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Dissertations and
Research Reports

Contents:

Introduction 2 Methods of analysis 9

Dissertations: what are they? 3 Writing style 12
Developing a topic 4 Writing structure 13
The dissertation proposal 4
The literature review 5
Start writing 7
Operationalising 8

1

Skills for Learning
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Introduction
This dissertation booklet provides some general
guidance on working on a dissertation. It is a
synthesis of the instructions given to students in
the different Faculties within Leeds Beckett
University on the production of a dissertation.
It does not replace any specific documentation
which you might be given by your course tutor –
such material should take precedence over this
booklet.
If you have any doubts about the advice you
find here you should always check with your
course tutor.
The dissertation is one of the most demanding
intellectual exercises that you will have to
undertake during your degree so you need to
be aware of exactly what is expected of you.

Further resources The introduction discusses the focus of a

research project, the choice of approach and
There’s lots of material out there to help with
format. Other chapters deal with the literature
dissertation writing, on general topics and
review, providing a rationale for the research,
specifics. These are good starting points:
forming hypotheses and the use of theory.
Bell, J. (1993) Doing your research project.
Phelan, P. and Reynolds, P. (1996)
Milton Keynes, Open University.
Argument and evidence. London,
This book covers the planning of a research Routledge.
project, keeping records and reviewing
This title focusses on the nature of formal and
literature.
informal arguments, the grounds for belief
Berry, R. (1995) The research project: how and statistical analysis.
to write it. London, Routledge.
Rudestam, K. E. (1992) Surviving your
Good guidance on choosing a topic, getting dissertation. London, Sage.
the best out of a library, preparing a
Looks at the structure and content of the
bibliography, taking notes, keeping records
dissertation and at the process of producing
and how to compose an academic paper.
it. Introduces quantitative and qualitative (and
Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design, other) research methods.
qualitative and quantitative approaches.
London, Sage.

2
 Dissertations… what are they all about?
Aims and objectives of the dissertation
The overall aim of the dissertation is the
production of a well-argued and sustained piece
of research that examines current professional
issues or problems. In this process it is
expected that you will develop an
understanding of research methodologies and
acquire competent research skills.
A number of objectives flow from these aims so
that by the end of the dissertation you should be
able to:
Identify and analyse a significant research
problem
Demonstrate your understanding of all the
relevant arguments and present a coherent together an interesting, well-written, informed
critique of the available research material
Select research methodologies appropriate to
qualitative or quantitative problems
Show competencies in data collection and data
manipulation
Demonstrate independence of thought and
judgement
These are all highly regarded skills and form the maintain motivation.
main rationale for the dissertation.
Checklist for dissertation and
research report writing
 I have set myself deadlines—and kept
to them!
 I will write regularly.
 I have checked and completed the
required sections.
 I am within required word limit.
My cover sheet is complete.
 I have given appropriate
acknowledgments.
 I have used sub-headings to structure
individual chapters to make it easy to
follow.
 My chapters link together well.
I have used tables and figures, with
Choosing a dissertation topic
Getting your chosen topic under control is time-
consuming and difficult. You’ll have to digest a
lot of information in the form of books, journal
articles and other research, and contain this
research within manageable limits.
To do so, you’ll have to have a clear idea of
what you are doing. It is easy to pursue one
idea after another because you find them all
interesting. Equally, you may be afraid of
leaving something out, and never stop reading.
Life is too short! Have a clearly focused plan
and try to stick to it – you cannot cover
everything, and you are not expected to. What
is required above all is that you are able to put
and cogent argument.
You will usually have freedom in topic selection,
providing that this is within your degree scope.
You may have already selected a topic inspired
by your coursework. The most important thing is
to select a topic you find interesting— if you do
not, you’ll find it difficult to apply yourself and to
titles, if appropriate.
 I have checked my citations and
references.
 My appendices have only included
items I have referred to in my report
 I have checked grammar, spelling and
punctuation—and got a friend to!
 I have not used jargon and technical
language.
 I have checked that I have stated the
aims of the research clearly.
 I have seen my supervisor regularly for
help and guidance.
 I have not given up! I know that most
people find writing difficult and am not
alone.
3
 Developing a topic The dissertation proposal
Select one or at most two topics that interest Most courses will expect you to submit some
you and develop some basic ideas that indicate form of dissertation proposal before you
what aspect of the topic you want to research. commence in-depth work on your dissertation.
There are different ways of describing this.
Conduct a preliminary literature search to see Many courses use the term ‘dissertation
what sort of material is available. Begin with proposal’, others use the terms ‘protocol’ or
general works to get a "feel" for the subject and ‘research brief’.
then go for more specialised resources. Whatever the term used the dissertation
proposal can comprise elements from the
Follow these stages: following list:

