HANDBOOK FOR GRADUATION RESEARCH AND THESIS
INTRODUCTION
Purposes of the thesis
1.
To encourage students to undertake independent business research and to
foster the necessary skills.
2.
To provide the means by which students can demonstrate their ability to
undertake business research at a professional standard and communicate their
findings in a professionally acceptable way.
3.
To further students’ general expertise in business, management and finance.
Advantages of doing a research
1.
Thesis graduates are an elite group, most of whom will go on to independent
professional work. The opportunity to do a sustained piece of independent
research with the benefits of supervision is thus an apprenticeship which is
likely to be of benefit in future study and employment.
2.
The thesis, because of the magnitude and quality of independent work which is
required, and the provision of supervision, distinguishes the last semester from
all previous ones.
3.
The thesis provides an opportunity for students to bring together many of the
aspects of business which have been learned in earlier years as separate
subjects.
4.
The thesis is a valuable instrument for assessment because it provides an
environment wherein the distinctive qualities of the first class graduate can be
exhibited - namely originality, mastery of business ideas and a feel for how to
use them, and creativity. It is much more difficult to detect such qualities in an
examination or in short pieces of written work.
5.
The thesis develops and tests the ability to organise and execute a sustained
piece of research and to present complex material well.
6.
The thesis is the one durable project which the students recognise as their own
distinctive work.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS WRITING THEIR THESIS

Research work may be empirical or conceptual.
Although you should bear in mind that the latter is often the more difficult.

The thesis must show a good literature review to professional standard.
Research capacity is not demonstrated by a mere summary of the literature;
however, it may be demonstrated by a fresh interpretation or by a critical review of
the literature.

Thematic development is an essential phase of doing a thesis.

The objectives of the thesis and techniques to be employed should be made
apparent to the reader in the opening.
It will normally be desirable to follow with a brief review of those aspects of the
literature that are directly relevant to the thesis. The arguments should then be
systematically developed in a logical and coherent way.

Each chapter should start with a statement of what is to follow and its role in the
thesis.
It should always be apparent to the reader that the thesis is proceeding as directly
as possible to its logical end.

