Master Thesis & Capstone Project Handbook€¦ · (Dunleavy, 1986, p. 110). This thesis / capstone project handbook represents the first point of reference for obtaining information

Master Thesis & Capstone Project

Handbook

Prepared by the thesis handbook committee

Version 4

July 2015

Master Thesis& Capstone Project

Handbook

ii

DEDICATION

This handbook is dedicated to all IUBH graduates and the successful completion of

their theses & project.


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The thesis & project handbook committee appreciates all the contributions and

feedback which were received from the various IUBH departments and which helped

improve this handbook considerably.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication ................................................................................................................. ii

Acknowledgement .................................................................................................... iii

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... iv

1. Introduction – What is a Master Thesis & Capstone Project………………….1

2. Overall Process .................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Finding a topic for a thesis / project ............................................................... 2

2.1.1 Researching available sources for a possible topic .................................... 2

2.1.2 Writing an outline ...................................................................................... 2

2.2 Finding a supervisor ....................................................................................... 2

2.3 Supervision process ........................................................................................ 3

3. Registering for the thesis / project ....................................................................... 5

3.1 Who is eligible to register? ............................................................................ 5

3.2 Registration Forms ......................................................................................... 5

4. Formal Requirements .......................................................................................... 6

4.1 Style Rules ..................................................................................................... 6

4.1.1 Minimum Number of Pages ....................................................................... 6

4.1.2 Font, Line Spacing, Type of Paper, and Page Numbering ......................... 6

4.1.3 Binding ....................................................................................................... 7

4.2 Layout of Thesis / Project Paper .................................................................... 7

4.2.1 Introduction (includes the order of thesis / project) ................................... 7

4.2.2 Title (Cover) Page ...................................................................................... 8

4.2.3 Acknowledgment (optional) ...................................................................... 8

4.2.4 Abstract ...................................................................................................... 8

4.2.5 Table of Contents ....................................................................................... 8

4.2.6 Lists of Tables/Figures, List of Abbreviations, Glossary .......................... 9

4.2.7 Reference and Citation Style ..................................................................... 9

4.2.8 Main Body of the Thesis / Project ............................................................. 9

4.2.9 Appendices ............................................................................................... 10

4.2.10 Declaration of Authenticity.................................................................... 10

4.3 Deadlines ...................................................................................................... 10

4.4 Intellectual Property and Circulation of the Thesis / Project ......................... 11

4.5 Cheating and Plagiarism .............................................................................. 11

5. Grading of Thesis / Project ................................................................................ 13


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6. Colloquium Requirements & Capstone Presentation ........................................ 14

6.1 Presentation .................................................................................................... 14

6.2 Critical Discussion ......................................................................................... 14

Works Cited ............................................................................................................. 15

Appendeces: Sample Pages ..................................................................................... 16

Appendix A: Sample Proposal ............................................................................. 16

Appendix B: Sample Title Page ........................................................................... 19


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1. INTRODUCTION – WHAT IS A THESIS / A CAPSTONE

PROJECT

The thesis / capstone project provides students in master & MBA programs with

the opportunity “to demonstrate some originality in identifying a topic or a line of

argument and to follow up their insight with a more systematic piece of research work”

(Dunleavy, 1986, p. 110).

This thesis / capstone project handbook represents the first point of reference for obtaining

information on writing final thesis / capstone project at the International University of

Applied Sciences Bad Honnef Bonn.

A thesis / capstone project is a piece of academic research that includes both,

theory and application. It involves thorough academic investigation of a topic relevant to

the respective academic field. Such a substantial piece of work can only be successfully

completed if (1) you are really interested in your topic, (2) you are prepared to become an

expert on your topic, and

(3) you are 100% committed to your research project.

The results of your research should contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

There are no IUBH restrictions concerning the research philosophy, research approach,

research strategy, research design and/or data collection method as these heavily depend on

your topic and the way you are addressing your research question.


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2. OVERALL PROCESS

This chapter outlines the overall process regarding the identification of an

appropriate topic, writing an outline, finding a supervisor, and the supervision process.

2.1 Finding a topic for a thesis / capstone project

You should choose a topic for your thesis / capstone project you are really

interested in. Finding a topic is one of the – if not the – most challenging steps during

preparing and writing a thesis. After identifying a topic, you should document your

intended approach to the research problem in an outline.

2.1.1 Researching available sources for a possible topic

Please have in mind that finding an adequate topic is not a matter of few hours.

