Wish you all well...
I feel obliged to every of my students especially in regards to conducting research.
Sometimes this is becomes crucial to their research success.
As I said this may sound different but for this time I feel like my responsibility to share what I think is important specifically to those who intended to pursue any kind of studies.
Please find my brief guidelines about conducting research and I truly hope that this will give some lights to any studies conducted.
Hope you will enjoy it and find it useful...
Thanks...
Simple Guidelines for Chapter’s Arrangement
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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
- This chapter is highlighting several
issues as an introduction to the study (regardless whether that be a proposal
or final report)
- The researcher should be able to present
the whole idea of the study by explaining the main issues which later could
be considered as the research variables and also to present the idea why this
study should be conducted (or worth conducted)
- The following subheadings are more to
refining the issues identified
- This chapter is so critical as it reflects
to the whole of the study – the direction, the reasons, the ideas, expected
findings, the implications and so on
|
The pages are normally around:
-
15 pages (UG)
-
25 pages (Masters)
-
35 pages (PhD)
|
|
|
1.1 Introduction
|
- introduce the whole idea of the chapter in
order to refine the reason for this study to be conducted
- in many occasions it was found that the
researcher will utilise this section by presenting the main issue of the
study in general – to attract the attention of the readers to research focus
- example – presenting general issues in
student’s learning before discussing what are the specific issue that will be
elaborated in great details later
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 pages (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.2 Problem Background
|
- this is the section where the main issue
of the study is presented
- the researcher must be able to explain the
current situation of the issues based on the specific previous findings
(research studies, articles, reports, artefacts, and other related)
- at the end of the discussion the research
must conclude the main issue which and why it becomes the focus of the study
– which sometimes can be considered as a ‘license’ for the study to be
conducted
|
The pages are normally around:
-
4 pages (UG)
-
5 pages (Masters)
-
6 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.3 Problem Statement
|
- in this section the problem should be
formulated especially in defining the main focus of the study (i.e; the
variables) and the direction of the each of the variables (to measure the
levels, difference, association, effects, and so on)
- a what so called ‘mini summary’ of the
discussion should be presented by highlighting specific issues at the end –
the gaps that existed in the literatures
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.4 Research Objectives
|
- list of the variables of the study which
normally be presented in a statement form (to measure the level, to measure
the difference, to identify the association, to predict the effect and so on
- the researcher need to list down based on
the issues that he or she have identified and verified in the problem
background the main objectives of the study one by one
- in certain situation the researcher may
have what so called primary and secondary research objectives – remember that
the list of the objectives of the study are also a guide for the researcher
how to work on the his or her research
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
1 page (Masters)
-
1 page (PhD)
|
|
1.5 Research Questions
|
- list of the variables of the study which
normally be presented in a question form (to measure the level, to measure
the difference, to identify the association, to predict the effect and so on
- usually the research questions should
align with the research objectives which most of the time are considered as
guidance to the studies’ direction
- specific words like ‘is there,’ ‘what’ and
‘how’ are examples which are commonly be found in many research reports
- in certain situation the researcher may
have what so called primary and secondary research questions to guide the
direction of the research in a more specific and concise manner
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
1 page (Masters)
-
1 page (PhD)
|
|
1.6 Research Hypotheses
|
- hypotheses are normally be seen in
quantitative studies where testing out such situation like differences,
correlation, effects, prediction and so on are the main purposes
- normally there are 2 types of hypotheses
namely null and alternative hypotheses are presented to test whether the
assumptions are exist or other wise
- another important point with hypothesis is
that it can provide guidelines in constructing model or alike
- some examples which normally be seen like
‘there is no significance different…’ and there is not significance
association…’ but again is up to the researcher to determine what and how
many as long it follows the research hypotheses writing it will benefit to
create the path of the research direction
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.7 Theoretical Framework
|
- this section is very important especially
for research-based project (Masters and PhD) because it allows the researcher
to provide specific theories related to the studies being conducted
- as one of the nature of the postgraduate
researches to challenge the existing theories it is imperative for the
researcher to propose specific theories that underlying specific processes
like behaviours, attitudes and alike
- as such a comprehensive explanation of the
theories is required - providing
specific diagram is very much useful in understanding how the theories work
in the study
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.8 Conceptual Framework
|
- the researcher are required to explain all
studied variables and how it relates one to another – providing specific
diagram is very much useful in understanding how the variables connected to
one another
- usually a very informative framework will
