THE M.

TECH (ARCHITECTURE) THESIS:

CONTENTS AND PECULIARITIES

ARC 805 (RESEARCH METHODOLOGY)

SUBMITTED BY:

AKINSELOYIN, OLUBUKOLA MOSUNMOLA

ARC/01/9206
M.TECH I

COURSE CO-ORDINATOR:
PROF. OGUNSOTE O. O.

MARCH 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

1.0

INTRODUCTION

2.0

CONTENTS

2.1

Title Page

2.2

Preliminary Pages

2.3

Table of Contents

2.4

Abstract

2.5

Chapter One: Introduction

2.6

Statement of the Problem

2.7

Aims and Objectives of the study

2.8

Scope of study

2.9

Significance of the study

2.10

Limitations of the study

2.11

Definition of terms

2.12

Chapter Two: Literature Review

2.13

Chapter Three: Case Study

2.14

Chapter Four: Research Methodology

2.15

Chapter Five: Data Analysis

2.16

Chapter Six: Summary

2.17

Conclusion

2.18

Recommendations

2.19

Bibliography and References

2.20

Appendices

PECULIARITIES

3.1

Formatting

3.2

Presentation

3.0

REFERENCES

1.0

INTRODUCTION
The M.Tech Architecture Thesis is a report of a research undertaken by the student at the

end of his academic coursework. A student writes it under close supervision by a lecturer. It is a
fundamental part of the requirements for the award of the Master of Technology Degree in
Architecture. It usually covers a specific area of knowledge, often times using a particular area as
a case study e.g. Effects of Culture on Residential Housing Design: A case study of Okitipupa.
It is supposed to formulate a hypothesis and test whether it is true. For instance, the hypothesis in
the above example is Culture is a determinant in the design of Residential Houses, and thus the
research seeks to prove this statement true or false. It should be stated however, that a hypothesis
might not always be used when researching a topic.
The M. Tech thesis is made up of several parts, which combine to form a whole. These
divisions or chapters, help in the organisation of the report. It usually starts with a proposal,
which is based on a formulated hypothesis, and ends with summed up conclusions, making
useful recommendations based on the conclusions.
The writing of this report is usually the final stage of academic work and would be
subject to examining by a competent juror, who awards marks to the student based on what he
has written.

2.0
2.1

CONTENTS
Title Page
The Title page comes first in the report. As it suggests, it gives the title of the project.

Apart from this, other information given by the title page includes the name and matriculation
number of the student who has written the report, the department to which it is been submitted
(in this case Architecture) and the month and year of submission.
2.2

Preliminary Pages
These pages come immediately after the title page and before the abstract. They include:

Declaration: The writer declares that he did the work under supervision, stating his
supervisors name.
Certification: Quite similar to the declaration page, the writer certifies the work is his and has
not be previously presented elsewhere for the award of a similar degree. This, however, would
not be easy to prove except one has a list of all the research topics that had ever been
presented in all the schools of architecture nationwide at the least. He, his supervisor and
departmental head all append their signatures on this page.
Dedication: The work is dedicated to whomever the writer wishes, usually to God and at times
to parents or other people.
Acknowledgement: The writer acknowledges the people who have inspired or supported him
in one way or the other. Usually appreciation goes to God, parents, siblings, his project
supervisor, other lecturers, close friends and colleagues.
2.3

Table of Contents
The table of contents lists out all that is contained in the report and the page numbers on

which they can be found. It starts with the title page and ends with the references or appendix as
applicable.
2.4

Abstract
An abstract is a summary of the research. Normally very brief and on one page, the

abstract gives relevant and precise information on the what the research is about and thus an
3

intending reader can decide whether or not to read the whole report or just parts of it. It is usually
about a 100 to 175 words long. Since it is a summary, it is written after the main body of the
report is completed although it appears at the beginning of the report.
2.5

Chapter One: Introduction

The introduction, as typical of any book, puts forth what the contents are about. It always

begins the first chapter of the report. In this part, the researcher explains the need for the study
and what it seeks to achieve and the impact or benefits that are derivable from it. It is possible
that the writer gives here a brief history or Background of the study, another label for the
Introduction.
2.6

Statement of the Problem

This is also referred to as Problem definition. Here the researcher expantiates on the

research problem telling the reader what the problem is about in all entirety. At times this could
be done in the form of questions. The questions asked are a pointer to the problems posed, to
why the research was embarked upon or to the issues to be resolved.
2.7

Aims and Objectives of the study

This is also known as the purpose of the study. What the research seeks to achieve. Most

examples of M. Tech architecture thesis usually have one aim and some objectives that carrying
out the research hopes to achieve. They are usually listed out sometimes in the form of goals.
2.8

Scope of study
The scope of the whole research is outlined here. It states clearly what area the research

covers. This is especially advantageous in helping another researcher; who is interested in the
same field; know to what extent the research covers and where he may then begin his own
research.
2.9

Significance of the study

This will tell the importance of the research, why it is worth embarking on and probably

suggest the people who would find it useful.

