Structuring your dissertation

Dissertation workshop for coursework postgrads

Dr Cheryl Lange

Structure is important
Decisions about structure affect many aspects of your writing.

What aspects might it affect?

Focus Readability Development of your argument Number of sections Scope of each section Length of each section

First steps
A first step in developing a structure is to work out your research question. Developing an outline of your dissertation can also help you get clarity.

Outlining
Try the following.
Write a list of possible chapters. Write a sentence or two on the contents of each chapter. Write a list of sub-headings for each chapter Note how you will develop each section. Use appropriate verbs, e.g. defines, describes, evaluates. Estimate the number of words for each section/chapter. Remember each draft will require a number of revisions.
Adapted from Murray, R 2011 How to write a thesis, 3rd edn, Maidenhead, Open University Press, pp. 146-147

An outline example

Murray, R 2011 How to write a thesis, 3rd edn, Maidenhead, Open University Press, p. 147

Chapter plan
Examine the chapter plan handout. Note the headings used. Background from lit review Purpose Hypothesis Sources

Chapter structure

How would you adjust the format to suit your dissertation?

A generic thesis structure

Introduction/Background Literature review Theory / Approach/Method/Materials/ Subjects Analysis/Results Interpretation/Discussion

Conclusions/Implications/Re commendations

Adapted from Murray, R 2011 How to write a thesis, 3rd edn, Maidenhead, Open University Press

Introduction
Outline context or background to area you want to investigate
State aim one aim

Limit the scope

Provide overview of dissertation

Outcome: To provide clarity about the purpose of your research

Background
Position your study in terms of what has gone before what is currently taking place how research is being/has been conducted Consider including e.g. a brief historical review a description of your study location definitions

Literature review
Critically review current theoretical and empirical research, e.g. compare and contrast, show strengths and weaknesses in relation to your research topic. Show how research discussed is relevant to your research topic. Highlight any gaps or deficiencies in current research.

Writing a hypothesis
Distinguish

your aim what you are trying to achieve

from your hypothesis a proposition that can be tested Your hypothesis needs to be grounded in the research literature

Research question v hypothesis

A hypothesis derives from your research question e.g. Question What is the relationship between test anxiety and performance on complex cognitive tasks? (what you want to find out) Hypothesis Performance on complex cognitive tasks will be an inverted U-shaped function of the level of anxiety (a proposition that can be tested)

Hypothesis checklist
Does it suggest the relationship between two variables? Does it specify the nature of the relationship? Does it imply the research design to be used to study the relationship? Does it indicate the population to be studied? Is if free of mention of specific measures/statistical tests?

Is it free of unnecessary methodological detail?

Cone, JD, Foster, SL, 1996 Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology and related fields, Washington, American Psychological Association, p. 41

Theory / Approach/ Method/Materials/Subjects

Explain/describe the design of your experiments, surveys, questionnaires etc. used to
test your hypotheses answer your research questions

State why you choose these methods. Traditionally it includes the following Most important in the disciplines of science and engineering

When your study was carried out

Where it was carried out What you used How the study was carried out

Analysis/Results

Describe the results of your experiments, etc. Most important in the disciplines of science and engineering
The extract is from SCoReS a series of online modules that support the learning and teaching of science communication and research skills. http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/students/scores

Interpretation/Discussion
A key chapter in which you discuss the implications of your results for theory and practice examine

your results in comparison with other research

evaluate the model, method, experiment, questionnaire you used. In the humanities and social sciences, this section will have a number of chapters and will form the main part of your thesis.

Conclusions/Implications/Recommendations
Conclude by tying your ideas together, possibly with reference to each aim. State how your work relates to key prior research. State what your contribution is. Ensure your conclusions and recommendations follow from your discussion and evaluation correspond to the aim as stated in your introduction

Reminder: Dont include new information in the conclusion

General tips
Writing dissertation is a cyclical process Write early but

review previously written work from time to time and make the necessary changes Structuring chapters Begin each chapter with an introduction showing relevance to overall dissertation. Develop with logical elaborations, referenced explanations and examples. Finish with a conclusion which follows from argument in body of chapter and is congruent with the aim stated in the introduction.

References

UWA library holdings of Masters and PhD theses http://www.library.uwa.edu.au/students/postgraduates/theses

Graduate Research School has a range of booklets on writing a thesis http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/resources/workshops/booklets Blog by Jo Edmondston, UWA - Graduate Education Officer http://myresearchspace.grs.uwa.edu.au/pgwritinggroup/ SCoReS - online modules that support the learning and teaching of science communication and research skills. http://www.science.uwa.edu.au/students/scores Honours Hub http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/studysmarter/online/guides/honours MasterMine http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/studysmarter/online/mastermine Browns Eight Questions for Drafting a Research Article [Brown, R. 1994. Write Right First Time Literati Newsline Special Issue: 18]

Searching for answers?

Drop in 1pm - 2pm during semester teaching weeks Reid Library Mon, Wed, Thurs & Science Library Tues & Fri
Individual consultations make your appointment and submit your draft at least 2 days prior to when you want your consultation. Lunch time workshops Contact details Phone: 6488 2423 - Student Support Reception www.studysmarter.uwa.edu.au study.smarter@uwa.edu.au cheryl.lange@uwa.edu.au