STRUCTURE FOR RESEARCH PROJECT AND THESIS FOR POST GRADUATE

STUDENTS
1. STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A) Title page to include:

i. Title

- A concise statement of the main topic and should identify the variables.

- Should be a reflection of the contents of the document.

- Fully explanatory when standing alone.

- Should not contain redundancies such as ‘a study of…..or ‘an investigation

- Abbreviations should not appear in the title.

- Scientific names should be in italics.

- Should contain 12 to 15 words.

ii. Author’s name and affiliation

- Avoid use of words like ‘By’….. ‘from”…..

- Preferred order of names- start with 1st, middle followed by last name.

- Full names should be used, initials should be avoided.

- Titles like Dr. should not appear in the names.

Affiliation should be well illustrated i.e. ‘A thesis/ research project submitted to the
Department of ………in the School for Human Resource Development in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of …….. Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology.’

The year should follow at the bottom of the caption.

Note:

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 For proposals (spiral bound) the cover page should include the title, author and
affiliation (all on one page) and centered.

B) Declaration – Should include both the candidate’s and the supervisor’s declaration
and duly signed.

This proposal/thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in
any other University

…………………. …………………

Signature Date

This proposal/thesis has been submitted for examination with my approval as

……………… ……………….

Signature Date

Note: Paginate using roman numbers starting with the declaration page.

C) Abstract- This is a brief statement of the problem, objectives of the study, target
population, sampling technique and sample size, instruments, data collection, data
processing and analysis, key findings and major recommendations.

- Should not exceed 1000 words.

D) Table of contents – The rubric should be in title case and single spaced.

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 - The chapter titles should be in caps and bold.

- The subheadings should follow each chapter title and should be in title case.

- Subheading of rows should be – Chapters & Pages indicated once at the top of
each column e.g.,

CHAPTER 1 PAGE

1.1 Introduction ……………………………1

1.2 Statement of the problem………………2

Reference

Appendices

E) List of Tables

F) List of Figures

G) Acronyms

H) Definition of terms

- Define terms in the text that are not common.

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter should include the following;

1.1 Background –Should show understanding and genesis of the problem.

- Talk about the global perspective followed by the local scenario.

- Talk about the target group in the study.

- Should be approximately 5 pages (4-6 pages)

1.2 Statement of the problem

- Must indicate exactly what the problem is.

- Indicate why and how it is a problem. Give information to support this e.g. by use
of statistics or evidence. This should be derived from background information to
illustrate connectivity.

- Length- Maximum 2 pages.

1.3 Objectives

- One general objective which should be in line with the title.

- Specific objectives- have to be in line with the variables the candidates hypothesize
to influence the phenomenon being investigated.

- Should be related to the general objective.

- Should not be questions in the questionnaire.

1.4 Research Questions

- They should be in line with the specific objectives and equal in number.

- Have to be numbered (1, 2, 3…..) and should be questions and not statements.

1.5 Justification

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 - Should illustrate why the researcher is conducting the research and whom it
shall benefit.

1.6 Scope

- This is a kind of a disclaimer. It should cite the focus of the study geographical area
or target group/ population.

1.7 Limitation

- Not a must for a proposal.

- Has to be there in the final thesis/project report.

- Indicate the challenges encountered in the study that may have limited the study.

Note:

- Paragraphing should be consistent. Either leave space or indent between

- Spacing and indenting should not be used together.

- One sentence paragraphs are unacceptable.

- A paragraph should have a minimum of five sentences.

Table of contents should be followed by:

- List of figures/ tables- Should be labeled as per the chapters in which they are
found e.g. the first figure in chapter one should be labeled as Figure 1.1

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter should include;

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Theoretical review/Conceptual Framework

- Review the empirical and theoretical literature relevant to the problem being
investigated showing clearly the linkage of literature review to the research
questions;

- Indicate what has been done by other researchers including the

- The hypothesized variables should be subheadings of the literature review to

- Conceptual framework should demonstrate an understanding of what

- Cite 3-5 references per key section in the text.

- Use either APA or Harvard method of citation. Consistency is important in

- Each key variable should be 2-3 pages long.

