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ALEKSANDRAS STULGINSKIS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT

ACADEMIC PAPER WRITING FOR STUDENTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES:

GENERAL METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES

For students of the Faculty of Economics and Management

Akademija, 2014

Prepared by:

Alvydas Aleksandravičius

Vilija Aleknevičienė

Vilma Atkočiūnienė

Vida Čiulevičienė

Valdemaras Makutėnas

Astrida Slavickienė

Neringa Stončiuvienė

Lina Šarlauskienė

Daiva Urmonienė

Gintarė Vaznonienė

Bernardas Vaznonis

Danutė Zinkevičienė

Approved by the Study Committee of the Faculty of Economics and Management on 17 ofDecember 2014, protocol No.

SL399. 16.11.2014. Print l. 4.0 Format A4 OrderNo. 34. Edition: 30 copies Published by ASU Press, 2014 Studentu St 11,
LT-53361 Akademija, Kaunas district

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. MAIN TYPES OF STUDY WORKS

1.1. Research paper

1.2. Scientific essay

1.3. Term paper

1.4. Internship reports

1.5. Professional portfolio...... 13

1.6. Final work of bachelor's studies

1.7. Master's thesis

2. GENERAL ACADEMIC PAPER SPECIFICATIONS

3. REQUIREMENTS ON PREPARATION OF PAPER PRESENTATIONS

LIST OF REFERENCES

ANNEXES

INTRODUCTION

All students are required to complete individual work as provided in the study programmes, such as individual and/or group tasks, research papers, term papers, internship reports, and, at the end of the studies, final work of the first (bachelor’s) or second (master’s) study cycle at the final stage of the studies.

This methodological manual outlines the basic requirements on paper writing methodology, contents, formatting and presentations to be followed by students studying at the ASU Faculty of Economics and Management.

1. MAIN TYPES OF STUDY WORKS

1.1. Research paper

Research paper is an individual study workintended for comprehensive analysis of a certain theoretical question.The process of writing a research paper is aimed at developing the abilities in collection, analysis, systematisation and summarisation of information on the specific topic.Students are expected to develop the skills of identification of research problems and generation of the related solutions when writing the research papers.

A research paper analyses a certain topic (questions) on the basis of various references.Students may choose topics from the list of research paper topics or may devise their own topics upon the teacher's consent.Students studying at the first study cycle (bachelor’s degree) use subject-related and scientific literature, legislative acts, statistical data as well as other information sources for their research papers.Students studying at the second study cycle (master’s degree) analyse scientific literature (monographs, science studies, research articles referred in international databases) and, in exceptional cases, legislative acts, in their research papers. At least 10 references shall be used in a research paper.At least half of the scientific literature analysed during the master’s studies shall be scientific literature in a foreign language. Research papers may be prepared by an individual student or a group of students (in the latter case, each student's contribution shall be specified).

Recommended length of a research paper is 10–15 pages (including the introduction and conclusions). A research paper prepared by a group of students must be longer.The specific length of the paper is decided by the teacher.A research paper is comprised of the introduction, body part, and conclusions (Table 1).

Table 1.Research paper structure and content requirements

Structural parts / Content requirements
Introduction / The introduction describes the relevance of the chosen topic, object, aim, objectives of the work and research methods applied.When providing reasoning of relevance of the research paper, the author must indicate his/her personal need for analysis of the chosen question.The field of research must be reflected in the aim of the research paper.Objectives outline the chosen method for implementation of the aim, i.e. steps taken to achieve the set aim.Research aims and objectives shall be formulated in the infinitive form of verb: to analyse, to compare, to summarise, to determine, to validate, to present, to propose, to study.Research methods applied and the period under analysis must be indicated at the end of the introduction.
Body part / This part provides the review of various concepts, phenomena, processes relating to the chosen topic; analysis, systematisation and summary of various authors' approaches towards the issue as well as the paper author's approach towards the analysed issue.Students should identify key arguments and ideas important for the analysis of the chosen topic (question).
Conclusions / Conclusions of the research paper present general key ideas, results related to each objective with the view towards the research aim.Master’s degree students must demonstrate coherence between their research and the results of research works analysed in their research paper, reject or prove the proposed hypothesis.

Integral parts of the research paper shall be laid out in the following sequence: title page (Annex 1), contents (Annex 7), structural parts of the paper (Table 3), list of references (Annex 10).

1.2. Scientific essay

A scientific essay is a student's individual written work, the scope and specific structure of which are defined by the teacher who helps develop scientific thinking and argumentation skills.An essay is aimed at presentation of an attitude based on scientific arguments, explanation of own interpretation.When writing a scientific essay, a student refers to the literature or other data, applies scientific methods and concepts. The main focus is put on the analysed issue and the approach towards it, understanding of the theories and ability to discuss on them.

A scientific essay shall possess the following attributes: analysis instead of mere description, application of general concepts, assumptions and theories to the specific material (not vice versa); support of the ideas by literature (not the experience).

