LaTeX model for thesis and dissertations at a Postgraduated Program: construction and evaluation of an artifact

Abstract

Introduction: LaTeX is a program for creating and editing documents that require a high quality printing output. It has complex characteristics that demand the creation of templates to facilitate its use. The purpose of this article was to create a model of thesis and dissertations in LaTeX, for the Postgraduate Studies Program in Production Engineering at the Paulista University in order to facilitate the students´ inclusion and allowing the presentation of papers within international standards. Method: It was adopted the methodology of Design Science Research (DSR), which provides guidelines for creation or adaptation and evaluation of artifacts, such as software, and others scientific tools. As requirements it was used the manual of academic standards available on the institution website. The evaluation took place through simulations and presentation for students and program faculty followed by a questionnaire applied to 34 respondents. Results: it was found that nearly 40% answered to know the program and 60% was not aware of it. After the presentation, about 32% of respondent indicated the template as being difficult to use, 50% found it reasonable, and 18% responded as “easy”. About 76.5% of the groups formed for analysis, pointed positively as to replace conventional editors for LaTeX, although 23.5%. had a different opinion. The most outstanding variables in favor were: the typographical quality and the concentration on the logical content and facilities. Master's students had greater homogeneity in responses. Conclusion: the proposed template was accepted with enthusiasm, even though the difficulty of use should require a training period.