Thesis Template

(Baturo & Cottier, YDC, QUT 2010) Explanatory Notes

1.

This template has been set up for double-sided printing, which is required for your final thesis and is optional for all stages before that. This means it has mirror margins, with odd and even pages. After the title page, at the end of the preliminary pages, and at the end of each chapter, there is an odd page section break. This ensures that the following page will begin as an odd page, on the right hand side, and you do not need to insert blank pages.

2.

This template is designed to be used in con unction with the document Thesis Presentation and Management in Word 2007 !hereafter abbreviated to Thesis PAM".

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The structure of the thesis detailed in this template is intended to be a guide only, not a strict blueprint. The chapters and sections used in this template are those typically included in a research thesis$ however the nature of the research undertaken may require a variation from this structure and the order of items within chapters may also vary. %or e&ample, you may need to use more than one results chapter. The structure of this template reflects the form of the traditional thesis. The traditional thesis structure is designed to show' a line of argument across ( chapters, namely, introduction, literature, design, results, discussion, and conclusions$ and logical relationships between pairs of these chapters, namely, introduction and conclusions, literature and discussion, and design and results.

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This template has been set up to use automatic numbering of headings. This allows you to use cross-referencing and automatic numbering of figure and table captions with the chapter number included. The headings and other styles used in this template can be modified if desired. %or more information, refer to Thesis PAM. *f you wish to use A+Astyle headings !which are not numbered", we have also prepared a Thesis Template APA Headings.

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This template can be used for your confirmation document as well as your final thesis. %or your confirmation, use the first # chapters only !and see ne&t note on use of verb tenses". -ou do not need to include the .tatement of /riginal Authorship in your confirmation document.

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A+A guidelines regarding the use of verb tenses !American +sychological Association, 2010, .i&th 1dition" state that it is important to be consistent in the use of tenses in your document and not to shift the tense within the same paragraph or in ad acent

paragraphs. %or the literature review chapter, past tense !e.g., 2.mith showed3" or present perfect tense !e.g., 2researchers have shown3" is appropriate. *n the research design chapter, use future tense in your confirmation document !e.g., 2This study will use an action research methodology3" but past tense in your final thesis !e.g., 2This study used an action research methodology3". *n the results chapter, use past tense to describe the results !e.g., 2an&iety decreased significantly3" but use the present tense to discuss the results and to present the conclusions !e.g., 2the results of 1&periment 2 indicate3" !A+A, 2010, pp. (,-((". *n this template, future tense for the confirmation document, where relevant, has been placed in square brackets.

FULL TITLE OF YOUR THESIS. THE STYLE IS CALLED TITLE,PHD TITLE

[Put !u" #ull $ame he"e% [Put !u" e&isti$' (e'"ees he"e%

Submitted in [partial] fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of [e.g. Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Education (Research ]

!entre for "earning #nno$ation %aculty of Education &ueensland 'ni$ersity of (echnology [month and year in )hich the thesis is submitted]

)e *!"(s
Put a paragraph of *ey)ords here in alphabetical order (for cataloguing purposes .

%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

A+st"a,t
Put your abstract here (do this last .

ii

%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

Ta+le !# C!$te$ts
4The Table of 5ontents can be updated with the %6 key 7 refer to Thesis PAM.8 /ey)ords.................................................................................................................................................i 0bstract...................................................................................................................................................ii (able of !ontents...................................................................................................................................iii "ist of %igures........................................................................................................................................i$ "ist of (ables...........................................................................................................................................$ "ist of 0bbre$iations..............................................................................................................................$i Statement of 1riginal 0uthorship.........................................................................................................$ii 0c*no)ledgements..............................................................................................................................$iii CHAPTER -.I/TRODUCTIO/..........................................................................................................2.2 3ac*ground........................................................................................................................................2 2.4 !onte5t...............................................................................................................................................2 2.6 Purposes.............................................................................................................................................2 2.7 Significance- Scope and Definitions..................................................................................................2 2.8 (hesis 1utline....................................................................................................................................4 LITERATURE RE0IE1......................................................................................................................2 2.9 :istorical 3ac*ground [optional].......................................................................................................7 2.; (opic 2................................................................................................................................................7 2.< (opic 4................................................................................................................................................7 2.= (opic 6................................................................................................................................................7 2.2> Summary and #mplications...............................................................................................................7 RESEARCH DESI3/...........................................................................................................................4 2.22 Methodology and Research Design..................................................................................................8 2.22.2 Methodology...........................................................................................................8 2.22.4 Research Design.....................................................................................................8 2.24 Participants.......................................................................................................................................9 2.26 #nstruments.......................................................................................................................................9 2.27 Procedure and (imeline...................................................................................................................9 2.28 0nalysis............................................................................................................................................9 2.29 Ethics and "imitations......................................................................................................................; RESULTS................................................................................................................................................5 A/ALYSIS............................................................................................................................................-CO/CLUSIO/S...................................................................................................................................-2 6I6LIO3RAPHY................................................................................................................................-4 APPE/DICES .....................................................................................................................................-7 0ppendi5 0 (itle......................................................................................................................2;