You have to spend some time on that activity. Therefore, you should start as soon as

possible to look for potential topics for your thesis / capstone project and put aside

time for that activity.

Interesting ideas and concepts you have encountered in lectures or problems you

faced during prior internships or other work experience might be suited for being

researched within your thesis / capstone project. In addition, you can contact any of the

lecturers to get ideas for a topic.

Once you have a first idea about a possible topic you should do research by looking

for and reviewing current publications (journal articles and books). The library offers both

books and databases that contain many academic resources (e.g., EBSCO). Based upon a

first literature review you should specify your topic by writing an outline.

2.1.2 Writing an outline

An outline should give an overview of your thesis / capstone project topic. Usually

an outline consists of two (2) to three (3) pages. It should contain (1) a working title for

your topic, (2) a section outlining the motivation why this topic is relevant and suited for a

thesis / capstone project, (3) the objectives of your thesis / capstone project, (4) the

research methodology you plan to apply (e.g., a questionnaire-based survey1, a case study).

An outline not only helps you to clarify and specify your idea. In addition, it facilitates

finding a suited supervisor for your thesis / capstone project.

2.2 Finding a supervisor

With the outline you should contact a supervisor. An updated list with all possible

supervisors is available in CARE (Administration/ Examination Office / Thesis

Information/ Thesis Supervisors). The professor you are going to contact should have his

or her specialization in a field that is related to your topic. For instance, if you have

outlined a


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1 see section 2.4 for details on the available queSTat online suvery tool


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topic such as “The challenges of brand management for freight forwarders” you should

contact a professor specializing in marketing. Another example: if you have outlined a

topic “Controllership under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – how the

adoption of IFRS affects controllers’ tasks,” you should contact a professor of accounting.

The professor you have contacted from the list of possible supervisors will decide

(1) whether the topic falls within his/her research expertise. If not, he or she will

recommend colleagues who might be better suited for supervising your topic. (2)

Furthermore, the professor has to decide whether he or she has still capacities left for

supervising a thesis / capstone project. If not, he or she will recommend colleagues

you might contact.

In case you have contacted at least four (4) professors from the list of possible

supervisors and you have not been accepted by any of them, you should contact the pro-

rector teaching quality ([email protected]). Send her an outline and a list with the

four (4) or more professors you have contacted and spoken to (including the dates of your

meetings). The pro-rector will help you individually to find a supervisor.

Once you have found a topic and a supervisor you must register in accordance with

chapter 3.

2.3 Supervision process

Before registration, the professor has already supervised you in terms of helping

you to specify your topic and the elements of the outline. After registration, supervising in

general consists of (1) giving you feedback on the table of contents and (2) by answering

your questions that might arise while writing your thesis / capstone project. The formal

requirements you have to follow are specified in chapter 4. By setting up preliminary

tables of contents based upon your research you further specify your thesis / capstone

project. The supervisor will give you feedback on the tables of contents you are handing in.

If you have any questions concerning your thesis / capstone project, set up a meeting with

your supervisor. However, you should collect a number of questions before contacting

your supervisor.

How many times you are going to meet with your supervisor and any further

specific terms of the supervision process – except for those stated in this handbook – are to

be specified by your supervisor.

mailto:[email protected]


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2.4 Data Collection

As indicated in the introduction, there are no university limitations on data

collection methods applied. For those interested in conducting research online, the tool

queSTat offers a convenient way to conduct an online survey – either internally at IUBH or

externally. A small co-payment is charged for the use of the tool and implementation

support. It is highly recommended that you contact Andreas Kensik

([email protected]) for details on queSTat in case you plan on doing a large scale

survey.

3. REGISTERING FOR THE THESIS / CAPSTONE PROJECT.

In order to register for a thesis / capstone project, the student has to find a

supervisor. A list of all supervisors available can be found in CARE. Together with the

supervisor, the concrete topic of the thesis / capstone project needs to be decided on.

Students may propose topics. On the other hand supervisors also offer different topics for

thesis / capstone project on a regular basis via the intranet or CARE.

3.1 Who is eligible to register?

Master degree students are allowed to enroll for their thesis if they fulfill the

requirements according to § 16 of the Master-Study Regulations– published on

CARE.

MBA (IB-60 & IB-90) are allowed to enroll for their project, if they fulfill the

requirements according §3 of the MBA Study and Examination Regulations –

published on CARE.

