Guide to structure a Dissertation

A thesis or dissertation is a substantial academic document that must be submitted as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree program. It is based on original research.

Your field will dictate the framework of your dissertation. However, it is often separated into at least two pieces.

The following are the most prevalent dissertation structures in the sciences and social sciences:

An introduction of your topic
A review of the literature that includes a survey of pertinent sources
A description of your methods
An summary of your study findings
An examination of the findings and their consequences
A conclusion that demonstrates how your study has aided

Humanities dissertations are frequently organised more like extended essays, establishing a thesis by analysing primary and secondary sources. Rather than the usual arrangement provided above, you might organise your chapters around other topics or case studies.

Analyzing primary and secondary sources to build an argument. You might organize your chapters around different themes, or case studies, instead of following the same structure as this article.

The title page, abstract, and reference list are also important components of a dissertation. You can always consult your supervisor if you are unsure about the structure of your dissertation.

Title page

The first page includes your dissertation title, name, and department, as well as your institution, degree programme, and submission date. It may also include your student ID number, the name of your supervisor, and the institution logo. Many schools demand that the dissertation title page be formatted.

When binding or printing your dissertation, the title page is often used to cover it.

Acknowledgments

The acknowledgments section, which is often optional, allows you to thank all those who have helped you write your dissertation. These could include your supervisors and participants in your research as well as friends or family members who supported you.

Abstract

An abstract is a synopsis of your dissertation. It should be between 150 and 300 words long. It should be provided at the end of your dissertation. Make certain that you:

Be specific about the topic and goals of your research.
Please describe the methods used
Summarize the main results
Describe your conclusion

Even though the abstract is short, it's often the most important part of your dissertation. Our guide will help you write a strong abstract if you are having trouble writing one.

In the table of contents, include all of your chapters, subheadings, and page numbers. The contents page of your dissertation assists the reader in navigating the work and offers an overview of its structure.

Every section of your dissertation, including the appendices, should be listed in the table of contents. A table of contents may be generated automatically in Word.

List of Tables and Figures

You should number your tables and figures if you are using them in your dissertation. This list can be automatically generated by Word's Insert Caption feature.

List of abbreviations

You can list abbreviations that you used in your dissertation in an alphabetized list. This will allow the reader to quickly look up their meanings.

Glossary

A glossary is a useful tool if you use a lot of highly technical terms that are not familiar to your readers. Each term should be listed alphabetically. Give a description and definition for each term.

Introduction

The introduction outlines the topic and purpose of your dissertation and tells the reader what the remainder of the dissertation will look like. The introduction should:

Provide background material that will contextualise your work and determine the topic of your investigation.
Define your research's scope and purpose.
Discuss recent studies on the issue to demonstrate your knowledge and competence.
Make a list of your study objectives and questions. Also, state how you intend to handle them.
Give a synopsis of your dissertation's structure.

The introduction should be engaging, clear, and relevant to your research. The reader should be able to understand the why, what, and how of your research by the end. Not sure how? Our guide will show you how to create a dissertation introduction.

Theoretical framework / Literature review

To gain a deep understanding of academic literature on the topic, it is important to conduct a literature review before you begin your research. This is:

Collecting sources (e.g., Collecting sources (e.g., books and journal articles) and selecting those that are most relevant.
Analyzing and critically evaluating each source
These connections can be drawn (e.g., To make an overall point, you can draw connections between them (e.g.

You should not just summarize existing research in the dissertation literature review section. Instead, create a coherent structure that supports your research. It might also show the results of your research.

Review should addresses a gap in the literature
Takes a theorical or practical approach to the subject
Proposes a solution for an unresolved issue
A theoretical debate advances
Uses new data to build on existing knowledge and strengthen it.

A literature review is often used as a basis for a theoretical framework. This allows you to identify and analyze key concepts, theories, and models that will guide your research. This section allows you to answer descriptive research questions regarding the relationships between variables and concepts.

Methodology

Your methodology section or chapter describes the research you did and allows your reader to evaluate its validity. It should contain:

The overall approach and the type of research (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, experimental, ethnographic)
The methods you use to collect data (e.g., interviews, surveys, archives)
Information about where, when, and with whom the research was conducted
Methods of analyzing data (e.g., Your methods of analyzing data (e.g., statistical analysis, discourse analysis).
You used tools and materials (e.g., computer programs, lab equipment)
Discussion of the obstacles encountered during research and how they were overcome
A justification or evaluation of your methods

The goal of the methodology is to accurately describe what you did and to convince the reader that it was the best way to answer your research questions.

Results

Next, you will report on the results of your research. This section can be organized around sub-questions or hypotheses. Report only results that are relevant to your research objectives. Some disciplines have the results section separated from the discussion. In others, they are combined.

In-depth interviews and qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews will have the data presented in a woven fashion with analysis and discussion. However, in experimental and quantitative research, the results should be presented in their entirety before discussing their meaning. To help you decide the right structure for your research, talk to your supervisor.

It is often helpful to include charts, tables, and graphs in the results section. You should think carefully about how you present your data. Tables and figures shouldn't just repeat your text. They should add value by providing additional information or visualizing the results in a way that enhances your text.

An appendix can include full versions of your data, such as transcripts from interviews.

Discussion

This is where you discuss the implications and meaning of your results with respect to your research questions. This is where you will discuss the results and discuss whether or not they meet your expectations. If you find any unexpected results, explain why. You should consider other interpretations of your data and talk about any limitations that may have affected the results. To show how your results are compatible with existing knowledge, you should refer to other scholarly works. It is possible to make suggestions for future research and practical actions.

Conclusion

The conclusion of your dissertation should answer the main research question clearly and leave the reader having a better understanding of your central argument. Your dissertation conclusion should conclude with a reflection on what you did and how it was done. Often, the conclusion includes suggestions for research and practice.

It is important that you show in this section how your findings have contributed to the knowledge of the field, also, why your research matters. What has your research contributed to the existing knowledge?

Refer to the Reference List

In a reference list, sometimes also known as a bibliography or works cited list, you must provide all details about the sources you have cited. A consistent style of reference is important. Each style has its own requirements regarding how to format your sources for the reference list.

Harvard referencing is the most popular style used by UK universities. Vancouver referencing is also a common style. The style of referencing you should use will be determined by your department. For example, psychology students use the APA style while humanities students use MHRA, and law students use OSCOLA. If you are unsure, make sure to verify the requirements and consult your supervisor.

Our free APA Citation Generator will save you time and ensure that your citations are properly and consistently formatted.

Appendices

Your dissertation should only contain the essential information necessary to answer your research question. Appendices can be used to add documents that you have not included in the main body of your dissertation, such as transcripts from interviews or survey questions.