COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (CGCE) MASTER S THESIS AND DOCTORAL DISSERTATION MANUAL

Transcription

1 COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (CGCE) MASTER S THESIS AND DOCTORAL DISSERTATION MANUAL Academic Year

2 Table of Contents Section Page 1. General Information 3 2. Approval Process 5 3. Thesis/Dissertation Format 6 4. Thesis/Dissertation Arrangement 8 5. Library Submission Process Forms Electronic Templates for Preliminary Pages Samples of Preliminary Pages 14 2

3 1. General Information The Master s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Manual (hereafter the Manual ) is Rowan University s official document which students must consult and adhere to regarding procedures, formatting, and submission of theses/dissertations as part of their graduation requirements. Because Rowan s thesis/dissertation format and procedures may change from time to time, be sure you use the most recent version of the Manual to produce your thesis/dissertation. Do not use previously submitted theses or dissertations as formatting guidelines as these may use information no longer acceptable. The Manual addresses two kinds of documents as described below. Master Thesis The master thesis is a capstone piece of evidence demonstrating the student s ability to apply the knowledge acquired during the program within the context of a research project. It should be submitted in both a format and writing style of such quality that it meets the scholarly standards set by the profession. The final document must be worthy of publication within a professional journal. The thesis stands as a representative sample of the professional quality of the student, the advisor, and the members of the thesis committee, the program/department, the academic college, and the university. Not all graduate programs at Rowan University require a thesis as partial fulfillment for a Master s degree. Check with your graduate department/program for further information. All copies of theses submitted in partial fulfillment for an advanced degree become the permanent property of Rowan University. Doctoral Dissertation The Doctoral Dissertation is an extended written treatise demonstrating original and independent investigation and achievement. The dissertation should reflect not only mastery of research techniques but also ability to select an important problem for investigation and to deal with it competently. The requirements leading to a Doctoral Degree at Rowan University are designed for a student to demonstrate present capacities as well as future promise for scholarly work. The dissertation stands as a representative sample of the professional quality of the student, the advisor, and the members of the dissertation committee, the program/department, the academic college, and the university. The Doctoral Dissertation is required as partial fulfillment for the doctoral degree in education (Ed.D.) at Rowan University. Every candidate pursuing an advanced degree requiring a thesis/dissertation needs to be aware of the following information: Copyright registration Because the United States is a signatory of the Berne convention copyright is automatically attributed to anything you write and you hold the copyright unless you transfer that right to 3

4 another party. Rowan Library Services recommends that you register your copyright with the US Copyright Office. Electronic Registration is possible and will save you money. Among other benefits registering your copyright will provide a public record of the copyright for claims purposes and if an infringement occurs, it will allow the copyright holder to proceed with a legal claim. For detailed information and to proceed with registration visit the US Copyright internet page: Plagiarism If you include in your thesis/dissertation copyrighted material that goes beyond the limits of fair use, you are responsible for obtaining written permission from the copyright holder. Rowan University takes no responsibility for damages that may arise from copyright violations by a degree candidate. Multiple volumes If your original printed thesis/dissertation exceeds a thickness of two inches, the thesis must be bound in more than one volume. The second volume should contain a title page that duplicates the title page of the first volume. Also, individual identification such as Volume 1 and Volume 2, or some descriptive word such as Appendices must be included on both title pages. All pages in additional volumes must continue the numbering from Volume 1 with the second title page not counted or numbered. Style For the purpose of this Manual, the thesis/dissertation consists of two parts: the preliminary pages and the main body. The preliminary pages include the title, copyright, dedication, acknowledgment, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, and list of figures (not all them may apply). The main body of the thesis/dissertation starts with the first chapter and ends with the very last page of the document. The preliminary pages of the thesis/dissertation must follow strictly the style and format provided in the Manual. To help students accomplish this, we have created electronic templates for each of the preliminary pages (see sections 4 and 7 for further details). Although not mandatory, students are encouraged to use these templates to avoid the need for special formatting. On the other hand, the style for the main body may change from discipline to discipline or from college to college. Therefore, you must consult with your advisor as the most suitable style for your manuscript. The following style manuals are used by most disciplines and can be a good source of information for future archival publications: The Chicago manual of style, 15th ed., University of Chicago Press, Manual of the American Psychological Association, APA Style, 6 th edition. 4