%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

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List !# Fi'u"es
4The 9ist of %igures can be created automatically and updated with the %6 key 7 refer to Thesis PAM.8

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%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

List !# Ta+les
4The 9ist of Tables can be created automatically and updated with the %6 key 7 refer to Thesis PAM.8

%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

List !# A++"e8iati!$s
#f appropriate- list any abbre$iations used in the thesis.

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%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

Stateme$t !# O"i'i$al Auth!"ship

Signature?

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Date?

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%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

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A,9$!*le('eme$ts

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%ull (itle of +our (hesis. (he Style is !alled ,(itle-PhD (itle.

Chapte" -. I$t"!(u,ti!$
(he introduction chapter needs to state the obAecti$es of the program of research- include definitions of the *ey concepts and $ariables and gi$e a brief outline of the bac*ground and research approach. (he aim of the introduction is to conte5tualise the proposed research. #n the opening paragraph- gi$e an o$erall $ie) of )hat is included in the chapter. %or e5ample? (his chapter outlines the bac*ground (section 2.2 and conte5t (section 2.4 of the research- and its purposes (section 2.6 . Section 2.7 describes the significance and scope of this research and pro$ides definitions of terms used. %inally- section 2.8 includes an outline of the remaining chapters of the thesis. -.6AC)3ROU/D Bi$e the bac*ground of the problem to be e5plored in your study and )hat led you to doing the thesis. %or e5ample- you might discuss educational trends related to the problem- unresol$ed issues- social concerns. +ou might also include some personal bac*ground. -.: CO/TE;T 1utline the conte5t of the study (i.e.- the maAor foci of your study and gi$e a statement of the problem situation (basic difficulty C area of concern- felt need . -.2 PURPOSES Define the purpose and specific aims and obAecti$es of the study. Emphasise the practical outcomes or products of the study. Delineate the research problem and outline the questions to be ans)ered or the o$erarching obAecti$es to be achie$ed. -.< SI3/IFICA/CE, SCOPE A/D DEFI/ITIO/S Discuss the importance of your research in terms of the topic (problem situation - the methodology- and the gap in the literature. 1utline the scope and delimitations of the study (narro)ing of focus .

!hapter 2? #ntroduction

Define and discuss terms to be used (largely conceptual hereD operational definitions may follo) in Research Design chapter . -.4 THESIS OUTLI/E 1utline the chapters for the remainder of your thesis.

!hapter 2? #ntroduction

Lite"atu"e Re8ie*
(he literature re$ie) chapter should demonstrate a thorough *no)ledge of the area and pro$ide arguments to support the study focus. (he aim of the literature re$ie) chapter is to delineate $arious theoretical positions and from these to de$elop a conceptual frame)or* for generation of hypotheses and setting up the research question. (he literature re$ie) chapter needs to? !ritically e$aluate the literature rather than merely describe pre$ious literature (i.e.- )hat is goodEbad about the body of literatureF . Sho) a synthesis and be integrated rather than being more li*e an annotated bibliography. #dentify *ey authors and the *ey )or*s in the area- thus acquainting the reader )ith e5isting studies relati$e to )hat has been found- )ho has done )or*- )hen and )here latest research studies )ere completed and )hat approaches to research methodology )ere follo)ed (literature re$ie) of methodology sometimes sa$ed for chapter on methodology . !onstitute an argument. !learly identify the gap in the literature that is being addressed by the research question. Suitable sources for the literature re$ie) include? Beneral integrati$e re$ie)s cited that relate to the problem situation or research problem such as those found in psychological and sociological re$ie)s of research. Specific boo*s- monographs- bulletins- reports- and research articles C preference sho)n in most instances for literature of the last 2> years. 'npublished materials (e.g.- dissertations- theses- papers presented at recent professional meetings not yet in published form- etc. . (he literature re$ie) chapter can be arranged in terms of the questions to be considered or obAecti$esEpurposes set out in the #ntroduction chapter.
!hapter 4? "iterature Re$ie) 6

