Title page

▪ Signature page
▪ Copy right page
▪ Declaration page
▪ Acknowledgements
Preliminary ▪ Table of Contents (list all numbered headings and subheadings)
pages ▪ List of tables (1 page)
▪ List of Figures (1 page)
▪ Abbreviations and Acronyms (own page)
▪ Abstract (Maximum 250 words written in continuous prose)
▪ Dedication
All the above must use Roman numbers for pagination (i.e. i, ii, iii etc). The
rest that follow below must be in Arabic numbers for pagination (i.e. 1, 2, 3
etc).
Abstract This is a short summary of what the researcher has done. It
(not needed in should be brief but comprehensive enough to give the reader an overview
proposal of the problem and how the researcher has solved it. The length should
writing) be BETWEEN 150-250 words. Purpose of study, general objective of the
study, research design , target population, sample size & technique, ,
data collection instruments, data collection method , data analysis &
Major finding(s) & recommendation (s)
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
ONE
The primary goal of this section is to catch the attention and interest of the
reader. It sets the stage for the study and puts the topic in perspective. It
contains general statements about the need for the study.

Introduction
The student should tell the reader in clear terms what is the state of the art in
the area under investigation.

Background to the study

The problem relates to fundamental aspects of psychology/ child
development and psychopathology/ human behavior
. The researcher should tell the reader how far the knowledge has reached at
the time of his/her drawing up of the proposal. It should be clear to the
reader thereafter why the researcher chose the area under investigation and
what gaps there are in knowledge. Henceforth, the researcher should indicate
the kind of work intended to be carried out in order to fill the knowledge
elucidated previously.
The researcher should look at the problem globally, regionally and locally
and narrow it down to the local area.
Statement of the Problem
The problem is the focal point of your research. A problem is any situation
where a gap exists between the actual and the desired ideal state. Define the
root problem rather than symptoms. It is stated in one sentence of about 15
words but with a few paragraphs elaborating why the problem is important
enough to study.

Purpose of the study

This explains what the study intends to accomplish.

Objectives of the Study

Broad Objective
Gives an overall purpose of the study
Specific Objectives
▪ Objectives are derived from the statement of the problem. They refer
to clear, concise statements of what the researcher seeks to achieve
at the end of the study (anticipated products/results) that are expected
to be met by this research. Objectives provide a clear sense of
purpose and direction and lead to greater specificity than research
questions.

Research Questions/ Hypothesis

This question should translate the objectives into specific research
questions to be answered by the research or as specific hypothesis to
be tested. Both indicate clearly what you want to know and they
focus on the study. They clarify relationships among variables and
support competing hypothesis or theoretical views.
Research questions can be used to delineate the variables in your research
objectives to make them clearer and measurable.

Hypotheses are used when there is a basis for predicting how the independent
and dependent variables are related based on the review of literature or theory.
▪ Hypotheses should be clear and testable by experimentation, which is
described in the section of material and methods.
NOTE: Depending on the type of study, you can choose either research
questions or hypotheses.

Justification/Rationale of the Study

Give the rationalization for your study or the reason why the study need to
be undertaken. For example, is the study filling a gap?

Significance of the Study

 This is the importance of the study, namely who will benefit from the study.
It answers the questions: why is my study important? To whom is it
important? And what benefit will occur if I do this study?
The respondents/ target population
Practioners
Policy makers
Academic field

Assumptions of the Study

These are facts about the study that are presumed to be true throughout the
duration of the study but not verified.
NB: After data analysis, the researcher should be able to justify the
assumptions.

Scope of the Study

Explain the depth and length of your study in terms of coverage.
Limitations and Delimitations of the Study
In this section you explain those factors that are likely to present challenges
in your study and also indicate how you will overcome them.
Definitions of Significant Terms
In this section you state what the significant terms mean in the context of
your study.
Summary or Discussion

CHAPTER 2.0. LITERATURE REVIEW

TWO
This is to be fairly exhaustive and up to date (recent relevant literature) for
Masters
candidate in respective areas being studied.
The literature review is supposed to survey widely the knowledge related to
the topic under study. It is expected on one hand that the candidate will trace
from the beginning the development of knowledge in the topic under study
objective by objective globally, regionally and locally.

The structure
Introduction
Says what is contained in the literature review in one to two paragraphs.

