Guidelinesfor the Master’sthesis

Goal

The master’sthesisisanindependentresearch product.Throughtheworkonyourmaster’s thesisyouaresupposedtodemonstratetheability toanalyzeaspecifictopicinaresearchand precise fashion.

The length of themaster’sthesisshouldbe between16.000and35.000words, includingindex, list of contents, listof tables, acknowledgments, etc. Any additionalmaterialcanbehandedinonaCDorbepostedonaWeb-page(whereonly the weblinkislistedintheactualthesis).Thecommissionisnotobligatedtoreviewthis material.Inthiscontexta “normal” page isconsideredtobe anA4 page withbotha leftand rightmargin,withbothtopand bottommarginsof 2,5 cmand with1,5spacing. Thisis, togetherwithpagenumberseithercenteredoralternately ontherightandleftside,aformat welldesigned fordoublepageprinting.

Thetypeoffontusedisoptional,butitmustbeincompliancewiththenormthatyields approximately325 wordsper pagewith adjustment forboth left and right margins.

Forproportionalfont(forinstanceTimesNewRoman):Thefontshouldbenosmallerthan

13-pointsizeon a laser printer.

Smallerfontsizeandsinglespacingcanbeusedintables,figuresandfootnotesaslongasit

is “reader-friendly”.

Guidelines forContent

Themasterthesis is an independent research product. This means that:

I)Itshouldfocusonaresearchquestionandoneormoreunderlyingquestions which arethematicallydefined within the field of Peaceand Conflict Studies.

II)It should be based on oneof the following criteriaforthe handlingof amaterial a) Collection, comparison and reviewof existingliterature.

b) Collection and analysisof own observation, interview orsurveydata

c) Analysisofanexistinginterview-orsurveymaterial,forinstancepublic statistics

d) Re-analysisof anexistingdatafrom other investigations.

Quality requirements

Itisimportanttomentionthatthequalityrequirementsmayvarysomewhatfromwhatis describedbelow,dependingonthedisciplineyouchoosetowriteyourthesiswithin.The assessment ofamasterthesis is basedonan overall impression onegetsas areader.There are,however,afewcriteriaworthmentioningasmoresignificantthanothersinthegrading ofathesis.

I)Thatthethesisisfoundedonaprecise,specifiedandscholarlyinteresting research question.

II) Thatallempiricalanalysisiswelldocumentedandisbasedonreliabledata.Itis also important that thestudent present thedata inaproper manner.

III) Thatthediscussionofthematerialisconnectedtointerestingandinsightful theoriesandterms,andthattermsand typologiesareused inaconsistentand orderly fashion.Itisofparticularimportancethatthetheoriesandtermsusedare relevant to the topic under scrutiny.

The academic competence thatshouldbe acquiredanddocumentedthroughtheworkonthe thesis,isamongstotherthings,theability toconductasolidresearchwork.Thismeansthat argumentativeorder,theability toanalyzeandusethematerialathandaccordingto regulationsandprofessionalcreativityandintuitionisvery important.ThroughtheMaster programthestudentsarealsomeanttoacquireacademiccreativity andintuition,i.e.an abilityto askgood research questions and performstringent analysis.

Scientific decorum-ideals about intellectual honesty

Asinallenterprises,studiesandresearcharealsoregulated by normsofmoralityand studentsattheUniversityofOsloareintroducedtothisthemealready duringtheethicspart of theExamenFacultatum.Thisalsoincludesprofessionalethics. Severalof theethical guidelinesforresearchworkarerelevantfor termpapers,essaysandmastertheses,for instance thosethatdealwiththe useofdata,therelationshiptothosewhoare beingstudied, orto the relationship to colleagues.

