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How You Can Approach Each Chapter of Your Thesis/Dissertation
Each type of academic paper has its own structure
Most Common Thesis/Dissertation Structure
• Introduc3on • Literature review • Methodology • Findings • Discussion of findings, conclusions, and recommenda3ons
GOAL: PROVIDE A PRECISE PICTURE OF WHAT THE STUDY IS ABOUT
Introduction
Main Principle to Approach Introduction
Create a text that clearly states what should be studied, the reasons for doing it, what to achieve, what to answer or test, and how to do it.
Build the lighthouse of your thesis/disserta3on
Elements Often Included
• Introduction • Background • Theoretical Framework • Problem Statement • Purpose of the Study • Research Question(s) • Research Design • Definition of Terms
• Each university has its own required elements, but these are very common
Background Theore3cal Framework
Problem Statement
Purpose of the Study
Research Ques3on (Hypothesis if
needed)
Research Design
Process to Develop Introduc3on (First Chapter of a Thesis/Disserta3on)
For a detailed explanation of each of the elements of Chapter 1 go to:
http://www.slideshare.net/doctoralnet/chapter-1-the-lighthouse-ss
Tips to Write Introduc0on
• State the problem, purpose, and research ques3on(s) precisely. The clearer they are, the more useful to guide you when making decisions.
• Be concise when wri3ng the theore3cal framework and the research design (they will be explained in other chapters).
• Include the significance of the study.
GOALS: 1.SUMMARIZE WHAT IS KNOWN IN RELATION TO THE STUDY 2. IDENTIFY GAPS IN WHAT HAS BEEN STUDIED SO FAR 3. CONNECT THE STUDY TO PRIOR RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY TO THE IDENTIFIED GAPS
Literature Review
Main Principles to Approach the Literature Review
Discuss all the themes relevant to understand the target problem and explain where the research question(s) come from. Do not leave undiscussed any theoretical element that is included in other parts of the thesis/dissertation like in instruments.
Build the founda3on of your thesis/disserta3on
Common Structure
Introduction: states the reasons for reviewing the literature and defines the scope of such review.
Conclusion: summarizes a) the major contributions of the reviewed literature to the topic of the study b) the identified gaps as well as how the study addresses them.
Body: discusses theories, models, and approaches relevant to the study. Presents prior research studies and links the study to them.
Literature review may be wriQen in more than one chapter
Iden3fy Main Themes of Your
Study
Look for Prior Research Studies
Look for Relevant Theories, Models, & Approaches
Make Notes on How Theory and Research Relate to
Your Study
Build an Outline. Check Its Coherence
Follow the Outline to Write
Process to Develop the Literature Review
For more explanation of how to write the literature review go to: http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/143-parameters-of-lit-review.html http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/150-dissertation_help-reading-the-lit.html http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/129-writing-plan-for-lit-review.html
Tips to Write the Literature Review
• Use reference soWware to register and organize readings.
• Write detailed notes for each reading, including its significance for your study.
• State how your study relates to each theme and other studies as well as how it contributes to fill up the iden3fied gaps.
• Concentrate on recent studies whose findings are s3ll valid. Sources older than 10 years can be used only if they are seminal works.
GOALS: PROVIDE THE INFORMATION… * RELATED TO HOW THE STUDY IS CONDUCTED * NEEDED TO EVALUATE HOW VALID THE STUDY IS * NECESSARY TO REPLICATE THE STUDY
Methodology
Main Principles to Approach Methodology
Describe and justify all the information needed to know how the study is done. Think of it as a set of instructions to understand, evaluate, and replicate your study.
Build the user guide of your thesis/disserta3on
Elements Often Included
• Introduction (restating
purpose and research questions)
• Population & Sample • Research Design • Data Collection • Data Analysis • Procedures • Instruments • Limitations and
Assumptions*
Each university has its own required elements, but these are very common
* Some3mes they are in the first chapter
Research Ques3on(s)
Purpose Problem
Popula3on & Sample
Research Design
Data Collec3on & Analysis
Process to Develop the Methodology
Procedures
For more explanation of how to write the methodology go to: http://www.doctoralnet.com/choosing-methods/item/147-thinking-about-methodology-video.html http://www.doctoralnet.com/choosing-methods/item/152-dissertation_help-methodology.html http://www.doctoralnet.com/qualitative-quantitative-research.html
Tips to Write the Methodology
• Write clearly and precisely. • Provide as many details as
necessary to ease the replication of the study.
• Explain how each component was developed.
• Show you understand the whole process and why it is designed in that way.
GOAL: PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY
Findings
Main Principles to Approach Findings
Show the results of your study focusing on their relationship to the research question(s). Think as a spectator rather than as the presenter. Be simple and direct. Do not discuss findings; just present them.
Build the display of your thesis/disserta3on
Elements Often Included
• Texts: to guide readers through the information that answers your research question(s) without discussing it.
• Tables and Figures: to illustrate results. They are referred to from the introductory text.
• Each university has its own requirements to present findings, but these are very common
Research Ques3on(s)
Data Collec3on
Process to Develop the Findings
Data Analysis
Answers Answers
For more explanation of how to write the Aindings go to: http://www.doctoralnet.com/data-collection-analysis/item/85-overview-ch-4-and-5-members.html
Tips to Write the Findings
• Present results according to the research question they refer to.
• Use texts to introduce tables and figures.
• Tell what the key result is that each table or figure conveys.
• Use only tables and figures that are strictly necessary to show results.
• Be simple and direct.
GOALS: 1.DISCUSS FINDINGS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ANSWER THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RELATE TO THE LITERATURE REVIEW 2. SUMMARIZE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY 3. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF FINDINGS (IF POSSIBLE) AND FOR FUTURE STUDIES
Discussion of Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Main Principles to Approach Discussion
Discuss the findings in relation to how they answer the research question(s) and contribute to the state of the art of the field of study presented in the literature review. Foresee future studies.
Build the promo3on of your thesis/disserta3on
Elements Often Included
• Answer(s) of research question(s)
• Interpretation of answer(s) by linking it/them to what was discussed in the literature review
• Discussion of the implications of the study
• Recommendation(s) in relation to the application of findings and future studies
• Each university has its own requirements to discuss findings, but these are very common
Process to Develop the Discussion
Discussion
Research Ques3on(s)
Findings
Literature Review
For more explanation of how to write the discussion go to: http://www.doctoralnet.com/data-collection-analysis/item/85-overview-ch-4-and-5-members.html
Tips to Write the Discussion
• Discuss results according to the research question they refer to.
• Link the discussion to the literature review.
• Support your arguments with citations.
• Discuss any unexpected result. • Restrict your conclusions to what
the data shows. • Make specific recommendations.
Now You Know
Any Question?
1. Goals of each chapter 2. Main principles to write each
chapter 3. Elements or common structure
of each chapter 4. Process to develop each
chapter 5. Tips for writing each chapter 6. Useful links
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