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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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