Dissertations

The purpose of a dissertation is to demonstrate the culmination of your studies.

How to structure a dissertation

The typical format

N.B. This is one suggested format. Always check with your department's guidelines.

Title

Title should accurately reflective nature of topic, be brief and to the point. A subtitle may further clarify the study.

Acknowledgements

Again should be brief, customary to acknowledge supervisors, internal and external support.

Contents

Should be clear. Maximum of two pages. The purpose is to guide the reader round the dissertation.

Abstract

The abstract gives a brief overview of the dissertation. Maximum word count 500 words. Offers a clear and coherent summary of aims, how the research was undertaken and main findings and or recommendations.

Introduction - approximately 10 per cent of dissertation.

Briefly describes other work in the area. Outlines general ideas. Suggests theoretical basis for your own work. Outlines and discusses your research question and the hypothesis supporting the intended research. Alternatively it states the main aim and objectives of the study. Sets out main themes. You may wish to write this chapter last.

Review of the background literature - approximately 20 per cent of dissertation.

Critically analyses the relevant theories, key arguments/perspectives and current research. This is a very important section which establishes your primary research aims.

Design and methodology of the research - approximately 10 per cent of dissertation.

In this chapter, you should explain and justify the research methods you have chosen to meet your primary reseach aims.

The methodology is the overall approach that underpins your research. You need to briefly explain this, showing you understand the meaning of quantitative and qualitative approaches.

The methods are the tools of data collection i.e. questionnaires/interviews. You should outline what the methods involve and explain why you have selected them.

Implementation of the research - approximately 15 per cent of dissertation.

Factors that you may wish to consider:

• Access and ethical issues
• Sampling and selection
• Applying techniques to data collection
• Documents
• Interviews
• Observations
• Questionnaires
• Recording your progress
• Possible problems re data collection

Presentation and analysis of data - approximately 15 per cent of dissertation.

Large tables should be placed in appendices. Clearly label records/figures/tables in text and in appendices. Clarifies the relevance of data to reader. Outlines any challenges in obtaining data and explains how these issues were approached. Relate findings to research questions and discuss the results.

Comment/discussion - approximately 20 per cent of dissertation.

This chapter discusses the main findings, and relates these to the literature review. You should also explain and justify the similarities and differences to the theories/ perspectves that you have outlined in your literature revew.

Summary and conclusion - approximately 10 per cent of dissertation.

This chapter should summarise your main findings, central arguments, relate to your original hypothesis/es. Finally state the importance of your work and reiterate the main points.

References

All references applied in the text.

Bibliography

All background sources not referred to in text.

Appendices

Large tables and figures logically in logical order.

Next: Research Glossary

Updated: 28 October, 2008 | Effective Learning Service | Legal