On plagiarism

One ofthemorecentralethicaltopicsinresearchisplagiarism.One importantguidelinein this respect is stated in a document made by NESH (the National Research Ethical CommitteeforSocialScienceandArts).Researcherswhouseorcitefromotherpeople’s ideas,publicationsorscientificmaterial,muststatetheirsources.Plagiarismisto present otherpeople’sresearchinamannerwhichcanmisleadotherstothinkthatitisyourown work.Plagiarismisaseriousmatter.Plagiarismandtheftofmaterial,ideasorresearchis unacceptable (NESH). Plagiarismrepresentsa seriousviolationof thenormsof thescientific community.Itisimportanttolearntherightwaytousesourcesandreferencesasearly as possible. Allpapers handed in to the Departmentmustfollow thenorms of citation.

Whenusingothertexts,referencesshouldbeindicatedwithquotationmarksandaccurate sources.Itisimportanttorememberthatevenifyourewriteotherpeople’sviewsand results,anaccuratecitationisstillneeded.Directuse ofotherpeople’sformulationsor thoughts, withoutpropercitation, is cheating.

Misuse of sourcesintermpapers isconsidered cheating,whichinseriouscasescanleadto annulmentoftheexamand/orexpulsionforaperiodoftime.Itisthereforevery important thatstudentsarefamiliarwiththeethicalandprofessional/academicguidelines.Youcan readmoreonthissubjectinWayneBooth,G.GColombJ.M.Williams(1995):TheCraft ofResearch(universityofChicagoPress)andRobinL.Penslar(red)(1995):Research Ethics. Casesand Materials (Bloomington).

References andList ofreferences

Referencesandlistofreferencesmustbedoneinaconsistentmannerandaccordingtoa

common standard. TheDepartment of Historyhas thereforemadeastandard, which we recommendbeusedwhenwritingyourthesis.Studentsmay useotherstandards,but references andlist of referencesmustbewritten inamanner consistent withthe standardyou have chosento use.

References

Whento refer?

Oneisobligatedtocitewhere onehasfoundtheinformationfrom(whatsource)orthename

oftheperson(s)oneisciting.Whenusing directcitationsandwhenspecificinformationis borrowedfromotherpeople’s work,thesourcemustbecitedand referenceto thepage number mustbeincluded.Thisalsoapplieswhendistinctideasare referredtoordiscussed even if theyarenot citedin thetext.

Howto refer?

Use footnotes or endnotes. Be sure that the notes contain everything you

need, such as author`s surname, publication year and page numbers, as in “Seip 1981: 45”.That is, if you remember what Seip 1981 is about.

List ofreferences andlist ofsources

Attheendofthethesisalistofallliteratureyouused,mustbeincluded.Onlyliterature,

whichisreferredtointhetextshouldbeincludedonthislist.Thelistofreferencesmustbe

arrangedinalphabeticalorderbasedontheauthor’ssurnames.Ifthethesisisbasedona

significantnumberofsourcesofthekindmentionedbelowinpt.8 and10,thesecanbe placed in a separate listof sources.But theycan also beincluded in thelist of references.

Belowthereareexamplesofhowtoreferto10differenttypesofliteratureandsourcesafter astandard used at theDepartment of Political Science.

1. Books

Arter, David (1999). Scandinavian Politics Today. Manchester.

Elshtain, Jean Bethke(1995).Women andWar.Chicago.

2. Anthologies(i.e. a collection of articles byseveral authors)

Lewis-Beck,MichaelS.(1984)."France:The StalledElectorate," Chap.14 inRusselDalton etal.(Eds):ElectoralChangeinAdvancedIndustrialSocieties.Princeton,N.J.: Princeton UniversityPress.

Bleiklie,Ivar,KnutDahlJacobsenogJanThorsvik(1979)."Forvaltningenogdenenkelte", page.209-238 iLeifH. Skare (Ed.):Forvaltningenisamfunnet. Oslo: Tanum-Norli.

Note:The article andthetitle,editor,pagenumber (insomeinstancesalsochapter number)publishingyear,placeaswellasPublisheroftheanthologyshouldbeincludedin the reference.It is onlythe title ofthe book that should be written inItalics.

