Graduate center for

Management
Faculty of Management

MANUAL FOR MBA

PROJECT WRITING

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Prepared by MMU-GCM
GUIDELINES FOR MBA RESEARCH

1. INTRODUCTION

MBA students are required to take this module. They will gain 12 credits or 30 points
under this module. Therefore, it affects the CGPA. Hence, it is the critical module in
MBA Programme.

2. OPPORTUNITIES

This module enables MBA students to develop interest and enhance their expertise in the
area which they have profound implications in their later endeavours.

Therefore, it is not only an academic requirement but also:

• An opportunity for authentic, inexpensive consultancy service for a sponsoring
organisation;
• The change can provides a beneficial impact to employ the MBA graduates

Simple advice from The GCM – make the most out of it.

3. OBJECTIVES

The aim of this module is to provide the opportunity to conduct an extended systematic
enquiry under supervision into a business area where the MBA students are interested in.
More specifically,

• Consolidation of the skills and competencies acquired in MBA;

• Experience the application of analytical skills in the practical business situations

To success in the course, MBA students have to demonstrate two broad abilities: analyses and
syntheses, in ways appropriate to choose and solve the research problems. This requires the
students to extract and dissect the essential elements of the situation and to integrate information
and opinions through the framework of the researcher's own judgements and viewpoints. These
abilities must be demonstrated at a level of sophistication at least equivalent to that expected in
other graduate papers.

4. COURSE DESCRIPTION

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 The key features of the project work under this course is, the MBA students have to
conduct a research in their sponsoring organisation. Sponsoring organisation proposes to
solve a problem it faced in the specialised area. The report should suggest a course
action, the need for which has been identified during the course of the research.

It might be no 'problem' to be solved in the beginning of the research. You might have no
idea if the problems exist in the organisation where you are conducting the research
unless you are asked to deal with one or you look for one.

On the other hand, the research may concern not with diagnosing or solving the
problems, but with the feasibility of establishing new or proposed products, services,
approaches or new ventures. It may, in other words, require you to be involved in
research for which there is not present basic or precedents to serve as a set of guidelines.
Whatever is in the project you to undertake, you must make sure it contributes to
knowledge.

5. THEORY VERSUS PRACTISE IN RESEARCH

From what has been written above you may gain the impression that there are two
distinct "types" of research for both theoretical and practical. All research embodies
elements of theoretical and practical application.

6. INVOLVEMENT

Project should be carried out individually. A project conducted for candidate's sponsoring
organisation has the advantage of:

• Putting something back into the organisation;

• Being able to relate (on the job) to the people and information
• The project experience may directly contribute to the candidates present or
potential career aspirations.

7. DEADLINES

There are four key deadlines to meet - the initial proposal, the first meeting with
supervisor, the submission of the final draft, the submission of the final report.

At the commencement of the research effort, the deadlines will be set, between
supervisor and students.

8. RESEARCH PROPOSALS

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 The first steps in the process of developing the research report is to identify a topic- what
is that you or your organisation would like focus on.
Typical research topics would include:

• A strategic plan for an existing or new organisation

• A business plan for a new venture (separate from any business plan required for
others papers)
• A piece of market research
• Developing and implementing a new product or service
• Identifying, analysing and then solving a significant organisational problem
• Introduction of quality management programmes
• Attitude surveys of customers, staff or clients
• Cultural audit and cultural changes

Note: Any research proposal must be approved by the GCM, Faculty of Management,
Multimedia University

9. SUPERVISION

The course objectives are to identify the personal supervision of one senior Multimedia
University academic staff, who is referred to as the Chief Supervisor. And where
necessary and appropriate, a co-supervisor may also be appointed to supervise the
student's project. The Chief Supervisor has an overall and continuing responsibility for a
project and co-ordinates the relationship between the individual / group and the
supervisor and the agency hosting the research. The chief supervisor has an overall and
continuing responsibility for a project and co-ordinates the relationship between the
individual/ group and the supervisor and the agency hosting the research. The chief
supervisor acts as the examiner of the final report. The co-supervisor is invited to submit
a grade, which is taking into account of the letter in determining, by the final grade by the
Dean in the consultation of the MBA co-ordinator. In exceptional circumstances, a senior
staff member from other universities may be appointed as a research supervisor.

