CRESCENT UNIVERSITY, ABEOKUTA
COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (CASMAS)
DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION
GUIDE TO RESEARCH PROJECT WRITING
November, 2019
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PRESENTATION FORMAT
PRELIMINARY PAGES
i. Title page
ii. Declaration Page
iii. Certification Page
iv. Dedication Page
v. Acknowledgements page
vi. Table of Contents
vii. List of Tables
viii. List of figures (if applicable)
ix. Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION PAGE
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Conceptual Review
2.3 Theoretical Framework
2.4 Review of Related Empirical Studies
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Procedure
3.6 Research Instrument
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument
3.8 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Data Presentation and Analysis
4.3 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
5.4 Limitation of the Study
5.5 Suggestions for Further Studies
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Providing general description of the area of study, the problem being investigated and the area of
concern. The description must form the background to the study, a base on which the problem
will be introduced. This should be done under a minimum of three pages for undergraduate and
five pages for postgraduate research projects.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Putting the problem of study in perspective, building from the background to the study.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
Putting the research problem into specific statements of research objectives. At least three
problems must be clearly stated and the statement must reflect key variables in the research
topic.
1.4 Research Questions
Turn the specific research objectives to research questions. Research questions must align with
research objectives.
1.5 Significance of the Study
Providing the reason why findings of the study will be of importance to major stakeholders; in
other words, providing the practical and theoretical importance of the study.
1.6 Scope of Study
Setting the boundary or scope for the study in terms of concepts, variables, and population of
study.
1.7 Operational Definition of terms
Defining the relevant terms or variables in their literal sense (i.e. conceptually) or in the sense in
which each variable or concept will be examined or measured in the study.
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
Provide an organizational statement introducing the arrangement of the chapter’s content.
2.2 Conceptual Review
Provide a review of the meaning and comments, critiques etc. by scholars, authors, professionals
etc on each of the relevant concepts or variables of the study.
2.3 Theoretical Framework
Provide a review, and critique of relevant theory or theories that will be needed to frame the
study, help to explain and discuss findings of the study from the theoretical perspective.
2.4 Review of Related Empirical Studies
Provide a review of similar but relevant studies preferably journals from the points of view of
purpose, method, major findings and relevance to the present study. At least FIVE similar
studies should be reviewed for undergraduate project while postgraduate students should review
minimum of TEN previous studies.
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CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
Provide an introductory paragraph for the chapter as explained for chapter two.
3.2 Research Design
Provide an explanation of the research method (s) that would be employed for the study as well
as justification for choosing such method.
3.3 Population of the Study
Provide an explanation of the study population, the total number and the study’s location as well
as justification for your choices.
3.4 Sample Size
Provide an explanation of the number of people to be sampled or examined from the study
population (i.e. the sample size) which constitute the representative sample.
3.5 Sampling Procedure
Provide an explanation of Sampling method(s) or technique(s) to be used in selecting the sample
size as well as the procedure or process of the selection (that is, how the sampling technique(s)
will be used to select the sample size).
3.6 Research Instrument (s)
Provide an explanation of the instrument(s) you would administer to your representative sample
in other to collect or gather relevant data for the study. Description should cover format, content
and relevance of the instrument to the study’s research questions.
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument
Provide an explanation of what you have done to ensure that research instrument (s) would
measure or examine what it (or they) is (are) expected to measure or examine (validity), and
would consistently provide similar results with similar sample (Reliability).
3.8 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis
Provide an explanation of how you will analyse the data to be gathered from the points of view
of treatment relating to quantitative or qualitative analysis or both. The analysis of the data can
be done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) or manually.
NOTE: this chapter is written in the futuristic tense (as a proposal). You are expected to
convert your explanations to the past tense once you have completed the study. This goes
for all subsections in the chapter
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CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
Content of the chapter should also be explained through an organisational statement representing
the chapter’s introduction.
4.2 Data Presentation and Analysis
Demographics of Respondents
Providing an explanation of the demographics or characteristics of the respondents, without
necessarily plotting tables relating to each demographic of sex, age, education, income, religion
etc.
Answers to Research Questions
Arrange data presentation according to research questions, starting with research question one.
All data and tables relating to research question one should be presented in logical order or
related sequence till all findings to each research question have been analysed and interpreted.
For a qualitative study, the same arrangement of data presentation applies but without data
tables.
4.3 Discussion of Findings
Provide a detailed explanation of the major implications of the findings of the study. The
implications or inferences are drawn and discussed by linking each of the major findings with the
reviewed literature or body of knowledge related to the research problem as documented in
chapter two dealing with review of relevant or pertinent literature. The study’s findings are
discussed to bring out their implications by linking them up with reviewed concepts, empirical
studies theoretical statements or postulations and /or their predictions.
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CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
Provide a summary of the study covering purpose of the study, which should capture the problem
of study, theories used in framing the study, method(s) adopted in gathering relevant data for the
study and the list of major findings of the study in the order in which the research questions have
been addressed or answered through the data presentation in the previous chapter. This is a short
description of each finding of the study.
5.2 Conclusion
Provide an explanation of the study’s conclusion, that is, what you can make out of the
implications of the study’s findings as they related to the problem area addressed by the study.
5.3 Recommendations
Provide a list of recommendations to (or what should be done by) major stakeholders related to
the study area. The recommendations are the offshoots of your conclusion.
5.4 Limitation of the Study
Provide an explanation of the inherent weakness of the study related to methods adopted in
gathering data for the study, instruments used in gathering the data, and the sampling procedure.
Primary limitations of the study are derived from issues relating to methods of data gathering.
Constraints, challenges and unpleasant field experiences constitute secondary limitations and
could be reported.
5.5 Suggestions for Further Study
Provide an explanation of possible aspects or perspectives to your research problem that future
researchers can work on. Your delimitation of the study or setting the scope for your study as
captured in chapter under the appropriate section of the chapter “delimitations of study” or
“scope” should inform what you suggest future researchers to work on. Those perspectives of the
research problem not covered by your study as pointed out under delimitations of the study
should be the basis for your suggestions.
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REFERENCES
Provide an alphabetical arrangement of all sources cited throughout the different chapters of the
study. The sources or citations should be arranged under subsections starting with books, journal
articles, periodicals, unpublished works, and internet sources.
Alternatively you can present this section as all the citations are presented in alphabetical order
without necessarily breaking them into different components or sections.
APPENDIX
Present relevant materials that can help the reader better appreciate your effort in conducting the
research or under certain sections of the study better. The first material to be presented as
Appendix 1 should be your research instrument followed by other materials. If you have more
than one research instruments, one of them should be titled as Appendix 1, the other or others as
Appendix 2, 3 respectively before presenting other materials as appendix 4 etc.
ABSTRACT
Abstract comes as the last at the preliminary page before the presentation of your chapter one.
Abstract is like an executive summary of a major business or professional report. The study’s
abstract should capture the purpose of the study reflecting the problem of the study examined,
related theory (ies) used as theoretical framework for the study, method(s) adopted in gathering
data for the study, major findings of the study, implication(s) of some of the significant findings
and the study’s recommendation(s) derived from those implications. This should be presented in
four paragraphs.
TYPING FORMAT
Times New Roman, 12 Points, Double line spacing (2.0) and single line spacing (1.0) for
abstract.
NOTE:
This five-chapter framework is also adaptable to production-based studies. This depends on the
foresight and the creativity of the project supervisors, reflective in how he or she guides the
student supervisee.
Research is no bed of roses. Welcome to R.I.G.O.U.R
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