Writing about your own work Dr Cheryl Lange

Evans, D & Gruba, P 2002 (2 nd ed.) How to write a better thesis, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, pp Common thesis structure

Introduction and conclusion to section Reminder: State purpose of chapter at the beginning Conclude by stating what is now known that wasn’t known at the beginning of the chapter

What to include in the Writing about your own Work section Identify your hypothesis/research question (the first mention in your dissertation). Review the method(s) appropriate for testing your hypothesis or answering your research question. Identify your choice of method. Describe the research method/instrument you have chosen. Justify reasons for selecting the method/instrument. Write up your results.

Method v methodology don’t use the words interchangeably Method What you do Description of a given procedure Tools of scientific investigation Processes used Methodology The method and its application The philosophical underpinnings of a particular method of investigation e.g. scientific method Principles determining how tools used Do you need to discuss your methodology?

Writing about methods Methodology Choice of method Explain how your methodology informs your data collection methods/instruments (more usual in the social sciences and humanities) Why would you need to refer back to your methodology in your analysis and discussion sections?

Material and methods There are different conventions in different disciplines. The material and methods must be clearly stated so that other people can use your exact materials (chemicals, theoretical equations) to replicate your results.

Multiple methods Triangulation – using more than one method/research data to test hypothesis or answer research question –e.g. combining in depth interviews and participant observation –e.g. combining empirical data and mathematical calculations Explain need for using multiple methods Describe each method in a separate chapter

Two examples Evans, D & Gruba, P 2002 (2nd ed.) How to write a better thesis, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, p. 101

Results – you may have more than one chapter Holtom, D & Fisher, E 2006 Enjoy Writing your Science Thesis or Dissertation, London, Imperial College Press, p. 58.

Results Research collection stage Record all your data in a systematic way Writing stage Be selective about the information you include Put extraneous data in appendices e.g. interview schedules

Writing Give facts not opinions. Present your results to inform your reader e.g. use sub headings, charts, tables etc to summarise your data. Discuss Results in the same order as Material and Methods sections.