19 July 2020

GUIDELINES FOR FINAL YEAR PROJECT

You have to write a dissertation as part of your programme. You will also need to submit a
final report on this for assessment (8,000 to 10,000 words). Students write a dissertation
under the supervision of faculty members of the UTB School of Business. They are required
to conduct research on their own.

Students for this module have the following assessment:

Weight (%) Due date

Research proposal and literature review 15 31 October 2020
Midterm report (a progress report) 15 30 January 2021
Final report of the project (8,000-10,000 words) 60 1 May 2021
Participation and meetings with supervisor 10 From 27 July 2020
Total 100

The Final Year Project (FYP) is designed to test your ability to: identify a relevant research
topic, define a clear and achievable research question, identify salient issues, find
information you need, evaluate the validity of any evidence you use, and present your work
in a clear & coherent fashion.

Guidelines for the Different Parts of FYP Report

A. Research Proposal (1,500-2,000 words)

The research proposal is an important working document and which over the next few
months becomes transformed into your final report. You will see that the main sections
replicate the structure of your final report.

Write as clear and detailed a draft project proposal as you can. This will assist you in
planning the project and will help your supervisor to know just what you have in mind. At
this stage, your thoughts will not be fully clear, but a skeleton will be useful now. You can
amend it as much as is necessary in the light of future thinking.

The research proposal should include:

a. A working title:
Your title can and probably will change but using precise wording even at this early
stage will help keep your research project properly focussed.

b. An Introduction to the topic:

A brief description of the topic, aim, research objectives and research questions to be
addressed.
 c. A Preliminary Literature Review:
Describe the current state of research in your defined area, identify a gap(s) where
you argue that further research is needed, and explain how you plan to attend to
that particular research gap.

d. A Detailed Research Methodology:

Outline the methods and procedures to be followed in order to achieve the aims of
the study. May include a discussion of the sources to be consulted.

e. Timetable:
Give detail of how you anticipate to complete the research by submission date.

For more information on literature review, research design, data gathering, and data analysis
see:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/faculties/buslaw/research/students/research-
fundamentals

B. Midterm Report (1,500-2,000 words)

The purpose of the report is to provide a basis for a mid-term assessment of the research
project. The report should contain an account of the activity up till now as well as plans for
the remaining period of the project. The midterm report should include:

§ Background and objectives

An introductory description of the project with respect to:
- Background and motivation
- Concrete goals and objectives
- Significance and own contributions

§ More detailed literature review than that in the proposal

§ More detailed theoretical discussion for your questionnaires, interview, data analysis
and/or case study

§ Clearly identify the methodology, sources of data and/or case

§ Future research plans for the remaining months of the project period up to May 2021

C. Final Report of the Project (8,000-10,000 words)

Individual FYP reports can appear very different, depending upon the topic and the
methodologies used. But the following structure is commonly used:
§ Title page

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 § Summary (or Abstract)
§ Acknowledgments
§ List of Contents
§ Introduction
§ Literature Review
§ Theories and Hypotheses
§ Research Methodology
§ Data Presentation and Analysis
§ Conclusions
§ References
§ Appendices

Seek advice from your supervisor about the structure that will best suit your needs

More detail on the structure of the different parts of a report is given below.

Summary (or Abstract)

The abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the whole report. It should cover the
problem under study, the findings, and the conclusions/implications of the study. Abstract
should be 100-150 words. This should appear on the second page (i.e. after the title page).

Introduction

Write a brief introduction for your area of research and outline the structure of your report
to include: background of the study; problem statement; research questions; objectives;
significance of the study and scope of study.

Literature Review (or Context of the Study)

The purpose of this chapter is to show that you are aware of where your own piece of
research fits into the overall context of research in your field. To do this you need to:

• describe the current state of research in your defined area;

• consider whether there are any closely related areas that you also need to refer to;
• identify a gap where you argue that further research is needed; and
• explain how you plan to attend to that particular research gap.

This can lead logically into a clear statement of the research question(s) or problem(s) you
will be addressing.

Theories and Hypotheses

Describe conceptual frameworks and theoretical foundations that help readers to quickly
understand the main theory (or theories) that are you are interested in, the principal
concepts/constructs you examine or measure, how you think that these different theories
and concepts/constructs might interact, and list hypotheses you would like to test, if any.

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 • theoretical context;
• methodological context;
• practice context; and
• political context.

Research Methodology

Formulate your proposed research methodology of your study in terms of the following
sections. For example, research design; types of research design; sampling method; sampling
techniques; data collection strategy; data analysis method.

Data Analysis
Results: present the key findings of your work. Summarize the data collected for the study in
the form of descriptive statistics and also reports the results of relevant inferential statistical
analysis (e.g. hypothesis testing) conducted on the data. You need to report the results in
sufficient detail.

Analysis/discussion: link your results to the research question and the literature review.
Evaluate the limitations of your work and identify future developments.

