ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES

NOMINATION OF SUPERVISORS
APPLICATION FOR QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS
SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATION

STRUCTURE II

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (EDUCATION)

MASTER OF EDUCATION (OPTION 1)
CENTRE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
V 1 2009

2
INTRODUCTION

1. For successful completion of a PhD (Edu) degree or a MEd degree

(both in Structure II), a learner must complete the required
coursework and undertake a research leading to a dissertation. A
learner will be awarded the degree once the dissertation is
examined and accepted by the University.

A maximum period of 4 years is given for a learner to complete

the Master’s degree programme and 8 years to complete the PhD
degree programme

If this period lapses, the learner has to submit, in writing, an

application for extension to the Director of the Centre for Graduate
Studies. Extension may be granted based on a case-by-case
basis. A learner may only request for extension once. A recurring
fee will be charged to keep the candidature afloat.

2. A learner should ideally complete the required coursework and

obtain a CGPA of at least 3.0 before proceeding to work on his/her
dissertation.

If a learner does not obtain at least a CGPA of 3.0, one or more

courses may be repeated or redeemed, at the discretion of the
Centre for Graduate Studies. It is recommended that coursework
be completed within 2 years from the date of admission into the
programme.

NOMINATION OF SUPERVISOR

3. To begin the dissertation, a learner has to register for the Proposal

Stage and submit a Nomination of Supervisor form (CGSR01) CGSR01
together with a 3 - 5 page synopsis of the intended study.

Aspects to be covered in the synopsis are:

(i) Topic
(ii) Objectives of the study
(iii) Research questions
(iv) Significance of the study
(v) Methodology
Population & sample/Participants
Research design and data collection
Suggested data analysis

The synopsis together with CGSR01 Form should be submitted to:

Centre for Graduate Studies

Open University Malaysia
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur

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4. The name of the supervisor together with the title of the proposed
study is submitted to the University Academic Management
Committee (MJPAU) for final approval and endorsement before the
letter of offer is issued to the supervisor. A learner may nominate
more than one supervisor. To be reminded is that the approval given
at this stage is for the nomination of the supervisor(s), NOT for the
research topic.

The supervisor(s) nominated should NOT be in any related to

the learner

5. A supervisor is appointed for the duration of the dissertation writing

stage during which time he/she assists the learner in:

(a)the preparation of a proposal for the intended study; and

(b)the completion of the dissertation.

During this period the supervisor and the learner are required to
follow the Guide to Proposal and Dissertation Writing provided by
the university.

6. The learner is allowed to apply for a change of his/her supervisors

with valid reasons. Submit Change of Supervisor form (CGSR02) CGSR02

Throughout the duration of the dissertation stage, the learner is

to submit to the Centre for Graduate Studies a progress report
(CGSR03) through his/her supervisor(s) at the end of every CGSR03
semester.

APPLICATION FOR QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

7 Once the proposal is ready, the learner submits the Application for
Qualifying Examination form (CGSR04). The application must be CGSR04
accompanied by a comprehensive proposal evaluation report by the
supervisor(s). The M.Ed learner needs to submit two (2) copies of
the proposal, while the PhD learner needs to submit four (4) copies
of the proposal to the Centre for Graduate Studies.

8 A proposal will be examined within THREE (3) months of the date of

submission of the Application for Qualifying Examination by one
examiner for the M.Ed learner and two examiners for the PhD
learner. For the PhD learner, a date and venue will be fixed for
him/her to give an oral presentation. No oral presentation is required
for the MEd learner.

9 Learners are responsible for getting EPRD (Ministry of Education) BPPDP 1

clearance for research involving public schools in Malaysia. The
application may be filed when a proposal has been submitted for the
qualifying examination.
The EPRD form can be downloaded from:
http://apps.emoe.gov.my/bppdp/borang/Form%20BPPDP1%20-
%20English%20Version.pdf

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10. The outcome of the proposal examination by the examiner (s) will
be presented in the form of the Qualifying Examination Report
(CGSR05-1). For PhD, an additional document, the Qualifying CGSR05-1
Examination Committee Report (CGSR05-2) will be presented after CGSR05-2
the oral presentation by the learner. These reports will contain one
of the following recommendations:

 Satisfactory (S)
 Satisfactory subject to correction (S)
 Unsatisfactory (U)

For recommendation Unsatisfactory, the learner has to rewrite the

proposal under the guidance of the supervisor and then submit
Application for Qualifying Examination (CGSR04) a second time CGSR04
together The proposal will be re-examined and a second Qualifying
Examination Report (CGSR05-1) will be presented. CGSR05-1

Some of the reasons for an unsatisfactory proposal are:

• Topic/title is not related to the course of study (Education)

• Proposed area/topic is not researchable.
• Proposed area/topic is too general and lacks focus.
• The scope of the study is too limited or superficial.
• The intended study has no strong theoretical basis and/or
relevant research support.
• The proposal reveals that the learner is NOT academically
ready to embark on the research.

