Honours Thesis Briefing Session

1. Semester 2. 2013-2014 19 March, 2014 Honours Thesis Briefing Session

2. The Honours Thesis (HT) • The HT is a scholarly exercise in which students formulate their own research problems and carry out the research projects themselves. • Under no circumstances should students employ research assistants (paid) for their projects. • Under no circumstances should students use the data collected by the faculty members or someone else (exceptions: public data, content analysis…..) • Supervisors may require that students have taken, or be taking, a particular module in order to be eligible to select a certain HT topic.

3. HT Proposal • Students are encouraged to propose their own topics to potential supervisors in writing • The proposal should include • Specific research questions (ex: “ I am interested in social media.” – this will never do) NM2102, 4102 • Background of the research questions • Theories or theoretical framework (chicken and egg) • Research methods to be employed and why advantages and disadvantages of RM • Plans for data collection • Your supervisor’s signature

4. HT Proposal & Thesis Submission • This semester: • Long due already • Thesis submission (Friday, 7 November 2014) • Next semester: • 15 Sept 2014(Monday): Deadline for the proposal i.e., Submission of thesis proposal • You can change your research questions even after you submit the proposal. • 13 April 2015 (Monday): Thesis submission

5. Requirement • Maximum length is 12,000 words, which only include the main text and exclude the endnotes, appendices, and bibliography. Check APA for the order. There is no minimum number of words. The thesis will be evaluated based on the quality instead of length. • Students may include the interview / focus group / survey questions as appendices but the transcripts are not necessary. • Upload Thesis in IVLE [new requirement]

6. 3 copies of thesis must be submitted to CNM General Office, 1 HARD-BOUND copy and 2 ring-bound copies using A4 size paper on the HT deadline. • Thesis should be printed double-sided. If you do not comply with this requirement (i.e., still printing your thesis one-sided) , your thesis will result in an automatic 5-point deduction • The HT should be submitted no later than 07 November 2014, 5.00pm to Retna (CNM General Office).

7. Thesis is assessed by two academic staff. • ISM is assessed by your supervisor

8. Format & style • Thesis in social sciences follows APA (American Psychological Association) version 6 style. Consult the APA manual (at the library) or websites for your format and citation needs (http://www.icahdq.org/publications/publicnewsletter/2009/9/SEP09_APAREVIEW.asp). Follow closely. Reviewers can be very picky. • Your supervisor may require you to follow other citation style. Check with your supervisor and make sure you use the specific style • Check Honours Thesis Guideline on CNM website.

9. Requirement of the ISM • The Independent Study Module is designed to enable the student to explore an approved topic within the discipline in depth. • The student should approach a lecturer to work out an agreed topic, readings, and assignments for the module. • A formal, written agreement is to be drawn up, giving a clear account of the topic, programme of study, assignments, evaluation, and other pertinent details. • Head's and Honours Coordinator's approval of the written agreement are required. Regular meetings and reports are expected. • Evaluation is based on 100% Continuous Assessment • Expected to finish within ONE semester

10. Starting the thesis • It is a great opportunity to explore what you wanted to know more. If you are not sure, review what you have done for the past modules, such as projects. It can give you more concrete ideas where to start and whom is the best supervisor for your project. • Once you know (even if vaguely) your topic, write it so that your ideas can be more concrete, specific, and doable (very important). Supervisors can be as clueless as you are if your ideas are too broad and general. It is always a good idea to check your potential supervisors research works (areas, theories, research methods, etc) • On meeting your potential supervisor, discuss your idea as specific as you can. Your first meeting may not be fruitful. Develop your ideas according to supervisor’s suggestions and have another meeting to finalize the topics. • In case you came to the wrong person, ask for recommendation for suitable faculty members.

11. Technicalities • Since thesis (ISM) is more of a contact between two people, student and professor, it is important to get clear instructions and establish some agreements on expectations and timeline. It is only to guide you better in a timely fashion and eliminate unnecessary misunderstanding. Therefore, use emails after meetings to confirm what was discussed (written proofs). • When there arise any difficulties with your supervisors in terms of communications, instructions, and any thesis (ISM) related issues, try to resolve it with him/her first. If this turns to be unsuccessful, then contact me (lin@nus.edu.sg) for further assistance.

12. DERC • Department Ethic Review Committee (Leanne, Anne-Marie and me). Contact Leanne, the Chair, first • Reviews your research proposal, protocols, and etc.  works like IRB of the university • All empirical research (except content analysis) will have to go through DERC review process • They meet only on the first day of some months (will be announced later) and take a month to process the review. • So, plan ahead and START EARLY. CAN’T GRADUATE or GRADUATE with LOW MARKS

13. DERC • What you need for DERC • IRB (Social Science) from IRB website • Your supervisor is the PI, his/her CV • Your instrumentations (questionnaires, interview/ FG questions, etc) • Literature reviews • No mistakes please  will delay the review process

14. Submission To DERC If you submit thesis in 7 NOVEMBER 2014 • Undergraduate research projects dealing with human subjects (e.g., surveys, experiments, focus groups, interviews, ethnography) • Honours thesis • If minority groups are involved, applications should be submitted to NUS-IRB • If you plan to publish the research results in conferences or journals in the future, you should submit the application to NUS-IRB • Neither NUS-IRB nor the DERC does retrospective review • You cannot collect data before getting the DERC (or IRB) approval. Violation will result in a ZERO score for your thesis • It takes up to ONE MONTH to get the approval from the DERC or the IRB • The DERC will only meet on 15 Aug 2014 and 15 Sept 2014 • The IRB accept submissions on the first day of every month • These deadlines only apply to those who submit their thesis in 7 NOVEMEBER 2014. • The latest day for them to submit DERC applications should be SEPT 15, 2014. • Those who will submit thesis in April next year should NOT submit now (it will not be entertained by DERC chair)

15. Submission To DERC If you submit thesis in 13 April 2015 • Undergraduate research projects dealing with human subjects (e.g., surveys, experiments, focus groups, interviews, ethnography) • Honours thesis • If minority groups are involved, applications should be submitted to NUS-IRB • If you plan to publish the research results in conferences or journals in the future, you should submit the application to NUS-IRB • Neither NUS-IRB nor the DERC does retrospective review • You cannot collect data before getting the DERC (or IRB) approval. Violation will result in a ZERO score for your thesis • It takes up to ONE MONTH to get the approval from the DERC or the IRB • The DERC will only meet on 15 Nov 2014, 15 Dec 2014, and 15 Jan 2015 • The IRB accept submissions on the first day of every month • If honours students plan to graduate in May 2015, the latest day for them to submit DERC applications should be Jan 15, 2014.