Step-by-step Guide For How to Write a Dissertation?

Published - 2022-09-08

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How to Write a Dissertation? Step-by-step Guide

Definition of Dissertation

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a dissertation is a lengthy essay about a particular subject, particularly one that is written for academic credit in a college or university. However, that definition just scratches the surface of what a dissertation assignment actually entails.

One needs to have a methodological comprehension of an essay or thesis in order to comprehend what a dissertation is. Similar to an essay but with far more in-depth research and material is a dissertation.

How to Write a Dissertation?

In the academic world, dissertation writing holds an incredible amount of significance. A decent dissertation paper involves months of study work and represents the culmination of your academic adventure. Although writing a dissertation is not an easy task and therefore it is advised not to succumb to the project's pressure or the surrounding fear-mongering. At the same time, it is equally important to keep a check on the deadline in order to avoid any last-minute hassle.

Whether you are a graduate student working on a thesis for a professional qualification or an undergraduate working on your dissertation project.

Here are 6 steps for how to write a dissertation that will serve in all your student endeavours and will help you improve your professional skills:-

Find a Study Topic that is both interesting and manageable

Any independent research effort that is successful must have a certain theme in mind. An original piece of research paper that earns a higher academic grade can be produced using an interesting but doable study topic.

Students get to choose their study topic for their thesis or dissertation project, unlike essays and assignments. Therefore, a dissertation or thesis can also be the most satisfying assignment you have ever taken on if all the jigsaw pieces are put together in a holistic and multidisciplinary manner.

Your research topic shouldn't be too broad or too narrow so that you can gather the necessary secondary and primary data in a reasonable amount of time. Focusing on a subject that piques your curiosity about a specific academic idea and gets you fired up will probably result in a unique piece of writing.

Create a Top-notch Dissertation Proposal

After deciding on a study topic, one can go on to write a strong dissertation proposal. You can persuade your supervisor or the committee members (for master's and PhD programs) of the importance of your research project by using the proposal paper. You will also be required to demonstrate in your research proposal how your study will greatly benefit the academic and scientific communities by tackling challenging and thought-provoking problems.

Even though proposal papers are significantly shorter than lengthy dissertation papers, they nonetheless adhere to the same format. Even if your university does not require the proposal, you should nonetheless make an overview of the major themes that the dissertation paper itself will address.

The following are typical dissertation paper contents:

- A succinct explanation of the issue your dissertation paper will try to solve.

- The theory or theories you plan to test.

- The research goals you want to address.

- How your expertise would be added to that of the academic and scientific community?

- How do you plan to solve the principal research question?

- What method of research you'll use?

- The type of population to which you'd like to extrapolate your findings

- What sampling method(s) you would use and why are that method(s) instead of others?

- What moral measures have you taken when collecting data?

- Who the participants in your research are or could be?

Structure of Dissertation

Structure of a Dissertation

The following essential focal points need to be mentioned:

- Dissertation's Title:

Ideal academic research titles should contain no more than 12 words. The title of your research project should make the topic immediately evident. The overarching purpose of the study should be made explicit in terms of the broad assertions of the intended outcomes. Try to describe your research in detail while highlighting the goals you have for it.

- Research Question:

The main research questions you want to answer as part of the project should be presented as research objectives. Focus your study more narrowly and limit your goals to no more than four. Your research goals should be related to a study's or hypothesis's purpose.

- Review of the literature:

When conducting a literature review, check with your supervisor to see if there are any specific academic sources you are required to use. If not, research the most pertinent theories, publications, journals, schools of thought, and publications that will be used to build arguments for your literature study.

Research, Analysis, and Data Gathering

This is arguably the most important step in preparing a dissertation. Using out-of-date and pointless academic sources would be a waste of time and could jeopardize hard work. The key to finishing the dissertation assignment is finding pertinent and extremely authentic reference sources, so it is advisable not to rush this process. Here are a few factors to take into account when conducting research:

You can't possibly read everything on the subject. Even while it is beneficial to read as much as you can at this point, it is crucial to realize that you cannot possibly read everything that is relevant to your research.

Keeping a check on the deadlines and due date is crucial to submit your work on time.

Therefore, it is important to know by what time one should reach the appropriate conclusion. You can keep organized at this point by creating a timeline while maintaining focus on your desired outcome. It is time to continue after the limitations of the prior research and its implications are clearly grasped.

Review at least the most important studies and work in your field, though. We refer to research conducted by pioneers in your field as noteworthy.

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To locate reference materials, consult a reliable research database.

Most students begin their search for references by conducting desk-based research. The internet is known to be full of false information, and false information spreads more quickly online than the truth does, therefore this research approach has its own limitations.

Therefore, it is crucial that you choose your reference material from trustworthy sources like Google Scholar and Researchgate. It is advised against citing content from Wikipedia because it is not regarded as an authoritative academic source in the academic community.

Never underestimate the value of a physical library. When looking for intriguing and trustworthy publications, the support staff at a university library can be a big assistance.

Conclude your argument

Put a brief report of the results and a summary of the study at the conclusion of your dissertation. You will be required to explain how your research will benefit other academics in your field of study and its consequences in the last chapter.

It is advised to include a brief "recommendations" section that explains the goal of the study and the necessity for additional research to clarify the subject.

Final Take

The key research topic should be succinctly addressed in the dissertation conclusion, leaving the reader with a clear comprehension of your main contention. Conclude your dissertation by giving a summary of what you have covered and how you achieve the end result. In conclusion, there are frequent suggestions for future study or application.

All sources that you have cited must have complete information included in a reference list also known as works cited list or bibliography. Maintaining a consistent reference style is crucial. Each style has certain requirements for how sources should be organized in the reference list.