THESIS / DISSERTATION GUIDE

BOOK

Formatting requirements, sections, checklists, and suggested

timelines for producing and submitting your dissertation or
thesis.

Third Edition December 2021

Prepared by
Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka
 Table of Contents
1 : INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
2 : FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 1
2.1 : Language and Writing Style ............................................................................... 1
2.2 : Word count, Page Size and Specifications ......................................................... 2
2.3 : Equations (if applicable) ..................................................................................... 2
2.4 : Font ..................................................................................................................... 2
2.5 : Margins ............................................................................................................... 2
2.6 : Line Spacing ....................................................................................................... 3
2.7 : Tables/Figures ..................................................................................................... 3
2.8 : Page Numbering ................................................................................................. 4
3 : FORMATTING SUGGESTIONS .......................................................................... 5
3.1 : Cover Page (Front and Back).............................................................................. 5
3.1.1 : Front Page ..................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 : Back Page ..................................................................................................... 5
3.2 : Spine of the Thesis .............................................................................................. 5
3.3 : Title Page ............................................................................................................ 5
3.4 : Declaration Page ................................................................................................. 5
3.5 : Dedication ........................................................................................................... 6
3.6 : Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. 6
3.7 : Abstract ............................................................................................................... 6
3.8 : Table of Contents ................................................................................................ 7
3.9 : List of Tables, Figures and Maps........................................................................ 9
3.10 : Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... 9
4 : BODY OF THE DISSERTATION OR THESIS ................................................. 10
4.1 : Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................... 10
4.2 : Chapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Background ............................. 11
4.3 : Chapter 3: Data and Methodology .................................................................... 12
4.4 : Chapter 4: Results and Discussion.................................................................... 14
4.5 : Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................. 16
4.6 : References ......................................................................................................... 17
4.7 : Appendix (or Appendices) ................................................................................ 18
5 : THESIS AND DISSERTATION SUBMISSION CHECK LIST ....................... 19
6 : ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................. 19
7 : BINDING ................................................................................................................ 19
8 : RESEARCH PAPAER .......................................................................................... 19
8.1: Selecting Peer Review Indexed Journals ............................................................ 20
8.2: Selecting Conference Presentation and Participation.......................................... 21
8.3: Bonus Marks ....................................................................................................... 21
9 : TIMELINE AND MARKS FOR PRODUCING A THESIS OR
DISSERTATION .................................................................................................... 22
10 : NUMBER OF COPIES ....................................................................................... 23
11 : REQUIRED FORMS .......................................................................................... 23
12 : APPENDIX 01: FRONT PAGE ......................................................................... 24
13 : APPENDIX 02: TITLE PAGE........................................................................... 25
1 : INTRODUCTION
Final year research project is a major component of the BBA (Honours) special degree which
account for 9 credits out of 120 credits. It is a public document once submitted and approved
by the academic body it is open for public. The supervisor can request the department/faculty
to withhold the thesis for a certain period of time, unless it will be deposited in the library for
public use. The faculty expects the student dedicate 1000 notional hours for the thesis
preparation and consult the supervisor and other relevant persons adequately.

This guide outlines the general guidelines that students should follow in writing their thesis. If
the final thesis is not following these guidelines, the thesis may not be accepted by the
department/Faculty. However, these guidelines can be altered with the written approval of the
relevant supervisor.

This is a group work thesis consists of maximum 4 members in a group. The group should
improve the previous semester research proposal and present to the panel on 2nd week of the
1st semester of the final year. Once the final proposal is submitted to the department, the title
of the proposed research cannot be changed. Then group members should conduct the approved
research, consulting adequately the supervisor(s) and present their progress review presentation
with the progress review document on the 11th week of 1st semester of the final year. After
incorporating the panel comments and the regular meetings with the relevant supervisor(s) all
group members need to present their final presentation (Viva) to a research panel which
contains two examiners on 8th week of second semester of the final semester. On the final
presentation day group needs to submit a one draft copy of the final thesis to the examiner.
Supervisor(s) should be an observer(s) in the final presentation. After the final presentation
students need to submit the hard bounded final version of the thesis to the department
incorporating all the relevant comments received from the panel examiners. One copy of the
final thesis will be issued to the group with the recommendation of the relevant head of the
department and one copy will be sent to the university/department library.

2 : FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
2.1 : Language and Writing Style
Good style is easier to recognise than to define. Writers should keep following points related
to the writing language and the writing style.
✓ Language of the Thesis/ Dissertation should be English
✓ Writing should be succinct (crisp and clear)
✓ Sentence should not be long and convoluted
✓ Paragraphs should not be very short.
✓ There must be a discernible flow of ideas
✓ There must be no grammatical errors.
Student can use following as the guideline when using past and present tense.

Suggest to keep past tense. (Because it is a finished research. For the proposals, future tense
verbs should be employed)
✓ Use past tense
• To describe your data, methodology and report your results: At the time you
write your report, thesis, dissertation or article, you have completed your study,

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 so should use past tense in your methodology section to record what you did,
and in your results section to report what you found
• When referring to the work of previous researchers, use past tense. Whatever a
previous researcher said, did or wrote happened in the past. Results relevant
only in the past, or to a particular study and not yet generally accepted should
also be expressed in past tense to describe a fact, law or finding that is no longer
considered valid and relevant.
• However, any statement regarding a theory, program, concept, or policy that is
still in effect, should be in the present tense.
✓ Use Present Tense
• To express findings that continue to be true. Use present tense to express truths
or facts supported by research results that won’t change.
• To refer to the article, thesis or dissertation itself. Use the present tense in
reference to the thesis or dissertation itself and what it contains, shows, etc.
• To discuss your findings and present your conclusions. Also use present tense
to discuss your results and their implications in future tense.
However, for the proposals, future tense verbs should be employed.

