City of London College Writing Dissertations some pointers

The dissertation should be in the following format: Title Page Signed Statement Abstract Acknowledgements Contents Page List of Abbreviations List of Tables and Figures

Main Chapters Approximate % total words by chapter Introduction 10% The literature review 25% Research Methodology 15% Presentation of Findings 15% Discussion 25% Conclusion and Recommendations 10% Appendices Bibliography Abstract: This is an accurate summary of your research, usually less than 300 words. It should include the aims and objectives, methods of investigation and criteria used, the main findings and conclusions reached. The aim is to give the reader an understanding of the nature of the dissertation. The abstract should be written in the past tense and in the third person passive, e.g. ...consequently a series of semi-structured interviews were undertaken. The findings suggested that...

1. Contents This should be a tabulated list showing each section (chapter) of the dissertation and the page number at which that section begins. If the sections are sub-divided then a numbered entry for each sub-section should also appear in the contents list. A good contents list should give a clear picture of the nature and scope of the study. Headings and sub headings should be as short as possible. Some brief examples are given below. 2. Management Theories 2.1 General Theories of Management 2.2 Japanese Theories and Practice 2.3 Contrastive summaries of theory and practice

3. Research Methods 3.1 Justification of Research Methodology 3.2 Methods of Data Collection 3.3 Methods of Data Analysis 4. Introduction Chapter and Background to Research The introduction (often the last chapter to be written) should set the scene and be used as a guide to the finished structure of the dissertation. It should outline the chosen topic, demonstrate why the topic is interesting and important, identify the nature and aims or hypotheses of the research, and show how the approach taken in the study is an advance on previous work. One of the criteria for success is the relationship between a students ability to define a research question and then to answer it. The findings at the end may be useful and well-supported, but if they do not answer the question which the examiner thought was being taken on at the beginning, then the dissertation may not be rated highly. In order to guide a reader through the argument as clearly as possible, it is usual in the introduction to summarise in turn the purpose and content of each chapter briefly. In summary the introduction will set the context of the study. It answers questions such as: why do this study? Why now? Why me? Why there? It should seek to answer other questions as follows:- Is there a problem? - What is it? - Why does it need to be solved? - What is your hypothesis? (if appropriate). - Who will benefit from your investigations? - In what sense will they benefit? - In what sense will my contributions add to what is already known? Also in the introduction it is a good idea to summarise in general terms (not in detail as this comes in your Methodology Chapter), how you are going to solve the problem, e.g. collect data, analyse data. i.e. What is my data collection strategy? By what methods? e.g., a case study approach. What are the constraints or limitations of the study? A good way to end the introduction is to state the dissertation objectives and/or aims. However, a statement of the aims and/or objectives could be placed at the end of the literature review depending on the type of research undertaken and after consultation with your supervisor.

5. Literature Review There should be a satisfactory review of literature related to the topic of your research investigation which casts light upon the dissertation and its objectives. This should be undertaken before any other work such as data collection. Successful completion of this is a key stage in the dissertation process and for justifying your aims. It may be that this chapter will also include the presentation of theoretical concepts you are testing or challenging in your dissertation Before you begin your investigation you should check systematically through the

literature relating to your subject area to see what has already been published. This will indicate current trends in your chosen area. Consider the scope of the literature you wish to search carefully. Use textbooks, journals and abstracts to get an overview of your subject. A bibliography of your subject may already have been published. The site librarian will show you how to undertake this work. The library staff are supportive to students undertaking dissertations and you must not abuse their good nature by making unreasonable demands. It is particularly important that you use a wide variety of online resources including books and journals. Ongoing research in your field which is centrally funded can be traced through electronic databases held in the Library. You may be able to do part of your literature search using the database systems in the library or via recommended research engines. You will be using keywords to find references and must prepare a list of search terms and synonyms in advance. It is also important you keep a list of your references so that if necessary you can access the article at a later date. Having done your initial literature survey you are ready to finalise the precise nature of your investigation and the specific objectives knowing the background of your chosen area of study. Update your literature review at intervals throughout your research and particularly before you write up the final dissertation to ensure that you keep track of what is happening in your area. It is very important that you acknowledge the authorship of other peoples work using the Harvard System of Citing and Referencing. 6. Methodology This chapter should be a concise description of the methods you used to achieve your research aims and objectives. It should provide evidence that you have made a reasoned choice in all aspects of your research methods from entering the field, how you gained access to your respondents, your sampling frame, your methods for data collection and data analysis, ethics, reliability and validity. 5 In quantitative research you may be using questionnaires and observation schedules, or in qualitative research, semi-structured in-depth interviews. You should describe the decision making process and explain why you selected your chosen path. You may use several different research methods to achieve your objectives. You should also describe how your methods were implemented including how you gained access and ethical considerations. Your methodology chapter should explain what you did to achieve your objectives, how you did it and why you did it that way. Collecting the data is a time consuming process. The quality of the data you collect will determine the quality of your resultant argument. It is essential that you discuss briefly in your Methodology Chapter concerns regarding reliability and validity of your data and their influence on the quality of your data. 7. Data Analysis The data will have to be analysed and this will require you to use a general-purpose statistical package such as SPSS or a spreadsheet package. With qualitative data you will be concerned with representing the results of your interviews, and careful thought must

be given to this. Statistical software packages for qualitative data do exist but their use can be problematic. Check that you understand how you will carry out the quantitative analysis before you embark on data collection, and in the case of qualitative research be prepared to analyse your data, for instance, using appropriate themes related to you literature review. If you are in any doubt in relation to the above, consult your dissertation supervisor.

8. Presentation of Findings and Discussion of Results This is the chapter where you present the analyses of your findings, drawn from the research methods used and analytical techniques you employed. This chapter should answer the aims and objectives you set in your Introduction (or possibly at the end of your Literature Review) and be related to your literature review. It should be an objective presentation which does not employ your opinions. Every finding should be discussed. What patterns have emerged? What is the difference between the ideas and views discussed in your literature review and your findings? How do the main points you are making change your understanding of the topic. 9. Conclusions/Recommendations This chapter presents a summary of the main findings as a series of statements. It offers conclusions, and recommendations and directions for future research in the light of your findings. Be sure to restate the general aim of the research and if this has been adequately addressed.

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