Conclusions

Conclusions should:
• follow naturally from the arguments in the main body of your report
• draw together the arguments developed in the main section
• clarify their implications and
• state limitations

References

All references used in writing your final report should be included in a reference
list/bibliography, compiled in alphabetical order by author. The APA style for listing
references should be used. Example of APA style is shown below (Section F).

Appendices

Items that can usually go in the appendices are those that a reader would want to see, but
which would take up too much space and disrupt the flow if placed within the main text.
Again, make sure you reference the Appendices within the main text where necessary.

D. Participation and meeting with Supervisors

Students are expected to follow guidance of the module leader, complete assigned tasks on
a timely manner, and meet with their supervisors at least on a monthly basis. The purpose of
supervisory meetings is to discuss progress and resolve any difficulties.
§ They are expected to take the initiative to ensure this schedule is kept.
§ Students are also responsible for their progress between supervisions.

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§ The structure of supervision meeting should be determined by supervisor and student
working together.
§ Students are also expected to be proactive in identifying difficulties and bringing them to
the attention of their supervisor.

E. Style and Format of your Report

§ Length
- The maximum-word count for the final report is 10,000 words (minimum 8,000
words).
- This excludes the front matter (title, contents, abstract, and list of abbreviations),
bibliography and appendixes, but includes all other material, such as footnotes,
acknowledgments, and glossaries.

§ Layout
- Use a minimum line spacing of 1.5.
- Leave a comfortable margin (at least 2.5 cm on all sides).
- Use standard fonts (i.e. Arial/Times New Roman), at size 12 or similar.
- Use A4 size paper.
- Please number the pages. For sections from Acknowledgements to start of Main
Text page number format is I, ii, iii and so on continuously. For Main Text page
format is 1, 2, 3 and so on continuously.

§ Submission
- One hardbound copy of your final report (not spiral bound).
- An electronic copy (MS Word only).
- Colour of hardbound copy is black.

F. Example of APA Style

In-text Citation with APA

The APA style calls for three kinds of information to be included in in-text citations. The
author's last name and the work's date of publication must always appear, and these items
must match exactly the corresponding entry in the references list. The third kind of
information, the page number, appears only in a citation to a direct quotation.
....(Crockatt, 1995).

Direct quote from the text

"The potentially contradictory nature of Moscow's priorities surfaced first in its policies
towards East Germany and Yugoslavia," (Crockatt, 1995, p. 1).

Major Citations for a Reference List/Bibliography

Note: All second and third lines in the APA Bibliography should be indented.

Material Type Reference List/Bibliography

A book in print Baxter, C. (1997). Race equality in health care and
education. Philadelphia: Ballière Tindall.

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A book chapter, print Haybron, D. M. (2008). Philosophy and the science of subjective
version well-being. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The science of
subjective well-being (pp. 17-43). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
An eBook Millbower, L. (2003). Show biz training: Fun and effective
business training techniques from the worlds of stage, screen,
and song. Retrieved from http://www.amacombooks.org/
An article in a print journal Alibali, M. W. (1999). How children change their minds: Strategy
change can be gradual or abrupt. Developmental Psychology,
35, 127-145.
An article in a journal Carter, S., & Dunbar-Odom, D. (2009). The converging literacies
without DOI center: An integrated model for writing programs. Kairos: A
Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy, 14(1), 38-48.
Retrieved from http://kairos.technorhetoric.net/
An article in a journal with Gaudio, J. L., & Snowdon, C. T. (2008). Spatial cues more salient
DOI than color cues in cotton-top tamarins (saguinus oedipus)
reversal learning. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 122, 441-
444. doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.122.4.441
Websites - professional or The World Famous Hot Dog Site. (1999, July 7). Retrieved
personal sites January 5, 2008, from
http://www.xroads.com/~tcs/hotdog/hotdog.html
Websites - online U.S. Department of Justice. (2006, September 10). Trends in
government publications violent victimization by age, 1973-2005. Retrieved from
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/vage.htm
Emails (cited in-text only) According to preservationist J. Mohlhenrich (personal
communication, January 5, 2008).
Mailing Lists (listserv) Stein, C. (2006, January 5). Chessie rescue - Annapolis, MD
[Message posted to Chessie-L electronic mailing list]. Retrieved
from http://chessie-l-owner@lists.best.com
Radio and TV episodes - DeFord, F. (Writer). (2007, August 8). Beyond Vick: Animal
from library databases cruelty for sport [Television series episode]. In NPR
(Producer), Morning Edition. Retrieved from Academic OneFile
database.
Radio and TV episodes - Sepic, M. (Writer). (2008). Federal prosecutors eye MySpace
from website bullying case [Television series episode]. In NPR (Producer), All
Things Considered. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/
Film Clips from website Kaufman, J.C. (Producer), Lacy, L. (Director), & Hawkey, P.
(Writer). (1979). Mean Joe Greene [video file]. Retrieved from
http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/ccmp/meanjoe_01g.ram
Film Greene, C. (Producer), del Toro, G. (Director). (2015). Crimson
peak [Motion picture]. United States: Legendary Pictures.
Photograph (from book, Close, C. (2002). Ronald. [photograph]. Museum of Modern Art,
magazine or webpage) New York, NY. Retrieved from
http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=108890
Artwork - from library Clark, L. (c.a. 1960's). Man with Baby. [photograph]. George
database Eastman House, Rochester, NY. Retrieved from ARTstor

