THESIS MANUAL
Components
The preparation of dissertation, thesis and independent study are part of graduate studies. Students are required to prepare a dissertation, thesis, and independent research with three main components:
1. The Preliminaries or Front Matters
2. The Body of the Text
3. Appendices
In all 3 parts, students must correctly arrange the format according to the University’s requirements in this graduate thesis manual.
The Preliminaries
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The Body of the Text
The number of chapters shall be at the discretion of the advisor.
1. Background and Importance of the Research Problem
It provides the background to and significance of the problem, as well as presenting the rationale for the study, in order to explain why the problem is worth investigating. The introduction may also discuss a problematic phenomenon and its potential solution. Whichever the case, the introduction has to discuss related or applicable theories and previous studies to support the rationale.
2. Research Objectives
It states the objective(s) and goal(s) of the study. The objective(s) and goal(s) must be related to the background given in the introduction. In case there are two or more objectives and goals, they are to be itemized in the order of significance.
3. The Importance of Research
It states the significance of the study, which outlines two major types of benefits the study may offer: (1) academic significance: the new or improved body of knowledge, principles or theories; and (2) applicational significance: potential application of research outcomes to developing or improving policies or their implementation.
4. Research Hypothesis
It gives a set of hypotheses, or projected outcomes of the study. The hypotheses, which must be related to the objectives and literature reviewed, will be tested in the course of research. A survey study, however, may not have a hypothesis.
5. Scope of Research
It sets a scope of the study by delimiting such factors as the sample population, data-gathering sites, research duration and so forth, all of which serve as criteria with reference to which research results will be discussed.
6. Preliminary Agreement
It states preliminary conventions or agreements between the researcher and the reader in terms of methods, conditions or instruments of the study. In other words, it is the section in which the researcher informs the reader of how the research will be conducted and concluded, such as the reason for the reliability of the questionnaire, the respondents’ confirmation of their truthful answers or unbiased sampling of subjects.
7. Research Limitations
It states limitations of the study, by explaining problems or unfavorable conditions that can potentially cause drawbacks to the study, such as a too small population or insufficient data-gathering time.
8. Terminology Definition
It provides a list of definitions of technical terms as they are used in the context of that particular study, in order to ensure the reader’s accurate understanding of those terms.
The literature review section presents contents, concepts, theories or any findings relevant to the study being conducted. Such relevancy should be in both content and research methodology terms.
Reviewed parts of relevant literature MUST NOT be copied or summarized and pasted chronologically. Instead, they must be paraphrased and re-expressed in the researcher’s own words and integrated with the researcher’s points to separately discuss each significant aspect of the study.
This section provides a detailed description of how the study is conducted and usually consists of the following.
1. Population and Sample Subjects
Related to the data collected in the course of research, this section describes the population used in the study, and also indicates whether the entire population or part of a population is used, and, in the latter case, how and how many subjects are sampled.
2. Instruments
This section lists and describes each of the instruments used in the study, as well as discussing the reliability of each. In case of a researcher developed instrument or questionnaire, the researcher must describe the development of the instrument or questionnaire, and clarify the process of quality, validity and reliability testing and verification.
3. Data Collection
This sections describes the process of collecting data, as well as providing proof of the reliability of the data obtained. In case a questionnaire is used, the process of distribution, completion and recollection must also be described.
4. Data Analysis
This section describes the methods, principles or criteria used to analyses the collected data. In case statistics are involved, the researcher must explain the types of statistics and statistical criteria used to interpret the data, so as to conclude whether the outcomes support or contradict the hypotheses.
Report the results of the analysis of the collected data. They must be clearly written according to facts and arranged in a continuous sequence for easy understanding. May use a table or illustration as appropriate It must be a report of the data analysis of this research only. Do not mix the other research results. The authors must also analyze whether the hypothesis was established with evidence to support or refute. To conclude whether to accept the assumptions made or not.
1. Conclusion
The conclusion part shall provide a concise but complete summary of the contents of the study, namely, the objectives, hypotheses, methodology and the relevant results or findings, in keeping with the theoretical framework employed. By NO means may the results of other studies, personal opinions or prejudiced remarks be included in this chapter. Reference to or citation of any supporting statements is NOT necessary.