11 A learner may only apply for the Qualifying Examination THREE (3)
times. If the proposal is not submitted for re-examination the third
time, his/her candidature will lapse and the learner will not be
allowed to continue with the programme.

The maximum number of semesters allowed for proposal writing is

THREE (3). However, if a learner fails to obtain a Satisfactory (S)
grade in his/her first attempt at the end of the third semester of
proposal writing, he/she may be granted another two-semester
extension to resubmit his/her proposal.

SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATION

12 A learner whose proposal is accepted has to register for Dissertation

Final Report. This means that he/she can proceed with the study and
the preparation of the dissertation.

After registration for the Dissertation Final Report, a candidate is

expected to proceed to gather his/her research data and conduct the
data analysis.

For PhD, the candidate is encouraged to attend a Doctoral Seminar:

Research Report to give an oral presentation of his/her data and

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 preliminary findings.

13 When the dissertation is almost completed, the candidate submits a CGSR06

Notice of Thesis/Dissertation Submission form (CGSR06). The notice
should be submitted THREE (3) months before the intended date of
dissertation submission. The notice must be accompanied by a
research abstract and a receipt for payment of dissertation
examination fees.

14 Upon completion of the dissertation, the candidate submits a CGSR07

Confirmation of Thesis/Dissertation Submission form (CGSR07)
together with FIVE (5) soft bound printed copies of the dissertation to
the Centre for Graduate Studies. CGSR07 must be endorsed by the
supervisor (s) and be accompanied by a comprehensive evaluation
report by the supervisor(s).

15 For the Master’s degree programme, two examiners (at least ONE is
an external examiner) will be submitted to University Academic
Management Committee (MJPAU) for approval and endorsement.
Appointment letters will then be sent to the examiners together the
dissertation.

For PhD, three examiners (at least TWO are external examiners) will
be appointed and endorsed by MJPAU.
.
16 A dissertation will be vetted within SIX (6) months of the date of
submission of the Confirmation of Thesis/Dissertation Submission.

17. Upon receiving all Examiners’ Reports, the Examination Committee

comprising the Chairperson and two (Master’s degree programme)
or three (PhD degree programme) examiners will convene and
invite the candidate for Viva Voce.

In the absence of examiners, readers will be appointed to present

the examiners’ report at the Viva Voce.

At the end of Viva Voce, the Committee will communicate its

18. decision to the candidate by filling in the Thesis/Dissertation Final CGSR09-1
Examination Report (CGSR09-1).

The Committee will make one of the following recommendations:

 Dissertation acceptable for the Master’s/Doctoral Degree

 Dissertation acceptable for the Master’s/Doctoral Degree
subject to minor modifications being made
 Dissertation acceptable for the Master’s/Doctoral Degree
subject to major modifications being made
 Dissertation requires re-submission for the Master’s/Doctoral
Degree
 Dissertation is rejected with no right of revision or re-submission

For a dissertation that requires re-submission, the candidate will be

given 12 months to do so. During this period, the candidate has to
register as a student and rewrite the dissertation under the guidance

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 of a supervisor and then submit the Confirmation of CGSR07
Thesis/Dissertation Submission form (CGSR07) for a second time. CGSR01
The candidate may opt for a new supervisor and resubmit a
Nomination of supervisor form (CGSR01).

For a dissertation that requires major correction, the candidate will

be given 6 months to do so. During this period, the candidate has to CGSR09-2
register as a student and should submit a soft bound copy of the
amended dissertation within the 6-month period together with a
Post Viva Correction Report (CGSR09-2)

For a dissertation that requires minor correction, the candidate will

be given 3 months to do so. The candidate need not register as a
student but need only submit a soft bound copy of the amended
dissertation within the 3-month period together with CGSR09-2 Post
Viva Correction Report (CGSR09-2).

19 If a candidate fails to adhere to the time frame of dissertation

submission, his/her dissertation is deemed to have been rejected.
However, the candidate can write to the Director of Centre for
Graduate Studies to apply for a 60-day extension if he/she has a
valid reason to do so.

If amendments suggested by the Examination Committee are not

adhered to, a Post Viva Reviewer Report (CGSR09-3) will be CGSR09-3
prepared and submitted to the Director of Centre for Graduate
Studies for further action.

20 When the final version of the dissertation is approved by the

university, ONE (1) hardbound copies of the dissertation and ONE
(1) soft copy (in the form of a CD) are to be submitted to the
university.

21. When all programme requirements are satisfied, the candidate will
be conferred the degree

The Process Flow for these procedures is presented in Figure 1 below.

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 STRUCTURE II
Registration

Learner has completed coursework and obtained CGPA of at least

Coursework 3.00.

