What is a dissertation and how to write one?

Contents:

A dissertation is a complex and voluminous scientific research performed by students or researchers to obtain a degree. Writing such a work is quite difficult, but interesting. If you have decided to get down to business, you should first study in detail all the information about writing and the rules of dissertation formatting.

The main structural units of dissertation research

Like other works, for example, a master’s thesis, a dissertation has a certain structure that must be followed. Let’s take a closer look at it.

Introduction.

The following aspects must be highlighted in the introduction:

1. Relevance of the topic. It reveals the essence of the scientific problem and its significance, characterizes the state of its development in domestic and foreign science.
2. Object of research. It defines the process or phenomenon that gives rise to the problem situation and is selected for research.
3. Subject of research. It is contained within the object and determines the topic of the dissertation research.
4. The purpose of the study. It is formulated in one sentence and should reflect the final result that is planned to be obtained.
5. Research objectives. They specify ways to achieve the goal, determine the main stages of scientific research and reflect the sequence of solving the problem.

The introduction should also contain provisions on the practical significance of the results obtained in the course of the research.

Main Part of the Dissertation

The main body of a dissertation usually consists of several chapters. These may be theoretical, practical, and methodological sections:

1. The theoretical section contains an analysis and generalization of the theoretical foundations of the problem under study. It defines the concept of research, critically analyzes the scientific literature, and defines the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study.
2. The methodological section reveals the system of research methods, justifies their choice and peculiarities of application. It describes the general research methodology, the principles of research organization, and characterizes the methods of data collection and processing.
3. The research and experimental section contains a description of the experiment, a description of the experimental base, and an analysis of the results. This section presents the author’s own scientific achievements, analyzes and interprets them.

There may also be other sections, each of which is devoted to a specific task.

Conclusions

A dissertation, just like a master’s thesis in management or any other topic, must have conclusions. They reflect:

1. Scientific novelty reflects the new scientific positions that are submitted for defense. It characterizes the difference between the results obtained and those known earlier and the degree of novelty (first obtained, improved, further developed).
2. Theoretical significance reveals the contribution of the research to the development of the relevant field of science. It characterizes the expansion or supplementation of theoretical positions, the discovery of new patterns, dependencies, and principles.
3. Practical significance determines the possibility of using the research results in business. It reveals the practical value of the results obtained, their impact on the development of the relevant industry.

Conclusions summarize the main results of the study in accordance with the objectives. Recommendations determine the prospects for using the research results and further development of the problem.

Also, each dissertation must contain a list of references that reflects the theoretical basis of the research and must contain all sources referenced in the text of the dissertation. It is drawn up in accordance with the current requirements.

The appendices contain auxiliary material necessary for the full perception of the dissertation. They include materials that cannot be included in the main part due to their large volume or form of presentation.

The dissertation is a rather voluminous work. The volume of a candidate’s work is 150-200 pages, a doctoral work is 300-400 pages.

Where to get information for writing a dissertation?

You can use various sources of information to write a dissertation. The most popular are:

1. Scientific databases – Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Research Gate.
   University libraries. Information can be searched in electronic catalogs and repositories.
2. National libraries of Ukraine.
3. International scientific journals in your specialty. Pay attention to peer-reviewed publications.
4. Conference proceedings, abstracts, and collections of scientific papers.

You can also ask for advice from your supervisor, who will be able to suggest relevant sources.

• choosing a topic that is too broad or vague;
• use of outdated or unverified sources;
• high level of plagiarism;
• weak argumentation or superficial analysis;
• poor preparation for the defense.

It is recommended that you start your work in advance to have enough time to finalize and consult with your supervisor.

The basic guidelines are usually as follows:

• Choosing a topic. It should be relevant and relevant to the specialty. It is also important that the topic is interesting for the student.
• Appointment of a supervisor. The teacher advises and assists the student throughout the entire stage of work.
• Together with the supervisor, the student develops a detailed work plan.
• Next comes the stage of searching for the necessary sources: scientific articles, monographs, textbooks, regulatory documents, etc. They should be critically analyzed and the main aspects that can be used in the work should be highlighted.
• When writing a paper, you should follow a clear structure, which usually includes: introduction, main body (theoretical and practical sections), conclusions, references and appendices.