 Use a mind map to develop a rough idea  Title – of the proposal.

of the parameters of your search  Aims – a clear, precise statement of the
 Decide what kind of materials you need to
look for (books, journal, reports etc) and
what tools you are going to use to help
you find them (library catalogue, indexes 
and abstracts, the web)
 Develop a list of search terms to use in
these tools
 Literature Review – to provide a brief
On the basis of interest and availability of
materials select one topic for research and
begin to specify the problem or issue you wish
to investigate.
This is not a simple process. To help you do
this try mapping out the field for research using
a mind map. This sort of approach allows you
to see all the relevant and important aspects of
the field. You can see an example of this on
the next page.
Look at your diagram and try to create three or
four research questions and/or hypotheses. If
you need advice on research questions or
hypotheses see the later section on
‘Operationalising the research problem or
issue’.
When you have decided which problem/issue to
examine, and after you have undertaken a
significant amount of research produce a
‘Dissertation Proposal’.  Diary – consisting of key events in the
4
problem(s) to be analysed; the policy to be
evaluated or the hypothesis(es) to be
tested.
Rationale – which explains why you wish
to undertake the study and gives a
reasoned and justified approach to the
proposal.
review and discussion of the relevant
literature, demonstrating that you have a
clear idea of the arguments and the range
of opinion found in your research field.
You should also indicate where your study
will stand in relation to this field.
 Methodology – justifying both the
theoretical framework(s) you will be
employing and the way you intend to
operationalise your research (see
‘Methodology’ sections later for an
explanation of this). Next, explain the
logic which will underpin the development
of your dissertation. In other words,
explain (not merely describe) the structure
of the dissertation – what follows what in
what order and why? Finally, indicate
what methods of data collection you will
be using (e.g. desk study, questionnaires,
interviews) and the sources for this
information (e.g. libraries, the Internet,
practice managers, lawyers).
dissertation, for example: date of
 The literature review
Introduction what exists in the field, and the What do you already know
The review should demonstrate epistemology is what we know about this topic?
about the events, relationships,
that you are familiar with the Previous Literature
literature relevant to your field concepts, theories within the
topic. Understanding these Is previous literature identified?
of research. The purpose of
thoroughly will help you to Is its importance and any
this section is to provide the
background to your own work, identify a problem within the weaknesses made clear?
and show how and where your field which can form the basis Where does this article stand in
research fits in. It should show of your dissertation question. relation to previous work?
that you are critically aware of
all the centrally important Your literature review should Methodological Approach
concepts and arguments which not: What is the theoretical
have already been established. It should not be a list of books/ framework or theme and is it
You are required to examine articles that you may have clearly explained?
and comment critically on the read—this belongs in the Does the article provide a
most relevant literature in your bibliography. clearly defined research
research area. At the same question or hypothesis?
It should not be a report. You
time, you should clearly should not create islands of What form(s) does the article
indicate what diversity of view information that only tells us take?
exists among the writers in what separate authors have
your field. The type of material Argument and Evidence
‘concluded’, ‘found’ or ‘stated’.
you should review usually If that is all you do, the reader What is the author trying to
includes reports, dissertations/ will be asking ‘so what?’ or show? Who is the intended
theses, books, journal articles, ‘why tell us that?’. The audience(s)?
professional pamphlets, literature review should instead
surveys and questionnaires. What is the structure of the
demonstrate the connection
argument?
If you find very little information between established writers’
in your chosen area, you may work and your theme, and how How does the author indicate
need to extend or redirect your are you going to use their work. ‘control’ or ‘authority’ over the
field of research. Check with material?
It should not quote from
your tutor, and talk to staff at If there was a hypothesis was it
authors unless it is
the Help and Information Point fundamentally important. rigorously tested?
in the Library for assistance in
finding information. Analysing/reviewing an If there was a speculative or
article: research question what
Your literature review evidence was offered and did it
should: There is no one right way of
support the conclusions?
doing this. It will depend on the
A dissertation should build on How was the evidence
nature, complexity and length
and extend the work of others. of the material being reviewed. selected? Were the criteria
The literature review made explicit?
demonstrates that you Nevertheless, there are a
understand this. It should show number of questions you Were questionnaires
how your research relates to should ask. The questions can employed? Was the sample
what has already been done, be grouped as follows: adequate? Could valid
and why answering your generalisations be drawn from
Problem/Issue Specification:
specific research question is the sample?
relevant or important. It should What is/are the key problem What metaphorical or rhetorical
also show that you fully (s)?
devices are found in the text?
understand the topic, through How clearly has this been What is their role?
its ontology and epistemology. defined? If it has not been
Did the headings clearly reflect
The ontology of the topic is made explicit, what do you
the content?
think is at issue?
5
Summary While you are doing this: work or summarise the pros
and cons of others' arguments,
Is there a one sentence Make notes – preferably after
make sure that your summary
summary of the article/book? you have read a section.
of their ideas is sufficiently
Are the aims of the author Do not copy large sections – adequate to justify your own
achieved? quote sparingly. Quoting commentary on it
Has your understanding of the should only be used to provide Keep references of all the
problem/issue been improved? startling or particularly articles, books etc you used.
interesting examples or
Was the article/book etc., This really is very important. If
illustrations; it does not replace
convincing? Could the study be your own summary of other you fail to keep proper records
improved in any way? you will waste enormous
peoples’ ideas.
amounts of time trying to locate
Does the work make a useful Summarise in your own words references at a later date. This
contribution to the field? – this will aid understanding. will also help you to avoid
As you comment on others’ plagiarism.

