THESIS AND NON-THESIS WRITING MANUAL

MASTER DEGREE; POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business

VISION

The Master’s Degree Programme LSPR Institute of Communication and Business aims to be a consistent role model in Communication Studies in accordance to national and international standards.

MISSION

The Master’s Degree Programme LSPR Institute of Communication and Business is tasked to:

Educate the students in the current knowledge and technology about Communication Studies;

Prepare the students in becoming role models in all areas of Communication Studies as mass media is responsible in shaping the opinions of the society;

Guide the students’ inclinations toward building the nation with emphasis in the attainment of the common good 

INTRODUCTION

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business Postgraduate Programme (PGP) Thesis and Non-thesis Manual intends to guide the student in finishing the final requirement needed to complete LSPR Institute of Communication and Business Master’s Degree Programme. It discusses what LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis and Non-thesis are all about—their objectives, process, outline, stylebook, forms, evaluation, advisers, panelists, format for specific pages, and other related matters. Both Thesis and Non-thesis are acknowledged by LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP as a legitimate final assignment.

In LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Master’s Degree Programme, the conduct of the thesis and non-thesis starts once the student enters the programme. For this reason, each applicant to the Master Programme is already asked during the entrance examination and interviews his/her idea for a thesis/non-thesis. Once accepted, the student immediately works on a thesis/non-thesis proposal, integrated in several compulsory and core subjects. In the final semester, the student writes the Thesis or Non-thesis and presents/defends it before a panel.

We hope LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis/Non-thesis bring out the best in the students for their career advancement.

All the best,

PGP Thesis Department

MASTER’S THESIS (6 Credit hours)

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis is an option for the final requirement to complete the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Programme. It aims to bring out the aspired qualities of a LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP graduate, i.e., analytical thinking, global competitiveness, professional conduct, and readiness for a managerial position. It is done individually. 

THESIS OBJECTIVES

General Objectives:

In LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP thesis, students are expected to:

• exhibit knowledge and skills on compulsory and core communication subjects;

• make an in-depth (important) contribution to the communication field and industry;

• pursue an endeavor which the student may use to advance his/her career; and

• demonstrate a good command of written and spoken English.

Practical Objectives:

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP students writing theses are expected to:

• formulate research questions;

• translate the research question into methodology;

• collect all necessary data as required;

• analyze and discuss the findings;

• have an in-depth analysis regarding the research issue.

THESIS DURATION AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP thesis writing, presentation/defense, revision/finalization, and turnover should be completed within one semester. If the student fails to complete these within the prescribed period, he/she will have to re-enroll in the next semester. As the maximum duration of study is five semesters for the professional program and six semesters for the acceleration program, these are usually conducted from the second and third semesters, respectively. Students will theoretically have three more semesters to complete their studies.

Any requests for special consideration must be lodged through the thesis advisers, who then will contact the PGP Thesis Committee. The advisers will then discuss the situation of the students with the thesis committee and seek an outcome from the situation. All requests for special considerations will be decided on a case-by-case basis. 

THESIS ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to enroll in the core subject of “Thesis,” students must have:

• passed all subject requirements;

• registered in the study plan (KRS);

• completed all payments;

THESIS CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

A thesis must meet the following conditions and requirements:

• Thesis topics must be related to the communication field and approved by the Thesis Committee.

• An adviser will be appointed by the Thesis Coordinators. He/she must be a lecturer/professional with a good proven track record as an academician or a practitioner in the communication field. The names of the assigned advisers will be announced during the Thesis Briefing Session.

THESIS PROCESS

The completion of a LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP thesis entails a six-step process: Thesis idea inquiry, thesis proposal writing, thesis writing, thesis presentation/defense, thesis revision/finalization, and thesis turn-over (see Figure 1).

Thesis Idea Inquiry

During the entrance examination and interviews, LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP already inquired from the applicant about his/her idea for a thesis/non-thesis topic. This is the starting point of the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP thesis.

Thesis Proposal Writing

Thesis proposal writing in LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Programme is undertaken in tandem with compulsory and core subjects. In the compulsory subject of “Advanced Communication Theory” (ACT), students are asked as a requirement to write their thesis rationale/background, topic, and objectives as well as the theoretical framework. The topic may be a continuation of the students’ previous works, such as undergraduate theses or published academic papers, but the students need to justify the new aspect and direction of the topic when submitting it.

In the beginning of the next semester, students are asked to fill out a Thesis/Non-thesis Title Form (see Appendix 1) to be reviewed by the Thesis Committee. The students need to revisit their ACT assignment and continue writing the methodological section of the Thesis in the compulsory subject of the “Methodology of Communication Research” (MCR). Students are strongly encouraged to cite original materials when discussing theories and methods. Secondhand citations are strongly discouraged.

To assist students with their thesis proposal writing, thesis advisers will be assigned at the beginning of the semester. The thesis proposal basically includes the following: Introduction (Chapter I), Theoretical Framework (Chapter II), and Research Methodology (Chapter III). The proposal must be written following the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychology Association (APA). The minimum number of pages for a thesis proposal is 30 pages. Please see LSPR Institute of Communication and Business Referencing Guide for examples on how to cite sources and make a reference list. The submission of students’ thesis proposals can only be accepted if the proposals have been approved by their thesis advisers and accompanied by at least three advisers’ signatures on the counseling forms.

In the following semester, students present their thesis proposals in front of their fellow students, the course instructor, and the examining panel of advisers in the compulsory subject of Seminar and Colloquium (SAC). Inputs and suggestions from the attendees should be taken into consideration when making final revisions to the proposals prior to fieldwork. The soft copies of the proposals must be submitted on the appointed date to the Thesis Department, which will distribute them to the examining panel members at least a week prior to the presentation.

Thesis Writing

After students undertake the thesis proposal hearing, they proceed in preparing and retesting their research instruments. Then, they undertake data generation, analysis, and interpretation. Students are expected to complete Research Analysis (Chapter IV) and Conclusions and Recommendations (Chapter V). The structure of chapters can be expanded to more than five depending on the approval of the thesis adviser with the notification to the student’s Thesis Coordinator and Head of PGP Thesis Department. Unless specified by the thesis advisers, students are required to consult at a designated time throughout the semester.

Thesis Presentation and Defense

Once students have completed the entire thesis to the satisfaction and approval of their thesis advisers, they will be eligible to undergo a thesis presentation and defense in front of a panel of examiners. The thesis presentation and defense is conducted in English or Indonesian language. The students shall use audio-visual aids in the presentation and shall dress in business attire. The students and advisers are expected to take note of the examining panelists’ comments during the defense. The thesis examining panel must receive soft copies of the thesis at least two weeks before the thesis presentation and defense. The thesis presentation and defense are open to the public.

Thesis Revision and Finalization

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP upholds that the theses are the works of students (guided by their thesis adviser). In this sense, the students and advisers discuss which comments from the examining panel shall be incorporated in the thesis revised drafts. The students, however, must complete works that ensure readability and style/format uniformity. The final thesis outputs must be approved by the advisers and accepted by a representative of LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP management. The thesis revision and finalization (including their soft copies) must take place in the duration of two weeks. Failing to meet the timeline will result in the students’ prior pass status being revoked, and they must take another thesis presentation and defense and will be charged IDR 1.450.000 for the re-defense process.

Thesis Turn-over

Students are required to submit 1 (one) soft copy of their thesis to the Thesis Administrative Assistants (TAA) via email. The students may reproduce and individually distribute more copies of their works to their thesis advisers and other parties. 

THESIS SCHEDULES

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis Schedule is issued before the start of semester and upon consultation with the Thesis Advisers. It shall include the schedules for Thesis Proposal presentation, Thesis Writing Consultations, Thesis Presentation/Defense, Thesis Revision/Finalization, and Thesis Turnover.

THESIS OUTLINE

Thesis Outline is basically divided into three parts: preliminary pages, thesis proper, and attachments.

1. Preliminary Pages

The preliminary pages of LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis are as follows:

• Cover (see Appendix 2)

• Title Page

• Dedication Page (optional)

• Acknowledgements (see Appendix 3)

• Letter of Confirmation

• Research Originality Statement (see Appendix 4)

• Student’s Curriculum Vitae (see Appendix 5)

• Abstract of 150 and 250 words in English and Indonesian (see Appendix 6)

• Table of Contents (see Appendix 7)

• List of Tables and Figures

• List of Attachments

2. Thesis Proper

The proper Thesis is composed of at least the following chapters:

• Chapter One: Introduction

• Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework

• Chapter Three: Research Design and Method

• Chapter Four: Research Analysis

• Chapter Five: Conclusions and Recommendations

• References (see Appendix 8)

3. Attachments/Appendices (if available)

The attachments may include any of the following:

• Similarity Checking (Using Turnitin) (see Appendix 9)

• Location maps

• Research Instruments

• Letters

• Photographs

• Diagrams/Flowcharts

• Others

THESIS EVALUATION

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Programme shall assess the students’ works in their thesis presentation/defense. In the thesis presentation/defense, the examining panelists provide a grade to the student based on the following criteria: Content (40%), Relevance (20%), Originality (15%), Language and Ethics (10%), and Presentation (15%). Students need to obtain a grade of 70 and above to pass. Failing to achieve the minimum passing grade will result in a re-defense with financial consequences as mentioned in Section5. The numeric grades given by the panel, though not announced during the thesis defense, shall be reflected in the students’ academic transcripts.