2. Discussion
The discussion part shall attempt to address the acquired knowledge in a critical manner, by clearly and thoroughly discussing its possible causes or reasons in accord with the objectives and hypotheses. In addition, the researcher shall discuss his/her work in the light of other researchers’ works and state clearly whether and how his/her work supports or contradicts them. Finally, the researcher shall identify and explain his/her work’s academic impact or contribution, or in what way it may confirm, refute or redefine existing concepts in the given academic field.
3. Suggestion
The recommendation part shall present suggestions concerning different aspects of the study and its findings. This part provides two kinds of suggestion. (1) It suggests potential benefits or application of the study’s outcomes. (2) It recommends courses of further research to more comprehensively address other aspects of the problem.
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Appendices
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General Requirements
If thesis is written in English, the Times New Roman font shall be used throughout, with line spacing set at 1.5 lines.
The text shall be properly aligned. In order to minimize disproportionate gaps between words, there should be only ONE space between phrases, clauses and/or sentences.
1. The Preliminaries (Cover Page to Table of Contents)
1) Top margin: 2 inch
2) Left margin and Bottom margin: 1.5 inch
3) Right margin: 1 inch
2. The Body of the Text (First Page of each Chapter)
1) Top margin: 2 inch
2) Left margin: 1.5 inch
3) Right margin and Bottom margin: 1 inch
3. The Body of the Text (Chapter)
1) Top margin and Left margin: 1.5 inch
2) Right margin and Bottom margin: 1 inch
4. Appendices (Bookmark Reference List, Appendix, Curriculum Vitae) Bookmarks do not show page numbers. But continue to count the page numbers from the previous page.
1) Top margin: 2 inch
2) Left margin: 1.5 inch
3) Right margin and Bottom margin: 1 inch
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If a line-final word is so long that it cannot be contained in the same line, the entire word shall be moved to the next line, not hyphenated (e.g., ‘university’ not ‘univers-ity’).
If a new paragraph starts at the bottom of a page and there is space only for its first line, the entire paragraph shall be moved to the next page.
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Dividing of Sections, Topics in each Chapter and Content
The number of chapters shall be at the discretion of the advisor.
Each new chapter shall start on a new page. The phrase ‘CHAPTER …’ (e.g., CHAPTER 1) shall be typed in a bold style, font size 14, and centered, set approximately 2 inches below the top edge.
Spacing paragraph 24 pt under the phrase ‘CHAPTER …’ shall be the title of the chapter, typed in a bold style, font size 14, and centered. A chapter title that exceeds one line in length shall be divided into two or three lines, with each line being longer than the next, like an inverse pyramid. Text division, however, must be linguistically appropriate.
1. Headings1
Is the first important topic (e.g. 1.1, 2.1), bold 14 point font. If there is more than one line in length So the text of the second line onwards is aligned with the first letter of the name on the top line.
1) Typing
Type the order of the topics aligned to the bookmark. Space between Title number and title of the topic approximately 2 characters.
2) Spacing
Space from the top 24 pt (paragraph). At the end of the text of the main topic, leave 24 pt (paragraph) to type secondary content or topics.
3) Content Typing
Type secondary content or topic with a paragraph from the separator line 0.5 inches. The next line is printed on the alignment of the bookmark.
2. Secondary Content or Topics
Is the second level of important topic (e.g. 1.1.1, 2.1.1) using 12-point font. If there is more than one line in length make text in the second line onwards align with the bookmark.
1) Typing
Type the topic number by a paragraph from the separator line 0.5 inches, spaced about 2 characters between the title number and the title.
2) Spacing
The first paragraph of the text is aligned with the title number. Without line spacing the next line of content is printed aligned to the bookmark.
3. Subtopics and Subsequent Subtopics
The subheadings or the sequence of the contents are individual items, using ordinary 12 pt characters. If there is more than one line in length Make text in the second line onwards align with the bookmark
1) Typing
Type the number, topic and letter of instruction as specified by the university. Spaces about 2 characters between the subject number and the title.
