Writing a thesis report

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY
WRITING A THESIS REPORT
BY
S M Tahir
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This is a brief review of the basic, key and fundamental elements about the research topic.
Relevant literature on the subject, and the proposed approach or solution is cited. It should be
understandable to colleagues from a broad range of scientific disciplines. The introduction
should clearly consist of at least:
1.1 Statement of the problem.
The statement of the problem should be well articulated, clear and precise. It should provide
a background and rationale for the experiment and establish the nature of the problem and
the need to solve it. It uses historical data to explain how the situation comes about. It also
gives factual evidence of the impact of the scope of need. The researcher must identify why
this particular problem have priority over many others.
1.2 Justification of the study.
This establishes the relevance of the research and why it is worth studying. It should also
explain the expected benefits of the research and how is the research different from previous
ones in the same field?
1.3 Aim and objectives of the study.
Aim is the long term expected results. It is what the researcher expects to achieve at the end
of the experiment. It is also about the chief reason you are conducting the study/ experiment.
The aim is achieved through the short term expected objectives. This segment enables the
researcher to state the purpose of his research clearly. Is this a factual report, a book review,
a comparison, or an analysis of a problem?
1.4 Research hypothesis.
In every research there is the need for hypothesis to be set and defined. A hypothesis is an
optional but important detail of the phenomenon.
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According to Sarantakos, 1993, hypothesis can be defined as a tentative explanation of the
research problem, a possible outcome of the research, or an educated guess about the
research outcome. Similarly, Creswell, 1994 defined Hypothesis as a formal statement that
presents the expected relationship between an independent and dependent variable.
Thus, hypothesis is a clear statement of what is intended to be investigated. It should
be specified before research is conducted and openly stated in reporting the results.
This helps to:
 Identify the research objectives
 Identify the key abstract concepts involved in the research
 Identify its relationship to both the problem statement and the literature review
A problem cannot be scientifically solved unless it is reduced to hypothesis form.
It is a powerful tool of advancement of knowledge, consistent with existing knowledge and
conducive to further enquiry.
2.0 Literature Review
Literature review is a collection of research publications, books and other documents related to
the deﬁned problem. It should be logically arranged and up to date. A significant number of the
references (> 70%) should be within the preceding 5 years. Collection and keeping reference
literature has to be systematic. Unless they are organized with utmost care and discipline, one
would end up in chaos and one may not be able to retrieve the required research article or any
other collected material when needed.
It is very essential to know whether the deﬁned problem has already been solved, status of the
problem, techniques that are useful to investigate the problem and other related details. Literature
review should be a concise report about studies carried out by others on the subject matter.
Literature can be sought from:
i. the journals which publish abstracts of papers published in various journals
ii. review articles related to the topic chosen
iii. journals which publish research articles
iv. advanced level books on the chosen topic
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v. proceedings of conferences, workshops, etc.
vi. reprint/preprint collections available with the supervisor and nearby experts working on the
topic chosen.
Through literature review, the researcher can:
i. collect relevant information about the problem. This helps him to acquire a clear
picture of idea(s) related to the topic of research.
ii. Apart from literature directly connected with the problem, the literature that is
connected with similar problems is also useful. It helps to sharpen and reformulate the
problem in a clear-cut way.
iii. know the outcome of those investigations where similar problems were solved. This
helps the researcher acquire proper theoretical and practical knowledge to investigate
the problem
iv. formulate a satisfactory structure of the research topic and design suitable
methodology for the present work.
v. explore the vital links with the various trends and phases in the chosen topic and
familiarize with characteristic precepts, concepts and interpretations.
Because an MSc thesis is an in-depth study aiming at contributing to knowledge, a careful check
should be made to ensure that the proposed study has not previously been performed and
reported. The earlier studies which are relevant to the problem chosen should be carefully
studied. Ignorance of prior studies may lead to a researcher duplicating a work already carried
out by another researcher.
A good library will be of great help to a researcher at this stage. One can visit nearby research
institutes, public and university libraries, government agencies and avail the library facility.
Review the latest research papers and theses to acquire recent trends. The researcher should also
contact knowledgeable people in the community for proper guidance and source for
undocumented information.
The internet became an important source of knowledge and an eﬀective medium for research. It
provides a range of new opportunities for collecting information, networking, conducting
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research, collecting data and disseminating research results. Electronic mail, e-journal, on-line
submission of articles to journals, online focus groups, online video conferencing and online
questionary are some of the latest tools opened-up by the internet. Some relevant web sites
include:
i. http://arxiv.org/ ii. http://www.ams.org/global-preprints/
iii. http://front.math.ucdavis.edu/math.AG/ iv. http://www.ma.utexas.edu/mp−arc/
v. http://www.cliﬀord.org/anonftp/clf-alg/
As you gather your resources, jot down full bibliographical information about author, title, place
of publication, publisher, date of publication, page numbers, URLs, creation or modification
dates on Web pages, and the date of access on the work sheet. Printout, or enter the information
on the computer for later retrieval.
If printing from the Internet, it is wise to set up the browser to print the URL and date of access
for every page. Remember that an article without bibliographical information is useless since you
cannot cite its source.
3.0 Materials and Methods
This should be comprehensive, clear and detailed enough to enable other workers repeat or
adapt/reproduce your methodology. However, only truly new procedures should be described in
detail; previously published procedures should be cited, and important modifications of
published procedures should be mentioned briefly. Capitalize trade names and include the
manufacturer's name and address. Subheadings should be used.
A detailed itemization of consumable and non consumable materials as well as description of the
research methodology should be made. Research/experimental designs, sample and sampling
techniques, methodological instruments and equipment; methods of analysis (statistical or
otherwise) as well as other aspects of the methodology relevant to the study should be clearly
and comprehensively stated. Always use past tense in stating the materials and methods and
avoid using phrases such as "i, or we.
4.0 Results
This is the hardest part of solving a scientiﬁc problem. Proper interpretations of the results must
be made. It should be presented with clarity and precision. Interpretation refers to the task of
drawing inferences from the actual research work. It also means drawing of conclusion. It would
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bring out relations and processes that underlie the findings. The utility of the outcome of the
research greatly lie on proper interpretations. Interpretation of results is important because it
a. links the present work to the previous
b. leads to identification of future problems
c. opens new avenues of intellectual adventure and stimulates the quest for more knowledge
d. makes others understand the significance of the research findings
e. often suggests a possible experimental verification.
The basic rule in preparing results is to give all the evidences relevant to the research problem
and its solution. A bare statement of the findings is not enough. Their implications must be
pointed out. The results should be written in the past tense when describing findings in the
authors' experiments.
Results should be explained, but largely without referring to the literature.
Data obtained should be well presented and analysis articulated. Major findings should have
direct bearing with the statement of the problem and the objectives set to achieve. Each and
every statement made in the results and conclusion sections must be based on evidence obtained
from theoretical or experimental analysis. Baseless statements should never be made.
While doing research particularly experiments, one may land up with an unexpected result or a
finding contrary to the underlying theory. Such an observation should not be ignored blindly. It
may be pursued to some extent to check whether it yields some useful result.
Table
It should be constructed in such a way that it could be read and understood without reference to
the text. A table should therefore, be simple, presenting only one general kind of data or
relationship. A good table should contribute to the processes of analysis and valid generalization
of findings inherent in the original data.
Tables should be inserted immediately after the page in which they have been mentioned for the
first time. Tables based on raw data or data other than those collected directly from the
investigation and/or very long tables should normally be inserted as Appendices at the end of the
thesis/dissertation. Each Table should have a clear and self-explanatory title.
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Tables should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals throughout the thesis or
numbered according to chapters, e.g. Table 2.1. denoting chapter 2 Table 1. The text should
include useful reference to all tables. All tables should be discussed within the text.
5.0 Discussion
The Discussion presents a detailed scientific explanation and interpretation of the results
obtained from the experiment. Comparison with similar or the same existing information/earlier
works on the subject should always be made. Justification for disagreements or the mechanism
of action with earlier works should also be made. This section can also include subheadings.
Researcher should never be tempted to fabricate results and interpretation. Plagiarism in the form
of copying data or findings from others’ report without acknowledging the source will puts you
in trouble. Don’t attempt to report the already reported findings of others as yours. Citing the
original sources actually enhances the credibility of your work.
One should note that the observations, claims and the conclusions drawn in a research report are
subjected to a criticism by the experts in the concerned field. Therefore, the researchers have to
think twice before presenting the outcomes of the research in a thesis/journal and in a scientific
gathering.
5.1 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
The summary should present highlights of the major findings while the conclusions give an
inference drawn from the findings. Challenges encountered during the study should be indicated.
Conclusions should be drawn on the basis of the data presented and analysed. State the
conclusions in a few sentences at the end of the report.
Recommendations should be based on the major findings of the study and stated in precise terms.
It should list possible ways of solving problems identified as well as highlight areas for further
research.
References
Referencing is a standard way of acknowledging sources of information and ideas reported or
used in the course of conducting the experiment or reporting it. It is a means of identifying
author’s sources of information. All direct quotations of facts, figures, ideas and theories from
both published and unpublished sources must be referenced. American Psychological
Association (APA) referencing method has been adapted as referencing style for all projects and
theses.
In the text
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A reference in the text should provide the author’s surname only without the initials, followed by
the date of publication in parenthesis. For a single author cited at the beginning of the paragraph,
it is written as Tahir (2014). However, for two authors it takes Tahir and Usman (2013). But
when a single author is cited at the end of the statement, it takes the format of (Tahir, 2014) and
for 2 authors it is (Tahir and Usman, 2014). In cases where there are more than two authors, it is
written as Tahir et al., (2017).
If the author cited published two or more works during the same year, the reference, both in the
text and in the reference list, should be identified by a lower case letter like ’a‘ and ’b‘ after the
date to distinguish the works. E.g. Tahir (2014a), (Tahir, 2014b),
In whatever form an author or a reference is cited in the text, it should be written in full and in
an alphabetical order under the list of References with the second and subsequent lines of the
reference indented.
Articles in preparation or articles submitted for publication, unpublished observations, personal
communications, etc. should not be included in the reference list but should only be mentioned in
the article text.
In the Reference list
Book References: References to books are given as follows:
All journal names and books as well as proceedings and special reports should be italicized.
(i) If one author: Danjuma, W.K.D. (2005) Economics of Nuclear Defence Systems. Ahmadu
Bello University Press, Zaria, Nigeria, pp. 360-390.
(ii If two authors: Musa, J.T. and Audu, R.W. (2006). The Political Economy of Nigeria.
Pergamon Press, Oxford, England, pp. 242-259.
Journal References: These should be written in the following forms: Journal names should be
italicized and never abbreviated. Ayoade, J.O. (2002). On Climate budgeting procedures. The
Nigerian Geographical Journal, 19(2): 157-178.
Filani, M.O. and Richards, P. (2009). Periodic market systems and rural development. Savanna,
5(2): 149-162.
For References to Articles, Collected Papers or Chapters in a BOOK, the following should
be used:
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(i) When the book is edited: Schatz, S.P. (2010). The Capital Shortage Illusion: Government
Lending in Nigeria. In: Livingstone, L. (Ed) Development Economics and Policy. George Allen
and Unwin, London, England, pp. 138-147
(ii) When a chapter is written in a book authored by another person: Saunders, J.H. (2009).
The Cytogenetic of Gossypium. In: Prentice, A.N., Cotton with Special Reference to Africa.
Longman Group Limited, London, England. pp. 57-58. 18
(iii) For Proceedings: Those proceedings which are edited and published in the form of a book
should be listed the same way as for a book:
e.g. Annual Reports: The following form should be used: Egharevba, P.N. (2004). Effect of
raw spacing on yield and other agronomic characters in pearl millet. In: Sixth Annual Report, pp.
29-30, Department of Agronomy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Anonymous (1998).
Groundnut Pathology. In: Annual Report 1980-81,p.18, Institute for Agriculture Research,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria.
(iv) Where several publications are cited together in the text, they should be listed in
Chronological order: e.g. (Higgins, 1999; Hassan and Hassan, 2003; Norman et al., 2008).
Where more than one work by that author is cited. The author's surname is placed first, followed
by initials or first name, and then the year of publication is given.
Books (print and online) General forms (when DOIs are assigned, use them): Author, A. A.
(year). Title of work. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Author, A. A. (year). Title of work. Location:
Publisher. Author, A. A. (year). Title of work. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxxxxxx Author,
A. A. (year). Title of work. Retrieved from xxxxxxxxxxxx database.
Terry, P. C. (2011). Module 5 - group and team dynamics. Retrieved November 10, 2011,
from http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/file.php/21967/content/study- modules/m05.htm
For online materials with known author e.g
Hendry, L. (2011). Visual Pattern perception - shapes, spatial frequency and Gestalt laws
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.
au/mod/resource/view.php?id=457749 (m)
If the item has no obvious author, start with the title:
E.g Outline of inquiry. (2011). Retrieved November 15, 2011, from
http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=21580
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You are advised to comply strictly with the guidelines provided by the Postgraduate School of
the Kaduna State University in preparing your thesis. However, Departments or Faculties may
adapt some adjustments in the pattern suggested by PG School.
CHECKLIST
1. Is my thesis statement concise and clear?
2. Did I follow the correct format of the outline?
3. Is my presentation in a logical sequence?
4. Are ALL my objectives achieved?
5. Are all sources/ references properly cited both in text/ body of the work and reference
section? This prevents plagiarizing.
Read your thesis over and over for detection of grammatical errors. Do a spell check using a
dictionary or a thesaurus on your computer. Correct all errors detected. This improves the
overall quality of the thesis/paper. Get someone else to read it over, as a second pair of eyes can
see mistakes such as:
i. lack of starting a paragraph with proper topic sentence.
ii. run-on or incomplete sentences.
iii. unnecessary repetitions of statements/sentences or words.
iv. lack of smooth flow of paragraph or idea into the next.
v. spelling or grammatical errors?
vi. wrong spelling, and punctuation.
vii. lack of using correct citations and format.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Establishing a good relationship with the supervisor is essential for several reasons:
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i. It will greatly influence the quality and progress of your work. Remember that
maintaining an excellent relationship with another person and working closely for a
long period is not easy.You have to maintain a fine relation with the supervisor and
also with your seniors and colleagues throughout your period of association.
ii. Backbiting and unwholesome arguments on academic matters, research work and
other matters should be avoided.
iii. The supervisor will have a thorough knowledge of the subject of research, however,
at one stage you may feel that you have acquired more knowledge than him in certain
topics. But this is no reason to show-off. You have to maintain politeness and
courtesy.
iv. Professional etiquette has to be followed. If you are consulting another expert on
some aspect of your work, it should be necessarily be with the knowledge of your
supervisor. You should also take the supervisor’s criticism in the right spirit and
respond appropriately. There should be no reason for emotional outbursts.
Remember that, • Originality • Intellectual curiosity • Freedom from the obsessions of clock and
calendar • Flexibility • Keen observation • Intelligence • Passion for knowledge • Questioning
attitude • Spirit of enquiry • Insight • Precision and accuracy • Resilience to withstand temporary
setbacks • Persistence • Patience • Social skills • Presentation skills • Writing skills are attitudes
that lubricate the machinery of your research success.
1 Give an outline of a Postgraduate thesis and explain any (3) three
2. a. Differentiate between research method, research methodology and research process
b. List and explain the features of a research
3. With relevant example where necessary, write short notes on the following terms:
i. Hypothesis formulation
ii. Scientific methods
iii. Research proposal
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