Have you considered using a diagram to explain the concepts in your thesis? A diagram that explains concepts and their expected relationships is called a conceptual diagram, and it’s simpler than you think. The image in this post shows a conceptual diagram of the relationship between three concepts: Work-life balance, Organisational commitment, and attitudes to …
Using a DIAGRAM to EXPLAIN the CONCEPTS in your thesis Read More »
Theoretical and conceptual framing in academic writing is a challenge for many students. So why do you need theory at all? Why not simply identify a problem, conduct an interview or a survey, and report your results without using a theoretical base? Well, first, as a postgraduate student, you are required to use a theoretical …
Do You Find it Challenging to Introduce Theory into Your Thesis or Dissertation? Read More »
Presenting your problem as a RESEARCH problem is one of the most important tasks early on in a thesis or dissertation. You have to convince your readers – your supervisor(s), panel and examiners – that your problem is researchable, i.e., that it is a RESEARCH Problem. Van de Ven (2007), provides 4 essentials for you …
1. Structure a WINNING Introduction Chapter 1 needs to be excellent. As in all beginnings, it needs to engage its audience – your examiners, supervisors, advisors and subsequent readers – and convince them of the value of your research. It has multiple other tasks: it must set the scene for your research, with sections on …
TOP 20 TIPS FOR FINISHING YOUR DISSERTATION FAST Read More »
A dissertation or thesis is somewhat like a chain – a chain of interlinked stages from identifying the problem to the conclusion. Of course, you can revisit and improve a previous stage. Nevertheless, a dissertation or thesis is only as strong as its weakest stage, like a chain that is only as strong as its …
Whether you’re writing your proposal or the introduction to your dissertation or thesis, you will need to convince your supervisor or examiner that you’ve identified a researchable problem. The trouble is that not every problem is a research problem. Methodologists like Van de Ven (2007) provide guidance on how to distinguish between an ordinary problem and a research problem. …
How many times have you chosen to read something based on its title? Many times, I’m sure. So, the title of your thesis or dissertation is important. It should present your research accurately and encourage others to read it. Here are answers to a few FAQs on academic titles: HOW MANY WORDS SHOULD THE TITLE …
There are certain parts of a proposal, dissertation or thesis that often trip students up early on. Let me share 5 of them with you (in no particular order). First off, is the trap of outdated references. The rule of thumb is that over 80% of your references should be newer than 5 years old (unless …
How well have you written your literature review? In my experience, most students write their literature reviews by focussing on who (i.e. the authors of each reference) says what. Each paragraph starts with authors’ names. Writing this way is not ideal as the focus is on the authors, rather than on what they’re saying. According to Bloom’s (2001) Taxonomy of conceptual …