3. Magazinearticles

Eriksen,ThomasHylland(1991)”EthnicityversusNationalism”JournalofPeaceResearch:

63-278.

Farell, Theo (2002) “Constructivist Security Studies: Portrait of a research program” ,

InternationalStudies Review4 (1): 49-72.

Note: The name of thearticle,the magazine,publishingyear andthe page number of the articleshouldbeincludedinthereference.ThenameoftheMagazineistheonly thing written inItalics.

4. Repports inseries et.al

Gooderham, Paul, Tore Lindbekk Kristen Ringdal (1994). Erikson og Goldthorpes

klasseinndeling:Norwegianversion.Trondheim:University ofTrondheim,AVH, Department of Sociologyand Political Science.ISSreport 41.

Skjeie,Hege(1992).Denpolitiskebetydningenavkjønn.Enstudieavnorsktoppolitikk.

Oslo:Instituttforsamfunnsforskning. Rapport 92:11.

NoteThereferencetotheseriesthatthearticleispublishedintheauspicesofmustbe included in the referenceat theveryend.

5. Unpublishedmanuscripts/Conferencepapers

A. Conferencepapers

Flanagan,ScottC.Aie-RieLee(1988).'Explaining valuechangeanditspolitical implications in eleven advanced industrial democracies'. Presented on the 14th world congressofInternational Political Science Association. Washington,August28th.- September 1st. Conferencepaper.

B. Master theses, dissertations

Skare, Audun (1994). Nominasjoner. Kandidatutvelgingens politiske innhold. Oslo:

UniversitetetiOslo, Department of Political Science.Master thesis.

C. Manuscripts not yet published

Banks,JeffreyS.andGeorgeBordes(1987)."VotingGames,Indifference,andConsistent

Sequential ChoiceRules."Rochester :UniversityofRochester. Paper.

NoteThetypeofwork(”conferencepaper","Masterthesis","paper",or"dissertation")

Should be written at the veryend ofthe reference, after placeof print andname ofpublisher.

6. Books or articles notyet published

Nye,JosephS.(forthcoming).UnderstandingInternationalConflicts.AnIntroductionto

Theory and History (Second edition).Amsterdam.

Note:Thistypeofsourceshouldinyourtextbe referredtothesamewayasyouwoulddo books,butinsteadofwritingpublishingyearyouwriteforthcoming.Forinstance(Urwin, forthcoming).

7.Publicationswithoutnamedauthors,forinstancePublicdocumentspoliticalparty programs

Statistisk sentralbyrå (1994). Utdanningsstatistikk Universiteter og høgskoler 1. oktober

1992. Oslo-Kongsvinger.

Foranexampleofhowtowritesuchareferencesinyourtext:(Statistisksentralbyrå1984), or. ... (Statistisksentralbyrå1984: 35-40, table10).

St. meld. nr. 72 (1981-82): Omoffentliginformasjon.

Foranexampleofhowtowritesuchareferenceinyourtext:...(St.meld.nr.72(1981-82)),

or… (St.meld.nr.72 (1981-82):22 -27).

Kravtilinnsatsforfellesframtid.ArbeidsprogrammetforDetnorskearbeiderparti1990-

1993.

(Arbeidsprogrammetdoesnotcontaininformationabouttimeandplaceofpublishment.So that information cannot beincluded in the reference).

For anexampleof howto writesuchareferenceinyour text... (Kravtilinnsats: 31-32).

Note: References of thiskind can be abbreviated

8. Radio-og TV-programs

CNN (1999).Biz-Asia.July25th.

NRK 1 (1997).Enklasseforseg'.July25th.

Note:TheBroadcastersnameandchannel,followedtheyearcomesbeforethenameofthe program and thedate itwas first broadcast

9. Newspaperandmagazinearticles

Berdal, Mats og Torunn Laugen (1997). 'FN og NATO i Bosnia - risiko og byrder',

AftenpostenJuly25th.

