Dissertations & Major Project Writing Week 1 of 5: An introduction to writing dissertations & large projects Robert Walsha, LDU City campus, Calcutta House, CM2-22 An LDU short course presentation

Dissertations & Major Project Writing week 1 This week’s topics: An introduction to writing dissertations & large projects (including overview of importance of critical analytical thinking, comparing & contrasting & building & sustaining argument); focusing & formulating the topic; developing & writing the proposal; time & project management; working with your supervisor

An introduction to writing dissertations So, how does it differ from essays, reports, etc.? Is there anything I can take that I’ve learnt from my academic studies, i.e., on smaller written assignments so far? critical analytical thinking ‘comparing & contrasting’ ‘engaging with “the debate”’ looking for ‘similarities & differences’ in the literature/knowledge base ‘building’ & ‘sustaining’ ‘argument’

Focusing & formulating a topic pick a topic which will sustain your interest; Ensure the project is manageable; Don’t pick too general a topic; Instead: narrow down within a general topic; Try to identify areas worthy of investigation, areas where there is worthwhile ‘debate’ – does your initial reading throw up interesting questions?;

Focusing & formulating a topic Don’t go too narrow – is there some discussion out there, even if not academic?; think about what kind of research you will have to undertake, to do justice to the project – is it feasible (time), is it realistic (attainable);

Focusing & formulating a topic Seeking initial advice; Be as thorough as you can in your initial survey of the literature; Begin to develop a realistic work plan

Focusing & formulating a topic Hypothesis vs. identifying an area of investigation; Identifying the most appropriate methodological approach(es); Thinking ‘quantitative’ versus ‘qualitative’ research;

Your name – the easy bit (!) Working / proposed title. Brief overall aims of the project. Identification of the key issues you think you will have to address. Brief comment on why the subject is of interest … … and perhaps even why you are interested in it. Developing & writing the proposal

Perhaps a brief outline of your initial thoughts based upon your preliminary investigation of the literature – where do you think the project is going? You may have to produce a short preliminary literature review, outlining key published sources that are likely to be useful – and why … Developing & writing the proposal

… certainly, you will probably have to include an indicative bibliography (listing of key published sources located so far). You will probably be expected (and would certainly be wise) to make some comment about the research methods you intend to employ – and why! Developing & writing the proposal

If relevant, a comment on how your research intersects with existing research on the subject. Comment on any research difficulties you think you are likely to encounter, and how you will attempt to get around these problems. It is also possible that you will have to comment briefly on the anticipated research outcome(s). Developing & writing the proposal

You will almost certainly have to provide some idea of the main section/chapter breakdown (as you are thinking of it at present – you will not be bound by this, and will able to adjust it if necessary later). You may have to provide a ‘plan of action’, i.e., the time you are allowing for each stage of the project from start to finish Developing & writing the proposal

Time & project management An overall plan/schedule; Weekly goal-setting and performance monitoring? ~ are you keeping up? Don’t hesitate to commence work – don’t ‘get the coursework out of the way first‘!

Time & project management Peter Levin (Excellent Dissertations!, 2005), suggests 3-tiered approach: –Create a ‘dissertation calendar’; –Set a ‘comfort deadline’; (Excerpt from Levin, 2005, pp.64-65)

Time & project management … F.Consult text books on survey research methods: 2 days G.Produce preliminary draft of questionnaire: 2 days H.Redraft questionnaire: 1 day I.Pilot questionnaire & revise if necessary: 7 days J.Carry out 100 questionnaire-based interviews: 14 days K.Transcribe quantitative data from interviews: 4 days L. Collate qualitative data from interviews: 8 days M. Analyse data, formulate findings & think about their significance: 7 days … (Excerpt from Levin, 2005, pp.64-65) – Create ‘to-do’ lists.

Working with your supervisor The importance of establishing an effective working relationship; What the supervisor can offer: –Sympathy & encouragement?; –Expertise in the field ~ e.g., good knowledge of the literature; –General advice ~ e.g., on methodology, planning –Acting as a ‘sounding-board’ for your thinking;

Working with your supervisor Problems that typically occur: – Meetings seem of little value / unproductive ~and how to motivate your supervisor; – Supervisor impossible to track down;

Working with your supervisor Keep a record of what is discussed/agreed at each meeting; When should I see my supervisor?

The planning stages 2. Select a topic for investigation. Discuss possible outcomes with your supervisor and decide what the emphasis of your study is to be. 1. Draw up a shortlist of topics. Consult library catalogues, past lecture notes, 2 or 3 core texts. Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

4. Decide on the aims and objectives of the study or formulate a hypothesis. Think carefully about what is and what is not worth investigating. 3. Establish the precise focus of the study. Draw up ‘first thoughts’ list of questions and subject each to rigorous examination. The planning stages 2. Select a topic for investigation. Discuss possible outcomes with your supervisor and decide what the emphasis of your study is to be. Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

6. Read enough to enable you to decide whether you are on the right lines. The initial reading may give you ideas about approach and methods and how information might be classified. 5. Draw up an initial project outline. List aims and/or objectives, questions to be investigated, possible methods of investigation and literature to be consulted. Consult your supervisor. 4. Decide on the aims and objectives of the study or formulate a hypothesis. Think carefully about what is and what is not worth investigating. The planning stages Adapted from Bell, 1993, pp. 22-3

Begin in-depth reading and research 7. Devise a timetable to enable you to check that all stages will be covered and time allowed for writing. It is easy to take too long over one stage and so have insufficient time to carry out essential tasks in the next stage. Consult your supervisor over the viability of your timetable. 6. Read enough to enable you to decide whether you are on the right lines. The initial reading may give you ideas about approach and methods and how information might be classified. The planning stages Don’t forget to consult your supervisor at stages 2, 5 & 7!