3.2 Registration Forms

Students will find all forms necessary for enrolment in CARE. Form 1 is the

official enrolment form. Be sure to use the form for Master-Degree / MBA students.

With Form 2 students must declare their legal eligibility for writing the thesis /

capstone project.

Form 3 states the topic of the thesis / capstone project and the date, when the paper has to

be turned in. This form must be co-signed by the supervisor. Also the examination office

has to co-sign this form in order to confirm that the student is eligible for registering for

the thesis / capstone project.

All forms must be turned in at the examination office.

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Master Thesis & Capstone Project Handbook

4. FORMAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Style Rules

4.1.1 Minimum Number of Pages

The main body of the text of the thesis must be 80 A4 pages. The main body of the

capstone project must be: IB-60 = 40 A4 pages & IB-90 = 60 A4 pages. Students are

permitted to exceed or decrease the page limit by a maximum of 10%. Any thesis /

capstone project which does not adhere to this requirement may not be read beyond the

limit by the supervisor and may be marked lower in the evaluation.

The first page for counting the page limit is the Introduction page. The Table of

Contents, Acknowledgement Page, List of Tables, List of Abbreviations, Abstract,

References, and Appendices will not be counted toward the page limit. Please see chapter

4.1.2 for information on how to number such pages.

4.1.2 Font, Line Spacing, Type of Paper, and Page Numbering

The thesis / capstone project must be typed using Times New Roman 12 point or a similar serif font

3 cm 2.5 cm on A4 size white paper. A sans serif font (like Arial 11 point) is encouraged for tables,

graphs, etc. for the purpose of clarity. The margins must be exactly 3 cm on the left, and

2.5 cm on the right, top, and bottom. Line spacing must be set at 1.5. Left or block align all

text. Only titles should be centered.

The Introduction page shall be the first page numbered in Arabic numerals, starting

with “1.” The preliminary pages (Table of Contents, Acknowledgement Page, List of

Tables, List of Abbreviations, and Abstract) shall be numbered in lower case Roman

numerals, leaving the title page blank (ii, iii, iv, etc.). The body of the thesis / capstone

project shall be numbered in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.). Page numbers continue

through the appendix. The preferred location for page numbers is centered at the bottom of

the page. However, the student’s supervisor may consent to an alternate location for page

numbers.

A header and/or footer of a maximum of one line are permitted on the thesis / capstone

project.

According to APA style, the header may include the title of the thesis / capstone project or

if the title is too long, a shorter version of the title (American Psychological Association,

2007, p. 288). The header typically does not identify the author. However, the content of

the header and footer may be exchanged.

On rare occasions the student’s supervisors may choose a different font, line

spacing, alignment, or page numbering. In such circumstances the students should follow

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the supervisor’s specific instructions.

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4.1.3 Binding

All students are required to bind in hardback two (2) copies of the thesis / capstone project.

All two

(2) copies will be submitted to the exam office. The exam office will forward the two (2)

copies to the first supervisor. In addition, the student must submit to the exam office, the

completed thesis / capstone project on three (3) CD’s as an MS Word and as a .pdf

document. One (1) CD will be forwarded to the library; the other two (2) CD’s should

be affixed to the two (2) copies of the thesis / capstone project. In some cases your

supervisor may decide on different requirements with respect to number of copies/ CDs

to be handed in – these exceptions will be marked on form No. 3. Irrespective of these

different requirements, the exam office must always receive a CD of the thesis / capstone

project.

In the event a student has been instructed not to share the thesis / capstone project data,

usually by a private organization, the student is still required to submit two (2) hardbound

copies of the thesis / capstone project and three (3) CD’s; however, the CD will not be

forwarded to the library for publication. In order for this paragraph to apply the student

must submit to the exam office, a signed copy of the lock flag form available in CARE.

Once this form has been received by the exam office the thesis / capstone project will be

flagged as “confidential” and it will not be released for viewing by other students or the

general public. The form has to be handed in together with the thesis / capstone project at

the latest. The cooperation partner may also use a letter on company letterhead requesting

confidentiality of the data; however, this letter must include paragraph 3 of the lock flag

form published in CARE (agreement to upload the thesis / capstone project in Turnitin).