Learner submits Nomination of Supervisor form MJPAU endorsement and letter of offer to Supervisor. Learner &
(CGSR01). Submit CGSR02 for change of supervisor, supervisor are to have at least 4 interaction sessions during each of
if necessary. Register for Proposal the proposal, data collection & final report writing stages.

Learner submit progress report (CGSR03) through 3 months*

supervisor(s) at the end of every semester throughout Nominate QE examiners, MJPAU endorsement, letter of offer to
the dissertation stage. Qualifying Examination (QE) examiners.

Learner submits Application for QE. Supervisor Learners given max 1 year to submit proposal, failing which
submits Proposal Evaluation Report. candidature will terminated.
Unsatisfactory
Learners must apply for extension if non-submission due to medical
Resubmission for examination reasons, official duties or extenuating personal circumstances.
Outcome
Learners must sit for QE & pass within max. 5 semesters. Learners
have 3 chances to pass QE. Failure on third attempt shall result in
termination of candidature.
Satisfactory

PhD learners are encouraged to present preliminary data analysis at a

Doctoral Seminar: Research Report.
Register for Dissertation
Final Report

Notice of Dissertation
Learner submits Notice of Thesis/Dissertation
Submission
Submission (CGSR06) & Receipt for payment of
VIVA fees.
6 months

Learner submits Confirmation of Confirmation of Nomination of Examiners by CGS & Endorsement by MJPAU.
Thesis/Dissertation Submission (CGSR07). Dissertation Submission Letters of offer to examiners.
Supervisor submits Dissertation Evaluation Report.

Submission of Examiners’ Reports to CGS by examiners.

VIVA VOCE
VIVA Committee convenes

VIVA Committee presents Thesis/Dissertation Final

Minor/Major Modifications OR Exam Report (CGSR09-1)
Resubmission

VIVA/REVIEW
OUTCOME Reject
Degree Not Conferred

Learner & Supervisor to complete Post Viva

Correction Report (CGSR09-2).
Accept with modifications
Reviewer to complete Post Viva Reviewer
Report (CGSR09-3), if necessary

outcome Accept
`
Degree Conferred

Reject

Figure 1: Process Flow of Structure II Programmes

Degree NOT conferred

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 ACADEMIC GUIDELINES

GUIDE TO PROPOSAL AND DISSERTATION WRITING

STRUCTURE II

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (EDU)

MASTER OF EDUCATION (OPTION 1)

CENTRE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

V 1 2009

9
 INTRODUCTION

Learners pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (Education) or Master of Education (MEd) are to

submit a dissertation for examination as a requirement for the award of the degree. This
would entail the preparation of a research proposal which is later developed into a
dissertation. This document provides guidelines for writing the research proposal and the
dissertation.

WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A research proposal is a document written to inform others (your supervisor or graduate

committee) of a proposed piece of research. You should be aware that a research proposal
can be rejected as “unsatisfactory” or “poorly designed”. So the proposal is obviously an
important document. Therefore it is imperative that you spend some time getting it right. A
well planned proposal will save you a lot of time in the long run. If the proposal is well-
designed, it will form the outline of your final dissertation. In other words, the proposal maps
out the different parts of the final dissertation.

The format of the proposal varies from one institution to another. In Open University
Malaysia (OUM), the research proposal should map out the first three chapters of the
dissertation final report that will be written later. The three-chapter proposal with the relevant
appendices should clearly illustrate all the theoretical and methodological aspects of the
proposed study. You will notice that OUM requires learners to produce quite a detailed
proposal. The rationale is that OUM wants to ensure that you are able to proceed with your
research work successfully. Furthermore, OUM would like to see that the proposal submitted
would contain adequate information for a fair assessment.

The chapters with the headings and subheadings that are usually included in a proposal are
shown in Figure 1. Whether you are writing a research proposal or dissertation at the
Master’s or PhD level, the chapters with the headings and subheadings are generally the
same. The major difference between the Master’s and PhD research proposal or the PhD
and the Master’s dissertation is the scope and depth of research undertaken (Refer
Appendix A). However, do note that the headings and subheadings in each chapter may
vary slightly in different studies.

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CONTENTS OF A PROPOSAL

Chapter 1 Introduction

The introduction should present the research problem or issue that you intend to study.
• The first section in the introduction chapter is the background to the study. In
this section, you should provide a description of the background to the research
problem or issue that you intend to study. This should be as brief as possible. Do not
ramble! The background should be clear and straight to the point. Describe the general
field of research relating to the issue and then narrow down to the specific area you are
concerned with.
• Discuss the issue that you intend to study in terms of problem statement
and show that there is an issue that needs to be addressed or a “gap” in the body of
knowledge that you want to fill. When you are able to identify the issue or gap, then the
research questions fall in place naturally. Think of the Introduction as follows:

Imagine a group of academics discussing in general the area of study

you are interested in. You join in the conversation (assuming they
allow you to!) and draw their attention to your specific problem of
interest. You tell them that there is something that has not been
resolved or there is a gap or problem. You argue that this gap or
problem has to be addressed and go on to describe it in detail. Then
you tell your listeners the objectives of your study and how it will
attempt to answer the research questions.