Activity: Find an article that interests you and, using the approach summarised above,
analyse the article as you would for your literature review. How successful do you think you
have been at doing this?

Plagiarism Plagiarism can take many I also certify that I have

Plagiarism is a form of
academic cheating—basically,
copying. The University’s
definition of it is: “The
substantial, unacknowledged
incorporation into a student’s
work of material derived from
the work (published or
unpublished) of another.
“Work” includes Internet
sources. Examples include:
 including a student’s
work/extracts of another’s assessed as a group project, it
work without using
quotation marks and/or
acknowledgement
 summarising another
person’s work without
acknowledgement
 substantial and
unauthorised use of
another person’s ideas,
without acknowledgement assessment. Where material
 copying or printing
another student’s work,
with or without that
student’s knowledge or
agreement.” (University
Academic Regulations,
C9. 2.8.)
forms. There are grey areas, retained a copy of this
for example when is discussion assignment, which I will keep
with fellow students good until after the Board of
practice and when does it Examiners has published
become collusion? There are results, and which I will make
also degrees of plagiarism, available on request".
from, for example, copying the
The above is adapted from
whole of the assignment, to
Leeds Beckett University's
copying only part of it; or
‘Little Book of Plagiarism and
paraphrasing much of a source
Unfair Practice’ .
rather than copying it.
Further advice on plagiarism
The key element of a submitted
and how to avoid it can be
assignment is that, unless it is
found on the Skills for Learning
website, and in the Leeds
should be your own work
Beckett University publication
entirely. Testing yourself
‘The Little Book of Plagiarism
against this declaration signed
by students when they submit
their assignments:
"I certify that this is my own
work. The work has not, in
whole or in part, been Activity
presented elsewhere for
Go to the Skills for
has been used from other Learning section on
sources it has been properly Plagiarism and try out
acknowledged. If this the interactive quizzes.
statement is untrue I
acknowledge that I will have
committed an assessment
offence.
6
 Ready, steady... write
Methodology
The approach you take will depend on what you want to investigate and what you are trying to
achieve. But it can be daunting to actually start writing such a lengthy piece of work.
Considering the different types of methodology may give you an idea of where to start.
First, get a feel for the subject by undertaking the initial literature review. Then specify the
problem or issue you wish to investigate, and decide on the approach you intend to take.
There are two levels to this: the first stipulates that your work needs to be located within a
disciplinary or theoretical framework. This is necessary both in order to inform and guide your
research strategy and to make sense of the ‘facts’ you argue for or conclude throughout your
dissertation—the ‘point’ of your dissertation, you might say. These ’facts’ cannot speak for
themselves; they require theoretical context to give them meaning. ‘Facts’ are theory
dependent; they will be the product of your research, reflection and theoretical understanding.
The second involves the operationalisation of the research problem or issue. Before we touch
on that, however, it is necessary to examine some of the disciplinary or theoretical frameworks
that are available.