It is also important to draw conclusions and to present your own considered
judgements.
Assessment is based not only on the conclusions of a thesis but also on the way
research is undertaken, the quality of argument and the general standard of
presentation.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
THESIS PROPOSAL (DETAILED OUTLINE)
The purpose of submitting your proposal is to obtain feedback from your thesis committee
about your proposed area of research. In order to get maximum benefit from this process it
will be important for students to submit a detailed research proposal. A poorly written
proposal will lead to confusion and more often than not will not solicit a productive response
from staff members.
A suggested guideline for your research proposal would be as follows.
1.
Background: A brief description of the general area of research that you
intend to concentrate on to provide some direction to the reader. The
description should lead to a concise statement of the problem that you are
interested in and why it will be of interest to other economists.
2.
Statement of the Problem:
research problem.
3.
Proposed Methodology: The methodology that you will adopt to develop your
results. This section must be clear. If by July there is some problem with your
basic methodology you will have a lot of problems.
4.
Expected Results: In this section you should tie your results in with your first
section. You should indicate what it is you expect to find.
This should be a concise statement of your
The general outline should be no longer than 1 page.
The entire detailed proposal should be no longer than 4-5 pages. Be clear and concise.
Another useful piece of advice is to draft a table of contents. By doing this you will get an
indication of the direction of your thesis.
Please see the KEY DATES SUMMARY for the thesis proposal submission date.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A THESIS
The thesis should include all of the following sections in a correct order.
The title page
- The title of the thesis in full;
- The full name and degrees of the candidate;
- The Faculty in which the candidate submitted the work;
- The date of submission of the thesis. (see appendix 1)
Table of contents
-
Please see appendix 3 for a sample table of contents
List of tables and figures
-
A full list of number, name and page number of all tables and figures included
in the thesis. (not necessary if there are less than 10 items)
The abstract
-
The aims, scope and conclusions of the thesis.
The word count of the thesis
The abstract should not exceed one page, preferably less than 300 words.
Statement of authorship
-
The student must produce the same statement of authorship as provided in
the Appendix 2.
The student must sign the statement and provide the date.
Acknowledgement
-
The student should acknowledge all the support he/she receives during the
preparation of the thesis.
The main text
- May include footnotes for further explanation
- The text of the thesis (excluding the appendices) must not be less than 60
pages and must not exceed 100 pages. Marks will be deducted for
excessive length.
- All pages should be numbered in the right hand bottom corner of the page.
- A statement of the word count must be shown at the start of the thesis in the
abstract. (This thesis has xxxx words and xxxx pages)
Appendices
- List all the appendices according the their order of appearance in the text
Bibliography
- A bibliography must be included.
- The bibliography should include only those works which you have actually
consulted yourself; it is not to be simply a list of books or journal articles well
known in the field.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
MAIN TEXT STRUCTURE
The main text of the thesis should cover the following chapters.
1. Introduction
The introduction mentions the background and the overview of the problems as well as
the attempts to solve the problems. It also provides the overall structure of the main text
of the thesis.
2. Research significance
This section discusses the rationale for topic selection in terms of the
scientific/academic significance. It also highlights the contributions of the research to the
industry and/or the economy/country.
3. Literature review
This section presents an overview of existing literature on the research topic. The
literature should be organized into themes with clear comparative and/or contrast
analysis. The literature review should also identify gaps that shed lights on forming the
research question.
4. Research method
This section discusses the research objectives, research questions, research
hypotheses (if applicable) and research design. It should also make clear the research
tools and the reasons for selecting those tools. It is then followed by the discussion on
data collection methods and data analysis.
5. Research Findings
This section discusses the findings of the research. Each finding should be discussed
separately in a new paragraph with clear evidence gathered from data analysis. The
findings should then be compared with the research hypotheses. It is also advisable that
the students compare their findings with other researches and existing literature. This
section also analyses the limitations of the research and how they may alter the
findings.
6. Discussion of implications of findings
This section discusses the implications of findings for relevant stakeholders. Possible
stakeholders can be the business sectors, individuals and policy makers.
7. Future research opportunities
This section points out the opportunities for future research emerged from this research.
The opportunities can be new potential to explore. In many cases, the opportunities can
result from the limitations of the current research.
8. Conclusion
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND WRITING A THESIS
Choosing the thesis topic
In choosing a topic you should consult with the member or members of the teaching staff of
either University whom you consider the most appropriate for supervision of your thesis.
You should have as soon as possible a firm thesis title, an outline of the thesis structure
and a good notion of the relevant literature and the essential data and their availability.
English
The standard of English expression is expected to be high. While supervisors will offer
reasonable assistance, the writing of a thesis is your task and you must not expect your
supervisor to convert careless or poor prose into good English.
Referencing and plagiarism
It is mandatory to acknowledge the source of particular facts, arguments, and quotations by
careful footnoting. Failure to acknowledge references will be penalised.
Contacting supervisor
You are advised to see your supervisor at least every week. If you have difficulty in
meeting your supervisor regularly, you should inform the Faculty office. In special
circumstances you may apply to the Faculty for a change in supervisor.
Progress report
It is important to submit sections of your draft progressively to your supervisor throughout
the final semester so that he or she has ample time to offer comments and advice and you
have ample time to rewrite or amend your work. Submission of a large amount of new
material shortly before submission date may prevent your supervisor from giving sufficient
time to it and/or leave you with insufficient time to carry out necessary rewriting or
correcting. Experience indicates that theses completed in a last-minute rush often suffer
from easily corrected errors (grammatical, spelling and typographical) as well as obvious
errors in argument, and lose marks accordingly.
Supervisor’s comments
Although you are not obliged to follow any advice given by your supervisor, you should note
that the supervisor will be asked to make a report to the examiners including whether
he/she has read the final draft and drawing attention to any matters he/she considers
relevant to the assessment of the thesis. These could include: comments concerning any
difficulties encountered by the candidate with his/her thesis project (such as difficulties in
obtaining data or relevant literature); the extent to which the candidate has consulted with
his or her supervisor and the degree of assistance given by the supervisor; the degree of
initiative displayed by the candidate; and any personal circumstances which may have
affected the candidate's performance.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
THESIS SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please CHECK THE FACULTY WEBSITE FOR THE DUE DATE. Five hard copies and
one soft copy (in CD-ROM or floppy disk format) of the thesis must be submitted to the
Faculty office.



