METHODOLOGY PREPARING MASTER’S THESIS
Topic outline
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First Year Master's Degree in Accounting and Fiscality
Finance and Accounting Department
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Module: METHODOLOGY PREPARING MASTER’S THESISAcademic year: 2024/2025
Level: M1 Accounting and Fiscality
Faculty of Economics, Business and Management
Department of Accounting and Finance
Lectuer: Dr. CHIB Djazia Amina
Tutor: Dr. CHIB Djazia Amina
Email: djazia.chib@univ-tlemcen.dz
Teaching unit: Methodological
Coefficient :02
Credits:04
Semester hours: 45 hours / 15 weeks
Weekly volume: 3 h/ week - Lectures and Directed Works
Evaluation method: General average = ( Examination x 0.6 ) +
( Continuous assessment x 0.4 ).
▪ Exam: The grade from the end of semester exam.
▪ Continuous monitoring = (Presence + test + homework) / 3.
▪ Attendance = 20 – (number of unjustified absences x 5) – (number of justified absences x 2).
Follow-up modality (tutoring schedule):
Monday: 10h00-11h30.
Tuesday: 10h00-11h30.
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Understand the Research Process
Equip students with the knowledge of all stages of academic research—from topic selection to final submission—ensuring they can conduct methodical, rigorous, and original studies. -
Develop Research Problem-Solving Skills
Train students to identify, formulate, and justify research problems and objectives relevant to their academic discipline and societal needs. -
Master Research Design and Methods
Provide students with the ability to select appropriate qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method research designs and apply suitable data collection and analysis techniques. -
Enhance Academic Writing Competence
Enable students to structure and write a coherent, well-argued, and properly referenced Master’s thesis in accordance with academic standards and institutional guidelines. -
Apply Ethical Research Principles
Foster awareness and application of ethical considerations in research, including integrity, plagiarism prevention, informed consent, and proper data handling. -
Develop Critical Analysis and Synthesis Skills
Teach students to critically evaluate existing literature, identify research gaps, and integrate theoretical and empirical evidence into their thesis work. -
Improve Time and Project Management Skills
Prepare students to plan, schedule, and manage their thesis process effectively, meeting deadlines and balancing research with other commitments. -
Prepare for Oral Defense
Provide training in thesis presentation and defense skills, ensuring students can confidently explain, justify, and discuss their research findings.
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To be able to take this course, the student should have:
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Completion of Core Master’s Coursework
Students should have successfully completed most or all of their core and specialized courses in the Master’s program to ensure they possess sufficient theoretical and disciplinary knowledge. -
Basic Research Methodology Knowledge
Prior completion of an undergraduate or graduate-level course in research methodology, covering fundamentals such as problem formulation, literature review, research design, and data analysis. -
Academic Writing Skills
Ability to write in an academic style, including structuring essays, using appropriate grammar, and applying a recognized citation and referencing system (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). -
Familiarity with Data Collection Tools
Basic knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection instruments such as questionnaires, interviews, experiments, and observation methods. -
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills
Competence in using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software, as well as internet-based academic search engines and databases. -
Preliminary Research Topic or Area of Interest
Students should have at least a general research area or topic idea to facilitate learning and immediate application of the course concepts. -
Language Proficiency
Adequate proficiency in the language of instruction (e.g., English, French, or Arabic) to read academic literature, write research reports, and participate actively in discussions.
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PART 1
Chapter1: Project Problem
Chapter 2: Identifying target group
Chapter 3: Defining the customer value proposition
Chapter 4: Defining the process structure
Chapter 5: Financial study of the project
Chapter 6: Determining the environment of the organisation
Chapter 7: Designing the prototype
Chapter 8: Defining the MVP
PART 2
Chapter 9: Scientific research methodology
Chapter 10: Scientific research problem
Chapter 11: Literature Review
Chapter 12: Constructing research hypotheses
Chapter 13: Data collection methods
Chapter 14: Sampling
Chapter 15: Data analysis techniques
Chapter 16: Structure and organisation of the research introduction
Chapter 17: Citation, marginalisation and referencing
Chapter 18: Structure and organisation of the methodological framework of the research
Chapter 19: Structure and organisation of the presentation and discussion of the research findings
Chapter 20: Structure and organisation of the conclusion
Chapter 21: Editing and documentation in APA style
Chapter 22: Presentation techniques
Post-tests and remediation method
General conclusion
Bibliographic References
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The Master’s thesis is a fundamental requirement for obtaining a postgraduate degree, representing the culmination of a student’s academic journey. It serves as both a demonstration of the student’s mastery of their discipline and an opportunity to contribute original knowledge or solutions to real-world problems. The course Methodology for Preparing a Master’s Thesis is designed to equip students with the theoretical understanding, practical tools, and systematic approaches necessary to successfully conceive, plan, execute, and present a high-quality research project.