• In one or two statements, write the Chapter 1 Introduction

objectives of the study. Ask yourself what 1.1 Background to the study
you hope to uncover through your 1.2 Problem statement
research and then say it in a way that your 1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Research questions
colleagues will understand it. Use simple
1.5 Research Hypotheses (if any)
and jargon-free language. In this section, 1.6 Significance of the study
you might want to elaborate on the 1.7 Limitations of the study
conceptual framework to further clarify 1.8 Definitions of terms
your objectives. Otherwise, you can have
an additional subsection on Research Chapter 2 Review of Literature
Design in Chapter 3 to explain the 2.1 Previous studies
conceptual framework of your study. 2.2 Theoretical framework
2.3 Methodological issues
• The objectives are followed by Chapter 3 Methodology
research questions. The research 3.1 Sample
questions must be in line with the 3.1 Instrumentation
objectives and should indicate the 3.2 Data collection procedures
variables under investigation. They should 3.3 Proposed framework for data
be clearly and unambiguously framed as analysis
they will influence research methodology References
and the type of data analysis to be Appendices
performed. Include null hypotheses, if
necessary. Figure 1: Research Proposal Format

11
• Briefly tell the reader the significance of the study (justify doing the study). You
can argue the significance of your study based on the following criteria:

o the problem or gap demands attention because the findings could influence
practice and policy;
o the methodology you are using is unusual;
o certain variables you are studying have not been given attention in previous
studies;
o your study will contribute to the body of knowledge in the field;
o the outcome of your study could be the extension of a theoretical model under
study.
• The limitations of the study refer to elements which are beyond the control of the
researcher. Outline the limitations in terms of the sample, data collection and/or data
analysis so that the reader is aware of the parameters of your study. Do not be
intimidated by the limitations of the study because it is not possible to expect every
research conducted to be perfect. They merely indicate to the reader that you are aware
of the limitations and that the findings of should be interpreted in light of these limitations.
• Provide operational definitions of key terms, especially the variables investigated in
the study. In this context, you should be aware of the distinction between a constitutive
definition and an operational definition. A constitutive definition is the dictionary type
of definition. This type of definition helps to convey the general meaning of a variable,
but it is not precise enough for research purposes. You need to define the variables in
your study so that readers know exactly what is meant by the terms and so that other
researchers can replicate the research. This is only possible if you provide operational
definitions of the variables, and there are two types of operational definitions: measured
and experimental. A measured operational definition details the operations by which
researchers measure a variable. For example, intelligence may be operationally defined
as scores on the Standford-Binet Intelligence Scale. On the other hand, an experimental
operational definition details the steps a researcher takes to produce certain
experimental conditions. For example, the operational definition of concept mapping
strategy in a reading research study may take the form of a group of students reading
texts with the help of concept maps (experimental condition) and another group of
students reading texts without the help of concept maps (control condition).

12
Chapter 2: Review of Literature

The Review of Literature provides details on what other researchers have done in the area,
and what you propose to do. In this section, you need to cover the following:

• The major theories, issues or schools of thoughts.

• The gaps in the body of knowledge (in greater detail than that
provided in the introduction).
• Research questions and/or hypotheses (for quantitative
research) which are connected carefully to the literature being reviewed.
• Definition of key terms (this can be done when you introduce
each idea, or in a definition sub-section). You should provide the operational definitions
of the key variables of your study
• Methodological issues arising from the gaps relating to
sampling, instrumentation, data collection procedures and data analysis.
 The theoretical framework, which can either form the first or the final
part of the Literature Review section. It describes the theoretical basis that you are using
in conducting your research.

Generally, this chapter provides a background for the development of your study and brings
the reader up to date about research and thinking in the field. It also gives evidence of your
knowledge of the field. You should avoid an article-by-article presentation but should
indicate areas of agreement or disagreement in findings or gaps in existing knowledge. The
journal Review of Educational Research can be referred to for examples of good critical
reviews of the literature. Also, avoid excessive use of quotations. Nothing is more tiresome
or difficult to follow than a review of literature that is merely an accumulation of quotations.
Furthermore, you should rely more on primary sources for your review. The literature
reviewed should also be as recent as possible.

[Refer to HMEF 5014 Educational Research Methodology Chapter 2: Theory and Review of
Literature for more details. Refer also to HMEF 5133 Directed Reading on how to write a
good review.]

