SUPERVISOR
WORKSHOP
MANCOSA 2010
WELCOME
FUNCTIONS OF SUPERVISION
The function of supervision is:
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Administrative – the promotion of and maintenance of good standards of
work
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Educational – the educational development of both students and
supervisor
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Supportive – the maintenance of harmonious academic working
relationship
IMPORTANCE OF SUPERVISION
• To channel the students interest in keeping with the aim and objectives of the
study
• To advise students on updates in literature
• To monitor and control progress as per the requirements of a Masters
dissertation
• To assist the student in successfully completing the dissertation in the
allocated time frame
SUPERVISION PROCESS
The modus operandi for a successful dissertation is as
follows:
1.
Study the proposal
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Contact the student via telephone, email or set up a meeting.
3.
Set up parameters for submission of work, namely:
3.1 Begin with chapter 2 to get the feel for the
dissertation
3.2 Submit chapter 2
3.3 While chapter 2 is being assessed, work on chapter 1
3.4 Review marked chapters, correct and submit for approval
3.5 After the 3rd draft has been approved submit first draft of
chapter 1
3.6 Continue this process until all 5/6 chapters are completed.
4. It is important to clarify that each chapter is generally submitted about 2 or
3 times.
COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK
• The supervisor should arrange, at the student’s initiative, a first supervision
meeting to set out parameters for the research[ e.g. scheduled meetings,
modus operandi of submitting chapters etc].
• Request regular written work from the student and provide prompt feedback.
• Provide an update on the students progress when requested by Mancosa.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN REVIEWING
THE PROPOSAL
• The supervisor must become familiar with the student’s proposal.
• The supervisor must advise the student on the draft proposal and make
changes deemed necessary as the study progresses.
• If there are any changes made to the proposal, the supervisor must ensure the
aim, objectives, literature review and research instrument are aligned.
STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION
The dissertation will include the following:
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Cover page
Title page
Declaration
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Chapter 4: Statement of Results and Analysis
Chapter 5: Interpretation and Discussion of Findings
Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendices
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
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Study the aim and ensure that it matches the title of the study.
Look at the objectives, research questions and the instrument used.
Ensure that they match in headings, sub headings and contents. Different
words may be used but the idea must be present.
The objectives, research questions, literature review and instrument MUST
be aligned.
Check referencing and problem statement. Ensure that references are
relevant to the research topic under study.
Ensure that background information has been included; specifying the
problem background with reference to the organization under study.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
CHAPTER 2
Literature Review
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The theory in this chapter is based largely on the objectives of the study
and must provide theory to justify the collected data.
All theory must be applied at strategic points to the organization under
investigation.
The student must establish a clear link to the MBA coursework using the
selected theory.
This chapter must be a critical, analytical attempt. It must not be
descriptive. Ensure that the selected theory is criticized and justified for its
suitability.
Ensure that the theoretical framework is applicable to the topic under
investigation.
Ensure that findings of other similar studies have been presented.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
CHAPTER 3
Research Methodology
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The chapter must be written in the past tense as the study would already
have been completed by the time of submission.
Theory must be provided to justify the chosen methodology. For example:
Focus on justifying the chosen sampling method and the relevance of the
sampling method. The chosen step must be accounted for viz. What is
sampling [Theory], list types of sampling, focus on chosen technique e.g.
cluster sampling. Define cluster sampling and explain WHY you chose it
and why it is most appropriate for your study.
Study the instrument. Ensure that it is aligned to the objectives/research
questions.
Ensure that there are no double barrelled questions that can impact on the
findings.
Ensure that a pilot study has been conducted, the data analyzed and
subjected to a reliability test. Explain how the reliability test was run.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CONTINUED
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All the explanations must be presented scientifically.
Reliability and validity techniques used must be examined. Explain how
reliability and validity was established (N.B. It is different for qualitative
and quantitative research). Refrain from only stating or describing what
reliability and validity are.
Note that this chapter is NOT a literature review of research methodology.
Ensure that the student has NOT included an abundance of theory. The
student must balance the theoretical discussion showing application to the
study.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
CHAPTER 4
STATEMENT OF RESULTS & ANALYSIS
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All data collected must be presented in table format, pie chart or graphs in
the order they appear in the questionnaire.