Start )ith an o$er$ie) of this chapter by outlining the topics to be discussed. %or e5ample [your thesis may ha$e more than 6 topics and therefore more sections]? (his chapter begins )ith a historical bac*ground [optional] (section 2.9 and re$ie)s literature on the follo)ing topics? [topic 2] (section 2.; [briefly describe the topic]D [topic 4] (section 2.< [briefly describe the topic]D and [topic 6] (section 2.= [briefly describe the topic]. Section 2.2> highlights the implications from the literature and de$elops the conceptual frame)or* for the study. -.= -.7 HISTORICAL 6AC)3ROU/D [OPTIO/AL% TOPIC Present and discuss your first topic. -.> TOPIC : Present and discuss your second topic. -.5 TOPIC 2 Present and discuss your third topic. -.-? SU@@ARY A/D I@PLICATIO/S Summarise the literature re$ie) and discuss the implications from the literature for your study C the theoretical frame)or* for your study. :ere you can ma*e an e5plicit statement of the hypotheses- propositions or research questions and ho) they are deri$ed from e5isting theory and literature. Establish from the literature (or gap in the literature the need for this study and the li*elihood of obtaining meaningfulrele$ant- and significant results. 1utline any conceptual or substanti$e assumptionsthe rationale and the theoretical frame)or* for the study. E5plain the relationships among $ariables or comparisons- and issues to be considered. (his section should demonstrate the contribution of the research to the field- and be stated in a )ay that leads to the methodology.

!hapter 4? "iterature Re$ie) 7

Resea",h Desi'$
(his chapter of the thesis should outline the design and methodology of your research. (he basis for the choice of research method should be )hether it )ill help you ans)er your research question(s . Bi$e an o$er$ie) of )hat is to be included in this chapter. %or e5ample? (his chapter describes the design adopted by this research to achie$e the aims and obAecti$es stated in section 2.6 of !hapter 2 [if you )ish- you can restate those obAecti$es]. Section 2.22 discusses the methodology [to be] used in the study- the stages by )hich the methodology )as [)ill be] implemented- and the research designD section 2.24 details the participants in the studyD section 2.26 lists all the instruments [to be] used in the study and Austifies their useD section 2.27 outlines the procedure [to be] used and the timeline for completion of each stage of the studyD section 2.28 discusses ho) the data )as [)ill be] analysedD finally- section 2.29 discusses the ethical considerations of the research and its [potential] problems and limitations. -.-- @ETHODOLO3Y A/D RESEARCH DESI3/ -.--.- @eth!(!l!' Discuss the methodology [to be] used in your study (e.g.- e5perimental- quasiG e5perimental- correlational- casualGcomparati$e- sur$ey- discourse- case studyanalysis- action research . #f using stages- outline them here. (he methods used must lin* e5plicitly to the research question and must be suited to the nature of the question. Discuss any methodological assumptions. -.--.: Resea",h Desi'$ 1utline the research design (e.g.- quantitati$e- qualitati$e . #f quantitati$e- spell out the independent- dependent and classificatory $ariables (and sometimes formulate an operational statement of the research hypothesis in null form so as to set the stage for an appropriate research design permitting statistical inferences . #f qualitati$e- e5plain and support the approach ta*en and briefly discuss the data gathering procedures that )ere [)ill be] used (obser$ations- inter$ie)s- etc.
!hapter 6? Research Design 8

-.-: PARTICIPA/TS Bi$e details of )ho )ere [)ill be] the participants in your study (including- if applicable- sample type and siHe- reasons for the number selected and the basis for selection . -.-2 I/STRU@E/TS "ist and briefly describe all the instruments (e.g.- tests- measures- sur$eysobser$ations- inter$ie)s- questionnaires- artefacts [to be] used in your study for data collection and discuss their theoretical underpinnings- that is- Austify )hy you used [)ill be using] these instruments. So that the line of argument is not bro*en- it is useful to place copies of instruments in 0ppendices to )hich this section can refer. -.-< PROCEDURE A/D TI@ELI/E 1utline the procedure across and )ithin the techniques [to be] used in your study for collecting and recording data. (his could include ho)- )hen (in )hat order and )here the instruments )ere [)ill be] administered (for e5ample- fieldclassroom or laboratory procedures- instructions to participants or distribution of materials and ho) the data )as [)ill be] recorded. #nclude the rationale for the procedures used. #f the study )as [is to be] done in stages- gi$e a timeline for the completion of each stage. -.-4 A/ALYSIS Discuss ho) the data )as [)ill be] processed and analysed (e.g.- statistical analysis- discourse analysis . (his section needs to lin* the analysis of the research to the methods and demonstrate )hy this is the best approach to analysis. %or qualitati$e research- Austification needs to be pro$ided for methods such as coding and dealing )ith di$ergent data. %or quantitati$e research- Austification of the choice of statistics and the e5pected results that they )ill pro$ide [confirmation document] should be described. (here should be enough detail for the reader to replicate the analysis. %or e5ample- ,IJi$o or SPSS )ill be used. is not adequate. Rather- the approach to coding- including ho) categories )ere [)ill be] deri$ed and $alidatedho) the data )as [)ill be] structured- and specific analytical techniques appliedshould be included.