Theoretical Frameworks

Historical Sociological Philosophical

There are many historical
approaches available. You may
want to examine particular
events in the past. You may
also want to compare events in
the past and the way in which
they were handled with similar
events in the present. You may
want to study trends or the way
in which attitudes, values and
beliefs have altered over some
specified period of time.
In a historical approach, you
would need to examine primary
and secondary literature.
Primary sources come in the
form of reports, Acts of
Parliament, diaries,
correspondence, contemporary
newspaper articles and journal
material. Secondary material
would provide commentaries
and criticisms of these primary
sources and other secondary
sources: textbooks, lectures,
journal articles, etc.
Sociology is concerned with
cultural roles, norms and
values and with the functioning
and structuring of society.
Society itself is made up of
people whose relationships
with one another are
determined by a variety of
institutions. These include the
family, the education, health
and legal systems and work.
Economic
Economics is concerned with
the production, distribution and
consumption of goods and
services. This is a dynamic
process that is subject to more
or less continuous change.
Much change is generated by
competitive pressures and by
the pursuit of profit. The
regulatory framework, within
which economic activity, takes
place can also be an important
engine of change.
Philosophical research is
concerned with understanding
and explaining the meaning of
ideas, terms and concepts and
the way in which they are used.
It can also involve the analysis
of the methodological basis of
previous research. In other
words, the focus of the study
would be the way in which
previous research was
conducted rather the results of
such work.
Legal
You would take this approach if
you wanted to explore how the
law structures and polices the
regulatory framework in which
industries and professions
operate. The emphasis of your
dissertation would be on
various Acts of Parliament,
legal reports and cases and
how they relate to your chosen
topic.

Remember: there are other disciplinary and theoretical frameworks which may be used
singly or in combination. This not an exhaustive list. You may wish to try something different
– discuss it with your dissertation tutor.