Tip: If possible, ask a lecture/tutor, academic, friend or family member to proofread your thesis,
as it can be difficult to see mistakes in your own work.

2.2 : Word count, Page Size and Specifications

Word count of the thesis should be minimum of 20,000 words (from introduction chapter to
conclusion chapter). Page size of the thesis should be A4 size (297 mm x 210 mm) and in good
quality (80 gsm) paper and should be printed only on single side paper.

2.3 : Equations (if applicable)

If you have to use any Equation/s, all equations should be numbered chapter wise throughout
the thesis, eg. 2.1 where the first number refers to the chapter number and the second the
equation number. Place the equation on the left side and the equation number on the right side.

Example:

u u
=c ……………………………………………………… (2.1)
t x

2.4 : Font
Times New Roman should be the font type. All chapter headings must be 14 font size and in
all capital and bold, Section headings should be title case and 12 font size, bold. Sub section
headings should be in sentence case with 12 font size. Font sizes of the tables and figures should
be maintained at a legible size. Use italics for other languages. Use Microsoft equations for
inserting equations to the main body.

2.5 : Margins
Top 1, bottom 1, left 1.5 and right 1 inch, gutter at the left for all pages.

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2.6 : Line Spacing
One and half line spacing is required for all the writing except for tables and indented
quotations where single line spacing should be followed.

2.7 : Tables/Figures
All non-textual materials should be referred by their number in the main text. Numbering of
the tables and figures should be started by the chapter number followed by the sequence ex.
Table 1.3, Figure 3.5. Tables should be numbered and titled on the top of the table with source
of the table in the bottom. Figures should be numbered and titled in the bottom with the source
also in the bottom. Tables and figures should be centred in the main text.

In addition, figures should be suitable for reproduction in black and white, ie. colour images
may be used but be aware that they may be photocopied. You must ensure that colour shadings
also make sense in black and white. If not use textures in black and white figures.

Example for a table:

Table 2.3: An Example of How to Integrate Table into Your Document

Title Title Title
Example 235 25.23
Example 3256 2.05
Example 253 2.35
Source: Example (2017).

Example for a figure:

Figure 3.2: An Example of How to Integrate Figures into Your Document

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5
Name of Y Axis Title

0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Name of X Axis Title

Source: Example (2017).

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Example for a map:

Map 3.1: Study Areas – Area map of patient locations in the district of Matale, Central
Sri Lanka

Source: Authors illustration based on XXXXXX.

2.8 : Page Numbering

Roman numbers should be used up to the starting of the main text and the Arabic numbers
should be used from the main text. All page numbers should be centred bottom. All pages
should be numbered sequentially and pages without page numbers cannot be inserted to the
middle of the thesis.

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3 : FORMATTING SUGGESTIONS

3.1 : Cover Page (Front and Back)

3.1.1 : Front Page

Black colour cover with gold letters (see the Appendix 01 for the format). Font type and size
of the title is Times New Roman 18 and rest is Times New Roman 14.
Cover page should contains
✓ Title (and subtitle) of the thesis
✓ Submission statement
✓ The month and year of submission
✓ Group member’s names with initials and their registration numbers
✓ The month and year of submission
✓ Official name of the degree to which the thesis/dissertation is submitted

3.1.2 : Back Page

Black colour with no letters.

3.2 : Spine of the Thesis

Spine of the thesis should contain the title of the thesis and the year of submitting in gold letter,
times new roman font and font size 14.

3.3 : Title Page

First page should be the title page (see Appendix 02 for the format). Font type and size of the
title is Times New Roman 18 and rest is Times New Roman 14.
Title page should contains
✓ Title (and subtitle) of the thesis
✓ Submission statement
✓ The month and year of submission
✓ Group member’s names with initials and their registration numbers
✓ The month and year of submission
✓ Official name of the degree to which the thesis/dissertation is submitted

3.4 : Declaration Page

The following declaration should be made by the candidate(s) following the signature and the
date. Candidate(s), after a discussion with the supervisor/s can request an embargo for a
particular thesis/dissertation for a given work for a given time or indefinitely. Such an embargo
may override the statement(s) made in the thesis/dissertation itself.

“We declare that this is our own work and this dissertation does not incorporate without
acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a Degree or Diploma in any other
University or institute of higher learning and to the best of our knowledge and belief it does
not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where the
acknowledgement is made in the text. The thesis has been proofread, and it is free from
grammatical errors to the best of our knowledge.

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Furthermore, we hereby grant SLIIT the non-exclusive right to reproduce and distribute our
dissertation, in whole or part in print, electronic or other medium. We retain the right to use
this content in whole or part in future works (such as articles or books).

1. Your Name Your Registration Number Signature

2. Your Name Your Registration Number Signature

3. Your Name Your Registration Number Signature

4. Your Name Your Registration Number Signature

Date:

The supervisor/s should certify the thesis/dissertation with the following declaration.