In this course, students will learn to clearly identify a research problem, conduct a comprehensive literature review, formulate objectives and hypotheses, select appropriate research designs, and apply qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods to collect and analyze data. Particular emphasis is placed on academic writing, adherence to ethical research standards, and compliance with institutional guidelines for thesis preparation.
Through interactive lectures, workshops, and individual guidance, students will not only enhance their technical research skills but also develop competencies in time management, critical thinking, and effective communication. By the end of the course, they will be prepared to produce a well-structured, rigorously argued, and methodologically sound Master’s thesis, as well as defend it confidently before an academic jury.
🔑 Key Words:
Master’s Thesis, Research Methodology, Academic Writing, Research Design, Literature Review, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Hypothesis Formulation, Research Ethics, Plagiarism Prevention, Citation and Referencing, Time Management, Oral Defense, Research Problem Identification, Project Planning
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📄Short Description
This chapter focuses on defining and framing a market problem or unmet need as the foundation for developing effective and innovative solutions. It introduces the Design Thinking approach as a human-centered methodology to deeply understand the target audience, uncover hidden challenges, and clearly articulate the core problem. Emphasis is placed on empathy, observation, and iterative problem definition to ensure that the identified issue is relevant, solvable, and aligned with market realities.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:
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Understand the importance of accurately defining the market problem before proposing solutions.
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Apply Design Thinking tools—such as empathy maps, personas, and problem statements—to identify and validate needs.
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Gather relevant qualitative and quantitative data to understand stakeholders’ pain points.
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Formulate a clear and concise problem statement that guides the development of solutions.
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Evaluate the feasibility and relevance of the identified problem in the current market context.
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📄Short Description
This chapter explores the process of determining the specific audience a product, service, or initiative aims to serve. It emphasizes the importance of understanding customers’ demographic, geographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics to ensure marketing strategies are focused and effective. By applying segmentation techniques and user profiling tools, learners will be able to clearly define their target group and align value propositions with audience needs and preferences.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:
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Understand the concept and importance of identifying a target group in marketing.
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Apply market segmentation methods to classify potential customers.
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Create customer profiles (personas) that reflect real audience characteristics.
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Analyze customer needs, motivations, and pain points to refine targeting strategies.
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Evaluate the alignment between the target group and the proposed product or service.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 3 focuses on understanding and defining the Customer Value Proposition (CVP), which represents the unique mix of benefits, solutions, and value that a company promises to deliver to its customers. It emphasizes how businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors by aligning their offerings with customer needs, preferences, and expectations. The chapter highlights the importance of crafting a clear, compelling, and customer-centric value proposition to strengthen competitive advantage and build long-term customer relationships.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define the concept of customer value proposition (CVP) and explain its role in marketing strategy.
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Identify key components of an effective CVP, including benefits, costs, and differentiation factors.
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Analyze customer needs and expectations in order to design value propositions that address them.
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Compare and contrast a company’s CVP with competitors, highlighting sources of competitive advantage.
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Develop a clear and persuasive CVP statement tailored to a target market segment.
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Evaluate real-world examples of CVPs to understand their effectiveness in practice.
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📄Short Description
This chapter focuses on outlining the process structure that guides the production and delivery of a product or service. It emphasizes identifying the sequence of key activities, resources, and responsibilities needed to transform an idea into a market-ready solution. By defining a clear process structure, organisations can improve efficiency, reduce waste, ensure quality, and align operations with customer expectations.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:
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Understand the importance of process structure in product and service development.
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Identify the key activities and steps involved in producing a product or service.
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Map the process using tools such as flowcharts or process diagrams.
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Analyze the role of resources (human, technological, financial) in supporting each step.
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Evaluate how process design impacts efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
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Develop a structured action plan for turning an idea into a deliverable product.
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📄Short Description
This chapter introduces the financial dimension of project planning by examining how costs, revenues, and profits shape the sustainability of an organisation. It focuses on analyzing the cost structure, estimating potential revenues, and projecting profitability to ensure that the project is both viable and aligned with long-term goals. Learners are guided to understand financial organisation, budgeting, and the link between financial planning and overall project success.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:
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Understand the role of financial planning in project success and sustainability.