7
 Operationalising the research problem or issue
Having chosen your overall framework, you
then need to specify how you are going to deal
with the problem/issue you have identified. A
traditional way of doing this is to formulate a
hypothesis. Others include the framing of a
conjecture or prediction, or the posing of a
research question.
1) Formulating a hypothesis
What is a hypothesis? A testable statement
that claims to explain an existing state of affairs. neither directly confirm nor falsify a statement
How would I use it? Create this statement
based on your research, and write to justify it.
Benefits to using this method: it is a
traditional and solid, logical way to structure a
dissertation. It can have an objective slant: you demonstrating is the ability to evaluate
can argue for or against something in this
format.
When using this method, remember:
 any number of hypotheses may account
for the phenomena you argue for – how do 
we know that we have the right one?
Plausibility is the key, and that is what we
would look for in this case.
 the verification of a hypothesis through the
piling up of confirming instances is not
proof. It does give us more confidence in
the hypothesis, but disconfirming
instances do radically undermine its
credibility.
 However, even if the hypothesis appears
to be falsified through a number of
disconfirming instances, we have to take
care not to reject the theory prematurely.
A series of disconfirmations may well be
the result of too small a sample or too
localised a sample. A more carefully
constructed sample may well confirm the
hypothesis.
 you need to appreciate that your
hypothesis has to be embedded, and only
makes sense, within a larger theoretical
structure.
2) Framing a conjecture or
prediction
What is a conjecture or prediction: Rather
than a proven hypothesis, it is something you
think will or could be proven correct.
8
Throughout your dissertation you should clearly
demonstrate why it is likely.
How would I use it? You could look at a
phenomena which is going to be introduced in
some time, or the predicted effects of a current
phenomenon. Here, you clearly cannot
formulate a hypothesis, but you can conjecture
about or predict the likely outcome.
Benefits to using this method: As you can
on a prediction or conjecture, there will not
(yet!) be a ‘right’’ or ’wrong’ answer. You may
find presenting a convincing argument either for
or against—or even being inconclusive about—
something to be more exciting. What you are
situations, processes, groups and so on,
predicting how a variety of factors may affect
them. This is an important and valued skill.
When using this method, remember:
it may sound like a softer option—but it is
not. You have to apply the same rigour
here as in hypothesis testing. However, it
may be more difficult, as you will have less
‘facts’, and more ‘clues’, to deal with. You
may have to think more creatively.
 ensure that your conjecture is testable, at
least in principle, and show how this can
be done. In a few years time, what you
have written may well be tested against
the evidence as another student examines
the validity of your initial conjecture.
 it is possible for your conjecture to be
refuted. Acknowledge this!
 Again, set up a theoretical structure within
which to embed your conjecture. Show
how various factors you have identified
can affect it.
3) Research questions
What is a research question? A question
which you set for yourself. The answer to this
question will be your dissertation.
How should I use it? You may have questions
which you want to ask about events, processes
and phenomena. Choose a question that
interests you and seek to answer it, logically
drawing a conclusion from your analysis of
theoretical context, research, and perhaps
through examining similar scenario or case
studies.
Benefits to using this method: Whereas the
above methods are concerned with making
claims about the past present or future state of
things, a research question is not constrained in
the same way. It can be more open ended and
exploratory, and you may not have to form or
justify an objective voice, but argue towards a
logical conclusion, regardless of your personal
opinion. As such, it can have a clear logical
approach.
When using this method, remember:
 Research questions need to be
informative and significant. It has to
specify an issue or problem that has
meaning and importance to a particular
research group, profession or industry. It
may, for example, be asking why events or
processes happen (or happened) in the
way they do.
 As in hypothesis testing, it is the search for
explanation. But there is a difference. A
research question seeks an explanation. A
hypothesis is an explanation that seeks
confirmation or refutation.
 A research question may also be asking
what the outcome of certain conflicts,
tendencies or policies is likely to be. As in
a speculative approach, there is concern
with the future but again there is a
difference. The speculative method is
prescriptive: it specifies what is going to
happen and then tries to justify its claim.
By contrast, a research question
concerned with the future will want to
come to some view only after the evidence
has been examined.
Methods of analysis
How do you go about testing or evaluating your
hypothesis or research question?
You will need to generate data and present it.
There are, however, a multitude of forms which
the process of data extraction and presentation
