Academic

Year
2021/2022

BFIN 43418/ BINS

43728/ BBAN
43718/BBFE 43638
Dissertation
Student Guide

Department of Finance
Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies
University of Kelaniya
Academic Year 2021/2022

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 Contents
1. Structure of Dissertation ........................................................................................................ 2
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2
2. Structure of Dissertation .................................................................................................... 2
2. Content of Chapters ................................................................................................................. 3
1. Chapter 1: Introduction (Approximately 1,000 + words) ............................................ 3
2. Chapter 2: Review of Literature (Approximately 3,000 + words)............................... 3
3. Chapter 3: Research Methodology (Approximately 1,000 + words) .......................... 4
4. Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion (Approximately 4,000 + words) ........................ 4
5. Chapter 5: Conclusion (Approximately 1,000 + words)................................................ 5
3. References ................................................................................................................................. 6
4. In-text citation: Referencing sources within the text (follow APA guide ..................... 13
5. Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 13
6. General Guidelines ................................................................................................................. 13

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 1. Structure of Dissertation
1. Introduction

This student guide is intended to assist the undergraduates of Department of Finance in the
preparation of their final year dissertation. Students are advised to refer closed to this guide and
should seek clarification from his/ her supervisor on specific matters relating to the preparation
of their dissertation.

2. Structure of Dissertation

A dissertation is mainly consisting with three main parts: preliminary pages; main body and
supporting pages as follows.

------------------------------------------------------PART I----------------------------------------------------------
Title Page ( Cover Page) : (Refer the example given in page 13)

Title Page
Certificate of Declaration: (Refer the example given in page 14)
Recommendation (Refer the example given in page 15)
Acknowledgements
Dedication (optional)

Abstract: 250-300 words including brief introduction, objectives,

methodology, major findings and conclusions with 5
keywords (refer the example given in page 16)

Table of Contents: Headings , Sub headings etc

List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations

------------------------------------------------------PART II---------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Review of Literature

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

Chapter 4: Results and Discussion

Chapter 5: Conclusion
------------------------------------------------------PART III--------------------------------------------------------
References

Appendixes

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 2. Content of Chapters

1. Chapter 1: Introduction (Approximately 1,000 + words)

Purpose of this chapter is to introduce your research project to the reader. Begin with a macro
perspective of the topic and gradually narrow it down and focus on your research topic. Need to
maintain the logical flow of information depending on the nature and complexity of the research
you may introduce appropriate sub-titles and sub -sub titles.

1.1. Introduction (Discuss brief introduction including description of background of

the study)
1.2. Research problem identification and justification
1.3. Problem statement
1.4. Research Questions
1.5. Research Objectives
1.6. Significance of the study
1.7. Chapter Organization

2. Chapter 2: Review of Literature (Approximately 3,000 + words)

A review of the literature you have found on your subject, with particular emphasis on theories
and debates on the subject. This will place your project into a broader academic content and may
give you a theory or hypothesis that you wish to test in your empirical research.

The literature review thus describes and analyses previous research on the topic. This chapter,
however, should not merely string together what other researchers have found Rather, you
should discuss and analyse the body of knowledge with the ultimate goal of determining what is
known and is not known about the topic. This determination leads to your research questions
and/or hypotheses.

This chapter may include

2.1. Theoretical Review

2.2. Empirical review
2.3. Context

Use a balance mix of text books, journal articles, proceedings of

seminars/symposium/conference etc., to enhance the quality of your review. Literature should
cover all relevant aspects of the research.