5 copies of the thesis are required.
o One copy must be kept by the students.
o Three copies will be sent to the examiner.
o One copy will be kept by the Faculty office for future years’ reference.
They must be typed double (or one and a half) spaced on A4 paper, with a standard
margin.
They must be bound in some form.
Note that the typing, proof-reading and binding of your thesis will take a number of days.
Make allowances in your scheduling for things going wrong. In particular, if you are using a
computer to type your thesis, take great care to back up your documents and remember
that both hardware and software can and do fail.
PENALTIES: These apply in two situations:
Late thesis: A student who submits a thesis late may not receive an oral
examination. Any thesis submitted after the deadline will be considered late. If the
thesis is late the penalty will be 5 marks out of 100 marks for every working day
which elapses after the submission date.
Exceeding the word limit: In addition to the submission deadline the thesis cannot
exceed 100 pages (excluding the appendix). For every page in excess of the limit
the penalty will be 5 marks out of 100.
PLAGIARISM PENALTIES
Failure to produce a bibliography: Failure to produce a bibliography at the end of
the thesis will result in a fail (F) for the thesis.
Incomplete bibliography: This applies when some quoted reference materials are
missing in the bibliography. In this case, the total mark for bibliography will be
deducted.
No in-text reference: Failure to produce in text reference wherever a direct or
indirect piece of information is quoted in the text of the thesis will result in a fail (F)
for the thesis.
Incomplete in-text reference: This applies when some in text reference is missing
in the text of the thesis. In this case, the total mark for in text reference will be
deducted.
Each student will be provided with clear and detailed guidance on referencing.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
ADVICE TO STUDENTS ABOUT SUPERVISION FOR THEIR THESES
The thesis is the most distinctive part of the business program. It is highly valued by
students but at the same time can be very stressful for them. To make this apprenticeship
in research more valuable and less stressful, the following guidelines have been developed
to assist students in obtaining appropriate and consistent levels of supervision.
1.
The allocation of students to supervisors is ultimately the responsibility of the
Faculty. In making such allocations, the Faculty will take account of preferences
expressed by both students and staff. However, they are not able to guarantee that
preferences will always be met.
2.
The supervisor should assist the student to define a topic. The student is
responsible for proposing the area and general idea behind the thesis. The
supervisor can provide particular help in advising when a topic is of a manageable
size, whether it contains an appropriate quantity and level of business and generally
in refining a broad idea into a precise question.
The supervisor should also: suggest ways to make effective use of research time;
discuss the standard required of a graduation thesis; make arrangements for regular
contact with their student and provide a constructive and critical assessment of any
work submitted
It is appropriate that the supervisor indicate to the student areas of the literature
which are relevant, potentially useful techniques and specific references to items of
economic knowledge which have escaped the student's attention. This is not
considered to be an excessive amount of help.
3.
Students would be expected to see their supervisor at least once every week during
the semester, although more frequent meeting may be arranged if desired.
It is the responsibility of the student to arrange (and keep) these meetings.
4.
Supervisors are requested to read and respond promptly to any sensible material
handed to them. It is very helpful if students start to put ideas in writing as soon as
possible--initially in point form so that they are not wedded to carefully crafted prose.
5.
The supervisor will point out sloppy or incorrect grammar or expression. However, it
is not their responsibility to rewrite material for students.
6.
The examining committee for each student will consist 5 people including a chair, a
secretary, the student’s supervisor and 2 examiners selected from the Faculty staff.
7.
Note that at least a week should be allowed for the production of the thesis (eg,
removing typos, printing and binding).
Also note the need constantly to back up thesis material, if you are using a
computer for word processing. You are strongly advised to make hard copies, as
well as copies onto floppy disk. Software, floppies and even hard disks can and
have given great trouble, including losing material.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
THE FOLLOWING ADVICE IS GIVEN TO SUPERVISORS OF THESES
Please read the Section above carefully.
Supervision record:
Supervisors should record the following information.
-
How often you see your student;
-
Who suggested the topic; and any major suggestions you make. This can be
useful in the event of any dispute, and as a reference when you are asked to
describe to the other examiners the amount of supervision you have given.
When a student fails to meet with you over an extended period of time, please do the
following:
(a) Contact the student and ask why (address/phone number may be obtained from the
Faculty office).
(b) If they do not respond to this initiative, inform the Faculty office in writing;