can take: some of the most important would
(individually or in combination) include
reasoned argument, models, experimentation,
case studies, comparative analyses, trends and
surveys.
A brief description of some of these methods is
found below.
1) Reasoned argument
At its most general, a dissertation presents the
grounds for accepting or rejecting an argument.
An argument, however, has a number of
components:
 the problem or phenomena has to be
identified
 a research question, conjecture or
hypothesis needs to be framed
 evidence appropriate the problem has to
be presented
 the validity of the evidence and its
significance for the research problem
needs to be discussed
 conclusions, based exclusively on the
discussion, should be drawn
All forms of dissertation require a reasoned
argument of this type. However, the exact form
it takes will vary, depending what you are trying
to do. Below you will find other examples of how
to extract and/or present data.
2) Experimentation
An experiment is a controlled attempt to
determine the nature of causal relationships. It
can take a number of forms: a real time
experiment; a prospective design which looks at
the future effects of specified current behaviour
or activity; or a retrospective design which looks
at current effects and tries to determine their
past causes.
Usually, experiments require both a ‘control’
and ‘experimental groups’ in order to test the
strength of causal relationships. In other words,
control groups, structures or spaces, serve as
the base line against which the experimental
9
intervention of the researcher can be
measured.
An experiment has to be replicable and produce considerable amount of application and hard
more or less the same results if it is to have any thinking.
significance. Some of the factors that need to
be taken into account include:
 a definition of the problem or issue
 the operationalisation of the problem (i.e.
the formulation of an hypothesis or
research question - this could include
‘what if’ type questions)
 identification of the variables involved
 the design of the experiment
 the performing of the experiment(s)
 analysis and interpretation of the data.
Experiments can be expensive and hazardous.
Think carefully about what you want to achieve
and whether it is appropriate, do-able,
affordable and safe.
Modelling
'Modelling' refers more to the replication of
aspects of real world situations and processes.
For example, life-cycle-costing models attempt
to selectively capture the key factors that
determine expenditure patterns over relatively
long periods of time. The importance of such
models is only matched by the difficulty of
creating ones that work.
Again, this is not an easy option, but there a
number of relatively straightforward steps you
can follow:
 carefully specify those aspects of the real
world you want to investigate
 outline the strengths and weaknesses of
existing models (if they exist)
 specify all the relevant factors which need
to be taken into account. The problem
here is that you have to be selective. If
you try to capture everything your model
becomes unwieldy; if you simplify too
much the model becomes useless
 create the model and give due weight to
the influencing factors
 run the model and produce testable
results. In the light of the results modify
the model as necessary. Run the model
again and so on until you think that it is
satisfactory
Modelling is a relatively safe and cheap method
of experimentation but it does require a
Case studies
Case studies take as their subject particular
events, processes, techniques or phenomena
that are considered to possess particular
significance for the industry or the profession.
A few examples: Will the Channel Tunnel ever
make a profit? Why and how has value
management been developed in practices?
Like the other methods there are a number of
points you need to consider:
 Context. What is the larger context that
the study is operating in? What or who is
involved?
 Issues. What are the key issues and main
points of interest in the study? Have they
been studied by anyone else?
 Complexity. If the scheme, project or
whatever is large and highly complex how
are you going to approach it? Do you have
time to deal with the totality or do you
need to concentrate on particular
aspects? If so, what are the criteria for
that?
 Completeness. Is the case complete? If
not how will this affect your conclusions?
Can you get access to all the information
you need? Is it politically or commercially
sensitive?
 Lessons learned. What does the study
tells us about how activity, techniques,
relationships and so on should be
changed as a result?
Surveys
A survey is a method of collecting information
from people that records their views, feelings,
plans and attitudes. The purpose of a survey is
to obtain information that can be analysed to
show patterns, trends and/or correlation. A
survey usually takes the form of questionnaires
or interviews or both. But there is more to this
than just asking people what they think. In order
to conduct successful surveys, you need to:
 Decide why you are conducting the survey
 Select a representative sample
 Prepare the questions
10
 Distribute and collect the data Before you start bear in mind that you should
aim to produce a dissertation which is
 Analyse the data
interesting to read. There is little point in
 Present your findings reiterating what has already been done or said.