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You are supposed to write a summary of this chapter at the end and list the gaps identify through
review. (You can add summary table as an appendix)

3. Chapter 3: Research Methodology (Approximately 1,000 + words)

Under this chapter you should include a review of the methods you used to carry out your
research with a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses, types of data collection and
methods of data analysis. Although this section varies depending on method and analysis
technique chosen, many of the following areas typically are addressed:

You should discuss,

3.1. Introduction
3.2. Research Design (Research philosophy, research logic and research approach)
3.3. Conceptual framework and operationalization
3.4. Population and Sample Selection (description of population and description of
sample and justification for type of sample used or method for selecting units of
observation, sample size, sampling method)
3.5. Data collection method
Quantitative/ Qualitative/ Primary/ Secondary
Ex: Design of Questionnaires/interviews/ observation/ focus groups or any other
sources
3.6. Pre-test/ pilot study - Pre Testing, reliability and validity of instrument or method
(if any).
3.7. Analysis of Data (description of data analysis statistical analysis and tests
performed
3.8. Ethical consideration
3.9. Hypotheses development (if any)
3.10. Chapter summary

4. Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion (Approximately 4,000 + words)

This chapter addresses the findings from your data analysis and discussion.

4.1. Introduction
4.2. Findings
You may include
• If you have conducted survey, focus groups or interviews, it is often appropriate
to provide a brief descriptive (e.g. demographic) profile of the participants. In

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 some cases, this analysis also includes information from field notes or other
interpretative data (e.g., company data/ information).
• Descriptive or exploratory/confirmatory analyses (e.g., reliability tests, factor
analysis) that were conducted.
• Tests of hypotheses (if any) (ANOVAs, cross tabulations, correlations)
• Descriptions, narratives, quotations, case studies, (if any)
4.3. Discussion
Under this section you should discuss what your findings mean in relation to empirical,
theoretical body of knowledge on the topic. Tables and/or figures should be used to
illustrate and summarize all numeric information.
4.4. Chapter Summary

5. Chapter 5: Conclusion (Approximately 1,000 + words)

Briefly summaries your research in this chapter and provide conclusion purely based on your
findings. Provide recommendations if appropriate and write a small paragraph on direction for
further research.

5.1. A Summary of the entire research (one, two pages)

5.2. Conclusion
5.3. Implication
5.4. Recommendations
5.5. Limitations
5.6. Suggestions for future research

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 3. References

Use APA (American Psychological Association) style and references cited in the report should
tally with entries of the reference.

Follow the APA 7th Guide given below.

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 APA Style 7th edition
IMPORTANT NOTE: This Library Guide has been produced in single space in order to minimize paper
use. Please remember thatwhen you produce your own APA documents, all text and
references must be double-spaced.

• The American Psychological Association (APA) style, as presented in this handout, is widely accepted in
the Social Sciences.
• The APA citation format requires citation within the text rather than endnotes or footnotes.
• In-text citations usually include the name of the author and the date of publication, to lead the reader to the
listing found in the “References” section, which is placed at the end of the research paper.
• Complete information about each source cited in the text is supplied in the “References” list.

Based on the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: American
Psychological Association. There is a copy in the Reference Collection (Ref. 150.149 Am35) and at the Service
Desk on reserve. Ask a librarian if you need assistance. For more information also go to https://apastyle.apa.org/

Citing in Your Paper (In-Text Citation)

In the text of a research paper, if the author’s name is part of the narrative, include only the year of publication
in the parentheses.

According to Smith (1998), APA style is an easy citation format for first-time learners.

APA style is an easy citation format for first-time learners (Smith, 1998).

If citing a particular page or chapter of a document, include that information in the parentheses.

APA style is an easy citation format for first-time learners (Smith, 1998, p. 203)

At the end of the paper, in a section called “References,” full citations are listed in alphabetical order.

Smith, P. (1998). Learning to cite using APA Style. Journal of College Writing, 6, 60513.

Author Type Parenthetical citation Narrative citation

One author (Gonzalez, 2019) Gonzalez (2019)
Two authors (Gonzalez & Jones, 2019) Gonzalez and Jones (2019)
Three or more authors (Gonzalez et al., 2019) Gonzalez et. al. (2019)
Group author with abbreviation:
(American Psychological American Psychological
First citation Association [APA], 2020) Association (APA, 2020)

Subsequent citations (APA, 2020) APA (2020)

Group author without abbreviation (University of California, 2020) University of California (2020)
No author (“New drug,” 1993)
Use an abbreviated version of the
title.
Citations in Text with no page numbers:

If citing a particular part of a document which has no page numbers, include the paragraph (para.) or section
heading with the number of the paragraph.