Since supervisor is the key ingredient in this course, it is important for you to identify
two supervisors as soon as possible. The procedures are as follows:

• You will be provided with a list of staff members in the university who are
available for project supervision.
• You might, if you wish, suggest two staff members from the list provided to have
the areas of expertise nearest report topic.
• Complete the proposed topic and supervision proforma as per Appendix 1 and
send it to the MBA co-ordinator not later than the last day or line scheduled Business
Policy section.

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 • On the receipt of the Research Report proposal, the MBA co-ordinator will:
• Approve the topic or amend it and will contact with you for further
information.

Please note the following:

∗ There is a limit to the number of Research Report topics any individual staff member
can adequately supervise at any time.

∗ Should a supervisor suggested by a student is not available, another supervisor

considered suitable will be proposed by the GCM, Faculty of Management,
Multimedia University

∗ The final decision on supervision will be made by the GCM, Faculty of

Management, Multimedia University

TEN STEPS IN MANAGING A STUDENT PROJECT

1. Select the area, which you are interested in or the area which, you can handle it and
competent. Begin the task of encapsulating your topic in one simple question. Your task
of encapsulating your topic in one simple question. Your task in the project will be to
answer to that question fully.

2. Check with your supervisors that the area you have chosen is suitable. Negotiate what is
required for acceptance of the finished report. That is, what are the normal expectations
about the research activity, which will answer the question, you are asking yourself. What
is the appropriate length for the kind of assignment you have set yourself? What are the
constraints applying to the project (e.g. time, scope of what do you want to do, costs, etc).
Do bear in mind that you must be able to complete the project with the time available.

3. Narrow your area of interest to a specific topic. Finalise the specific research question
you intend to answer. There should be inherently one major question in each research
project. Projects lacking this one question often from problems of definition and focus.
(However, finalising this specific question does not prevent you from later changing the
direction of your project as you progress with it, in response to new or unforeseen
developments).

4. Write an initial research plan of the approach you will follow in answering your question.
Get your supervisor to comment on this.

5. Survey the literature relevant to your topic. Remember it is a rare piece of research which
has no antecedents or which takes place in isolation. You should try to see your project in
relationship to what are the probably numerous other similar studies that have been
carried our before. Find information that helps you to understand how your study fits into
the literature of the area.

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 If you are through in your research you will almost certainly find that there is more than
one literature of relevance to what you want to do. However, for the purposes of this
paper you need show familiarity with only one.
Remember that literature searching takes time, and assuming you are using the Malaysian
Library at a distance, give their staff plenty of time to help you find the material you
need. Recall too that if you have to obtain books or journal articles from elsewhere using
MMU library inter-loan network, each request can take several weeks.

6. Now that you have some idea of other, similar projects, re-think your approach in the
light of what you have learned. If necessary, rewrite your research plan and show it to
your supervisors. Think again about the validity (and practicalities) of what you have
planned. Can your questions in fact be answered by a research project of this nature? Are
your really able to do it with the time available?

7. If your answer to these questions is yes, now is the time to rewrite your research plan in
more detail and send it to your supervisor for comment.

8. Once your plan is approved, start to work on the project itself. Often it is helpful to create
schedule of the activities you have to complete and the time you available. Estimate how
long each activity will take, add another 50% as a safety margin, and allocate time to
each item accordingly.

9. Prepare a draft outline of the sections of the report. As you do the research, try to write
parts of each these sections as you go. This helps you to keep an overview of the entire
project and avoid getting to wrap up in any one aspect to the detriment of whole.

