Guide to action research

1. KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION
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WORKSHOP ON PROJECT WORK
WRITING AND SUPERVISION

2. INTRODUCTION – WHY PROJECT
WORK?
• It is a partial requirement for the award of Degree by the
University of Science and Technology.
• Prepare students for good research practices
• They contain research findings which (are supposed to)
contribute to knowledge.
• They serve as reference material for the future.
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3. FORMAT FOR WRITING PROJECT WORK
A Project Work shall consists of three main parts:
• the Preliminary or front matter;
• the text, or main body; and
• the Back Matter (Appendices)
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4. PRELIMINARIES
The preliminaries consist of the following:
1. Front page
2. Title page
3. Declaration
4. Abstract
5. Acknowledgements
6. Dedication
7. Table of Contents
8. List of Tables
9. List of Figures
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5. The main text of the Project Work consists of the following:
TEXT (OR MAIN BODY )
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES

6. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
This chapter explains what the problem is and why it is
important to study it.
The following may be relevant sub-headings:
 Background to the study
 Statement of the Problem
 Purpose of the Study
 Research Questions/Hypotheses/Assumptions
(Whichever is applicable)
 Significance of the Study

7. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
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 Delimitation of the Study (in terms of scope of the topic of
study, population, geographical location, etc.
 Limitations of the Study
In terms of
 Internal validity – any shortcomings of the research design?
 External validity- how far can you generalise the findings?
Measurement issues- how reliable and valid are the instruments used?
Statistical problems- did the data meet statistical assumptions?
did the sample size limit the statistical power?
 Definition of Terms (if need be)
 Organisation of the Study

8. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter is supposed to provide support for the study.
What has already been done about the topic.
How it was done. Problem(s), if any.
What are findings and conclusions
How will these affect your study

9. CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
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This chapter explains how the study was conducted. The main
sub-headings include:
 Research Design
 Describe the type of study and design (e.g. survey, experiment)
 Explain the rationale for the design
Indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the design
 Population:
Define and describe the population

10. 10
 Sample and Sampling Procedure
 State the sample size and how the sample was selected
 Give rationale for the selection procedure and the sample size
 Provide background characteristics of the sample. E.g. age, gender,
educational/professional qualification, etc.
 Instrument(s):
Describe how instrument was developed
Specify how item format was determined
Describe pre/field/pilot-testing of the instrument
Show how validity was determined
Indicate how reliable the instrument is (reliability coefficient)
Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the instruments
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY (CONTINUED)

11.  Intervention Processes
 Describe pilot study (if done)
Describe how pre-intervention, intervention and post intervention activities
were done.
 Give a step-by-step account of how the intervention activities were carried
out.
 Indicate the materials and strategies used to carry out the interventions, etc.
Indicate if somebody helped you to do the intervention, and the kind of
training given to those who helped in the training.
 Data Analysis:
Data summaries (e.g. tables, graphs)
Indicate and justify the statistical tool used for each hypothesis/research
question/objective.
Explain how the analysis was done for each hypothesis/research
question/objective.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY (CONTINUED)

12. CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Present and discuss the results one-by-one in relation to
hypothesis/research questions/objectives.
The discussion should include the interpretation of the findings in
reference to literature or theory, etc.
Evaluate each finding and examine its implications with respect to
current theoretical position, as well as educational practice.
State and discuss other unintended findings from your study
(if any)

13. CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
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 SUMMARY
Give an overview of the study and methodology.
Provide a summary of the key findings
 Conclusions
 State your position regarding the hypotheses/questions, etc.
 Indicate whether the findings confirm or disconfirm the
hypotheses/questions.
 Indicate whether the original problem is better resolved or understood
following the findings of the study.
 Recommendations
Make recommendations for policy and for practice
Recommendations should be based on the findings of the study
Give suggestions for further research

14. REFERENCES
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The College of Educational Studies
follows the APA referencing style.

15. BACK MATTER
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Appendices constitute the Back
Matter and follows immediately
after the References.

16. Reference
Amoako, R., & Antwi, S. (2023. Guide for writing and presenting project work. Kumasi:
KNUSTPress.
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION

17. QUESTIONS
AND
DISCUSSION TIME
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