explain how the connection between variables exist by drawing arrows in the
diagram
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
-
|
|
1.9 Terms and Definitions
|
- there are 2 important
explanation for this section – conceptual definition and operational
definition
- usually the researcher will
provide the terms and definitions by using previous studies and of course
from dictionaries
- but later the researcher must
offer specific explanation regarding all terms and concepts being used by stating
how the terms applies in the study operationally – this is crucial in
understanding specific concepts or terms pertaining to the studies (this is
so because specific terms and definitions may differ from one context of
study to the other)
|
The pages are normally around:
-
3 pages (UG)
-
5 pages (Masters)
-
6 pages (PhD)
|
|
1.10 Conclusion
|
- precise and concise conclusion of the
discussion is the key elements for this section
- the researcher must conclude the chapters’
discussion by compressing the whole idea in a brief but comprehensive
explanation
- one of the tricks for this section is that
the researcher must be able to attract the attention of the reader to the
following chapter
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
1 page (Masters)
-
1 page (PhD)
|
|
CHAPTER II LITERATURE SURVEY
- This chapter will discussed all related
literatures including studies which regard to the theoretical framework that
will be used in the study
- Subheadings should be divided based on the
variables of the study – by having headings based on the variables the
researcher will have some space for presenting the idea of conducting the
study by providing all related literatures (mostly past studies)
- The discussions will bring the reader to
the context of the study – what being said by current situation
|
The pages are normally around:
-
20 pages (UG)
-
35 pages (Masters)
-
45 pages (PhD)
|
|
|
2.1 Introduction
|
- to start the chapter the researcher should
introduce the direction of the discussion by highlighting specific issues
that have been identified in chapter I
- it is common to see the discussion
underline the structure of the chapter which consist of the theoretical
perspectives, the research variables, and how the context of the study is
derived
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
3 pages (PhD)
|
 2.2 Related Theories
2.3 Variable 1
2.4 Variable 2
2.5 Variable 3
2.6 Variable 4
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- these sections will explore issues and
variables that have been identified based on previous studies and other
related literatures
- it is subjective to have how many headings
but mostly will depends on the variables that the researcher have identified
- instead of describing ‘what’ and ‘how’ the
researcher should be able to explore and discuss (comparing and analysing are
2 common activities) every single related studies so that the ‘gap’ of the
findings can be identified (this can answer the ‘what haven’t been done’ and
‘why’)
- a common example of the subheadings –
findings that discusses the theories, factors, effects, and so on
- - in the final parts again the researcher
should highlight how the gap of findings still exist the body of knowledge
|
The pages are normally around:
-
20 pages (UG)
-
30 pages (Masters)
-
40 pages (PhD)
|
|
2.8 Conclusion
|
- in this section it is the researcher’s job
to highlight the issues identified based on the past findings which can be
said as a ‘license’ why the study conducted is important (interesting and
convincing enough to be conducted)
- it also explains the bits and pieces of
information available in the literatures that needs to be filled – of course
by conducting this study
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
- This chapter will explain how the study
will be conducted especially on the data collection part
- Begins by introducing the reader to the
design that the study is using it will tells the whole process of data
collection activities
- The detailing parts of the design will be
defined and elaborated in great details in the following section such as the
population, the instruments, data analysis, and the instrument validation
processes
- This is important not just for the reader
but more to the researcher as these explanation will ensure the study will
conducted rigorously and systematically
|
The pages are normally around:
-
20 pages (UG)
-
35 pages (Masters)
-
45 pages (PhD)
|
|
|
3.1 Introduction
|
-
usually
what need to be explained here is that the researcher needs to explain the
structure of the chapter, the reason why of those subsections to the whole
chapter
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.2 Research Design
|
-
this
section is the most critical part as this will explain the whole process of
data collection activities such as how the data is collected (the instruments
used), the data will be analysed (data analysis) and how the data will be
presented and discussed in accordance to the research objectives (data
presentation and discussion)
-
it
happens many times the researcher explain the instrument in great detail,
specific procedures like experiment, and alike but in fact they only need to
explain those activities in a brief manner since the following section will
allows the researcher to elaborate the activities in great detail
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.3 Population and Sample
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-
this is
the beginning of the data collection activities
-
the
researcher has to decide who will be the respondents of the study – students,
teachers, parents, peers and alike
-
the
researcher need to be clear the sampling method that he or she will be using
– depending on the type of the study whether that be a quantitative or
qualitative it will influence the sampling method to be used
-
random
sampling or non-random sampling are two most common methods that can be found
among researchers – usually when the researchers were looking for
generalisation the random sampling will be utilised and vice versa for the
qualitative
-
what
need to be explained here is the actual processes of identifying and
selecting the respondents – from determining the group of people to be