Use paragraph number or section heading with the number of the paragraph.

(Myers, 2000, para. 5)

(Beutler, 2000, Conclusion section, para.1)

Citation of a work discussed in another (secondary) source:

In general it is expected that you seek out and use the original source of the information. However, this is not always
practical. To cite a secondary source, do the following.

In the Text:

Seidenberg and McClelland’s study (as cited in Coltheart, Curtis, Atkins, & Haller, 1993)

Note: You will list the Coltheart reference in the reference list.

Creating a Reference List at the End of Your Paper

Remember: All references in your list must be double-spaced, both between references and within
references, with a hanging indent of ½ inch for references with more than one line.

Books and eBooks

Books:

By a Single Author

Author(s) last name,

first and middle initial Title (in italics) Publisher name

Kimmel, M. S. (2007). The gendered society. Oxford University Press.

Year of publication

By Two or More Authors

DiFonzo, N., & Bordia, P. (2007). Rumor psychology: Social and organizational approaches. American
Psychological Association.

By a Corporate (Group) Author

American Sociological Association. (1975). Approaches to the study of social structure. Free Press.

Edited Book

Rhodewalt, F. (Ed.). (2008). Personality and social behavior. Psychology Press.

No Author

The universal declaration of human rights. (1974). U.S. Catholic Conference, Division of Latin
America.

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Ebooks:

With a doi

Gillam, T. (2018). Creativity, wellbeing and mental health practice. Wiley Blackwell.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74884-9

Without a doi (Cite the same as a print book)

Lauwers, J., Opsomer, J. & Schwall, H. (Eds.). (2018). Psychology and the classics: a dialogue of
disciplines. De Gruyter.
From a website:

Sanger, M. (2000). Woman and the new race. Bartleby.com. http://www.bartleby.com/1013/ (Original
work published 1920).

Chapters in Books

Levi-Strauss, C. (1971). Totem and caste. In F. E. Katz (Ed.), Contemporary sociological theory (pp. 82-
89). Random House.

Article, entry, or chapter from an online reference book (encyclopedia, dictionary, handbook):

Online with a doi:

Watkins, M. (2013). Mind-body problem. In H. Pashler (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the mind. SAGE.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452257044.n191

Online with no doi:

Shevell, S. K. (2000). Color vision. In A. E. Kasdin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychology (Vol.2, pp.182-186).
Oxford University Press.

ERIC Documents

Evans, V. (2016). An Evaluation of CHAMPS for classroom management (ED581571). ERIC.

https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED581571

Journal Articles

Author Last name, Initial Year of publication Article Title Journal Title

Klimonske, R., & Palmer, S. (1993). The ADA and the hiring process in organizations. Consulting Psychology

Journal: Practice and Research, 45(2), 10-36. https://doi.org/10.1037/1061-4087.45.2.10

Volume (issue), page numbers Digital object identifier (doi)

Article without DOI or in print:

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 Scroggins, W. A., Thomas, S .L., & Morris, J. A. (2008). Psychological testing in personnel selection, Part
II: The refinement of methods and standards in employee selection. Public Personnel
Management, 37(2), 185-199.

Two or more authors (up to 20 authors)

Klimonske, R., & Palmer, S. (1993). The ADA and the hiring process in organizations. Consulting
Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 45(2), 10-36. doi:10.1037/1061-4087.45.2.10

Note: If an article has 21 authors or more, list the first 19 authors, then insert an ellipsis (…) and then the last name
and first initials of the last author.

Wolchik, S. A., West, S. G., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J., Coatsworth, D., Lengua, L., Johnson, A., Ito, H.,
Ramirez, J., Jones, H., Anderson, P., Winkle, S., Short, A., Bergen, W., Wentworth, J., Ramos, P.,
Woo, L., Martin, B., Josephs, M., … Brown, Z. (2005). Study of the brain. Psychology Journal
32(1), 1-15. doi:10.1037/1061-4087.45.1.11

Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Newspaper Article

Online:

From a database (note: do not include database URL or name)

Article Author
Last name, Publication
first initial Date Article Title Newspaper

Cieply, M. (2013, November 11). Gun violence in American movies is rising, study finds. New York Times.

