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Introduction
The main components of a dissertation are set out below. It should however be remembered that each dissertation is an individual piece of work and therefore there can be some flexibility in the structure and layout of a dissertation.论文的主要组件设定如下。然而应该记得每个论文都是一个独立的作品,因此可以有一些论文的结构和布局的灵活性。
然而,重要的是,你仔细阅读附录B表示和绑定信息的论文根据大学的指导方针,所以那些特定的物品不能修改。
However, it is important that you carefully read Appendix B which is information on the presentation and binding of the dissertation according to University guidelines, so those specific items cannot be altered.
The preliminaries
The preliminaries are the information found at the beginning of any dissertation and their aim is to inform the reader as to where specific information can be accessed. The preliminaries, together with comments, if appropriate, are listed below.
• The title page
The dissertation title needs to be appropriate and accurate. It must reflect the contents. In practice, it is usual to use a ‘working title’ whilst work on the dissertation progresses; then to review it and to change it if appropriate at time of submission.
• The abstract
This is a short statement, usually about 250 words long, but certainly no more than a page in length, stating concisely what you set out to do, how you have done it, what you found and what this means. An abstract should inform any reader whether the information that they are looking for will be found in the body of the work. It therefore needs to very briefly cover the following.
• The main aim of the dissertation
• The methodology used
• The main findings or conclusions reached
The following are also part of the preliminaries
• The contents page
• List of tables (if appropriate)
• List of figures (if appropriate)
• Acknowledgments (if appropriate)
• A declaration
• An intellectual property statement
The introductory chapter
The first chapter in a dissertation is an introduction both to the topic and to the contents. It should be sketched out when you first start to work on the dissertation, to provide a working framework for the main contents, but written fully at the end. You should therefore complete writing the introductory chapter after you have written the body of the text, namely the main chapters which contain the information that you have gathered, investigated and analysed.
The introductory chapter should include the following.
An overview of the topic
The overview is usually referred to as the background. The characteristics of the topic area would have evolved from a context and background and therefore you need to describe these. In some circumstances it may be more appropriate to provide a very brief overview in the introduction with a more detailed background, context and history in a specific chapter later in the dissertation.
You need to be able to show how your topic area relates to those that are affected by it or affect it. Topic areas can be too large and complex to be satisfactorily dealt with within a dissertation and therefore you may need to choose one or two specific issues to research or investigate in detail. In such cases you do need to show that you are aware of the extent of your topic. In addition to the overview, an explanation of the importance or value of the topic should be included.
A clear statement of the aim, or aims, and objectives of the dissertation must be included. The aim and objectives may sometimes be referred to, or accompanied by, the research question or questions.
The aim and objectives must be explicitly stated and clearly explained at the beginning of the dissertation as they should form the theme which runs through your work. It is also important to state the reasons why you think it important to investigate these specific aims and objectives.
An aim is the main goal and focus of your investigation. Objectives are the steps or activities, or intermediate stages you undertake to achieve your aim. The objectives must be logically derived from and consistent with the aim. The aim and objectives must be critically reviewed in the conclusions.
The scope and limitations of the dissertation
The scope of the work should be explained to the reader. Each topic area is related to other issues and topics and is embedded within a context. You should explain how your topic area impacts on or is influenced by the context and the related areas. This will show the reader that you are aware of the wider picture. In some cases it will be better to include detailed information on the context in the main body of the work. It is important to justify the scope of your investigation and to show an awareness of its implications for your findings and conclusions.
Similarly there will also be limitations or external constraints on what you can achieve, perhaps due to time restrictions or the difficulty in collecting data. Quite often these limitations are closely connected with the recommendations for further research, which is a separate section included immediately after the conclusions.
Summary of the contents
An overview of the contents should be given. It is important to provide the reader with an overview of the contents so that they can see how the work is structured.
It can be useful to include a mind map, a flow chart or a diagram showing how all the specific issues or sections of the dissertation relate to each other.
This overview should be more than just a list of the content; it should provide a guide to and explain the reasons for the dissertation structure that follows.
The definitions
The topic or discipline specific terminology that you use within your work needs to be defined so that the reader is made aware of your level of understanding of the topic, and you establish a basis for the clear communication of your information and ideas.
For example, a 'client' can be an individual or an organisation who funds a project, but may not necessarily be the user. Such distinctions need to be made clear to the reader.
If appropriate, it may be useful to provide here, or in a glossary as part of the preliminaries or as an appendix, a list of definitions of standard technical terms, abbreviations or acronyms.
The Methodology
The methodology should be written as a separate chapter, and in most cases should follow the introductory chapter. The proposed methodology should be set out at the beginning, and used as working framework, but written up at the end. Writing it at the end enables you to comment on any problems you encountered in collecting or analysing data and how you resolved these.
