(Including Concept Note, Ethical Fees, Analysis Tests, Referencing Tools & More)
1. Idea Generation & Topic Selection
- Identify research interest.
- Conduct preliminary literature search.
- Discuss ideas with supervisor or experts.
- Select a feasible, ethical, and novel topic.
2. Concept Note Development
Components
- Title
- Background
Problem statement
Justification
Broad objectives
Brief methodology
Expected results
Timeline
- Concept Note Defence
Prepare concept slides (5–10 minutes).
Present to departmental panel.
Receive feedback and revise.
Obtain clearance to proceed with a full proposal.
- Detailed Literature Review
Deep reading and extraction of previous findings.
Identify gaps, variables, and contextual issues.
Build conceptual and theoretical framework.
- Proposal Development (Chapters 1–3)
Chapter 1
Background
Problem statement
Research questions
Objectives
Justification
Scope
Chapter 2
Thematic literature review
Gaps identified
Conceptual/theoretical framework
Chapter 3
Study design
Study area and population
Sampling & sample size
Data collection procedures
Variables and measurements
Data analysis plan
Ethical considerations
- Proposal Defence
Present the full proposal.
Receive detailed comments on methodology, sample size, instruments.
Make required corrections.
Obtain proposal approval.
- Ethical & Scientific Approvals (Kenya)
A. Institutional Scientific Review Committee (SRC/IREC)
Typical charges:
KSh 3,000 – 10,000 for scientific review (varies by institution).
B. NACOSTI Research Permit
Approximate fees:
KSh 1,000 (students local)
KSh 2,000 – 5,000 (non-Kenyan students)
C. County or Institutional Permissions
Some counties may charge KSh 1,000 – 3,000.
Hospitals often require administrative clearance (may be free or up to KSh 5,000).
D. NCPWD Licence (for studies involving Persons With Disabilities)
If your study involves people with disabilities, you MUST:
Seek approval from the National Council for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD).
Provide tools, consent forms, disability-friendly procedures.
Typical charges: KSh 500 – 2,000 (varies with study type).
- Data Collection / Experimentation
Pilot tools
Train research assistants
Collect field/lab data
Maintain accurate logs
Ensure ethical compliance
- Data Cleaning & Analysis
Cleaning
Remove duplicates
Check missing data
Validate entries
Handle outliers
Analytical Tests
Choose based on objectives, data type, and study design:
A. Descriptive Statistics
Mean, median, mode
Frequencies and percentages
Standard deviation
Graphs and histograms
B. Inferential Statistics
For numerical data:
T-tests (independent or paired)
ANOVA / MANOVA
Pearson correlation
Regression analysis (linear, multiple)
For categorical data:
Chi-square test
Fisher’s exact test
For non-parametric data:
Mann–Whitney U Test
Kruskal–Wallis Test
Spearman’s correlation
For diagnostic / parasitology studies:
Sensitivity & specificity
Kappa statistics
ROC curves
Odds ratios & relative risks
For survival analysis studies:
Kaplan-Meier curves
Cox proportional hazards models
Tools for Analysis
R (recommended for research)
Python
SPSS
STATA
GraphPad Prism (for biomedical studies)
- Writing the Thesis (Chapters 4–5)
Chapter 4: Results
Present tables, charts, and statistical tests
Follow logical order based on objectives
Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions & Recommendations
Compare with global and local literature
Provide scientific explanation
Draw conclusions
Offer recommendations
- Thesis Formatting & Plagiarism Check
Plagiarism Checking Tools
Turnitin (most common in universities)
Grammarly Premium plagiarism checker
iThenticate (used for publication-level scanning)
Quetext Pro
Typical acceptable similarity: <15% (varies by institution).
- Supervisor Review
Submit draft to supervisor
Revise until approved for examination submission
- Submission to Examiners
Soft and hard copies submitted
Examiners evaluate the thesis and write reports
- Pre-Defense Preparation
Prepare clean, visual slides
Practice timing (10–20 minutes)
Anticipate tough questions (methods, sampling, interpretation)
- Thesis Defense (Oral Examination)
Present research
Respond to questions
Panel issues outcomes
- Post-Defense Outcomes (VERY IMPORTANT)
Depending on university policy, common outcomes are:
A. Direct Pass (No Corrections)
Rare—usually exceptional theses
Allowed to submit final copy immediately
B. Minor Corrections (1 Month Window)
Includes:
Typographical errors
Minor edits in the discussion
Format issues
C. Moderate Corrections (3 Months Window)
Includes:
Re-analysis of a portion of data
Improving sections of literature review
Refining conclusions or recommendations
D. Major Corrections (6–9 Months Window)
Includes:
Rewriting major sections
Redesigning part of methodology
Reanalyzing data entirely
Strengthening scientific argument
Major structural improvements
E. Re-Defense Required
If panel feels the study needs major justification
Candidate repeats oral defense
F. Failure / Rejection
Very rare, usually for plagiarism or unethical practices
- Final Submission & Graduation
Submit corrected thesis
Bind copies for university and library
Clear departments
Graduation approval
- Publication of Research Findings
Convert thesis into 1–3 journal articles
Present at conferences
Publish datasets
Write policy briefs or public summaries (e.g., for research.kala.co.ke)
- Knowledge Dissemination
Share results with communities, hospitals, counties, or national bodies
Present to stakeholders
