ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH THESIS

The elements that are usually included in any research are shown below: -
1. Title Page. The title page provides the first impression for your audience of your research.  Your title must be
complete and it should provide the focus of your investigation. A title includes: -

a. Topic. Summarizes the main idea of the article.

b. Name of the Author. Here name of the other is written.

c. Name of the Supervisor. Here mentioned name of the person who supervise the researcher.

d. Name of the Institution. Name of the institution is given here in which researcher is studying.

2. Acknowledgement. This is a page focused on expressing gratitude to organizations, agencies or individuals who, in
one way or another, have aided the researchers in finishing the thesis.

3. Content Index. The contents index is essentially a topic outline of the thesis. It is compiled by listing the headings
in the thesis down to whichever level you choose. Mainly it include: -
a. Main Chapters’ Page Numbers.
b. Main Heads’ Page Numbers.
c. Sub-Heads’ Page Numbers.

4. Abstract. The abstract should be self-contained summary of the most important elements of the research. It should
be a between 100-120 words and should be in one paragraph.

5. Chapter No 1 (Introduction). Your introduction is very important, actually the most important part of your research. 
If your introduction gets your audience's attention, they will stay with you throughout your research. There you
provide an introduction or background to the research problem or issue that you intend to study. The introduction
should be clear and straight to the point. When you are able to identify the issue or gap, than the research question
will fall in place naturally.

a. Salutation to the Study.

b. Statement of Problem. The most important aspect of a research is the clarity of the research problem.  The
statement of the problem is the focal point of your research. It should state what you will be studying. In it,
you are looking for something wrong, something that needs close attention.

c. Objectives of the Study. Here you give objectives of your study that what are targets of your research.

d. Significance of the Study. The significance of the study will mainly focus on the question “Who will benefit
from the study?” This section will state the contribution of your study and the usefulness of your study in the
society.

e. General Assumptions.

f. De-Limitations of the Study . A de-limitation identifies potential weaknesses of the study. Think about your
analysis, your instruments, the sample. Think about threats to internal validity that may have been impossible
to avoid or minimize and explain. Also explain things that you are not planning to do (and why you have

Prepared By: Komal Mehreen

M.Phil (Communication and Media Studies)
 chosen not to do so). For example, the literature you will not review (and why not); the population you are not
studying (and why not); the methodological procedures you not use (and why you will not use them).

6. Chapter No 2 (Literature Review). The literature review develops broad ideas of what is already known in a field,
and what questions are still unanswered.  This process will assist you in furthering narrowing the problem for
investigation.

7. Hypothesis or Hypotheses or Research Questions . The “research question” can be a statement on what is to be
investigated; it can be phrased in the form of a question or formal hypothesis. State the Research Question clearly
as it will influence research methodology and the type of data analysis to be performed.

8. Chapter No 3 (Theoretical Framework)

a. Theory. Choose the theory that can best explain the relationships between the key variables in your study.
b. Theoretical Statements. Give your statements in accordance with the theory which support your research.

c. Conceptual Definitions of Key Concepts . Be sure that your research is understandable to a general reader
who does not know much about your field of investigation.  This section gives the definition of important terms
and concepts that are usually stated in the objectives, hypothesis, and research questions.  Define subject-
specific and technical terms.  If you are using words that are different in meaning in the context of your
experiment from traditionally accepted meanings, define the terms. Explain any operational definitions, the
definitions that you have created just for your study.  The clearest way to arrange your definitions page is to
arrange terms in alphabetical order, with definitions stated in complete sentences.

d. Variables. It comes out from “vary” which means variation. Variable is a changeable concept. A concept
containing two or more values or categories is called variable: -

(1) Independent Variable. It is not depend up other variable. It performs its duty itself, no need of help
e.g. smoking cause lungs cancer. In this example smoking is independent variable.

(2) Dependent Variable. It always depends upon other variable, cannot perform its duty itself. It requires
help of other variables. For example: in the above example lungs cancer is dependent variable
because it depend upon smoking.

e. Operationalization of Independent Variables .

f. Operationalization of Dependent Variables .

9. Chapter No 4 (Methodology)
a. Research Design

(1) Type. That is survey, content analysis, Multiple Methods, focus groups, case studies, interviews etc.

(2) Approach
(a) Quantitative Variable. That variable is measureable. For example; weight, height, length is
called quantitative variable.

(b) Qualitative Variable. A variable which is not measureable is called qualitative variable. For
example: love, hate, bravery.
(3) Universe Population of Studies. Here mention our universe population (area of research) to make
the research study reliable and valid.

(4) Sampling Techniques

Prepared By: Komal Mehreen

M.Phil (Communication and Media Studies)
 (a) Probability. In probability sampling every element in the population has a known nonzero
probability of selection. The simple random is the best known probability sample, in which each
member of the population has an equal probability of being selected. Probability sampling
designs are used when the representativeness of the sample is of importance in the interest of
wider generalisability. When time or other factors, rather than generalisability, become critical,
non-probability sampling is generally used.

(b) Non-Probability. In non-probability sampling the probability of any particular element of the
population being chosen is unknown. The selection of units in non-probability sampling is quite
arbitrary, as researchers rely heavily on personal judgment. It should be noted that there are
no appropriate statistical techniques for measuring random sampling error from a non-
probability sample. Thus projecting the data beyond the sample is statistically inappropriate.
Nevertheless, there are occasions when non-probability samples are best suited for the
researcher's purpose.

(3) Time Frame. Indicate a realistic time frame toward project completion.
(4) Sample Size. Since sample size is so important in making statistical inferences. That is why you
should include a "sample size justification" in this section.

(5) Research Tool or Data Collection Tool

(a) Data Tool. Here you mention that what data tool you use for collection of your data.

(b) Pilot Study Reference. Here you give reference of your pilot study.

10. Chapter No 5 (Data Analysis)

a. Graphic / Tabulated representation of data.
b. Explanation / interpretation of all the collected sets / data.
c. Statistical Analysis (Hypothesis testing).

11. Chapter No 6 (Findings and Conclusions)

a. Findings / Conclusion
b. Suggestions

12. References. A reference list only includes the sources that you have cited, not your background reading.

13. Bibliography. A bibliography is a full reference list of all the sources which you have consulted in preparing a
particular piece of work, but may not have cited (for quotations, paraphrasing etc.).

Note: Both types of lists (Reference & Bibliography) should be organized alphabetically and laid out in the same
way. Most courses in the university use the Harvard style of referencing. However, many subject areas have
chosen to use a different system.
14. Appendixes
a. Include all your data in the appendix. 
b. Reference data/materials not easily available (theses are used as a resource by the department and other
students). 
c. Tables (where more than 1-2 pages).
d. Calculations (where more than 1-2 pages).
e. You may include a key article as appendix. 
f. If you consulted a large number of references but did not cite all of them, you might want to include a list of
additional resource material, etc.

Prepared By: Komal Mehreen

M.Phil (Communication and Media Studies)
 g. List of equipment used for an experiment or details of complicated procedures.

Note: Figures and tables, including captions, should be embedded in the text and not in an appendix, unless
they are more than 1-2 pages and are not critical to your argument.

Prepared By: Komal Mehreen

M.Phil (Communication and Media Studies)
Prepared By: Komal Mehreen
M.Phil (Communication and Media Studies)