“The above candidate(s) has/have carried out research for the Bachelor thesis/Dissertation
for the degree of [Insert your title of the degree] under my supervision and consulted
me adequately during the completion of the thesis”.

Signature of the supervisor: ……………………... Date: ……………..

Name of the Supervisor:……………………….

3.5 : Dedication
Optional.

3.6 : Acknowledgements
In the acknowledgement section, the student is required to declare the extent of assistance
which has been given by his/her faculty/department staff, fellow students and external bodies
or others in the collection of materials and data, the design and construction of apparatus, the
analysis of data and preparation of the thesis/dissertation. If the research was sponsored, it is
necessary to mention the name of the funding organization and other details (if any). In addition,
it is appropriate to highlight the supervision and advice given by the thesis/dissertation
supervisor.

3.7 : Abstract
Every copy of the thesis/dissertation must have an abstract. Abstracts must provide a brief
introduction to the subject in addition to the purpose, significance of the study, concise
summary of methodology, data, results, conclusions and recommendations (200-300 words

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maximum). It should also accompany a list of keywords (3-5), which could improve the
accessibility of the thesis/dissertation in an online environment.

Abstract Title : Title case/Times New Roman 12 point bold

Text : Times New Roman with 12 point light.
Spacing : 1.5 line space

Abstract should contain four short paragraphs with the answers to the following questions:
✓ What were my/our research questions, and why were these important?
✓ How did I/we go about answering the research questions?
✓ What did I/we find out in response to my/our research questions?
✓ What conclusions do I/we draw regarding my/our research questions?

3.8 : Table of Contents

All the main chapters and subsections of each chapter must be included in the table of contents
with their page numbers. The page numbers of abstracts, acknowledgement and others which
come first in the thesis/dissertation should also be included. Furthermore, if there are any
appendices and other addenda, should be included in the table of contents. Font size for the
table of content is 12 in Times New Roman.

Example:

Table of Contents

DECLARATION OF THE CANDIDATES ...................................................................... iii

SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATION ................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................................................................... v
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. viii
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF MAPS ..................................................................................................................... x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................. xi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1
1.1 : Background of the study .................................................................................................. 1
1.2 : Statement of the problem/Research problem .................................................................. 2
1.3 : Research question(s) ....................................................................................................... 3
1.4 : Research objective(s) ...................................................................................................... 3
1.5 : Hypothesis of the study ................................................................................................... 4
1.6 : Scope of the study ........................................................................................................... 5
1.7 : Contribution of the study ................................................................................................ 6
1.8 : Layout of the thesis ......................................................................................................... 7
CHAPTER 2: CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW ON XXXXXX ............................. 8
2.1 : Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 8
2.2 : Theoretical framework and conceptual model ................................................................ 8

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2.3 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX ......................................................................................... 10
2.3.1 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 10
2.3.2 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 11
2.3.3 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 12
2.4 : XXXXX XXXXXXXX ................................................................................................ 13
2.5 : XXXXXXXXXXXXX ................................................................................................. 14
2.5.1 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 14
2.5.2 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 15
2.5.3 : XXXXXX ........................................................................................................... 16
2.6 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXX ............................................................................................ 17
2.7 : Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER 3: DATA AND METHODOLOGY................................................................ 19
3.1 : Introduction .................................................................................................................. 20
3.2 : Data .............................................................................................................................. 21
3.2.1 : Research design .................................................................................................. 21
3.2.2 : Sampling design ................................................................................................. 22
3.2.3 : Method of data collection ................................................................................... 23
3.3 : Methodology ................................................................................................................ 24
3.3.1 : XXXXXXXX ..................................................................................................... 24
3.3.2 : XXXXXXXX ..................................................................................................... 26
3.4 : Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 28
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................ 29
4.1 : Introduction ................................................................................................................. 29
4.2 : Background information on XXXXXX XXXX .......................................................... 30
4.3 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX ........................................................................................ 31
4.3.1 : XXXX XXXXXX ............................................................................................. 32
4.3.2 : XXXXXX .......................................................................................................... 34
4.3.3 : XXXXXX .......................................................................................................... 36
4.4 : XXXXX XXXXXXXX .............................................................................................. 40
4.5 : XXXXXXXXXXXXX ............................................................................................... 47
4.5.1 : XXXXXX XXXX ............................................................................................. 49
4.5.2 : XXXXXX .......................................................................................................... 50
4.5.3 : XXXXXX .......................................................................................................... 58
4.6 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXX .......................................................................................... 60
4.7 : Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 61
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................... 62
5.1 : Introduction ................................................................................................................. 62
5.2 : Main empirical findings .............................................................................................. 63
5.3 : Policy implications ...................................................................................................... 66
5.4 : Limitation of the study ................................................................................................ 68
5.5 : Future research ............................................................................................................ 70
5.6 : Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 71
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 73
APPENDIX 01: QUESTIONER FOR XXXX ................................................................... 86
APPENDIX 02: SPSS OUTPUTS FOR XXXXX ............................................................. 89
APPENDIX 03: SPSS OUTPUTS FOR XXXXX ........................................................... 102

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3.9 : List of Tables, Figures and Maps
If the thesis/dissertation contains any tables, figures and maps then separate list should be
prepared including the name of the object and the page number. The chapter number should be
included in defining the number of tables, figures and maps.

