THESIS FORMAT CHECKLIST

Instructions:
The format checklist must be duly completed by the student and handed in together with the one
(1) hard copies of the final research report.
The checklist is merely a guide for quick reference of the format. For more detailed explanation
for the format, please refer to the Academic Guidelines.
It is imperative that the Thesis adhere to the format, failing which the document will be rejected.

Full Name:
Matric No.:
Semester:
Programme:
Title of Thesis :

Year:

Please place a tick ( ) in the Student Column to indicate compliance of each item
stated below.
No.
1.

Item
Front cover with Title, Name of Student, Name of University &
Year of Submission

2.

Title not more than 16 words, arranged in inverted triangle

shape (. )
Font Arial Narrow 18
(Refer to Appendix A)
Title page with Title, Name of Student, Purpose Statement, Name
of Faculty, Name of University and Year of Submission

Lettering Times New Roman Font 14

(Refer to Appendices B )
Declaration Page

4.

Heading: Times New Roman Font 14

Text: Times New Roman Font 12
(Refer to Appendix C)
Abstract
Abstract in one paragraph, single spacing, not more than 250
words
Translated version of abstract with the translated title. above
the word ABSTRACT (English Translation) or

Student

Office
Use Only

No.

Item

Student

5.

ABSTRAK (Malay Translation)

(Refer to Appendices D & E)
Acknowledgements

6.

Times New Roman Font 12

Double spacing, not more than 1 page.
Table of Contents
Font Times New Roman 12
Note: Headings & subheadings may vary according to study &
programme (Refer to Appendix F)
Margin

7.

First page of each chapter

Top 5 cm/2 inches
Right 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left 3.5 cm/1.5 inches
Bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch

Text in subsequent pages

Top 2.5 cm/1 inch
Right 2.5 cm/1 inch
Left 3.5 cm/1.5 inches
Bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch

Internal Organisation of text follows the format below.

8
Chapter 1
Chapter Heading
1.1
Main heading 1
1.1.1 Sub-heading 1
1.1.2 Sub-heading 2
1.1.3 _____________
1.2
Main heading 2
1.2.1 ____________
1.2.2 ____________
1.3
Main heading 3
1.3.1 ____________

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3

Office
Use Only

No.

Item

Student

Office
Use Only

1.3.2 ____________

9..

Table & Figure Labels

10

Table Left aligned, Title above table

Figure/Graph Centre aligned, Title below figure/graph

References precede the appendices and in APA writing style

Refer to: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/

11.

Appendices

Pages numbered
Label Right aligned, capitalized, Font Times New Roman
12 (e.g. APPENDIX A)
Title Centre, title case, Times New Roman 12

Students Signature:

Date:

Name of Supervisor:
Signature

Date

FORMAT OF FRONT COVER AND SPINE

SUZILA BT OTHMAN

(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, appropriate size, Upper Case)

THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF FORM 2
STUDENTS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL

THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF FORM 2
STUDENTS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

SUZILA BT OTHMAN
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

PhD (Edu)
2014

OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

2014
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 18, Upper Case)

*Do not indicate the box on the Front Cover & Spine
APPENDIX B
FORMAT OF TITLE PAGE

THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF FORM 2
STUDENTS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 14, Upper Case)

SUZILA BT OTHMAN
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 14, Upper Case)

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy (Education)
Faculty of Education and Languages
Open University Malaysia
2014
(Ruthlan / Arial Narrow, size 14, Lower Case)

*Do not indicate the box on the Title Page

APPENDIX C

FORMAT OF DECLARATION PAGE

DECLARATION
(Times New Roman / Arial, size 14, Upper Case)
Name:
Matric Number:

I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own work, except for
quotations and summaries which have been duly acknowledged.

Signature:

Date:

ii

*Do not indicate the box on the Declaration

APPENDIX D

FORMAT OF ABSTRACT

THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT OF FORM 2
STUDENTS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL
SUZILA BT OTHMAN
ABSTRACT
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Keywords:
(Not more than 5 words/phrases)
*Single spacing
*ONE (1) page only

*Do not indicate the box on the Abstract

APPENDIX E
FORMAT OF ABSTRAK

KESAN PEMBELAJARAN KOPERATIF TERHADAP PENCAPAIAN

MATEMATIK PEKAJAR TINGKATAN 2
DI SEBUAH SEKOLAH BANDAR
SUZILA BT OTHMAN
ABSTRAK
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Kata Kunci:
(Tidak melebihi 5 perkataan/rangkai kata)
*Single spacing
*ONE (1) page only

*Do not indicate the box on the Abstrak

APPENDIX F
FORMAT OF TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
DECLARATION
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Problem Statement
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions and Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Definitions of Terms

ii
iii
iv
v
vi

1
1
2
3
5
7
9

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Theoretical Framework
2.2 Previous Studies
2.2.1 Prior knowledge and reading comprehension
2.2.2 Metacognitive strategies in reading comprehension
2.2 Methodological Issues

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2. Population and Sample
3.3. Instrumentation
3.4 Procedure
3.5 Framework for Data Analysis

CHAPTER 4

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

(Description
of
statistical
analyses
in
relation
to
research
questions/hypotheses/objectives and presentation of relevant tables and figures)

CHAPTER 5

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary of Main Findings
5.2 Discussion
5.3 Implications
5.4 Limitations of the Study
5.5 Directions for Future Research

REFERENCES
APPENDICES

PhD (Edu)
Suggested Scope and Depth of Research
Below are expectations for research for a PhD (Edu) Thesis.
Area
Overview

PhD (Edu) Thesis

A thesis is expected to cover a particular area of study in depth and to contribute
to research in the discipline. Mere description or a study of perceptions is not
acceptable.
A thesis should demonstrate evidence of reading seminal work and recent
contributions to body of research. The intended study should explore and address
the existing research gap that is of great significance
The emphasis here is on a learners detailed and in-depth understanding of the
phenomenon investigated and the research process. The research should also
permit possible generalisability of the findings and contribute towards best
practices, knowledge expansion and our better understanding of related theory

Research
Methodology

Students may use various research methods: qualitative, quantitative or mixed

method
Students should demonstrate a high degree of rigour (e.g. justifying use of
appropriate research design) in their work by applying all elements of relevant and
appropriate methodology with theoretical and past research support
Students are required to demonstrate a high level of originality in their research
work. Instruments used must be based on sound conceptual/ theoretical
framework and possess high degree of validity and reliability.

Quantitative
Research

If the study employs a quantitative approach, it should rest on a sound theoretical

framework and supported by past research.
For a thesis using an experiment or survey, the analysis should include use of
inferential statistics, e.g. ANOVA, t-tests or chi-square statistics at the very least.
Learners must explain the appropriateness of the statistical tests used and they
must only use these tests after providing sufficient evidence for the assumptions
underlying each statistical procedure.
In situations where these assumptions are not met, appropriate non-parametric
tests should be used and the limitations of these tests must be discussed.
Whenever possible and wherever appropriate, learners are encouraged to use
additional statistical techniques to further enhance the depth of analyses.

Qualitative
Research

If the study uses the qualitative approach, the theory building must be directed by
a well developed conceptual framework.
Qualitative studies should include rich thick description so that understandings of
phenomena in the field are based on in-depth analyses of data.
The use of appropriate qualitative data analysis approaches and techniques should
be clearly explained and justified with sound theories and past research.

Area
No. of Pages
(No. of
words)

PhD (Edu) Thesis

Proposal: 75 150 pages
Dissertation: 250 - 300 pages
(70,000 80,000 words)
(Excluding tables, figures, references and appendices)