You are not obliged to persistently chase up a student who fails to keep (or make)
appointments. Nor are you obliged to put in large amounts of time to bring the work of a
weak student up to scratch. All students are entitled to about the same amount of
supervision.
Please read and respond promptly to any sensible material handed to you by your student.
Students have indicated that prompt feedback is of great importance to them. It is very
helpful if students start to put ideas in writing as soon as possible-initially in point form so
that they are not wedded to carefully crafted prose. The supervisor should point out sloppy
or incorrect grammar or expression. However, it is not your responsibility to rewrite
material for students; nor should you do this.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF GRADUATION THESES
In assessing theses, examiners look for the following attributes. These are only suggestive
and not by all means exhaustive.
1.
Selection of the topic; well-conceived, justified, and imaginative
2.
Clarity of statement of hypotheses (if applicable); location of question within a
thorough literature review.
3.
Skill and originality with which relevant analytical ideas are developed.
4.
Appropriateness of data and empirical techniques used; care and ingenuity
demonstrated in their use.
5.
Level of sophistication displayed in the empirical work, both in obtaining the
data and in its analysis.
6.
Interpretation of results; identification of limitations of the study; links back to
literature survey and hypotheses to be assessed.
7.
Design of the thesis; logical, well-structured, well explained?
8.
Quality of the presentation, expression, use of tables and diagrams, footnoting
and referencing, etc.
GUIDELINES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF GRADES
First:
The thesis must have no significant weaknesses in analysis or construction. It
must show some flair and originality as well as an excellent command of the
theoretical and empirical material dealt with. The question will be well
conceived and the analytical and empirical work will be skilfully applied to
answer it. A first class result for the thesis indicates that the examiner
believes that the student has the research potential to enter any further study
programme at a top overseas university.
Percentage Range: 80-100 (8 to 10 out of 10)
2A:
The thesis should have no significant weaknesses in analysis or construction.
It should show a very good understanding of business area which is being
used, and (where appropriate) sound empirical skills.
Lapses in
understanding or skills may be offset by signs of flair or originality. Clearly
this last point will rely on the considered judgement of the examiner. A 2A
result implies that a student is judged to have the research potential to pursue
postgraduate study, but may struggle if in a really demanding programme.
Percentage Range: 70-79 (7 to 7.9 out of 10)
2B:
This result implies that the thesis has some significant inadequacies. These
may be in the form of inadequate understanding of the business idea which is
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
used, a poorly designed and presented thesis, or lack of satisfactory
understanding of the empirical techniques which are used. The inadequacies
must be modest, rather than severe, such that the thesis still contains a useful
examination of the topic from which something can be learned. A 2B result
implies that the student is unlikely to be successful in the research component
of postgraduate study.
Percentage Range: 60-69 (6 to 6.9 out of 10)
3:
This result implies that the thesis contains some serious inadequacies, such
that the value of any conclusions is dubious. However, to obtain a 3 rd rather
than a fail the thesis must show evidence of (a) analysis which is distinctively
that of an economist and (b) a level of understanding which is superior to that
of an average of an average-to-good 3rd year student.
Percentage Range: 50-59 (5 to 5.9 out of 10)
Fail:
A fail is a rare result, given when the student displays little understanding of
the relevant business ideas or how they may be applied in a practical context,
and fails to meet the criteria for a 3rd.
Percentage Range: less than 50 (less than 5 out of 10)
All markings should follow a standard marking scheme that will be provided by the
Faculty office.
All markings by different examiner must be recorded on separate marking sheets.
The marking sheet will be provided.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
ORAL EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
The following procedures have evolved to enhance fairness and consistency in the
assessment of graduation theses.
The following procedures apply in the oral thesis exam.
1.
Supervisor outlines the extent and broad nature of the supervision given to the
student. The supervisor is there as an insurance that the student is treated fairly.
2.
The student makes a 20 to 30 minutes presentation on the thesis.
3.
The examiners have 15 minutes for questions.
4.
The student leaves. Discussion between examiners at this stage is permitted, but
limited to the students’ presentation and responses to questions not the written thesis.
Each examiner awards a final mark for the oral presentation. These marks are then
averaged to give the final oral thesis mark. Written comments are compiled and
informed to the student.
5.
The grades are:
First
2A
2B
Third
80+
70-79
60-69
50-59
(first class honour)
(second class honour (A))
(second class honour (B))
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
For Students: General Advice on the Research
First phase