Example:

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1: XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX ...............................................14

Table 2.2: XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXX .......................................................................32
Table 3.1: XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX .......................................................................44
Table 3.2: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXX ...........................................................52
Table 3.3: XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX .....................................................................61
Table 4.1: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX..................................68
Table 4.2: XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ..............................72
Table 4.3: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXX .......................80
Table 4.4: XXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ..............................96

Example:

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX ..............................................16

Figure 3.1: XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX ......................................................................42
Figure 3.2: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXX .........................................................51
Figure 3.3: XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX ....................................................................64
Figure 4.1: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX ................................66
Figure 4.2: XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ............................74
Figure 4.3: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXX ......................81
Figure 4.4: XXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ............................85
Figure 4.5: XXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ............................88
Figure 4.6: XXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX ............................90

Example:

LIST OF MAPS

Map 2.1: XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX .................................................16

Map 3.1: XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX .........................................................................41
Map 3.2: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXX ............................................................53
Map 4.1: XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX ...................................87

3.10 : Abbreviations
Abbreviations must follow the International standards. When an abbreviation is used in first
time, it must be explained in the text. A separate list should be prepared for all abbreviations

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used in thesis/dissertation with their full meaning. The abbreviations in the list should be
arranged according to the alphabetical order.

Example:

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ANOVA Analyses of Variance

DC Developed Countries
GDP Gross Domestic Product
ILO International Labour Organisation
MDG Millennium Development Goals
OLS Ordinary Least Square
SLRs Sri Lankan Rupees
SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
UN United Nations
USA United State of America

4 : BODY OF THE DISSERTATION OR THESIS

4.1 : Chapter 1: Introduction
The introduction chapter should consists of the background of the study, identification of the
research problem and the research question(s), objective(s), significance (contribution of the
study), limitations (scope) and the layout of the study.

The introduction should give the reader a clear idea about the central issue of concern in your
research and why you thought that this was worth studying. It should also include a full
statement of your aim or research question(s) and research objectives. If your research is based
on an organisation, we think that it is a good idea to include in this chapter some details of the
organisation, such as its history, size, products and services. This may be a general background
to the more specific detail on the research setting you include in the method chapter. It is also
important to include in this chapter a ‘route map’ to guide the reader through the rest of the
report. This will give brief details of the content of each chapter and present an overview of
how your storyline unfolds. This will usually be a fairly brief chapter, but it is vitally important.

Example:

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 : Background of the study
1.2 : Statement of the problem/Research problem
1.3 : Research question(s)
1.4 : Research objective(s)
1.5 : Hypothesis of the study
1.6 : Scope of the study
1.7 : Contribution of the study
1.8 : Layout of the thesis

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4.2 : Chapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Background
The literature review chapter should cover the theoretical and empirical findings already
available in relation to the current study and conceptual development (conceptual framework
and hypothesis development) of the particular topic.

Chapter 2 deals in detail with the writing of a critical literature review. The main purposes of
your critical literature review are to set your study within its wider context and to show the
reader how your study supplements the work that has already been done on your topic. The
literature review, therefore, may directly inform your research questions and any specific
hypotheses that your research is designed to test. These hypotheses will also suggest a
particular research approach, strategy and data collection techniques. If, on the other hand, you
are working inductively (that is, from data to theory) your literature review may serve the
purpose of illuminating and enriching your conclusions.

The title of your literature review chapter should reflect the content of the chapter. It may draw
on one of the main themes in the review. We recommend that you do not call it simply
‘literature review’. It may be that your literature is reviewed in more than one chapter. This
would be the case, for example, where you were using more than one body of literature in your
research.

Under this chapter you can create sub sections meaningfully. Following checklist provides
useful points that you should include in this critical literature review chapter.

Points to include in your literature review chapter

Evaluating the content of your critical literature review

✓ Have you ensured that the literature covered relates clearly to your research
question and objectives?
✓ Have you covered the most relevant and significant theories of recognised experts
in the area?
✓ Have you covered the most relevant and significant literature or at least a
representative sample?
✓ Have you included up-to-date relevant literature?
✓ Have you referenced all the literature used in the format prescribed in the
assessment criteria?

Evaluating whether your literature review is critical

✓ Have you contextualised your own research showing how your research question
relates to previous research reviewed?
✓ Have you assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the previous research reviewed?
✓ Have you been objective in your discussion and assessment of other people’s
research?
✓ Have you included references to research that is counter to, as well as supports, your
own opinions?
✓ Have you distinguished clearly between facts and opinions?
✓ Have you made reasoned judgements about the value and relevance of others’
research to your own?
✓ Have you justified clearly your own ideas?

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 ✓ Have you highlighted those areas where new research (yours!) is needed to provide
fresh insights and taken these into account in your arguments? In particular:
• where there are inconsistencies in current knowledge and understanding?
• where there are omissions or bias in published research?
• where research findings need to be tested further?
• where evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory or limited?
✓ Have you justified your arguments by referencing correctly published research?

Evaluating the structure of your literature review

✓ Does your literature review have a clear title which describes the focus of your
research rather than just saying ‘literature review’?
✓ Have you explained precisely how you searched the literature, and the criteria used
to select those studies included?
✓ Does your review start at a more general level before narrowing down?
✓ Is your literature review organised thematically around the ideas contained in the
research being reviewed rather than the researchers?
✓ Are your arguments coherent and cohesive – do your ideas link in a way that will
be logical to your reader?
✓ Have you used subheadings within the literature review to help guide your reader?
✓ Does the way you have structured your literature review draw your reader’s
attention to those issues which are going to be the focus of your research, in
particular your objectives?
✓ Does your literature review lead your reader into subsequent sections of your
project report?