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Identify the main cost components (fixed, variable, direct, indirect) in a project.
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Analyze the organisation’s financial structure and budgeting process.
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Evaluate the relationship between cost structure, pricing, and profitability.
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Apply basic financial tools (e.g., break-even analysis, cost–benefit analysis) to assess viability.
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Develop a financial projection that includes revenues, costs, and expected profits.
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Critically assess risks and uncertainties that can affect the financial stability of the project.
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📄Short Description
This chapter focuses on the importance of understanding the external and internal environment of an organisation before designing strategies. It introduces three major strategic analysis tools:
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PESTEL Analysis to assess macro-environmental factors (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal).
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Porter’s Five Forces Model to evaluate the competitive environment and industry structure.
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SWOT Analysis to integrate internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats.
Through these frameworks, learners will gain the ability to critically analyze the challenges and opportunities surrounding a project or organisation, supporting effective decision-making and sustainable strategy development.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:
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Explain the significance of environmental scanning in strategic planning.
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Identify and analyze macro-environmental factors using the PESTEL framework.
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Evaluate industry competitiveness through Porter’s Five Forces (threat of entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitutes, and industry rivalry).
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Conduct a SWOT analysis that integrates internal and external perspectives.
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Apply these tools to real-world nonprofit and business contexts to guide strategic choices.
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Critically assess risks and opportunities derived from environmental analysis.
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Develop recommendations for aligning organisational strategies with environmental realities.
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📄Short Description
This chapter introduces the process of moving from an initial idea to a tangible prototype that can be tested and refined. It highlights the importance of prototyping as a key step in design thinking, enabling organisations to visualize solutions, test functionality, gather feedback, and reduce risks before full-scale implementation. The focus is on creativity, iteration, and user-centered design to ensure the final product or service meets the identified needs.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Understand the role of prototyping in the innovation and project development process.
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Differentiate between low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes (e.g., sketches, mock-ups, digital models).
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Apply design thinking principles to move from abstract ideas to tangible prototypes.
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Develop prototypes using simple tools and techniques that reflect the core features of a product or service.
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Test and refine prototypes through feedback loops and iterative design.
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Recognize prototyping as a risk reduction tool that saves time and resources.
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📄Short Description
This chapter introduces the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as a crucial stage in transforming prototypes into practical solutions. The MVP represents the simplest, functional version of a product or service that delivers core value to users while requiring minimal resources. It enables organisations to test the market, collect real user feedback, and make data-driven decisions about improvements or scaling. In nonprofit and entrepreneurial contexts, defining the MVP is key to validating assumptions, reducing risks, and ensuring resources are allocated effectively.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define the concept of MVP and explain its role in product and service development.
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Differentiate between a prototype and an MVP, understanding their distinct purposes.
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Identify the essential features that must be included in an MVP to address the target group’s primary needs.
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Apply lean startup and design thinking principles to design and evaluate an MVP.
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Recognize the benefits of launching an MVP, including cost savings, faster time-to-market, and validated learning.
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Use feedback from MVP testing to guide future iterations, product scaling, or pivoting strategies.
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📄Short Description
This chapter introduces students to the principles and practices of scientific research methodology as a foundation for academic inquiry and project development. It explains how to identify research problems, formulate hypotheses, design studies, collect and analyze data, and present results in a systematic way. The focus is on understanding research as a structured, evidence-based process that contributes to knowledge creation, decision-making, and problem-solving in both academic and professional contexts.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define scientific research and explain its purpose in knowledge advancement and practical application.
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Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods and identify when each is appropriate.
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Formulate clear research problems, questions, and hypotheses relevant to a project or study.
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Understand research design (exploratory, descriptive, experimental, etc.) and its implications for data collection.
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Apply appropriate data collection techniques (surveys, interviews, observation, secondary data).
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Use basic tools for data analysis to interpret results objectively.
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Develop skills in structuring a research report or thesis, following academic standards.
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Evaluate the validity and reliability of research findings.
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Recognize ethical considerations in research (informed consent, data integrity, avoiding plagiarism).
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📄Short Description
This chapter focuses on the first and most critical step in any scientific research process: identifying and formulating the research problem. It explains the essence of scientific thinking, the meaning and nature of a research problem, and the importance of selecting a suitable research topic. The chapter further discusses the sources from which research problems arise, the methods of defining and narrowing them, and the criteria for evaluating their feasibility and relevance. By mastering this stage, students can ensure that their research projects are meaningful, achievable, and valuable for academia and practice.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Explain the role of scientific thinking in shaping research problems.