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Chapter 3: Methodology

This chapter describes the methodology used in great detail and with justifications of its use
over other similar methodologies. For example, you could explain:
• Why you are using a certain paradigm or theory.
• Why you are using quantitative research.
• Why you are using a case study of a specific kind.
• Why you are using surveys, correlational studies, experiments, etc.
• Why you are researching certain dependent or independent or moderating variables.
• Why you have chosen a sampling frame and the size of a certain sample.
• How you are proposing to have access to the data.
• How you are proposing to analyse the data.

(i) Sample

It is here that you explain the size of the sample and how you select them. Indicate the
extent to which the sample is representative of the population. For example, What is the
composition of your sample? Are you going to use random sampling or purposive sampling
and why?

(ii) Instrumentation

You should include a clear description of the data collection techniques or instruments you
will use. For example, if your study is a survey you have to explain how you design and
develop the questionnaire or interview checklist. Explain the number and types of items
included in the questionnaire. If you are going to use attitude scales, achievement tests and
other psychological tests; you have to give evidence regarding the reliability and validity of
the instruments. You should also describe the scoring procedures adopted for the
instruments used.

(iii) Data Collection Procedures

You should provide a clear description of the procedures you use in collecting your data.
Among the various issues discussed in this section includes the implementation of pilot
studies and the actual research procedures.

Framework of Data Analysis

This section elaborates on the techniques used in the data analysis to obtain the information
required to answer the research questions. Ideally, you should explain how you will analyse
the data obtained under each research question. It would be helpful if you can present a
summary of your analytical framework using the following grid (Figure 2):

Objective Research Hypothesis (if Sources Types of Technique

Question any) of Data Data of Analysis

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 Figure 2: Summary of Analytical Framework

List of References
• This must be provided in the usual scholarly fashion. It helps to convince your reader
that your proposal is worth pursuing if you can identify literature in the field and
demonstrate that you understand it.
• Use the citation style proposed by the Manual of the American Psychological
Association (APA style for short).
• Make sure that all materials cited in the text are also found in the list of references
and vice versa This will reflect your academic honesty in producing the research
report.

Appendices
Include in this section all the relevant support materials especially the research instruments
that are to be used in the study. This will indicate to whoever assesses your proposal that
you are ready to embark on the intended research.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND FINAL

DISSERTATION

Note that while the proposal can be mapped onto the final dissertation, much work still
needs to be done. The proposal merely provides the first three chapters of your dissertation.
The other two chapters need to be written once the research is done. Very often, there is
also a need to modify the three chapters submitted as your proposal without changing the
area and focus of your study. For example, you might have to realign your research
objectives and research questions so that they are more reflective of the research problem.
You might have to provide more detailed research and/or theoretical support for the study by
beefing up the chapter on literature review. You might have to make adjustments to your
write-up on sampling techniques, instrumentation, data collection procedures and data
analysis framework. This would involve making modifications to your chapter on
methodology. Most importantly, you need to change the tenses used in the presentation of
the write-up, that is, from present and future tenses to past tenses. This is often overlooked
by learners.

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 WRITING THE DISSERTATION FINAL REPORT

The purpose of this section is to give you a general guide for preparing the dissertation final
report. The format discussed may vary with respect to the research design and approach
used for the study. See Figure 3 which shows the format adopted by Open University
Malaysia.

The dissertation final report can be viewed as a three-part document: Preliminary Section,
the Body and Supporting Materials.

Preliminary Section

Title Page
Abstract
Abstrak
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
List of tables (if any)
List of figures (if any)

Body of Research Report

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Background to the study
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Research Hypotheses (if any)
1.6 Significance of the study
1.7 Limitations of the study
1.8 Definitions of terms

Chapter 2 Review of Literature

2.1 Previous studies
2.2 Theoretical framework
2.3 Methodological issues

Chapter 3 Methodology
3.1 Sample
Instrumentation
Data collection procedures
Framework for data analysis

Chapter 4 Data Analysis and Results

(Description of statistical analyses in relation to research
questions/hypotheses/objectives and presentation of relevant tables and figures)

Chapter 5 Discussion and Conclusion

5.1 Summary of main findings
5.2 Discussion
5.3 Implications
5.4 Directions for future research

Supporting Materials

References
Appendices

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 Figure 3 Format of Final Dissertation

Part I: Preliminary Section

The preliminary section consists of the title page, the abstract, acknowledgements, table of
contents, list of tables and figures. All pages in the preliminary section are to be numbered
at the centre of the bottom margin using lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.). The
title page should not be numbered.

Title Page:

Although title pages may differ from one institution to another, they usually include:

(i) the name of the topic,

(ii) the name of the author,
(iii) the relationship of the report to a degree requirement,
(iv) the name of the institution where it is to be submitted, and
(v) the date of presentation (see Appendix B).