5 MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6 th edition, NOTE: The style and format guidelines provided in this Manual are based on APA standards, which are the only acceptable style and format for doctoral dissertations. On the other hand, the main body of a master thesis can adhere to other styles as dictated by their corresponding disciplines. Responsibilities It is the student's responsibility to ensure that his thesis/dissertation is formatted and proofread according to the guidelines described in the Manual. In the event that any errors are discovered by the advisor or Chair of the Thesis/Doctoral Committee (see section 2 below), it is the student s responsibility to see that appropriate corrections are made. Any thesis/dissertation, when submitted to the CGCE, which does not adhere to these guidelines, will be returned to the student until completed to the satisfaction of the Dean of CGCE. 2. Approval Process For Master s Thesis Students pursuing a Master s Thesis must be supervised by a Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee must be comprised of at least two faculty members, including the Chair of the Committee, who is typically the student s advisor. The Thesis Committee is responsible for evaluating and reviewing the content of the thesis from its initial stages up to its final version. The Thesis Committee is also fully responsible for making sure that the thesis is free of typos, obvious grammatical errors, and that it satisfies the format and style prescribed in the Manual. A thesis defense (if required by the program) should not be scheduled until the Thesis Committee is satisfied with the content of the document. Upon approval of the final version of the thesis in format, and style, the Chair of the Thesis Committee must sign Part B of the Thesis Approval Form. The next step consist of: (a) the student submits the signed form to the CGCE Office of the Dean and (b) the student submits the thesis electronically in PDF format to Dr. Forouza Pourkay via address: CGCEThesis@rowan.edu Once the Thesis Approval Form has been signed in Part C by the Dean of CGCE, it will be submitted to the Registrar and Rowan s Library as described in section 5. This is the final step toward the completion of the Master s degree. NOTE: The Dean of CGCE will not sign Part C of the Thesis Approval Form and will return the thesis back with correction comments to the student and Chair of the Thesis Committee if the format and style do not meet the guidelines of the Manual. 5

6 For Doctoral Dissertation Students pursuing a Doctoral Degree must be supervised by a Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee must be comprised of at least three dissertation committee members, including the Chair of the Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee is responsible for evaluating and reviewing the content of the dissertation from its initial stages up to its final version. The Dissertation Committee is also fully responsible for making sure that the dissertation is free of typos, obvious grammatical errors, and that it satisfies the format and style prescribed in the Manual. A dissertation defense should not be scheduled until the Dissertation Committee is satisfied with the content of the document. For more details, doctoral students must consult the Doctoral Handbook. Upon a successful defense of the dissertation by the candidate, the Dissertation Committee members will sign Part A of the Dissertation Approval Form. Upon approval of the final version of the thesis in format, and style, the Chair and the members of Dissertation Committee must sign Part B of the Dissertation Approval Form. (a) The student submits the signed form to the CGCE Office of the Dean and (b) the student submits the dissertation electronically in PDF format to Dr. Forouza Pourkay via address: CGCEThesis@rowan.edu The signed Dissertation Approval Form must be forwarded to the Dean of CGCE for his final approval. Once the Dissertation Approval Form has been signed in Part C by the Dean of CGCE, it will be submitted to the Registrar and Rowan Library as described in section 5. This is the final step toward the completion of the doctoral degree. NOTE: The Dean of CGCE will not sign Part C of the Dissertation Approval Form and will return the dissertation back with correction comments to the student and Chair of the Thesis Committee if the format and style do not meet the guidelines of the Manual. 3. Thesis/Dissertation Format This section discusses the standards that candidates must follow in the writing and formatting of their theses/dissertations. Printing & Submission For purposes of review and approval by the thesis/dissertation committee students can print their documents on regular white paper. For purposes of review and approval by the CGCE, students must submit an electronic copy in PDF format to Dr. Forouza Pourkay via address: CGCEThesis@rowan.edu For purposes of library archiving, students must provide an electronic replica, in portable document format (PDF) of the approved thesis/dissertation. The document may be submitted via to CGCEThesis@rowan.edu (see more about this in section 5). 6

