69EG4218: M.Sc.

Dissertation

Your Title Goes Here

Your Name

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in GIS, The Manchester Metropolitan University.

Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

The Manchester Metropolitan University

October 2010

Declaration of originality

This is to certify that the work is entirely my own and not of any other person, unless
explicitly acknowledged (including citation of published and unpublished sources).
The work has not previously been submitted in any form to the Manchester
Metropolitan University or to any other institution for assessment for any other
purpose.

Signed _________________________________________________

Date ___________________________________________________

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Abstract

The abstract should be no more than about 300 words in length as a maximum. The
purpose of the abstract is to provide a brief synopsis of your work, some background,
key aim and some synthesis of your findings.

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Word Count

Number of Pages:
Number of Words:
<to update these values, please RIGHT CLICK on either the page number or word
number and choose UPDATE FIELD from the context menu.>

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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1.................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1
1.1: Study Background.............................................................................................1
1.2: Study Area.........................................................................................................1
1.3: Dissertation Structure........................................................................................1
1.4: Aim and Objectives...........................................................................................1
CHAPTER 2.................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................2
2.1: Introduction........................................................................................................2
2.2: <First broad Theme of literature examined>.....................................................2
2.3: <Second broad theme of literature examined>..................................................2
CHAPTER 3.................................................................................................................3
DATA AND METHODS.............................................................................................3
3.1: Introduction........................................................................................................3
3.2: Data Used...........................................................................................................3
3.2.1: Spatial and temporal characteristics...........................................................3
3.3: Methods and techniques.....................................................................................3
3.3.1: A specific method.......................................................................................3
CHAPTER 4.................................................................................................................5
RESULTS.....................................................................................................................5
4.1: Introduction........................................................................................................5
4.2: <Results for a theme>........................................................................................5
4.3: Discussion of results..........................................................................................5
CHAPTER 5.................................................................................................................6
DISCUSSION...............................................................................................................6
5.1: Introduction........................................................................................................6
5.2: Discussion..........................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 6.................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................................................7

6.1: Conclusions........................................................................................................7
6.2: Recommendations..............................................................................................7
APPENDICES..............................................................................................................8
READING LIST...........................................................................................................9

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1: Study Background

This is where you might discuss something about the general history of the field of
study and allow a general reader to better understand the rationale for your chosen
study. Some literature references might be used here cited appropriately.

1.2: Study Area

If you have been studying a particular location then this would be a good place to
provide a map and some background about the study site.

1.3: Dissertation Structure

You can provide a brief overview of what the chapters that follow will contain and
your justification for the chosen dissertation structure format.

1.4: Aim and Objectives

This section allows you to discuss why you chose the project you did and what your
motivation was. You must also state your research aim/question clearly and provide a
bullet-point list of your objectives.
Normally, you would provide a short lead-in to the next chapter (Lit. Review) and
wrap up the first chapter.

CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1: Introduction
Here you may introduce the literature review and say why it is important. You can
discuss the broad themes of literature examined.

2.2: <First broad Theme of literature examined>

Discuss your first theme starting with the oldest literature first and finishing with the
most recent

2.3: <Second broad theme of literature examined>

Continue with the different sections until you have critically reviewed all of
appropriate literature.
You can finish with a lead-in to the next chapter

CHAPTER 3
DATA AND METHODS

3.1: Introduction
This is where you might give a brief introduction to the specific nature of your
intended research what data you intend you use and what your overall methods and
techniques will be

3.2: Data Used

Discuss the data that you will be using. Is it primary or secondary data? Will you be
compiling the data your self (from questionnaires for example) or using census data
from a government source?). What are the spatial and temporal characteristics of the
data? Are there any known or anticipated sources of error in the data?

3.2.1: Spatial and temporal characteristics

Discuss specific data characteristics within a sub-section

3.3: Methods and techniques

These may have their own section of they are different enough. Some literature
references might be used here cited appropriately.

3.3.1: A specific method

Use subsections to discuss a specific topic or technique

You can finish with a brief summary and then a lead-in to the next chapter

CHAPTER 4
RESULTS

4.1: Introduction
Here you might briefly discuss the contents of the sections which follow if you have
different types of data to describe. Remember to cross-reference back to the methods
chapter if necessary

4.2: <Results for a theme>

Data should be shown in its synthesised form. Large tables of raw data should be put
in the appendix at the back and then referenced accordingly.

4.3: Discussion of results

The last section here can usefully synthesise the body of results presented. You
should highlight the key results and emphasise their importance in relation to the
overall dissertation aim.
You can finish with a brief summary and then a lead-in to the next chapter

CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION

5.1: Introduction
This section might be a useful point for reminding the reader what the original study
aim/research question was.

5.2: Discussion
From this point you may discuss the results in detail and in particular, make cross
reference to external peer review literature and statements in the context of the
original study aim.

CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSIONS

6.1: Conclusions
This is a relatively short chapter. You should simply address the original research
aim/research question in the context of your findings and provide some final
conclusions making use of appropriate literature references if necessary.

6.2: Recommendations
Any recommendations for further study and perhaps a statement of what you might
have done differently (in hindsight) can be stated here.

APPENDICES
This is where you can place material which is either too voluminous to insert in the
relevant chapter or perhaps is an example of a sample questionnaire used etc.

READING LIST
A list of the references you have cited and used throughout should be provided here
in the format specified by the Harvard Referencing System.
Examples include:
Journals:
Evans, G. (1993). New questions about global climate change: myth or magic?
Nature, 95, 1007 1115
Books:
Henry, J.G. and Heinke, G.W. (1989). Environmental Science and Engineering.
Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 728pp
Government publications:
Department of Education and Science (1978). Special Educational Needs. HMSO,
London
Internet page:
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (2000) Research and Development Policy
on openness. http://www.maff.gov.uk/research/Openness/. Accessed 26th April 2001.