Formatting and structure requirements to scientific essays are the same as for research papers; scientific essays may be shorter (the specific length of the paper is decided by the teacher).

A scientific essay shall answer all of the following questions:

  1. Has the question defined by the title and the wording of problem been answered?
  2. Have the applicable points covered during the theoretical lectures been included?
  3. Are the ideas laid down in the essay based on scientific arguments?
  4. Has the essay been written in an objective, analytical, argumentation style?
  5. Is the language of the text fluent, easy to read?

Stages of a scientific essay:

  1. Describe the topic, identify the problem and raise the question to be discussed in the essay.
  2. Find the explanation, answer, solution, come to a conclusion.
  3. Start from an issue, question, etc. and work towards an explanation, answer, solution, conclusion by logical argumentation.
  4. All theses shall be validated by acceptable evidence.
  5. The text must be presented in an easy to read form.

1.3. Term paper

A term paper is an individual study work for students to apply theoretical knowledge to analysis of a specific scientific or practical problem.A term paper helps develop students’ ability of applying theoretical knowledge in specialization subjects to conduction of empirical research, evaluation of the current condition of economy, branch or an entity, development of methods of problem solving.As the students are writing the term papers, they develop their abilities of analysing and summarising the scientific literature, applying other researchers’ methodology to own research, analysing and systematising the results of empirical research, comparing them to research data provided by other authors.

Students studying at the first study cycle use subject-related and scientific literature, legislative acts, statistical and empirical data as well as other information sources for their term papers. The list of references of a first-cycle term paper shall be comprised at least 15 sources, at least the third of which shall be sources in a foreign language.

Students studying at the second study cycle analyse scientific literature (monographs, science studies, research articles referred in international databases) and, in exceptional cases, legislative acts, in their term papers. At least half of the scientific literature analysed during the master’s studies shall be scientific literature in a foreign language. Students studying at the second study cycle are required to identify the research problem, formulate the hypothesis, conduct the research and put forward the methods for solving the problem, prove or reject the hypothesis in their term papers.

Recommended length of the term paper is 15–20 pages (including the introduction and conclusions).The term paper is comprised of the following components:introduction, theoretical, analytical and result or project parts, and conclusions(Table 2).

Table 2. Term paper structure and content requirements

Structural parts
/
Content requirements
Introduction / The introduction shall provide validation of the choice of the topic, its relevance, practical and theoretical significance, specify the object, aim and objectives, methods of the research, and the period under analysis. Research aim and objectives shall be formulated in the infinitive form of verb: to analyse, to study, to assess, to determine, to reveal, to present, to compare, etc. The period under analysis shall be at least 5 years.
Theoretical part / Theoretical part of the paperinvolves analysis of scientific, methodological and other literature,presents theories, key ideas, concepts of the analysed subject, summary of various authors’ opinions and scientific research on the analysed issue, theoretical methods of solving the analysed problem.Opinion of the author of the term paper shall be expressed in a reasoned manner.
Analytical part / Analytical part of the paper involves detailed analysis of the problem under consideration, the conducted empirical studies are described, economic, statistical calculations are presented, results of the empirical studies and the determining factors, deviations of the results from the theoretical provisions, average values are analysed.
Result or project part / This part of the paper shows practical applicability of the research results, puts forward the proposals on solution of the analysed problem, their economic and social reasoning.Changes of the analysed object are projected based on the research results and theoretical concepts by using methods of forecasting, modelling and design.
Conclusions / The conclusions provide concise summary of the author’s research results and possible methods of solving the research problem.The conclusions shall be closely related to the aim and objectives of the research.

Integral parts of the term paper shall be laid out in the following sequence: title page (Annex 1), terms of reference of the term paper (Annex 4), summary in Lithuanian (Annex 6), contents (Annex 7), structural parts of the term paper (Table 2), list of references (Annex 10), appendices (where necessary).Dividing theoretical, analytical and result or project parts of the paper into subsections is recommended.Concise summary of the results shall be provided at the end of each section or subsection.The term paper shall contain citations linked to the list of references used.Arguments provided in the term paper shall be illustrated with tables, figures and appendices.

Supervisor of the paper provides support in development of and approves the terms of reference of the term paper, evaluates the scientific and other literature, sources of statistical and other information gathered by the student, provides consultations in identifying the research aims and objectives, defining the research object, developing the research methodology.

Topics of the term papers are individual.Students may choose topics from the list of term paper topics provided by the teacher. Students may devise their own topics of the term paper upon the teacher’s consent.

Defence of the term papers takes place during practical classes and is comprised of brief presentation of the research results by the student and question/answer part, where the student answers the teacher’s questions.Having failed to write or defend the term paper by the defined deadlines, the student is not admitted to examination of the subject.Term paper assessment criteria are provided in the description of specific course unit.