From a website, with no author:

It’s subpoena time. (2007, June 8). New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/08/opinion/08fri1.html

Print:

Jones, S. (1997, October 19). Hit-and-run suspect commits suicide. New York Times, p. 17.

Magazine Article:

From a database or print:

Kluger, J. (2010, November 1). Keeping young minds healthy. Time, 176(18), 40-50.

From a website:

Heid, M. (2015, August 12). You asked: Why do I blush so much? Time. http://time.com/3992760/blush-
blushing/

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Web sites

Author Date Title Website

Sparks, Dana. (2018, September 12). Mayo mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness exercises. Mayo Clinic.

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-mindfulness-practicing-mindfulness-

exercises/?_ga=2.227613661.1775696215.1573761139-250852419.1573761139

URL

Organization name as author (Group author):

National Institutes of Mental Health. (2015, May). Anxiety disorders.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.s

Note: when the author and the name of the website are the same, you don’t need to list it as the name of the
website.

No author, no date:

What is psychology? (n.d). BestPsychologyDegrees.com. https://www.bestpsychologydegrees.com/what-is-

psychology/

Notes:
• Only include a retrieval date if the information on the page is designed to change over time.
• If you cite multiple webpages from a single website, you should create a separate reference for each
webpage. If you want to mention a website in its entirety, just mention it in your text with the URL in
parentheses; don’t include it in your references.

Blog posts:

Selingo, J. (2014, June 22). Reimagining the undergraduate experience: 4 provocative ideas. Next.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/next/2014/06/22/reimagining-the-undergraduate-experience-4-
provocative-ideas/

Other Sources
Test Reviews
Online
Newmann, D. L., & Rust, J. O. (1989). [Review of the test A.S.S.E.T.S—A survey of students educational
talents and skills]. In J. C. Conoley & J. J. Kramer (Eds.), The tenth mental
measurements yearbook. Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print,.

Charts, Tables and Graphs

If you are reproducing a graphic, chart, or table, from some other source, you must provide a special note at the
bottom of the item that includes copyright information. If you are submitting your work for publication or if your
work is a dissertation or master’s thesis you should also submit written permission along with your work. If your
work is a paper submitted for course work, permission is not necessary. In either case, begin the citation with
“Note.”

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 Note. From “Experiences of peer aggression and parental attachment are correlated in adolescence,” by R.M.
Earl and N.R. Burns, 2009, Personality and Individual Differences, 47, p. 751. Copyright 2009 by
the authors. Reprinted with permission.

If permission is not sought, substitute “Permission not sought” in place of “Reprinted with permission.”

Video
DVD or VHS:

Staveley-Taylor, H. (Director). (2006). Introduction to designing experiments [Film; DVD]. Uniview

Worldwide; Cambridge Educational.

Streaming Online:

From a database:

BBC (Producer). (2014). Living with autism. [Film; Streaming Video]. Films on Demand.

From a website:

Lancaster, B. (Presenter). (2018, Jun 22). Behavioral treatments for ADHD [Video]. Michigan Medicine.
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUgs8N_-nlo

Dissertations or Theses

Electronic copy of a thesis or dissertation from a database:

Rockey, R. (2008). An observational study of pre-service teachers’ classroom management strategies

(Publication No. 3303545) [Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania]. ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses Global.