studied and finally deciding who and how many to be selected to be involved
in the study
-
there
also issues of ethical decision and representativeness – how far the
respondents that the researcher have selected were really representing the
whole population of the study
-
providing
a table or diagram would be very useful and more informative
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
4 pages (Masters)
-
6 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.4 Research
Instrument
|
-
this
section requires the researchers to explain the instrument(s) that he or she
were using in the study
-
the
researcher have to explain the whole process of developing the instruments in
great detail – using as it is or adapting from other previous instruments,
modifying, translating (back translation procedures?) or developing
self-developed instruments
-
if the
instrument is a self-developed by using specific theoretical underpinnings it
has to be explained clearly
-
several
issues like validity and reliability for quantitative instruments and
trustworthiness might be of important activities in developing the instruments
-
the
issues of justification is also have to be determined and elaborated
-
the
structure and the sample of the instruments should be provided – in the text
or as an appendix
|
The pages are normally around:
-
5 pages (UG)
-
6 pages (Masters)
-
8 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.5 Data Analysis
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-
the
researchers have to have a clear idea what types of data analysis they were
using
-
again it
depends on the type of data analysis that the researchers have collected –
different types of data will determine the type of analysis that he or she
can execute such as parametric or non-parametric test
-
common
analysis found such as means, frequencies and percentages, t test,
correlation, regression for quantitative data analysis and thematic analysis
to name one as for qualitative analysis
-
the
researchers will also need to explain and justify if they were about to use
specific software to assist them in analysing the data – SPSS, Excell, NVivo
and alike
-
it is
normal for researcher to provide table or diagram which tells how the
research questions and hypotheses were addressed – in the table the
researcher normally will align their research questions with type of analyses
to be used
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.6 Pilot Study
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-
this section
will tells the reader how the process of validating the research
instrument(s) were conducted
-
several
software such as AMOS, Rasch Model for quantitative instruments have been
found in many studies conducted
-
in
qualitative however, since the nature of the study is developing from one
situation to another throughout the study the procedure of trustworthiness is
very critical in validating the instruments – in many occasions the
researcher prefer to construct what so called ‘protocol interview’ in guiding
their data collection processes
-
the
results of the pilot test has to be explained and presented as a prove of
validation – this is also important to prove that the instrument(s) are ready
for the data collection
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.7 Ethical Decision
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-
one of
the most important issue in conducting a study is the ethical consideration
-
the
researcher must provide what are the specific consideration has been done in
ensuring all related issues like citation, plagiarism, respect of the
respondents’ right, anonymity, and alike
-
it is
equally important for the researcher to explain why and how the ethical
issues have been taken care of in the study
-
if there
is a specific issue like sensitivity it is imperative for the researchers to
show how this has been dealt with without affecting the research processes
and also the respondent’s right
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
3.8 Conclusion
|
-
the
researcher have to make conclusion about the whole processes of conducting
the data collection and data analyses to justify why it is important to the
study
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS
- This chapter discusses the data analysis
of the study
- Usually the researchers will elaborate the
analysis based on the research questions and research hypotheses
- The types of analyses used will aligned
with the analysis that have been presented in Chapter III – there are 2 types
of statistical analysis that the researcher can consider namely as parametric
and non-parametric analysis
- All necessary information about the
analysis must be presented precisely and clearly
- To be more informative in every research
questions addressed the researcher should provide brief summary of the
analysis
- The analysis must be concluded by
providing the whole summary of the analysis again based on the research
questions
|
The pages are normally around:
-
20 pages (UG)
-
30 pages (Masters)
-
40 pages (PhD)
|
|
|
4.1 Introduction
|
- In this section the researcher should
introduce the chapter by explaining the idea and the justification to have
such structure in order to address the research questions and hypotheses
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
 4.2 Research Question 1
4.3 Research Question 2
4.4 Research Question 3
4.5 Research Question 4
|
- depends on the research questions that the
researcher have the discussion should be started by discussing the
demographic data – this is important especially if the research is about to
use some of the variables for the differences or correlational analysis
- the most common analysis for demographic
analyses were frequencies and percentages
- whereas for the analysis of difference
several types of analysis can be executed such ‘t’ test and Anova
- the other analyses that are commonly found
used by the previous researchers were to test the correlation and regression
- regardless of types of analysis that the
researcher will be using the arrangement of the data analysis presentation
should orderly follow the list of research questions – all the analyses
conducted is purposely done to answer the research questions!!
