A dissertation is a type of paper that people need to know if they want to be scholars. Basically, such projects are documents that indicate scientific research. In turn, scholars cannot write such compositions without experiments and data analysis. Because a dissertation is a scientific paper, this document must bring something new into science. Moreover, not all people are familiar with its scientific format. As such, this five-chapter dissertation method of writing and organizing an entire paper can help in conducting a scientific study. In turn, to start a dissertation, students begin by choosing a well-defined topic and formulating a clear research question or hypothesis that guides their study.
What Is a Dissertation and Its Purpose
According to its definition, a dissertation is a complex, formal, and scholarly document that presents the results of original research conducted by a doctoral candidate. Basically, such work serves as a final requirement for earning a Ph.D. degree and contributes new knowledge, insights, or solutions to a specific field of study (Single & Reis, 2023). In this case, the main purpose of writing a dissertation is to demonstrate a candidate’s ability to conduct independent, high-level analysis, formulate a specific research question, apply appropriate methodologies, analyze obtained data, and present study findings in a coherent and scholarly manner. Through this complex writing process, candidates demonstrate their ability to undertake independent investigation, evaluate existing knowledge, formulate and test hypotheses, communicate different ideas, apply critical thinking, and contribute to an advancement of their study fields (Capello, 2020). Upon completion, such a document is typically reviewed and evaluated by a committee of experts, and its successful defense is a prerequisite for earning a doctoral degree, signifying a candidate’s readiness to join an academic community both as a scholar and a researcher. In turn, the length of a dissertation depends on academic levels and specific requirements of an academic institution or program, while general guidelines are:
University (Bachelor’s) Level:
- Length: 40 to 60 pages
- Word Count: 10,000 to 15,000 words
Master’s Level:
- Length: 60 to 100 pages
- Word Count: 15,000 to 25,000 words
Ph.D. Level:
- Length: 140 to 300 pages
- Word Count: 35,000 to 75,000 words
Format
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Title Page | Title of a particular dissertation, author’s name, institution, department, date of submission, and supervisor(s) |
| Abstract | A brief summary of a research question, methodology, results, and conclusions (usually 150-300 words) |
| Acknowledgments (Optional) | To thank those who helped and supported an whole study. |
| Table of Contents | List of all presented sections and subsections with page numbers. |
| List of Figures/Tables (Optional) | List of figures and tables with page numbers. |
| Terms/Abbreviations (Optional) | List of abbreviations, terms, and definitions used in a document. |
| Chapter 1: Introduction | Background of a particular study, its problem, objectives, questions, and significance. |
| Chapter 2: Literature Review | Review of relevant existing knowledge and literature, identifying gaps a project aims to fill. |
| Chapter 3: Methodology/Methods | Description of a research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. |
| Chapter 4: Results | Presentation of study findings without interpretations. |
| Chapter 5: Discussion | Interpretations and explanations of the results, linking back to a literature review, and addressing defined research questions while making conclusions. |
| Chapter 6: Conclusion (Optional) | Summary of findings, implications, limitations of a whole study, and suggestions for future investigation. |
| List of References/Bibliography | List of all sources cited in a dissertation and formatted according to key rules of citation styles, such as MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, or others. |
| Appendices (Optional) | Supplementary material, such as raw data, questionnaires, or additional charts and graphs. |
Note: Some sections or subsections can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, and it depends on a field of study, a topic complexity, a scope of research, and a specific program that a particular candidate wants to pass. For example, the main difference between a dissertation and a thesis is that the former is typically required for a doctoral degree and involves original investigation, while the latter is usually required for a University or Master’s degree and can be a compilation of existing knowledge on a specific topic (Remenyi & Bannister, 2022). In turn, writing a dissertation typically takes several months to a few years, depending on a research complexity, specific discipline, and individual’s attitudes and circumstances.
How to Write a Dissertation
To write a dissertation, students start by selecting a clear research question, conducting a thorough literature review, designing a solid methodology, collecting and analyzing data, and systematically writing, revising, and formatting their findings into a coherent and comprehensive document.
- Choose a Good Topic: Select a research topic that is both interesting to you and relevant to your field of study.
- Conduct a Literature Review: Review existing knowledge and literature to understand what is already known and identify gaps your dissertation can fill.
- Formulate a Research Question: Develop a clear, focused research question or hypothesis that guides your study.
- Develop a Proposal: Write a proposal outlining your research question, methodology, and significance, and get it approved by your advisor or committee.
- Design a Methodology: Plan how you will collect and analyze data, ensuring your methods are appropriate for answering your research question.
- Collect a Correct Data: Gather a necessary data using your chosen research methods, whether through experiments, surveys, interviews, or archival articles.
- Analyze an Obtained Data: Evaluate a collected data to identify patterns, test hypotheses, or explore relationships between variables.
- Write a Dissertation: Compose each section of a project, presenting your research process, findings, and their implications.