The title should be concise and should indicate clearly the purpose of the study. Keep in
mind its possible usefulness to another researcher who may search a database where your
dissertation may be listed. The title should not claim more than the study actually delivers.
It should not to be stated broadly and make it difficult for the reader to determine what the
study is about. For example, the title “Mathematics Achievement OF Urban Poor Children”
is too general and a more precise title would be “Mathematics Achievement OF Poor
Children IN AN Urban School IN SARAWAK”. These items should be written in Times
Roman font/16pt. The title should be in capital letters, single-spaced and centred between
the right and left margins of the page. If the title goes beyond one line, the words in the title
should be divided into lines so that each successive line is shorter than the one above it and
is centred below it in an inverted pyramid style (see Appendix B).

Abstract

The abstract is a short, one paragraph summary of the most important components of the
research study. It normally includes a brief statement of the problem, the objectives of the
study, the main research questions, the sample involved, the research design adopted, the
major findings and their implications. The abstract should not be more than 500 words for
PhD and 300 words for Master’s and it should be written in single spacing. The Open
University Malaysia requires that you have the translation of your abstract in Bahasa
Malaysia if you have written your report in English. Likewise, provide the English translation
of the abstract if the report is in Bahasa Melayu. The translated abstract should include the
title as well.

Acknowledgements

An acknowledgment page is included if you have received unusual assistance in the conduct
of the study. The acknowledgements should be simple and restrained. Do not indulge in
flattery and excessive recognition for routine participation of family members, lecturers,
supervisors, librarians and clerical helpers.

(d) Declaration

The declaration is meant for the candidate to declare that the dissertation is the result of
his/her own work. The candidate should use the format provided by the Open University
Malaysia. See Appendix C

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Table of Contents

The Table of contents serves an important purpose in providing an outline of the contents of
the dissertation. Differentiate between headings and subheadings using capitalisation and
small letters. Page references for each topic should be indicated.

List of Tables and Figures

If tables and figures are included in the dissertation, a separate section should be included
to list each table or figure. The full titles of figures and tables, worded exactly as they
appear in the text, should be presented with corresponding numbers and page locations.

The Acknowledgements, Table of Contents and List of tables and figures sections should be
presented using Times Roman font/12pt.

Part II: Body of the Dissertation Final Report

Commonly, the main sections of a dissertation are presented in five (5) chapters with the
various sections as detailed in Figure 3. The sections under each chapter may differ from
one study to another.

As shown in Figure 3, the body of the dissertation final report comprises 5 chapters. In some
theses/dissertations, there are six chapters with the 5th chapter being broken down into two
chapters, one focusing on Discussion and the other on Summary and Conclusion.

Since chapters 1 to 3 have been deliberated in the section on Writing A Research Proposal ,
the subsequent discussion will only focus on Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Results and
Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion.

Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Results

In this chapter, you present the analysis of the data obtained from the study. This is the
heart of the research report. For a quantitative study, tables and figures (e.g. graphs) are
commonly used to organise and present numerical data. Tables and figures are useful in
presenting an overall picture of the data as well as showing trends that have emerged from
the analysis. Describe all findings that are shown in the tables and figures in detail. You are
advised to refer to the Journal of Educational Psychology and the American Educational
Research Journal to see how tables and graphs are presented and explained.

If you do a qualitative study, there will be less numerical data. Instead your data would
consist of concepts, categories or themes which may be presented in table form. You would
also be presenting data in the form of anecdotes or excerpts of interviews, observations and
documents to support your arguments. For qualitative studies, The Qualitative Report is a
useful journal which presents reports of qualitative studies in education, nursing and
medicine.

For clarity, you may want to present your analysis and findings under each research
question. However, demographic data of the sample that are not findings to your research

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questions should not be presented in this chapter. This information should ideally be
presented in chapter 3 under the heading “sample’.

Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion

The last chapter comprises of two parts. The first part includes a brief summary of the
problem, methodology and results. Focus should be on a summary of the main findings and
it should be as brief as possible. Some researchers present the main findings in the form of
list. The second part is a discussion of the findings. Here, you identify and interpret the
findings. Give possible reasons why the results occurred. You could also provide reasons
by referring to the findings of previous research (This is where the studies cited in Chapter 2
are useful). Explain how far your findings are similar to or different from those of previous
research. You should also relate your findings to the theory/theories upon which your study
is based. Because you are the one who conducted the study, you should have a deeper
understanding of the study compared to most readers. Thus you are expected to discuss
the findings and to give your own opinion about the outcomes. Other important sections in
this chapter are Implications of your findings and Direction for future research.

One of the most common weaknesses found in the writing of graduate students is that their
reports present important and interesting findings but fail to provide a thoughtful
interpretation and discussion of the findings in relation to past research and existing
theories.. On the other hand, there is the tendency for beginning researchers to over-
generalise on the basis of their limited data. Remember, your study is not attempting to
change the whole education system!