- It is wise to have brief summary of the
analysis for every single research questions addressed – at the end of the
analysis of every research questions the researcher should provide brief
summary what the analysis have found
|
The pages are normally around:
-
15 pages (UG)
-
25 pages (Masters)
-
35 pages (PhD)
|
|
4.6 Results Summary
|
- This section will summarised all findings
based on the research questions addressed
- It is common to see that the researcher
provides the summary of the analyses in tables format
- But it is important for the researcher if
to produce tables for the summary of the analyses to provide brief
explanation of the table to highlight the major findings from the analyses
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
4 pages (PhD)
|
|
4.7 Conclusion
|
- The discussion must be end by providing
the conclusion which is based on the major findings that the study have
generated
- This can become a ‘pre-introduction’ to
the next chapter which is more comprehensive and conclusive
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
1 page (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
|
CHAPTER V
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION
- This is the most critical parts where the
researcher must acknowledge previous studies by placing his or her findings
into context – please bear in mind that ONLY past studies that have been
cited and discussed in Chapter I, Chapter II and Chapter III to be compared
with his or her findings
- It is common to see that the researcher
begins the discussion by presenting the summary of the findings – this is
optional if the summary has been presented at the end of the Chapter IV for
data analysis so the summary is not necessary in Chapter V
- It is the researcher’s job to make
comparison or to relate his or her findings with previous studies – it is not
simply a task to claim the findings as contradicted or aligned with previous
studies but to justify in what way the findings are align or contradict
- If the researcher is to offer some of the
findings in the terms of module, method, procedure, model or alike the
discussion has to be comprehensive enough to justify the product(s)/output in
regards to the current practices which of course can be found in the previous
studies
- Based ONLY on the findings then the researcher should offer
recommendations, implications, and suggestions for the study before ending
the discussion by research concluding remark
|
The pages are normally around:
-
15 pages (UG)
-
30 pages (Masters)
-
40 pages (PhD)
|
|
|
5.1 Introduction
|
- As usual the researcher must be able to
introduce the structure of the chapter in brief and concise
- Brief explanation for each of the headings
are necessary – this is to justify and to offer the purpose of each of the
headings to the research as a whole
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
2 pages (Masters)
-
2 pages (PhD)
|
 5.2 Discussion 1
5.3 Discussion 2
5.4 Discussion 3
5.5 Discussion 4
|
- It is common to see researchers to divide
the discussion based on the research questions – but in this section the idea
is to explore and to present the findings in a variable manner
- Each subheadings will normally follow the
main variables that being addressed in the study
- Mode of the discussion is more to compare
and to discuss whether the findings are aligned or contradicted
- Further the justification of why the
findings are aligned or contradicted should be discussed – in what way?
|
The pages are normally around:
-
10 pages (UG)
-
25 pages (Masters)
-
30 pages (PhD)
|
|
5.6 Recommendations
|
- Based on the findings ONLY the researcher
should offer recommendations – for betterment, improvement, modifications,
future researchers and alike
- It happen in many occasions there researcher
offer recommendation which normally away from the context of the study – this
is too ‘ambitious’ to try to offer something not being studied by the
researcher
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
5 pages (Masters)
-
5 pages (PhD)
|
|
5.7 Implications
|
- Usually the researcher might want to offer
his or her findings to body of knowledge, current practices and policies and
alike, this is the section where the suggestions become important and
necessary
|
The pages are normally around:
-
2 pages (UG)
-
5 pages (Masters)
-
5 pages (PhD)
|
|
5.8 Concluding Remark
|
- This section will allow the researcher to
make conclusion about his studies – but of course within his or her research
framework and capacities
- The researcher should be able to conclude
his or her study by offering overall conclusion of the study especially in
addressing the title of the study
|
The pages are normally around:
-
1 page (UG)
-
3 pages (Masters)
-
3 pages (PhD)
|
|
LIST OF REFERENCES
|
-
The
researcher must list down every single reference being cited in the text
-
There
are so many common format of listing down the references such APA (American
Psychological Association) and the UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia) Thesis
Writing Format
-
One of
the most efficient and effective way of doing literature citation is ENDNOTES
– this software permit the researcher to retrieve the list of references
being used in the text automatically and by providing simple instruction the
software will listing the references based on specific needs of the
researcher
|
The pages depends on the number of references cited in the
report
|
|
APPENDICES
|
-
The list
of documents (reports, data analysis, tables, or other related artefacts)
that have been referred or cited in the discussion of the report
-
Normally
the non-referred materials in the discussion will not be provided in the
appendices
|
The pages depends on the number of references cited in the
report
|
* There are also situations
where the researcher would like to have a standalone chapter for explaining his
or her module or experimental procedures which is very interesting to have and
this normally been done right after the Chapter III Methodology – if this is
the case the chapter must be presented in a comprehensive manner (Every single
aspects and actions must be presented and discussed clearly)
Prepared by:
DR ZAINUDIN ABU BAKAR
Faculty Of Education
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Johor, MALAYSIA
March, 2016
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