The examining panel consists of three persons: a chairperson (the first examiner), a professional or an academic expert (the second examiner), and the student’s thesis adviser (the third examiner). The grading weights are 40%, 40%, and 20% respectively.

Please note that publication in SINTA accredited journals or international journals will contribute to the final marks. The number of additional marks will depend on the grade of each journal respectively. 

THESIS ADVISERS 

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis Department assigns advisers to its students based on their credentials, experiences and availability. The advisers must at least have a Master’s degree in the related field and/or receive a similar level of certification from the Badan Nasional Sertifikasi Profesi (BNSP). The thesis advisers have the following tasks:

• directing students in integrating thesis related outputs in compulsory and core subjects in order to draft a thesis proposal;

• exchanging ideas during the thesis proposal hearings and taking notes of the comments of the panelists;

• guiding students in thesis writing;

• attending the thesis presentation/defense, taking notes of the comments of panelists, and be the third examiner; and

• checking whether students have incorporated acceptable revisions, if any, in the final thesis manuscript.

CHANGE OF THESIS ADVISERS

Students may request in a formal letter for a change of thesis advisers to LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis Department through their respective Thesis Coordinator on the grounds of, for example, non-performance of duties and responsibilities. The change of thesis advisers will only be processed with the written approval of the previous respective advisers. The Head of PGP Thesis Department shall immediately act on the request–checking on the validity of the complaint. If the complaint shows merit, the Thesis Coordinator with the approval of the Head of PGP Thesis Department shall assign new advisers to the students. In addition, requests for a change of thesis adviser close to the softcover submission deadline must be made at least 8 weeks or 2 months before the deadline to avoid an extension for the student.

SWITCHING TO NON-THESIS

Students are ALLOWED to change a thesis to a non-thesis under the following conditions:

• The change is submitted before proposal hearing;

• The change is approved by the previous thesis adviser;

• The change is approved by the Head of PGP Thesis Department.

EXAMINING PANEL

LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Thesis Department assigns panelists based on their credentials, experiences and availability. There shall be at least three panelists per thesis presentation/defense: a chairperson, an academician or practitioner, and a thesis adviser. The chairperson (a professor or a doctoral degree holder or a holder of the similar level of certification from the Badan Nasional Sertifikasi Profesi [BNSP]) oversees the conduct of the thesis presentation and defense as well as provides inputs to improve the student’s work. The other panel member (minimum a Masters’ degree holder or a holder of the similar level of certification from the Badan Nasional Sertifikasi Profesi [BNSP]) looks particularly at the quality of the research undertaken and also assesses the contribution of the thesis to the academic and practical fields. The thesis adviser examines his/her student’s research-related knowledge and provides clarification of other panel members’ questions to the student.

GUIDELINE ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP Programme will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty or plagiarism in all students’ works, including the Master’s degree thesis. For this reason, the programme requires all students to sign and attach a research originality statement (see Appendix 4), which stipulates that the thesis manuscript is authentic. In addition, students must state in writing that if in the future their manuscript is proven to be a result of plagiarism; the student should be willing to accept the consequences which may include the cancellation of their Master’s Degree from LSPR Institute of Communication and Business. The Research Originality Statement must have a 6000-rupiah document stamp. Please consult the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business Referencing Guide for examples on citing and referencing academic sources.

TURNITIN

Similarity checking using Turnitin software is mandatory for thesis and non-thesis writing. The minimum requirement for the final submission is maximum 25%. Students will be sent the username and password (sharing account). The result of the Turnitin needs to be attached as part of the appendixes (see appendix 9).

GUIDELINES FOR THESIS CHAPTERS

The main chapters of an LSPR Institute of Communication and Business PGP thesis shall have at least the following outline:

Introduction

• Background of the Study

• Problem Statement

• Study Objectives

• Significance of the Study

• Scope and Delimitation

Theoretical Framework

• Literature Review (minimum 10 previous studies)

• Theoretical Framework

• Definition of Terms 

• Research Hypothesis (if applicable)

• Conceptual Framework

Research Methodology