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Structure of Dissertation


Structure of Dissertation 

A dissertation typically follows a structured format, though this may vary slightly depending on your institution or field of study. Here's a common structure for dissertations across most disciplines

1. Title Page

  • The title of your dissertation
  • Your name
  • Department and university affiliation
  • Degree for which the dissertation is submitted
  • Date of submission
  • Supervisor’s name and credentials

2. Abstract

  • A concise summary of your research (usually 150–300 words)
  • It should cover your research problem, methodology, findings, and conclusions

3. Acknowledgments (Optional)

  • You can thank those who helped you during your research, including advisors, mentors, colleagues, family, or friends.

4. Table of Contents

  • List of all chapters and subheadings with corresponding page numbers

5. List of Figures and Tables

  • If applicable, include a list of figures, graphs, and tables, along with their page numbers.

6. List of Abbreviations

  • If your dissertation contains many abbreviations, list them here for the reader's reference.

7. Introduction

  • Background of your research
  • Research problem or questions
  • Objectives and scope of the study
  • Rationale or significance of the research
  • Outline of the dissertation structure

8. Literature Review

  • A review of existing research related to your topic
  • Theoretical framework or key concepts
  • Identification of gaps in the literature that your research aims to fill

9. Research Methodology

  • Research design (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods)
  • Data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, archival research)
  • Sampling techniques, tools, and instruments
  • Data analysis methods
  • Ethical considerations

10. Findings/Results

  • Present the data you've collected
  • Use charts, graphs, and tables if necessary
  • Highlight the key findings but refrain from interpreting them at this stage

11. Discussion/Analysis

  • Interpret the findings about your research questions
  • Discuss whether the results met your expectations or were surprising
  • Relate findings to the literature review and theoretical framework
  • Highlight implications of your findings, limitations of the study, and areas for future research

12. Conclusion

  • Summarize your key findings
  • Address the main research question(s)
  • Discuss the contribution of your research to the field
  • Suggest practical applications, if relevant

13. References/Bibliography

  • List all the sources you cited in your dissertation, following a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago)

14. Appendices (Optional)

  • Include supplementary materials such as raw data, interview transcripts, surveys, or questionnaires used in the research.

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