You should keep in mind that this chapter is the most used part of the research report by
other readers. Readers who scan research literature to find significant studies examine this
chapter before deciding whether or not further examination to the report is worthwhile
reading.

Part III: Supporting Materials

This section of the report comprises the References and Appendices. The formats of
references and appendices have been deliberated earlier in the section on research
proposal. However, you should make the necessary modifications to accommodate any new
references and/or new documents related to your research. You might also find some
references and documents irrelevant after conducting your research and they should be
removed. Such a refinement would definitely enhance the quality of your research report.

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 FORMAT OF DISSERTATION FINAL REPORT

Once you have completed your research and it is approved by the examination board of the
university, ONE (1) hardbound copies and ONE (1) soft copy (in the form of a CD) are to be
submitted to the University. Given below is the format you should follow when you prepare
your dissertation final report.

Binding

The ONE (1) hardbound copies of the research report submitted to the university should
have the full title, the name of the author and the University, and the year of submission
typed on the front covers. The title of the research report should not be more than 16 words.
The spines of the dissertation should show the brief title, author, year of submission and
type of degree. The title of the dissertation may be abbreviated or summarised to fit into
the spine. Refer to Appendix D for an example of the Front Cover and the Spine of a
research report

The colour of the front cover should be Maroon and made from Acroline texture. The letters
for the front covers should be printed in gold of Ruthlan font of size 18 and in Upper Case
using Hot Stamping. The spines should be printed in gold block letters of appropriate size.

Paper and Duplicating

Manuscripts should be printed on high quality while A4 paper (80 g/m2). Duplicating or pin-
feed computer papers are not allowed to be used. The manuscripts must be printed on one
side of the paper only. They must be duplicated by offset printing or good quality
photocopying. Duplicating with carbon copies is not acceptable. All copies must clean, neat
and legible.

Printing

i. Printing Quality

Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced using a word processor. The letters should be
in Times New Roman, size 12 points. Script fonts are unacceptable. A high quality laser or
ink-jet printer should be used for the printing.

ii. Line Spacing

The body of the text should be double-spaced. Single spacing is only permitted in tables,
long quotations, short footnotes, notes, multi-line captions and in the references.

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(c) Margins

The first page of each chapter should have the following margins:

Top 5 cm/2 inches

Right 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left 3.5 cm/1 ½ inches
Bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch

The text in the subsequent pages should have the following margins:

Top : 2.5 cm/1 inch

Right : 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left : 3.5 cm/1 ½ inches
Bottom : 2.5 cm/1 inch

The following additional guidelines need to be followed:

• Do not type more than one sentence after the bottom margin. If it is necessary to do
so, it should only be for a footnote or the completion of the last sentence of the
chapter, topic or subtopic or information in a figure.

All tables and figures must be placed within the specified margins.

• A new paragraph at the bottom of a page must have at least two full lines of type. If it
does not, the paragraph should begin on the next page.

(d) Pagination

All page numbers should be printed 1.0 cm from the bottom margin and placed at the right
hand side without any punctuation. The font size of 8 is recommended for numbers.

Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc) should be used in the preliminary section. The title page at the
front of the dissertation is begins on the second page with ii.

Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc) are used on the pages of the text and the supporting materials.

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(e) Subdivisions

The internal organisation of the text should be consistent throughout the dissertation final
report. The text should be divided into chapters, for example, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.
Subdivisions can also be used. Content of each chapter may be divided under headings and
sub-headings such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on. Headings should only be presented at a
maximum of three levels, as shown below.

Chapter 1 Main Heading

1.1 Sub-heading 1
1.1.1 ____________
1.1.2 ____________

1.2 Sub-heading 2
1.2.1 ____________
1.2.2 ____________

1.3 Sub-heading 3
1.3.1 ____________
1.3.2 ____________

(f) Notes and Footnotes

There are differences in the use of notes and footnotes in various disciplines. Notes and
footnotes, if used, should have a smaller font than the text (font size 8).

(g) Tables

Tables must be printed within the body of the text at the centre of the frame and labelled
according to the chapter in which they appear. For example, tables in Chapter 4 are
numbered Table 4.1, Table 4.2, Table 4.3, and so on. Use single spacing for the caption if it
exceeds more than one line.

The table number and its caption should be placed above the table itself. If any table takes
up more than one page, the continued table on the following page should indicate that it is a
continuation, for example, Table 4.3, continued. The caption is not repeated. If a table is
reproduced, the reference must be cited.

It is advisable to place a table as close as possible to the discussion related to the table. It
should only appear after reference about the table has been made in the text.

(h) Figures

Figures are graphs, illustrations, photographs or anything that is neither script nor table. Like
tables, figures and their captions should be labelled according to the chapters they are
found. For example, figures in Chapter 4 should be labelled as Figure 4.1, Figure 4.2, and so
on. However, unlike tables, the labels for figures should be placed at the bottom of the
figures. A figure should not normally extend beyond one page. If it does, the same
guidelines for tables should be followed.

