GUIDELINES FOR WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSAL OF A THESIS

SECTION ONE [Purposely escaped from this document]

SECTION TWO
2. STYLE AND FORMATTING
2.1. Font
Times New Roman Font should be used in writing the proposal and thesis. No other font is used
throughout the proposal or thesis. Use this standard font consistently throughout the manuscript.
Font size should be 12 point for all text, except titles and headings. It is permissible to change
point size in tables, figures, captions, footnotes, and appendix material. Retain the same font,
where possible. When charts, graphs, or spreadsheets are “imported,” it is permissible to use
alternate fonts.
Italics are appropriate for book and journal titles, foreign terms, and scientific terminology.
Boldface may be used within the text for emphasis and/or for headings and subheadings. Use
both in moderation.
Present the COVER AND TITLE PAGES in 16-point font size, Cap lock, and bold font. Present
for FIRST LEVEL HEADINGS in 14-point font size, cap lock and bold.
Present for sub heading in 12- point font size, cap lock each major words and bold Present for
below sub heading in 12- point font size, sentence case and bold. Normal body text should be
twelve point (12 point) size, using a common font available i.e., Times New Roman.
2.2. Margins
Measure the top margin from the edge of the page to the top of the first line of text. Measure the
bottom page margin from the bottom of the last line of text to the bottom edge of the page. Page
margins should be a minimum of one-half inch from top, bottom, left and right. Right margins
may be justified or ragged, depending upon departmental requirements or student preference
Margins and other important Rules are summarized as follows:
Left margin: ≥ 3.0 cm
Right margin: ≥ 2.5 cm
Top margin: ≥ 2.5 cm
Bottom margin: ≥ 2.5 cm
Spacing: 1.5
Side: One side of the paper (front single)
Paper format: A4 (normal)
Breaking a word on 2 lines is not allowed
Any corrections with fluid after print is not allowed
Typing machine: Computer
Printing quality: Clear and visible (Colour print for charts or graphs with different colours)
Copies: High quality photocopy
Apply the same margin dimensions to all pages. Pages that include figures or tables require
appropriate margins.

2.3. Headings and Subheadings

Write each title of preliminary sections and narrative chapters in bold uppercase letters. Centre
the text on the page. Number the chapter headings of the narrative with Arabic numerals starting
from 1 for the Introduction and ending with 7 or 8 for the Appendix. Following the Arabic
numerals is a period, a space, and the chapter title without the word ‘chapter’ included. Do not
number the titles of preliminary sections.
Number the second level headings, or subheadings, consecutively with Arabic numerals in an
outline numbering system (e.g. 1.1., 1.2. for Chapter 1 subheadings; 2.1., 2.2. for Chapter 2
subheadings).
Use the outline numbering system for lower level headings (e.g. 1.1.1., 1.1.2. for subheadings
under 1.1.; 2.1.1., 2.1.2. for subheadings under 2.1.; 1.1.1.1., 1.1.1.2. for subheadings under
1.1.1.; and 2.1.1.1., 2.1.1.2. for subheadings under 2.1.1.).
In second level headings, capitalize the first letter of each major word. Write the remaining lower
level heading in sentence case format. Capitalize only the first letter of the heading unless
otherwise required by grammatical or nomenclature rules.

Align the second level and lower level heading text to the left. Separate the headings from the
narrative with an extra line. Do not underline or italicize headings, subheadings, or captions of
tables or figures.

2.4. Line spacing and paragraph format

The line spacing for all narrative text is 1.5 lines. Apply single line spacing to captions of tables
and figures. Add space below between paragraphs and all headings, subheadings and captions.
Justify the narrative text in block form.
Double spacing should follow chapter numbers, chapter titles and major section titles
(Dedication, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, List of
Abbreviations, Appendices, and References). Double spacing should also occur before each first-
level and
second-level heading, and before and after tables and figures embedded in the text. There should
only be one blank space after headings.
2.5. Page numbering and setup
Begin each component of the preliminary section, narrative chapters, the References chapter and
the Appendix on a new page. As a rule, each component of a preliminary section should not
exceed one page. Exceptions include the Table of Contents, Abbreviations and Acronyms, the
List of Figures and the List of Tables.
Assign a number to every page of the thesis except for the cover page. Use small Roman
numerals such as i, ii, iii, for the preliminary sections (title page to the page preceding the Table
of Contents).
Do not type a number on the title page.
Use Arabic numerals such as 1, 2, and 3 from the first page of the Introduction to the last page of
the Appendix. Put the page numbers at the right bottom of each of the pages.
2.6. Figures and Tables
Figures commonly refer to photographs, images, maps, charts, graphs, and drawings. Tables
generally list tabulated numerical data. These items should appear as close as possible to their
first mention in the text. Tables and figures may be placed in appendices, if this is a departmental
requirement or standard in the field. Tables and figures should be numbered with Arabic
numerals, either consecutively or by chapter. Be consistent in the style used in the placement of
tables and figure captions. Tables and figures may be embedded within the text or placed on a
page alone.
When placed on its own page, a figure or table may be centered on the page. When included with
text, a table or figure should be set apart from the text. Tables and figures, including captions,
may be oriented in landscape. Table data and figure data must be kept together, if the
information fits on one page.
SECTION THREE:
3. THESIS PROPOSAL WRITING PROCEDURES
A research proposal is your PLAN. It describes in detail your study, decisions about your study
are based on the quality of the proposal and approvals to proceed by the Institutional Review
Board.
3.1. Contents of the Thesis Proposal
Submit your thesis proposal with the following sections included. Begin each of these sections
on a new page. Write all section titles in uppercase letters.

Thesis Proposal Structure:

1. Cover Page
2. Acknowledgements (optional)
3. Abbreviations and Acronyms
4. Table of Contents
5. List of Tables (if any)
6. List of Figures (if any)
7. Summary (optional)
8. Introduction
9. Literature Review
10. Methods (includes ethics discussion)
11. Plan of Activities
12. Budget
13. References
14. Appendix
15. Approval Sheet
Variables Sub dimension N Min. Max. Mean SD

Emotional Motivation 33 3.00 5.00 4.1515 0.57940

Competence
Conscientiousness 33 2.00 5.00 4.1061 0.68188

Interpersonal Sensitivity 33 2.00 5.00 4.0455 0.62953

Influence 33 2.00 5.00 3.9394 0.72627

Self-Awareness 33 2.00 5.00 4.1667 0.68084

Emotional Resilience 33 2.67 5.00 4.0303 0.46669

Intuitiveness 33 2.00 5.00 3.6061 0.99810

Overall EQ 33 3.29 4.93 4.0373 0.38875

Managerial Managing Resources 33 2.00 5.00 3.9091 0.72838

Competence
Engaging Communication 33 2.00 5.00 3.8727 0.68158

Developing 33 2.40 5.00 4.1939 0.61742

Empowering 33 2.00 5.00 4.0909 0.81340

Achieving 33 2.50 5.00 4.0227 0.59412

Overall MQ 33 2.52 4.95 4.0155 0.56464

Intellectual Strategic Perspective 33 2.00 5.00 3.8485 0.64329

Competence
Vision and Imagination 33 2.00 5.00 3.8283 0.73655

Critical Analysis & 33 2.00 5.00 3.8391 0.65083

Judgment

Overall IQ 33 2.00 5.00 3.8394 0.57635