The Masters Thesis Project lecture 2

1. The Masters Thesis Projectlecture 2 Dr. Douglas Fleming Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

2. Session 1 Minimum of 2 courses 
Session 2 Minimum of 2 courses and begin preparation of the thesis proposal Session 3 Development of Thesis Proposal Session 4 Data collection and Research Ethics Board approval Session 5 Data analysis, and writing Session 6 Write up and submission of the thesis

3. The Thesis Topic and Committee • The research topic may be chosen by the student or proposed by the thesis supervisor, but must be accepted by both. • An appropriate research topic corresponds to the research interests of the student and to the areas of specialization of the thesis supervisor. • The research topic must be registered at the FGPS by the end of the third session of studies. • The thesis supervisor chooses a thesis committee to help supervise the thesis. • The thesis committee is composed of the following members: • the thesis supervisor; • at least two other professors who have expertise in substantive areas (as opposed to methodological expertise) related to the thesis project. Two of these professors must also be members of the FGPS and one member may be from another faculty.

4. The Thesis Proposal • The student prepares a research proposal of twenty-five (25) pages maximum (4000 to 4500 words) (tables and references not included), double-spaced, paginated, in 12 point font, and printed on one side only. • This document generally contains: • a theoretical framework and/or a conceptual framework, • a review of literature, • a description of the problem, research questions, • a methodological framework (e.g., design, participants, instruments, procedure, and analyses), • the contribution of the research to the field of education, and • an appropriate and exhaustive reference section.

5. At the thesis proposal approval meeting, the thesis supervisor and the committee members discuss their evaluations of the thesis proposal with the student. The student will receive valuable feedback which will enhance the quality of her research. • Judgment: • Option 1: Satisfactory: The student is allowed to proceed with the research as proposed; • Option 2: Satisfactory: The student is allowed to proceed with the research under the condition that minor modifications are incorporated under the supervision of the thesis director; • Option 3: Satisfactory: The student is allowed to proceed with the research under the condition that major modifications are incorporated under the supervision of the thesis director; • Option 4: Non-Satisfactory: The student is not allowed to proceed with the research project. In this case reasons for the decision are specified and another seminar will have to take place.

6. Ethics Approval • Once the research proposal is accepted at the seminar, the student applies for ethics approval for the research project from the University of Ottawa’s Research Ethics Board. • This approval is necessary for any research project involving human subjects. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in severe academic sanctions. • www.research.uottawa.ca/ethics/index.html.

7. The Thesis • A master's thesis must show that the student is able to work in a scholarly manner and is acquainted with the principal works published on the subject of the thesis. As much as possible, it should be an original contribution. • There are two types of theses approved by FGPS: • a) the standard monograph thesis 100 and 250 pages, typed in 12 point font and double-spaced. • b) the thesis with an article prepared for publication in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. one article of the same value and quality of a monograph, with the student as the first or principal author and has contributed at least 2/3 of the content and writing of the article.

8. Standard monograph thesis: • end-pages • title page • acknowledgments • dedication (optional) • abstract (300 word maximum) • table of contents • list of tables and figures • list of acronyms and abbreviations • introduction • body of the thesis. • list of references • appendices • index (optional)

9. Thesis with an article: • end-pages • title page • acknowledgments • dedication (optional) • abstract (300 word maximum) • table of contents • list of tables and figures • list of acronyms and abbreviations • introduction • body of the thesis. • list of references • appendices • index (optional)

10. Final Stage: • One month before the student deposits the thesis, the supervisor completes the form, submitting “List of Examiners for the Evaluation of the Thesis” form. • The thesis supervisor completes the form, “Statement of Thesis Supervisor” no later than the date the student deposits the thesis. This form indicates that the supervisor has examined the thesis and considers it acceptable for submission to the jury.   • The student deposits copies of the thesis at the GSO for the members of the jury as well as a copy for the Chair. • Each member of the jury evaluates the thesis independently. They do not communicate to one another, the student, or the thesis supervisor about the evaluation. • Criteria: understanding of the topic and its contribution to knowledge;research methodology; valuation of results and validity of conclusions;general organization, literary form, and material presentation of the thesis (monograph or with articles); revisions deemed necessary to make the thesis acceptable

11. Written Evaluation: Each jury member has 20 working days (4 weeks) to evaluate the thesis and write a report: Judgment: • The thesis is accepted for the defense. • The thesis is accepted for the defense but must be revised after defense. • The thesis cannot be accepted for the defense and must undergo extensive revision before defense to ensure it meets the above criteria. • The thesis fails to meet the standards required for the degree.

12. The Defense: The Chair meets briefly beforehand with the jury members and the thesis supervisor to discuss any difficulties arising from the jury members’ reports, general procedures and the sequence and timing of questions. Jury members may participate remotely or ask another member to act on their behalf. The student and members of the public are invited back. The Chair begins the oral defense by inviting the candidate to present the subject of the thesis. The time allotted for this purpose is specified by the Chair. (10 to 20 minutes is usually sufficient.) The Chair invites the jury members, in a previously determined sequence, to question the student on the thesis. The thesis supervisor is given the opportunity to comment or ask questions. Members of the public are also invited to ask questions.

13. The Chair asks the student and the public to step outside the meeting room so that the jury can make a decision. • Verdict 1: The thesis is accepted for the degree. • Verdict 2: The thesis must be revised. Either the thesis supervisor or one of the jury members is entrusted with the task of insuring that proper revisions to the thesis are made. • Verdict 3: The thesis must be revised and undergo the evaluation and defense process again from the beginning with the same jury members • Verdict 4: The thesis is unacceptable and the student must withdraw from the program. Chair invites the student back into the meeting room and reads the verdict.