- Edit and Revise Your Document: Thoroughly revise your document for clarity, coherence, and correctness, and ensure it meets all academic standards and guidelines.
- Defend Your Dissertation: Present and defend your findings and conclusions before a committee to demonstrate your mastery of a chosen subject.
Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Empirical | Involves collecting and analyzing original data through experiments, surveys, observations, or interviews. |
| Theoretical | Focuses on developing new theories or analyzing existing theories through a critical review of literature. |
| Case Study | Involves an in-depth, contextual analysis of a specific case or cases within a real-world setting. |
| Comparative | Compares two or more cases, phenomena, or theories to highlight similarities, differences, and implications. |
| Systematic Literature Review | Provides a complex overview of all relevant research on a particular topic, using systematic methods to search, appraise, and synthesize an existing literature. |
| Meta-Analysis | Combines results from multiple studies to identify patterns, discrepancies, and overall effects in an obtained data. |
| Project-Based | Includes a practical project or product, such as a design, software, or intervention, accompanied by a reflective analysis. |
| Narrative | Uses storytelling and narrative techniques to explore and present findings, often used in the humanities and social sciences. |
| Practice-Based | Centers on creative work or professional practice, with a dissertation reflecting on a process and possible outcomes. |
| Policy-Oriented | Focuses on evaluating and developing public policies, often including recommendations for policymakers. |
Content of a Dissertation
At the end of any university program, all students conduct a study and write their dissertations. In this case, a dissertation is one of types of papers that provides a student with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of content (Terrell, 2023). In particular, a dissertation is a documentation of a complete research paper with five main chapters: introduction, literature review, method, results, and discussion. Besides, a sixth chapter can be a conclusion, or it can be combined with a discussion section.
Chapter 1: Introduction
An “Introduction” chapter is a first part of a dissertation. Basically, this section explains a specific research problem and a resultant research question by outlining a particular reasoning for a study (Terrell, 2023). In turn, this part begins with a general discussion of a specific area of interest. For instance, it may lay out a foundation for describing an actual significance of a particular problem (Remenyi & Bannister, 2022). Moreover, students and scholars develop a problem statement in their scientific papers. Then, they present indicated questions and complementary hypotheses with a clear rationale (Vincent et al., 2022). In this case, an introduction part can be created from any topic of interest. Hence, this section must yield existing findings that are useful in identifying potential study gaps. As a result, these aspects are used to formulate a current study. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a dissertation include:
- A primary objective of this dissertation is to thoroughly investigate a possible impact of [variable] on [outcome], providing a comprehensive understanding of [specific aspect] within a particular context of [field or subject].
- This project aims to address a critical issue of [problem], examining how [factors] influence [outcome] and exploring potential solutions through an in-depth analysis of [topic].
- In this study, a main focus is on examining a complex relationship between [variable] and [variable], with a particular goal of understanding underlying mechanisms and implications for [field or practice].
- This research seeks to understand complex dynamics of [topic], determine a specific extent to which [variable] affects [outcome], and evaluate a broader impact on [field or community].
- A primary purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of [issue], exploring historical and contemporary perspectives to identify key trends and future directions in [field].
- This study intends to contribute to a field of [subject] by investigating [specific aspect], offering new insights, and advancing a theoretical understanding of [topic].
- A central question of this report is to explore how [variable] influences [outcome], considering both direct and indirect effects within a particular context of [specific environment or population].
- Through this research, a primary aim is to explore potential effects of [variable] on [outcome], providing a detailed examination of [specific aspect] and its implications for [field or practice].
- This paper investigates a particular role of [topic] in shaping [outcome], employing a multidisciplinary approach to study key factors and their interactions within [field].
- A primary focus of this study is to examine a potential impact of [variable] on [outcome], utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to provide a holistic understanding of [topic].
Chapter 2: Literature Review
A “Literature Review” chapter follows immediately after an introductory section in a dissertation. For example, reviewed studies cited is this chapter should justify a specific theoretical framework while highlighting original ideas and critical findings on a chosen topic (Terrell, 2023). In this case, its content is based on deductive reasoning, where particular fundamentals of a given topic are identified and logically narrowed down to research questions. Moreover, writing a review of past studies requires a person to provide a historical background of a topic (Remenyi & Bannister, 2022). In turn, this background information is proceeded by a theoretical analysis relevant to a research question and includes supporting empirical studies.
Chapter 3: Method
A third distinct section of a dissertation is a “Method” chapter. Basically, this part presents a detailed methodology. Basically, this aspect facilitates a replication of a study. For instance, an exhaustive methodology should at least discuss a specific selection of participants, measurement techniques, research design, procedures, and data analysis (Single & Reis, 2023). Moreover, a methodology element is dependent on a research question and hypotheses. Therefore, people have to identify key variables, determine ideal measures and sampling techniques, and document an analysis process in a step-by-step manner.
