Chapter I Introduction

This chapter should have the following parts.

Statement of the Problem
Discuss the issue/problem Why is
it an issue/problem? Outline general and specific information
about the issue/problem.
Provide factual data which is
referenced. At this stage, you ought to have a hypothesis. A
hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an observable
phenomena or a logical proposition predicting a possible causal
relation between phenomena. A hypothesis motivates a
research activity. Set the stage for the later sections of the
study/research.

Purpose

What you hope to achieve from doing this study? This

should be very specific statements. You can commence by
stating.The purpose of this study is to ..

Significance
Who could benefit from the study after it is
completed and how? Seek to convince the reader of the
importance of the study/research. Does it create new
knowledge or revise existing knowledge? Does it have
implications for the development of or the revision of
policy?
Research
Question(s) A research question is a falsifiable statement whose
answer is not yet known. If you are not able to list some
possible answers, you dont have a research question. This
is the most important step of the process. It requires time,
thinking & reading.
Limitations Describe factors that may have affected the results of the
study. Time & Money are NOT to be regarded as
limitations. Tailor your research to fit the
time/budget that you have.
Definition of
Terms

Provide definitions for your main terms only.

Chapter II Review of the Literature

The literature should reflect past research and discussion on the topic.
The literature should be an argumentative essay that presents the
different views on the topic. Do NOT simply describe what you read but
instead synthesize the literature. Are findings consistent? If not, why not?
Evaluate the literature critically. The literature review also provides
evidence for instrument item construction and hypotheses. This chapter
generally ends with the statement of how your research will differ from
the literature you have reviewed. This difference becomes your
contribution to knowledge in the particular subject area.

Chapter III Research Design

This chapter outlines the methodology for the research.
1. Subjects

List the population of concern in the study. What is the

source of your data? This could be customers,
employees, etc. Describe the sampling procedures to
be followed. Universe to be sampled must be specified
as well as the techniques to be followed in drawing the
sample and proposed sample size. This section should
answer the following questions: (a) who will
participate? (b) how many will participate? And how
will they be selected? If appropriate, provide
information on gender, age (mean and range),
geographic area represented, socioeconomic status,
and source (e.g., university undergraduate classes).
Describe your sampling strategy and how you plan to
recruit participants. Will you advertise in a
newspaper? Put up notices around campus? Sample
birth registers? Describe exactly what you will do.

2. Procedure

Describe the actual steps you will use to collect

data from your subjects. Take the reader through
the process that the subjects will experience. Start
at the beginning. If a research assistant will
telephone subjects from a list of volunteers, indicate

this. If questionnaires are mailed or delivered, state

clearly how this will be done. Describe the
procedures for ensuring informed consent and place
a copy of the inform consent letter, preamble or
form in the appendix section.
3. Instrument
This is the means to get the data from the
sample .e.g.
questionnaire, interview, observation. Describe what
the measure looks like. Describe representative test
stimuli or items and state the response alternatives
(e.g. Likert scale 1-5 ratings, yes-no). It is a good
idea to place representative items in a table or in
the text although the entire instrument will appear
in the appendix. Describe reliability and validity of
instrument.
4. Data Analysis Describe the plan for the statistical analyses of the
data. Identify the statistical test (s) that will permit
an answer to the research question (s) or a test for
the hypotheses (how will you analyze your data once
you have it). e.g. F-value, univariate or multivariate
tests etc.

Chapter IV Data Presentation and Analysis/Discussion or Results

The data collected should be presented using tables, graphs, etc.
Analysis should follow some scientific system and could be descriptive or
inferential. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, F-value, Chi-square, ANOVA,
MANOVA , etc. are some possibilities for data analysis. Using SPSS is
highly recommended.
Chapter V Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions should be drawn from the results of the data analysis and
recommendations should be based on the conclusions. Conclusions
must answer the question in the Purpose in Chapter I. This section
should include a paragraph on directions for additional or further
research that can be undertaken in the subject area. In general, the
additional research focuses on addressing one or more of your
limitations in Chapter 1.

The final report should include the following:

1.

Title Page (brief, describe content sufficiently to be clear to the

reader, free of superfluous phrases such as a study of or a
proposal to..etc. If a long title cannot be avoided, use a main
title and a subtitle. In general, title should NOT exceed 10
words.

2.

Abstract a one page summary of the entire research.What

was it all about, the methodology used, main findings and main
recommendations.

3.

Acknowledgements Can be excluded but there may be persons

to thank and acknowledge

4.

Table of Contents

5.

Body of the Paper (The Five Chapters Each Chapter starts on a

new page)

6.

References - always reference all your sources APA style

7.

List of Appendices