7 Type Font size for main text must be 12 points. Font size for titles of chapters must be 12 points. Font size for footnotes must be 10 points. Font size for captions in figures and tables must be 12 points. No specific font is required; however, traditional serif fonts such as Times Roman or Palatino are highly recommended. Consistency with font size must be followed throughout the whole document. Margins The left margin must be 1.5 inches throughout the document. All other margins (top, bottom, and right) must be 1 inch. The only exception is the title page which has 1.75 inches at the top and bottom of the page. Headings and subheadings must have at least two full lines of body text below them. If only one line of text fits below a heading, move the heading to the next page. Pagination All page numbers (where it applies) must be placed at the bottom center of the page. All pages are counted but not necessarily numbered (see below). The following pages ARE counted BUT NOT numbered: title page, copyright page, and dedication page (if included). Use lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc) for the following preliminary pages: acknowledgement, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, and list of figures. Use Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc) for the main body (starting with the first chapter), references, appendices, bibliography, and all other pages including photographs, illustrations, and drawings. Spacing Double space for the general text material. Insert at least 3 single-spaced lines of space above table captions and figures and below figures captions, tables, and other graphics. Single space for footnotes and long quotations. Single space for the references page(s) and double space between references. Footnotes Separate footnotes from the text with a line, and leave one single-spaced line of space between the line and the footnote. 7

8 Tables and figures Tables and figures must be inserted as close as possible to the text describing them. Place figure captions below figures. Place table captions above tables, using italic fonts. Avoid the use of color figures and photographs if possible. Avoid, if possible, breaking tables and figures into consecutive pages. If a table does not fit into a single page, one should split the table according to the APA style manual. Landscape figures and tables should have their captions in landscape orientation. However, page numbering must be in portrait orientation. 4. Thesis/Dissertation Arrangement This section describes how a thesis/dissertation must be arranged. Each item included in the list below must be included unless it is indicated as optional or if applicable. Each item must appear in the exact order described in the list below. As indicated in section 1 under Style, students have the option of utilizing the electronic templates developed for the student to eliminate the need of formatting the preliminary pages. However, students have the option of not using those templates, in which case they must follow the standards mentioned below. Preliminary pages Title page Copyright page Dedication(s) page (optional) Acknowledgment(s) page (optional) Abstract page Table of Contents page List of Figures page (if applicable) List of Tables page (if applicable) Main body Main body of text starting with first chapter References Appendices (if applicable) Title page The candidate can use the Title page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. The title page must look like the samples given in pages 15 and 16. Use capital letters in bold face for the title. Use your full name, including your middle initial or name. Write out the name of the degree for which you are a candidate. All doctoral candidates must use Doctor of Education. All Master s Degree candidates should use the precise degree name (e.g., Master of Arts in Reading Education). 8

9 You must enter the names of Department/Program and College to which the document is submitted. Use the month and year in which you defend your thesis or dissertation. This page is counted but not numbered (it counts as the very first page of the thesis/dissertation). Copyright page The candidate can use the Copyright page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. Include a copyright page with the following information: a copyright notice, full legal name of author, and date of publication on file. Center the information on the page as shown in the sample in page 17. For more information regarding copyright issues, visit: This page is counted but not numbered. If you chose not to add a copyright page, you may substitute a blank page or provide no copyright page. Dedication(s) page The candidate can use the Dedication page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. The Dedication(s) page is optional. The heading, must appear at the top of the page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 18. This page is counted but not numbered. Acknowledgement(s) page The candidate can use the Acknowledgment(s) page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. The Acknowledgment(s) page is optional, but most theses do include a brief statement of thanks or recognition of any special assistance. The heading must appear at the top of the page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 19. This page is counted and numbered in lowercase Roman numeral. For example, in a thesis that includes a copyright page but no dedication page, the acknowledgment page will be iii. Abstract page The student can use the Abstract page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. 9