1.4. Internship reports

Students studying at the first cycle of university studies are required to prepare reports on educational, entrepreneurial and professional internship

An educational internship report is an individual study work intended to analyse and describe a chosen object of the internship (social and economic phenomena, processes, business or public organisation, etc.) and its functional environment in actual situations; develop analytical skills and skills of conducting empirical research, using information technologies in integration of theoretical and practical knowledge on the basics of the field of study.Educational internship reports may, in exceptional cases, be replaced by developed solutions of practical tasks.

An educational internship report is comprised of an introduction, analytical part, conclusions (Table 3).

Table 3. Educational internship report structure and content requirements

Structural parts / Content requirements
Introduction / The introduction must provide the aim, objectives of the educational internship report, research object and methods, successes and failures during the internship.Aims and objectives shall be formulated in the infinitive form of verb: to study, to analyse, to compare, to determine, to project, to present.
Analytical part / The analytical part must describe the studied object and its functional environment, evaluation of internal and external environment of the object, present the identified practical issues and reasoned solutions of these issues, object operations improvement project or object development strategy.
Individual arguments must be illustrated by examples, such as draft operational documents (by-laws, articles of association, job descriptions) and draft operational plans.
Conclusions / The conclusions provide summary evaluation of the condition of the specific research object, indicate the positive features, reveal the weak aspects and the proposed potential corrective measures, benefit of the educational internship, appropriateness of the internship site.

Recommended length of the educational internship report is 15–20 pages (excluding the appendices; including the introduction and conclusions).

Entrepreneurial internship report is an individual or collective study work intended to describe operations of a simulation business enterprise and student as well as demonstrate the acquired competences in business management.

The entrepreneurial internship report is aimed atsolidifying theoretical knowledge held by the students studying under the first-cycle (bachelor’s degree) university study programmes, developing entrepreneurial skills at the HR, financial management and accounting, production and sourcing, sales and marketing departments of a simulation business enterprise through solution of various tasks in business, service planning and development, organisation, management, monitoring and assessment, work towards strategic operational goals of the enterprise by means of simulation in a virtual and actual setting.

A student's entrepreneurial internship report upon internship at a department of a simulation business enterprise is comprised of the introduction, analytical part, conclusions (Table 4).

Table 4. Entrepreneurial internship report structure and content requirements

Structural parts / Content requirements
Introduction / The introduction must indicate the general and personal aim, objectives of the entrepreneurial internship, duties, methods of operations, successes and failures during employment at the simulation enterprise.Aims and objectives shall be formulated in the infinitive form of verb: to study, to compare, to determine, to present.
Analytical part / The analytical part defines the goal of a specific department of the simulation business enterprise of internship, demonstrates the operational experience and specific characteristics of this department, provides the analysis, assessment of performance indicators, and the related recommendations on performance improvement.
Individual arguments must be illustrated by examples, such as operational documents of the enterprise, various economic and financial calculations, etc.
Conclusions / The conclusions provide evaluation of the condition of the department at the simulation business enterprise in the applicable area of operations of the department, indicate the positive features, reveal the weak aspects and possible corrective measures, benefit of the internship.

Length of an entrepreneurial internship report (prepared for each department at the simulation business enterprise) is 4–5 pages (including the introduction and conclusions).Data on operations of the respective departments at the simulation business enterprise are used in preparation of the entrepreneurial internship report.The data are collated and compared to the data of actual existing enterprises that show progress.

A professional internship report is an individual study work intended to describe the chosen operations or a certain process of a specific business entity or public organisation and demonstrate the acquired competences and professional practical skills.

Professional internship reports are aimed at solidifying the theoretical knowledge and enhancing students' practical knowledge in specialization subjects.The latest subject-related and scientific literature, legislative acts, primary and secondary statistical and empirical data are used in writing a professional internship report.

A professional internship report is comprised of an introduction, analytical part, conclusions (Table 5).

Table 5. Professional internship report structure and content requirements

Structural parts / Content requirements
Introduction / The introduction must indicate the aim and objectives, object of the internship, research methods and the period under analysis, duties and the accomplished works that have contributed to the organisation of the internship.Research aim and objectives shall be formulated in the infinitive form of verb: to study, to analyse, to compare, to determine, to project, to present.
Analytical part / The analytical part describes a specific entity that the internship takes place at, reveals the operational experience of this entity, its specific features, provides the analysis and evaluation of its performance indicators.
Individual arguments must be illustrated by examples, such as copies of documents, various calculations, etc.Data of the organisation of internship are collated and compared to the latest data of research studies and advanced enterprises.This part of the report shall reflect the integrated approach towards practice and theory.
Conclusions / The conclusions provide evaluation of the condition of the economic entity or public institutionin the applicable area of operations, indicate the positive features, reveal the weak aspects and possible corrective measures.The student is required to provide his/her evaluation of the scope of implementation of the aims and objectives of the internship, his/her contribution to the operations of the institution and the contribution of the institution to the student's professional training.

Recommended length of the professional internship report is 15–20 pages (including the introduction and conclusions).