2015

EPP600 MY PROJECT PAPER

PRINTABLE VERSION
Finally you have reached the last paper for the Master of Education (M.Ed)
programme. There are many questions that you want to ask about the
Project Paper. You have completed the three research courses: ESM 641
Research Methods in Education, EQL 671 Qualitative Research Methods
and ESE 633 Statistics in Education. Yet some of you are still not sure what
to do. You are frantically searching for the above modules and some may
have sold it to 'paper lama'.

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION & COGNITIVE SCIENCES

ASIA e UNIVERSITY
UPDATED ON OCTOBER 2015

Perhaps the dog ate your modules!

For some of you, this is your first experience undertaking a piece of research.
Not to worry, MyProject Paper begins from the beginning and assumes that you
have limited experience in doing educational research. Relevant materials from
the three research courses will be made available. You will have access to this
course throughout your Project Paper Journey anytime & anywhere.

TABLE OF CONTENT
o
o
o
o

EPP600 MyProject Paper

EPP601 MyProject Paper - Chapter 1 & 2
EPP602 MyProject Paper - Quantitative Methods
EPP603 MyProject Paper - Qualitative Methods

WHAT IS THE PROJECT PAPER?

The Project Paper is an integral component of the Master of Education (M.Ed)
programme. The Project Paper seeks to assess your ability to:

identify and investigate a topic in your area of specialisation

critically evaluate research related to the topic you are investigating
apply research skills in planning and implementing a study
communicate results in the form of structured report

It is worth 3 Credits. Though you are not expected to write a thesis or

dissertation, you must adopt a similar structure.
The project paper offers you the opportunity to study in depth topics in your area
of specialisation. You will engage in collecting data from the field to answer the
research questions you have stated.

Basically, your content can follow the following requirement,

Chapter 1: Introduction - about 7-8 pages
Chapter 2: Review of Literature - about 10 - 12 pages
Chapter 3: Methodology - about 7-8 pages
Chapter 4: Findings - 14 - 15 pages [excluding tables and graphs]
Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications - 5 -6 pages

FORMAT OF THE PROJECT PAPER

Abstract

Check Out this video:

An abstract not exceeding 250 words is to be included approximately one and one-half page doubled-spaced. The
abstract should state the research problem in brief, describe
the methods and procedures used in gathering data or
studying, the problem, and provide a condensed summary of
the findings of the study.

How to write an
Abstract: Some
useful tips
(https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=8pj3i
MVRUx4)

Check Out this video:

Acknowledgement
Usually contain written expressions of appreciation for
guidance and assistance from individuals or/and institutions.
The acknowledgements should not exceed 250 words.

Writing
Acknowledgements
(https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=cZe6
vBuSZhQ)

Check Out this video:

Table of content
Each Project Paper is expected to have a table of contents for
the convenience of the reader. The table of contents should be
easy to read and consistent. The title of each chapter should
be written in full capital with no terminal punctuation. The
title of a subdivision of a chapter or section should be in small
letters, with the exception of the first letter of significant
words.

APA-formatted Table
of Contents
(https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=aAk
G46Se3Bc)
Note:
Please refer to
formats given in the
AeU Project Paper
guideline for MEd.

Check Out this video:

List of Tables
The list of tables follows the table of contents. This list
includes the number of each table, the title and the page
number.

Formatting tables and

figures in your research
paper
(https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=axjUhtr6Sz
8)

List of Figures
The list of figures follows the list of tables. This list includes
the number of each figure, the title and the page number.
Check Out this video:

Appendices
Specific items which were not included in the main body of
the text should be put in the Appendix Section. Typically,
this section may include the following items:

Word 2010 - How to

create a style for an
appendix
(https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=nsYVut1DC
Ic)

Research instruments such as questionnaires, maps,

interview protocols, or tests
Figures
Tables
Other relevant information

WRITING FORMAT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

SPACING Double spacing between lines

FONT Times New Roman
FONT SAIZ 12 pitch
TABLE FONT SAIZ 10 pitch
MARGIN Left

What is Research in Education?

Still not clear what is research in education! Then continue reading and watch the
video clips.
The word research has been used in many different ways and sometimes rather
loosely giving rise to confusion and sometimes with the intention to deceive.
Looking up facts and writing them down is nothing more than fact finding and fact
transcribing (Leedy, 1974). People write 'reports' but it may not be a 'research
report'.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines research as "examination,

investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of
facts, theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such
new or revised theories or laws".
In educational research your focus of investigation is:

students
teachers
administrators
parents
and members of the community

You are interested in 'phenomenon' such as achievement, attitudes, practices,

perceptions, styles, aptitudes, abilities, interests, practices, processes, emotions
and so forth.

The central purpose and motivation for doing educational research is to find ways
to improve 'LEARNING'. For example, a teacher using different teaching methods,
the principal advising teachers on teaching, parents involved in school activities,
the community contributing towards a new school building is all working towards
improving learning.

Creswell (2002) states your purpose for doing educational research is to:

Improve Practice
Add to Knowledge
Address Gaps in Knowledge
Expand Knowledge
Replicate Knowledge

In short, research is a process in which you pose a question, collect data to

answer the question and communicate the results to a larger audience.

Try these Techniques When Looking for a Research Topic

"My problem is finding a problem"

"WHERE and HOW DO I START?

Are you facing this problem? Perhaps you have an idea on what you want to do.
But it is too broad. You have to narrow it down. You are very fortunate because
you have the largest library in the world at your finger tips - The INTERNET.

STEP # 1
Type in your topic and see what you get. The more
precise your description, the better will be the results.
For example, "the role of feedback on student writing in
English as a second language". The websites and
sources you refer to should ideally be written
by experts and professional organizations who are authorities on the topic.
Because the Internet is a public platform not all information is accurate or
credible. You must know how to determine the credibility of the source and the
following checklist may help you.

STEP # 2
Once you have identified a topic that you are
interested in, you could search further using Google
Scholar.
Some of the websites provide full text articles
in pdf while others provide an abstract.
STEP # 3
You can continue your search by checking out articles
from these Open Access Journals:

Look up Your Topic in the Digital Library

TIPs: Log in to AeU e-library for more databases. Contact the AeU librarian should you need
assistance.

STEP 4:
Check out your topic or look for specific authors using the Digital Library. Start
with the following databases:

ProQuest Education Journals

ProQuest Education Journals gives users access to
over 900 top educational publications, including
more than 600 of the titles in full text. The coverage
spans the literature on primary, secondary and
higher education as well as special education, home schooling and adult
education.

Education Research Complete

Education Research Complete: Provides indexing and abstracts
for more than 2,100 journals, as well as full text for more than
1,200 journals, and includes full text for nearly 500 books and
monographs.

H.W Wilson Education Fulltext

The Wilson Web journals database caters to information
needs of education students, professionals, and policy makers
It contains full text of sources from Springer, and 12 years of
full text document from Wilson Library Bulletin. Also carries a
range of periodicals, monographs and yearbooks.

ERIC
ERIC provides coverage of journal articles, conferences, meetings,
government documents, theses, dissertations, reports, audiovisual
media, bibliographies, directories, books and monographs.

Reading the literature

Always ask yourself, why you would like to work on it, or why anyone would want
to do so.
Ask yourself, "Why is it important? What is interesting about
this? Suppose I solve it, or find it, or pull it all together, what
use is it? What is its significance?"
Survey the articles to see what is there and find out what
aspects of it have been exhausted, what is neglected, what
are the main ideas, issues and controversies in the area.

Below are some basic key points to start on your literature search.