Table of Contents
Declaration ....................................................................................................................................... i
Approval .......................................................................................................................................... ii
Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................................... iv
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... v
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi
List ofTables ................................................................................................................................ viii
List of Figures .................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. I
1.0 Background of the stl!dy ............................................................................................................ I
1.1 Statement of the prob;em ........................................................................................................... 1
1.2 The general objectives ............................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Specific objectives ..................................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Justification of the study ............................................................................................................ 2
1.5 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................................. 2
1 .6 Scope of the srudy ..................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER TW0 ............................................................................................................................. 4
2.0 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Quality research project report .................................................................................................. 4
2.3 Authenticity of research project reports .................................................................................... 7
CHAPTER THREE ......................................................................................................................... 9
3.0 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 Sample population and sample plan .......................................................................................... 9
3.2 Procedure ................................................................................................................................... 9
vi
3 .2. I Establishment of quai ity ......................................................................................................... 9
3. I .2 Estab I i shment of the authenticity .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. . .. .. .. ...... .. . .. .. . I 0
3.2 Data analysis ............................................................................................................................ 10
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... II
4.0 Findings ................................................................................................................................... II
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. II
4.2.1 Quality of Objectives ............................................................................................................ 12
4.2.2 Errors ................................................................................................................................... 12
4.2.3 Reference ............................................................................................................................. 12
4.3 Est a b I ishment of the authenticity .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .... .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. 13
4.3.1 Common phrases used in the titles ....................................................................................... 14
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 16
5. 0 Cone! us ion and Recommendation .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... . .. .. .. .... .. .... .. .. .. .. 16
5 .I Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 16
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 18
Abstract The purpose of this study was to establish the quality and the authenticity of undergraduate research based essay reports of Kampala International University. The research-based essay reports in the faculty of education were studied for both regular and in-service students. The quality of the project reports studied was found to be poor, 52% of the analyzed booklet had mistakes in both or some of the aspects examined. 35% of the studied project reports did not have clear objectives and 69% had unmanageable number of objectives. The fluency of the studied reports seemed to be impeded by the editorial (53%) m1d grammatical (40%) errors. The reference in the text (38%) and list of cited reference (81%) did not fully tally with any of the reference formats, although American Psychological Association (AP A) seemed to have been used in most of the project reports. No duplication of work was found from the booklets studied, the common topics were; poor performance (27%) and academic performance (20%) and therefore the authenticity of the project reports were questionable. The quality of the research-based essay reports was poor and the high likelihood of plagiarism and fraud made the authenticity of the project reports questionable. There was need for improvement of writing skills among the students and dangers plus consequences of plagiarism and fraud made clear to them.