MBS Dissertation

Dissemination of Guidelines

 MBS Dissertation Proposal

 MBS Dissertation
 General Overview of APA Style

By

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

PATAN MULTIPLE CAMPUS
Faculty of Management, TU

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

 Contents of the MBS Dissertation Proposal

BEFORE WRITING THE PROPOSAL:

Identify the possible area of the study - The preliminary review of literature in the
chosen area and raise some issues for investigation - Examine whether data will be
available on the chosen topic or not - Evaluate possible obstacles in carrying out
research on the chosen area.
It is suggested to attach at least one of the supporting research articles along with the proposal.

i. Background of the study

ii. Problem statement
iii.
Objectives of the study
iv.Hypothesis (if any)
v. Rationale of the study
vi.Brief review of the literature
vii.
Research methodology
Research design
Population and sampling procedure
Nature and sources of data collection
Research framework and definition of variables
Methods of analysis
References
The approximate length of the proposal is 8-12 pages.
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Sections in the MBS Dissertation

Prefatory section:
A master’s dissertation is a
Title page of the dissertation
substantial document presenting
Certification of authorship
independent research that makes a
Report of Research Committee
contribution to the current body of
Approval sheet
knowledge in a scholarly field.
Acknowledgments
Table of contents
A dissertation typically is made up
List of tables
of three main sections:
List of figures
Prefatory section
Abbreviations
Body of the dissertation section
Abstract
Supplementary materials section

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

 Body of the MBS Dissertation: 1

Chapter I
Introduction
Background of the Study
Highlight core aspect of the topic - Clearly establish the focus of study - Should be written based on
factual information on the topic and the institutions under study.
Problem Statement
Establish research issues - Must be supported by evidence coming from the review of literature (Theory
/empirical) - normally ends by raising research questions.
Objectives of the Study
What the researcher intends to do – General and specific objectives - specific objectives are conversion
of research questions - Use action verbs (like to examine, analyze, assess, compare, etc.).
Hypotheses (if any)
A tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables – Must be linked with
research questions/objectives the research questions.
Rationale of the Study
Justify that the study is worthwhile and useful to the readers – Give reasons for expansion
of knowledge, improve current practices - Be specific and honest.
Limitations of the Study
It specifies the generalizability and applicability of the research findings. It is genuine indication to the
readers on the applicability of the study.
Organization of the Study: This section is not mentioned in prescribed guideline. However, you can
include it in a paragraph about the organization of the report at a glance.
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Body of the MBS Dissertation: 2

Chapter II
Literature Review
Introduction
It is general section of Chapter II to create a link between Chapter I and remainder of this
Chapter. It also should provide an overview of the organization of the second chapter.
Theoretical Review
This section is meant to review theoretical underpinning on the topic of the research. But at
master’s level dissertation, it is equally useful to review literature related to conceptual
aspects of the topic.
Empirical Review
The researcher should identify the key issues investigated by the past studies, check the
methodology followed, and note the key findings of the study. Literature related to the
government policy, regulations and any other relevant aspects of the study should also be
covered in this section.
Concluding Remarks (Research Gap)
Based on the review of existing knowledge, The researcher should generate the concluding
remarks as key research gaps.

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

 Body of the MBS Dissertation: 3

Chapter III
Research Methodology
Introduction
It is general section of Chapter III to create a link between previous chapters and remainder
of this Chapter. It also should provide an overview of the organization of the third chapter.
Following sections are required to enumerate precisely.
Research Design: Mention which research design followed, e.g., Descriptive, Comparative
(Correlational/Causal-comparative), Exploratory, Interventional, Qualitative etc.
Population and Sampling Procedure: Clearly define the population of the study, mention the
sampling frame, specify sampling unit/size, and sample design (sampling method).
Nature and Sources of Data and Instrument of Data Collection: Specify whether primary
or secondary or both types of data have been used. Also specify the sources, methods and
instruments of data collection.
Methods of Analysis: Mostly, a set of tools (e. g. financial, statistical) are used to analyze the
data. In some cases, models are used in the analyses. They must be spelt out in this section.
Research Framework: The research framework should be developed to streamline the
research process. The review of theory and evidences from the empirical studies reviewed
in the second chapter should guide the development of the research framework
Definition of Variables: The researcher should clearly identify the variables (based on the
research framework), define them and establish their interrelationship at this point.
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Body of the MBS Dissertation: 4

