PROJECT WRITING FORMAT

Note:
• All major headings should be written in upper case (capital letters), and centralized. All other
subheadings should be written in proper case (with each major word capitalized) and aligned with
the left margin.

• No heading/subheading should be underlined throughout the project writeup.

• DO NOT USE section numbering throughout the project writeup.

Example:
1.1 Background to the study
………………………….
…………………………
1.2 Statement of the Problem
…………………………
…………………………
1.3 Research Questions
…………………………..
………………………….
• Avoid the use of personal pronouns throughout the writeup. This is especially so for first and second
person singular and plural pronouns such as I, me, my, we, us, you, your, etc.

• Leave at least one-inch space on all sides of the paper.

• Avoid, as much as possible, direct lifting of materials from the source. Try and rewrite what you
have read in your own language.

• When you cite an author, use only the surname and the year. For example:
Ogbouma (2021) observed that physical activities contribute……,
According to Ogbouma (2021), there is a relationship between physical activity and ……..,
Participation in physical activities is directly correlated with level of fitness (Ogbouma, 2021)
Do not use author’s initials and or title such as:
Dr. Ogbouma (2021) observed that physical activities contribute……,
According to S. Ogbouma (2021), there is a relationship between physical activity and ……..,
Participation in physical activities is directly correlated with level of fitness (Dr. S. Ogbouma,
2021)

• When you cite more than one author within a parenthesis, use the symbol “&”. But outside a
parenthesis, use the word “and”.
For example:
Ogbouma and Ambali (2021) observed that physical activities contribute……,
According to Ogbouma and Ambali (2021), there is a relationship between physical activity
……,
Participation in physical activities influences level of fitness (Ogbouma & Ambali, 2021)
The following are the major headings in a typical project report. They should be written in upper case
(capital letters), and centralized

CERTIFICATION

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES (If Any)

LIST OF FIGURES (If Any)

LIST OF APPENDICES (If Any)

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDICES (If any)

 TITLE
• The title should be derived from an existing societal problem or a theoretical/hypothetical
problem related to your area of specialization.
• The problem from which the title is derived should not be such that is commonplace and over-
flogged.
• The title should be within the academic discipline/area of specialization of the researcher
• The title should be such that is within the expertise/qualification of the researcher
• The title should be written in clear, concise, and unambiguous form
• The title should not exceed 21 words
• The title should clearly show all relevant variables in the study
• The title should show population/location of the study

CERTIFICATION
This section shows the endorsement of key persons in the Department/Faculty who are expected to
approve the project report. It is usually written as follows:
We, the undersigned, certify that this research project was carried out by ……….. (indicate the name
of the student with surname last in capital letters) in the Department of …….. (indicate name of
department), Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City.

At the bottom of this writeup, there should be a provision for names and signatures of the Project
Supervisor, Project Coordinator, and Dean of the Faculty.

Sample

Dr. A. B. Buhari …………………………..

Project Supervisor Signature and Date

Prof. C. D. Osibanjo ……………………………….

Project Coordinator Signature and Date

Prof. E. F. Biden ……………………………..

Dean, Faculty of Education Signature and Date

OR

Dr. A. B. Buhari Prof. C. D. Osibanjo

Project Supervisor Project Coordinator

………………………… …………………………….
Signature and Date Signature and Date

Prof. E. F. Biden
Dean, Faculty of Education

……………………………………………….
Signature and Date
 DEDICATION
Dedication is expected to be to a singular entity or a group. Students should refrain from dedicating
their work to God and at the same time dedicate the same work to their family members or parents or
a recognized group. If the work is to be dedicated to God, then it should remain so. If it is to be dedicated
to family members or other significant individual or group, it should remain so.

