DBA Thesis Formatting

Arrangement of Contents

The contents of the dissertation are listed in the following in the order in which to place the sections of the dissertation. All sections are mandatory unless designated as optional.

• TITLE PAGE includingapprovals
• COPYRIGHTPAGE
• BIOGRAPHICALSKETCH
• DEDICATION(optional)
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• TABLE OFCONTENTS
• LIST OFTABLES
• LIST OF FIGURES (or LIST OFILLUSTRATIONS)
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS(optional)
• LIST OF SYMBOLS(optional)
• PREFACE(optional)
• ABSTRACT
• CHAPTERS 1–5
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX (orAPPENDIXES)
• GLOSSARY(optional)
• INDEX(optional)
• AUTHORIZATION OF DIFFUSION DECLARATION FORM
• PLAGIARISM DECLARATION FORM

There are exceptions to this list and to the order in which the sections are placed in the dissertation. For example, some subjects require a background section to the literature chapter, depending on the topic.

In addition, the dissertation can follow one of the two commonly accepted structures:

• Monograph
• Three-article-based dissertation

This is essential that the dissertation contains five chapters and respect the following plan

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature Review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Conclusion

Inside the Chapters, students should avoid adding too many sections and subsections as much as possible to keep the document reading suitable.

Dissertation formatting

• Page Composition

The following are guidelines for page composition. If in doubt about the acceptability of font size, legibility of equations, spacing, corrections, and so on, consult with the dissertation advisor/chair. Never use as a precedent a dissertation on file in the various PSB Paris School of Business libraries; requirements have changed over the years, and the binding process changes apparent margins.

• Typeface

The entire text of the dissertation, including page numbers, must be produced with the same font or typeface. Exceptions are made only for tables and figures produced by different technology or by graphic artists.

The typeface for APA publications is Times New Roman, with 12-point font size.

Margins after photocopying must be:

Left margin: 2.5 cm.

Top, bottom, right margins: 2.5 cm.

These margins are essential so that the dissertation can be microfilmed in its entirety for interlibrary loan. These margins also apply to all tables and figures.

• Spacing

The dissertation must be one-and-a-half lines spacing throughout except for quotations and footnotes.

Bibliographies may be single-spaced within each entry, but they must be double-spaced between each entry. The table of contents, list of tables, list of figures, and lengthy tables may also be single-spaced.

• Equations and Formulas

Equations may be inserted from a non-matching font as well. All subscripts and superscripts must be large enough to be read on microfilm. To ensure readability on microfilm, test a page with sub- or superscripts by photocopying the page using a 25% text reduction. If the sub- or superscripts are still readable, then they are probably large enough.

• Widows and Orphans

Avoid widows (short lines ending a paragraph at the top of a page) as much as possible. A heading or subheading at the bottom of a page that is not followed by text is called an orphan. A dissertation will not be accepted if it contains orphans.

• Justification

Use justified margins only if the printer does this well; usually, a left justification should be used that does not separate punctuation from characters and does not leave large gaps in the text.

• Titles of Sections

The following sections must be titled accordingly and should be in all capital letters. All titles are centered for the preliminary pages.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES (or LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS)

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

LIST OF SYMBOLS

PREFACE

ABSTRACT (scroll down for further information regarding abstracts)

BIBLIOGRAPHY (or REFERENCES or WORKS CITED)

APPENDIX

• Pagination

The following plan for page numbering has been standardized and must be observed.

• Pagination for Preliminary Pages

Preliminary pages include all the sections that precede the text. They are arranged and numbered according to the following format, using lowercase Roman numerals in the same size font as the text, centered between the margins, at least 2.5 cm from the bottom of the page.

Pagination Example

If the dissertation contains tables, figures, or illustrations, the appropriate list must be included in the preliminary pages. If any of these sections are more than one page in length, each page is given the next Roman numeral, for example, the first page of the biographical sketch is on page iii; subsequent pages of the sketch would be iv, v, and so on. All Roman numerals must be at the bottom of each page, centered between the margins, whether the page starts a new section.

• Pagination for the Body of the Dissertation

The body includes the following components:

• Text
• References
• Appendix (or appendixes)

Use continuous Arabic numbers for these sections, beginning with page 1. Arabic numbers start in the text and the numbering continues through the appendixes and the bibliography. Chapters begin on new pages. There should not be breaks between sections or before tables or figures, unless they occur naturally. On pages carrying major headings, such as the first page of a chapter, the first page of each appendix, and the first page of the bibliography, the number should be centered between the margins, no less than 1 cm from the bottom of the page.

• Two-Volume Dissertations

Measure the thickness of the dissertation to determine if it is one or two volumes.

Approximately 5 cm of paper will fit in one volume.

In dissertations with two volumes, the second volume should continue the numbering of the first volume.

Each volume should contain a title page with the words Volume I (or Volume II) added to the page, directly beneath the title. Include this information in the table of contents. The title page of the second volume is counted as a text page in the Arabic numeral counting, but a page number is not typed on the page. Subsequent pages should reflect this count.

Dissertation Writing

• Title Selection

The words in the title of the dissertation should be selected carefully to represent as accurately as possible the subject content. The words in the title are important access points to researchers, who may use computerized keyword search techniques to identify works in various subject areas.