10. As soon as it is clear how the final report is going to look, send a draft copy of it to your
supervisors for comments. Make corrections and changes as required. Complete the
report and send it in, in final typed form.

MBA FINAL YEAR PROJECT PROCEDURES

Listed below are the procedures for the final year project. Kindly follow the steps as below:

Step 1 Step 2
Complete Research and Consult a lecturer and
Case Methodology draft out the proposal.
(BRM7154)

Step 3 Step 4

Submit your MBA Final Wait for the Letter of

Project Pre-registration Recommendation from
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form to GCM. FOM R&D Committee.
 Step 5 Step 6

You may start to work Complete all 13 modules

on your project with the with minimum CGPA of
topic and supervisor 3.00
recommended by the
FOM R&D Committee.

Step 7 Step 8

Submit MBA Final Wait for the Approval

Project Registration form Letter
with a copy of Letter of
Recommendation to
GCM for Senate’s
approval.

Step 9 Step 10

Submit your final year

Proceed with final project to GCM together
tuning, English checking with the following
and binding. documents:
1. Completed Project
Submission Form.
2. Copy of the Approval
Letter of proposal.
3. 3 bound copies of the
thesis and 2 C.D.s

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* Kindly contact GCM for further information.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESEARCH PROJECT

Number of Copies
A student is required to submit the research project in the following format: three bound copies,
two diskettes to the Faculty Assistant Director. All research projects must be submitted within
the deadline given by the course coordinator.

Language of Research Project

All Research Projects must be prepared in English

Typeface and Font Size

Typeface to be used is Times New Roman. The same typeface should be used throughout the
thesis. Font size of 12 point should be used for the main body of the text, which should not be
script or italic. A laser or other high quality printer is recommended.

Paper
High quality bong paper A4 size, 80b/m2 must be used for all the submitted copies. The paper
should be white in colour, acid free and "non-erasable" kind.

Corrections
Corrections of typographical errors, or changes in the text, figures or tables, must be made as
cleanly and invisibly as possible. Correction fluid cannot be used. Corrections should be made on
the original before recopying or reprinting the problem page.

Margins and Spacing

The margin on the document must measure according to the below specifications:
i) top - 20 mm
ii) Left - 40 mm
iii) Bottom - 40 mm
iv) Right - 25 mm

Text should be typed, one and a half-spaced, on one side of the paper only. All information
excluding page numbers must be within the text area. All typing, print, illustrations, etc should
be on one side of the paper only.

Abstract and bibliography should be typed, one and a half-spaced, and be double-space between
entries.

Pagination

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Page numbers are to be placed at least 15 mm from the edge of the page at the bottom centre of
the page.

Every page except the title must be numbered. Title page is "I" but is not numbered.

Preliminary pages are to be numbered in lower case Roman numerals (ii, iii, iv etc); the text page
ate to be numbered in Arabic numerals and all pages must be numbered consecutively and
continuously, irrespective of volumes.

Covers and Binding

The Research Project should be bound in colour light blue (CODE: 547).

Typeface to be used is Times New Roman

Font size to be used for:
Front Cover of the Thesis (Appendix A)
Title of thesis: 18 and should be in uppercase
Name of candidate, degree awarded and year of thesis submission: 18 should be in uppercase.
Direction of lettering - run from the top of spine

Photographs
Photographs should be black and white whenever possible possible. Pages containing
photographs should be numbered as regular pages. When photopgraphs are to be used, they are
to be scanned. Using tape, glue or any type of adhesive to insert photographs is not acceptable.
Pages with photographs should be copied on a colour photocopier.

Non-paper formats
Labels for diskette include
i. Author's name
ii. Degree date
iii. Copyright notice
iv. Operating system
v. Density
vi. Hardware required (if appropriate)

* All disks should be write-protected

RESEARCH PROJECT PREPARATION

Format
The Research Project should have three sections: the preliminary pages or the front matter, the
text or the body matter, and the references or back matter.

