Parts of a thesis

Refer to the following when developing your thesis paper:

Parts of a manuscript (APA, 2001, pp. 10-29) Sample, Sample two

• 
  Title page
  


• 
  Abstract
  


• 
  Introduction (Introduction to APA)
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Introduce the problem or aim of the study
    

    
     
    

    
    
    
    
    
    • 
      Problem statement
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    Review of related literature
    

    
     
    

    
    
    
    
    
    • 
      Literature review (2)(Sample): When researching references to be used in your literature review, use an annotated bibliography. Create an index card per annotated bibliography and summarize the article and include a critical analysis. This makes it easier to keep track of your references when deciding which of these you will use in your paper - you don't have to use all of them.
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    Hypothesis (for quantitative studies)
    

    
     
    

    
    
    
    
    
    • 
      Narrow down your topic when developing a research question (for qualitative studies)
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Method (Express the appropriateness of the method and the reliability and the validity of the results.)
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Participants or subjects
    
  
  
  • 
    Instruments (Apparatus/Measures)
    
  
  
  • 
    Design and procedure (Data collection)
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Results
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Data analysis
    
  
  
  • 
    Tables and figures
    
  
  
  • 
    Statistical presentation
    
  
  
  • 
    Effect size and strength of relationship
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Discussion (conclusions and recommendations)Multiple Experiments (if applicable)
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Evaluate and interpret implications
    
  
  
  • 
    Problem choice (limitations)
    
  
  
  • 
    Levels of analysis
    
  
  
  • 
    Application and synthesis
    
  
  
  
  


• 
   
  


• 
  References
  


• 
  Appendix
  

----

• 
  Types of Research
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    Quantitative
    
    

    
     
    

    
    
    
    
    
    • 
      Descriptive
      
    
    
    • 
      Correlational
      
    
    
    • 
      Causal-Comparative
      
    
    
    • 
      Experimental
      
    
    
    • 
      Single-Subject
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    Qualitative (Gestalts, Tendencies and Ranges, Writing Guide, Qualitative vs. Quantitative, Non-APA Samples, )Mixed Methods: (1) This is a design that includes both QUAL and QUAN data collection and analysis in parallel form (concurrent mixed method design, in which two types of data are collected and analyzed), in sequential form (sequential mixed method design, in which one type of data provides a basis for collection of another type of data), or where the data are converted (qualitized or quantitized) and analyzed again (conversion mixed method design). (2) (Bazeley, 2003) This design includes studies that “use mixed data (numerical and text) and alternative tools (statistics and text analysis) but apply the same method, for example, in developing a grounded theory.” See also Mixed Model Design.
    

    
     
    

    
    
    
    
    
    • 
      Narrative Research
      
    
    
    • 
      Ethnographic
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
     
    
  
  
  • 
    Action Research (Not an option for UAA degree-seeking students.)