THESIS Manual
Special Education
Planning and Conducting a Thesis
Department of Educational Leadership
and Human Development
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
University of Central Missouri
WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI
Revised 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
Purpose of the Thesis 1
What is a Thesis 1
Graduate Student Responsibility 1
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism 1
THESIS 2
Thesis Committee 2
Assistance with the Thesis 2
Financial Support 2
Research Involving Human Subjects 3
Copyright Issues 3
Timeline for Completing the Thesis 4
STEPS in the PROCESS 5
Step 1. Identification of Topic 5
Step 2. Initial Review of Literature 6
Step 3. Development of a Prospectus 8
Step 4. Approval of Prospectus 8
Step 5. Submission of Human Subjects Form 8
Step 6. Additional Review of Literature or Research 9
Step 7. Data Collection and Analysis 10
Step 8. Writing 10
Step 9. Defense of Thesis 10
Step 10. Submission to Graduate School 11
ORGANIZING and COMPLETING the THESIS 13
Print and Paper 13
Style and Format 13
Consistency of Formatting 13
Use of Boldface, Underlining, and Italics 14
Margins, Spacing, and Justification 14
Widows and Orphans 14
Preliminary Pages 14
Chapters and Subheadings 14
Tables and Figures 14
Appendices 15
Order of Pages 15
Page Numbers 16
COMPLETING the SECTIONS of the THESIS 17
Abstract 17
Chapter 1 Introduction 17
Chapter 2 Review of Literature 20
Chapter 3 Methodology 21
Chapter 3 or 4 Results 22
Chapter 4 or 5 Discussion 22
References 23
APPENDICES 24
EXAMPLES OF PROPERLY FORMATTED PAGES
Pages are not numbered as per Appendices requirement as these are to serves as “how to” examples:
THESIS PROSPECTUS FORM
THESIS PROSPECTUS APPROVAL PAGE
ABSTRACT TITLE PAGE
ABSTRACT EXAMPLE
THESIS TITLE PAGE
TITLE PAGE EXAMPLE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
THESIS APPROVAL PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PAGE
HOW TO FORMAT TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXAMPLE
HOW TO FORMAT LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF TABLES EXAMPLE
HOW TO FORMAT LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF FIGURES EXAMPLE
HOW TO FORMAT CHAPTER HEADINGS
CHAPTER HEADING FORMATING EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE OF REFERENCES
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INTRODUCTION
Purpose of the Thesis
Research is an essential part of graduate education. All graduate students should become knowledgeable about research in their particular fields of study and should engage in the process of conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting their own personal research. The fulfillment of the thesis is a distinct advantage to students who plan to do additional graduate study as well as for those who plan to work in certain fields of employment. The completion of a thesis is a requirement for students completing an Educational Specialist Degree at the University of Central Missouri (UCM).
What is a Thesis?
Graduate students completing an Educational Specialist Degree must fulfill a research component as part of the approved program. In some programs within the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Development this is referred to as a Research Problem, while in other departments and programs, such as Special Education, it may be referred to as a thesis.
A thesis is the result of research, scholarly, or creative activity that provides evidence of independent, critical, and creative investigation. The ability to define and develop a problem, understand and synthesize relevant literature, use appropriate research methodology, analyze and interpret data, draw reasonable conclusions and recommend further investigation based on the investigation is demonstrated through the process of completing and defending the thesis.
Graduate Student Responsibility
Admission to graduate studies and graduate programs at Central and the pursuit of a graduate degree presume a degree of initiative on the part of the graduate student. Graduate students assume responsibility for engaging in intellectual activities at the graduate level as well as responsibility for complying with all policies and procedures set forth in the Graduate Catalog, in the Thesis Manual, and in college and departmental regulations. It is the responsibility of the student to adhere to these policies and procedures. Requirements will not be waived, and exceptions will not be granted because of ignorance of policies, requirements, or procedures for graduate study at Central.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Academic honesty is a prerequisite for academic achievement. All members of the academic community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. The University recognizes plagiarism as a serious academic offense. See the Student Calendar/Handbook for details on academic dishonesty.