The methodology explains what methods, processes or procedures were used to carry out the work for the dissertation and therefore the methods by which you achieved the aim and objectives of your project. It describes and explains how you conducted the research and why you chose the methods used. It is useful to include a discussion of the alternative methods you considered and the reason, or reasons, for choosing a particular method. It is also important to consider the nature and characteristics of the data and how this has affected the research.
There is a range of methods that you might use. Becoming familiar with the various research methods available is crucial. Some helpful references are given below; these can be used to help you decide on the appropriate methods to adopt. You need to very carefully consider which method or methods are most appropriate for your project.
Dissertation research and writing for construction students
Shamil Naoum
Published by Butterworth-Heinemann
2nd Edition2007
Excellent Dissertations! (Student-Friendly Guides series)
Peter Levin
Open University Press
2005
Doing Your Research Project
Judith Bell
Open University Press
5th Edition, 2010
The methodology chapter should normally include some justification, based on literature, for the choice of method or methods. The process of how something is done directly affects the quality of the outcome. The methodology is therefore a very important part of the dissertation and should not be just a list of sources!
As has been mentioned above, it often happens that problems arise with the method or methods chosen and the research may therefore not progress as you thought it would.
Another method to progress your work has to be found. This should not be considered to be a negative feature. Any research or investigation is the process of finding ways of achieving an outcome by testing various means by which to progress the work. As mentioned, any problems of finding or analysing information, and the solutions you arrive at, should be described in your methodology. It is also important to report, in the methodology chapter, or elsewhere, the implications of any limitations, or difficulties encountered, for your findings and conclusions.
The Literature
Whatever methods you choose to develop your dissertation, a first stage is always a literature search and review. The aim is to find the current state of knowledge of a particular subject area so that this can form the basis for your investigation of the topic area and analysis of the information.
Many dissertations are based entirely on the critical analysis of existing literature and existing research work or published data. This is an acceptable form of research, but here it is crucial that there is a very high level of analysis and critical evaluation of the information gathered.#p#分页标题#e#
Scoping the subject area is the initial part of your literature search. The initial working title of the dissertation should be seen as a starting point in a wide-ranging investigation which will culminate in a completed literature review. Every topic area will have a number of issues and aspects that can be investigated. An aim at this stage is to determine the actual focus of the research.
In parallel with carrying out your literature search, begin to sketch out the structure of your dissertation. This structure is not to be set in stone, but should be a working framework, which you can adapt as you progress. It is useful to use a flow chart or mind map to illustrate the structure.
The range of sources available depends on the subject matter, but should include conference papers, research publications, journal articles, government or industry publications, internet based material etc. in addition to books. The information in books is either core material, which does not change very quickly, or presents a view of the subject area at a particular time in the past. Discuss your literature search with David Hirst in the Library, as he will be able to provide valuable advice.
What is a literature review?
A literature review is a reporting, assessment and evaluation of the information published on a topic. Generally refereed publications should form the basis of a literature review; however, in some cases a wider range of sources can be used. The aim of a literature review is to communicate the established knowledge on a topic, together with the issues and concepts developed to date.
It is not always appropriate to have a chapter which is entitled ‘Literature review’, as this can imply that the literature is divorced from the rest of the dissertation’s contents and can result in a fragmented, poorly structured, dissertation. How the literature review is dealt with and presented will depend on the aim and objectives of the dissertation. In general, if the dissertation is based mainly on a critical analysis and review of published information and data, then each chapter should include both a review of the literature on that specific issue or subtopic and a critical analysis of that published data. On the other hand, if the dissertation is based mainly on empirical work, then a literature review would more usually form a chapter or chapters at the beginning of the dissertation.
When undertaking a literature review it is crucial to accomplish the following.
Find all the relevant literature.
Use critical analysis to highlight the salient concepts, trends, themes and gaps.
Structure the review (or review sections) in such a way that the characteristics of the information and data, for example the historical development of concepts and trends in recorded data, changing theories or practice, are clearly identified.
A literature review must therefore be organised so that it addresses the following.
It responds directly to the aim and objectives
It identifies concepts, themes or trends
It identifies the characteristics of the sources and information
It establishes whether specific information relates to specific contexts
It establishes whether any bias can be detected or substantial differences of opinion exist
It determines whether there appear to be gaps in the knowledge or data
A literature review is not a simple summary of the literature you have read, but a critical analysis and discussion of its strengths, weaknesses and any controversial issues or other points that it raises. In the main body of you dissertation you should show clearly how your work relates to what has been done before and what your work will add to the knowledge in the field.
You should use a robust set of analytical methods, which may be quantitative or qualitative,but which will make the most of the evidence that you have collected to answer your aim and objectives, present arguments and enable you to draw conclusions.
A useful text to look at is the following.
Conducting a literature search
The main body of the dissertation
This is the main content and focuses on the aim and objectives that you have set. It is generally made up of separate chapters, each of which deals with a particular issue or aspect of the aim and objectives.
