Dissertation Structure
HOW TO STRUCTURE A DISSERTATION
Title Page
This should include:
§ Dissertation Title and subtitle (if any)
§ Student’s full name
§ Study department
§ Submission date (month and year)
§ Word count
Abstract
Purpose: To summarise the whole research study and its conclusions, giving your reader a general idea of what the dissertation is about so they will know if they need to read further
To do it well: Keep it brief – no more than about 300 words.
Dedication and Acknowledgements
This section is not compulsory.
Purpose: To thank everyone who has helped you, whether academically or personally.
To do it well: It should be brief, and quite formal.
Author’s Declaration
Purpose: To declare that the dissertation is all your own work. If it’s a collaborative effort, say so.
Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables
Purpose: To show your organisation and to help readers find their way around the text.
Chapter One: Introduction
Purpose: To explain why this particular piece of research is necessary.
To do it well:
- Introduce the subject and put it into context.
- Explain how it fits into existing literature on the topic.
- Show that the subject is relevant by referring to a wider context than just academic literature (e.g. the media, government reports etc.)
- Having explained the need, identify the research questions which will be studied.
- Present the research questions to be studied as a logical consequence of the argument they have constructed.
- Summarise Chapter One and introduce Chapter Two.
Chapter one should make up about 10% of your essay.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
Purpose: To examine the academic literature relevant to the research question & to show that you are aware of and understand the academic debates pertaining to your subject.
To do it well:
- Make sure that every piece of reviewed literature is relevant to the research questions.
- Identify the strengths and weakness of major texts on your topic.
- Analyse the texts critically: always try to find gaps and to present counter arguments.
- Avoid presenting literature uncritically – this does not demonstrate understanding.
- Summarise Chapter Two and introduce Chapter Three.
Chapter Two should make up about 40% of your essay.
Chapter Three: Research Methodology
Purpose: To present your research methodology and to justify your choices
To do it well:
- Explain your chosen strategy with reference to established literature on research methodology.
- Make sure that your strategy is consistent with how you have approached the collection of data.
- Explore the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen research strategy and methods of data collection.
- Identify the limitations of the methodology chosen.
- Summarise Chapter Two and introduce Chapter Four.
Chapter Three should make up about 15% of your essay.
Chapter Four: Data Presentation & Analysis
Purpose: To present and analyse your data and to relate your findings to your literature review.
To do it well:
- Keep the research questions in mind throughout to make sure everything is relevant.
- Present your data clearly, using tables, graphs pie charts as required.
- Discuss your findings in relation to your literature review . Make sure you highlight areas of agreement and disagreement.
- Explore the reasons that these results have been obtained, including any anomalies.
- Summarise Chapter Four and introduce Chapter Five.
Chapter Four should make up about 25% of your essay.
Chapter Five: Conclusions/Limitations & Recommendations
Purpose: To summarise the essays’s key points and to make recommendations based on your research.
To do it well :
- Sum up all the main issues in the essay.
- Reflect on your research, and what you may do differently were you to do it all over again.
- Explain the limitations of the study.
- Present any areas which your study has made you think require further research.
Chapter Five should make up about 10% of your essay.
References/Bibliography
Purpose: To acknowledge every book, web page, article etc that you have used in the course of your research.
To do it well :
- Arrange the list alphabetically. Where there is no named author, use the first significant word of the title.
- If there is more than one text by the same author, list item chronologically, earliest first.
Appendices
These are not always compulsory.
Purpose:
- To provide your reader with access to extra information. This should not be information which is essential in order to understand the study fully.
- To include items that help with clarification.
- To provide a clear record of your methods of research.
To do it well :
- Include copies of relevant letters
- Include copies of blank questionnaires.
- Include copies of interview questions.
- Include transcripts of interviews.
- Include copies of any extra documents referred to in the text.
- In your dissertation, draw your readers attention to the existence of any relevant document in the appendix.
- Reflect on your research, and what you may do differently were you to do it all over again.
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