Methodology of writing bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation, and seminar papers The purpose of this text is to clarify and present in a simplified form for full-time and part-time university students (primarily in special pedagogy, and possibly also in other social-science disciplines) several aspects of preparing final and qualification papers.
INTRODUCTION
The text presented here is a simple methodology for the creation and editing of final and qualification papers. It provides a clear and concise overview of selected content, formal, and methodological requirements for final and qualification works, with specific recommendations to information sources where the relevant information is found in a broader context. In this guide, we focus mainly on the methodology of writing bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation, and seminar papers, as well as on writing final works of students in extension studies for the study programs mentally disabled education and psychosocially impaired education at the Department of Special Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education of Prešov University in Prešov.
The purpose of this text is to clarify and present in a simplified form for full-time and part-time university students (primarily in special pedagogy, and possibly also in other social-science disciplines) several aspects of producing final and qualification works in line with the specific requirements for writing selected works in the field of special pedagogy at the Department of Special Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education of Prešov University in Prešov.
In Slovakia and abroad, several publications are available that mainly address the issue of writing thesis papers (Šimonek, 1985; Struhár, 1986; Lechta, Škott, 1988; Hudečková, 1993; Halečka, 2000; Gavora, Kolláriková, Nováková, 2004 and others). These manuals are based on the long-term experience of university teachers and refer to the practice and tradition of a specific university and faculty. Because every field of study and discipline has its own specifics, we cannot provide, even in this publication, a comprehensive answer to how to handle the academic and content dimension of writing original work in all university disciplines. This leaves room for supervisors, consultants, subject teachers, and leaders of diploma seminars. The purpose of this publication is therefore not to describe all content, formal, and methodological criteria exhaustively, but to briefly clarify the requirements placed on final and qualification works with specific references to additional sources in this field, which are recommended in our context of special pedagogy. We expect that the information in this book will encourage authors and commissioners of works to reassess previously used recommendations regarding written school, final, and qualification papers.
The content of the presented publication is structured into nine chapters. In the first chapter we address the meaning and position of final and qualification work in student preparation. In this chapter we briefly present basic definitions of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation, and seminar papers, as well as final papers of students in extension studies. At the end, students are introduced to the basic parts of a project for final and qualification work. In the second, third, and fourth chapters, we focus on the required structure, i.e., the mandatory parts of the front matter, core part, and final part of final and qualification papers, and their content in the theoretical and empirical section. The fifth chapter focuses on a summary of the main formal criteria required for each type of final and qualification work and basic guidelines for binding and submission. In the sixth chapter, some methodological aspects related to empirical processing of selected topics in bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation, and seminar works are addressed, as well as writing final papers for extension studies, specifically according to the required subchapters of the empirical part in these works. The goal was not to provide an exhaustive account of methodological requirements for this type of work, but to briefly and clearly describe some content and methodological elements of specific empirical-subchapter sections required in written works of this kind. We focused mainly on quantitative research. In the seventh chapter we discuss selected criteria for assessment and evaluation, and we point to the most common shortcomings found in final and qualification works, whether methodological, content-related, linguistic, or formal. We also outline indicative criteria for an adequately designed final and qualification work. The eighth chapter contains recommendations for the defense of final and qualification work. The ninth and final chapter presents basic proposals for standardizing the formatting of seminar papers for students of the special pedagogy program at the Department of Special Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education of Prešov University in Prešov.
In this text we use the terms final and qualification work, referring primarily to bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation, and final works of extension study students.
As for formal criteria, in preparing this text we took into account specific requirements for works of this kind for the study programs mentally disabled education and psychosocially impaired education. International ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards and STN (Slovak Standards) are also respected, especially standards for bibliographic references—STN ISO 690: 1988, DOCUMENTATION. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES. CONTENT, FORM AND STRUCTURE.
The main information sources regarding formal criteria were the publications by D. Katuščák (1998); D. Meško, D. Katuščák and others (2004); D. Katuščák (2007), which comprehensively refer not only to instructions related to the preparation and defense of the work but also to international standards of formatting final and qualification works.
Given that requirements for written works may be modified according to specific requirements of universities or faculties, it is necessary in this context to also consider some formal specificities of final and qualification works that follow from requirements of Prešov University in Prešov and are set out in the Directive on the requirements of final works, bibliographic registration, originality checking, storage, and accessibility (2011).
According to D. Katuščák (1998), such modifications can affect formatting, style, bibliographic reference lists, requirements for compiling the bibliography, and preferred methods of citing sources. They should not, however, conflict with international standards regarding structure of the work, order of parts, title page, format, paper, margins, numbering of sections, standardized form for compiling the list of used literature, standardized citation methods, placement and formatting of illustrations, title page, abstract, writing of symbols, units and equations, and other requirements of qualification papers.
