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Dissertation Proposal ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Research Focus ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Structure and Content................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Research Design .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Literature ..................................................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Dissertation Proposal Structure .................................................................................................... 4 2. The Dissertation ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Literature Review (Theoretical Part) ............................................................................................ 5 2.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Research Results (Analytical Part) ............................................................................................... 6 2.5 Discussion and Conclusions (Integrative Part) .............................................................................. 6 Thinking Through and Organising the Dissertation ............................................................................ 8
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Dissertation Proposal
The following sections discuss the content of the dissertation proposal.
1.1 Introduction
The Dissertation Proposal is not an obstacle for students to avoid. It is an integral part of the research process and should, in fact, be regarded as an embryonic form of the completed dissertation. The Dissertation Proposal is a clear indication of what each student will be researching. Once it has been approved, the student is committed to pursuing that topic and should continue to follow the research plan, as stated in their proposal.
Dissertation Project Guidelines The purpose of the Research Problem is to identify some kind of focus for the literature study. This should set some real purpose for the analysis and should identify the parameters of the topic. The section shows what is to be researched and why. It is very important to be specific in order to facilitate detailed, focused research in the subsequent stages. The Literature Review that forms the main section of the Dissertation Proposal should be a very detailed chapter and should incorporate a complete analysis of the references used up to this point. The salient issues, gaps in knowledge, areas of ambiguity, interest or uncertainty being highlighted. This is a difficult and complex process to undertake and will require a lot of hard work, but a well-researched Literature Review for the Dissertation Proposal will form a very stable (and advanced) foundation for the Research Dissertation. When the Dissertation Proposal is submitted, it should include a detailed analysis of at least 15 secondary sources (i.e. written material). Remember that the purpose of research is to try to fill a gap in knowledge. Only by identifying where and what the gap is, can any further purposeful work take place. This implies that only by extensive reading and analysis of the literature the student can understand the relevant issues and locate a suitable area of study: a research focus or problem statement. Care should be taken in the selection of material. There is a generally accepted hierarchy of sources. This is: Articles selected from academic research journals Academic text books Official reports by governments, agencies, companies, etc. Ph.D. theses and Masters dissertations Articles from trade journals Articles from newspapers and magazines The Internet This hierarchy shows the relative value of different sources with 1 being the most valuable and 7 being of least value. (This hierarchy is based on the reliability of the sources origins). Students should be aware that the ultimate quality of their Dissertation is greatly influenced by the value (and number) of sources used. Thus, academic research journals should form the core of any Research Dissertation, the other sources being used only in support. The Research Questions are the product of the Literature Review. After demonstrating a detailed knowledge of the topic and the relationship between relevant literature, the student can then focus on what more still needs to be researched and what will be the specific focus of their own research. It is essential that students include a Complete List of References used in the Literature Review, and otherwise, to date. The system used for referencing must be as according to the stipulated Harvard style - http://www.neilstoolbox.com/index.htm
Dissertation Project Guidelines 1.4.1 Do-Ability As well as being personally stimulating, projects should also be realistic. Students should consider at an early stage the practical implications of the study they hope to follow. It must be do-able in terms of time, money, skills, geography, etc. Think of where the information is available, of what travelling might be required, and of the availability of contacts. 1.4.2 Time-Scheduling Assuming that the topic is considered to be do-able, students must begin planning the project at an early stage, taking special care of time. Think of how long it will take for contacts/respondents to reply and the time needed for writing up, producing diagrams, Research Project Guidelines 18 etc. prior to submission. Set time schedules for each stage of the work.
1.5 Assessment
The Dissertation Proposal should be between 2000 and 3000 words in length. (Remember that you will be building upon this framework during the Dissertation, so the more you have and the better it is done at the Dissertation Proposal stage, the easier it will be during the later stages). Under no circumstances attempt the production of an entire proposal or dissertation without reference to the supervisor. Agree appropriate targets and staging points for the work. Drafts of the report should be written in double line spacing on one side of A4 paper. This greatly assists editing, which is a necessary aspect of writing-up. Edit, and edit again!!!! The Dissertation Proposal shall be considered by the supervisor who will provide critical comments as to the scope and feasibility of the investigation and its appropriateness to the undergraduate degree level. Throughout the entire process, students should adhere to three basic points: BREVITY: Dont waffle. Say what needs to be said efficiently CLARITY: Say what you mean OBJECTIVITY: Students must remain objective in their views, analysis, and expression
1.6 Literature
The recommended text for the Research Dissertation is: Veal, A.J. (1997) Research Methods for Leisure and Tourism. A Practical Guide, (2nd Ed.) Pearson Education Ltd., Harlow, UK.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A detailed, critical analysis of the relevant literature. Add plenty of discussion and draw out the most important points to develop a
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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
No less than 3 and no more than 12 specific, unambiguously formulated and uni-dimensional research questions should be presented as being the logical outcome of the literature review and towards satisfying the Problem Statement
INTRODUCTION
Introduce the topic, why it is worth researching, the main topic areas relevant to the research, state the aims and objectives of the research and the structure of the proposal.
PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
This section does not have to be too detailed but should provide some indication of how the research questions will be tackled, some proposed methods, analysis techniques and planning of research activity.
REFERENCES
A complete list of all references used in the Dissertation Proposal, including all required details.
2. The Dissertation
2.1 Introduction
The Introduction is a comprehensive chapter in which the reader is introduced to all that is required to be known before being led through the research. It should provide a background to the main topics, issues and concepts that are at the heart of the research theme. It should explicitly state the rationale for the research, why this topic is worth studying, who should be interested in this, how original is the study? It should explicitly state the aims and objectives of the research: what is it you intend to achieve, what do you want to test? It should provide a statement on the structure of the Dissertation. What will the reader experience in the various chapters and sections, how will the readers understanding of the topic develop accordingly?
Dissertation Project Guidelines draws together the main points in a theoretical framework. Here, the student should prime the reader to understand the platform of previous knowledge that he or she has built in the Literature Review, from which the original primary research then takes off.
2.3 Methodology
It is difficult to provide too much detail in this section. It should be as open, honest and clear as possible, in describing the entire process undertaken during the primary research process. The chapter will first introduce the problem statement / research focus, and the research questions that stem from this. It may be necessary to explain the rationale behind the selected questions. The chapter will then explain the planning of the primary research process, justifying why particular methods were employed and explaining how they were to be completed. It will then account for the process that actually occurred, admitting mistakes, problems, obstacles, delays, etc, but also discussing the extent to which the value of the research was regained through appropriate counter-efforts. Each element of the research process should be explained in detail, including the secondary research process. E.g. first the desk research, then the questionnaire survey (explaining the questions, etc) and then the interview survey, etc. An objective evaluation of the research process should be provided indicating where the main deficiencies exist, but also what is strong.
Dissertation Project Guidelines the faults, what went wrong, what wouldnt be a good idea to do again, how much of the data is accurate, how strong are the research results? Contribution of the Research: objectively review what has been achieved despite the limitations. What more has been found out, what new ideas or examples have been worked out? Recommendations: who can benefit from your research? What has been shown that could be changed or improved, how could it be done, what could be done differently. Do not accept that what is being done is always the best way. How could things change in the future? Suggestions for Further Research: Given what has been achieved, what would be an appropriate way for the project to develop? Research the other point of view, research deeper into new findings, and replicate the study for somewhere else for comparative purposes. If you had to spend another year on this research, what more could you do? If someone else was to pick up where you left off, where should they go with it?
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