Project Notes Lay Out Gr-1

DISSERTATION SUBMISSION
STRUCTURE OF REPORT
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 Cover sheet
 Acknowledgements
 Table of contents
 Abstract.
 Your dissertation will have the following chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

a) Introduction
 What is the main issue/s you want to study?
 What motivated you to study the issue/s?
 What general knowledge exists on the issue/s that you can relate to your study?
 What is the problem/s that emanate from the issue/s you want to study?
b) Background to the study/problem

 What is the background to your research problem?
 Can you relate the problem to the larger social, economic, political, cultural, policy and historical
context?
 Can you raise other important issues that are tied closely to the problem you want to study?
 In what context can to relate to the other issues and their relationship to the problem under study?
c) Statement of the problem

 Can you state in precise and succinct words the nature of the problem?
 Remember the problem must have a direct relationship with the topic.
 It must be expressed in such a way that the reader develops an interest in the study?
 The problem must give a clear picture of why the study is important.
d) Aim/Objectives of the report/study

 The aim expresses what overall intention in the research study.
 The objectives are expressed in specific steps you will take to achieve your aim.
e) Research questions and/or hypotheses

 What research questions will address in this study?
 Is there a hypothesis in your study?
 Is there a relationship between two or more variables in the study?
 The statements on your hypothesis must be tied the problem.
f) Significance of the study/findings/results

 What is the significance of the study?
 How did you come up with your position?
 What variable/s contributes to the significance of the study?
 What is the relevance of the results emanating from this study?
 Who are the stakeholders with an interest in this study?
 In what way are the studies are affected by the study?
 What is the potential usage of the findings from this study?
 Definition of terms- All terms used in the study must have operational definitions
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
 The literature must be related to the study, particularly the topic and the problem/s under study.
 It must be related to the issue/s and the problem/s so that the reader develops a better
understanding of the reason/s why the study is being undertaken.
 It must shed light on the methodology to be used in the research project.
 It must address the theories related to the study.
 It must reflect the context within which the study is being undertaken.
 The literature must help develop the reader’s understanding of the gaps that exist in the current
knowledge and the research problem.
 All documents related to the study must be viewed in their proper context to the study.
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

 Describe the methodology you are doing to use.
 How is it relevant to your study?
 What specific tools and techniques are you going to use in collecting your data.
 What are the procedures are you going to following carrying out your study?
 How is your methodology related to your topic?
 You need to have a clear understanding of the terms such research design, methods of data
collection, sampling designs, sample size, etc.
 Do you data collection instruments give you data directly related to your objectives?
 Do you have a work plan?
 Are you familiar with the research ethics related to your study?
 What limitations do you face in using your data collection instruments and methods?
CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

 Do you know different ways of presenting data?
 How are you going to present your data for your study?
 Does you presentation format display the details directly related to your study?
 Are your results providing answers to your research problem/s?
 Have you answered every question in your study?
 Every objective must be answered in the results of the study.
 Interpretation and discussion must help to link the study to the results?
 What factual observations can be made from the findings?
 What unique features/observations are contained in the results?
 What general elements can be drawn from the findings?
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 Summarize all the major findings of your study?
 What was the main interpretation/s you can make logically from the results?
 What is the linkage to the problem, objectives and hypothesis?
 What conclusions and recommendations can be drawn from the findings?
 What lessons can be drawn from the study?
 Can you support your conclusions with facts from the study?
 What further issues need to be researched in order to develop more understanding on the issue?

Project Notes Lay Out Gr-1

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Project Notes Lay Out Gr-1

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DISSERTATION SUBMISSION

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

b) Background to the study/problem

c) Statement of the problem

d) Aim/Objectives of the report/study

e) Research questions and/or hypotheses

f) Significance of the study/findings/results

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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