Example:

CHAPTER 2: CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW ON XXXXXX (or a suitable

topic)
2.1 : Introduction
2.2 : Theoretical framework and Conceptual model
2.3 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
2.3.1 : XXXXXX
2.3.2 : XXXXXX
2.3.3 : XXXXXX
2.4 : XXXXX XXXXXXXX
2.5 : XXXXXXXXXXXXX
2.5.4 : XXXXXX
2.5.5 : XXXXXX
2.5.6 : XXXXXX
2.6 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXX
2.7 : Conclusion

4.3 : Chapter 3: Data and Methodology

The methodology chapter should cover the research design developed to achieve research
objectives in order to address the identified research problem. This chapter should consist of
population and sampling, data and data collection methods, operationalization of variables and
the techniques used in data analysis of the study to achieve the research objectives.

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Writing Chapter 3: Data and Methodology begin the chapter with a brief explanation of what
the chapter is all about. The common introductory explanation is as follows: Writing the
introductory paragraph and then this chapter presents the discussion on the subjects, sampling
technique, research instruments, procedure of data gathering, and statistical treatment and what
techniques uses for data analysis and interpretation

Research Methodology: This section specifies what method of research will be used –
descriptive, correlational, experimental, documentary analysis, etc.

Subjects/Respondents of the Study: A distinction should be made between subjects and

respondents of the study. Subjects are persons investigated in the study. When learning abilities
of pre-school pupils are being assessed in the study, the pre-school pupils are the subjects. The
pupils’ teachers and mothers who will be interviewed and asked to fill out a questionnaire are
the respondents of the study. Respondents, therefore, are providers of information needed in
the study, elicited orally or in writing.

It is important to state your number of subjects or respondents and who they are. Also, explain
how the number will be decided upon.

Sampling Technique Explain what sampling technique have been used – random, purposive,
stratified, etc.—why you used it, and what procedure will be followed to carry out the technique.

Research Instruments It is necessary to have a separate discussion for this, if several research
instruments have been utilized in the study. Research instruments are questionnaires, tests,
interviews, observations, etc.

Procedures of Data Gathering Identify your sources of data. If a questionnaire will be used,
explain what kind and how it will be constructed if it is original, how it is pre-tested,
distribution, retrieval, collation, etc. Thus, your procedures may include: Construction of the
questionnaire, Validation, Distribution, Retrieval, Collation, Presentation of Data and
Interpretation of Data.

Statistical Treatment of Data Specify the statistical treatment/s you will use for interpreting
your data and why they are necessary. Also, include the scale or verbal interpretation for the
statistical processing of your data; mention the name of the office or agency, or the person
taking charge of it.

This should be a detailed and transparent chapter giving the reader sufficient information to
make an estimate of the reliability and validity of your data, methods, and trustworthiness of
your findings.

Following checklist provides useful points that you should include in data and methodology
chapter.

Points to include in your data and methodology chapter

Setting
✓ What was the research setting?
✓ Why did you choose that particular setting?

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 ✓ What ethical issues were raised by the study, and how were these addressed?

Participants
✓ How many?
✓ How were they selected?
✓ What were their characteristics?
✓ How were refusals/non-returns handled?

Materials
✓ What tests/scales/interview or observation schedules/questionnaires were used?
✓ How were purpose-made instruments developed?
✓ How were the resulting data analysed?

Procedures
✓ What were the characteristics of the interviewers and observers, and how were they
trained?
✓ How valid and reliable do you think the procedures were?
✓ In what context were the data collected?
✓ What instructions were given to participants?
✓ How many interviews/observations/questionnaires were there; how long did they
last; where did they take place?
✓ When was the research carried out?

Example:

CHAPTER 3: DATA AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 : Introduction
3.2 : Data
3.2.4 : Research design
3.2.5 : Sampling design
3.2.6 : Method of data collection
3.3 : Methodology
3.3.1 : XXXXXXXX
3.2.7 : XXXXXXXX
3.4 : Conclusion

4.4 : Chapter 4: Results and Discussion

The results of the analysis, the interpretation of the results and findings of the study should be
provided in this chapter. It may well be that your thesis will contain more than one findings
(sometimes called ‘results’) chapter. The question you should ask yourself is: ‘Is more than
one findings chapter necessary to communicate my findings clearly?’. If the answer “yes” Then
it may goes to two or more chapters. However, we advise you to limit maximum of two chapters
or limit to one chapter.

Remember, findings presented without reflective thought run the risk of your reader asking ‘so
what?’: what meaning do these findings have for me?; for my organisation?; for professional
practice?; for the development of theory? So the main focus of this chapter is on presenting
results and the interpretation of the results. You should state the relation of the findings to the

14
goals, questions and hypotheses that you stated in the introductory chapter. In addition, this
chapter will benefit from a consideration of the implications of your research for the relevant
theories which you detailed in your literature review. It is usual to discuss the strengths,
weaknesses and limitations of your study. However, it is not a good idea to be too modest here
and draw attention to aspects of your research which you may consider to be a limitation but
that the reader has not noticed.