4.2 Layout of Thesis / Capstone Project

4.2.1 Introduction (includes the order of thesis / capstone project)

In order to retain consistency of thesis / capstone project submission, the following order

of text shall be applied on all thesis / capstone projects:

Title (Cover) Page

Dedication (optional)

Acknowledgment (optional)

Abstract

Table of Contents

List of Tables/ Figures (optional)

List of Abbreviations (optional)

Main Body of Thesis / Capstone Project

References

Appendices

Glossary (optional)

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Declaration of Authenticity

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On rare occasions the student’s supervisors may choose a different order of text. In

such circumstances the students should follow the supervisor’s specific instructions.

4.2.2 Title (Cover) Page

The title page is the first written page seen by the reader. Other than the items listed

below, nothing else should be on the title page. It must include the following:

Full name of the university (no abbreviations, even if logo is used).

Name of degree program (no abbreviations)

The title of the thesis / capstone project

Your name

Student identification number

Your address

Name of your first supervisor

Date of submission

See Appendix 2 for a sample title page.

4.2.3 Acknowledgment (optional)

The acknowledgement page is used to thank those who have been of particular

assistance to you in the completion of the thesis / capstone project. You are not required to

include an acknowledgment page; however, should you wish to include one please note

the following recommendations. Remember that your thesis / capstone project is a

published document that will remain in existence for a very long time. Therefore, chose

who you thank carefully. Traditionally, students will thank their parents, their supervisor,

data providers such as industry partners or interview sources, and proofreaders. Your

thesis / capstone project is a reflection of your hard work at the university and the

acknowledgement page should not become a running list of all of your friends. Except

under rare circumstances, the acknowledgment page should not exceed one page (this

section may be single spaced).

4.2.4 Abstract

The abstract is usually one paragraph which summarizes the main aims, findings,

and conclusions of the thesis / capstone project. It should be approximately 200 words and

should not exceed one page.

It is recommended, although not required, that keywords be written under the

abstract paragraph. Keywords are three to seven words that let the reader know the topic of

the thesis / capstone project.

4.2.5 Table of Contents

The Table of Contents section should show each chapter and chapter subheading

along with the corresponding page number. It is not necessary to include all sub-

subheadings. The decision of what to include and how much detail shall be included under

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the Table of Contents will be taken by the student’s supervisor. In general it is

recommended to avoid more than two levels of subheadings for your thesis / capstone

project. For example, too many subchapters such as 2.3.4.5.1. are discouraged. The

chapter and subchapter titles shall be numbered accordingly in the text.

4.2.6 Lists of Tables/Figures, List of Abbreviations, Glossary

The List of Tables, List of Abbreviations, and Glossary sections are intended to

assist the reader in finding pertinent additional information. They are optional.

Traditionally, the List of Tables / Figures and List of Abbreviations are listed in the front

of the thesis, while the Glossary is listed at the end of the thesis / capstone project after

the Appendices. For page numbering of these sections, please see 4.1.2.

4.2.7 Reference and Citation Style

It is recommended that students use APA style unless directed to do so differently

by the student’s supervisor.

4.2.8 Main Body of the Thesis

The following is intended to show the usual content of the main body section of a

thesis / capstone project. Changes to the following order may be accepted upon approval

by the student’s supervisor:

Introduction (usually called chapter 1)

Literature Review (usually called chapter 2)

Research Methods/ Methodology (usually called chapter 3)

Research Findings (usually called chapter 4)

Conclusion (often called chapter 5)

Recommendations / Limitations (may be separate or combined with chapter 5)

The Introduction should include the overall rationale for the topic, a clear outline of

the aim and objectives of the thesis / capstone project as well as an overview of the

structure of the thesis / capstone project.

The Literature Review should include a critical reflection of the literature relevant

for your topic. Relevant literature should at least include the respective text books and

articles out of the relevant academic journals. It is up to the student to decide on the

structure of the literature review and on the titles of the respective chapters. It is not

required to include a chapter that is explicitly named “Literature Review”.

The thesis / capstone project should contain a chapter that outlines the applied

research methods.

Please refer to the relevant literature (e.g., Saunders, Lewis, & Thronhill, 2003; Churchill,

Brown & Suter, 2010) for a detailed description of relevant research methodologies.

At least one chapter should be dedicated to a critical reflection of your research results. It is

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essential to clearly link your research findings to the relevant literature that has been

appraised in the literature review (please also refer to the evaluation criteria outlined in the

chapter “Grading”).

Finally, you should draw conclusions out of your research and derive

recommendations as well as list any limitations such research encountered.

