DR. MARY EL-MEREEDI
Graduate Research Advisor
313 Administration Building
Email: mary.elmereedi@qu.edu.qa
Phone: 4403-5420
What is a Dissertation?
• A dissertation addresses a problem or a question.
• A dissertation advances an argument by identifying a
thesis and supporting it with evidence and logic.
• Your argument should be relevant and timely.
• It debunks a myth;
• corrects a misconception;
• enters a debate, or challenges a popular interpretation
The Basic Requirements
• A Dissertation MUST be:
• An ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION to the field
• SIGNIFICANT
• Be prepared to explain the significance of you topic
compellingly.
• You should be able to answer the following two questions
thoroughly and concisely:
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2.
My dissertation will address the following question: ____.
It will fill the following gap in the literature: ____.
First Things First
• Title Page
• Declaration of Originality
• Abstract
• Dedication (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of Contents
• List of Abbreviations (if applicable)
• List of Tables (follow your format guideline)
• List of Figures (follow your format guideline)
Abstract vs. Introduction
• The Abstract is NOT an introduction to your research.
• It is a very short summary of the research meant to tell a
potential reader searching for scholarly material on a
given topic if this is what he/she is looking for.
• The abstract is typically between 200-350 words which
will force you to rigorous about the priorities of your
research.
• It is often easier to write a good abstract at the very end
Chapter One: The Introduction
• A good Introduction should:
• Set out the aims and objectives of the research
• The context of the work (Background)
• Your reasons for engaging with the topic
• You want to get a handle on this as early as possible, so you don’t
ask yourself 40 pages in, what is this about?
• A detailed exegesis (unpacking) of the title which may
include explanations of certain word choices, coined
phrases, terminology, etc.
Chapter One (continued)
• Should state your specific research questions
• You may find it helpful to discuss each question/sub-question
separately, spending a couple of paragraphs on each question (As
you are writing these up, keep in mind that you will be re-visiting
them in the conclusion to show how you have answered them)
• It is a very good practice to closely review chapter one after you
have finished writing the dissertation
• Should discuss limitations and delimitations
• Must address the impact of lack of time, resources, space etc.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
• The literature review is where you outline the previous
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work on the topic.
Organize your literature review in a way that will inform
the imperial work to come
Organizing your lit review requires careful thought and
planning
A lit review must be comprehensive, but that doesn’t
mean you have to include everything written on the topic
Focus on literature that has been well-researched rather
than work that is over reliant on secondary sources
Chapter Two (continued)
• Avoid organizing your lit review in the order in which you
came across the material (THIS IS A COMMON
MISTAKE)
• Start with providing an appropriate historical discussion.
• Include the first major work(s) in the field
• You may need to address different “schools of thought”
• Show how subsequent work has contributed, modified the topic
• Lead up to where current research has left off
• Identify the gaps in the current research, and
• End with where your research will fit in to help address these gaps.
• Remember, the lit review is NOT a summary of a collection of the
articles you have read.
Chapter Three: Methodology
• The task of the methodology chapter is to spell out in
EXACT detail the specific choices made for the methods
used, and
• To justify your methodological choices
• It is the norm to include some references to support your
methodological choices
• Do NOT give a lit review of various methodologies used in
your field (i.e. a discussion of qualitative vs. quantitative
methodology)
Chapter Three (continued)
• In essence, chapter three is a “zoom in” of your approach to answering the
research question(s)
• Should include a discussion of your research strategy (quantitative,
qualitative, mixed method)
• Your research design (experimental, quasi-experimental) This is where it will
help to have a research methodology expert on your committee
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Survey method (survey, phone, questionnaire, etc.)
Instrumentation
Validity and Reliability Issues
Consent and ethical considerations
Sample population
Generalizability
Biases
• As you write this chapter, you should be answering the following:
• How exactly will the data be collected? Justify.
• How will it be coded (if applicable)?
• Where will the data be stored/filed/destroyed?
• How will it be analyzed? What statistical techniques? Justify
• What instruments will be used? Justify.
Chapter Four: Findings and
Discussion
• You may want to report on the findings separately before
the discussion of the results, or
• You may want to discuss the findings as you report the
results
• Either way, you should clearly explain which approach
you take
• Clear sub-headings will help keep you organized
Chapter Five: Conclusion
• The conclusion is generally based on re-visiting the
research questions
• You are succinctly answering the research questions with
support from the results and findings in chapter four.
• You should also address what’s next
• Practical implications
• Questions for further research
• Most importantly, DO NOT attempt to answer any new questions in
the conclusion
Last but not Least
• References
• APA, MLA, CHICAGO, AMA, IEEE
• Must be Consistent Throughout
• Know what is used in your discipline and GET THE HANDBOOK!
• Appendices
• In Order of Appearance in the Text
• IRB, ACOUC, IBC
• Approvals are required by QU and by ProQuest
• Research Cannot be Published Without These Approvals
Still not Finished!
• Similarity Index Approval
• TAD Approval from Graduate Studies
• Submission to ProQuest, Library Repository
Tips for Dissertation Success
• Set deadlines early on in the process
• Ask for feedback early, and often
• Find out what your committee wants and expects from
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you
But remember that this is YOUR dissertation
Take breaks when you need it to rejuvenate yourself
Read everything you can
Celebrate your accomplishments as you go
Know that you can finish!
Questions?