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THESIS
Thesis Committee
Upon acceptance to the Education Specialist program, a student is assigned a graduate advisor and a minimum of two additional faculty members are appointed to serve on the student’s thesis committee. The graduate advisor will serve as the advisor and chair of the thesis committee. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member of the department, possess an earned doctorate or recognized terminal degree in the professional field and have been approved to teach graduate-level courses.
Course Requirement and Credit
The Thesis course, EDSP 6990, is a required 2-hour course, designed to provide the student with an understanding of research and the application of such in recognizing and solving contemporary problems in public education. The course may be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.
EDSP 6990 Thesis is an approach to research writing designed to assist the student in recognizing a problem, researching a problem, analyzing data, and reporting the findings. A proposal or prospectus for a study will be developed and approved by the graduate advisor/thesis chair during the semester in which the class is taken.
Following the approval of a stated problem in the written prospectus by the graduate advisor, the student enters into a search of data pertinent to addressing the stated problem. The student will be directed in research techniques and will proceed with problem investigation after receiving approval from the Human Subjects Committee. The student must satisfactorily defend the completed thesis before his or her thesis committee.
The grade for EDSP 6990 Thesis will be assigned following the completion of the research project, satisfactory defense before the student’s graduate committee, final approval by the graduate committee, and submission of a bindery receipt. Final grades will be assigned based upon successful progress and the quality of the completed research project. Students should strive to finish the thesis during the semester initially enrolled in EDSP 6990 or the subsequent semester.
Students not completing the research during the semester the class is taken will receive a “U” grade. “U” grades must be removed before the degree can be completed. Upon the successful completion and defense of the thesis, the graduate advisor will complete the Report on Unfinished Grade, changing the grade from “U” to satisfactory completion. The Report on Unfinished Grade will be delivered to the Registrar’s Office for the grade to be changed. The Registrar’s Office is located in Ward Edwards 1000.
Assistance with the Thesis
The following are opportunities for students seeking assistance with writing the thesis:
1. The Graduate School hosts several meetings for students writing theses or theses, which take place in the first month of each semester. These meetings are designed to provide assistance and answer questions related to thesis requirements and procedures.
2. The graduate advisor/committee chair and other committee members serve as resources. Students should be in frequent contact with their advisors. Typically,
numerous drafts are needed. Students need to provide the advisor and committee members with sufficient time to read the work and provide feedback. It is important for students to be open-minded about accepting constructive criticism. The goal is to complete an excellent thesis which demonstrates 1) the ability to define and develop a research problem, 2) understand and synthesize relevant literature, 3) use appropriate methodology, 4) analyze and interpret data, 5) draw reasonable conclusions and, 5) recommend further investigation based on the research findings.
3. The Writing Center can serve as a resource. The staff at the Writing Center will not write the thesis, but can provide valuable assistance in learning how to write more effectively and to produce a thesis that is formatted correctly.
4. The Library staff can provide assistance in locating relevant resources. Items may also be ordered through Inter-Library Loan.
5. Other individuals may be available to assist with specific needs in areas such as research design and statistical treatment.
Resource
/Contact Information
Graduate SchoolWard Edwards 1800 / (660) 543-4621
www.ucmo.edu/graduate
Library Reference Desk
JCKL 2175 / (660) 543-4154
library.edu/graduate
Office of Sponsored Research & Projects; Ward Edwards 1800 / (660) 543-4264
www.ucmo.edu/research
Writing Center
Humphreys 116 / (660) 543-4367
www.ucmo.edu/writingcenter
DigiDitto (Copies)
Union 213 / (660) 543-8496
www.ucmo.edu/union/digiditto.htm
Financial Support
Contact the Office of Sponsored Research and Projects for assistance in locating information regarding awards and grants to support research. It may be necessary to apply for a grant well in advance of conducting the research.
Research Involving Human Subjects
Federal law requires that the Human Subjects Review Committee must approve, in advance, all research involving human subjects, regardless of the source of funding. In order to comply with governmental directives, the appropriate human subjects form must be completed and submitted to the Human Subjects Review Committee. Forms and instructions can be downloaded from the Office of Sponsored Research and Projects website (http://www.ucmo.edu/x30011.xml). The University Human Subjects Review Committee meets bi-monthly. Approval must be requested well in advance of the anticipated beginning date of the research.