10 The abstract is a summary that allows readers to determine the value of reading the full thesis. It should include a statement of the problem, an outline of procedures or methods, and a summary of results and conclusions. Abstracts must fit into a single page. The heading in bold face must be centered at the top of the page, followed by the title of the thesis/dissertation and name of the candidate as shown in page 20. The text begins four lines below this heading. The pages are counted and numbered in lowercase Roman numerals. Table of Contents page The student can use the Table of contents page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. The heading must appear at the top of the page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 21. The only page, prior to the table of Contents to be listed is the Abstract, no other prior page must be included. List chapter titles and at least the first or second order subdivisions. Make sure that chapter and section titles are worded exactly as they appear in the body of the thesis/dissertation. Use double space between entries. Separate titles from page numbers with right-justified tabs and dot leaders. Do not use periods to separate titles and page numbers. If the Table of Contents continues on a subsequent page, you must repeat the heading followed by the wording (Continued). These pages are counted and numbered in lowercase Roman numerals. List of Figures page The student can use the List of Figures page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. The heading must appear at the top of the first page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 22. List figure captions exactly as they appear below each figure in the text. Use double-space between entries. Separate figure captions from page numbers with right-justified tabs and dot leaders. Do not use periods to separate captions and page numbers. These pages are counted and numbered in lowercase Roman numerals. List of Tables page The student can use the List of Tables page template in section 7 or follow the instructions below. 10

11 The heading must appear at the top of the first page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 23. List table captions exactly as they appear above the tables in the text. Use double-space between entries. Separate table captions from page numbers with right-justified tabs and dot leaders. Do not use periods to separate captions and page numbers. These pages are counted and numbered in lowercase Roman numerals. Main Body of Text Divide the text into its major parts/chapters/subsections. No fixed arrangement is necessary. The major parts may contain such subjects as introduction, general argument, description of experimental procedures, research methods, discussion, summary, conclusions, recommendations, and other pertinent topics that are necessary for a complete understanding on the part of a sophisticated or professional reader. The chapter and section titles should be the same as the headings listed in the Table of Contents. If your thesis or dissertation includes a list of nomenclature and symbols, include the list as an appendix. The pages are counted and numbered in Arabic numerals. Headings in Text Chapter headings must be bold face and centered. The chapter number and title must be displayed as shown below: Headings must be 12 points. Headings must be single spaced. Footnotes Chapter 1 Title of the Chapter Each footnote cites an authority for statements in the text. Number each footnote chronologically in Arabic numerals. Place each footnote on the same page on which it appears in the text. Separate footnotes from the text with a line. Leave one single-spaced line of space between the line and the first footnote. Single space each footnote entry. 11

12 List of References (or Bibliography) The heading must appear at the top of the first page, must be bold, centered, and without punctuation as shown in page 24. Begin the list of sources one space below the heading. Use double space between entries. Do not split entries over two pages. If an entire entry does not fit on one page, place the entire entry on the next page. Entries (except for engineering) must be listed according to APA Style. Please refer to the sample in page 24 for details on how to list references depending on the nature of the source. Entries for engineering master's theses must follow the IEEE citation format, which is described in page 25 of the Manual. These pages are counted and numbered in Arabic numerals. Appendices If supplementary original data, illustrative material, a detailed derivation of equations, an extensive proof of a theorem, or a quotation is too long to be included in the main body of the thesis/dissertation, they may be presented in appendices. Similar material should be gathered in a single Appendix. Number the appendices consecutively alphabetically (Appendix A, Appendix B, ). The heading Appendix A (or B, C, etc.) and the title of the material must be bold, centered, and without punctuation. The appendix material should begin one space below the heading. List each appendix and its title separately in the Table of Contents. The pages are counted and numbered in Arabic numerals. 5. Library Submission Process Rowan University Library archives a copy of each thesis or dissertation, in one or more formats, as the official copy of record. Candidates to the Master s Degree and Doctoral Degree are to submit directly to the CGCE the final approved version of their work according to the following instructions. This is the penultimate step in completing the requirements for the degree. Submission requirements Once the Master s thesis or Doctoral Dissertation has been approved by the Chair of the Thesis / Dissertation Committee and the Dean of CGCE, the student will submit to the CGCE the following material: Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form, with all signatures (electronically, in PDF format) An electronic replica, in portable document format (PDF) of the approved thesis/ dissertation. The document may be submitted via as a PDF attachment. 12

13 An electronic replica in PDF format of the Thesis/ Dissertation Approval Form, with signatures. This form is to be included with the electronic version of the thesis or dissertation. Payment of $40 by check or money order to Rowan University/Campbell Library, for processing and archiving purposes. Upon receipt by the library of these materials, the submission form will be signed by the Dean of the Library and delivered to the Registrar s office, by the library. The Thesis/dissertation package will then be complete. NOTE: The Library is not responsible for examining or reviewing the submitted thesis/dissertation material. The Library will prepare and archive theses/dissertations as is. Bound paper copies Bound paper copies are often desired by the authors of theses and dissertations. The library will provide you with assistance in obtaining bound copies at a reasonable cost. For each bound copy requested submit to the library the complete text printed on white 24 pound, 100% cotton rag paper, acid-free and watermarked. This paper is available at the bookstore and at all office supply companies. For more details contact the library. Doctoral dissertation publishing with UMI Rowan no longer requires the submission of dissertations to UMI. Theses and Dissertations will be cataloged and placed in the Rowan Library ETD repository, currently in development. The publications in the Rowan ETD repository will be indexed by a number of web-based tools such as OAIster and Google so the text will be available to other researchers lending to the advancement of knowledge in the respective areas of study. Rowan authors may also submit dissertations to UMI Dissertation Publishing if desired. UMI, a division of ProQuest, has been the primary company for collecting and disseminating theses and dissertations in the USA. Prior to the development of electronic or digital repositories, UMI was one of a few companies offering this service. Dissertations submitted to UMI are included in the UMI database, which currently includes over 1.5 billion pages spanning 500 years. Rowan University Library subscribes to the UMI thesis and dissertation database. For more information about cost and the submission process link to or contact Rowan University Libraries or the College of Graduate and Continuing Education. 13

14 6. Forms The three forms mentioned below are available in the same site where this Manual is located. (a) Thesis Approval Form. This form must be filled out by the candidate before the defense takes place and must be presented for the committee s approval. The form will be kept for two other needed approval signatures as explained in section 2. (b) Dissertation Approval Form. This form must be filled out by the student before the defense takes place and must be presented for the committee s approval. The form will be kept for two other needed approval signatures as explained in section 2. (c) Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form. This form must be filled out and signed by the candidate, the advisor/chair committee, and CGCE representative prior to submitting the thesis/dissertation to the Library. 7. Electronic Templates for Preliminary Pages The templates for the preliminary pages mentioned below are available in the same site where this Manual is located. Template Name Title page Copyright page Dedication(s) page Acknowledgment(s) page Abstract page Table of Contents page List of Figures page List of Tables page 8. Samples of Preliminary Pages 14

15 AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE LITERACY SKILLS OF STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME by Jane Student A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Psychology College of Liberal Arts and Sciences In partial fulfillment of the requirement For the degree of Master of Arts at Rowan University Jan 20, 2011 Thesis Chair: Joseph Professor, Ph.D. 15