Comparative analysis Some of you will find that others have already
covered the area of research you are interested
Employing this method allows you to compare in. The solution is to either provide new
and evaluate different and competing information or present existing information in a
techniques/processes/hypotheses and choose new light provided by your own insights.
between them. As with other methods you have
to set up your analysis very clearly: One of the most difficult aspects in writing a
dissertation is coping with the material. From
 Specify the problem area and demonstrate your preliminary reading you will already be
that there are competing models or aware that there is either a lot of information
hypotheses. If there are a large number of already about your topic or that there is very
alternatives take some angle which allows little. If there is a lot of information you will need
you to reduce the field to be selective, maybe you need to narrow your
 Outline the different competitive models or topic down so you can give a more in-depth
whatever analysis; where there is little material you may
have to broaden it out to give your topic some
 Establish and justify the criteria needed to meat. Your supervisor will be able to help you
choose between the competitors. This here. Either way you will need to spend some
may include factors such as cost, time just thinking and reading; discussing your
simplicity, aesthetics, time, quality, the topic with both your supervisor and fellow
environment, safety and so on. The list students is useful at this stage as it helps to
could be extended almost indefinitely so clarify your thoughts.
you have to be selective and justify that
selection. This, in fact, is the really difficult Where your dissertation involves some action
part, not made any easier by the fact that research (e.g. questionnaires or interviews) you
you will have to assign weightings to these need to set these up very early on.
different factors.
 Test each of the alternatives against the
criteria which you have created and
evaluate the outcomes
 Draw the appropriate conclusions and
make recommendations. But remember,
the soundness of your argument here
depends crucially on the plausibility of
your assessment criteria.
This is no less a demanding task than the other
approaches. Not surprisingly, the skills
demonstrated in being able to choose between
competing alternatives that are all highly
regarded.
This is not an exhaustive list of research
methods and you may want to try a different
approach. There are lots of possibilities.
Discuss these with your dissertation tutor.
Whichever method you choose, make sure that
you have clearly specified the problem situation
or context. Also make sure that you know what
you are trying to achieve and how you are going
to do it.
Range and perspective
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 Writing style
It is important that you write up each stage as you complete it. This is crucial for a number of
reasons:
 writing it up while it is fresh in your mind makes it easier to do
 it helps to clarify each section and prepare the ground for the next stage
 it allows your supervisor to check you’re keeping to the timetable and to the point!
 it gives you time to draft the content and then spend time refining your style!
 the sooner you start writing the sooner you will get feedback—and this is more important
than all the guides you may be given
Remember that you are writing for an audience. Your work may be read by future students, so
you may find it useful to bear this in mind and write for their level of understanding. Alternatively,
you might want to appeal to professionals in the field. The important point is to always have an
audience in mind. This will help you to achieve the right and consistent level of content and style.
You can, of course, make assumptions about what your prospective audience will already know.
This will avoid long textbook explanations of fairly simple technical matters. It will also give you
the space to develop your ideas and to intellectually challenge your intended readership.
Use quotations effectively but not too often, and do not paraphrase without giving credit in the
references. Such use is plagiarism and is a form of cheating. If detected the consequences could
be serious. This also applies to illustrations and material gathered from the Internet.
The order in which you write your material is important and requires thought. You may be tempted
to write the introduction first and work your way through to the final chapter: don’t! The
introduction and the abstract should be written last when you know finally what you have said and
what you have done. As you progress in your research you may find that you decide to ignore
certain questions you previously thought important and develop others. If you have already
written the introduction you will have to go back and change it which will waste time. The
conclusion and recommendations should obviously be written after the main body of the
dissertation.
Very importantly, before you begin to write anything make sure that you have a plan and
methodology for each of the chapters as well as their chapter headings. You may change them
later but you do need a clear overview of how the work is likely to shape up and how each
chapter is related to the other.
The emphasis should be on a clear, objective and logical presentation of material into a sharp
analysis of the evidence.