2) Spacing
The first paragraph of the text is aligned with the title number. Without line spacing the next line of content is printed aligned to the bookmark.
Language Style for Writing
Scientific reference to an animal and plant is made using a binomial nomenclature consisting of a generic term (or genus), whose first letter is capitalized, and a specific term (or epithet), whose first letter is NOT capitalized. The generic and specific terms are separated by one space and are both italicized. In case of a scientific name to which the name of the designator and additional information are appended, but the designator’s name and additional information shall be typed in the regular style.
Ex.
Borassus flabelifer
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.
Amomum krervanh Pierre
Eugenia caryophyllum Bullock & Harrison
Website International Code of Nomenclature: https://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php
Each word shall be spelled identically throughout the thesis, unless it is spelled differently in a quoted statement, in which case every word must be spelled exactly as it is in the original.
English words shall be in American spelling, based on Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language (2003) or any other standard American dictionary. Spelling shall conform to only ONE dictionary.
For a word with more than one spelling, the first spelling provided in the given dictionary shall be used.
1. The first letter of every sentence or every proper name shall be capitalized.
2. For the title of a book or an article cited in the content parts, the first letter of every word—except a determiner, a conjunction and a preposition with fewer than four letters—shall be capitalized (e.g., Palms Around the World).
3. For the title of a book or an article listed in the references section, only the first letter of the primary title, the secondary title and a proper noun shall be capitalized (e.g., Palms around the world).
4. For the title of a journal, either cited in the content parts or listed in the references section, the first letter of the primary title, the secondary title and every word—except a determiner, a conjunction and a preposition with fewer than four letters—shall be capitalized (e.g., Language in Society).
5. For a hyphenated word, if the first letter of the first word is capitalized, the first letter of the second word shall also be capitalized (e.g., Problem-Solving Skills). However, for the title of a book or article listed in the references section, the first letter of the second word may not be capitalised (e.g., Problemsolving Skills).
Table/ Figure
Example Table
1. Figure include pictures, photographs, diagrams, maps, graphs chemicle structure and the like.
2. An illustrative figure must be clear, precise and relevant to the information that it illustrates.
3. A figure should be of a proper size—neither too big nor too small.
4. Use of figures is based on the same presentation, introduction and numbering principles as use of tables. A figure should be introduced in the paragraph immediately preceding it, so as to inform readers of its contents and purpose. After the figure, only specific or significant points—NOT every single detail—illustrated by the figure should be discussed. Reference to a figure shall be specific, with the figure number clearly stated (e.g., ‘… as shown in Figure 3.2’). Vague reference such as ‘… the figure above’ or ‘… the figure on page 3’ must be avoided.
5. All figures shall be numbered even though the thesis contains only two or three figures. Figure numbering applies to the contents section and the appendix/appendices. Figure numbering in the contents section shall be solely in Arabic numerals—no letters can be used. The figures shall be numbered sequentially from the first to the last chapter. Figure numbering in the appendix/appendices shall be sequentially numbered, each consisting of a letter and a numeral. The letter refers to the appendix and the numeral to each of the figures presented in that appendix (e.g., ‘Figure A1’ referring to the first figure in Appendix A or ‘Figure B3’ referring to the second figure in Appendix B). Although there is only one appendix (meaning the appendix is not lettered), the figure numbering system still applies, such as ‘Figure A1’, ‘Figure A3’, etc. (The figures in the appendix/appendices are not listed on the ‘LIST OF FIGURES’).
6. The word ‘Figure’ and its number—separated by one space—shall be centered and typed in bold, font size 12, under the figure, followed by two spaces and its title (in regular font style). If the title exceeds one line in length, it shall be divided into two lines, with the first letter of the second line aligned with that of the first line.
7. If a figure continues to the next page, the figure’s number and the parenthesized word ‘continued’ (e.g., Figure 4.1(continued)) shall be placed at the top of the next page.
8. For a reproduced figure, the word ‘Source’ in bold shall be placed at the left margin, followed by two spaces and a name-year reference e.g., Kellerman (2005). The full bibliographic information of the reference shall be included in the references section.