The PRELIMINARY PAGES include:

a. Blank page
b. Title page

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c. Copyright Page
d. Declaration
e. Acknowledgements
f. Dedication
g. Abstract
h. Table of Contents
i. List of Tables
j. List of Figures, Illustration, etc
k. Preface

The TEXT should normally be divided into chapters such as:

a. Introduction
b. Review of Literature
c. Method of Investigation
d. Analysis of Data
e. Discussions and Conclusions

The REFERENCES consists of:

a. Appendices
b. References
c. Glossary
d. Notes
e. Index
f. Bibliography
g. Blank page

The various pages in a thesis should normally be arranged in the following manner:
a. Blank page
b. Title page (Counted as lower-case Roman numeral "i" but not numbered)
c. Copyright page (always numbered lower-case Roman numberal "i")
d. Declaration (numbered consecutively with a Roman numeral)
e. Acknowledgements (if any; numbered consecutively with a Roman numeral)
f. Dedication (if any; numbered consecutively with a Roman numeral)
g. Abstract (numbered consecutively with a Roman numeral)
h. Table of Contents (if any; numbered consecutively with Roman numeral)
i. List of Tables (if any; numbered consecutively with Roman numeral)
j. List of Figures (if any; numbered consecutively with Roman numeral(s))
k. Preface (if any; numbered consecutively with Roman numeral(s))
l. Text (including introduction; first page always numbered with Arabic numeral "1"; pages
numbered consecutively)
m. Appendices (if any; Arabic numerals, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)
n. References (Arabic numerals, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)
o. Glossary (Arabic numerals, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)
p. Notes (If any; Arabic numerals, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)
q. Index (If any; Arabic numeral, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)
r. Bibliography (Arabic numerals, pages numbered consecutively with rest of text)

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s. Blank page

PRELIMINARY PAGES
Title Page
The form and contents of the title page must follow the format of the example given in Appendix
C. Title should be capitalised. The month and year cited on the title page are the month and year
of Research Project submission. The title page is counted as page "i", however, the number is not
printed.

Declaration
Please refer to the format (Appendix D)

Acknowledgement (if any)

This is a brief acknowledgement of assistance given to the author in researching and writing the
thesis. Its page is numbered with a consecutive lower-case Roman numeral. Typeface to be used
is Times New Roman and the font size is 12.

Dedication (if any)

Typeface to be used is Times New Roman and the font sizr is 12.

Abstract
This is a summary of the thesis, which will state the problem, the methods of investigation and
the general conclusion. An abstract should be approximately 300 words. Line spacing is one and
a half spacing. Double spacing for the next paragraph. Typeface to be used is Times New Roman
and the font size is 12.

Table of Contents
This must include entries for preliminary pages (copyright, abstract, dedication,
acknowledgement, lists of tables and figures, and preface), text (main divisions and subdivisions
of the thesis), appendices, notes, references and index. Typeface to be used is Times New Roman
and the font size is 12. (Appendix F)

List of Figures
Figures (i.e graphs, photographs and other illustrative material) are to be listed on a separate
page. Number, title and page are to be given. Figures must be numbered in Arabic numerals
consecutively. (Fig 1,2,3 or 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, etc) in order of appearance and captioned. Typeface to
be used is Times New Roman and the font size is 12. (Appendix G)

Preface
This is a brief explanatory statement of why the author came to study the subject of the thesis.
Typeface to be used is Times New Roman and the font size is 12.

Text
The first page of the text is always numbered Arabic numeral "1". Typeface to be used is Times
New Roman and the font size is 12. Text contains the chapters of the thesis, in logical order, and
should normally include:

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a) Introduction
b) This section should include background of the research, research questions, justification for
the research, methodology, outline of the thesis, definitions, scope and key assumptions, and
conclusion.
c) Methodology of Investigation
d) Data Analysis
e) Discussion and Conclusion

Table and Illustrations

A table and illustrations should be self-explanatory and complete in itself. Its form should be an
effective and concise arrangement of the data, centred in the space available. The table and
illustration should appear if mentioned in the text and only after they are mentioned. Every table
and illustration should have a title, which is brief, clear, complete and unique.

