Writing a PhD Dissertation Academic Development Training Course for University Teachers Salahaddin University-Erbil August-September 2016 Prof.Fatimah R.Hasan Bajalani

Acknowledgements Researchers thank: -funders, -supervisors, -proofreaders and editors. -Institutions that have aided the research in some way, -close colleagues and family,

Acknowledgements Typically the structure moves from thanking the most formal support to the least formal thanks.

Examples Thanks to supervisors that carry a sense of who they were in the drama, like: “My supervisor, who kept a sense of humor when I had lost mine”; “my supervisor, whose maddening attention to detail drove me to finally learn to punctuate prose”; or “my supervisor, whose selfless time and care were sometimes all that kept me going.”

Abstract The abstract of dissertation is the first impression readers will have of a research. It is a summary of the researcher’s work and can be used to help readers decide if reading the entire dissertation would be worthwhile. A well-composed abstract can attract people to the research study.

Abstract The abstract is commonly placed after the title page of the dissertation. The department can guide the researcher to the institution's specific requirements for word count of abstract. The maximum sizes for abstracts are 150 words (Master thesis) and 350 words (Doctoral dissertation).

Basic Ingredients of abstract The abstract includes: the problem and purpose of the research, the research questions and any associated hypotheses, the research methodology and design, a general description of the participants or subjects, prominent findings, conclusions and recommendations. The trick is to include all of this information in very limited space.

1.Problem and Purpose The problem and purpose statements of a dissertation explain why the research needed to be conducted. When readers are deciding whether or not to read a study, they will want to know that the researcher’s work met a specific need.

Example "The dropout rate for students with behavioral challenges has increased in the last five years. The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons students with behavioral challenges leave school before graduating" This tells the reader that the researcher saw a problem and used his research to find possible solutions. Those potential solutions can be included as findings and recommendations.

2. Research Aims, Questions & Hypotheses When writing aims, use active, measurable terms, e.g., to identify, to characterize vs. to study. A good research hypothesis is a testable, focused, clear, declarative statement of relationships between variables based on previous observations.

Research Aims, Questions & Hypotheses Sometimes working hypotheses (per aim) are used in place of a central hypothesis. Sometimes research questions are used in place of hypotheses. This decision is often based on common practice in the discipline or field.

3.Participants The researcher should include descriptions of his/ her participants in general terms. For example, “Ten men and seven women who work in law enforcement in an urban, southwestern community in the United States.…”

4.Findings and Recommendations The findings and recommendations may be the most important elements for attracting an audience. These are the researcher’s contributions to the field. If there is a large quantity of findings, the researcher may need to combine some of them into categories for the abstract.

Example “Classroom disruptions/ interruptions” could cover all findings related to: - excessive/unnecessary talking, - tardiness/lateness and texting. disruptions/ interruptions

Results of the Study Write the results of thesis or dissertation before discussion section. Results should be arranged according to the methods outlines.

Tips for Writing the Results Determine which results to present /which are relevant to the question(s) presented in the Introduction irrespective of whether or not the results support the hypothesis(es). Organize the data in the Results section according to the order of most to least important.

Tips for Writing the Results 3. Determine whether the data are best presented in the form of text, figures, graphs, or tables. 4. Summarize the findings and point the reader to the relevant data in the text, figures and/or tables. The text should complement the figures or tables, not repeat the same information.

Tips for Writing the Results 5. Provide a clear description of the amount of a response or difference, use percentage of change rather than exact data. 6. make sure that the data are accurate and consistent throughout the manuscript.

Tips for Writing the Results 7. Summarize the statistical analysis and report actual values for all primary analyses. 8. Use the past tense when you refer to your results. 9. Number figures and tables consecutively in the same sequence they are first mentioned in the text.

Tips for Writing the Results 10. Provide a heading for each figure and table. 11. Write with accuracy, brevity and clarity.

Discussion The researcher should present her/ his interpretations and opinions, This section is considered the heart of the paper and usually requires several writing attempts.

Discussion Its main function: to answer the questions posed in the Introduction, explain how the results support the answers and, how the answers fit in with existing knowledge on the topic

steps to write a good discussion 1. organize the discussion from the specific to the general: findings to the literature, to theory, to practice. 2. use the same key terms, the same verb tense (present tense), and the same point of view that are used when posing the questions in the Introduction.

steps to write a good discussion 3. begin by re-stating the hypotheses that were testing and answering the questions posed in the introduction. 4. support the answers with the results and explain how the results relate to expectations and to the literature, clearly stating why they are acceptable and how they are consistent or fit in with previously published knowledge on the topic.

steps to write a good discussion 5.address all the results relating to the questions, regardless of whether or not the findings were statistically significant. 6.describe the patterns, principles, and relationships shown by each major finding/result and put them in perspective. The sequencing of providing this information is important.

steps to write a good discussion 7. defend the answers, if necessary, by explaining both why the answer is satisfactory and why others are not. Only by giving both sides to the argument that the explanation would be convincing. 8. discuss and evaluate conflicting explanations of the results. This is the sign of a good discussion.

steps to write a good discussion 9. discuss any unexpected findings. 10. identify potential limitations, weaknesses and comments on the relative importance of these to the interpretation of the results and how they may affect the validity of the findings.

steps to write a good discussion 11. summarize concisely the principal implications of the findings, regardless of statistical significance. 12. provide recommendations (more than two) for further research.

steps to write a good discussion 13. explain how the results and conclusions of this study are important and how they influence our knowledge or understanding of the problem being examined. 14. discuss everything, but in concise, brief, and specific way.

Conclusions,Recommendations, Suggestions explain the implications of research findings, and make suggestions for future research.

Conclusions,Recommendations, Suggestions Restate your thesis argument in a more general form to shows the reader you have a cohesive argument that is evident in your work from start to finish. Think of it this way: in a general sense your thesis states “I WILL argue that…”, while your conclusion should emphasize “I HAVE argued that…”. The thesis argument is meant to establish the direction of your study; the conclusion should make it clear to the reader that you have kept on track and supported your argument.

Conclusions,Recommendations, Suggestions 2. Emphasize the importance of your subject by placing it in a larger context. What meaning does it have in your field of study, or even in society as a whole? Show how your argument might advance knowledge in a discipline, take a position in a larger debate, or provide solutions to a problem.

Conclusions,Recommendations, Suggestions 3. Offer suggestions for the future based on what you have argued. End on a relevant and powerful quote or anecdote that serves to “sum up” your paper. This way, you can get your main point across and make it stylistically effective.

References Carter, S. (2013). Writing the acknowledgments: the etiquette of thanking. Retrieved from : https://doctoralwriting.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/writing-the-acknowledgments-the-ettiquette-of-thanking/ Lye, M. ( 2009). How to write an effective conclusion. Laurier Writing Centre. Retrieved from: https://legacy.wlu.ca/forms/1676/Conclusion.pdf.

References San Francisco Edit. Twelve steps to writing an effective results section, In: Scientific, Medical and General Proofreading and Editing . Retrieved from : http://www.sfedit.net/results.pdf Spencer, T. How to write a dissertation abstract. Retrieved from: http://classroom.synonym.com/write- dissertation-abstract-1585.html Research in Education by John W.

Contact Information Fatimah R.Hasan Al Bajalani,  PhD Professor in Applied Linguistics/ English Language Teaching and Curriculum Design Director of Curriculum Development Salahaddin University-Erbil, KRG email: fatimah.hassan@su.edu.krd      fatimah.hassan@mhe-krg.org      Facebook: Fatimah Hasan      mobile:009647504609670

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