Chapter IV
Results and Discussion
Results
In this section, the researcher should present and analyze the collected data to
extract their meaning. The analysis should seek to answer the research questions
posed or test the hypotheses set in the introduction chapter. The outcomes of the
analyses are the results. Organize the results section in a number of subsections
to cover each aspect of the study. Follow APA Style of presenting tables and
figures.
Discussion
In this section, the researcher evaluates and interprets the results. Here the
researcher examines every aspect of the results in terms of related theories and
empirical findings of other researchers. The researcher should discuss why the
findings are consistent or inconsistent as predicted by the theory, compare the
results with that of other researchers and try to explore the reasons for the
similarity or the contradiction. Care should be given to the effect of sample size,
and other methodological limitations and weaknesses.

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

 Body of the MBS Dissertation: 5

Chapter V
Summary and Conclusion
Summary
In this section, a researcher should provide an overview of the study, it should
cover a very brief introduction and justification of the study. Then give the general
objective of the study and describe the methods followed in the research process.
Then it should report the key findings based on the analysis and discussion
section. Organize findings in a purposeful manner so that they answer the research
questions, support or negate the hypotheses, and lead to conclusion.
Conclusion
In this section, the researcher wraps up the things by telling the readers what was
learned from the research. The researcher should draw the conclusion only from
the findings of the study. Number of findings may lead to one conclusion. The
researcher’s logical interpretation of the findings leading to new knowledge makes
the research original.
Implications
The research may have number of implications to policy makers, practitioners and
academic community. They may be reported as recommendations and areas for
future research.
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Supplementary Section

The most common materials placed in this section are the list of
references consulted for the research purpose and data set used for
analysis.

References
The purpose of reference list is to provide information necessary to identify and
retrieve each source and give due credit to the works of others which are quoted
in the present work. The researcher extensively uses reference materials while
writing research report. These reference materials are required to be listed as part
of the research work. [Follow the APA style]

Appendices
The purpose of this section is to provide a space for materials that are relevant to
the research work but their inclusion in the main text distract the readers. Some
materials even work as the evidence to what has been presented or discussed in
the text.
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 References Examples
APA Format Structure
Book in print
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Publisher City, State: Publisher.
Book in print : APA format example
Shrestha, B. G. (2017). Ethical and social dimension of business. Kathmandu, Nepal: Asmita
Books Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd.
Book found in a database
Author, A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Retrieved from http://xxxx or DOI:xxxx
Journal article in print
Author, A. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp.
Journal article found online
Author, A. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp-pp.
doi:XX.XXXXX or Retrieved from URL
General website article with an author
Author, A. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Retrieved from URL
General website article without an author
Article title. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Retrieved from URL
Thesis/Dissertation – Unpublished/Print version
Author, A. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis (Unpublished doctoral dissertation [OR]
Unpublished master's thesis). Academic Institution, City, State [OR] Country.

See Publication Manual of the APA (6th ed.), pp. 193 - 224 for more detail
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Displaying Results in APA Style

See Publication Manual of the APA (6th ed.), pp. 125 - 167 for more detail

Note. Necessary notes about the results in normal typing.

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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Crediting the Sources in APA Style

APA citation style requires author/s to cite sources when

they are using direct quotations, paraphrasing, concepts,
ideas, images, facts and figures from other publications that
are not common knowledge.

Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha

 Quoting and Paraphrasing

When quoting we use the author’s exact words, and when paraphrasing
we use the author’s ideas but put them in our own words.
 Paraphrasing is our own unique explanation of another person's
ideas.
 In paraphrasing, we must express the idea in our own words
and our own sentence structure.
 Paraphrasing is not merely inserting synonyms to replace the
words that the original author used.
 Writers often paraphrase other sources' ideas to support new
ideas.
 Good paraphrasing helps researchers avoid unintentional
plagiarism.