ABSTRACT
Abstract should be written in three paragraphs, block presentation, double line spacing, and not to be
italicized. The first paragraph should present a brief statement to justify the study. That is, it should
address the purpose or objective of the study.
The second paragraph should contain a brief description of methods adopted in the study. This should
include design, population, sample and sampling technique, instrument, validity, and data analysis.
The third paragraph should show major findings and a few salient recommendations. The abstract
should not be more than 500 words.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researcher (student) should acknowledge the supervisor and all those who have made significant
contribution to the success and completion of the project. This section should be written in reported
speech. Students are advised not to use first and second person singular and plural pronouns such as I,
me, my, we, us, you, your, etc. The wording in this section may take the following format: The
researcher wishes to acknowledge the contributions of his/her project supervisor for painstakingly
going through, and correcting every error in this project from beginning to completion. The researcher
also wants to use this medium to appreciate the efforts of Dr Bosco, Prof. Blahblah, and other academic
staff in the Department who took time to provide detailed corrections and guidance in the course of
writing this project. Furthermore, the researcher is grateful to his/her classmates who provided the
academic companionship and moral support throughout his/her academic career. ……

Note: Project writing is purely an academic exercise and not a religious exercise. Thus, the most
important contributor to the success of the project work is the project supervisor. To this end, the first
person to be acknowledged should be the project supervisor. This should be followed by other persons
in the academic community who have contributed to the project writing. Then other groups, family
members, and friends may come in. For those who feel strongly religious and have a compulsion to
acknowledge the supreme being of their religion, they can bring that up at the end of the
acknowledgements. This can be beautifully worded to reflect absolute reverence for the supreme being
even though it is coming last on the list. For example, the researcher (student) may write thus: Finally,
and most importantly, the researcher wishes to acknowledge….. (Almighty God/Almighty Allah, etc)
for His benevolence………

TABLE OF CONTENTS
In this section, all major headings such as certification, dedication, acknowledgement, list of tables,
list of figures, list of appendices abstract, and chapter titles/numbers should be in upper case. All
other subheadings should be in proper case.
Note: No dots should be used to link titles to pages. Also note that the page numbers of the
preliminary pages are written in lower case Roman numerals.
Sample:
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE
CERTIFICATION i
DEDICATION ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii
LIST OF TABLES viii
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF APPENDICES x
ABSTRACT xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study 1
Statement of Problem 5
Research Questions 6
Hypothesis 6
Purpose of the Study 7
Significance of the Study 7
Scope and Delimitation of the Study 8
Limitation to the Study 8
Definition of terms 9

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Theoretical Framework /or Conceptual Framework (where applicable) 10
……. 12
…….. 23
…….. 29
Summary of the Reviewed Literature 39

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

Design of the Study 40
Population of the Study 40
Sample and Sampling Technique 41
Research Instruments 41
Validity of the Instrument 42
Reliability of the Instrument 43
Method of Data Collection 43
Method of Data Analysis 44

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF

FINDINGS
Presentation of Results 45
Discussion of Findings 51

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary 54
Conclusion 55
Recommendations 56
Suggestions for Further Reading 57

REFERENCES 60

APPENDICES (If Any) 61

 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
In the background of the study, the researcher provides a foundation for the context of the study. The background
to the study is expected to offer a justification for undertaking the study by providing a narrative on the existence
of the problem under investigation either in practice or in literature. It may also provide a historical development
of the problem in similar population in the larger society (from international to local population). Such narrative
should be built around the antecedents and dynamics of the problem. The narrative should attempt to discuss
each of the variables in the problem as they relate to the study and then attempt to weave all the variable together
as they relate to each other. Students are advised to note that background of the study is not where to engage in
definition of concepts. Therefore, students should refrain from copious definition of concepts in the background
of the study. There are sufficient opportunities to define concepts under definition of terms (where such concepts
have been used operationally), and in the literature review.
While students are encouraged to build a robust background to the study, it is also advised that such background
should not be overtly lengthy. In the same vein, the background should not be too short. The point is to address
all relevant issues in the study in as concise a way as possible without compromising information quality and
quantity.
To attain the purpose of the background of the study, it should be written in clear and unambiguous expressions
such that the message contained therein may be clear to the reader. Issues that are not directly related to the topic
under investigation should not be discussed in the background. The writeup should be carefully woven together
in a logical sequence that will allow for a smooth flow of information.

Statement of the Problem

The statement of the problem is an expression of existing gap in knowledge and or practice that the study intends
to address. It is a statement of what the researcher observed that is not right either from literature or from personal
experience which prompted the researcher to embark on the study.
In writing the statement of problem, the researcher should discuss what the ideal situation is in relation to the
target population. Then the researcher should discuss what the current situation is which is perceived to deviate
from the ideal situation in the population of study. The researcher may buttress this observation with citation
where necessary. The statement should show what attempt (if any) had been made in the past to address the
observed problem, and how such attempt has failed or how there is no known attempt to address the problem.
The statement should conclude with how the present study intends to address the problem.
In writing statement of problem, brevity should be maintained. Students should refrain from writing lengthy
background about the problem that could have been addressed under background to the study.