!hapter 6? Research Design 9

-.-= ETHICS A/D LI@ITATIO/S 1utline the ethical considerations of the research and any [potential] problems and limitations ()ea*nesses - as )ell as any [anticipated or actual] threats to the $alidity of the results.

!hapter 6? Research Design ;

Results
!hapter 7 details all the results of your study. +ou can put some analysis of the results here- but generally Aust the results are presented- )ithout interpretationinference- or e$aluation ()hich )ill be in !hapter 8 . (he results should be lin*ed ine5tricably to the design C describe )hat happened factually and unemoti$ely. :o)e$er- in certain historical- caseGstudy and anthropological in$estigations- factual and interpreti$e material may be inter)o$en rather than being presented as ,findings.. #nclude a paragraph at the beginning of the Results chapter outlining the structure of the chapter. (he results should be reported )ith respect to furnishing e$idence for your research question(s as outlined in !hapter 2. (hus- you might choose to use headings that correspond to each main question of your hypothesisEobAecti$es from !hapter 2 andEor your theoretical frame)or* from !hapter 4. 1r you might organise your results in terms of the stages of the study (if applicable . Present the findingsEresults in tables or charts )hen appropriate- ma*ing sure to use correct 0P0 formatting for any tables used (refer to Thesis PAM for further guidance on formatting .

!hapter 7? Results =

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!hapter 7? Results 2>

A$al sis
!hapter 8 contains a full discussion- interpretation and e$aluation of the results )ith reference to the literature. (his chapter can also include theory building. 0s )ith the pre$ious chapters- include a paragraph at the beginning summarising the structure of the chapter. 1rganise the chapter in terms of the obAecti$es of the study andEor the theoretical frame)or*. %or each obAecti$e- discuss the results )ith reference to the literature- for e5ample- the similaritiesEdifferences to the findings in the literature re$ie). De$elop theory or models from this comparison and e$aluation. #t can be useful to chec* your literature and try to find a place for as much of the literature as you can. #f you find that a section of your literature can not be used in this chapter- it may be useful to consider the pertinence of this literature and reduce the space in the literature chapter gi$en to it. (hus your research outcomes are tied together in relation to the theory- re$ie) of the literature- and rationale.

!hapter 8? 0nalysis22

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!hapter 8? 0nalysis24

C!$,lusi!$s
(his chapter contains conclusions- limitations- and recommendations C so )hat is the theoryF Khere to from hereF Khat are the practical implicationsF Discussion of )here the study may be e5tended. 0gain- the chapter should begin )ith a summary paragraph of the chapter structure. (he opening section(s of the chapter should be a brief summary of e$erything co$ered so far. %ollo) this )ith your conclusions. (his is the ,so )hat. of the findings C often the hypothesisEresearch question(s restated as inferences )ith some degree of definiti$e commitment and generalisability- and the raising of ne) and pertinent questions for future research. +ou could include a final model of the theory. #t can be useful to use the purposes from !hapter 2 as an organising structure for this chapter. (he chapter should also include a discussion of any limitations of the research- and should end )ith your final recommendations C practical suggestions for implementation of the findingsEoutcomes or for additional research.

!hapter 9? !onclusions

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!hapter 9? !onclusions

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6i+li!'"aph
0merican Psychological 0ssociation (0P0 . (4>2> . Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (9th Ed. . Kashington- D!? 0uthor.

%or %aculty of Education theses- the bibliography and all inGte5t citations must conform to 0P0 style. Refer to &'(Ls !iteEKrite guidelines (a$ailable from ))).cite)rite.qut.edu.au . %or further information on citations and referencing- see Thesis PAM.

0ppendices

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0ppendices

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Appe$(i,es
Appe$(i& A Title Start each appendi5 on a ne) page. Place appendices in the same order as they are referred to in the body of the thesis. (hat is- the first appendi5 referred to should be 0ppendi5 0- the second appendi5 referred to should be 0ppendi5 3- and so on. 0ppendi5 formatting can be different to the main document. Refer to Thesis PAM for information about appendi5 figures and tables.

0ppendices

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