Aftenposten(1997).'Mejdani etterfølger BerishaiAlbania'. 25. juli. Economist (1997).' Europewheels to the right'. 10-16 mai.

Note: Authorsaretobeincluded inthereferenceifthearticle hasanauthor.Ifthename of theauthordoesnotappear in,thereference shouldlooklike the3rdexample.Itisnot necessarytoincludepagenumbers. Thenewspapersormagazinesnameshouldnotbe written inItalics when itis placed first in the reference.

10. Oral Sources andconversations

Skytøen,Lars (1986).Telefonintervju med forf.(telephoneinterviewwith author)6. April. BrundtlandGroHarlem,(1997).Personligkorrespondanse(Personalcorrespondence)med

forf. 4. mars.

Syse, Jan P. (1994).Intervju(interview)med forf.4. April.

Itisimportantthatthetypeofcommunicationbetweenyouandthesourceisstatedinyour text.Thecorrectwayofcitingthe3examplesmentionedaboveisasfollows:...(Skytøen

1986 [Telephoneinterview]),...(Brundtland1997[Personalcorrespondence]),...(Syse1994 [interview]).

Note.Inyourlistofreferencesthetypeofcommunicationandthedatemustbestated.Also in the actual text, thetypeof communication should be stated in parenthesis []

Generally

Ifmorethanoneauthororeditorsarecollaborating inapublication,they shouldbelistedin thesequenceonthepublicationstitlepage.Ininstanceswhere thereismore thanoneauthor, onlythefirstauthoristobelistedwiththesurnamefirst,withacommabetweensurname and first name. Theotherauthors shouldbelisted with their first names first as in example2.

Notethatintheexamplesabove,differenttypesofliteratureislistedseparately to demonstratehowtheyaretobeusedinthelistofreference.Thelistofreference,should however,notbearrangedthematically butalphabetically.Ifyouhaveseveralsourcesfrom category8and 10,you can opt to arrangethose inaseparate listof references.

Tables andfigures.

Tablesandfiguresareoftenincludedtodescribeor demonstratefindingsfroma researchthe authorhasconductedhim/herselfor havegainedaccesstofromother writtenmaterialor to describetendencies or relationships between variables found in available statistical data.

Alltablesandfiguresincludedinthemasterthesismust be numbered.The number should refertothechapter,thetable,orthefigureisplacedin.Forinstancetablenumber2in chapter 5shouldbegiven the number 5.2,(i.e.table 5.2). Tablesandfiguresmustbe numberedseparately (i.e.table5.1,5.2,5.3etcandfigure5.1,5.2etc).Theheadlineofthe tablesandfiguresaretobewritteninboldletters.Notethattheheadlineforfiguresshould beplaced under thefigurewhile theheadlineof a tableis to beplaced overthe actual table.

Tablesandfiguresshouldincludeallnecessaryinformationsothatthereadercanunderstand their meaning without consulting the general text. This means that the contents of all columnsandrowsmustbeclearly indicatedinthetableandthattheprecisesignificanceof the data must beindicated.

Arefrequenciesabsoluteorrelative?Whatkind ofcoefficientisused?Itshouldalsobeclear inwhichdirectionpercentages have beencalculatedandthe basis(N) forcalculating percentages. Thenotestothetableorfiguremustbeincludedinthetableorfigure,below thenumbers.Ifthereismorethanonenote,theyshouldbeindicatedby numbers(1,2,3..)or letters(a,b,c..).Asageneralrule thedataused inthetableorfigureshouldbe stated.Ifyou mainly only useonesourceitisnotnecessary tostateyoursourcesforeachandevery table orfigure.Ifsomeofthetablesare basedonothersourcesyouhavetostatesointhetable. Data sources should beindicated in thefollowing manner: Source: Election polls 1989.If the tableor figureisgathered from published sources, the sourcemustbe cited.