Stages of writing a dissertation

There are several important steps involved in writing a dissertation:

1. Choosing a topic. You need to decide on the topic you want to research. The topic should be interesting and relevant. Check whether the topic will be relevant in some time, because it may take more than a year to defend.
2. Choosing a supervisor. This is a very important step, because the teacher should be well versed in the topic and help you write your dissertation.
3. Defining the subject, object, tasks, and goals of the research. The clearer these components are, the easier it will be for you to structure and further work on your dissertation.
4. Choosing a methodology. The set of methods is determined by the discipline. Also, each method should be consistent with the phenomenon under study.
5. Drawing up a plan. It is necessary to draw up a detailed work plan. It can be changed and supplemented during the writing of the dissertation.
6. Collection of literature sources. It is necessary to analyze in detail the literature you plan to use. The sources studied should cover all aspects of the topic, representing different points of view. Objectivity, reliability, and impartiality are required. Study the latest scientific articles from reputable sources, use online resources, and monographs. Also, keep in mind that the sources should be up-to-date, preferably not older than the last five years, or even better, three years.
7. Completion of the main part. It includes research work – conducting experiments, collecting data, analyzing documents, or other methods depending on your topic. You also have to write a draft of the chapters and then finalize them. Usually, you start with a literature review and methodology. You also need to publish articles on the topic of your dissertation in scientific journals and participate in conferences. The main thing is to stick to the work schedule and show the results to your supervisor on time. If you have any difficulties, discuss them with your supervisor immediately.
8. Write an introduction and conclusion. It is better to do this after working on the main part.
9. Designing a dissertation. Each work must be formatted according to certain rules. Text format: Times New Roman font, 14 point, line spacing 1.5, margins: left – 30 mm, right – 10 mm, top and bottom – 20 mm. Page numbering in the upper right corner. The references and bibliography must meet the requirements of DSTU 8302:2015.

The work on the dissertation is quite complex, so it is advisable to start it in advance, to follow the plan, including the time frame.

Pre-defense and defense of the dissertation

The pre-defense takes place at the department where the work was performed. You present the main results of your research to your colleagues and faculty members. The presentation usually lasts 15-20 minutes, followed by a discussion. It is important to prepare a presentation and handouts. Colleagues give recommendations on how to improve your work before the main defense. Based on the results of the pre-defense, the department recommends the work for defense or sends it back for revision.

The defense takes place at a meeting of a specialized academic council. It includes your presentation (20-25 minutes), questions from the members of the council and the audience, speeches by your opponents, your response to their comments, discussion of the work, and a secret ballot of the council. You need to submit a full package of documents, including an abstract, feedback from opponents, and publications. It is important to prepare your speech well, clearly articulate the relevance of the topic and the practical significance of the results.

Practical tips for working on a dissertation

When working on a dissertation or other research, such as a master’s thesis in psychology, you should follow these tips:

• Create a clear work schedule with specific deadlines.
• Keep an electronic archive of all materials and make regular backups.
• Immediately create correct bibliographic descriptions of sources. Make brief annotations of the materials you read. You can also use bibliography management software.
• Start writing as early as possible, even if it is a draft. Write a little bit, but regularly. Don’t try to make a perfect text right away – first, state the main ideas, then refine them.
• Show your work to your supervisor regularly. Write down all comments and recommendations. Clarify any unclear points immediately.
• Determine your most productive time for work.
• To write a quality paper, it is also important to rest and “reboot”.

Common mistakes in writing dissertation research

The most common mistakes when writing a dissertation include:
• An unclearly formulated scientific problem and research objectives.
• Mismatch between the goal, objectives and conclusions.
• Lack of logical connection between sections of the work.
• Use of outdated sources without up-to-date research.
• Lack of critical analysis of the literature.
• Disproportionate sections in terms of volume.
• Lack of clear conclusions after each section.
• Duplication of information in different parts of the work.
• Insufficient justification of scientific novelty.
• Weak connection between theoretical and practical parts.
• Descriptive nature of the work instead of in-depth analysis.

Technical errors are also common: improper design of tables, figures, formulas, stylistic and grammatical errors, non-compliance with the requirements for formatting.

A dissertation is a voluminous and complex work. Before you start researching, study in detail all the rules for writing and formatting it. This will give you the opportunity to avoid mistakes and get your coveted degree.