4.2.9 Appendices

The Appendix section is used to present information which is too detailed to

include in the thesis / capstone project and/or information that is interesting but not

essential to the main thrust of the thesis / capstone project, such as an original copy of the

questionnaire, large tables, and scanned materials. Generally, it is not necessary to

transcribe and include all of the interview transcripts or all of the questionnaire responses

in case of fully structured interviews/ questionnaires. Often, in case of (unstructured) in-

depth interviews it is recommended to include transcripts. It is up to the student’s

supervisor to decide if the supervisor desires that the interview responses be transcribed

and included in the Appendix. Generally, questionnaires, transcripts or other information

in the appendix that originally is in other languages than English can be included in the

original language, however, the student’s supervisor may choose to ask the student to

transcribe the appendices into English.

Each Appendix shall be labeled as an Appendix and given a letter. For example:

Appendix A, Appendix B. The Appendix pages shall be numbered but not counted in the

80-page (master thesis), 40-page (IB-60), 60-pages (IB-90) page limit (see 4.1.1).

4.2.10 Declaration of Authenticity

The Declaration of Authenticity, which can be found in CARE, is required to be

included as an original signed page in each hardbound copy of the thesis / capstone

project. Any thesis / capstone project which does not include this form will not be read

or graded.

4.3 Deadlines

The master thesis students will have twenty-two (22) weeks, MBA students IB-60

will have eleven (11) weeks, MBA students IB-90 will have twenty-two (22) weeks from

the date of signature of his/her supervisor on form 3 to submit the completed thesis /

capstone project to the examination office. The submission must be done by the close of

business on such deadline date. If the day of submission (e.g., July 9th

) is a holiday, a

weekend day or anything alike the thesis / capstone project has to be handed in the next

working day after the deadline. Exceptions to the deadlines will not be accepted due to the

student’s miscalculation.

Please refer to section 1.2 of this handbook for registration requirements. In very

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rare exceptions, the deadline for submission of the thesis may be extended. Generally, an

extension of up to four (4) weeks (for master students & MBA IB-90 students), two (2)

weeks (for MBA IB-60 students) may be granted to the student. In the event of extreme

situations, such as a serious illness or injury, the two / four week extension may be

further extended. The time period for this second additional extension will be decided on

a case by case basis by the examination board based on the severity and extent of the

student’s injury or situation.

Any extension must be requested by the student, in writing, on Form 5 available in

CARE before the original thesis / capstone project submission due date. Such form must

be signed by the student’s supervisor and submitted by the student to the chairperson of the

examination board. It is up to the chairperson of the examination board to decide whether

it will grant any extension of time for the thesis / capstone project submission. If the

extension is not granted the student must adhere to the initial deadline. In case of failure to

submit the thesis / capstone project in time the student will fail the thesis / capstone

project.

In the event of any extension of the deadline for submission of the final thesis /

capstone project, the student will remain responsible for the payment of the relevant

university fees in accordance with the decision by the examination board.

4.4 Intellectual Property and Circulation of the Thesis / Capstone Project

All thesis / capstone projects are the intellectual property of the International

University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef Bonn. Before publishing your thesis /

capstone project or parts of it you are required to obtain the University’s written

approval.

If you cooperate with a company or any other experts you may provide them with a

copy of your thesis / capstone project if your supervisor agrees.

If your cooperation partner insists on confidentiality of the data provided or of your

thesis / capstone project as a whole you need the written confirmation of the partner to

receive a lock flag for your thesis / capstone project (please refer to section 4.1.3

“Binding”; the lock flag form is available in CARE).

4.5 Cheating and Plagiarism

Academic dishonesty is a serious offense against the academic community.

Therefore, cheating and plagiarism is strictly forbidden in any part of the academic

education including the thesis project / capstone project.

Cheating and plagiarism includes:

Submitting the same thesis paper / capstone project paper in more than one

study program, course, or institution

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Cheating on exams, including colloquium / presentations. This includes

referring to notes, books, laptop computers, or other programmable

electronic devices without prior authorization. The use of mobile phones

during colloquium is also forbidden.

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Any form of plagiarism, especially failure in the thesis / project to acknowledge

ideas taken from others and the submission of work prepared by another

person. This includes total or partial reproduction of a text by an author without

indication of the correct reference or unauthorized assistance by others.