They must be numbered accordingly.
All tables and information must be on the same page. Tables CANNOT
be continued on the next page.
All data must be presented in percentages.
Sentences must begin in words not in numbers e.g. 40% this is wrong. It
must read as …A total of 40%…. Or Forty percent…
Check to see if a hypothesis was cited in chapter 1. If yes, it must be
discussed in this chapter. If not, do not worry. Also ensure that the
specific hypothesis testing procedures have been adhered to.
CHAPTER 4 CONTINUED
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If students use interviews [qualitative study] there will be no tables and
percentages. It will be purely descriptive. Thematic analysis must be
conducted.
Correct explanations of statistic procedure adopted may be presented in
this chapter or as an annexure.
All explanations referring to tables and/or graphs must make reference to
the relevant table and/or graph.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
It is possible to combine chapters 4 & 5. This is left to the discretion of
the student/supervisor.
CHAPTER 5
INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
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Each table must be discussed in detail and justified by the theory from
chapter 2. References must be cited when using theory from chapter 2.
Findings must be explained with reference to theory and the organization
under study.
New theory and literature can be brought in at this stage.
There is no right and wrong answer here. The emphasis is on sound
interpretation of the findings, justified by theory.
If a multiple approach is used, then there is need for triangulation. Ensure
that students do not merely present findings. Each finding MUST be
interpreted in the light of the research questions and discussed in the
context of the research problem.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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Students to present findings first and then present the conclusions reached
from the findings.
Finally, the recommendations offered must flow from the findings of
the study.
IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT THE FINDINGS ARE IN
LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVES AND ANSWERS THE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS.
This will ensure that the objectives have been achieved.
Recommendations must be presented and discussed.
Provide an action plan to achieve objectives.
Ensure that each chapter has an introduction and a conclusion.
GENERAL
1. Spot check the dissertation for:
• Style
• Presentation
• Basic structure
• Numbering
• Alignment
• Paragraphs
• Spacing
• Word count
2. Follow the 6 chapter guidelines and ensure that all sections are
covered.
3. As this is a 15000 word dissertation, ensure that students do not
go beyond the wordcount. A 5% tolerance level is allowed.
GENERAL CONTINUED
4. The harvard referencing style must be used.
5. Check referencing by ensuring that references that appear in-text
appear in the bibliography.
6. Ensure that the student is aware of plagiarism and how best to
avoid it.
7. The student should get a statistician to assist him/her with
descriptive and inferential statistics.
WRITING AND PRESENTATION STYLE
• Proper sentence construction, grammar, punctuation, lay versus scientific,
argument coherency
• Encourage the student to seek the assistance of a professional editor.
• All abbreviations have to be introduced before they are used in the document
• Quotations should preferably be in italics and do not form an extensive part
of the review.
• Quotations must be contextualised within the study.
• Presentation style: 12 point font, times new roman or arial at 1.5 line spacing,
1.25 inches margin, and justify all margins.
SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AND SUBMISSION OF
DRAFT
• Once the student has completed the dissertation and satisfied Mancosa’s
requirements, he/she has to submit one spiral bound copy to the research
department.
• This dissertation must be accompanied by the supervisor evaluation report.
• The dissertation will not be moderated if the supervisor does not submit the
report.
• All collected data must be submitted.
CORRECTION AND RESUBMISSION
• After the moderation process, the dissertation is returned to the student for
correction.
• The supervisor must assist the student with the correction and ensure that all
changes have been implemented.
• The student must resubmit the dissertation to Mancosa for re-assessment.
FINAL SUBMISSION
• If the student has implemented all the changes recommended by the
moderator, then he/she is requested to send a final hard bound.
• The supervisor must ensure that the dissertation is 100% correct before
submission.
STUDENT’S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• It is imperative that the student contacts the supervisor as soon as possible to
plan the study programme.
• He must not submit multiple chapters at one time. There are several
disadvantages to it.
• Students are urged to submit one chapter at a time, so that all
recommendations made by the supervisor may be implemented at each stage.
This would obviate the problem of making major changes to the multiple
chapters or the entire dissertation.
THANK YOU