How To Structure A Dissertation

Ultimate Guide

Dissertation Structure

The Ultimate Guide to Dissertation Structure

Dissertation are important yet very difficult to write. They are lengthy, need lots of effort, time and research to come up with something new. But all your efforts go in vain if you do not use a proper dissertation structure.

Best Assignment Writer brings you complete guide of how to format a dissertation and what each part contains so that you can ace your dissertation in the very first attempt.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a formal document that you will have to submit at the end of your academic career to earn your degree. It is an extended research paper like a detailed booklet outlining why you chose the research and how did you conduct it.

Difference between Dissertation and Thesis:

Though the word “dissertation” was used for doctoral thesis during PhD then, but commonly refers to all academic research paper; each with different requisites.

ACADEMIC DEGREE LENGTH PURPOSE
Bachelors Dissertation 5000 – 8000 Introduce student to research types and methodology
Masters Dissertation 20,000 – 50,000 To learn about specialization field and advanced research techniques.
PhD Dissertation 80,000 – 100,000 To gain expertise in the specialization.
Research should be very unique.

How to Structure a Dissertation?

Dissertation follows a specific format. No matter you are at which academic stage, your dissertation starts from making a research proposal consisting of three chapters, which are:

  • Introduction
  • Literature review
  • Methodology

Once your dissertation proposal is approved, you will have to detail your complete research in dissertation which is made of 5 main chapters (introduction, literature review, methodology, results and conclusion) and additional chapters like cover page and glossary.

The following elements make up the dissertation layout:

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DISSERTATION CHAPTERS:


  1. 1. COVER PAGE
  2. 2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
  3. 3. ABSTRACT
  4. 4. TABLE OF CONTENT
  5. 5. LIST OF TABLES
  6. 6. LIST OF ABBREVIATION
  7. 7. GLOSSARY
  8. 8. INTRODUCTION
  9. 9. LITERATURE REVIEW
  10. 10. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
  11. 11. METHODOLOGY
  12. 12. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
  13. 13. RESULTS
  14. 14. DISCUSSION
  15. 15. CONCLUSION
  16. 16. REFERENCE LIST
  17. 17. APPENDIX

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  1. COVER PAGE:

It is the first page that with show the following details:

  • Your name
  • Your title
  • Your department
  • Name of the supervisor
  • Name of university

You have to pay attention to the specific format of university cover page. You can ask for a sample from your seniors or search for an online page.


  1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

This page comes after cover page. In this section, you have to mention name of all the people who assisted or supported you completing this research successfully. It is better to write acknowledgement in the end as it will count everyone from point A to Z.


  1. ABSTRACT:

Is the most important part of your dissertation. It is a short trailer of your research and contains important elements from every section. It is usually 200-300 words in length depending on university requirement.

Note: Make sure you cover important details from sections introduction, methodology and data analysis and clearly outline the purpose of your research.


  1. TABLE OF CONTENT:

The table of content contains each chapter with its sub topics and pages number. Make sure you make table of content in the end as it might case problem with correspondence with the respective page number.


  1. LIST OF TABLES/FIGURES/GRAPHS:

It is extremely vital to add tables and figures in your dissertation. It not only makes your research clear and understandable but outshines your efforts. You will have to mention page numbers and sections where your table or figures is directing you.


  1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS:

All the abbreviations used are explained in this section.


  1. GLOSSARY:

Is an optional chapter in your research. You may decide to include or exclude it depending on the complexity of the research. In this section, you make a list of all the terms difficult to understand and explain its meaning.


  1. INTRODUCTION:

The introduction is a part that starts from broad area to specific topic. it consist of three elements:

  • Background of the topic
  • Research objective (WHY of the research)
  • Research questions (WHAT of the research)

  1. LITERATURE REVIEW:

The literature review consist of selection of all the resources that are relevant to your study. These sources include:

  • Books/ Encyclopedia
  • Manuscripts
  • Thesis
  • Research articles
  • Publishing

All the sources must be credible one. Your literature review must contain new information i.e. articles that are not older than 10 years. You will have to evaluate and analyze them critically with their relevance to your research. A literature review helps to:

  • Review previous work done on this topic
  • Provide research gap
  • Identify different variables
  • Form conceptual framework of the study

  1. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:

The model that explains your hypothesis and the relationship between the different variables that are:

  • Independent variable: The variable that affects the dependent variable.
  • Dependent variable: The main variable under study.
  • Moderating variable: The variable that moderates the relationship between dependent and independent variable.
  • Mediating variable: The variable that defines the relationship between the independent and dependent variable.

  1. METHODOLOGY:

This details answers to HOW will you perform your research and WHY are you choosing this methodology. Including right type of research method is the most important yet the most difficult task. Thorough review and analysis of the approaches used in other relevant researches. The research method outlines:

  • Research type: Qualitative or Quantitative
  • Sample type: random, striated etc.
  • Data collection type: primary, secondary or tertiary
  • Data collection tool: Questionnaire, surveys, interviews

  1. DATA ANALYSIS:

Is the process of evaluating the data collected through different statistical tools and methods. It involves transforming and modeling the information obtained through sampling. This is a very complicated process and often require expert dissertation help related to statistics. Your results depend on this step and any mishap might ruin your entire effort.


  1. RESULTS:

The findings obtained from the data analysis is called results. Did it supported your hypothesis or was against it? Whatever the answer is, you have to present it as it is.


  1. DISCUSSION:

This is the comparative analysis of the findings of the previous researches and your research. Every variable is discussed in detail with preceding articles and discussed accordingly.


  1. CONCLUSION:

Conclusion is the wrap of your entire dissertation. Since your dissertation is very lengthy, your reader might get lost in the details. Therefore, the conclusion in a sense reminds of:

  • The background of the research.
  • Focus of your study.
  • How the gaps are filled by your research.

  1. REFERENCE LIST:

Is the list of all the sources that are used in your research. The source used are listed according to the format given by the university or required by the journal.
If you have any difficulty in referencing, you can avail our help including:


  1. APPENDIX:

All the additional information is given in this section. The purpose of this section is to provide readers with extra material available on that topic.

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