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Define what constitutes a research problem and distinguish it from a general topic or issue.
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Identify sources of research problems, such as literature, practical experiences, policy gaps, and societal needs.
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Apply criteria for selecting a research problem, focusing on relevance, originality, and feasibility.
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Demonstrate skills in defining the research problem clearly, including specifying objectives, scope, and limitations.
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Evaluate a research problem to ensure it is researchable, significant, and contributes to knowledge or practice.
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📄Short Description
The literature review is a critical stage of the research process that involves systematically identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing previous studies relevant to a research problem. It enables researchers to understand what has already been studied, where gaps exist, and how their own research can contribute to knowledge. This chapter introduces the meaning, need, objectives, functions, sources, and process of conducting a literature review, ensuring that students can critically engage with existing knowledge and build a solid theoretical foundation for their projects.
🎯Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define the meaning of a literature review and its role in research.
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Explain the need for conducting a literature review in academic and professional studies.
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Identify the objectives of a literature review, including finding research gaps and avoiding duplication.
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Differentiate between various sources of literature, such as books, academic journals, reports, theses, and online databases.
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Describe the main functions of a literature review (e.g., contextualizing research, supporting methodology, theoretical grounding).
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Apply practical steps to conducting a literature review, including searching, selecting, organizing, and critically analyzing relevant studies.
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Develop skills in synthesizing and presenting existing knowledge in a structured and coherent manner.
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📄Short Description
This chapter explores the concept of the research hypothesis as a cornerstone of scientific inquiry. A hypothesis serves as a tentative explanation or prediction that guides the research process by establishing a relationship between variables. The chapter discusses the meaning, nature, and functions of hypotheses, along with their role in directing research design and analysis. It also examines the types of hypotheses, their essential characteristics, and the process of formulating, defining variables, building the study model, and testing hypotheses.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Understand the meaning and definitions of a research hypothesis.
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Recognize the nature and functions of hypotheses in guiding research.
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Explain the importance of hypotheses in scientific investigation.
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Identify the different types of hypotheses (null, alternative, directional, non-directional, etc.).
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List the characteristics of a good hypothesis (clarity, testability, relevance, simplicity, etc.).
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Understand the concept of variables in hypotheses (independent, dependent, moderating, and control variables).
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Define a study model and link it with hypothesis formulation.
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Formulate hypotheses that align with research objectives and literature review.
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Apply methods of hypothesis testing using appropriate statistical or qualitative tools.
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Critically evaluate hypotheses in terms of validity, reliability, and scientific contribution.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 12 introduces the main techniques of data collection in scientific research, emphasizing the importance of choosing appropriate methods to ensure reliable and valid results. It covers both primary methods (such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and observation) and secondary methods (such as document analysis and archival research). The chapter highlights how to design and conduct each method effectively, the advantages and limitations of each approach, and their suitability depending on research objectives and contexts.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Understand the importance of systematic data collection in the research process.
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Differentiate between primary and secondary data collection methods.
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Design and conduct surveys effectively, ensuring validity and reliability.
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Develop questionnaires with well-structured, clear, and unbiased questions.
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Apply interview techniques (structured, semi-structured, unstructured) to gather in-depth qualitative data.
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Utilize observation methods for collecting behavioral and situational information.
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Analyze documents and archival records as sources of secondary data.
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Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each data collection method.
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Select the most appropriate method(s) based on research objectives and nature of the study.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 14 introduces the concept of sampling in scientific research, which involves selecting a subset of individuals, cases, or data from a larger population to represent the whole. It explains the meaning and definition of a sample, different sampling methods (probability and non-probability), and the characteristics of a good sample that ensure reliability and validity. The chapter also covers the importance of determining an appropriate sample size to achieve accurate results and avoid bias. Finally, it highlights the role of citation and documentation in research to ensure academic integrity, proper acknowledgment of sources, and credibility of findings.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define what a sample is and explain its importance in research.
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Differentiate between probability and non-probability sampling methods (e.g., random, stratified, cluster, convenience, purposive, snowball).
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Identify the characteristics of a good sample (representativeness, adequacy, randomness, and lack of bias).
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Determine the factors that influence sample size and justify how to calculate an appropriate size for different research designs.
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Understand the importance of citation and documentation in scientific research.
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Apply correct citation practices (APA, MLA, Chicago, or other styles) to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism.