After completing the appropriate human subjects forms, the forms must be submitted to the student’s graduate advisor prior to submission to the Human Subjects Review Committee. A copy of a properly signed and approved “Human Subjects Review Form” must be filed in the Human Subjects Review Committee before the research can go forward. Also, a copy of the approved form must be submitted with the final thesis to The Graduate School. Failure to follow the Human Subjects Review procedure will result in rejection of the thesis by The Graduate School and confiscation of any data collected.
Copyright Issues
The University of Central Missouri sends all theses to University Microfilms Incorporated (UMI) for photocopying. UMI examines each thesis that it publishes for the inclusion of material copyrighted by other authors, whether individual or corporate. A letter must accompany all materials that have been copied from the copyright holder granting permission to the author to reproduce the material as part of the thesis. This permission must also be noted at the bottom of the page as “Used with permission of (name of publisher).” Most publishers require this notation. A notation also is to appear in the Bibliography/References/Works Cited section with the page number(s) stated along with the name of the publication. The Graduate School must have a copy of the original material.
The most common potential copyright infringement is the use of standardized tests. When UMI editorial staff encounters such tests without permission statements, publication of the thesis or thesis is delayed until appropriate consent is obtained, a process that may take many weeks. Some publishers readily grant permission to include standardized tests and scales. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) and McGraw-Hill are cooperative in this regard. In all cases, however, the researcher has the responsibility to contact publishers, secure permissions, and include them with the thesis or thesis manuscript when submitting to University Microfilms Incorporated (UMI). It is not a requirement that theses by microfilmed; however, it is a requirement for EDSP 6990 Thesis. When a researcher has devised a new test as part of the research project, clear notification in the text is required. Such self-documentation may prevent UMI editors from needlessly contacting the author, which would delay publication of the manuscript.
According to the 1976 Copyright Act, the researcher’s manuscript is automatically copyrighted. Until formal transfer of the copyright, the individual researcher is the owner. There is no need to register the copyright (fee required) unless a public record of the copyright is desired. The manuscript need not display the copyright symbol © ; however, if the copyright symbol is desired, the unnumbered copyright page must be added immediately following the Thesis Title Page (See Appendix). The best way to protect an unpublished work is to place a copyright notice on every copy.
Timeline for Completing the Thesis
Completing a thesis is a time-consuming process. A thesis cannot be rushed through at the last minute. This is a process that often involves several drafts with input and assistance by the student's graduate advisor and other thesis committee members. Care must be taken to follow guidelines for style and format (UCM Thesis Manual, Special Education Thesis Manual, APA guidelines). The student will need to allow time for review by the Thesis Committee. The suggested timeline on the following page can be used to plan the work on the thesis and to avoid a delay in graduation.
The student will need to project the date for the anticipated graduation. This will allow the work plan to be tailored to the individual’s time sequence. Chunking the project will assist the student to stay organized and keep on target with the tasks. It is helpful for the student and graduate advisor to approve each chapter as it is completed. While a chapter is being read and reviewed by the advisor, the student can be drafting the next chapter.
Continue to meet, both on a formal and informal appointment basis, with the faculty advisor/chair of the Thesis Committee. It is important to remember that university professors have multiple professional and personal commitments. It is also important here to reemphasize that completing a thesis is a time-consuming process and cannot be rushed through at the last minute. Students should continue to confirm their timelines and monitor progress on completed tasks.
STEPS in the PROCESS
EDSP 6990 Thesis
The student, after consultation and direction provided by the advisor/thesis chair, will work independently on the various tasks involved in developing a prospectus and completed research problem. The student should meet with the advisor on a regular basis at a regularly-scheduled time or at another agreed upon time by appointment to report progress and seek assistance. Typically, EDSP 6990 will be the final course taken by the student, and thus is considered a capstone project.
The following steps are listed in the order in which they should occur and are intended to assist the student in a research investigation of an approved problem in special education administration resulting in a completed thesis: