perspective of entrepreneurship

[White paper]. Retrieved April 9, 2012 from
http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/48679

Appendices

Include in this section all the relevant support materials especially the research
instruments, scoring procedures and other materials pertinent to the study. An appendix
is indicated by the word APPENDIX, capitalised and centred on the page with label of
the material below it.

The first page of the appendix is the title APPENDIX A with the label of the material,
followed by its contents, and then APPENDIX B and so forth. This will indicate to
whoever assesses your research report that it is a complete and quality product.

10
 APPENDIX A

FORMAT OF FRONT COVER

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING PRACTICES

ON THE PERFORMANCE OF
BUMIPUTERA SMEs
(Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

SHIMATUL AIDA ABD AZIZ

(Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

2014
(Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

*Do not indicate the box on the Front Cover

11
 APPENDIX B

FORMAT OF TITLE PAGE

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING PRACTICES

ON THE PERFORMANCE OF
BUMIPUTERA SMEs
(Arial Narrow, size 14, Upper Case)

SHIMATUL AIDA ABD AZIZ

(Arial Narrow, size 14, Upper Case)

A Research Project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for

the degree of Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences with Honours

Cluster of Applied Sciences

Open University Malaysia

2014
(Arial Narrow, size 14, Lower Case)

*Do not indicate the box on the Title Page

12
 APPENDIX C

FORMAT OF DECLARATION PAGE

DECLARATION
(Times New Roman / Arial, size 14, Upper Case)

Name:

Matric Number:

I hereby declare that this Research Project is the result of my own work, except for
quotations and summaries which have been duly acknowledged.

Signature: Date:

ii

*Do not indicate the box on the Declaration

13
 APPENDIX D

FORMAT OF ABSTRACT

THE IMPACT OF PRICING POLICY ON DEMAND FOR WATER IN THE

IRANIAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

SHIMATUL AIDA ABD AZIZ

Semester registered SEPTEMBER 2014

Research Project B

ABSTRACT

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Keywords:
(Not more than 5 words/phrases)

*Single spacing
*ONE (1) page only

*Do not indicate the box on the Abstract

14
 APPENDIX E

FORMAT TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE
DECLARATION ii
ABSTRACT iii
ABSTRAK iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Problem Statement 1
1.3 Objectives of the Study 2
1.4 Research Questions and Hypotheses 3
1.5 Significance of the Study 5
1.6 Scope of the Study 7
1.7 Definitions of Terms 9

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Previous Studies
2.1.1 Project success criteria
2.1.2 Importance or organization factors for business project
2.2 Methodological Issues
2.3 Conceptual Framework

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Theoretical Framework
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Framework for Data Analysis

CHAPTER 4 DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

(Description of statistical analyses in relation to research
questions/hypotheses/objectives and presentation of relevant tables and figures)

CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary of Main Findings
5.2 Discussion
5.3 Implications
5.4 Limitations of the Study
5.5 Directions for Future Research
REFERENCES
APPENDICES

15