The end of October was thesis submission time for many postgraduate students. And last week was the week before submission time for several other students (schools usually take a few days for admin). Some of these students were genuinely out of time, having extended their stay as long as their schools allowed. They simply had …
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 »
If you’re writing your thesis or dissertation, it is a very good idea to know about applying Word’s Styles to your headers. It may be a bit intimidating to begin using styles, but you will bless yourself forever if you take the plunge! In fact, you can’t not use them – here’s why… …
As a student, you know how stressful it is to write your thesis or dissertation. But you’re not the only one involved in this huge exercise. Spare a thought for your supervisor(s) and examiners. They have to read your document. And they’re probably stressed too! A very smart move on your part is to make …
Signposting in your thesis – your examiners will Love You for it! Read More »
At this time of year, many students are in the process of finishing their dissertations or theses. Now is the time to examine your research document from start to finish. Perhaps the most overlooked issue in dissertations and theses is that the theoretical or conceptual framework is not followed throughout the document. So often, the framework …
What is the most OVERLOOKED issue in dissertations and theses? 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 …
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 »