16 AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE LITERACY SKILLS OF STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME by Jane Student A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Educational Leadership College of Education In partial fulfillment of the requirement For the degree of Doctor of Education at Rowan University Jan 20, 2011 Dissertation Chair: Joseph Professor, Ph.D. 16

17 2011 Jane S. Jones 17

18 Dedication I would like to dedicate this manuscript to my mother, Janette S. Mother 18

19 Acknowledgments I would like to express my appreciation to Professor John P. Professor for his guidance and help throughout this research. iv 19

20 Abstract Janne Student AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE LITERACY SKILLS OF STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME 2006/07 Joseph Professor, Ph.D. Master of Arts in Special Education The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) ascertain the literacy performance of a group of students with mental retardation and Down syndrome in grades 1-12 (n = 105) and (b) determine the relative value of phonemic awareness for predicting reading and writing achievement for this population. Students demonstrated wide variability in their performance on literacy measures. The average word recognition for the group was Primer level; average reading comprehension was Pre- Primer level; and the average spelling level was the Primer level. Regression analyses revealed phonemic awareness significantly predicted performance on narrative word recognition, reading comprehension, words spelled correctly per student, and use of invented spellings per student. Implications for teaching students with mental retardation and Down syndrome to reading and writing are discussed. v 20

21 Table of Contents Abstract List of Figures List of Tables v vii viii Chapter 1: Introduction Statement of the Problem 1.2 Significance of the Study 1.3 Purpose of the Study Chapter 2: Literature Review Chapter 3: Methodology Context of the Study 3.2 Instrumentation Chapter 4: Findings Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendation 5.1 Summary 5.2 Conclusions List of References Appendix A Title of Appendix Appendix B Title of Appendix vi 21

22 List of Figures Figure Page Figure 1 Title 27 Figure 2 Title Figure 3 Title vii 22

23 List of Tables Table Page Table 1 Title 41 Table 2 Title Table 3 Title viii 23

24 Examples of References Journals and Periodicals General Format ( APA Format): Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, vol(issue), xx-xx. Books General Format: NOTE: Include all states/country with location. Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher. Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (1980). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (xx ed., Vol. xx, pp. xxx-xxx). Location: Publisher. Author, A. A. (year). Title of work. Retrieved from Governmental Work Author, A. A. (1998). Title of work (Report No. xxx). Location: Publisher. Government work example using a URL U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools (NIH Publication No ). Retrieved from Nongovernmental organization Pew Internet & American Life Project (2007, December). Teens and social media: The use of social media gains a greater foothold in teen life as they embrace the conversational nature of interactive online media. Retrieved from Pew Internet & American Life Project website: l.pdf.pdf More Than Seven Authors Skeff, K. M., Stratos, G. A., Mygdal, M., Dewitt, T. A., Manfred, L., Quirk, M., Bland, C. J. (1997). Faculty Development: A Resource for Clinical Teachers. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 12(4), Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master s thesis (Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master s thesis). Name of Institution, Location

25 IEEE Citation Reference Theses (M.S.) and Dissertations (Ph.D.) Basic Format: [1] J. K. Author, Title of thesis, M.S. thesis, Abbrev. Dept., Abbrev. Univ., City of Univ., Abbrev. State, year. [2] J. K. Author, Title of dissertation, Ph.D. dissertation, Abbrev. Dept., Abbrev. Univ., City of Univ., Abbrev. State, year. Examples: [1] J. O. Williams, Narrow-band analyzer, Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Elect. Eng., Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA, [2] N. Kawasaki, Parametric study of thermal and chemical nonequilibrium nozzle flow, M.S. thesis, Dept. Electron. Eng., Osaka Univ., Osaka, Japan, [3] N. M. Amer, The effects of homogeneous magnetic fields on developments of tribolium confusum, Ph.D. dissertation, Radiation Lab., Univ. California, Berkeley, Tech. Rep , *** The state abbreviation is omitted if the name of the university includes the state name, i.e., Univ. California, Berkeley. *** [4] C. Becle, These de doctoral d etat, Univ. Grenoble, Grenoble, France,