Structure of DissertationTitle PageThis should have your dissertation title, your name,your student number, title of degree and the date. AcknowledgementsIt is usual but not compulsory to thank those whohave been of particular help to you in completing the dissertation.AbstractThis is a short section (maximum one page), whichconcisely summarises the whole of the dissertation;the main aim of the research, the findings of theLiterature Review, the research methodologyadopted, the findings of your primary research andthe conclusions made. It should be written in thepast tense.Contents PageThis should be written on a separate page andshould show chapter/section headings and pagenumbers. It should include all appendices and befollowed by separate lists of tables and figures ifappropriate.IntroductionYour introduction should contain your topic clearlystated and defined, the reason why it is of interestto you, a clear overall purpose and definitions of allspecial and general terms. This chapter should alsoend with a clear research question or questions, a list of objectives and a hypothesis or hypotheses ifneeded.Literature ReviewThis chapter should demonstrate that you haveconducted a thorough and critical investigation ofrelevant sources, outlining, comparing anddiscussing key ideas, explanations, concepts, modelsand theories. You should present these ideas in asystematic, well structured and logical sequence.You will be expected to use prominent and up to date books and academic journals.This chapter should end with a statement of thegap in current knowledge which your research aims to fill.MethodologyThis chapter describes andassesses the approach you have taken to the data collection process (research philosophy, research strategy, method(s),validity etc.) For each research question or hypothesis and objectives you should have a methodfor achieving it, making sure that you offer clearrationales for the decisions that you have made. Youshould explicitly describe your chosen method(s)and any sampling techniques used. It is also important to give a brief assessment of otherpotential relevant data collection methods and whyyou discounted them. Do not describe all datacollection methods. There should be a critique of thesuccess, or otherwise, of your method(s). Explainthe appropriateness of the data analysis techniquesthat you have selected. You must also discussvalidity, reliability and generalisability.Findings / ResultsIn this chapter the data generated should bereported as completely and neutrally as is possiblesuch that the reader can assess it easily. This iswhere you will include such tables and graphs thatwill illustrate your findings. This chapter will alsocontain verbatim quotes from interviewees, orsections of narrative account that illustrate periodsof unstructured observation. The purpose of thischapter is to present the facts. It is not appropriatein this chapter to begin to offer opinions on the facts.Analysis / Discussion of FindingsYou should present your analysis clearly and logicallyand it should be relevant to your research aim,research question(s), hypothesis (es) and objectives.Make sure that you relate the findings of yourprimary research to your Literature Review. You cando this by comparison: discussing similarities andparticularly differences. If you think your findingshave confirmed some literature findings, say so andsay why. If you think your findings are at variancewith the literature, say so and say why.Conclusions/RecommendationsState the main conclusions of your dissertation.State explicitly how and to what extent you have metyour aims and objectives / answered your researchquestion(s) / proved your hypothesis (es) whicheveris appropriate. Your conclusions should followlogically from your findings and not contain any new material. Recommendations can be made ifappropriate.Appendices, illustrations etcAny necessary information should be here, forexample, sampled questionnaires, topic guides, etc.Each appendix should be lettered (A, B, C etc.) andshould consist of detailed information that isinteresting but not essential to the main thrust ofyour findings section.ReferencesFull references to every source used, presented inthe format of the Harvard System of Referencing.
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