This chapter should discuss the findings of the study in comparing and contrasting the previous
literature. This chapter shows you how to discuss the results that you have found in relation to
both your research questions and existing knowledge. This is your opportunity to highlight how
your research reflects, differs from and extends current knowledge of the area in which you
have chosen to carry out research. This section is your chance to demonstrate exactly what you
know about this topic by interpreting your findings and outlining what they mean. The
student(s) must also provide an in-depth and adequate discussion of their own findings. At the
end of your discussion you should have discussed all of the results that you found and provided
an explanation for your findings.

In addition, this chapter is where you have the opportunity to shine. It will show the degree of
insight that you exhibit in reaching your conclusions. However, it is the part of the report that
most of us find difficult. It is the second major opportunity in the research process to
demonstrate real originality of thought (the first time being at the stage where you choose the
research topic). Because of that, we urge you to pay due attention to this chapter. It should
normally be at least as long as your results chapter(s). Crucially, here you are making
judgements rather than reporting facts, so this is where your maturity of understanding can
shine through. This section should not be simply a summary of the results you have found. At
this stage you will have to demonstrate original thinking.

• You should highlight and discuss how your research has reinforced what is already
known about the area. Many students make the mistake of thinking that they should
have found something new; in fact, very few research projects have findings that are
unique. Instead, you are likely to have a number of findings that reinforce what is
already known about the field and you need to highlight these, explaining why you
think this has occurred.
• Second, you may have discovered something different and if this is the case, you will
have plenty to discuss! You should outline what is new and how this compares to
what is already known. You should also attempt to provide an explanation as to why
your research identified these differences.
• You need to consider how your results extend knowledge about the field. Even if you
found similarities between your results and the existing work of others, your research
extends knowledge of the area, by reinforcing current thinking. You should state how
it does this as this is a legitimate findings.
• It is important that this section is comprehensive and well structured, making clear
links back to the literature you reviewed earlier. This will allow you the opportunity
to demonstrate the value of your research and it is therefore very important to discuss
your work thoroughly.

Points to consider when you are writing your results and discussion chapter
✓ Don’t repeat results
✓ Provide background information of all the variables in conceptual framework
✓ Start with simple analysis and then extend to complex

15
 ✓ Conclusion should be consistent with study objectives/research question
✓ Explain how the results answer the question under study
✓ Emphasize what is new, different, or important about your results
✓ Consider alternative explanations for the results
✓ Limit speculation
✓ Avoid biased language or biased citation of previous work
✓ Don’t confuse non-significance (large P) with "no difference" especially with small
sample sizes
✓ Never give incidental observations the weight you attach to conclusions based on
hypotheses generated before the study began
✓ Answer whether the results make sense in terms of your expectation as expressed
in the hypothesis? What you read before beginning (texts & research articles)?
And/r theoretical considerations?
✓ If your results agree with previous work, fine. If they do not, explain why not, or
you may leave it unresolved.
✓ Were there limitations (sample size of course but what else)? Were there any
problems with carrying out the method as originally planned? Not enough men in
the study? Low response rate? Failure to look at a crucial time interval?
✓ Any unsettled points in results?
✓ Any implications for theory
✓ Suggestions for future research. But be specific.

Example:

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (or a suitable topic)

4.1 : Introduction
4.2 : Background Information on XXXXXX XXXX ( or a suitable topic)
4.3 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
4.3.1 : XXXXXX
4.3.2 : XXXXXX
4.3.3 : XXXXXX
4.4 : XXXXX XXXXXXXX
4.5 : XXXXXXXXXXXXX
4.5.1 : XXXXXX
4.5.2 : XXXXXX
4.5.3 : XXXXXX
4.6 : XXXXX XXXXX XXXX
4.7 : Conclusion

4.5 : Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

The conclusion chapter should include the conclusions of the study derived from the analysis
and discussion. Further this chapter should also include the implications for knowledge and
implications for practitioners (managerial implications) of the study, followed by the
Recommendations and/or suggestions.

More importantly, this chapter should not be used to present any new material and should be a
conclusion to the whole project (not just the research findings). You may find that the clearest

16
way to present your conclusions is to follow a similar structure to the one used in your findings
section. If that structure reflects the research objectives then it should make certain that your
conclusions would address them.

Furthermore, answering the research question(s), meeting the objectives and, if appropriate,
supporting or otherwise the research hypotheses is the main purpose of the conclusions chapter.
This is where you will consider the findings presented in the previous chapter. You should also
return to your literature review and ask yourself ‘What do my conclusions add to the
understanding of the topic displayed in the literature?’

Moreover, if you do not specify any practical implications of your research you may comment
in the conclusions chapter on what your research implies for any future research. This is a
logical extension of a section in the conclusions chapter that should be devoted to the
limitations of your research. These limitations may be about the size of sample, the snapshot
nature of the research, or the restriction to one geographical area of an organisation. Virtually
all research has its limitations. This section should not be seen as a confession of your
weaknesses, but as a mature reflection on the degree to which your findings and conclusions
can be said to be generalizable.

Points to consider when you are writing your conclusion and recommendations chapter

✓ Did the research project meet your research objectives?

✓ Did the research project meet your aim or answer your research question(s)?
✓ What are the main findings of the research?
✓ Are there any recommendations for future action based on the conclusions you have
drawn?
✓ Do you have any overall conclusions on the research process itself?
✓ Where should further research be focused? (Typically this will consider two points:
firstly, new areas of investigation implied by developments in your project, and
secondly parts of your work which were not completed due to time constraints
and/or problems encountered.)