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Evaluate how proper sampling and documentation strengthen the reliability, validity, and credibility of research outcomes.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 15 focuses on the techniques used to analyze data in scientific research. It introduces students to the different approaches for handling quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods data. The chapter emphasizes the importance of selecting the right analytical tools to draw meaningful insights, validate hypotheses, and support decision-making. Students will learn how to apply statistical methods for numerical data, interpret patterns and themes in textual or observational data, and combine both approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of research problems.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Explain the role of data analysis in scientific research and its contribution to achieving research objectives.
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Differentiate between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods data analysis approaches.
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Apply basic quantitative techniques such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and regression analysis.
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Interpret data using qualitative methods, including thematic analysis, content analysis, and narrative analysis.
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Integrate quantitative and qualitative findings through mixed methods approaches to produce holistic research results.
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Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each analysis technique depending on research design and data type.
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Develop critical thinking in choosing appropriate tools for analyzing data in finance, accounting, management, and social sciences.
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📄Short Description
The introduction is the opening chapter of a research study, serving as the foundation for the entire work. It provides the background of the study, identifies the research gap, and establishes the relevance and significance of the research. This chapter also states the objectives, research questions, and hypotheses, clarifies the scope of the study, and highlights the expected contributions to theory and practice. A well-structured introduction guides readers, builds interest, and justifies the rationale for undertaking the research.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Present the background of the study by situating the research within a broader context.
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Identify and articulate the research gap that justifies the need for the study.
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Explain the importance and significance of the research for theory, practice, and policy.
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Formulate clear research objectives and research questions/hypotheses.
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Define the scope and limitations of the study.
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Organize a logical introduction structure that transitions smoothly into the literature review and methodology chapters.
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Demonstrate the ability to write an engaging and academically sound introduction that sets the stage for the rest of the research.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 17 focuses on the correct use of citations, marginal notes, and referencing systems in scientific research. Proper referencing is essential for acknowledging sources, avoiding plagiarism, and ensuring the credibility and reliability of academic work. The chapter explores different citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.), the importance of in-text citations, the role of footnotes and marginal notes in providing clarification or additional information, and how to compile a proper bibliography or reference list.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
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Understand the purpose of citation in academic writing and its role in giving credit to original authors.
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Differentiate between in-text citations, footnotes, endnotes, and marginal notes, and understand their proper usage.
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Identify and apply major referencing styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.) depending on academic requirements.
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Recognise the importance of referencing in avoiding plagiarism and ensuring academic integrity.
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Construct a complete reference list or bibliography in accordance with a chosen citation style.
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Use citation management tools (e.g., Mendeley, Zotero, EndNote) for organising and formatting references efficiently.
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Critically assess the quality of sources cited to ensure reliability, relevance, and academic value.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 18 focuses on the methodological framework, which represents the backbone of a research project. It explains how the researcher plans, organises, and executes the study. The chapter details the research design, sampling strategies, and data collection procedures, ensuring that the study is conducted systematically. It also addresses how data will be analysed to answer the research questions and achieve the objectives. This framework enhances the transparency, reliability, and validity of the research process.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
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Define the methodological framework and explain its role in guiding research.
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Differentiate between types of research designs (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods).
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Select an appropriate sampling method and justify the choice based on the research problem.
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Describe and apply suitable data collection techniques such as surveys, interviews, observation, or document analysis.
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Develop a clear data analysis plan, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, aligned with the research objectives.
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Ensure validity, reliability, and ethical considerations in the methodology.
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Organise and present the methodology chapter in a coherent and structured manner for academic writing.
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📖 Chapter 19: Structure and organisation of the presentation and discussion of the research findings
📄Short Description
Chapter 19 focuses on how to effectively present and interpret research findings. It explains the proper organisation of results, use of tables and figures, and the integration of findings with the literature review and theoretical framework. This chapter also highlights how to critically discuss results, showing their significance, limitations, and implications for practice and future research.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
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Present research results clearly and systematically, using appropriate visuals (tables, graphs, charts).
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Differentiate between presenting results and discussing them, ensuring objectivity in the presentation and critical reflection in the discussion.
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Link findings back to the research objectives and hypotheses, demonstrating coherence between methodology and outcomes.
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Compare results with existing literature, identifying similarities, differences, and contributions to knowledge.
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Critically analyse findings, explaining their implications, significance, and limitations.
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Organise discussion logically, ensuring a smooth flow between results, interpretation, and implications.
