FIVE CHAPTER RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATON FORMAT
i.
Title page
ii
Personal Ethics Statement
iii
Certification Page
iv.
Dedication page
v.
Acknowledgement page
vi.
Abstract
vii
Table of Contents
viii
List of Tables
ix.
List of figures
CHAPTER ONE
TITLE:
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Putting the problem of study in context. That is, providing a general explanation for the
problem of the study.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
Putting the problem of study in perspective, from the buildup in the background
1.3
Aim and Objectives of Study
Putting the research questions into specific statements of research objectives or purpose
1.4
Research Questions
Putting the research problem in specific terms, the variables of the problem expressed in
scientific interrogative statements.
1.5 Rationale for the Study
Providing the underlying assumptions of the study
1.6 Significance of Study
Providing the reasons why findings of the study will be of importance to major stakeholders;
in other words, providing the practical and theoretical importance of the study
1.7
Scope of Study or Delimitation of Study
Setting the boundary or scope for the study in terms of concepts, variables, and population of
study
1.8
Definition of Terms or
Conceptual Definition of Terms or
Operational Definition of terms
Defining the relevant terms or variables in their literal sense (i.e. conceptually) or in the sense
in which each variable or concept will be examined or measured in the study (operationally).
References
Providing chapter-specific references or citations in alphabetical order using the APA
referencing format which is the standard referencing format accepted for research projects by
the School of Communication of the Lagos State University
CHAPTER TWO
TITLE:
LITERATURE REVIEW
Provide an organizational statement introducing the arrangement of the chapter’s content. This
should be done without necessarily putting a subtitle “introduction”
2.1
Conceptual Review
Provide a review of the meaning and comments, critiques etc. by scholars, authors,
professionals etc on each of the relevant concepts or variables of the study
2.2
Empirical Review
Provide a review of similar but relevant studies from the points of view of purpose, method,
major findings and relevance to the present study
2.3
Theoretical Framework
Provide a review, and critique of relevant theory or theories that will be needed to frame the
study; that is, help to explain and discuss findings of the study from the theoretical perspective
2.4
Conclusion
Provide an explanation of what you can make out of the overall review with a view to
identifying a missing gap in knowledge which findings of the present study will help to fill or
bridge
References
Provide chapter- specific references or citations in APA format.
CHAPTER THREE
TITLE:
METHOD OF STUDY
Provide an introductory paragraph for the chapter as explained for chapter two
3.1
Research Design
Provide an explanation of the method of data gathering that would be employed for the study
as well as justification for choosing same.
3.2 Population of Study
Provide an explanation of the study population and the study location as well as justification
for your choices. What is the sampling frame? (that list or document containing your population
of study)? Is it the national population census figure or the school register of a secondary school
or website containing the list of voters in a constituency?
3.3 Sampling Technique and Procedure or
Sample Size and Sampling Procedure
Provide an explanation of the number of people to be sampled or examined from the study
population (i.e. the sample size) which constitute the representative sample, the sampling
method(s) or technique(s) to be used in selecting the sample size as well as the procedure or
step by step process of the selection (that is, how the sampling technique(s) will be used to
select the sample size)
NOTE: Not every study makes use of human beings as the study population. Some
studies make use of inanimate objects as study population, or a combination of
inanimate objects and human beings. Example is a content analysis study which makes
use of newspaper articles, news reports, editorials etc. as study population. However,
the explanation above is the template for the explanation of the sampling procedure for
whatever type of study.
3.2
Research Instrument(s) or
Data Gathering Instrument(s)
Provide an explanation of the instrument(s) you would administer to your representative
sample in order to collect or gather relevant data for the study. Description should cover format,
content and relevance of the data gathering questions in the instrument(s) to the study’s
research questions.
3.3
Validity and Reliability of Study
Provide an explanation of what you have done to ensure that research instrument(s)-would
measure or examine what it (or they) is (are) expected to measure or examine (validity), and
would consistently provide similar results when applied to similar samples (Reliability)
3.6 Method of Data Collection or
Procedure for Data Collection
Provide an explanation of how you would collect the data from the representative sample
3.7
Method of Data Analysis
Provide an explanation of how you would analyse the data to be gathered from the points of
view of treatment relating to quantitative or qualitative analysis or both.
