Semester 2. 2013-2014
19 March, 2014
HONOURS THESIS BRIEFING SESSION
THE HONOURS THESIS (HT)
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The HT is a scholarly exercise in which students
formulate their own research problems and
carry out the research projects themselves.
Under no circumstances should students employ
research assistants (paid) for their projects.
Under no circumstances should students use the
data collected by the faculty members or someone
else (exceptions: public data, content analysis…..)
Supervisors may require that students have taken,
or be taking, a particular module in order to be
eligible to select a certain HT topic.
HT PROPOSAL
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Students are encouraged to propose their own
topics to potential supervisors in writing
The proposal should include
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Specific research questions (ex: “ I am interested in
social media.” – this will never do) NM2102, 4102
Background of the research questions
Theories or theoretical framework (chicken and egg)
Research methods to be employed and why
advantages and disadvantages of RM
Plans for data collection
Your supervisor’s signature
HT PROPOSAL &
THESIS SUBMISSION
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This semester:
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Long due already
Thesis submission (Friday, 7 November 2014)
Next semester:
 15
Sept 2014(Monday): Deadline for the
proposal i.e., Submission of thesis proposal
 You can change your research questions even
after you submit the proposal.
 13 April 2015 (Monday): Thesis submission
REQUIREMENT
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Maximum length is 12,000 words, which only
include the main text and exclude the endnotes,
appendices, and bibliography. Check APA for
the order. There is no minimum number of
words. The thesis will be evaluated based on
the quality instead of length.
Students may include the interview / focus
group / survey questions as appendices but the
transcripts are not necessary.
Upload Thesis in IVLE [new requirement]
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3 copies of thesis must be submitted to
CNM General Office, 1 HARD-BOUND copy
and 2 ring-bound copies using A4 size
paper on the HT deadline.
Thesis should be printed double-sided.
If you do not comply with this requirement (i.e., still
printing your thesis one-sided) , your thesis will result
in an automatic 5-point deduction
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The HT should be submitted no later than
07 November 2014, 5.00pm to Retna
(CNM General Office).
Thesis is assessed by two academic staff.
 ISM is assessed by your supervisor
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FORMAT & STYLE
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Thesis in social sciences follows APA (American
Psychological Association) version 6 style. Consult
the APA manual (at the library) or websites for your
format and citation needs
(http://www.icahdq.org/publications/publicnewslett
er/2009/9/SEP09_APAREVIEW.asp). Follow closely.
Reviewers can be very picky.
Your supervisor may require you to follow other
citation style. Check with your supervisor and make
sure you use the specific style
Check Honours Thesis Guideline on CNM website.
REQUIREMENT OF THE ISM
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The Independent Study Module is designed to enable the student to
explore an approved topic within the discipline in depth.
The student should approach a lecturer to work out an agreed
topic, readings, and assignments for the module.
A formal, written agreement is to be drawn up, giving a clear
account of the topic, programme of study, assignments,
evaluation, and other pertinent details.
Head's and Honours Coordinator's approval of the written
agreement are required. Regular meetings and reports are
expected.
Evaluation is based on 100% Continuous Assessment
Expected to finish within ONE semester
STARTING THE THESIS
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It is a great opportunity to explore what you wanted to know more. If
you are not sure, review what you have done for the past modules,
such as projects. It can give you more concrete ideas where to start
and whom is the best supervisor for your project.
Once you know (even if vaguely) your topic, write it so that your ideas
can be more concrete, specific, and doable (very important).
Supervisors can be as clueless as you are if your ideas are too broad
and general. It is always a good idea to check your potential
supervisors research works (areas, theories, research methods, etc)
On meeting your potential supervisor, discuss your idea as specific as
you can. Your first meeting may not be fruitful. Develop your ideas
according to supervisor’s suggestions and have another meeting to
finalize the topics.
In case you came to the wrong person, ask for recommendation for
suitable faculty members.
TECHNICALITIES
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Since thesis (ISM) is more of a contact between two
people, student and professor, it is important to get
clear instructions and establish some
agreements on expectations and timeline. It is only
to guide you better in a timely fashion and eliminate
unnecessary misunderstanding. Therefore, use
emails after meetings to confirm what was discussed
(written proofs).
When there arise any difficulties with your supervisors
in terms of communications, instructions, and any
thesis (ISM) related issues, try to resolve it with
him/her first. If this turns to be unsuccessful, then
contact me (lin@nus.edu.sg) for further assistance.
DERC
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Department Ethic Review Committee (Leanne,
Anne-Marie and me). Contact Leanne, the Chair,
first
Reviews your research proposal, protocols, and etc.
 works like IRB of the university
All empirical research (except content analysis) will
have to go through DERC review process
They meet only on the first day of some months
(will be announced later) and take a month to
process the review.
So, plan ahead and START EARLY. CAN’T
GRADUATE or GRADUATE with LOW MARKS
DERC
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What you need for DERC
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IRB (Social Science) from IRB website
Your supervisor is the PI, his/her CV
Your instrumentations (questionnaires,
interview/ FG questions, etc)
Literature reviews
No mistakes please  will delay the review
process
SUBMISSION TO DERC IF YOU
SUBMIT THESIS IN 7 NOVEMBER 2014
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Undergraduate research projects dealing with human subjects (e.g., surveys,
experiments, focus groups, interviews, ethnography)
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Neither NUS-IRB nor the DERC does retrospective review
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Honours thesis
If minority groups are involved, applications should be submitted to NUS-IRB
If you plan to publish the research results in conferences or journals in the future, you should
submit the application to NUS-IRB
You cannot collect data before getting the DERC (or IRB) approval. Violation will result in a
ZERO score for your thesis
It takes up to ONE MONTH to get the approval from the DERC or the IRB
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The DERC will only meet on 15 Aug 2014 and 15 Sept 2014
The IRB accept submissions on the first day of every month
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These deadlines only apply to those who submit their thesis in 7 NOVEMEBER 2014.
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The latest day for them to submit DERC applications should be
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Those who will submit thesis in April next year should NOT submit now (it will not be
entertained by DERC chair)
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SEPT 15, 2014.
SUBMISSION TO DERC IF YOU
SUBMIT THESIS IN 13 APRIL 2015
1.
Undergraduate research projects dealing with human subjects (e.g.,
surveys, experiments, focus groups, interviews, ethnography)
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2.
Neither NUS-IRB nor the DERC does retrospective review
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3.
Honours thesis
If minority groups are involved, applications should be submitted to NUS-IRB
If you plan to publish the research results in conferences or journals in the future, you
should submit the application to NUS-IRB
You cannot collect data before getting the DERC (or IRB) approval. Violation will result
in a ZERO score for your thesis
It takes up to ONE MONTH to get the approval from the DERC or the IRB
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The DERC will only meet on 15 Nov 2014, 15 Dec 2014, and 15 Jan 2015
The IRB accept submissions on the first day of every month
If honours students plan to graduate in May 2015, the latest day for them to submit
DERC applications should be
Jan 15, 2014.