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Prepare findings for academic evaluation, ensuring clarity, credibility, and consistency with scientific standards.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 20 focuses on how to effectively structure and organise the conclusion of a research work. The conclusion is not simply a summary of the study, but a synthesis that highlights the key findings, answers the research questions, and shows the contribution of the work. It also underlines the practical and theoretical implications, acknowledges limitations, and suggests directions for future research. A well-structured conclusion ensures that the study leaves a strong and lasting impression, reinforcing its relevance and significance.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
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Understand the role of the conclusion in consolidating the entire research work.
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Summarise key findings in relation to the research objectives and hypotheses.
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Highlight the theoretical and practical contributions of the study.
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Identify and acknowledge the study’s limitations in a constructive manner.
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Suggest recommendations and future research directions based on results.
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Develop a structured conclusion that is concise, coherent, and impactful.
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Differentiate between summary and conclusion, ensuring the latter adds value through synthesis and reflection.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 21 focuses on the importance of proper editing and documentation in academic research, specifically using the APA (American Psychological Association) style. It introduces the key rules of APA formatting, citation, referencing, and presentation of academic work to ensure clarity, consistency, and academic integrity. The chapter also highlights the role of editing in improving readability, eliminating errors, and aligning the research with scholarly standards.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Understand the principles of APA style and its importance in academic writing.
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Apply APA formatting rules for research papers, including title pages, headings, tables, figures, and reference lists.
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Correctly cite sources within the text using APA in-text citation guidelines.
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Prepare a reference list following APA conventions for books, journal articles, websites, reports, and other sources.
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Recognise the role of editing in ensuring clarity, coherence, and professionalism in a research document.
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Avoid plagiarism by properly crediting sources and following ethical standards in academic writing.
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Develop skills in proofreading and final editing to improve the quality of the thesis or research paper.
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📄Short Description
Chapter 22 focuses on the skills, tools, and methods required to present research or project findings effectively. Presentation techniques are not only about conveying information but also about engaging the audience, ensuring clarity, and delivering the key message with confidence. This chapter introduces verbal, non-verbal, and visual communication strategies, the use of presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi), and best practices for structuring and delivering academic and professional presentations.
🎯 Specific Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
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Understand the importance of presentation skills in communicating research and project outcomes.
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Identify different types of presentations (oral, poster, visual, digital) and their appropriate contexts.
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Develop skills in structuring a presentation, including an effective introduction, main body, and conclusion.
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Apply visual aids and digital tools to support and enhance audience understanding.
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Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques such as tone, pace, gestures, and eye contact.
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Manage presentation time effectively to cover all essential points without overextending.
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Handle audience questions and feedback in a professional and confident manner.
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Evaluate and improve one’s presentation performance through practice and self-reflection.
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The course Methodology Preparing Master’s Thesis provides students with the essential tools and systematic approaches needed to conduct scientific research at the postgraduate level. It emphasizes the importance of identifying a clear research problem, conducting a thorough literature review, and developing well-structured research hypotheses. The course further guides students through the processes of data collection, sampling, and data analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods, ensuring that their research is both rigorous and reliable.
In addition, it highlights the significance of structuring and organizing each part of the thesis—from the introduction to the methodological framework, presentation of findings, and the conclusion. Special attention is also given to proper citation and referencing (APA style), as well as effective presentation and defense techniques.
Ultimately, this course equips students with the methodological skills required to design, execute, and present a coherent, original, and academically sound master’s thesis. It fosters critical thinking, scientific rigor, and academic integrity, which are the cornerstones of advanced research in all fields of study.
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BOOKS
Blackstone, A. (2025). Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (3.0). FlatWorld. bookstore.flatworldknowledge.com
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Brawley Newlin, A. M., & Bhattacherjee, A. (2024). Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices (Gettysburg College Ed.). Gettysburg College Open Educational Resources. cupola.gettysburg.edu
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Venkatesh, V., Brown, S., & Sullivan, Y. (2023). Conducting Mixed-Methods Research: From Classical Social Sciences to the Age of Big Data and Analytics. Virginia Tech Libraries. open.umn.edu
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Palys, T., & Atchison, C. (2023). Research Methods in the Social and Health Sciences: Research Decisions. SAGE Publications. uk.sagepub.com
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Olt, P. A., Ward, Y. D., Splichal, K., Isom, E., & Dowda, R. (2024). Understanding and Doing Research in Education & the Social Sciences. Fort Hays State University Open (updated 2025). open.umn.edu
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