Are you struggling with how to start your dissertation? Check out our guide on writing a dissertation, including tips on structuring and planning your project.

A dissertation is a long piece of written work that presents an original argument on a topic. A dissertation is usually done as part of a doctoral degree program. In order to write a dissertation, you first need to come up with a good research question. Once you have a good research question, you will need preliminary research and develop a hypothesis. After your preliminary research, you will need to write a literature review.

In the literature review, you will critically assess your topic's existing body of scholarship. Once you have done your literature review, you will need to develop a methodology for your research. After creating your methods, you will need to collect and analyze data.

What is the right length of a dissertation?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the length of a dissertation will vary depending on your level of study, the topic you are investigating, and the requirements of your institution. However, some general guidelines can help you determine your dissertation's length.

In most cases, a dissertation for a bachelor's degree should be between 10,000 and 20,000 words, a dissertation for a master's degree should be between 20,000 and 40,000 words, and a dissertation for a doctoral degree should be between 50,000 and 100,000 words.

Of course, these are only general guidelines. Always check with your supervisor or institution to see what the requirements are for your specific case.

What is the right structure of a dissertation?

Again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The structure of your dissertation will depend on your level of study, the topic you are investigating, and the requirements of your institution. A dissertation will include an introduction, a literature review, a methodology section, and a results section. You may also need to have a discussion section and a conclusion.

Again, always check with your supervisor or institution to see the requirements for your specific case.

What are the different types of dissertations?

The different types of dissertations include:

Empirical dissertations

Empirical dissertations are those that are based on data that you have collected yourself. These dissertations are usually done as part of a scientific or social science research project.

Non-empirical dissertations

Non-empirical dissertations are those that are not based on data that you have collected yourself. These dissertations are usually done as part of a humanities or arts research project.

Combination dissertations

Combination dissertations are those that combine elements of both empirical and non-empirical dissertations. These dissertations are usually done as part of a mixed methods research project.

Mixed methods dissertations

Mixed methods dissertations include elements of both empirical and non-empirical dissertations. These dissertations are usually done as part of a mixed methods research project.

What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?

A thesis is usually shorter than a dissertation and is written as part of a bachelor's or master's degree program. A dissertation is generally longer than a thesis and is written as part of a doctoral degree program.

What are the steps to writing a dissertation?

The steps to writing a dissertation are:

Choose a topic

The topic you choose for your dissertation should be something you are interested in and have a good amount of knowledge about. It is also essential to select a topic that is feasible given the resources that are available to you.

Do some preliminary research

Once you have chosen a topic, you will need preliminary research to develop a research question and hypothesis. It will help if you can find a research question that has already been answered in the literature, as this will make your literature review more straightforward.

Write a literature review

A literature review critically assesses the existing body of scholarship on your topic. In the literature review, you will need to identify gaps in the existing scholarship and develop an argument for why your research is required.

Develop a methodology

After your literature review, you will need to develop a methodology for your research. The method should be designed to answer your research question.

Collect data and analyze it

After you have developed your methodology, you will need to collect and analyze data. This will usually involve conducting interviews, surveys, or experiments.

Write a results section

Once you have analyzed your data, you will need to write a results section in which you present your findings.

Write a discussion section

A discussion section is where you discuss the implications of your findings and situate them in the broader literature.

Write a conclusion

A conclusion is a summary of your findings and their implications. You may also want to suggest future research directions in your conclusion. Always remember to proofread and edit your dissertation before submitting it.

Edit and proofread your dissertation

Before you submit your dissertation, you will need to edit and proofread it carefully to ensure it is free of errors. You can also ask a friend or family member to read through it for you.

Submit your dissertation

Once you have edited and proofread your dissertation, you must submit it to your supervisor or institution. Depending on their requirements, you may need to bind it or have it printed a certain way.

You will need to follow these general steps when writing a dissertation. However, always check with your supervisor or institution to see the specific requirements for your case.

When should you start writing your dissertation?

Ideally, it would help if you started writing your dissertation as early as possible. This will give you enough time to do a thorough job and avoid rushing. However, always check with your supervisor or institution to see their deadlines. Sometimes, you may need to start writing your dissertation several months in advance.

Final Remarks

A dissertation is a long and complicated piece of academic writing, and the process of writing one can be very daunting. However, if you follow the steps outlined above, you will be well on writing a successful dissertation. Remember to stay focused, start early, and ask for help when needed. Good luck!

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FAQs

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a long and complicated piece of academic writing, typically done as a requirement for a doctorate.

How long does it take to write a dissertation?

The amount of time it takes to write a dissertation varies depending on the individual, but it typically takes several months to complete.

What are the steps to writing a dissertation?

The steps to writing a dissertation are: 1) choose a topic, 2) do a literature review, 3) develop a methodology, 4) collect data and analyze it, 5) write a results section, 6) write a discussion section, 7) write a conclusion, 8 )edit and proofread your dissertation, 9) submit your dissertation.

When should you start writing your dissertation?

Ideally, it would help if you started writing your dissertation as early as possible. This will give you enough time to do a thorough job and avoid rushing.