With regard to methodological requirements, we recommend the following sources for both full-time and part-time students of special pedagogy: – For methodology, and especially quantitative research, we recommend: J. Ferjenčík (2000); L. Maršálová, O. Mikšík (1990); P. Ondrejkovič (2006); J. Hendl (2006); Š. Švec (1998); F. N. Kerlinger (1972); L. Maršálová (1978); K. R. Popper (1997); A. Tirpáková, D. Marková (2008); M. Disman (2002); V. Břicháček (1978); D. Heller and others (1999); A. Ritomský (2002); J. Výrost (1989); E. Komárik (2001); H. D. Schmidt (1970); M. Chrástka (2007); F. Hillebrandt (1968); G. Clauss, H. Ebner (1988); T. S. Kuhn (1997); B. Fajkus (1997); J. Pelikán (1998); J. Skalková and others (1983); P. Říčan (1978) and others. – For qualitative research, we recommend e.g.: M. Miovský (2006); J. Hendl (2005); J. Hendl (1999); J. Plichtová (2002); Z. Kusá (1992); V. Bačová (2000); R. Švaříček, K. Šeďová and others (2007); A. Strauss, J. Corbinová (1999); R. Švaříček (2005); D. Silverman (2005); Š. Švec (1998); D. L. Morgan (2001); P. Gavora (2006).
Since mastering the basic content, formal, and methodological aspects of producing and editing final and qualification works is essential for students at all levels of full-time and part-time university study, we believe this text will contribute to clearer and easier orientation in the criteria required for such works.
Stanislava Mandzáková, Dagmar Marková
CONTENT
PART ONE CHARACTERISTICS AND BASIC PARTS OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
INTRODUCTION 1 SIGNIFICANCE AND POSITION OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK IN STUDENT PREPARATION 1.1 DEFINITION OF BASIC CONCEPTS 1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 1.3 PROJECTING THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 1.3.1 Project of the final and qualification work
2 FRONT PART OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.1 COVER OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.2 TITLE PAGE OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.3 ERRATA IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.4 ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS IN THE STATE AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.5 STATEMENT OF INTEGRITY IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.6 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.7 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND LIST OF TABLES IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 2.8 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
3 CORE PART/MAIN TEXT OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 3.1 INTRODUCTION OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 3.2 CREATION OF THE THEORETICAL PART OF THE WORK FROM CONTENT, LOGICAL, LINGUISTIC, AND FORMAL PERSPECTIVES 3.2.1 Content of the main chapters of the theoretical part of the final and qualification work 3.2.2 Linguistic and logical aspects of text writing 3.2.3 Working with literature 3.2.4 Presenting quotations and paraphrases 3.2.5 Most frequent mistakes in using obtained data and quotations 3.3 EMPIRICAL PART OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 3.4 CONCLUSION OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 3.5 LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 3.5.1 Examples of presenting references in the list of bibliographic references 3.5.2 Notes on presenting references in the list of bibliographic references
4 FINAL PART OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 4.1 APPENDICES IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 4.2 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
PART TWO SELECTED FORMAL ASPECTS OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
5 FORMAL ASPECTS OF WRITING THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 5.1 SIZE AND FORMAT OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 5.2 MARGIN SETUP IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 5.3 FONT – TYPE, SPACING, INDENTATION, AND SIZE 5.4 PAGE NUMBERING 5.5 NUMBERING PARTS OF THE WORK AND (SUB)SECTIONS 5.6 NUMBERING OF IMAGES, TABLES, AND HISTOGRAMS 5.7 NUMBERING IN APPENDICES 5.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR BINDING AND SUBMISSION OF THE WORK AND SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE
PART THREE SELECTED METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
6 RESEARCH PART OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 6.1 DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 6.1.1 Criteria for formulating a research problem 6.1.2 Examples of research problems 6.1.3 Most common mistakes in formulating research problems 6.2 GOAL AND TASKS OF THE RESEARCH 6.3 FORMULATION OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESES 6.3.1 Basic criteria for formulating research hypotheses 6.3.2 Examples of research hypotheses 6.3.3 Most common shortcomings in hypothesis formulations 6.3.4 Variables in research and their operationalization 6.4 DETERMINING METHODS, TOOLS, AND SPECIFIC METHODOLOGY OF DATA COLLECTION 6.5 MATHEMATICALLY-STATISTICAL PROCESSING OF RESEARCH DATA 6.6 TIME PLAN AND RESEARCH SCHEDULE 6.7 SELECTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCH SAMPLE 6.8 RESEARCH RESULTS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION 6.8.1 Tables and graphic representations of research results 6.8.2 Discussion 6.9 RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE 6.10 RESEARCH CONCLUSION
PART FOUR EVALUATION AND DEFENSE OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
7 EVALUATION OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 7.1 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 7.2 MOST FREQUENT DEFICIENCIES IN THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK 7.3 ORIENTING CRITERIA FOR ADEQUATELY CONCEIVED FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
8 DEFENSE OF THE FINAL AND QUALIFICATION WORK
PART FIVE SELECTED CONTENT AND FORMAL ASPECTS OF A SEMINAR PAPER
9 WRITING A SEMINAR PAPER 9.1 EDITING A SEMINAR PAPER 9.2 FORMAL PAGE OF A SEMINAR PAPER 9.3 CONTENT OF A SEMINAR PAPER
Details: MANDZÁKOVÁ, S., MARKOVÁ, D. 2012. Content-formal and methodological aspects of final and qualification works: Methodology of writing bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, rigorous, attestation and seminar papers. Prešov : Vydavateľstvo Prešovskej univerzity, 2012. p. 188. ISBN 978-80-555-0525-1.