Ifthetableusedinyourthesisisfor instancegatheredfromtable4.1inBerntAardaland HenryValen’sbook“Velgere,partierogpolitiskavstand”from1989.Thecorrectwayof referring tothattableis:SourceAardalandValen1989(55-57,table4.1).Belowyoucan find tables and figures that demonstrate howtheyshould appear inyour thesis.

Table4.2Partypreferencesandsocialclassamongstworkinggroupsbased on Eriksonand Goldthorpe'sclassification. Weighed percentages.

Socialclass

Party / Upper civil servant / Lower civil servant / Functionary / Middleclass / Agricultural sector / Skilled
Workers / Unskilled workers / Total
SV / 9 / 8 / 5 / 5 / 1 / 6 / 5 / 6
AP / 13 / 19 / 46 / 23 / 16 / 56 / 60 / 37
V. / 6 / 8 / 3 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
KrF / 15 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 12 / 8 / 2 / 8
SP / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 48 / 2 / 3 / 7
H / 45 / 46 / 30 / 55 / 17 / 21 / 21 / 34
FrP / 3 / 4 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 6 / 5 / 3
Other
Parties / 4 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 1
Sum / 100 / 100 / 100 / 101 / 99 / 101 / 100 / 100
N / 78 / 315 / 325 / 106 / 81 / 174 / 173 / 1252

Cramers V=.24

EriksonandGoldthorpe’s classificationis explainedinappendix2.

Source: Valgundersøkelsen1985

Table5.2Regressionanalysis withindexforperceivedpoliticalefficiency as independentvariable(N=1527).Bi-variatecorrelations(Pearson’sr) and standardizedand unstandardized regression coefficients.

r / beta / B
Constant / 5.91
Age / -
.28** / .029**
Sex1 / -.01 / .00 / -.003
Education / .30* / .24** / .193**
2
Family income3 / .20** / .06* / .0013*
R 2 / .150

1Dummy variablewhere women aregiven thevalue1

2Number ofyears ofhigher education

3Familyincomeinthousandkroner

* Significantwitha significantlevel of 5% (two tailed test)

**Significantwitha significantlevel of1% (two tailed test)

Source: Surveyof national identityinNorway, 1995

Citations of Internet baseddocuments

1.Newspaper articles:

Author (year, monthday). Title.- orpagenumber: Newspaper [medium].- Edition.- Available: Givesufficientinformationtofind article

2.Example:

Tooshoos,G.(1992,December7). Problemsare notoddI.Minnesota daily[online].

- AvailableviaTelnet: gopher.tc.uran.eduCatalog: Libraries/Newspaper,magazines andnewsletter/Campus newspapers/Minnesotadaily) Fil:Search 199211993

schoolyear

* )Theslashindicatesthelevel inthemenus

3.Informationfrommailinglists:

Author (year, Monthday). Topicfordiscussion[discussion].- List[online].E-mail- address:

4.Example:

Dahlø, Rolf(1995,February3rd). Neweditionof manual [discussion].- Library

[online].- E-mail-address:

5.InformationfromNewsgroups:

Author (Year, month day). Topicfor discussion [discussion][online].- Newsgroup:

6.Example:

Marthinsen,Odd(1993,March 13th). Genealogyprogram[discussion][online].- Newsgroup:no.slekt

7.Informationfrom electronic mail:

Author (Year, month day). Topicsof messages (e-mail torecieversname) [Online].

–Availabethroughe-mail:recieverse-mail-address

8.Example:

Sparck-Jones,Karen(1994,April 2nd).Weighting[e-mailtoGunhild Salvesen] [online].–Availablethroughe-mail:

9.Text fromWorldWide Web:

Title(date ofreading) [online].- URL:

10.Example:

Internet usefor librarians (1995,February3rd) [online].- URL: