₦airaland Forum

If you read my last post, I briefly discussed some necessary things that are important to know and should have been done before writing your thesis chapters. If all those things have been done then you are ready for your first chapter.
The first chapter is a section that deals with the introduction to the topic. It is usually arranged (depending on level, i.e. first degree or postgraduate work) under the following sub-sections:
Background to the study: in this sub-section, you need to trace the conditions and factors necessitating your study. All you need to do is to provide the necessary background information that you think will show your reader the conditions, circumstances and factors that have given rise to the problem you want to work on. Present your materials to show how the problem you are working on developed.
Statement of the problem: here you need to clearly define the problem in short and precise terms using few words as possible to give necessary information. You may state it in a declarative or an interrogative form. But, whichever way you choose to state it the most important thing is that it should be short and clear. (A half quarto size page in enough)
Purpose of the study: this can also be referred to objectives of the study, i.e. what you want to accomplish. You can break this down to specific statements, but do not generalize your statements. Make effort to avoid preambles or any materials that do not directly relate to your purpose of the study.
Significance or importance of the study: this subsection is concern with the usefulness of your findings i.e. who are to benefit from this study? Any research work should be able to find answer or solution to a specific question or problem, therefore, some people, group, organization or society at large should stand a chance to gain from your findings.
Research questions and/or hypotheses: research questions refer to the major questions to which you seek to provide answers to in your study. Research hypotheses refer to intelligent guess which you formulate to guide you in your research for the solution to the problem. (My subsequent post will fully discuss this area)
Scope of the study: the scope of the study refers to the extent of the problem you are able to tackle in your present study. The areas or boundaries you want to cover should not be too much or too little. This will depend on your available time, resources and interest or competence.
Definition of terms: in this subsection, terms or concepts used should be defined or explained. These should include terms or concepts whose meanings are not ordinarily known or which have been used in a specialised sense.


My next write-up will discuss chapter three, four and five. Keep up-to-date. or visit: http://toceenayinc..com/2014/10/how-to-write-project-thesis-or_29.html


Feel free to comment below or email: ayoolaoluwatosin@gmail.com or ayoolaoluwatosin@mail.com
Call or Whats App: +2348138219533

HOW TO WRITE YOUR PROJECT, THESIS OR DISSERTATION

A project, thesis or dissertation is a research work expected to be carried out by students before the completion of their programme. Generally, research has to do with an inquiry into the unknown. It is the search for solutions to problems or answers to questions. This is to be carried out by individual students or a group of students by selecting a topic of their interest and find answer to it.
There are various types of research you can choose to carry out, but this will majorly depend on your course of study and area of interest. Let me briefly explain the types of research you may choose to work on.
1. Historical Research: this is a systematized and objective inquiry into events, developments and experiences of the past. Example of this research is Development of Guidance and Counselling in U.S.A. This type of study is usually concern with issues of the past, and its more used in the field of history
2. Survey research: this type of research is the one in which a group of people or items is studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few people or items considered to be representative of the entire group. Please note that this type is also classified into 4 types. They are: developmental survey, descriptive survey, correlation survey, and public opinion survey.
3. Case study research: this type of study focuses on a thorough understanding of a specific unit. A specific unit could be an individual, a group, a community or society, or an organization or institution.
4. Ex-post facto research: this type of study seeks to establish the cause or effect of a thing, but the researcher cannot control or manipulate his variables like that of experimental research. Example, causes of examination malpractice in high school or effect of early marriage on female students in northern Nigeria.
5. Experimental research: this type of research is also to establish the cause and effect relationship. In this type, one or more independent variable(s) will be manipulated. For example, the effect of group reading on academic performance. Some students will be exposed to group work, while others will be left alone individually to work/read, and later both will be tested on same level to determine their performance. This is a type of experimental research.
How to start your project, thesis or dissertation
Choose your topic – before you choose your topic, the first thing you need to consider is the area of your interest. What exactly do I want to work on?
Consider the numbers of variables – variables are the key word(s) present in your topic that will determine what you want to work on. For example: the role of personality type and emotional intelligence in predicting career commitment of employees. In this type you are working on 3 variables (2 independent - personality type and emotional intelligence, and 1 dependent - career commitment)
Look for your Instruments – instruments are scales or inventories you will use to measure each variable. In other to avoid disappointment, it is better to get your Instruments ready, so that, by the time you want to administer your instrument you will not be delayed. I have noticed that sometimes, students would have started to work on their chapter one and two, and by the time they get to chapter three where the instruments are needed, they would not be available. This has made some to change their variable or topic and start all over again.
If you considered all these points ahead and you see they are intact, then proceed to chapter one. My next write-up will consider how you can start chapter one and two, while the last write-up will discuss chapter three, four and five. Keep up-to-date.


If you need any assistance comment below or email: ayoolaoluwatosin@gmail.com or ayoolaoluwatosin@mail.com
Call or Whats App: +2348138219533 or view at http://toceenayinc..com/2014/10/how-to-write-project-thesis-or.html