Show academic integrity Even if you feel strongly about your claim, be fair. Don’t pick a side and present a biased argument. Rather, explain the main claims or debates and contrast the strengths of yours against the weaknesses of the other(s). Then, the merits of your claim will emerge and the argument for your research will …
If you were planning to go on one of the most important journeys of your life, you’d most likely think it through carefully beforehand. You might consider the objectives of your trip and ask key questions so that you could meet these objectives. You would likely identify the main problem you faced and find a …
Writing the Introduction Chapter of Your Thesis or Dissertation Read More »
Usually, things come together in the end. But in a dissertation, they need to come together far sooner. Already, in your introduction chapter, you need to piece everything together. Albeit at a high level, you need to establish a balance between the background to the research problem and its foreground and have a balanced …
Imagine having a wise academic owl who keeps you updated with new articles on the key topics of your literature review. And all this at no cost. In effect, this is what Google Scholar offers you with the ‘Alerts’ feature. It sends you emails with links to new articles on the topics you specify. All you …
Are the results of your study non-significant? If you’ve experienced disappointing non-significant results in your research, you may wish to refer to the excellent statistics note by Altman and Bland (BMJ, 1995; 311: 485) that considers that absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence. In their note, these authors explain that …
Have you aligned the problem statement, purpose statement and research question(s) of your dissertation? For your study to deliver on its promises, this is essential. It applies whatever your topic, your research approach or your methodology. While the problem statement focuses on the research problem and knowledge gap, the purpose statement provides the main and …
3 components of your dissertation that need to be PERFECT early on. Read More »
Dissertation submission time can be extremely stressful. If you’re about to submit your proposal or dissertation, you’re probably using Word to set up your document and a style guide like APA7, or equivalent, for formatting. Your document needs to be formatted correctly – heading levels 1, 2, 3, and maybe 4 and 5, double line …
5 SMART Ways to Raise the Level of Your Literature Review. 1. Update your references to show that you’re informed of current research in your field. At least three-quarters of your references should come from the last five years. 2. Focus on what the authors are saying with references, rather than who is saying it. …
5 Smart ways to Raise the Level of your Literature Review Read More »
A great test of how well you understand your research problem is whether you can explain clearly and concisely what your study is about. Ideally, you should be able to explain it in a few seconds, without hesitation. In ‘Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation’, Bloomberg (2023, p.25) describes the concept of Elevator Speech to illustrate how clearly …
Communicating your research problem perfectly: Elevator Speech Read More »
First impressions are said to influence important future events like your job opportunities and relationships. Likewise, the first impression that your proposal creates is very important. Think of the proposal document that you need to complete when you apply for masters or PhD acceptance. The document has guidelines on content, formatting and referencing. It also …
Be a Star student. Make a great first impression. Read More »