Academic dishonesty results in the student failing the thesis / project. Additionally, the

incident will be noted in the student’s file. If the offense is repeated the student will be

expelled from University. Though academic dishonesty may escape direct observation at

the time, it can be detected by coincidences of language, argumentation or result, either

with textbooks, or with other students’ work or results. If academic dishonesty is detected

after the mark has been issued, the student will fail the thesis / project and any credits that

he/she has received for the thesis / project will be revoked.

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5. GRADING OF THESIS / CAPSTONE PROJECT

A thesis / capstone project will be graded on a number of criteria. Most

commonly, supervisors will consider three main areas in their evaluation. These are a)

content, b) style, and c) formal requirements. A brief description of possible evaluation

criteria in each area follows:

a) The content element of the thesis evaluation will account for approximately

80% of the final grade; supervisors may consider such criteria as

clarity of your research question and the establishing of appropriate research

objectives

comprehensive nature of the review of literature

command of concepts and definitions

degree to which a praxis approach (theory-informed practice) was followed

quality of source materials

soundness of applied research methods

degree of independent evaluation and/or original contribution

distinctiveness of applications, conclusions, and recommendations

b) The style element of the thesis / capstone project evaluation will account for

approximately 10 % of the final grade; supervisors may consider criteria such

as

language (precision, clarity, orthography, grammatical correctness)

soundness of the argument

structure and flow

scientific (objective) writing style

length appropriate to section

c) The formal requirements element of the thesis / capstone project evaluation

will account for approximately 10 % of the final grade; supervisors may

consider criteria such as

accordance with formatting requirements of this handbook and APA or

other agreed-upon referencing and formatting style

alignment of sections/outline with the general requirements

overall presentation (binding, condition of manuscript)

other formal requirements such as page numbering, inclusion of abstract

and, etc.

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6. COLLOQUIUM / CAPSTONE PRESENTATION

REQUIREMENTS

The colloquium / capstone presentation should be held after both the supervisor

and second corrector have concluded their reviews and within a period of ca. ten (10)

weeks from the submission of the thesis / capstone project. Students must enroll in the

colloquium / capstone presentation by submitting Form 4 to the examination office at the

day of the colloquium / capstone presentation before the colloquium / capstone

presentation takes place.

Students will receive an invitation specifying a date and time for colloquium / capstone

presentation. A student must not participate in a colloquium / capstone presentation if

not all of the requirements have been met, especially if not all modules have been

passed. At the beginning of the colloquium / capstone presentation, the student must

indicate s/he is in good health and able to commence with the colloquium / capstone

presentation procedures outlined below.

6.1 Colloquium / Capstone Presentation

Colloquium Presentation / Capstone Presentation usually starts with a student

presentation of the research project and findings. This presentation should illustrate the

entire research process from the origin of the research question to final recommendation in

rather broad strokes. The time frame for the presentation is 10-15 minutes so that only

selected findings may be discussed in greater detail.

Supervisors may require a particular presentation format and technology, such as a

PowerPoint presentation and/or handouts. As a general rule, the structure and means of the

presentation should be appropriate to the topic addressed. There are no universal guidelines

regarding the number of slides or the number of pages in a handout. As a rule of thumb,

someone not closely familiar with the research project (such as a future employer) should

understand the project after the ten-minute presentation.

6.2 Critical Discussion

During the following 30 minutes, the supervisor along with the second corrector

will ask questions that arose out of the printed version of the research or the colloquium /

capstone presentation. They may ask for clarification on methods, sources, findings, etc. In

addition, questions may be asked with the aim to verify the student’s knowledge of the

subject matter or the authenticity of the work.

Good luck with your thesis / capstone project!

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WORKS CITED

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (5th

ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological

Association.

Churchill, G.A., Brown, T.J. & Suter, T.A. (2010) Basic marketing research (7th

ed.).

Mason: South-Western UP

Dunleavy, P. (1986). Studying for a degree in the humanities and social sciences.

Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan

Saunders M., Lewis, P., & Thronhill A. (2003) Research methods for business students.

Essex: Pearson Education

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APPENDECES: SAMPLE PAGES

Appendix A: Sample Proposal

University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef · Bonn

Proposal (MM/YYYY)

Name: N.N. Supervisor: N.N.

Study Program: …

Working title: An analysis of the impact of “traffic light” food labelling on snack

food manufacturers

Overall Aim: This study aims at examining the food marketing tool of traffic light

labelling, analyse consumer perception of the tool and identify its

possible impact on snack food manufacturers.

Objectives:

1) To review relevant literature concerning general concepts in the area of

food marketing, consumer perception as well as food labelling.