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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 When quoting, always provide the author, year, and page(p)/
pages(pp) or paragraph number for no paginated material.

Examples
Interpreting contemporary situation, Roach (2007) wrote that
“Pressure from a number of directions is pushing MNCs to become
more transparent and accountable regarding their social and
environmental impacts, but much more needs to be done”(p. 29).

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are an economic, political,

environmental, and cultural force that is unavoidable in today’s
world. Therefore, “Pressure from a number of directions is pushing
MNCs to become more transparent and accountable regarding their
social and environmental impacts, but much more needs to be
done”(Roach, 2007, p. 29).

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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
If the quotation comprises 40 or more words, display it in a freestanding
block of text and omit the quotation marks. Start such a block quotation
on a new line and indent about a half inch from the left margin (as a new
paragraph). If there are multi paragraphs, indent the first line of each an
additional half inch. Direct quotation must be accurate. Double-space
entire quotation. For example:

Highlighting the nature of a free economy, Friedman (1962) argued that

There is one and only one social responsibility of business–to

use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase
its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which
is to say, engages in open and free competition without
deception or fraud. (p. 133)

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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Writing Example: Combination of Quoting and Paraphrasing

By presenting the four domain framework, Carroll (1979) has defined CSR
as: “The social responsibility of business encompasses the economic,
legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations that society has of
organizations at a given point in time” (p. 500). Whereas, Lantos (2001;
2002) suggests three types of CSR: Ethical, Altruistic, and Strategic. The
Ethical CSR has been described as morally mandatory fulfillment of a
firm’s economic, legal, and ethical responsibilities. While Altruistic CSR has
been categorized as fulfillment of an organization’s philanthropic
responsibilities going beyond ethical CSR.

Bijaya Gopal Shrestha

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Professor, TU
 Parenthetical citation and In-text citation
For example, you are crediting the work of Brian Roach published in
2007, Corporate Power in a Global Economy
Parenthetical citation:
In the globalized business, large corporations have an impact on the
lives of billions of people every day, often in complex and imperceptible
ways (Roach, 2007).
In-text citation:
Explaining the globalized business, Roach (2007) indicated the increasing power
of big business houses and they have an impact on the lives of billions of
people every day, often in complex and imperceptible ways.
In the globalized business, large corporations have an impact on the lives of
billions of people every day, often in complex and imperceptible ways as
seen in Roach’s research study (2002).
The in-text citation is preferred because it demonstrates a
higher level of involvement with the literature
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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Use the past tense when discussing the
literature with in-text citation:

Roach (2007) found

Roach (2007) argued

Roach (2007) wrote

Roach (2007) discussed

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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
Citations in text:
Quinlan, Jones, Byron, and Montgomery (2008) stated
Quinlan et al. (2008) observed
(et al. is used after first use when there are
three or more authors)

Parenthetical citations in text:

(Quinlan, Jones, Byron, & Montgomery, 2008)
(Quinlan et al., 2008)

One work by six or more authors:

Wienhorst et al. (2009)
(Wienhorst et al., 2009)
See Publication Manual of the APA (6th ed.), pp. 169 - 192 for more detail
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Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha
 Source with one author
Parenthetical: (Roach, 2007)
In-text: Roach (2007) …
Source with two authors
Parenthetical: (Roach & Garland, 2007)
In-text: Roach and Garland (2007) …
Source with three to five authors
First parenthetical: (Roach, Garland, & Fitzgerald, 2007)
Second and subsequent parenthetical: (Roach et al., 2007)
First in-text: Roach, Garland, and Fitzgerald (2007) …
Second and subsequent in-text: Roach et al. (2007) …
Source with six or more authors
Parenthetical: (Roach et al., 2007)
In-text: Roach et al. (2007) …
Prof. Bijaya G. Shrestha . 20