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Artwork - from website Close, C. (2002). Ronald. [photograph]. Museum of Modern Art,
New York. Retrieved from
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?
object_id=108890
Source: This hand out is based on the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association (APA), but is not a comprehensive guide. For all rules
and requirements of APA citations, please consult the 6th edition of the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Marking Criteria for the Different Parts of FYP Report

A. Research Proposal (15%)

A working title: Your title Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
can and probably will Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
change but using precise (0 point)
wording even at this early
stage will help keep your
research project properly
focussed.
An Introduction to the Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
topic: A brief description of Poor (5 points) (10 points) (15 points) (20 points) (25 points)
the topic, aim, research (0 point)
objectives and research
questions to be addressed
A Preliminary Literature Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Review: Poor (5 points) (10 points) (15 points) (20 points) (25 points)
Describe the current state (0 point)
of research in your defined
area, identify a gap(s)
where you argue that
further research is needed,
and explain how you plan
to attend to that particular
research gap.
A Detailed Research Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Methodology: Poor (5 points) (10 points) (15 points) (20 points) (25 points)
Outline the methods and (0 point)
procedures to be followed
in order to achieve the
aims of the study. May
include a discussion of the
sources to be consulted.
Timetable: Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Give details of how you Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
anticipate to complete the (0 point)
research by the submission
date.

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Overall Presentation of the Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Proposal Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
(0 point)

B. Midterm Report (15%)

Background and motivation Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
(0 point)
Concrete goals and Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
objectives Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
(0 point)
More Detailed Literature Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Review: Poor (5 points) (10 points) (15 points) (20 points) (25 points)
Describe the current state (0 point)
of research in your defined
area, identify a gap(s)
where you argue that
further research is needed,
and explain how you plan
to attend to that particular
research gap.
More Refined Research Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Methodology: Poor (5 points) (10 points) (15 points) (20 points) (25 points)
Outline the methods and (0 point)
procedures to be followed
in order to achieve the
aims of the study. May
include a discussion of the
sources to be consulted.
A brief description of the Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
results or achievements Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
obtained so far (0 point)
Future research plans for Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
the remaining months of Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
the project period up to (0 point)
May 2020.
Overall Presentation of the Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Report Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
(0 point)

C. Final Report (60%)

Aims and Objectives: Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Proper identification of Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
aims and objectives (0 point)
Concept clearly defined; Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Background of research Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
discussed (0 point)
Creativity, relevance, and Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
originality in the topic Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)

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choice and appropriateness (0 point)
of research
Presentation of the current Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
debate in the literature on Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
the topic under (0 point)
investigation
Depth, breadth and Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
criticality of literature Poor (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points) (10 points)
review (0 point)
Ability to synthesize Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
arguments and create a Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
narrative that helps to (0 point)
answer the research
question from classics,
landmarks, and most
recent developments in the
literature
Suitability of methodology Very Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent
for the task at hand Poor (1 points) (2 points) (3 points) (4 points) (5 points)
(0 point)
Meaningful discussion of Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
relevant methods used in Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
the study with an (0 point) points) (4 points)
evaluation of their
benefits and drawbacks
Ability to use technical, Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
statistical and analytical Poor (2 (4 points) (6 points) Good (10 points)
tools and/or software (if (0 point) points) (8 points)
applicable)
Awareness of Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
methodological issues and Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
of limitations of study. (0 point) points) (4 points)
Have ethical
considerations been
taken?
Quality of theoretical Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
discussions and Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
references; Structure and (0 point) points) (4 points)
logical flow of thoughts
Capacity to use literature, Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
theory and/or evidence to Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
support argument (0 point) points) (4 points)
Approach to data Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
collection and analysis: If Poor (2 (4 points) (6 points) Good (10 points)
primary data: structure (0 point) points) (8 points)
and wording of
questionnaire, sampling
method, accuracy and
level of detail of report; if
secondary data: quality of
data, reasons for choice,

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accuracy and
completeness of analysis;
If case study:
appropriateness of the
case, the depth of
analysis.
Is there a clear link from Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
the literature review to Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
the methodology and the (0 point) points) (4 points)
analysis (Here we are
looking for overall
consistency)?
Conclusions / Findings: Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
What is achieved, learnt, Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
and internalized? Is there (0 point) points) (4 points)
ability to “tell the story”
based on the analysis
conducted? Does the
student draw
recommendations for
policy makers or business
(if applicable)?
Academic Standards: Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
Quality of academic Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
writing; Numbering and (0 point) points) (4 points)
labelling tables and
figures; Length; Written
expression (language,
punctuation, grammar,
spelling)
Referencing and Very Poor Fair Good Very Excellent
bibliography; Overall Poor (1 (2 points) (3 points) Good (5 points)
presentation; Structure (0 point) points) (4 points)
and logical flow of
thoughts.

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