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Undergraduate Research Project Guidelines

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15 views3 pages

Undergraduate Research Project Guidelines

Uploaded by

james wula
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Research Project Format

The departmental undergraduate research project format outlines are as follows:

Preliminary
Title page
Declaration………………………………………………………………………………………..i
Certification……………………………………………………………………………………....ii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………..iii
Acknowledgements...…………………………………………………………………………….iv
Abstract (between 150 and 250 words) ...……………………………………..v
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………… …..vi
List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………………...vii
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………...viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION


1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Objectives of the Study
1.5 Research Hypotheses
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the study
1.8 Definition of Operating Terms

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW


Review of relevant and up to date literature on the subject of the research study. Students are
expected to critically review the relevant literature and support such literature with adequate
empirical studies. All citations in the literature should comply with APA style most current
edition. Students are given the latitude to determine organisation of their literature, but the
organisation should be logical and avoid unnecessary materials. Basically, the literature should
include:
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Theoretical Framework
Empirical Review

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS


3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques
3.5 Method of Data Collection (for both primary and secondary data)
Note that students using primary data are expected to fully disclose and describe the instruments such as
questionnaire, interview etc. employed in collecting their data as well as the procedures followed in
administering such instrument to the research subjects.
3.6 Variables and Measurement (for secondary data)
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Instrument (for students using primary data)
3.8 Model Specification
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Response from Questionnaire (for students using primary data)
4.3 Demographic Profile of the Respondents (for students using primary data)
4.4 Descriptive Statistics (for both primary and secondary data)
4.5 Empirical Results (for both primary and secondary data)
4.6 Test of Hypotheses (for both primary and secondary data)
4.7 Discussion of Results (for both primary and secondary data)

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS


5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
5.5 Limitations of the Study
5.6 Suggestions for Future Study
References (The references should be arranged in alphabetical order and should be in compliance
with APA style most current Edition)
Appendices

Further information
1. Title
Title of research study gives information of what the study is about and it should reflect the
content of the study. Title should be concise and precise and should not be more 12 words
according to APA most current edition.

2. Organisation of Materials
Materials in the research report should be organized at maximum of 3 levels of heading. The first
level should use upper case (bold face), the second level is bold face lowercase, while the third
level is bold face, italicized lowercase. Example is provided below:
2.2 NIGERIAN TAX SYSTEM
2.2.1 Tax Laws in Nigeria
[Link] Personal income tax law

3. Tables and Figures


All tables should be prepared in compliance with APA style that is using only horizontal lines
with the content typed in 10 font size. The tables and figure should be numbered and properly
labeled with title. The number and title should lie directly on the table (using 12 font size) and
the source of the table or figure should be shown at the bottom (using 10 font size). The number
of the table and figure should reflect the chapter in which the table is presented, for instance
tables in chapter 3 should be numbered as Table 3.1, Table 3.2 etc and tables in chapter 4 will
read: Table 4.1, Table 4.2 etc. Example of table is shown below:

Table 4.4: Level of tax knowledge among Nigerians


Options Mean Standard Deviation Frequency Percentage
Yes 3.45 0.56 180 60.00
No 2.45 0.52 120 40.00
Total 300 100.00
Source: Field Survey, 2014

4. Length, Typeface, Margin and Binding of Research Report


The length of the student research report is minimum of 50 pages and maximum of 60 pages
excluding references and appendices (if any). Report should be typed in double-space on one
side of the A 4 paper using Times New Roman 12 Font except for table and figures (see number
3 above).
To provide sufficient space for binding, the left margins of the report should be at least 1.5 inch
(4 cm) while the right, top and bottom margins should be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm). For the
pagination, all pages should be numbered at the bottom centre of the page and the pages must be
numbered continuously from chapter one to the last page including references and appendices
using arabic number. All preliminary pages are to be numbered at the bottom center of the page
using roman number.
Departmental colour is nugget and students are to bind and submit five copies of their research
reports in hard cover with nugget colour, soft in CD and the soft copy should be sent to email of
Departmental research project coordinator.

