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Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices •...

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Planning a Dissertation Dr Matthew Copping
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Page 1: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Planning a Dissertation

Dr Matthew Copping

Page 2: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• How does a dissertation differ

from an essay?

Dissertations

More detail

Longer

Independence

More depth

Presentation (graphics?)

More ‘angles’

Originality

Review of literatureFormat

More literature

Page 3: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Content:• Topic is your choice

• More – depth & detail

– ‘angles’ covered

– literature used

– critical/summative

evaluation of the

literature

– independent, ‘original’

research

Physical artefact:• Formatting (font type &

size, line spacing)

• Formal presentation

(division of contents into

chapters/sections)

• Academic writing styles

• Binding format

• Use of graphics

Dissertation (1)

Page 4: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Close relationship to taught elements

• Wider scope than coursework assignments

• Original research element

• More thorough use of the literature

• Must use appropriate research methods

• Presents clear question(s) that the dissertation

seeks to answer

Dissertation (2)

Page 5: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Realistic

RelevantInteresting

Achievable

PracticalAffordable

Accessible Ambitious enough

Too ambitious?

Up-to-date

Is your research project..?

Valuable

Practicable

Page 6: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Seek advice

Planning

Page 7: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Seek advice

• Be organised

Planning

Page 8: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Seek advice

• Be organised

• Understand what is required

Planning

Page 9: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Seek advice

• Be organised

• Understand what is required

• Recognise how long it will take

Planning

Page 10: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Dissertation proposal

a) Outline of topic

b) Preliminary literature search

c) Research methodology to be used

d) Dissertation outline

e) Project schedule

Page 11: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Choose research area

Preliminary research (scoping)

Decide research topic

Finalise methodology

Conduct research (fieldwork)

Writing up

Submit finished dissertation

Analysis/data processing

Submit/present proposal

Research Project

Decide methodology

Page 12: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Research Project(Gantt Chart)

Choose research area

Preliminary research

Decide research topic

Decide methodology

Submit/present proposal

Finalise methodology

Conduct research

Analyse data

Write up

Submit assignment

Wk

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Page 13: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Title

• Acknowledgements

• Table of contents

• Main body

• Bibliography

• Appendices

Dissertation structure

Page 14: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Title

• Acknowledgements

• Table of contents

• Main body

• Bibliography

• Appendices

• Introduction

• Literature

review

• ‘n’ Chapters

• Conclusion

Dissertation structure

Page 15: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

4. Government Controlled Banks

4.1 State Bank of India

4.2 Punjab National Bank

5. Private Sector Banks

5.1 ICICI Bank

5.2 HDFC Bank

6. Foreign Banks

6.1 Citibank

6.2 Standard Chartered

7. Banking in India – A Summary

7.1 Threats

7.2 Opportunities

Page 16: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

1. Introduction (incl. lit review)

2. The private mad-business and patronage by the Honourable East India Company

3. Asylums in India

4. A passage from India

i. Pembroke House Lunatic Asylum

ii. The Royal India Lunatic Asylum

5. The patients: “Indian insanes”

6. The treatment: “humane and enlightened”

7. Conclusion

Page 17: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

• Title

• Acknowledgements

• Table of contents

• Main body

• Bibliography

• Appendices

• Introduction

• Background info.

• Literature review

• Methodology

• Findings/results

• Analysis

• Discussion/analysis

• Conclusions

• Recommendations

Dissertation structure

Page 18: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

4. Analysis

4.1 Integrated system

4.1.1 Costs

4.1.2 Benefits

4.2 Separate system

4.2.1 Costs

4.2.2 Benefits

5. Discussion

5.1 Integrated or separate system

5.2 Other alternatives

Page 19: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Abstract

1. Introduction (incl. lit. review)

2. Method

2.1 Subjects

2.2 Measures and materials

2.3 Manipulations

2.4 Data recording and coding

2.5 Procedure

3. Results

3.1 General results

3.2 Specific results

4. Discussion

Page 20: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Problem solving• Precise problem

• Defined

• Directional

• Focused

• Secure

Challenge:

To identify the problem

Progressive focusing• Exploratory

• Emergent

• Negotiable

• Unbounded

• Free

Challenge:

To create & impose meaning

Research patterns

Page 21: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Research topicRevised research topic

Page 22: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Writing tips• Start somewhere easy

• Write it now, edit it later

• Don’t limit yourself to a keyboard

• Set word targets, but don’t fixate on them

• Write-up research as you go along

• Have a system of version control

• Use templates

• Allow time for printing & binding

Page 23: Planning a Dissertation - University of Kent · • Main body • Bibliography • Appendices • Introduction • Background info. • Literature review • Methodology • Findings/results

Conclusion

• Any other questions you have

about dissertations?


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