2.10

Limitations of the study

Here the researcher states the limitations he has encountered in his research. Often times

these limitations, may hamper the outcome of the study or even reduce the research scope the
researcher intended initially or set out to cover.
2.11

Definition of terms
The language used, especially the technical terms, is defined such that a reader who is not

familiar with the field or research has an understanding of what is meant.

2.12

Chapter Two: Literature Review

This review of literature usually comes in chapter two. The researcher, having read and

reviewed writings in his field of study, uses this review to form a theoretical base for his own
research. It examines previous works in that field of research and what it has accomplished. The
literature review might be historical in nature often times. It starts with a small introduction at
the beginning and a short summary at the end.
2.13

Chapter Three: Case Study

The case studies, if more than one are treated in this chapter. Usually, where a town,

village or city has been used as a case study point, the chapter starts by giving a history of the
town; its people, their origin, their cultural values and their way of life.
2.14

Chapter Four: Research Methodology

This chapter, which is an important one, states the research methods employed i.e. the

methods used in collecting information or data used in testing the hypothesis and how he went
about it. It includes each step of the experiment in the order in which it was carried out. This
allows for duplication of the study in another situation and helps the reader evaluate the findings
and conclusions. These methods usually include resource from books or the library, the Internet,
observation, interviews, administration of questionnaires.

2.15

Chapter Five: Data Analysis

This may run into more than one chapter depending on the amount of data presented for

analysis. Here the data collected as a result of the interviews, questionnaires, books, etc is
presented and analysed. The researcher is supposed to be objective in his presentation without
any biases.
2.16

Chapter Six: Summary

This, along with the conclusions and recommendations, comes in the last chapter of the

report. The summary serves as an outline that could be read first to see if the study is worth
further reading. The summary should not be a repetition of the sections of previous chapters but
rather detailed information that is comprehensive enough for the reader to obtain a general
picture of what was done, and whether he should read through the entire study.
2.17

Conclusions
Based on the findings of the research, the researcher, having logically presented his

findings, draws direct conclusions in a logical manner. The number of conclusions arrived at are
dependent on the number of questions asked in the statement of the problem.
2.18

Recommendations
Recommendations are made based on the conclusions drawn and inline with the aims and

objectives set out at the beginning of the study. Often times the recommendations are to
government agencies at any of the three tiers, depending on the scope of study, to individuals or
to academicians in the field of study of the report.
2.19

Bibliography and References

References and bibliographies are used as pointers to more relevant information.

References are in actual fact, a list of the materials that have been consulted in the course of
writing the report. It gives the names of the authors of the books consulted, their year of
publication, name of publishers, page number from which reference was drawn, etc.
Bibliographies go on a little further than this however, giving the list of other materials that are

relevant to the research topic, whether or not it has been used in the research study. A standard
format for writing references is that of the American Psychological Association (APA).
2.20

Appendices
These are materials that can be used to support what has been written in the report. They

usually come at the end of the report where they are too bulky to be included in the main body.
They include tables, figures, plates, questionnaires, etc.

3.0
3.1

PECULIARITIES
Formatting
Paper Size: The paper size is first determined. For a thesis, the standard paper size is the A4
(210mm x 297mm). Only one side of this sheet is typed upon. It is possible to have headers
and footers on each page. Sometimes, the header shows the title of the project while the
footer shows the name of the researcher.

Numbering: The page numbers are usually placed at the bottom centre of every page. The
preliminary pages are numbered using roman numerals (i, ii, iii) and then from chapter
one, it changes to Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). The page number is not shown on the title
page.

Line Spacing: The double line spacing is the standard used throughout except for indented
quotations and footnotes, which should be typed using single spacing.

Line Justification: The full line justification is preferably used for writing theses.

Character attributes: The font type that has become a sort of standard is the Times New
Romans. The standard font size is 12; the only place where it is not usually so is on the title
page, where different sizes may be used to make emphasis. The chapter headings are usually
in bold font and sometimes underlined. Some sub headings also appear in bold.

3.2

Presentation
The thesis is presented bound with hard cover. The information contained on the title

page is repeated on the front cover of the binding. Usually, the colour for the cover binding is
purple (this colour is used for all post graduate thesis or reports). The selection of colours is to
easily differentiate it from those of the undergraduate students.

REFERENCE
www.google.com