Citing Sources of Information
In-text citation means the act of giving information recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage. An integral part of academic writing, in-text citation indicates where a piece of information has come from and provides sufficient bibliographic information enabling readers to study further.
In-text citation must correspond to the list of references; that is, every item of in-text citation must be included on the list of references in the end section of the thesis.
Based on Mae Fah Luang University regulations, any of the following two styles of in-text citation is allowed in a Thesis: (1) name-year system; and (2) numerical citation.
Each item of name-year citation consists of the author’s name, the year of publication and, if applicable, the page(s) on which the statement is found. An item of in-text citation, which shall be placed as close to the cited statement as possible, may be written in any of the flowing ways.
1. Both the author’s name and the year of publication, separated by a comma, are placed in parentheses.
Ex. (Anderson, 2018)
2. The author’s name is part of the cited statement and only the year of publication is placed in parentheses.
Ex. According to Anderson (2018) …
3. Both the author’s name and the year of publication are part of the cited statement (e.g.,).
Ex. Anderson in 2018 postulated that …
4. In the same paragraph, if a source is cited twice or more, its year of publication needs not be repeated in the subsequent references, UNLESS a different work by the same author is cited in the same paragraph.
5. A source’s page number or volume may be included with the author’s name and its year of publication. This may be done in either of these two ways.
1) The author’s name, the year of publication, the volume and/or the page number may be put in the same parentheses placed after the cited statement. Commas shall be used between the author’s name and the year of publication, and between the year of publication and the page number.
2) In case the author’s name is part of the text, only the year of publication, the volume and/or the page number shall be parenthesized.
6. Author’s name in in-text citation shall conform to the following principles
1) Thai Author
– Both the first name and surname, as listed in the references part, shall be cited.
– NEITHER prefix nor degree title of any kind shall be attached.
2) Foreign Author
– Only the surname shall be cited.
– In case of two or more authors with the same surname, the initial letter of each author’s first name shall be placed before the surname.
Ex. (D. Patterson, 1999; W. Patterson, 2006)
3) Two Authors
For a foreign-language source, both authors’ surnames shall be cited in the same order as on the book’s cover. If the names are part of the text, they shall be joined by ‘and’. If they are in parentheses, they shall be joined by an ampersand (&).
4) Three to Six Authors.
– For a foreign-language source, all of the authors’ surnames shall be cited in the same order as on the book’s cover. For the first mentions, only the first author’s surname shall be written, followed by a comma and the words ‘et al.’.
Ex. (Chaves-Morillo et al., 2006)
– If two or more sources with three to six authors are cited, and if these sources have the same first author and the same year of publication,
Ex. (McGregor, Nash, Mann et al., 2010; McGregor, Nash et al., 2010)
Reference A: McGregor, I., Nash, K., Mann, N., & Phills, C. E. (2010). Anxious uncertainty and reactive approach motivation (RAM). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99, 133-147.
Reference B: McGregor, I., Nash, K., & Prentice, M. (2010). Reactive approach motivation (RAM) for religion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99, 148-161.
– For a source with seven or more authors, only the first author’s name shall be cited, followed by a comma and the words ‘et al.’ (In the references part, all of the authors must be included.)
– If two or more sources with three to five authors are cited, and if these sources have the same first author and the same year of publication, follow the guideline provided in Section 4. (2)
5) Compiler or Editor
For a source of complied or edited works without authors, the name of the compiler or editor shall be written, followed by the words ‘Compiler’ or ‘Editor’.
6) Institution or Organization
– For a source that has the publishing institution/organization’s name, but without the author’s or the editor’s name, the full name of the institution/organization shall be cited.
– If the institution/organization’s name is very long, its abbreviation may be used if it is widely known. Otherwise, its full name, followed by its abbreviation in parentheses, shall be used for its first mention. Subsequently, its abbreviation may be used.
7. No Author
For a source without the author’s name, the editor’s name or the publishing institution/organization’s name, its title shall be cited, a book’s title to be typed in bold and an article’s title to be put in quotation marks. For an English-language source, every word of the title (except a determiner, a conjunction and a preposition with four letters or fewer) shall be capitalized. In case of a long title, only the first few words may be cited.
