Dissertation
G003
lecture4.pptxIP3017 Final Year Dissertation
Lecture 4
Writing Your Thesis
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Feedback from proposals
Structure of a dissertation
What each section should include
What makes a good dissertation
Tips
FAQs
Recommended reading
Need to know what is expected from each component and how to conduct each part of the dissertation – Read some literature on how to write a dissertation
Outline
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Tell the person next to you your research question
Tell them what are the next steps you are taking in your dissertation
Tell them one thing you are unsure about in relation to your dissertation
Activity
3
Have a look at feedback in detail and speak to supervisor
Literature review was too descriptive
Literature review read as a list not a discussion
Theoretical framework included discussion of cases
No actual framework developed
Methods section not specific enough
Proposal feedback
4
Title
Introduction (includes research question, objectives, basic background, argument, limitations)
Literature review
Theoretical framework (can be incorporated inside literature review)
Methodology (what you did and why, using methodology literature)
Chapters/Sections (tackling evidence and developing your arguments in response to your question)
Conclusion
Bibliography
What does a thesis look like?
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Step 1 Revisit the literature review
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Aims
Identify what has already been said on your topic
To situate your project in a context
Identify your ‘original contribution’
Content
Review of what is already known/argued on your topic
Review of theoretical approaches/methodology used by others to research your topic or similar issues
How
Show relationship between sources – not just an analysis of each source in turn
Show how sources relate to your research – what is useful and why, how will you extend or refine the existing literature?
Organise by theme, not by publication date or author
Not just a description or summary or other people’s work
What should a lit review do?
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Step 2 Revisit the theoretical framework
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Provides a lens through which to answer your research question and helps situate your work in the wider literature.
You choose a theory or theoretical discussions that are relevant to your question
Theories on how civil society can influence peace building
A post-colonial understanding of globalisation
Different ways to use theory
Write up an existing theory and use it to understand/explain case studies
Use case studies to test a theory and show where theory falls short
Develop new theoretical framework by combining and extending existing theories
Theoretical framework
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Step 3 Collect data and write-up methodology
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What information do you need to answer your research question beyond academic sources?
How will you find them?
Go out and collect empirical data
For some will be secondary sources, others may include primary
Collecting your data
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Include the following:
What information you collected
How you collected the information
Data specification, data collection, data analysis
Reliability and validity of methods used
Why did you use them (support with reference to the literature)
Limitations of the data and methods
Scope, quantity, depth – refer to literature)
Are you doing a particular type of analysis?
Use research methods literature to justify your methods
Writing-up your methodology
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Step 4 Analysis
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This is different for everyone, depending on methodology but you want to present your answer to the question beyond the literature review
Need to answer research question – main part of your work – your contribution
What does the information you have gathered tell you? How does it differ from existing literature?
How will you analyse your findings – using the theoretical framework, using a specific method of analysis
Conducting your analysis
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Step 5 Writing-up
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Think about best way to structure – by research question, by data, by topic, or by theoretical framework in order to ‘tell the story’?
How will you present your findings? How will you present your analysis? How will you apply your theoretical framework
Could include
Background to your case study or issue you are studying
Describe and highlight your findings if you used data of any kind. What do they tell us?
Apply theory to your case study – what does it tell us?
See lectures and resources on Moodle for ways of answering your question.
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You must make sure you answer your research question
You should link your findings and discussion to the existing literature in the literature review
You must link the theoretical framework
You should be presenting an argument – what has your research done
You must provide evidence for all claims you make.
Writing-up
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Your introduction
Often the last thing you will write
Describes the scope of the dissertation
Explains why the subject is important
Gives a little background to the topic
Sets out the puzzle you are solving and lays out the argument
Defines important terms
Outlines structure of dissertation
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Your conclusion
Summary of your research
Explain work done to respond to initial question
Reiterate your argument and how you argued for it
Statement of your contribution
Explain how issues been dealt with
How the situation has improved as a result
The limitations of your study
Acknowledge problems/issues which still remain
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Step 6 Revising and editing
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No ideal structure but something close to what has been outlined
Set a clear question at the beginning and answer the question
Engage with the literature and show a theoretical effort
The sections: lit review, theoretical framework and methodology and research question all link to each other and derive from one another – do not treat them separately
In analysis/findings you should apply the theoretical framework
Your structure and development of ideas is just as important as knowledge demonstrated.
What makes a good thesis?
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Start now – this is not something that can be left to the end of term, it is an on going project
Continue reading but start writing, even if just ideas
Think critically – how does what I read compare with my own views?
In each chapter/section:
Intro: This section will show/argue
Body: Show the reader
Conclusion: This section has shown
Intro, lit review, theoretical framework, methods = about to ½ of dissertation.
Seek help from your supervisor and others and look at completed dissertations
Tips and FAQs
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What is the role of my supervisor?
To guide you on content and structure. They are not allowed to read drafts but can comment on bullet points.
Can I use my proposal in my final project?
Yes , it will not count as self-plagiarism but it is unlikely to look exactly the same in the final project. Only use if got a good mark for it but need to expand
Can I change my research question(s)?
Yes, make sure you adjust your previous work to fit
Do I need chapter headings?
It is helpful to separate out sections but don’t over do it.
I want to do interviews, do I need ethical approval?
Yes, see the Moodle page for the form and talk to your supervisor
What is the word count?
10,000 words +/- 10%
When is the deadline?
29 May 2020, 4pm
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Booth, W.C. & Colomb, G.G. & Williams, J.M. (2003), The Craft of Research, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Bryman, A. (2008), Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 3rd edition.
Burnham, P. & Gilland Lutz, K. & Grant, W. & Layton-Henry, Z. (2008), Research Methods in Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition.
Flick, U. (2009), An Introduction to Qualitative Research, London: Sage, 4th edition.
Gerring, J. (2001), Social Science Methodology: A Criterial Framework, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gray, D.E. (2009), Doing Research in the Real World, London: Sage, 2nd edition.
Hart, C. (2005), Doing your Masters Dissertation: Realizing your Potential as a Social Scientist, London: Sage.
King, G. & Keohane, R.O. & Verba, S. (1994), Designing Social Enquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Marsh, D. & Stoker, G. (eds.) (2010 or 2002), Theory and Methods in Political Science, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Neuman, L.W. (2006), Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, London: Allyn & Bacon, 6th edition.
Recommended reading
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