2) To critically analyse consumer perception concerning food labelling.

3) To analyse German consumers' and snack food manufacturers’ opinion

regarding the traffic light labelling system.

4) To develop a set of recommendations for food companies and

governments that addresses critical impacts of traffic light food labelling

and identifies possible alternatives to traffic light food labelling

Methodology:A quantitative approach will be used by conducting a survey

amongst German students who will be the future families. A

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convenience sample being all students of the International

University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef Bonn will be selected.

Further one–to–one qualitative interviews will be conducted with a

selected group of snack food manufacturers (n=4) to gain a wider

understanding of the impacts of traffic light food labelling on

industry participants.

Structure: …

Indicative Reading List:

Ahmed, A., Ahmed, N. and Salman, A. (2005). 'Critical issues in packaged food

business.' British Food Journal. Vol. 107, No. 10, pp. 760-780.

Baltas, G. (2001), 'Nutrition labelling: issues and policies'. European Journal of

Marketing.Vol. 35, No. 5/6, pp. 708-721.

Batra, R., Myers, J.G. and Aaker, D.A. (1996). Advertising Management. Prentice

Hall: Upper Saddle River.

Bhaskaran, S., Polonsky, M. Cary, J. and Fernandez, S. (2006). 'Environmentally

sustainable food productiona and marketing. Opportunity or hype?'. British

Food Journal. Vol. 108, No. 8, pp. 677-690.

Bussel, G. (2005). 'Nutritional profiling vs guideline daily amounts as a means of

helping consumers make appropriate food choices.' Nutrition & Food

Science. Vol. 35, No. 5, pp. 337-343.

Davies, M.A.P. And Wright, L.T. (1994). 'The importance of labelling examined in

food marketing'. European Journal of Marketing.Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 57-67.

Humphries, C. (1998). 'A code of practice for food labelling.' Nutrition & Food

Science. No. 4, July/August, pp. 193-197.

Jamieson, B. (1996). 'Retailing – getting it right'. Nutrition & Food Science. No. 4,

July/August, pp. 14-18.

Jones, P., Comfort, D. and Hillier, D. (2006). 'Healthy eating and the UK's major

food retailers: a case study in corporate social responsibility.' British Food

Journal. Vol. 108, No. 10, pp. 838-848.

Kotler, P., Wong, V., Saunders, J. and Armstrong, G. (2005). Principles of

Marketing. (4th European ed.). Pearson Education: Harlow.

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Handbook

Marshall, S., Bower, J.A. and Schröder, M.J.A. (2007). 'Consumer understanding

of UK salt intake advice'. British Food Journal. Vol. 109, No.3, pp. 233-245.

Peter, J.P. and Olson, J.C. (2002). Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy.

(6th ed.). McGraw-Hill: New York.

Schiffman, L.G. and Kanuk, L.L. (2004). Consumer Behavior. Pearson Education:

Upper Saddle River.

Shine, A., O'Reilly, S. and O'Sullivan, K. (1997). 'Consumer use of nutrition

labels.' British Food Journal. Vol. 99, No. 8, pp. 290-296.

Tenbült, P. , De Vries, N.. Dreezens, E. and Martijn, C. (2007). 'Categorizing

genetically modified food products. Effects of labelling on information

processing'. British Food Journal.Vol. 109, No. 4, pp. 305-314.

Turner, A. (1995). 'Prepackaged food labelling: past, present and future.' British

Food Journal. Vol. 97, No. 5, pp. 23-31.

Wandel, M. (1997). 'Food labelling from a consumer perspective'. British Food

Journal. Vol. 99, No. 6, pp. 212-219.

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Handbook

Appendix B: Sample Title Page Master Thesis

Master Thesis

International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef · Bonn

International Management

Networking within the Bad Honnef Community

Michaela Schmidt

Student ID: 9051234

Beethovenstraße 50

12345 Bonn

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Krämer

Date of submission: June 1, 2010

6


Handbook

Appendix B: Sample Title Page Capstone Project

Capstone Project

International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef · Bonn

International Business Management

Networking within the Bad Honnef Community

Michaela Schmidt

Student ID: 9051234

Beethovenstraße 50

12345 Bonn

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Krämer

Date of submission: June 1, 2010

Documents

Master Thesis & Capstone Project Handbook€¦ · (Dunleavy, 1986, p. 110). This thesis / capstone project handbook represents the first point of reference for obtaining information