The title of a table and an illustration always appear above the table. If the table contains cited
data, acknowledgement is given in a source note using the words SOURCE followed by a colon.
If the style or data are rearranged, extended, or deleted, acknowledgement is given in a source
note using the words, ADAPTED FROM followed by a colon. The samples can be referred in
Appendix H.

REMINDER
The last paragraph of any should comprise at least two lines of text. Any heading appearing near
the bottom of a page should be followed by at least two lines of text. If this is not possible, the
heading and the line should be continued in the next page.

If the last paragraph of a page has to be continued on the next page, there must be at least two
lines of the text appearing on the next page.

Appendices
The pages should be numbered continuously with the rest of the text. Typeface to be used is
Times New Roman and the font size is 10 with one and half spacing. (Appendix I)

References
Every reference quoted or cited in the thesis must be included in the list of references and
numbered accordingly. References should be ordered alphabetically.
Citation style for references in text (Appendix J)
Citation style for reference in list (Appendix K)
Typeface to be used is Times New Roman and the font size is 10 with one and half spacing.

Glossary
The pages should be numbered continuously with the rest of the text. Typeface to be used is
Times New Roman and the font size is 10 with one and half spacing.

Notes

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The footnotes maybe numbered consecutively throughout the thesis, or throughout each chapter.
Typeface to be used is Times New Roman and the font size is 8.
Single spacing with a double spacing between entries.

Bibliography
The pages should be numbered continuously with the rest of the text. Typeface to be used is
Times New Roman and the font size is 10 with one and half spacing.
Appendix A: Sample of Front Cover of the Thesis

50 mm from the top of the page

45 mm from the left margin 45 mm from the right margin

EFFECTS OF CHILDREN ADVERTISING ON CHILDREN

AND PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN'S VIEWING
ENVIRONMENT
Title of Thesis
Typeface: Times New Roman
Font size : 18

IBRAHIM BIN ABDULLAH

Student's Name
Typeface : Times New Roman
Font size : 18

Degree awarded, Name of University and

month and year of project submission
Typeface : Times New Roman
Font size : 18

GCM, Multimedia University

 MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMNISTRATION
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT
MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY

AUGUST 2000
Appendix B : Sample of Spine

Name of candidate
Typeface: Times New Roman
Font Size: 14

Key word of the title

Typeface : Times New Roman
Font Size : 14

Month and Year of Graduation

Typeface: Times New Roman
Font Size: 14

Degree Awarded
Typeface: Times New Roman
Font Size: 14

IBRAHIM BIN ABDULLAH EFFECTS OF THE CHILDREN ADVERTISING MBA AUGUST 2000

20 mm from the end of the spine

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Appendix C: Sample of Title Page

50 mm from the top of the page

45 mm from the left margin 45 mm from the right margin

EFFECTS OF CHILDREN ADVERTISING ON CHILDREN

AND PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN'S VIEWING
ENVIRONMENT
Title of Thesis
Typeface: Times New Roman
Font size : 18

IBRAHIM BIN ABDULLAH

Student's Name
Typeface : Times New Roman
Font size : 18

Degree awarded, Name of University and

month and year of project submission
Typeface : Times New Roman
Font size : 18

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 MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMNISTRATION
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT
MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY

AUGUST 2000
Appendix D : Sample of Declaration Page

DECLARATION

Typeface: Times New Roman

Font Size : 12

I hereby declare that this BMP 6164 Research Project is my original work except for quotations,
statements, explanations and summaries, which I have ready mentioned their sources. No portion
of this Research Project has been submitted in support of any application for any other degree or
qualification of this or any other university or institute of learning.

