Topic selection
Investigation report thesis studies a specific task, a specific type of problem or a specific event in public administration practice, makes use of scientific research methods (quantitative or qualitative) to learn about and sort out them, selects the essential and true information from all information and materials learned and analyzes them from the exterior to the interior, reveals the essence, identifies laws, summarizes experience, draws conclusions, and provides public administration practice with theoretical, experimental and methodical support.
Composition
Main body should consist of six parts: introduction, investigation design, description of investigation results, analysis of investigation results, countermeasures and suggestions, and appendix.
1. Introduction: explains background, purpose and significance of the investigation, namely why investigate this topic (task, event or problem); literature review and comments on existing research results at home and abroad; extracts investigation problem and content; sets up an analytical framework and selects research methods.
2. Investigation design: explains time, place, object and scope of investigation and expounds on the process of selecting and investing the object of investigation; expounds on approaches or methods used in investigation, such as questionnaire, case study, interview and data mining, and examines the validity and reliability of the investigation; and explains the process, key points and difficulties of the investigation.
3. Description of investigation results: conducts a preliminary descriptive analysis of investigation results, presents basic data, major facts and overall situation acquired through investigation, and does the basic preparatory work for summary, analysis, identifying causes and proposing countermeasures and suggestions.
4. Analysis of investigation results: conducts an in-depth analysis of investigation results with public administration-related theories or methods, or sums up experience or reveals relevant laws or identifies problems, and analyzes the causes with investigation data and materials.
5. Countermeasures and suggestions: sublimate experience and puts forward propagable and replicable value and path based on the analysis of findings; and proposes pertinent solutions and improvement measures for existing problems and the causes. Countermeasures and suggestions should be feasible and applicable.
Other requirements
1. For investigation report thesis, text format such as font and word size should be subject to the standards for professional master’s thesis of each school.
2. Investigation report thesis must include appendices. These documents include questionnaire, interview outline, interview transcripts, copies of files, data sources, and so on.
3. In principle, the main body of an investigation report thesis should be not less than 20,000 words.
4. Each school may further detail requirements on this basis.