5. Ethical Issues/Plagiarism
Students should not “copy and paste” other scholars’ work. All articles of other scholars used
either by direct quotation or paraphrase should be acknowledged through proper citation using
APA style. Using other scholars’ materials without acknowledgement will amount to plagiarism
and such act is unacceptable in the academy.

Common questions

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Students must avoid "copying and pasting" others' work and should acknowledge all sources through proper citation using APA style. Plagiarism, or using others' ideas without acknowledgment, is considered unethical and unacceptable. To address these concerns, students should either paraphrase or directly quote others' work while consistently providing citations, ensuring credit is given where due and academic integrity is maintained .

Defining operating terms requires precise, clear, and contextually relevant explanations tailored to the study's scope. This involves considering the audience's familiarity with terms and the field's standard definitions to prevent ambiguity. Clear definitions influence the study's clarity and precision, ensuring shared understanding between the researcher and audience, reducing misinterpretation, and enhancing the reliability of the study's findings and discussions .

Tables and figures should comply with APA style, using only horizontal lines, and be typed in 10 font size. Each table should be numbered according to its chapter, with a descriptive title directly above it in 12 font size. The source of the table or figure is placed at the bottom. These guidelines ensure tables and figures are easily read and correctly attributed, enhancing clarity and credibility. Numbering aligns tables with text references, aiding readers in locating data quickly, and consistent formatting presents information uniformly throughout the document .

The literature review should be logically structured to include an introduction, a conceptual framework, a theoretical framework, and an empirical review. This structure is important because it allows students to methodically organize and present existing knowledge relevant to their research topic. The introduction gives context, the conceptual framework outlines key concepts, the theoretical framework provides supporting theories, and the empirical review evaluates existing studies and findings. This organization ensures a thorough and critical engagement with the literature, supporting the development of the research argument .

The research hypothesis must align with the study's objectives and research questions to ensure a coherent research framework. This alignment facilitates a focused investigation where the hypothesis is tested through objectives derived directly from research questions. By integrating them, the research problem can be addressed decisively, with hypotheses providing testable statements that guide data collection and analysis, thus ensuring that the research remains relevant and on target .

Students can ensure the reliability and validity of data collection instruments by thoroughly describing their instruments, such as questionnaires, and the procedures used for their administration. Reliability refers to the consistency of the instrument, while validity indicates whether it measures what it is intended to. These aspects are crucial because they affect the credibility and generalizability of the research findings. Ensuring both allows for accurate and meaningful results that are reflective of the true situation being studied .

The conceptual framework serves as a blueprint for research, outlining key concepts and their relationships. It should be developed by reviewing relevant theories and empirical studies that inform these concepts, subsequently aligning them with the research objectives. This framework supports the study by clarifying the relationships between variables, guiding methodology choice, and providing a structure for data interpretation, thus enhancing the coherence and focus of the research .

Conclusions should be concise, summarizing the research findings and their implications, while recommendations should provide actionable suggestions based on the study's outcomes. Both are formulated after interpreting the research results. Their role is to synthesize the research's contributions, outlining its practical applications, and suggesting areas for further investigation. These components enhance the study's impact by delineating its significance and guiding future research or policy decisions .

The preliminary title page should include the title of the research study, a declaration, certification, dedication, acknowledgements, and an abstract. The title provides a concise reflection of the study's content. The declaration confirms the originality of the work. Certification attests that the report meets departmental standards. Dedications and acknowledgements give personal recognition to individuals who supported the research. The abstract provides a brief overview of the study's objectives, methods, and findings, guiding readers on the report's focus .

The method of data analysis must be structured with a clear outline of analytic techniques and tools used, a rationale for their selection, and a detailed procedure description. This should include the stages of analysis and how data is processed to ensure the study's robustness and reproducibility. By providing a comprehensive account, the analysis becomes transparent and facilitates other researchers in replicating the study to verify results, thereby strengthening the research's credibility .

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