Structuring your dissertation Unlocking the mystique of writing dissertations Dr Cheryl Lange

Review What was relevant to you from last week’s session? Who has started their research already? Who has started writing already? Reminder: Your early reading is a way of helping you –define your topic – what’s the aim of your research? –limit its scope –develop a tentative hypothesis/research question –think about your data collection method(s)

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

1. Dissertation introduction Outline problem or background to area you want to investigate State aim – one aim Limit the scope Provide overview of dissertation Outcome: Clarity about the purpose of your research

2. 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 Include –a review of current theory/practice (literature review)

3. Your work State research question(s) or hypotheses Explain/describe the design of your experiments, surveys, questionnaires etc used to –test your hypotheses –answer the questions posed in the background chapter. State why you choose these methods Discuss and analyse the results of your work.

4. Synthesis Discuss the implications of your results your contribution to knowledge Examine your results in comparison with earlier work Evaluate model, method, experiment Conclude by tying all of the above together – Make sure your conclusions –follow from your discussion and evaluation –correspond to your aim as stated in your introduction

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 a introduction showing relevance to overall dissertation. Develop with logical elaborations, explanations and examples following on from stated aim. Finish with a conclusion which follows from argument in body of chapter and is congruent with stated aim of chapter.

Different disciplines, different structure? Despite dissertations from different disciplines requiring different procedures, often the structure is similar

Evans, D & Gruba, P 2002 (2nd ed.) How to write a better thesis, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, p.16

Writing a hypothesis Distinguish your aim – what you are trying to achieve – put in the Introduction from your hypothesis – a proposition that can be tested - put in Own work section 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

Searching for answers? What are your questions? 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: Student Support Reception