Meet supervisor to get agreement that topic is 'doable'
Establish supervising arrangements: how often to meet; what to bring to meetings;
student's initiative to set up meetings and to keep them; what supervisor expects of you.
Get working and writing as soon as possible: sketch out structure and keep revising;
read actively, all the time jotting down ideas and incorporating important ideas into your
work plan; think laterally at times: brainstorm--lots of ideas without any critical
assessment at first, make wild connections.

Keep honing the question: getting this right is half the battle

Then can concentrate on how to answer it

Think consciously of what is persuasive in business: logic, theory, established
reputation, data match with theoretical expectations, good writing, knowledge of
institutions and detail of area being examined, knowledge of data source: strengths and
weaknesses

Keep refining question

Sort out data sources

Do time-consuming but not very intellectually demanding things, especially regarding
collecting data

Set in train anything which takes substantial elapsed time

Keep refining the sketch of the thesis structure
Last phase

Heavy concentration on thesis completion

Write drafts as soon as possible — of bits of ideas, of whole chapters

Submit material to supervisor as you write it — do not wait until you have a complete
draft.


If you are having particular trouble, ask for help!
This is a learning exercise, which is why you have a supervisor. If stuck in a hole seek
help!
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
Appendix 1. Title page
FULL THESIS TITLE TYPED IN HERE
Submitted by
Name of student
A thesis submitted as a requirement for the degree of
Bachelor of Business Administration
Hanoi University of Foreign Studies
Faculty of Management and Tourism
Hanoi
October 2006
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
APPENDIX 2.
STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP
"Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis contains no material
published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis or any other degree or
diploma.
No other person's work has been used without due acknowledgment in the main text of the
thesis.
This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other
tertiary institution."
Student signature
Date ___/ ___/ ________
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
Appendix 3: Sample of table of content
This table of content is only suggestive. Please adjust to suit your own thesis subtopics.
TABLE OF CONTENT
List of tables ..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
List of figures ................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP ........................................................................................................... 14
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1
2
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1
Background .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.2
Overview of the problems ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.3
Attempts to solve the problems ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.4
The research ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.5
Contributions ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.6
An overview of the thesis .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
RESEARCH SIGNFICANCE .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.1
The significance of the research topic.......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2
Rationale for topic selection ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3
Contribution of the research ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3.1
Contribution to the industry................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3.2
Contribution to the country ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3
4
LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.1
Overview of existing literature on the research topic .................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.2
Literature on subtopic 1 ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.3
Literature on subtopic 2 ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.4
Comments on gaps from literature ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
RESEARCH METHOD ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.1
Research questions ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2
The theoretical framework ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3
Research aims .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4
Secondary data analysis ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.5
The survey .................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.5.1
Survey objectives .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.5.2
Hypotheses ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5
4.5.6
4.6
5
Sampling................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Questionnaire design ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Data collection....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Data analysis ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Ethical issues................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
FINDINGS.............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.1
5.1.1
5.1.2
Findings from secondary data ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding 1 ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding 2 ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2
The survey findings ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2.1
Data profile ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2.2
Finding 1 ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2.3
Finding 2 ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6
5.3
Summary ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.4
Research limitations ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
DISCUSSION OF IMPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.1.1
6.1.2
Implications for businesses.................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Implications for policy makers .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
7
FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
8
CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.1
Summary ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.2
Key findings.................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.3
Concluding remarks ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDICES ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
REFERENCE .................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
A formal guide for thesis writing students – FMT – HANU