8. Year of Publication
– The year of publication shall be based on the Christian or international calendar (AD). If the source indicates a different calendar, the abbreviation of the calendar shall be appended, followed by its equivalent Christian calendar year.
Ex. B. E. 2556 (2013)
– A source without the year of publication shall be followed by the abbreviation, n.d. (i.e., ‘no date’).
Ex. Branne (n.d.) …
(Branne, n.d.)
– Different sources published by the same author or group of authors in the same year shall be marked with a, b, c, etc. after their year of publication and in the alphabetical order of their titles (identical to the order in the references part).
Ex. Bednarik (2003a, 2003b) …
(Bednarik, 2003a, 2003b)
Bednarik (2003a) ……. (Bednarik, 2003b)
9. Page Number(s)
– For information cited from one page, the page number shall be put after the letter p.
Ex. (Bednarik, 2003a, p. 3)
– For information cited from two or more consecutive pages, the first and last page numbers shall be hyphenated and put after the letters pp.
For information cited from two or more unconsecutive pages, every page number and/or the first and last page numbers of every series of pages (hyphenated), separated by commas, shall be placed after the letters pp.
Ex. (Bednarik, 2003b, p. 408-410)
Bednarik (2003b, pp. 405, 410, 412-413)
10. Same Information from Several Sources
– Two or more sources of the same information may be integrated with the text or cited in parentheses.
– If the sources belong to the same author, they shall be accompanied by the author’s name, followed by their years of publication in a chronological order and separated by commas (whether cited in the text or in parentheses).
– For parenthetic citation of sources belonging to different authors, the names of the authors shall be arranged alphabetically and separated by commas. (For a group of authors, only the first author’s name shall be included.)
– In case the different sources by different authors are integrated with the text, the authors’ names shall be accompanied by the years of publication, parenthesized and chronologically arranged.
Numerical citation indicates the item number of each of the documents or publications referred to in a Thesis
1. Item numbers shall be put in brackets [1], [1-2], [3, 7], etc. in numerical order throughout the thesis.
Example: Triglyceride comprises three fatty acid esterified with a glycerol backbone [1]. The majority of triglyceride comes from dietary fat, which is hydrolyzed in intestinal tract by lipase to monoglycerides and three fatty acids [2], and then monoglycerides incorporate into chylomicrons. The endogenous triglyceride synthesis comes from the liver and adipose tissue.
2. Reference to a previously cited source is by the same item number.
3. Multiple numeric references in text by the numbers referenced in consecutive sequences Use hyphens (-) between numbers.
Example: Triglyceride comprises three fatty acid esterified with a glycerol backbone [1]. The majority of triglyceride comes from dietary fat, which is hydrolyzed in intestinal tract by lipase to monoglycerides and three fatty acids [2-3],
4. In the references part, the sources shall be arranged in the same order as that of the in-text references, not in alphabetical order.
(APA Style)
Ex.
[1] Crislip, M. (2009). Live blood analysis: The modern auguries.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/live-blood-analysisthe-modern-auguries/
[2] Vance, D. E & Vance, J. E. (Eds.). (2008). Biochemistry of lipids, lipoproteins and membranes (5th ed.). Elsevier.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044453219-0.50010-6
[3] Fernandes, J. L., Orford, J. L., Garcia, C., Coelho, O. R., Gidlund, M. & Blotta, M. H. (2004). Differences in human antioxidized LDL
autoantibodies in patients with stable and unstable angina. Journal of Autoimmunity, 23(4), 345-352.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2004.08.004
The references constitute the first part of a Thesis end section.
The references part lists all of the sources of information cited in the contents of the thesis (except confidential or undisclosable sources, such as personal letters or conversations). The items in this part are listed in alphabetical order of the authors, compilers, editors and/or publishing institutions/organizations, with complete bibliographical information guiding readers to original sources.
Each reference list must contain correct and complete bibliographic information in a specified format.
Sorting the Reference List
Sorts references in A-Z order without document classification.
Guidelines for Listing Bibliography in Reference Lists
Mae Fah Luang University requires that reference lists use the form APA Style
Referencing System for In-text Citation and Reference Lists (APA7th)
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