Research Questions
These are specific questions derived from the problem of the study. They are raised to guide the study. The
research questions are usually written in question form to show an association between the variables in the study.
Such association could either be a direct relationship between the variables or a difference between the variables.
In stating the research questions, the researcher should employ direct question form that seeks to establish how
the independent variable affects the dependent variable. The research questions should be clear, focused, concise,
and feasible.

Hypotheses [If any]

The hypotheses should be drawn directly from the research questions. Like the research questions, the hypotheses
should seek to establish an association between the variables in the study. However, the hypotheses are usually
stated in null form. That is, it is stated in such a way that negates the research questions.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is a statement that explains what the study is set to accomplish. It is usually stated in
such a way that it shows the general aim of the study followed by specific objectives of the study. There is a
common tendency for students to lift the research topic and state it as the purpose of the study. However, it
should be noted that the purpose of the study should be explanatory enough to provide readers with a clue as to
what the study aims to accomplish. After stating the main purpose of the study, the researcher should proceed to
build the specific objectives of the study around the research questions that have been raised to guide the study.
Significance of the study
The significance of the study shows the contribution of the study to knowledge. It describes how the study, when
successfully completed and disseminated, will add to the body of literature and improve knowledge and practices
in the area of concern. The significance of the study is written in such a way that it shows relevant groups that
stand to benefit from findings of the study, and how such groups will benefit. It should be noted that the order
of presenting who will benefit and how they stand to benefit is really not important. Whatever order is adopted,
it should be consistent, clear, and concisely stated.

Scope and Delimitation of the study

The scope of a study is an expression of the focus of the study. This may include a concise description of the
subject matter or concepts of the study, a brief statement of the general purpose of the study, the setting or
location of the study, the sample and population characteristics, methods and materials employed in the study,
etc. The scope should capture the major issues that form the core of the study.
The delimitation of a study has to do with delineating the scope (focus) of the study. That is, the delimitation
sets boundary to the scope of the study, thereby demarcating the scope from other areas that may be related to
the study but not addressed within the scope. In stating the delimitation, the researcher attempts to draw a line
around the focus (scope) of the study to show what will be addressed within the scope as against what will not
be addressed.

Limitation(s) to the study (If any)

This should show challenges encountered during the study. Such challenges should be restricted to only those
that are technical in nature and can affect the extent to which results of the study can be generalized. Challenges
such as financial constraints, time limit, distance from target population, and the likes do not constitute technical
limitations to research.

Definition of terms [If any]

This should be concerned with the definition of terms that have been used operationally. That is, terms used
differently from the dictionary meaning. Terms that have been used in line with their regular meaning need not
be defined. The terms should be arranged in alphabetical order
 CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This section deals with the review of literature that are related to the study. It usually begins with a brief
introduction as follows:

This chapter is concerned with the review of literature related to the study. The review is done under the
following sub-headings:
Theoretical Framework /Conceptual Framework (If theoretical or conceptual framework is not used, key
concepts in the study should be highlighted and clarified first)
……. (other subheadings)
……. (other subheadings)
……. (other subheadings) etc
Summary of the Reviewed Literature
After listing out the outline (using bullets), then proceed to do detailed review of related literature accordingly.

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This section is concerned with a discussion of the methods and procedures adopted in conducting the study. It
also begins with a brief introduction as follows:

This chapter is concerned with a description of the methods and procedure adopted in conducting the study. It
is organized under the following subheadings:
• Research Design OR Design of the Study
• Population of the study
• Sample and Sampling Technique
• Research Instrument
• Validity of the Instrument
• Reliability of the Instrument
• Method of Data Collection
• Method of Data Analysis
After listing out the outline (using bullets), then proceed to do detailed description of each subheading as applied
in the study.

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Presentation of Results
Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary - Note that after the summary, the findings of the study should be highlighted without giving it
heading.
Conclusion - Note that the conclusion should be based on the findings of the study
Recommendations - These must be based on the findings of the study
Suggestions for Further Research

REFERENCES
This should be arranged in alphabetical order, and must be in compliance with the reference style of the latest
edition of American Psychological Association (APA).

APPENDICES (If any)