RESEARCH PROJECT GUIDELINE For Diploma

RESEARCH PROJECT/PROPOSAL GUIDELINE FOR DIPLOMA STUDENTS
SCHOOL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREAMBLE .................................................................................................................................... 2
1.0 COVER PAGE ......................................................................................................................... 2
2.0. THE PROJECT CONTENTS AT A GLANCE ...................................................................... 2
3.0. PROJECT/PROPOSAL CONTENTS IN SKETCH ............................................................... 3
3.1 PRELIMINARY PAGES ...................................................................................................... 3
3.2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 3
3.3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 4
3.4 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................ 4
3.5 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION ........ 5
3.6 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........... 5
3.7 LIST OF REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 5
3.8 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 5
3.9 DOCUMENT FORMATTING ............................................................................................. 5
1
PREAMBLE
A research project should as much as possible contain all the sections outlined here below. This
format provides a general framework to serve as a guide to students doing the research project in
the School of Clinical Medicine.
1.0 COVER PAGE

All text should be centered and in capital letters on the cover page
i. Research title/topic of study. This is normally written about three centimeters from the
top of the page.
ii. The name of the author of the proposal/project
iii. The following MKU legend will be placed just about twelve centimeters from the
bottom of the page “A research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of …. Diploma in … of Mount Kenya University.”
iv. The month and year when the document is submitted will appear about five
centimeters from the bottom of the cover page.
2.0. THE PROJECT CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

i. Preliminaries – normally numbered using the Roman numerals: i, ii, iii, iv, etc. and
placed at the bottom of the page.
ii. Chapter One: Introduction
iii. Chapter Two: Literature Review
iv. Chapter Three: Research Methodology/Materials and Methods
v. Chapter Four: Research Findings/Results and Discussions
vi. Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
vii. References
viii. Appendices
2
3.0. PROJECT/PROPOSAL CONTENTS IN SKETCH
3.1 PRELIMINARY PAGES
1. The title/cover page- as detailed above. The research title should be stated in as few
words as possible (not more than nineteen) and without ambiguity whatsoever.
2. Declaration and approval page - both the researcher and the supervisor’s signatures
should be appended on this page; with the relevant captions preceding the signatures. The
researcher’s Registration Number should appear below the name. Where there is more
than one supervisor, the name of the Main supervisor appears first.
3. Dedication (proposal) – compliments in recognition of particular individuals who
occupy a special place in the life of the researcher.
4. Acknowledgements – appreciating those people who in a way or the other, have
contributed to the realization of the research proposal or project.
5. Abstract – written in one single-spaced paragraph on one page; and not more than five
hundred (500) words. It forms an executive summary of the entire research project at a
glance.
6. Table of contents – this is a detailed outline of what is contained in the research
project (Should incorporate only two levels).
7. List of tables. List of all the tables used in the project report or proposal
8. List of figures/plates/pictures etc. or whichever is applicable as may have been used in
the research project.
9. List of abbreviations and acronyms – introduces to the reader words that have been
used in their short forms to stand for a more expansive form of use.
3.2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1. Background to the study
2. Statement of the problem
3. Purpose of the study
4. Objectives of the study
5. Research questions or hypotheses
6. Significance/Rationale/Justification of the study
3
7. Scope of the study
8. Study limitations
9. Delimitations
10. Assumptions of the study
11. Operational definition of key terms- explaining how certain terms have been used in
a special way in the context of the research project.
3.3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Introduction
2. Empirical literature (literature should clearly identify the research gap)
3. Literature should concentrate on areas surrounding the identified objectives of the
research project.
3.4 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1. Introduction
2. Research methodology
3. Research design
4. Location of the study
5. Target population
6. Sampling procedures and techniques
7. Sample population
8. Construction of research instruments
9. Testing for validity and reliability/trustworthiness
10. Data collection methods and procedures
11. Proposed data analysis techniques and procedures
12. Ethical considerations
NB: The content of the research proposal will normally end at chapter three and its contents are
usually written in the future tense. The dedication page need not be included in the proposal. The
references, research instruments and other essential appendices will however, come immediately
after this chapter. End of research proposal
4
3.5 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
1. Introduction
2. Research presentation, interpretation and discussions
3. Discussion of individual objective results. This is guided by the research objectives
and research questions
3.6 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Introduction
2. Summary of the result findings
3. Conclusions – should strictly be based on the research findings
4. Recommendations for practice to;
i) The authorities for implementation
ii) Service users/ beneficiaries
iii) Other stakeholders
5. Recommendations for further research in this field of study
3.7 LIST OF REFERENCES

To include only the resources the researcher has literary and physically interacted with.
APA style of referencing is very strongly recommended. Only recent publications in the
area of study are to be consulted.
3.8 APPENDICES
To include such documents as:
a. Questionnaires
b. Letters of introduction/authorization
c. Proposed research budget
d. Projected work plan for carrying out research
e. Long tables; alien data; paragraphs; maps and place locations etc.
3.9 DOCUMENT FORMATTING
1. Font: Times New Romans

2. Font size: Font 12
3. Line Spacing: 1.5
5
4. Margins: 1” all round (bottom, top, right and left)
5. Total number of pages for entire project: between 30-50 pages maximum.
NOTE
1. It is important that the Mount Kenya University Format is maintained.
2. Approval should be sought should there be need to deviate from the above research
proposal/ project writing specifications.

RESEARCH PROJECT GUIDELINE For Diploma

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RESEARCH PROJECT GUIDELINE For Diploma

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

RESEARCH PROJECT GUIDELINE For Diploma

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RESEARCH PROJECT/PROPOSAL GUIDELINE FOR DIPLOMA STUDENTS

SCHOOL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE

1.0 COVER PAGE ......................................................................................................................... 2

2.0. THE PROJECT CONTENTS AT A GLANCE ...................................................................... 2

3.0. PROJECT/PROPOSAL CONTENTS IN SKETCH ............................................................... 3

3.1 PRELIMINARY PAGES ...................................................................................................... 3

3.2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 3

3.3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 4

3.4 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................ 4

3.5 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION ........ 5

3.6 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........... 5

3.7 LIST OF REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 5

3.8 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 5

3.9 DOCUMENT FORMATTING ............................................................................................. 5

1.0 COVER PAGE

2.0. THE PROJECT CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

3.1 PRELIMINARY PAGES

3.2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

2. Statement of the problem

3. Purpose of the study

4. Objectives of the study

5. Research questions or hypotheses

6. Significance/Rationale/Justification of the study

10. Assumptions of the study

3.3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

3.4 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.6 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.7 LIST OF REFERENCES

3.9 DOCUMENT FORMATTING

1. Font: Times New Romans

You might also like