Student's Signature : ___________________________ Date: _________________________

Student's Name : ______________________________ Student ID: ____________________

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Appendix E : Sample of Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENT Page

DECLARATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii

DEDICATION iv

ABSTRACT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES viii

PREFACE ix

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Television Advertising Industry in Malaysia 2
1.2 Rules and Regulation in Advertising
1.3 Effects of Children Advertising on Children and Parents
1.4 Advertising to Children - Ethnical Issues
1.5 Problem Statement
1.6 Objective of Study
1.7 Organisation of Research Project

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Effects of Television Advertising on Children
2.1.1 Child's Ability to Distinguish Commercials from TV Programmes
2.1.2 Child's Ability to Understand the Purpose of Advertising
2.1.3 Child's Ability to Differentiate Fantasy from Reality
2.1.4 Perception of Children on Advertised Products

2.2 Parental Role in Consumer Socialisation of Children

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CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Hypothesis of Study
3.3 Sampling Procedures
3.4 Sources of Data
3.4.1 Primary Data
3.4.2 Secondary Data
3.5 Data Collection

CHAPTER 4 DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 Demographic Profiles
4.2 Chi-square Analysis
4.2.1 Differentiate Commercials from TV Programmes
4.2.2 Differentiate Fantasy from Reality
4.2.3 Level of Understanding

4.3 Multiple Regression

4.3.1 Children's Liking to Watch Children Advertising

CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary and Conclusions
5.2 Recommendations

Appendices

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Appendix F: List of Tables

TABLE PAGE
1. Children's Profile
2. Parents and Demographic Factors
3. Age By Level of Understanding

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Appendix G : List of Figures

FIGURE PAGE
1. Gross Income for Television and Radio Stations
2. The Effects of Advertising to Children

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Appendix H : Sample of Table and Illustration
Table 1: Age by the influence of children advertising on buying an advertised product

Table 2: Hoyt Reliability Coefficients

Concept Reliability Coefficient

Computer .56
Punched Cards .80
Statistics .71
Desk Calculator .34

SOURCE: Cyril Hoyt, "Test Reliability Estimated by Analysis of Variance", Psychometrika 60

(Apr 1997): 153- 200

Figure 1: The Effects of Advertising on Children

Attitude
Product
Brand
Producer
Seller
Advertisement
Advertising
Advertising Child

Influence on
parents
Behaviour Purchase influence

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ADAPTED FROM : McNeal ju (1992) Kids as Customers , A Handbook of Marketing to
children, Maxwell Macmillan Canada, Toronto
Appendix I: List of Appendices

1. Sample of Questionnaire to Parents

2. Sample of Questionnaire to Children

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Appendix J: Citation Style for References in Text

The American Psychological Association (APA) reference citation in text is used to provide
information for readers to locates the source of information listed in the alphabetical selected
bibliography or references at the end of dissertation or thesis.

DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
One work by one author

• Use the surname of the author (do not

include suffixes such as Jr.) and the year of Kenneth (1996 0 compared reactions times)
publication (includes month and year) for
citing in text. In a recent study or reaction times (Kenneth,
1996)
• If the author and year are given as part of
the textual discussion, exclude In 1996 Kenneth compared
parenthetical information

• Within a paragraph, do not include the year In a recent study of reaction times, Kenneth
in subsequent references if the study cannot (1996) described the method also found.
be confused with other studies cited.

