Dissertation Guidelines Presentation (1)

8/10/2019 Dissertation Guidelines Presentation (1)

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University of Wales MastersDissertations at RKC

A brief outline of research expectationsand processes

Professor Gabriel Jacobs


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The nature of Masters research

dissertations(See also my guidelines on the RKC website)

A research dissertation is not a descriptivebusiness report but a piece of analyticalacademic writing. As well as being potentiallypractical, it is an exercise in logical thinking, andin particular avoiding sloppiness.

There is a recognized standard dissertationstructure which is not set in stone but

departure from it should be clearly justified.


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Typical dissertation structure

Title page

Abstract (executive summary)

ToC, lists of abbreviations, tables and figures

Statement of originality, acknowledgements

Introduction: any background information deemed necessary,and setting out specific research objectives

Literature review

Methodology

Analysis and findings

Conclusions, limitations, recommendations

Appendices, if any

References


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Abstract

This should be a summary (i.e.not an introduction

or a cliff-hanger) of about 1 page

ToC, lists of abbreviations, tables and figures

Include page numbers in ToC.

Do not include silly abbreviations

Little mechanical things matter

e.g. table captions above, figure below.


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What is research?

The word research within academia is

not used in its everyday sense. It

presupposes a hypothesis, the

dissertation being an attempt to proveor disprove it. The hypothesis is set out

in a specific research question or series

of questions. The questions have to bevery clear.


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A nicely focused research question

In order to support its core business, how cost-

effective is it for the Eastern Illyrian Ministry of

Spatial Planning to develop its own IT products

and services rather than outsourcing this

activity?

Too broad a one for a Masters dissertation

Is it cost-effective for companies to outsource

the development of their IT products and

services?


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The literature review

Objectives:1. Demonstrate familiarity with the field by

selection of appropriate publications

2. Show in which ways these publications throw

light on the research question(s).

3. Ensure an analytical, critical approach not a

merely descriptive or explanatory one. If

possible show any disagreements in thepublished literature, in this way directly

informing the research question(s)


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The literature review

What is appropriate literature? Peer-reviewed journal publications or

established text books

Un-reviewed Web references are acceptable if

there is are corresponding peer-reviewed

sources. However, in certain cases Web

references may be preferable

Avoid unreliable sources such as popularmagazines or Wikipedia unless there is no other

source (in which case say so)


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Research Methodology

In this chapter you state how and why you haveapproached and carried out the research

Difference between (a) primary and secondarydata, and (b) quantitative and qualitative

research.

Numerous websites deal with both these matters,and whole books have been written about them.

But in brief:


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(a) Primary and secondary dataPrimary datais gathered directly from participants.Secondary datais gleaned from published sources. Sometimes

called desk research.

Both can be used in tandem if appropriate. If only desk

research is used, the literature review may be combined with

this Methodology chapter.

Relying solely on desk-research can be tricky. In any event, a

valid reason why it has been adopted must be clearly justified,

since examiners tend to expect primary data.Just i fy ing wh y you have adop ted th is o r that method appl ies

equal ly to the choice of :


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(b) Quantitative and qualitative research

Quanti tat ive research generates measurable

information that can be converted into numbers

and analyzed statistically. Data is often gathered in

questionnaire surveys.

Quali tat iveresearch generates text which is often

interpreted in a subjective way (although it is

possible in certain circumstances to convert textualinformation to numbers). Data is gathered via

questionnaires or interviews.


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(b) Quantitative and qualitative research

Sometimes both approachesquantitative andqualitative are adopted, either in parallel or in series.

All things being equal, a quantitative approach tends to

give rise to clearer answers to research questions, and

therefore is in some ways a safer option. But what youchoose depends on your individual project. Discuss the

most suitable approach with your Proposal tutor and

perhaps later with your supervisor.

In any case, you must always give clear reasons foryour choice.


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Writing the Methodology chapter

Understand the difference between purely

descriptive writing (no crediton the contrary)

and focused analytical writing (lots of credit).

So, in justifying your choice of method, do not

simply describe available methods. Assume that

your examiners are familiar with them and

concentrate on why one fits better than anotherfor your research.


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Analysis/findings chapter

Obviously much depends on the methodadopted, but here are two rules of thumb:

If you present data as graphs or tables, refer to

them with explanatory comments in the body-

text. Do not expect your examiners to do your

critical thinking for you.

Consider what you really need to include, and

avoid dilution and padding by relegating toappendices that which can be dispensed with.


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Conclusions, etc.

In this chapter, you present the answers to your research

question(s). Note that the chapter is not a summary of the

dissertation (that is the purpose of the abstract), but a drawing

together of the ideas you have discussed in previous chapters.

You may also present here any limitations of the findings (forexample, how generalizable are they?), but beware of

scratching around for something to say if there really isn't

anything sensible.

It is usual, if relevant, to make some specific recommendationsbased on the research.


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Referencing

See my detai led referencing gu idel ines on thewebsite.

We ask only for consistency, and thus do not specify

any particular system, though we prefer Harvard

since it is the world standard in academic writing, soworth learning.

Appendices

Not too many! Only what is strictly necessary.


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The RKC/UoW processHow the process works, summar ized here, can also be found on the

Dissertat ion Forum

1. Choose your topic by discussing it with the Proposal tutor

and maybe other students

2. Produce a 3 to 5 page proposal

3. When the proposal is accepted, an individual supervisor isallocated. You then have 6 months to complete

4. You upload drafts to the Thesis Repository. The

supervisor uploads feedback. There will also probably be

email correspondence with the supervisor

5. A final version is uploaded and signed off by the

supervisor as ready to be marked


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The marking process

Your dissertation is marked by an RKC internal examiner whois allowed a maximum of four weeks for the task (but it usually

takes a much shorter time).

A second RKC internal examiner reads your dissertation and

either agrees with the mark of the first examiner or disagrees.

If the latter, there is a further process He or she also has a

maximum of four weeks

Your dissertation is then marked by an independent external

examiner working for the UoW not RKC. He or she has 8 weeks

maximum to complete the process.

Thus, in theory, the marking can take up to 16 weeks, but the

timescale is usually much shorter.


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The marking process (continued)

Once the marking is complete, you are informed of

your provisional result, but it has to be ratified at a

formal examination board.

Only extremely rarely will a provisional result not beso ratified (for example in cases of unfair practice

such as passing off). But in theory this can happen,

so you do not get your degree until after the

ratification process.


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