2.3 Critique of the existing literature relevant to the study.

2.4 Summary

2.5 Research gaps

CHAPTER 3

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 METHODOLOGY

This chapter should indicate;

3.1 Research design- Indicate type of research, justify the choice of type of
research by citing authority.

3.2 Population; clearly identify the population and the target population. Justify
the target population.

3.3 Sampling frame; Justify the choice.

3.4 Sample and sampling technique- illustrate understanding of the technique.

3.5 Instruments.

3.6 Data collection procedure.

3.7 Pilot test-depends on the instrument being used.

3.8 Data Processing and analysis.

REFERENCES

Thesis should include both referencing and bibliography and project to have
only reference

APPENDICES: Instruments (e.g. questionnaire), Budget, work plan

CHAPTER 4

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

i) Style of presentation – presentation of raw data followed by discussion

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 ii) Should be guided by the methodology. Unit of analysis should be based on
the research questions or objectives and should capture the independent variables.

iii) Tables should have no vertical lines (use simple formatting)

iv) Table titles should be at the top of the tables.

v) Tables copied from elsewhere should have source below them.

vi) Any table generated by the researcher should not have the source quote.

vii) Figure titles should be at the bottom of the figures.

viii) Figures can have different shadings.

ix) Discussion should follow the results.

CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 INTRODUCTION-A brief on the chapter

5.2 SUMMARY- This is an extended abstract

5.3 CONCLUSIONS- Must be derived from the summary

5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS- Should be derived from the conclusions

REFERENCES

Thesis should include both referencing and bibliography and project to have only
reference

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APPENDICES

i) Instruments

ii) Tables

iii) Figures

iv) Letters of introduction

v) Budget **

vi) Work plan**

3. EVALUATION GUIDELINE

- Shall be guided by the guidelines on the structure of the proposal/thesis.

A) Pre-requisites

i) The Researcher must come up with original work. The Department shall maintain
a compendium of all research work done for reference.

ii) Candidates shall be required to submit synopsis (for Masters) and a concept paper
(for PhD) of their proposals to the relevant departments for review by the
Chairpersons of the departments.

iii) The synopsis should be 1 page and the concept paper should be 2-5 pages.

iv) Candidates shall be required to discuss their concept paper with prospective
supervisor before submitting to the department.

v) For PhD candidates, evidence of research work at Masters Level shall be required
otherwise they shall be required to carry out independent studies.

vi) In cases where there is no evidence of research, candidates shall be deemed not
admissible into the program.

B) Grading shall be as follows

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 - Pass with minor amendments

- Pass with major amendments

- Reject –total overhaul

- Thesis/projects shall be graded in accordance with the applicable clause of the

- Scores for proposals shall be on the basis of pass/fail taking into consideration
objective oriented evaluation. The SHRD postgraduate committee shall constitute
the panel.

- Awarding of marks/scoring shall be based on the SHRD project/thesis

- Assessment of PhD proposals shall be conducted by the SHRD postgraduate

- Submission and evaluation of the PhD thesis shall be guided by the University
Statutes.

4 PRESENTATION STYLE

i) Proposal length shall not exceed 20 pages (from chapter 1) double

ii) Referencing system should either be Harvard or APA but

iii) Font – Times New Roman 12 should be used. Fancy fonts should be
avoided.

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 iv) There should be a margin of 50mm on the left hand and a 25mm
margin on the right hand side of the A4 paper

v) A 25mm margin should be on the top and bottom sides of the paper

vi) Every copy of the thesis should be bound in black. The spine of the
thesis should be embossed in gold with the names of the candidate, the
degree and the year. The writing should read from the bottom to the top of
the spine.

5. MODE OF PROPOSAL/THESIS PRESENTATION

i) The presentations must be in PowerPoint.

ii) Quality slides (legible from a distance of 20 feet) giving a summary

iii) Slides should not exceed 15.

iv) Masters proposal presentations shall be limited to 10 minutes.

v) PhD proposal presentations shall be limited to 15 minutes.

Note: PhD candidates may submit their research proposals once they are ready
but three months after their coursework unless under special circumstances.

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