One work by two or more authors

• When a work has two authors, always cite
both names in text.
• When a work has more than two authors,
cite all authors the first time the reference
occurs; in subsequent citations, include
only the surname of the first author
followed by "et al"…(give a period after
"al") and the year
• In exceptional case, cite the surnames of
the first author. And of as many of the
subsequent authors as necessary to
distinguish the two references followed by
Smith and Strumb (1997) considered
Williams, Smith, Brandner, Zappulla, Rosen
and Rock (1994) found [first citation in text]
William et al (1994) found
William et al. Found [omit year from
subsequent citations after citation within a
paragraph]
Bradley, Ramiraz, Soo (1994) and Bradley,
Soo et al (1994) reported that [the two
references are: Bradley, B.T., Ramiraz, G.,

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 a common and "et al". Soo, T.K,. Ramiraz, G., & Brown, N.K (1994)]

• Join the names in a multiple-author citation as John and Smith (1997) demonstrated
in running text by the word and, use as
ampersand (&) for parenthetical material, as has been shown (Williams & Kenneth,
in tables and captions, and in the reference 1989)
list
Works with anonymous author
• When a work's author is designated as (Anonymous 1993)
"Anonymous", cited in text the world
Anonymous followed by a comma and the
date.

In the reference list, an anonymous is

alphabetised by the world Anonymous.

Author with the same surnames
• Include the authors' initials in all text
citations to avoid confusion, even if the
year of publication differs.
Two or more works within the same surnames
• Arrange two or more works by the same
author in the same order by year of
publication. Place in-press citations last.
Give the author's surnames once; for each
subsequent work, give only the date
P.D. Luce (1989) and R.A. Luce (1990) also
found
P.D. Luce et al. (1984) and D.O. Dykes (1980)
studied
Past research (Edeline & Weinberger, 1994,
1995)
Past research (Gogel, 1984, 1990, in press)

• Identify works by the same authors (or by Several studies (Farrel & Hammond, 1987,
the same or two or more authors in the 1990, in-press-a, in press-b)
same order)with the same publication date
by the suffixes a,b,c and so forth after the Several studies (Johnson, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c;
year; repeat the year. The suffixes are Singh, 1983, in press-a, in press-b)
assigned in the reference list, where
references are ordered alphabetically by the
title.

• List two or more works by different authors Several studies (Balda, 1980, Kamil, 1988;
who are cited whithin the same parentheses Pepperberg & Funk, 1990)
in alphabetical order by the first author's
surname. Separate the citations by
semicolons.

Specific parts of a source

• To cite a specific part of a source, indicate (cheek & Buss, 1981, p.332)
the page, chapter, figure, table, or equation

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 at the appropriate point in text. Always (Shimamura, 1989, chap. 3)
give page numbers for quotations, and
abbreviated the words page (p.) and chapter
(chap.) in test citations.

Personal communications
• These are letters, memos, some electronic
communication (e.g. email, discussion
groups, message from electronic bulletin L.A. Schaie (personal communication, April
broads), telephone conversations, and the 18, 1999)
like.
As the do not provide recoverable data, (V-G. Nguyen, personal communication,
they are not included in the reference list. September 28, 1993)
They are cited in text only. Give the initials
as well as the surname of the
communicator, an provide as a exact a data
as possible.

Citations in parenthetical material

• In a citation that appears in parenthetical (see Table 2 of Hashtroudi, Chrosniak, &
text, use commas (not brackets) to set off Schwartz, 1991, for complete data)
date

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Appendix K: Citation Style for Reference List

The APA (American Psychological Association) reference style is used which includes the
following categories: periodicals, books brochures, book chapters, technical and research reports,
proceedings of meetings and symposia, doctoral dissertations and master thesis, unpublished
work, reviews, audio-visual media, and electronic media.

A reference list cites works that specifically support a particular article. The reference list must
be double-spaced, and entries should start with a paragraph indent; entries will then by typeset
with hanging indents.

Accepted abbreviations in the reference list for parts of books and other publications are:

DESCRIPTION ABBREVIATION
Chapter Chap.
Edition Ed.
Revised edition Rev. ed.
Second edition 2nd ed.
Editor (Editors) Ed. (Eds.)
Translator (s) Trans.
No date n.d.
Page (pages) p. (pp.)
Volume (as in Vol.4) Vol.
Volumes (as in 4 vols) Vols.
Number No.
Part Pt.
Technical Report Tech. Rep.
Supplement Suppl.