Using appropriate language:

A report should be written in the third person – this means not using ‘I’ or ‘We’
All grammar should be checked as should spelling and punctuation
If you are relying on a word-processing spell checker consult a dictionary before entering
terms into the custom dictionary
Avoid wordiness – padding with unnecessary material is boring
Avoid jargon and conversational colloquialisms
Ensure that words mean what you think they do – use your dictionary

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 Writing structure
The precise structure of your dissertation will depend upon content and approach and you should
discuss this with your supervisor. But broadly, it should possess the following characteristics:

1) Title Page and where your research fits in. justified in the body of your
It allows you to demonstrate to work. Do not add spurious
The title is usually different to
your readers that you are in conclusions for which there is
your research question or
command of all the centrally no evidence in your
hypothesis. It needs to be
important concepts and dissertation. There must be no
expressive of the whole work.
arguments. Your research new information in the
2) Abstract question/hypothesis should conclusion, and no quotations.
Outline what you set out to do, naturally complete the review.
10) Recommendations
state your argument, and 7) Methodology Having drawn your
indicate your conclusions.
This should provide an conclusions, you are now in
3) Acknowledgements explanation and justification for position to recommend a
If people have directly helped the approach taken. It should course(s) of action. At the least,
you with the production of the also justify why you structured you should recommend further
dissertation, do thank them. and developed the dissertation reading to understand the
in the way you did. Any problem better. You may also
4) Contents problems or limitations in be in a position to recommend
The contents page(s) shoudl be relation to data collection or practical proposals that could
a clear guide to what you have analysis should be discussed make a positive contribution to
done. Select chapter and here. There must be no the topic you addressed.
section headings carefully so quotations in this section. Whether you make
that a glance at the contents It is usual to incorporate the recommendations or not will
page gives the reader a clear introduction, literature review ultimately depend on the
idea of the dissertation’s and methodology sections in design of your dissertation. If
subject and approach. your first chapter but there are they are made, make sure that
5) Introduction alternatives – discuss this with they are clearly related to the
your tutor. content of your work.
The introduction should inform
the reader about the problems/ 8) Argument and evidence The conclusion and
issues which are to be Here, you should present your recommendations can form one
investigated, the reason(s) for arguments and provide or two chapters – again discuss
the research, and what you aim supporting evidence, and offer with your tutor.
to establish. There must be no an interpretation of your Notes
quotations in this section. findings. You should also say Any notes, which develop a
6) Literature Review what you think about the topic point which is not central to
on the basis of your evidence, your argument, should be
All dissertations must contain a and demonstrate how your
review of the relevant literature. work relates to that of others. placed at the end of the
Here, you should examine, relevant chapter and given the
Essentially, this is the meat
discuss and comment critically between the introduction and heading ‘Notes’ or at the foot of
on the most relevant literature conclusion. This section the relevant page. A
in your area of research. In superscripted number attached
typically contains two or three to the end of the relevant
addition, very brief comments chapters.
on other material will usually be sentence or paragraph should
made. You should also clearly indicate the existence of
indicate what diversity of view 9) Conclusions endnotes and footnotes within
exists in the research field. the text. The choice of footnote
A conclusion is a statement or endnote largely depends
The purpose of this section is that tells us what the evidence upon how extensive these
to provide the background to means. So, make sure that any notes actually are – use your
your own work and show how conclusions you draw here are judgement.

13
 Appendices the name of the University and topics relevant to dissertation
the month and the year. If work – see the website for
Use these for including copies
professionally bound, the spine details.
of your questionnaires,
should bear only your name,
structured interviews and so The Library website
the course title, and the year.
on. Do not overburden the Here you will find subject
appendices with unnecessary Format guides which provide listings of
or irrelevant material. The dissertation should be information sources for your
Bibliography word-processed on good subject, both in print and
quality A4 paper. Line spacing electronic format.
Bibliographies are
and other requirements should
fundamentally important; Your Academic Librarian
be as specified for your
without them it would be
dissertation – check the advice Can give you specialist advice
virtually impossible to
you have been given for on locating information for your
undertake research and build
details. dissertation. Tutors often
on the knowledge of others. arrange a group session with
In addition, it demonstrates that Assessment your Librarian at the beginning
you are capable of analysing a It is important that you of your final year where you will
wide range of material and understand the assessment be given some general advice
reducing it to a useful set of criteria for your dissertation. on searching for information. If
references that are particularly Ask your dissertation tutor you find you are still struggling
relevant to your field of about guidelines on the to find material after this, you
research. assessment criteria for can book an individual
dissertations in your subject appointment through the Help
Do not reference everything
area. and Information Point in the
you look at – only cite material
Library.
you have used and those texts
you think will be useful to future Sources of help The Help and Information
researchers in your area. Your dissertation tutor/ Point in the Library
Most courses At Leeds Beckett supervisor Is a great place to pick up quick
use the ‘Harvard’ system which Your tutor is your first port of advice on your information
you can find on ‘Skills for call to help you write a great search. It is staffed by
Learning’ and in the booklet dissertation—although they will professional librarians, and if
‘Quote, Unquote’ (available at not write it for you! Your tutor they can't help on your
The Library Help and will usually provide you with a particular query they will refer
Information points). Check any support framework. He/she you to your Academic
guidance you have been given should be able to advise on the Librarian. The IT Help
about which referencing practicalities of your research, Assistants can also help if you
system you should use. and may be able to suggest run into difficulties with the IT
people or groups to get in aspects of producing your
Layout and presentation touch with as well as dissertation.
Check to see if your course has recommending reading
any particular requirements on material. You will have
layout and presentation. meetings with your supervisor
during the year. If you get into
Binding difficulties, it is important that
The dissertation can either be you contact your supervisor.
professionally bound and Skills for Learning website
lettered or well presented in a
comb binding. You will usually Contains information on:
need to submit two copies. research skills, plagiarism,
referencing, finding information
Lettering and time management. Skills
The outside cover should bear for Learning also offer
the title of the dissertation and workshops and tutorials on

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