Example:

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 : Introduction
5.2 : Main Empirical Findings ( or a suitable topic)
5.3 : Policy Implications ( or a suitable topic)
5.4 : Limitation of the study ( or a suitable topic)
5.5 : Future Research ( or a suitable topic)
5.6 : Conclusion

4.6 : References
A range of conventions are used to reference other writers’ material that you have cited in your
text. Referencing should be done according to the Harvard Referencing guideline which was
uploaded in the courseweb.

17
Encouraged to use referencing software in preparing their reference list such as EndNote or
Mendeley.

Points to consider in your reference list

✓ You should follow the Harvard reference guideline which is available on course
web.
✓ All paraphrased ideas, reported data, and direct quotation require a citation and
direct quotations include a page or paragraph reference in the in-text citation using
Harvard reference style.
✓ All in-text citations should be included in the reference list using Harvard
reference style.
✓ All end-text references presented under the references list should be cited using
Harvard reference style.
✓ Is your in-text citations and end text citations are consistent?
✓ Did you cite secondary references correctly?
✓ Reference list must be in alphabetical order.
✓ The information source title should be in italics, e.g. book title, journal title, web
source
✓ The year is the year of publication, not printing.
✓ For a book the edition is only mentioned if other than the first.
✓ The place of publication is the city not the country.
✓ Journal titles should be given in full.
✓ For Journals, volume number, issue number, page numbers should be included.
✓ If it is electronic journal, web or a book you should include the web link with your
access date.
✓ You must balance your use of direct quotations, paraphrasing and summarising.
✓ Reference list begin on a separate page, immediately following the end of the
conclusion and recommendation chapter.
✓ Page numbering continues consistently throughout the references list section(s).

4.7 : Appendix (or Appendices)

Your thesis appendices should be kept to the minimum. If they are so important that your
reader’s understanding of the points you are making in the text makes their inclusion in the
report necessary, then they should be in the main body of the text. If, on the other hand, the
material is ‘interesting to know’ rather than ‘essential to know’ then it should be in the
appendices.

For example, Appendices may contain questionnaires, detailed descriptions on apparatus,

extensive tables of raw data, computer programs, etc. All appendices must have page numbers
written in the same typeface and size used for pagination throughout. If appendices contain
photocopied material, the photocopies should be of letter quality.

18
5 : THESIS AND DISSERTATION SUBMISSION CHECK LIST
The following check list should be used before submitting the thesis. This is not to be submitted
but to make sure that you have completed everything according to the rules. Thesis that does
not comply with the guidelines of this guide will not be accepted by the department/faculty.

1) Have you considered all the formatting guidelines of the thesis?

2) Did you sign the thesis?
3) Did your supervisor signs it?
4) Has six copies of the final thesis?
5) Did you uploaded the soft copy of your final thesis as one word document to the given
link at the courseweb?
6) Softcopy of the thesis and bound copy of the thesis are the same?

6 : ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SLIIT practices the rule of zero tolerance of plagiarism. Therefore, your thesis should be
checked thoroughly for the plagiarism. The soft copy of the thesis will be used to check
electronically for the plagiarism/similarity (less than 20% of similarity is accepted for
undergraduate thesis). You can get the help from your supervisor for this purpose. If found
guilty of plagiarism, punishable actions will be taken according to the examination by laws of
the university.

7 : BINDING
Draft thesis should be in soft bound while final thesis should be hard bound.

8 : RESEARCH PAPAER
The length of the research paper is expected to be minimum of 4,000 words excluding
references and appendices. However, these specification may depend on the targeted
conference or journal. Research paper should be written in Times New Roman font, 12 point
with 1.5 line spacing. The common structure of the research paper may include:

• Title
• Affiliation (information about the researchers)
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Problem Statement, objectives and conceptualization
• Data and methodology
• Results and discussion
• Conclusion
• References
• Appendices

19
This research paper will contribute to 10% of your final grade. We encourage all students to
publish/present their research work in a peer reviewed journal or/and a conference before their
final thesis submission. Following criteria will be used to assess the research paper.

Criteria Nature Marks

Type of Conference*/Journal*
No (out of 10)
Peer reviewed indexed journal (It Full paper (Accepted or
10
is a must to submit acceptance submitted after revisions)
letter with acceptable review Full paper (more than 3
08
comments including relevant months under review)
dates: Submitted, Revised and
Accepted). If not, no marks will
1. be granted.
All peer review journal papers
submission should check with Full paper (Submitted only) 1
your relevant supervisor before
submitting to any peer review
journal (Evidence should be
provided)
Full paper 07
Peer reviewed international
2. Poster/ Extended Abstract 05
conference
Abstract 3
Full paper 06
3. Peer reviewed local conference Poster/ Extended Abstract 04
Abstract 2
International or National Full paper 05
Conference conducted/ organized Poster/ Extended Abstract 04
4.
by SLIIT (if it is not in the
Abstract 03
categories 1 and 2 above)
Full paper 04
SLIIT Business School Student Poster// Extended Abstract 03
5.
Research symposium Poster/ Extended Abstract/
02
Abstract
Full paper 02
Any other conference/
6. Poster/ Extended Abstract/
Symposium 01
Abstract
Note: * As approved by CRP module leader.

Group/student need to provide acceptance letter and the submitted paper/A4 size posters with
their final thesis submission to gain the research paper marks. Furthermore, Group/ student can
use following criteria to select peer review index journals, international conferences and local
conferences.