Theoretical framework
• Depicts theories related to the topic of study-at least 2 main theories
• Discuss the variables within the theories and clearly show the
relationship with the topic under study.
• Each reference cited must add substance and value to the chapter. At
no time should reference just be piled together to impress the reader.
Instead, the reader should find himself/herself properly informed on
the topic under review. The candidate should read the journal or book
 reference and put down what has been digested. He/she should indicate
what investigators discovered and their conclusions and make a
statement of his/her own opinion on such work as it relates to the topic
under review. All cited work must build, paragraph by paragraph to a
common factor, i.e. the topic under review.
• General literature
• Empirical Literature

You may then structure your literature review into sections each of which
should address specific objectives (e.g. those dealing with secondary
information on the topic generally such as text books (General Literature
review) (Empirical Literature review), and researched articles in journals
dealing with primary information on the topic in the area of study). The aim
is to critique the existing works so as to make a case for your own study. It
should reveal a knowledge gap.
Conceptual frame work
This is a brief explanation of the relationship between the variables identified
for study in the statement of the problem, objectives and research question. It
is always depicted diagrammatically showing the relationships between the
independent and dependent variables.
Summary or Discussion

CHAPTER 3.0. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

THREE
Introduction (1 paragraph)
Should state what is contained in this chapter, namely, research design,
methods of data collection and methods of data analysis

Research Designs
Should discuss your design, which includes specifying type of research,
whether quantitative or qualitative, observational analytic studies (cross-
sectional analytic, or case study or cohort-retrospective/prospective) or
experimental (randomized control trials) or adaptation/normalization of
psychological assessment instruments

Target Population
Provide a description of the population you wish to study or study site.
Indicate their characteristics and why it has been chosen.

Sample Size
▪ Provide the estimation of the number of subjects required to be
recruited in the study; this forms an important step in planning a
study.
▪ Discuss clearly which factors influence determination of the sample
size and what techniques are used in calculating the estimated sample
size.
 ▪ Provide information on the major factors that influence sample size
calculation (e.g. in experimental designs; how large a difference you
need to be able to detect a difference-effective size, how much is the
variability in the factor under test, what “p” value do you plan to use
as a criterion for statistical “significance”, what confidence level do
you want to detect “statistically i.e. significant difference” (assuming
that difference does not exist)
Sampling Technique/ Procedure:
▪ This discusses how the sample is selected; i.e. how the estimated
sample is picked from the target population given that each member
has equal probability of being selected/recruited. Procedures include
random, stratified, purposeful, snowballing, respondent driven etc.

Data Collection Instruments

▪ Should discuss issues related to instruments of data collection.
Describe how you have established validity and reliability. Reliability
indicates the stability and consistency with which the data collection
instrument measures the concept.
▪ Two common tests are test-retest and split-half reliability. Read more
about how they are used. Validity test of a data collection instrument
enables us to ascertain that we are measuring the correct concept and
not something else. There are three types: content, criterion and
construct validity.
▪ Also discuss the sensitivity and predictability measures of the
instruments to be used.
▪ Additionally describe types of data to be collected by Operationalizing
or operationally defining clearly variables (dependent, independent
and confounders) and how they will be rendered measurable by the
instruments.
▪ Measures can be objective or subjective. A subjective measure is based
on opinion, for example: Customer satisfaction would be measured by
perception of customer towards service received.

Methods of Data Collection or Data Collection Procedures

Should discuss issues related to procedures for administering data collection
instruments

Pre-testing
▪ Should discuss issues related to the understanding of the procedures
and how to carry them out in an identical fashion for accuracy in the
main study. The instruments/ technology to be used in carrying out
the study should be discussed on how they will be operated correctly
and tested in the pilot. Also to be discussed is: what about if it fails or
breaks; what are the alternatives or if the materials are not safe
(causes harm) for human participation.
 ▪ At the end of the pilot study, discuss clearly any part of the study that
is too difficult or too easy, or impossible to follow giving ways of
incorporating the delimitations before starting the main study.
▪ Discuss also the Replicability of the study and how similar results
can be obtained.

Methods of Data Analysis

▪ Should discuss issues related to qualitative and quantitative methods
of data analysis and relate them to research questions, giving the
software to analyze the data.
▪ For each research question, show how you will analyze the variables
and their relationships or differences. Describe the type of statistical
techniques you will use and justify why you have chosen them.
▪ Discuss how data reduction will be used to meet the objectives and test
the study hypothesis or answer study questions during data analysis

Ethical Considerations
Discuss respect of persons (treatment of the participants during study
period, confidentiality and consenting process including consent/assent
explanation from), beneficence (minimize harm/risks), distributive justice
(how burdens and benefits will be shared out), how informed consent will be
given (discuss issues of competency, voluntary participation, withdrawal
from the study, coercion/undue inducement-before/during or after the
study/deception), anonymity and interpretation and reporting of the results.
.

CHAPTER DATA PRESENTATION , ANALYSIS (FINDINGS AND THEIR

FOUR INTERPRETATIONS

Critical analysis of findings objective by objective and their interpretations.

Presented in tables, figures or narrative.

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

FIVE
 Should include the following:
▪ Summary of explanations of key findings based on study objectives;
relationship between key findings and reviewed literature (this must be
shown) - supported from the results and reviewed literature.
▪ Conclusions; brief summary of major findings based on study
objectives
▪ Recommendations: related to the main findings of the study and must
be SMART i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time
Bound. They should be focused on policy, best practice and areas for
further study.
References ▪ Should contain at least (40 references). You should list all the
references cited in the text of the proposal, arranged according to the
APA Format of Writing (6th Edition).
▪ Should be arranged in alphabetical order.