Best Guide on the Components of Dissertation

Writing a dissertation at the end of an academic course affords students the experience of embarking on a research study. That aside, it is a way students contribute to their study field. In writing a dissertation, you need to first come up with a topic. You then formulate a thesis statement on which you develop your argument. The objective of the paper should also be stated clearly. You also need to choose a methodology for the research and theoretical framework. The findings and recommendations would later appear in conclusion.

The elements of a dissertation

Title

The title forms the basics of your dissertation; without it, there is nothing to develop. It is the first thing every reader would check before going on to read your work. What are you seeking to investigate? Your topic should be something interesting or relevant to your academic field. The subject serves as a guide to your dissertation, making you stay focused and work within a specific boundary. Also, it determines the extent of your research. Topic example: Obstacles to the use of internet banking: A Study among Corporate Customers in Japan.

Abstract

The abstract briefly describes what the dissertation entails and its purpose. According to your university’s guidelines, it may range between 200 to 350 words. The abstract must tell what your research is about, its methods, findings, and the conclusion.

Table of Contents

The table of content tells the reader where to find what and on which page of the project. It is a list of all the headings and sub-headings and their page numbers. The table of content makes organizing the research content easier for the researcher and its reading simpler for the readers. The headings and subheadings here must always be consistent, as in the dissertation.

The introduction

The introduction section introduces the reader to your dissertation by summarizing its content. After reading, the reader should identify the objectives of your study and its relevance. The chapter should contain the background information of the research and its theoretical framework. It is where the researcher states the focus of the project. There should be a paragraph for the research statement and questions. It should define the methodology for data collection, how it would be processed and analyzed. Also, it should state the research findings, limitations, and recommendations, if any.

Literature Review

In the literature review section, the student peruses works by other researchers relevant to his subject. The literature used should be significant to your study objectives and tell the historical antecedents. Aside from proving that you have done enough research, it broadens your knowledge on the topic. By critically analyzing these works, you get enough information to support your arguments or point out gaps in them to give credence to your study. The section should be an intellectual analysis of previous studies and not just quotations from them.

Methodology

Here, you describe how the research was done. What procedures were used to collect and analyze data used in the study? You should justify the method used and whether it helped in reaching your research objectives or created limitations.