NOTE: This chapter is written in the futuristic sense (as a proposal). You are expected to
convert your explanations to the past tense once you have completed the study. This goes for
all subsections in the chapter
CHAPTER FOUR
TITLE:
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Content of the chapter should also be explained through an organizational statement
representing the chapter’s introduction
4.1
Demographics of Respondents
Provide an explanation of the demographics or characteristics of the respondents, without
necessarily plotting tables relating to each demographic variable of sex, age, education,
income, religion etc.
4.2
Answer to Research Questions
Arrange data presentation according to research questions, starting with research question one.
All data and tables relating to research question one should be presented in logical order or
related sequence till all findings relating to each research question have been analyzed and
interpreted. For a qualitative study, the same arrangement of data presentation applies but
without data tables.
4.3
Summary of Major Findings
Provide a list of the major findings of the study in the order in which the research questions
have been addressed or answered through the data presentation in the previous section. This is
a short description of each finding of the study.
4.4
Discussion of Findings
Provide a detailed explanation of the major implications of each of the findings of the study as
listed in the previous section of the chapter. The implications or inferences are drawn and
discussed by linking each of the major findings with the reviewed literature or body of
knowledge related to the research problem as documented in chapter two dealing with review
of relevant or pertinent literature. The study’s findings are discussed to bring out their
implications by linking them up with reviewed concepts, empirical studies and theoretical
statements or postulations and/or their predictions.
References
Provide chapter-specific reference or citations as used in the chapter, particularly under
discussion of findings.
CHAPTER FIVE
TITLE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The chapter should also be introduced as with other chapters
5.0 Summary of the Study
Provide a summary of the study covering purpose of the study, which should capture the
problem of study, as well as theories used in framing the study, method(s) adopted in gathering
relevant data for the study and major findings of the study
5.1Conclusion
Provide an explanation of the study’s conclusion, that is, what you can make out of the
implications of the study’s findings as they relate to the problem area addressed by the study.
5.2 Recommendations
Provide a list of recommendations to (or what should be done by) major stakeholders related
to the study area. The recommendations are the offshoots of your conclusion.
5.3 Limitations of Study
Provide an explanation of the inherent weaknesses of the study related to methods adopted in
gathering data for the study, instruments used in gathering the data, and the sampling
procedure. Primary limitations of the study are derived from issues relating to methods of data
gathering.
Constraints, challenges and unpleasant field experiences constitute secondary limitations and
could be reported.
5.4 Suggestions for Further Study
Provide an explanation of possible aspects or perspectives to your research problem that future
researchers can work on. Your delimitation of the study or setting the scope for your study as
captured in chapter one under the appropriate section of the chapter “delimitations of study” or
“scope of study” should inform what you suggest to future researchers to work on. Those
perspectives of the research problem not covered by your study as pointed out under
delimitations of the study should be the basis for your suggestions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Provide an alphabetical arrangement of all sources cited throughout the different chapters of
the study. Alternatively you can present this section as “REFERENCES” in which case all the
citations are presented in alphabetical order without necessarily breaking them into different
components or sections.
APPENDIX
Present relevant materials that can help the reader better appreciate your effort in conducting
the study or under certain sections of the study better. The first material to be presented as
Appendix 1 should be your research instrument followed by other materials. If you have more
than one research instrument, one of them should as Appendix 1, the other or others as
Appendix 2, 3 respectively before presenting other materials as appendix 4 etc.
ABSTRACT
Abstract comes as the last at the preliminary pages before the presentation of your chapter one.
Abstract is like an executive summary of a major business or professional report. The study’s
abstract should capture the purpose of the study reflecting the problem of the study examined,
related theory(ies) used as theoretical framework for the study, method(s) adopted in gathering
data for the study, major findings of the study, implication(s) of some of the significant
findings, and the study’s recommendation(s) derived from those implications.
NOTE:
This five-chapter framework is also adaptable to production-based studies. This depends on the
foresight and the creativity of the project supervisor, reflective in how he or she guides the
student supervisee.
Adapted by the Publications Committee of School of Communication, LASU. September,
2021.Jide Jimoh