SYNOPSIS WRITING METHODS

SUSMITA DUTTA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
PC, PSIT COE
 Objective of a Research Synopsis
Research synopsis is the plan for the research
project. It provides:
❖ rationale for the research
❖ research objectives
❖ proposed methods for data collection and
recording
❖ formats and/or questionnaires and
interview guides.
 LENGTH

The full synopsis should be

maximum 3-4,000 words,
excluding appendices.
 Standard headings
1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Problem analysis/literature review
5. Objectives
6. Hypotheses
7. Limitations
8. Methodology and methods
9. References
10. Appendix Research matrix
 Points to be kept in mind during
writing a Title
❖Title should be brief and self-explanatory.
❖It should relate directly to the main objective
of the proposed research.
❖A more specific and descriptive sub-title
can be added if necessary, for example to
indicate the main methodology that will be
applied.
❖It must be written using Title Case.
 Example of a title.
The effect of participatory forest management
on livelihoods: a case study from Tanzania.
Based on a research synopsis prepared by Aklilu
Ameha Yitagesu
Correct way of writing a title using title
case

The Effect of Participatory Forest Management

on Livelihoods: A Case Study from Tanzania
 Abstract
❖The abstract should briefly state the
problem, the main objective(s), the
theories/conceptual framework used (if
relevant), and the method(s).
❖The abstract alone should give the reader a
clear idea about the research in no more than
150 words.
 Abstract -example
Tanzania’s protected areas contribute to the national income through
protection of animal species and habitats attracting large numbers of
tourists. But local communities who largely bear the costs of conservation
receive only a small percentage of the benefit. Consequently, wildlife
populations decline and habitats are being lost through conversion to
agriculture. This study aims at estimating the total local economic value
of conserving the Tarangire Ecosystem to contribute to an
understanding of potentials for conservation through tourism. The
contingent valuation method will be used to measure the willingness
to pay and willingness to accept (dichotomous choice elicitation) of
local communities for the protection of the Tarangire ecosystem. A
two-stage systematic random sampling design will be used to select
about 150 respondents to socioeconomic, perception and attitude, and
contingent valuation surveys. Data will be analysed with logit/ probit
models.
 Introduction
❖ Here you should introduce the main problem,
set it into context and introduce the particular
niche within the main subject area that you will
work with.
❖ For example, the main subject area could be
deforestation and theIntroduction would then
briefly argue why it is relevant to be concerned
with deforestation –to whom it is a problem and
why.
Problem analysis/Literature review
❖present details regarding the research
problem
❖present documentation of the existence of
the problem
❖how it is manifested, who it affects and
involves, what roles and interests the involved
actors have
❖the historical background to the problem
 Objectives
❖These should be identified on the basis of the
problem analysis.
❖should be relevant and justified.
❖one overall objective describing the general
contribution that the research project makes
to the subject area.
❖one or more specific objectives focusing on
discrete tasks that will be achieved during
the research
 Hypotheses
❖These are predictions of the outcomes from
the study.
❖It is useful at the outset to specify the
hypotheses in terms of the assumed relations
between variables so as to clarify the position
and pre-understanding of the researcher.
 Methodology and methods
❖A research project follows an overall
methodology to make conclusions in relation
to the overall objective. Some types are
experiments, surveys, models and case
studies.
❖Within a given research methodology several
data collection methods can be relevant, and
both quantitative and qualitative methods
may be used in the same study.
 Appendix A Research matrix
References
❖A logical visual representation of the research
design helps to ensure coherence
 Citations & Bibliographic Entries
In-Text Citations
Up to Three Authors. Do not separate the name and
date by a comma. When including a specific page
in the citation, it follows the date, preceded by a
comma. Please note that all of the examples
provided in this document are contained in a box
so you can easily distinguish the text from the
example.
(Knox 1994)
(Short and Kim 1999, 128)
(Dempsey, Goetz, and Szliowicz 1997)
 Bibliographic Entries
Book, one author. The title of the book is italicized.
When giving the place of publication, give the
first city if two or more cities are listed with the
publisher’s name. If the place of publication is not
widely known, the abbreviation of the state (or
country) should follow it, preceded by a comma.
Knox, Paul. 1994. Urbanization: An Introduction to
Urban Geography. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall.
Structure and importance
of a
Thesis or Project
Prepared by
SUSMITA DUTTA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
PSIT COE
 FORMAT
A thesis is usually composed of three main
parts:
• preliminaries
• text
• and references.
Elements in the Thesis/Project
 Elements in the Thesis/Project
Preliminaries:

1: Title Page of Abstract. The title page is not numbered.

2: Abstract. The abstract is not numbered.
3: Approval Page. The approval page is not numbered.
4:Title Page. The title page is page i (lower-case Roman numeral) but is not
shown.
5:Acknowledgments. The Acknowledgments page is page ii.
6:Table of Contents. The Table of Contents includes page numbers of chapters
and all sub-sections. The page numbers are right-aligned and are preceded
by a dot leader. The Table of Contents is numbered using small Roman
numerals. The Table of Contents includes Appendices but not Tables or
Figures.
7:List of Tables with page references. The List of Tables is formatted the same
as the Table of contents.
8:List of Figures. The List of Figures is formatted the same as the
Table of contents.
 Text (Body of Document)

Introduction

Chapters
Sub chapters
 REFERENCES
Bibliography
Appendices
Citations & Bibliographic Entries
 PREPARATION OF ABSTRACT
❖ A brief description of the problem
❖ A description of the methods, techniques,
and data used
❖The major finding of the study
❖ The abstract should not exceed 600 words.
The word "Abstract" should appear at the
beginning of the abstract text.
 ABBREVIATIONS
❖Using “i.e.” and “e.g.” When using “i.e.” (an
abbreviation for id est, “that is”) or e.g. (an
abbreviation for exempli gratia, “for example”)
in a sentence, always follow the abbreviation
with a comma.
 TABLES AND FIGURES
❖Spell out the label (e.g., Figure 1). Figure
captions appear below the figure and table
captions appear above the table (see later).
 HEADINGS & SUBHEADINGS
Major chapter or section headings are in all capital
letters.
CHAPTER HEADING (thesis/project) or New page,
centered, bold, ALL CAPS
MAJOR SECTION (proposal, two-paper option) Centered,
bold, ALL CAPS
First-Level Heading Centered, bold, Heading Caps
Second Level Heading Flush Left, italics, bold, Heading
Caps
Third level heading Indent with paragraph, end with a
period, italics, bold, Sentence caps
 PAPER SIZE
The size of the paper to be used is 8 ½ x 11
inches.
 TYPE (FONT)
Times New Roman typeface is preferred. For
running text, you should not use a sans serif
typeface – i.e., do not use Arial or Calibri, the
default font in Word
 MARGINS
Leave a 1 ½ inch margin on the left side and a 1
inch margin at the right side, the top and
the bottom. The following pages should have a 2
inch margin at the top of the page.