General Format of a Research Project

A written format of research work is known as a thesis or research report. All such works may differ considerably in the scope of treatment and details of the presentation. Even then all types of research reports are expected to follow a general uniform, common pattern of format, style and structure. A research report or thesis is an organized format of research work done. It is viewed in three major categories:

A. Preliminaries,

B. Textual Body, and

C. References

Each category has been outlined further as follows:

A. Preliminary Section

As the preliminaries form a significant part of the whole thesis report, due care should be taken in preparing them. If the specifications are already laid down by some colleges or universities they should be observed. However, a general standard pattern suggested here in each case will be helpful for a researcher. The preliminary section includes:

1. Title page

2. Preface or acknowledgments

3. Table of content

4. List of tables (if any)

5. List of figures (if any).

1. Title Page

This is the first page of a thesis or a dissertation. It includes:

(a) Title of thesis.

(b) Name of the candidate.

(c) Purpose or relationship of the thesis to the course or degree requirement.

(d) College and/or department in which the candidate has been admitted for the degree.

(e) Name of the university to which it is submitted.

(f) Month and year of submission or acceptance.

The title should be accurate, concise and clearly printed in capital letters. It should convey the main theme of the problem investigated.

2. Preface or Acknowledgement

A preface is different from an introduction. It is a brief account of the origin and the utility of the study for which the report is presented. It also includes the acknowledgment of the persons and sources that have been helpful to the investigator. The preface should not be too long with too many details about the research work or its organization, which can appear in the introduction. The word PREFACE or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT should be typed in capital letters. It should be written in an impressive way.

3. Table of Contents

This section lists all the main chapter headings and the essential sub-heading in each with the appropriate page numbers against each. The listing of main chapters is generally preceded by some preliminaries like preface or acknowledgment, list of tables, list of figures, abstract or synopsis and their respective pages in small Roman numbers and followed at the end by appendices, and Indexes. Contents should neither be too detailed nor too sketchy. The table of contents should serve an important purpose in providing an outline of the contents of the report. The capitalized title ‘Contents’ should be the central heading of the page and the capitalized word ‘CHAPTER’ and ‘PAGE’ lead to the numbers of chapters and those of pages respectively on the left and right margins.

4. List of Tables

The table of contents is followed by the list of tables on a separate page. This list of tables consists of the titles or captions of the tables included in the thesis along with the page number where these can be located. The capitalized title ‘LIST OF TABLES’ should be the central heading of the page and the capital words ‘TABLE’ and ‘PAGE’ should lead to the numbers and those of pages respectively at the left and right margins.

5. List of Figures and Illustrations

If any charts graphs or any other illustrations are used in the thesis, a list of figures on a separate page is prepared in the same form as the list of tables except that they are numbered with Arabic numbers.

B.   Main Body of the Report or Textual Body

The text of the thesis is the most important section in the organization of the research report. The quality of the report is mainly examined. It is the original production of the researcher. The report of the main body serves the function of demonstrating the competence of the researcher. Generally, the main body of the research reports consists of five or six chapters including Introduction and Conclusion (or three or four chapters excluding the introduction and conclusion).

Chapters

I. Introduction or Theoretical Frame Work

II. Review of Related Literature

III. Background of the Present Study

IV. Key Chapters

VI. Conclusion

Chapter 1: Introduction or Theoretical Frame Work

The main purpose of this chapter is to indicate the need and scope of the study. It consists essentially of the statement of research inquiry. It is reported in the past tense form of work completed. The problem objectives, hypotheses, assumptions and delimitations of the study are reported precisely. An introduction should indicate the following:

(a) Statement of the problem

(b) Area/Period of the Study

(c) Scope and Relevance

(d) Objectives

(e) Hypothesis

(f) Sources and Methodology

(g) Design of the Study

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

This chapter is essential in most of the research studies. It presents the comprehensive development of the problem background. It indicates what has already been studied by others. The review of literature stresses two aspects: the first is the consideration of the subject matter and it is likely more important than the other. The second is related to methodology and design. The review chapter is devoted to the development of the problem statement or the object of the inquiry. It is the balancing chapter of the research report.

Chapter 3: Background of the Present Study

This space can be utilised for posting the background of the problem which is under scrutiny. This will give the researcher to situate/locate his problem.

Chapter 4: Key Chapters

One or more chapters can be used to present the content of the study. This is the place in which the researcher raises his arguments. These chapters can provide the opportunity to analyse the available sources to reach new interpretations. Subheadings can be used to provide different themes. The content can be arranged chronologically or thematically. It also provides the opportunity to establish historical truth regarding the problem under investigation. Generalisation, conceptualisation and theorisation can be framed in this chapter.  

Conclusion

This part concludes the study. It also posts the important findings of the study and also presents the thread for further research in the field.  

(C) Reference Section

The reference section includes an appendix, bibliography, glossary and index.

1. Glossary

In the report, a glossary should be provided. It includes the meanings or definitions of some words and terms used in the research report. Some notation symbols or abbreviations should be explained what actually they mean or indicate in the study. The local terms and terms other than English used in the report need some explanation. Glossary serves this purpose.

2. Appendix

An appendix is an important reference materials category. It includes the material which cannot be logically included in the main body or textual body of the research report. The appendix usually includes Primary sources, interviews, tables and statistical data, figures and illustrations, etc. The appendix serves the function of providing greater clarity and authenticity for the readers or consumers of the thesis. The items in the appendix are very essential for a good research report.

3. Bibliography

It is a listing of works used in the preparation of the report. It is arranged in alphabetical order, into subcategories beginning with a listing of primary sources, followed by secondary works. Beginning researchers should create a selected bibliography. A selected bibliography only includes those sources—both primary and secondary—that were cited (footnoted) in the paper. Historians do not pad or inflate the bibliography with sources that were consulted but not actually footnoted. There are three basic types of bibliographies.

A simple bibliographic entry contains the following information:

§  Author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name followed by a comma

§  Full title of the book in italics followed by a comma

§  Name of the Publishers followed by a comma

§  Place of Publication followed by a comma

§  Year of the Publication

4. Index

When a research report is published, an index must be given. The index includes authors and subjects and topics or words in alphabetical order with the concerned page numbers of its occurrences.