• Title Page Format

The title is placed in all capital letters, centered within the left and right margins, double-spaced, about 3 cm from the top of the page. At the vertical and horizontal center of the margins and double-spaced are the following five lines (all centered):

• Student’s Name

The student’s name must appear as it is on file in the PSB Paris School of Business registrar’s office. The date on the title page should be the date of degree conferral, not the date the dissertation is submitted. The dissertation title and the student’s name must be the same wherever they appear in the dissertation: title page, copyright page, abstract page for doctoral dissertation, and approval form. Students submitting two-volume dissertations should refer to the page describing two-volume dissertations for further instructions regarding the title page.

• Biographical Sketch

The biographical sketch must be written in the third person and contain the student’s educational background. It may contain additional biographical facts. The heading is “BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH” in all capital letters, centered within the margins at the top of the page. Font, margin, spacing, and paper-quality requirements remain the same as those of the text. The page is numbered at the bottom of the page, centered within the margins, and uses lowercase Roman numerals.

• Dedication

The dedication is optional. It does not have a heading, is usually centred on the page, can be in italics or regular type. The page is numbered at the bottom centre of the page and uses lowercase Roman numerals.

• Acknowledgments

The acknowledgments may be written in the first person. Students whose research has been funded by outside grants should check with the principal investigator of the grant regarding proper acknowledgment of the funding source. Most outside funding sources require some statement of acknowledgment of the support; some also require a disclaimer from responsibility for the results. The heading is the phrase “ACKNOWLEDGMENTS” in all capital letters, centred within the margins at the top of the page. The acknowledgments page(s) should use the same fonts, margins, spacing, and paper quality as the text of the dissertation. The page is numbered at the bottom of the page, centred between the margins, and uses lowercase Roman numerals.

• Table of Contents

Any standard format may be used for the table of contents. The only requirements are that the same font is used as in the text, page numbers must be listed for each chapter (sections may be included, as well), and each page is numbered at the bottom of the page, centred between the margins, and uses lowercase Roman numerals. The heading is the phrase “TABLE OF CONTENTS” in all capital letters, centred within the margins at the top of the page. In most cases the preliminary sections, except for the title page, copyright page, and abstract, are listed in the table of contents.

• Lists of Figures, Tables, or Illustrations

There must be separate pages for LIST OF FIGURES, LIST OF TABLES, or LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, even if there is only one example of each. Lists must contain enough of the titles or descriptions so that readers can locate particular items using the list. Lists must contain the page number on which each table, figure, or illustration is found, as in the table of contents. It may not be necessary to include entire figure captions or table headings. The page is numbered at the bottom of the page, centred between the margins, and uses lowercase Roman numerals.

• Abstract

The abstract should state the problem, describe the methods and procedures used, and give the main results or conclusions of the research. PSB Microfilms, Inc. requires that the abstract be typed (double-spaced) with the same typeface as the dissertation and that it not exceed 350 words. The abstract may not be more than two pages, even if fewer than 350 words long. All paper quality, font, margin, and spacing requirements that apply to the text also apply to the abstract. The abstract pages are neither numbered nor counted. The heading of the dissertation abstract is as follows:

• Footnotes

Textual notes that provide supplementary information, opinions, explanations, or suggestions that are not part of the text must appear at the bottom of the page, that is, footnoted. Placement of footnotes at the bottom of the page is necessary because all dissertations are microfilmed, and this placement ensures that they will appear as close as possible in the microfilm to the referenced passage. Lengthy footnotes may be continued on the next page. Footnotes may be single-spaced in a 10-point font size but must be in the same font as the text.

• Tables and Figures

Tables and figures must be placed as close as possible to their first mention in the text. They may be placed on a page with no text above or below, or they may be placed directly into the text. If a table or figure is placed directly into the text, text may appear above or below the table; however, no text may wrap around the table. If a table or a figure is alone on a page (with no narrative) it should be centred within the margins on the page. Tables and figures may not be placed at the end of the chapter or at the end of the dissertation. Figure and table numbering must be continuous throughout the dissertation. For example, there cannot be two figures numbered 5 in a dissertation.

Headings of tables should be placed at the top of the table. Although there are no specific rules for the format of table headings and figure captions, a consistent format must be used throughout the dissertation.

Captions of figures should be placed at the top of the figure. If the figure takes up the entire page, the figure caption should be placed alone on the preceding page and centred vertically and horizontally within the margins. Each page receives a separate page number. When a figure title is on a preceding page, the second and subsequent pages of the figure should say, for example, Figure 5 (Continued) and the caption is omitted. The word “Figure” should be written in full (not abbreviated), and the F should be capitalized, for example, Figure 5.

Horizontal figures and tables must be positioned correctly: they will be bound at the top (i.e., the top of the figure or table will be at the left margin). Figure and table headings/captions are placed with the same orientation as the figure or table when on the same page. When on a separate page, headings/captions are always placed in vertical orientation, regardless of the orientation of the figure or table. Page numbers are always placed as if the figure were vertical on the page.

• References

PSB Paris School of Business recommends that students follow APA referencing style. There are utilities in programs such as Microsoft Word that automate significant parts of the maintenance of citation databases and preparation of bibliographic entries, as well as stand-alone reference management programs available for purchase or sometimes as shareware. PSB Paris School of Business does not collectively endorse or support such programs, but many students have found them helpful.

• Acknowledging the Work of Others

Students are responsible for acknowledging any facts, ideas, or materials of others in their work. Students must follow the guidelines for acknowledging the work of others from the “Code of Academic Integrity and Acknowledging the Work of Others.”

DBA_Thesis_Formatting