Imagine a golden thread that runs through your thesis, from start to finish. It weaves your argument through theory and literature, linking your research questions, your conceptual framework, your methodology and analytic framework, and finally, your skilful answers to the research questions. This is the coveted golden thread of your thesis. Let’s think more about …
In the methodology chapter, the focus of the thesis is different from the previous chapters. In Chapter 1, you described mainly the problem and purpose of your research, the key debates in the associated literature, and the knowledge gap. In Chapter 2, you reviewed the relevant literature and arrived at your conceptual framework. But Chapter …
The KEY to Writing a Successful Methodology Chapter in Your Thesis Read More »
Over the past few weeks, I’ve read a few dissertations in their draft forms. They had several challenges in common. Let’s examine five mistakes they made, and how to fix them. 1. The dissertations took several pages to describe the characteristics of their participants. Each demographic was described in detail with an accompanying table and …
5 Essentials to GET RIGHT in your Dissertation or Thesis Read More »
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 »
There are a few potentially confusing concepts in research, particularly if you’re using a mixture of qualitative and/or quantitative research approaches! Let’s examine a few. Mixed Methods research is usually considered as incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. However, some authors include a mix of multiple qualitative methods or a mix of multiple quantitative methods …
For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s Spring! At last, it’s warm and there are blossoms all around. For post-grad students, Spring also brings expectations of serious progress on theses, dissertations, and proposals (sure you know the feeling). So too does the Fall for students in the Northern Hemisphere. So, why not spring …
In your first chapter, your thesis or dissertation makes all sorts of promises. But can it do what it says it’s going to do? Can it actually fulfil its promises? Well, that’s largely up to you. You need to set it up so that it can. Here are 5 essential points that you need to check: …
5 Checks to Ensure that Your Thesis Can Fulfil its Promises 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 …
One of the joys of teaching is listening to students’ responses when they’re asked a question. In the days of large in-student lectures, I would often direct a question to a sea of faces. Sometimes, an enthusiastic student would answer, beautifully, but completely off the topic. And my response? “That’s a great answer, but …
You may wonder why my sympathy for Cronbach’s Alpha (also called Coefficient Alpha). Well, it’s because alpha is one of the most frequently misunderstood and misinterpreted statistics in theses, dissertations, proposals and other academic publications involving measurement 🥲. SO, WHAT IS CRONBACH’S ALPHA? Cronbach’s alpha is a measure of the internal consistency …