Chapter 4: Results
After a methodology section, people present “Results” in a dissertation. This part contains the results acquired after conducting research analyses, as described in a previous section. For example, a detailed outcome of experimental procedures should be provided in a sequential manner (Remenyi & Bannister, 2022). Moreover, all results must be based on an initial order of research questions. Firstly, students or scholars present descriptive statistics and other simple data. Secondly, they document specific statistical analyses that answer each mentioned question. As a result, dissertations cannot be written without results.
Chapter 5: Discussion on Findings
A “Discussion” chapter includes a key aspect of a dissertation. In this case, people provide their interpretations in a particular context of existing studies and explain their limitations and implications (Lewis et al., 2021). Moreover, this part integrates findings of existing studies and those of a current study to provide conclusive answers to research questions. Hence, people need to organize this section by including a summary of the results, conclusions for each finding, limitations, and recommended areas for further studies. In turn, if students want to separate discussions and final remarks, they can add a sixth chapter, which is a conclusion.
Chapter 6: Conclusion
A “Conclusion” chapter serves as a final part of a dissertation, synthesizing obtained findings and underlining their significance within a broader context of a study. Basically, people need to revisit research questions and objectives outlined at the beginning and provide a clear summary of how each was addressed through a research process (Single & Reis, 2023). Further on, they need to highlight key findings, demonstrate how a particular study has contributed to existing knowledge, and identify any practical implications for their fields. Additionally, a conclusion section discusses possible limitations found during a research process and suggests directions for future studies. As a result, this last chapter shows an actual essence of a particular examination and leaves scholars with a clear understanding of author’s contributions to knowledge and practice.
Other Features
Notably, some minor sections that are identical to other academic paper formats have not been discussed but are still needed for dissertations to be complete, for example, abstract, references, and appendices. Moreover, to format a dissertation correctly, students should follow their institution’s guidelines, which usually include specific instructions for structure, margins, fonts, headings, citations, and referencing styles (Remenyi & Bannister, 2022). However, an outline of a dissertation explained is relatively rigid. In this case, a particular content of each chapter may vary slightly, depending on a unique nature of a specific study.
Common Mistakes
- Lack of a Clear Research Question: Starting without a well-defined and focused research question can result in a lack of direction and coherence in a dissertation.
- Poor Time Management: Failing to create and adhere to a realistic timeline can result in rushed writing and insufficient time for revisions.
- Inadequate Literature Review: Not thoroughly reviewing existing knowledge can result in a lack of context and depth in a project.
- Weak Methodology: Choosing inappropriate or poorly designed research methods can compromise an overall validity and reliability of a study.
- Insufficient Data Analysis: Inadequate or incorrect data analysis can lead to biased and wrong conclusions and undermine an overall study’s credibility.
- Ignoring Feedback: Disregarding or not seeking feedback from supervisors and peers can result in overlooked errors and missed opportunities for improvement.
- Poor Structuring: Failing to organize a document logically makes it difficult for readers to follow a central argument and understand an entire examination.
- Plagiarism: Not properly citing sources or attempting to pass off others’ work as one’s own can have serious academic consequences.
- Overuse of Jargon: Using too many undefined terms and technical language without clear explanations will make it difficult for readers to understand main points.
- Neglecting Proofreading and Editing: Skipping thorough proofreading and editing can leave grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies that detract from an overall quality of a paper.
Summing Up
A detailed framework for writing a five-chapter dissertation covers essential components, starting with an introduction section, which sets a stage for a particular study by outlining a specific problem, objectives, and significance. Then, a literature review section overviews existing knowledge and identifies gaps. Further on, a methodology chapter explains a particular research design and data collection techniques. Moreover, a results chapter presents study findings, while a discussion chapter interprets these results, explores their implications, and suggests future research directions. In turn, a conclusion chapter summarizes a research’s overall impact and relevance to an academic community. As a result, this structured approach ensures clarity and coherence throughout a dissertation.
References
Capello, S. (2020). Leveraging PhD students to support EdD dissertation writing. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 5(3), 8–13. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2020.110
Lewis, K. B., Graham, I. D., Boland, L., & Stacey, D. (2021). Writing a compelling integrated discussion: A guide for integrated discussions in article-based theses and dissertations. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 18(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2020-0057
Remenyi, D., & Bannister, F. (2022). Writing up your research for a dissertation or thesis. Hoopoe Press.
Single, P. B., & Reis, R. M. (2023). Demystifying dissertation writing: A streamlined process from choice of topic to final text. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Terrell, S. R. (2023). Writing a proposal for your dissertation: Guidelines and examples. Guilford Publications.
Vincent, C., Tremblay-Wragg, É., Déri, C. E., & Mathieu-Chartier, S. (2022). A multi-phase mixed-method study defining dissertation writing enjoyment and comparing PhD students writing in the company of others to those writing alone. Higher Education Research & Development, 42(4), 1016–1031. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2022.2120854