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 APPENDIX A

FORMAT OF TITLE PAGE

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF POOR CHILDREN

IN AN URBAN SCHOOL IN SARAWAK

EVY SOFIAH ISMAIL

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment

of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Education

Faculty of Education and Languages

Open University Malaysia

2009

*Do not indicate the box on the Title Page

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 APPENDIX C
FORMAT OF DECLARATION PAGE

DECLARATION

Name:

Matric Number:

I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own work, except for
quotations and summaries which have been duly acknowledged.

Signature: Date:

*Do not indicate the box on the Declaration

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 APPENDIX D
FORMAT OF FRONT COVER AND SPINE
IN AN URBAN SCHOOL IN SARAWAK
MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF POOR CHILDREN

MATHEMATICS ACIEVEMENT OF POOR CHILDREN

IN AN URBANSCHOOL IN SARAWAK

EVY SOFIAH ISMAIL

EVY SOFIAH ISMAIL

OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

2009
2009
MEd

*Do not indicate the box on the Front Cover & Spine

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 Suggested Scope and Depth of Research
Below are expectations for research for the PhD (Edu) Dissertation, the Master’s Dissertation
(Option 1).
Area PhD (Edu) Dissertation
Overview A dissertation is expected to cover a
particular area of study in depth and to
contribute to research in the discipline.
A dissertation should demonstrate evidence
of reading seminal work and recent
contributions to body of research. The
intended study should explore and address
the existing “gap” in the area of research.
The emphasis here is on a learner’s detailed
and in-depth understanding of the
phenomenon investigated.
Research Learners may use various research
Methodology methods: qualitative, quantitative or mixed
method
Learners should demonstrate a high degree
of rigour (e.g. justifying use of appropriate
research design) in their work by applying all
elements of relevant and appropriate
methodology
Learners are required to demonstrate a high
level of originality their research work.
Quantitative If the study employs a quantitative
Research approach, it should rest on a sound
theoretical framework and supported by past
research.
For a dissertation using an experiments or
survey, the analysis should include use of
inferential statistics, e.g. ANOVA, t-tests or
chi-square statistics at the very least.
Learners must explain the appropriateness
of the statistical tests used and they must
only use these tests after providing sufficient
evidence for the assumptions underlying
each statistical procedure.
In situations where these assumptions are
M Ed Option 1 Dissertation
(18 credits)
A dissertation is expected to cover a
particular area of study in depth and to
contribute to research in the field. Mere
description or a study of perceptions of
people in the field is not encouraged unless
it is supported by some qualitative data.
A dissertation should examine contemporary
issues in the field by presenting evidence of
reading seminal work as well as recent
contributions to research in an area.
The emphasis here is on a learner’s
understanding of the research process as
well as the awareness of the limitations of
his /her study with some in-depth
understanding of the phenomenon
investigated or the possible generalisability
of his/her findings.
Learners may use various research
methods: qualitative, quantitative or mixed
method
Learners should demonstrate a high degree
of rigour (e.g. justifying use of appropriate
research design) in their work by applying
all elements of relevant and appropriate
methodology
Learners are required to demonstrate a high
level of originality their research work.
If the study employs a quantitative
approach, it should rest on a sound
theoretical framework and supported by past
research.
For a dissertation using an experiment or
survey, the analysis should include use of
inferential statistics, e.g. ANOVA, t-tests or
chi-square statistics at the very least.
Learners should explain the appropriateness
of the statistical tests used and they are
encouraged to provide evidence for the
assumptions underlying each statistical
procedure.
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 Area PhD (Edu) Dissertation M Ed Option 1 Dissertation
(18 credits)

not met, appropriate non-parametric tests

should be used and the limitations of these
tests must be discussed.

Apart from reporting the significance of the

findings, learners are also required to
discuss the ‘practical importance’ by means
of effect size and confidence intervals
whenever appropriate.

Qualitative If the study uses the qualitative approach, If the study uses the qualitative approach,
Research the theory building must be directed by a the theory building must be directed by a
well developed conceptual framework. well developed conceptual framework.

Qualitative studies should include “rich thick
description” so that understandings of
phenomena in the field are based on in-
depth analyses of data.
The use of appropriate qualitative data
analysis approaches and techniques should
be clearly explained and justified with sound
theories and/or past research.
Qualitative studies should include “rich thick
description” so that understandings of
phenomena in the field are based on in-
depth analyses of data.
The use of appropriate qualitative data
analysis approaches and techniques should
be clearly explained.

No. of Pages Proposal: 60-75 pages

Proposal: 75 – 150 pages
Dissertation: 120-150 pages
Dissertation: 250 - 300 pages
(Excluding tables, figures, references and
(Excluding tables, figures, references and
appendices)
appendices)

27