When you begin your dissertation you cannot predict exactly what information is available and in what direction your investigation will take you. To overcome this you start with a rough outline of the topic or topics to be studied. You then proceed to find as much information as you can in that area without being too specific or censoring potential information. As your knowledge of the topic area grows the potential structure of the main content will become more apparent. The direction your investigations take you may be different from your first understanding of the topic. Defining a focus for your project within a large topic area is part of the research procedure. Remember the last stage is to choose a final title for your dissertation which accurately reflects its contents.
It is important that the content of your dissertation is a balance between a reflection of your explicit knowledge and that of your tacit knowledge. It is therefore important to be aware of the relationship between explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. Explicit knowledge is knowledge that can be easily communicated; it can be arranged within a system and stored.Examples of explicit knowledge are regulations, procedures and tangible and objective data.
Tacit knowledge is sometimes referred to as implicit knowledge. Although it is difficult to define precisely, it is generally valued more highly than explicit knowledge. It refers to the wisdom and insight that is gained through experience.
Tacit knowledge involves judgment and personal interpretation. Experiential knowledge is tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is that knowledge which allows us to apply the relevant explicit knowledge in the appropriate way to actual situations and problems, or to interpret knowledge in a reasoned way. A crucial part of your work is therefore the analysis and critical evaluation of the information you have gathered and the conclusions that you arrive at.
It is beneficial to include tables, diagrams and illustrations to support the content of your dissertation. All graphs, diagrams or photographs, etc. must be referred to as ‘Figures’ and numbered sequentially through the dissertation. You should include a list of Figures (with titles and page numbers) at the beginning of your dissertation. Similarly, all tables must be referred to as ‘Tables’ and be numbered sequentially throughout your dissertation. You must include a list of Tables (with titles and page numbers) at the beginning of the dissertation. It is crucial that all figures and tables are annotated and referred to, or discussed, in the text.
Including random figures and tables, which do not add to the content, may detract from the work.
How the various chapters link with each other should be clearly defined. It is useful for each chapter to start with a short introduction, linking it to the previous chapter, and end with a short summary and conclusion, showing what stage has been reached in the development of your argument.
The conclusions
Conclusions are not a summary!!! The conclusions are findings or deductions developed from the research and based on reasoning and evidence.
Conclusions develop from your analysis and critical evaluation of the information that you have gathered and should include a discussion of how the findings are justified or contradicted by the literature and/or the empirical data. Conclusions are therefore what you have deduced from the information researched and/or gathered. Conclusions may result in new knowledge being added to the topic area and new insights being given into published data. Conclusions must be based on the contents of previous chapters.
It is essential to include your personal comments, observations and reflections on the information gathered. These however must be based on reasoning and evidence. You must not introduce new material in the conclusions. Your comments, observations and reflections should represent the added value that your investigation has provided to the knowledge that existed prior to your undertaking the dissertation. The conclusions should form a substantial part of your dissertation. In some circumstances it may be appropriate to present them in more than one chapter.
Analysing and undertaking a critical evaluation of the information being gathered is something that you should do continuously throughout your work on the dissertation. In other words you should continuously think about, and analyse, and note down your response to the information that you read. The level of analysis of the information and data informs the reader of your level of understanding of the subject area and therefore is an important part of the assessment of the dissertation.
It is important to communicate and present your conclusions in a logical and clear manner, as they form the outcome of your research. The conclusions should therefore be structured so that they remind the reader of the salient issues set out in the dissertation, refer back to the aim and objectives, and state whether these have been supported or proven or not and why.
A critical evaluation of the validity of your findings and any related limitations should form an important part of your conclusions.
The recommendations#p#分页标题#e#
It is often appropriate to include a short section setting out your recommendations as to how the research could be developed or progressed in the future or how the findings could be used by others.
Recommendations should flow from the conclusions. Recommendations can indicate what other research should be done, based on gaps in the knowledge you have found. These recommendations might comment both on what research should be done in the future and how such research might be undertaken. For example you could include comments on the success or otherwise of the methods you have used and their potential for use elsewhere. You can also make recommendations concerning the possible practical application of your findings or concerning procedures that could be adopted in practice. For example you can suggest how an industry could implement various procedures to improve quality or performance.
The Reference List
The reference list of works cited in the dissertation must be included at the end, in the appropriate format, and in alphabetical order by author. For further information in respect of referencing see the section entitled ‘Referencing and its importance’, on Page 6 of this handbook. If appropriate a bibliography should also be included.
Appendices
In some cases an appendix, or appendices, can be included in a dissertation. Appendices are not an integral part of all dissertations. They should be used sparingly, only for information that is essential and not to make the dissertation look bigger than it is!
An appendix is useful to incorporate detailed information, such as responses to or the analysis of a questionnaire, that are necessary to a thorough appraisal of your work, but if included in the main text would disrupt the discourse. All material in an appendix should have been referred to in the main text. It can also be useful to cross-reference the relevant portions of the main text from within the appendix.
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