Electronic copy of a thesis or dissertation from an online archive or repository:

Gerena, C. (2015). Positive Thinking in Dance: The Benefits of Positive Self-Talk Practice in Conjunction
with Somatic Exercises for Collegiate Dancers [Master’s thesis, University of California Irvine].
University of California, eScholarship. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1t39b6g3

Personal Communications:
Personal communications such as Emails, lectures, or conversations should be cited as personal communications in
the text only (not in the reference list) in the following format:

R. J. Smith (personal communication, August 15, 2015)

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 4. In-text citation: Referencing sources within the text (follow APA
guide

Throughout the text of your paper you need to acknowledge the sources used in your writing.
Whenever you present a statement of evidence such as a quote, or when you use someone else's
ideas, opinions or theories in your own words (paraphrasing), you must acknowledge your
sources.

How you cite a working within your document varies depending on your writing style, whether
you are quoting your source directly, and the type of source you are quoting.

5. Appendices

Number appendices (e.g. Appendix 1) and refer to appendices appropriate locations in the text.
Relevant appendices include evidence of research instruments use such as questionnaire or
interview schedule, letter to participants, statistical tables, company information, computer
programs developed, etc.

For an example;

Appendix 1- Summary literature Review table,

Appendix 2 – Questionnaire

6. General Guidelines
1. Margins
When typing the original manuscript, stay well within these margin guides: left, 1.5 inches (this
margin is extra-wide because of the binding process); right, 1 inch; top, 1 inch; bottom, 1 inch.

2. Pagination.
Page numbers should appear centred at the bottom of the page. Every sheet of paper in the
manuscript should be numbered except title page. (But is counted as the first page). Lower case
Roman numerals are used for preliminary details. Since the title page is counted but not
numbered, "ii" is the first number appeared and that should appear on the page after the title.
Arabic numerals are used for all other manuscript pages. Begin with page number 1.

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3. Spacing
Double space, Times New Roman, Font 12. Leave a Single space after each punctuation mark and
two spaces after a full stop.

4. Other formatting guidelines

4.1. Quote marks – e.g. “This ........................... ”.
4.2. Headings – Levels
Level 1 (Font Size 14), Should be bold
Level 2 and 3 (Font Size 12), Should be bold
4.3. Tables, Figures. Graphs, Chart etc.

A blank page should be included at the end of the manuscript. Binding Colour of the cover (Black)

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5. Submission
Number of Copies: 2 Hard Copies and 1 Soft Copy (CD)

CD should include
i. Abstract (250-300 words) word file
ii. MS WORD format and PDF format of thesis
iii. Database (i.e. excel files, data analysis outputs)
iv. 15 – 20 research paper including research title, student name, student number and
supervisor’s name. Its chapters should include abstract, introduction, review of literature,
methodology, data analysis and findings, conclusions and required list of references.

6. Plagiarism
The Department regards plagiarism as a very serious issue. In submitting assessed written work
it is important to beware of plagiarism, which is the unacknowledged use of other people’s
material. The department regards this as cheating and it can have serious consequences, even if
it is unintentional. To avoid any misunderstanding, always put quotations from other authors
within quotation marks and give full references to every source you use, even if you are not
quoting directly from it. Module lectures will be happy to give you advice if you are worried about
plagiarizing unintentionally.

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Sample Cover Page Example (Arial 14)
PERFORMANCE OF MICRO FINANCE INSTITITUTIONS IN SRI

LANKA

A DISSERTATION
Submitted to the
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
FACULTY OF COMMERCE AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES

In partial fulfilment of requirements of the

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT HONOURS

IN INSURANCE

December 2022

Lakmal Perera - BM/2017/000

Department of Finance

University of Kelaniya
Sri Lanka

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 Certificate of Declaration

I [Name of the student] declare that this dissertation title “[Title of the dissertation]” is entirely
my own work and has not previously been submitted for a degree in any university. To the best
of my knowledge and belief, the dissertation contains no material previously published or
written by another person except where due reference is made in the dissertation itself.

………………………………….

Name :

Student Number :

Date :

Countersigned

Supervisors Name :

Signature :

Date :

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 Recommendation

Hereby I recommend that the dissertation on “[Title of the dissertation]” by [Student

Name (Student Number)] prepared under my supervision can be accepted in partial fulfilment
of the requirements of the [Name of the degree programme].

…………………..

(Signature)

Supervisor’s Name :

Date :

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