The typical length of a MS project is 10 pages double-spaced, with the following elements.
- ABSTRACT: A brief summary (100 - 250 words ) of research appears at the front. This should state the purpose of research and its main findings.
- INTRODUCTION: Describe the purpose of research, and possibly the previous work the research builds on, including:
- justifying why the research needed.
- summarizing the literature on previous work in this area.
- listing the objectives of the study.
- METHODS: Describe the conduct of the study, including how the data were collected, analyzed, etc, including:
- General study design (was it an experiment, a case-control, or cohort study, etc.)
- Description of the Study Participants or Objects: the study population, sampling frame, criteria for inclusion and exclusion, and the method for selecting study subjects.
- DATA COLLECTION: Describe variables, measurement techniques, and validity/reliability of instruments. One could also describe quality control procedures and/or methods used to minimize loss of information.
- STATISTICAL METHODS: A brief description of the statistical tests and software used to do the analysis.
- RESULTS: For studies involving people the results are often presented in the following order.
- Descriptive data: study population described according to demographic/socio-economic variables such as age, income, education, health status, etc.
- Crude (unadjusted) measures of Association: Relative risks from 2x2 tables, coefficients from univariate models, comparisons of group means by t-tests, etc.
- Stratified analyses and Simple Methods of Adjustment: For example, separate relative risks, t-tests, etc. by racial group.
- More complicated analyses with multivariate models: linear regression, logistic regression, proportional hazards, etc.
Analogous presentations of results would be made for other types of studies.
- DISCUSSION This section interprets the results and explains the implications and limitations. Often (but not always) this involves the following in this order:
- A brief summary of the findings.
- A short review of the literature, contrasting with the study findings [May not be Necessary for Most Masters Projects]
- Discussion of strengths and limitations of the study.
- Implications for policy. What impact could these findings have on the way things are done now? [May not be Necessary for Most Masters Projects]
- Suggestions for future studies. Could shortcomings of this study be improved on in future research. [May not be Necessary for Most Masters Projects]
- CITED REFERENCES
- TABLES [Usually any Masters Report of Data Analysis will have at least one table of important results]
- FIGURES [May or may not be Helpful for a Masters]
- APPENDIX [OPTIONAL] Students may want to attach a copy of the computer program used to do the data analysis.