8.1: Selecting Peer Review Indexed Journals

Encourage all CRP students to select ABDC/ Scopus/Scimago ranked-indexed as selecting
peer review journals.

20
 ABDC: https://abdc.edu.au
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com
Scimago: https://www.scimagojr.com

8.2: Selecting Conference Presentation and Participation

International
1) UGC recognized foreign Universities or Higher Educational Institutes
( http://www.ugc.ac.lk )
2) Any UN organization operated in worldwide ( https://unsceb.org )
3) Recognized international professional associations
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_professional_associations )
4) Any international organization or research institution collaborate with any of the
above 3
5) Organized over ten years continuously.
6) Contribute to published ‘h’ indexed (Scimago) journal
7) Any other conference which will be approved by the Leave and Award
Committee in SLIIT
8) Any other conference as approved by CRP module leader.

Local
1) All state universities ( http://www.ugc.ac.lk )
2) UGC approved higher education institute ( http://www.ugc.ac.lk )
3) UGC approved private universities (http://www.ugc.ac.lk )
4) UGC recognized Higher Educational Institutes (http://www.ugc.ac.lk )
5) Any recognized research center in Sri Lanka ( https://www.aisls.org/guide-to-
research-libraries-in-sri-lanka/ )
6) Any UN organization operated in Sri Lanka ( http://lk.one.un.org/ )
7) Recognized professional institute in Sri Lanka (https://opasrilanka.org/member-
associations/ )
8) Any ministry ( https://www.gov.lk/index.php )
9) Local organization collaborate with any of the above 8
10) Organized over five years continuously.
11) Contribute to published ‘h’ indexed (Scimago) journal
12) Any other conference which will be approved by the Leave and Award
Committee in SLIIT
13) Any other conference as approved by CRP module leader.

8.3: Bonus Marks

Additional 10% marks for 4th year CRP module will be allocated as bonus marks, for high
quality journal publications. Maximum 10 marks (in addition to the approved CRP marking
criteria) will be added to the CRP groups who published papers with their respective
supervisor(s). In order to receive this additional 10 marks, you need to fulfil any of the
following requirements before the final CRP submission.

21
 1) Acceptance received from the “B” and above journals.
(as per ABDC journal list, https://abdc.edu.au )

2) Acceptance received from above 0.5 cite score journals.

(as per Scopus journals, https://www.scopus.com )

3) Acceptance received from scimago h-index 40 or above.

(as per Scimago journal list, https://www.scimagojr.com )

4) Any manuscript is “under review” more than three months from the above categories
(Awarding to be decided by CRP module leader and SBS research coordinator).

Furthermore, three bonus marks will be provided for best full paper or poster presentation
(applicable only for international and national conferences above).

Those who would claim the bonus marks need to be provide evidence to the CRP module leader,
through the respective supervisor(s), with clear dates of submission and acceptance, before two
weeks of the second semester final exam starting date.

Although the 10% (or 3%) bonus marks will add-up to the final grading, the maximum marks
can a student receive will be 100%. Furthermore, CRP student(s) who qualify for the above
requirement, a special research performance certificate will be awarded by the dean.

9 : TIMELINE AND MARKS FOR PRODUCING A THESIS OR

DISSERTATION

Marks
Assessment Time line*
(100%)

1.1 Project Proposal Presentation 2nd week of the first semester (final year) (10%)
1.2 Project Proposal Document 2nd week of the first semester (final year) (10%)

2.1 Progress Review Presentation 11th week of the first semester (final year) (10%)
2.2 Progress Review Document 11th week of the first semester (final year) (10%)

3.1 Final Presentation 8th week of the second semester (final year) (15%)
3.2 Viva 8th week of the second semester (final year) (10%)
3.3 Final Dissertation 8th week of the second semester (final year) (20%)

2 weeks before the second semester exam

4.1 Research Paper (10%)
(final year)
2 weeks before the second semester exam
4.2 Research Log Book (5%)
(final year)
Note: Please see courceweb for the exact dates and times.

22
10 : NUMBER OF COPIES
Each group must submit one printed and hard bounded copy. A soft copy of the final thesis in
word format should be uploaded to the given link at the course web. If the group members need
a copy they should submit additional copy per member.

11 : REQUIRED FORMS

1. Project Proposal Document

2. Final Thesis (with adequate copies)
3. Research Paper (s)
4. Logbook

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12 : APPENDIX 01: FRONT PAGE

Insert Your Title Here Font Size 18

Font Size 14
This dissertation is submitted as a partial fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of
[Insert the Title of Your Degree Here]

1. Your Name Your Registration Number

2. Your Name Your Registration Number

Font Size 14
3. Your Name Your Registration Number

4. Your Name Your Registration Number

SLIIT Business School Font Size 16

13.0 cm
2.5 cm

November 2022 Font Size 14

24
13 : APPENDIX 02: TITLE PAGE

Insert Your Title Here Font Size 18

Font Size 14
This dissertation is submitted as a partial fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of
[Insert the Title of Your Degree Here]

1. Your Name Your Registration Number

2. Your Name Your Registration Number

Font Size 14
3. Your Name Your Registration Number

4. Your Name Your Registration Number

SLIIT Business School Font Size 16

13.0 cm
2.5 cm

November 2022 Font Size 14

25