Order of reference in the reference list

Alphabetising names
Arrange entries in alphabetical order the surname of the first author, using the following rules for
special cases:

• Alphabetize letter by letter

• Alphabetize the prefixes M', Mc, and Mac literally, not as if they were all spelled Mac
• Surnames that use articles and prepositions (de, la, du, von, etc. 0 are alphabetized according
to different rules for different languages

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• Alphabetize entries with numerals as if the numerals were spelled out.

Order of several works by same first author

Use the following rule to arrange the entries

• Single author entries by the same authors are arranged by year of publication, the earliest first
Kim, K.S (1991)
Kim, K.S. (1994)

• Single author entries precede multiple authors entries

Kaufman, J.r (1991)
Kaufman, J.r, & Wong, D

• References with the same first author and different second or third authors
Kaufman, J.R., Jones,K., & Cochran, D.F. (1982)
Kaufman, J.R., & Jones,K. (1980)

• References with the same surname are arranged alphabetically by the first initial
Eliot, A.C (1983)
Eliot, G.R (1990)

• References with the same author (or by the same two or more authors in the same order) with
the same publication date are arranged alphabetically by the title (excluding A or The) that
follows the date

Exception: If the reference with the same authors published in the same year are identified as
articles in a series (e.g. Part 1 or Part 2) order the reference in the series order, not alphabetically
by title.

Order of work with corporate or with no authors, or agency, association, or institution as author.

Alphabetise corporate authors, such as associations or government agencies, by the first

significant word of the name. Full official names should be used (e.g. American Psychological
Association, not APA). A parent body precedes subdivision (e.g. University of Michigan,
Department of Psychology)

If there is no authors, the title move to the author position, and the entry is alphabetised by the
first significant word of title.

Entry of non-western names (Authors and Corporate Bodies)

For the entry of non-western names, references is made to Mohammed M.Aman (Ed.) (1980).
Cataloguing and classification of non-western material: Concern, issue and practises. London:
Oryx-Press.

Description Example
MALAY NAMES

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• Enter a Malay name under the first element
of his/her name unless it is known that ('Merican' is a surname)
he/she treats another elements of his/her
Merican, Faridah name as a surname.

• If an abbreviation is used for a word Ali bin Abdullah

denoting filial relationship, i.e. b for bin, Rogayah binti Ahmad
bt. Or bte for binti, use the full form of the Ismail Hussein
word.

• If a person never uses the word denoting Abdul Majib bin Zainuddin, Haji
filial relationship, enter the name as found

• Add after the name titles of honour, rank or Soppiee, Nordin, Dato'
position that are commonly associated with Ungku Abdul Aziz
the name Syed Hussin Ali
Nik Safiah Haji A. Karim
• If the title of honour, rank or position are
hereditary, entry by the title

CHINESE NAMES
• Enter the surnames first Foh, Kam Beng
Ching, Fancis K.W
• If a name of Chinese origin contains both (Name appears as Francis K.W. Ching)
Chinese and non-Chinese gives names,
record the non-Chinese given names Loh, PhilipFOOK Seng
preceding the Chinese given name (Name appears as Philip Loh Fook Seng

INDIAN NAMES P.Subramaniam

(Name appears as P.Subramaniam)

Subramaniam,P

Corporate authors (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH],

• Corporate authors are usually spelled out 1991)
each time they appear in a text citation. The first text citation
names of some corporate authors are (NIMH, 1991)-subsequent text citation
spelled out in the first citation and
abbreviated thereafter (University of Pittsburghm 1993) cited in full
in all text citations.

Works with no author

• When a work has no author, cite in text the On free care ('Study Finds, " 1986)
first two or three words or the reference list

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 entry (usually the title) and the year. Use The book College Bound Seniors (1979)
double quotations marks around the little of
an articles or chapter and underline the title
of a periodical or book.

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