EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com
The perils in
research writing
Preparing a dissertation
can be challenging,
daunting and painful,
especially for the
uninitiated.
However, worry not.
This guidebook imparts some of the
important generalised principles and
approaches which will aid postgraduate
researchers in developing a professional
research thesis that is meaningful and
memorable.
Practising them with due diligence will
help you navigate through the trenches
and maze of research writing with much
clarity and mastery.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com
You will find in this guidebook, heaps of
tips and activities.
By the end of this book, you will understand and develop
abilities in preparing a memorable and meaningful
dissertation.
We sincerely hope you will benefit a lot from this guidebook,
graduate on time, and have fun working on your research
dissertation.
We welcome constructive suggestions and comments on this
guidebook.
Good luck!
DR DAVID YOONG
(PHD, MCJ, MLING, BA)
SUE-ANNE LIM
delphi@be-adept.com
www.be-adept.com
(M.COUNS, ACCA, B.COMM & LAW)
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE CORE BUSINESS OF RESEARCH....................................1
THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS................................................2
COMING UP WITH TOPICS....................................................5
THE INTRODUCTION CHAPTER.............................................9
COOK UP A LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................12
BUILDING A RESEARCH BLUEPRINT...................................17
ANALYSING DATA...............................................................19
PROPER CLOSURE...............................................................24
GET MORE HELP ON RESEARCH WRITING..........................25
THE BE ADEPT TEAM..........................................................27
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 01
THE CORE
BUSINESS OF
RESEARCH
First, understand why we do research.
We are in the business of generating facts.
And, facts are statements that are difficult to
dispute.
Second, know who you are writing for.
You are writing for a group of experts.
They have many years of experience in the
area of your research.
So, you have to write as though you’re one of
them.
They want to see if you have the competence
of being part of the ‘club’ and a knowledgemaker.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 02
THE ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS
Four questions that your readers have
What is your research about?
Your answer must be easily understood by
your stakeholders and members of the
intellectual community in your field.
Why should anyone care about your
research?
This is a question of significance. Your
examiners want to see value in your research.
What are you planning to reveal that is new?
Research must reveal interesting insight s t hat
are not obvious to others or verify ideas.
How are you generating your facts?
Explain the types of data which are curat ed,
the methods of data collection, and the
methods of data analysis.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 03
THE ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS
Try to answer these questions
What is your research about?
E.g. Examining the lived experiences and the emotions of people who
use drugs in relation to police harassment. Finding ways to improve
policing practices.
Why should anyone care about your research?
E.g. By understanding policing practices, we can identify interactional
practices that contribute to the fear of seeking treatment which in turn
may lead to increased dangerous drug use practices.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 04
THE ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS
Try to answer these questions
What are you showing that is new?
E.g. Documented narratives concerning police interaction.
How are you generating your facts?
E.g. Research design: Face-to-face interview research design
Data types - Narratives of police harassment
Data collection methods - Interviews with people who use drugs
Data analysis methods - Social actor analysis (van Leeuwen, 1996)
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 05
COMING UP
WITH TOPICS
The RETAIL framework
Assuming you don’t have a topic in mind,
consider using the RETAIL framework that we
developed. This framework draws its
inspiration from businesses where sellers
make a living by selling what is valuable t o
others.
R - Read voraciously
By reading, you will acquire new knowledge.
You will be able to determine what research
has been done before, and what has not .
E - Experiences
Don’t do research that you do not care about .
One way to do research that is meaningf ul t o
you is to draw topics from your personal
experience.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 06
COMING UP
WITH TOPICS
The RETAIL framework
T - Test your ideas
Whenever you develop new ideas, it is
imperative to test them in terms of feasibilit y
(practicality) and ambition. You need to f ind a
nice balance between both.
A - Ask questions
Be curious like a child. Ask simple and
difficult questions. Ask questions that will add
value to the lives of other people
I - Immerse yourself in data
Before you begin writing your research, it is a
good idea to get hold of some preliminary
data. This will help you to develop great er
data familiarity. Carry out informal
observations and informal thought
experiments.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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COMING UP
WITH TOPICS
The RETAIL framework
L - Create leverages
One example of a leverage is to engage wit h
the experts in the field. Ask them quest ions
like what has been done? What has not been
done? What are the latest trends that are
worth pursuing? Also, get honest feedback on
your topics.
R
E
T
A
I
L
-
Read voraciously
Experiences
Test your ideas
Ask questions
Immerse yourself in data
Create leverages
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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COMING UP
WITH TOPICS
Refer to the RETAIL Framework and list
a few possible research topics.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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THE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
Developing your problem statements
The most important part of a thesis is t he
introduction chapter. This chapter stipulat es
the trajectories of the research, it determines
the appropriateness of the literature chapt er,
the research designs, the analysis and so on.
In this book, we are going to focus on t wo
elements:
Problem statements
Research purpose and questions
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 10
THE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
Problem statements
This is where you identify the research gaps
and also real life implications. Create your
own statements based on the example below.
E.g. An overview of the literature reveals that police
harassment cases of people who use drugs are well
documented and covered in western countries, but
literature is scarce in the South East Asian region. Personal
correspondence with 20 methadone clinics reveals that
police harassment may cause fear among patients, thus
compelling them to engage in dangerous drug practices like
needle sharing - which in turn may increase the risk of HIV
and AIDS exposure.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 11
THE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
Research purpose and questions
Here is where you state your motivation and
your specific lines of enquiry.
E.g. Research Purpose: To give a voice to the marginalised
and to find ways to improve policing practices.
Research Question (RQ): What goes on in these
interactions?
Why is this asked? This question is asked to explore the
policing nature toward people who use drugs.
How will this question be answered? To answer this
question, a face-to-face interview is carried out with
people who use drugs at a methadone clinic in Kuala
Lumpur. The interview will elicit the narratives which will
then be examined using the social actors analysis
framework.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 12
COOK UP A
LITERATURE
REVIEW
3 steps to cook up a literature review
Here are some reasons we need to review
literature:
To do a critique of other people’s work
To build a repository of knowledge,
theories and concepts
To identify gaps and variables
There are three main steps in producing a
professional literature review chapter.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 13
COOK UP A
LITERATURE
REVIEW
3 steps to cook up a literature review
Step 1: Make a list of the keywords relat ed t o
your research questions. These keywords can
be the major themes (or subthemes) in your
literature review.
E.g.
Policing powers
Police harassment and police presence
Policing ideologies: crime control, due process, social discipline
Policing and harm reduction
Review of legislations related to drug policy and practices in
Malaysia
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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COOK UP A
LITERATURE
REVIEW
3 steps to cook up a literature review
Step 2: Search for relevant literature and plot
mind-maps to link these ideas.
An example:
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 15
COOK UP A
LITERATURE
REVIEW
3 steps to cook up a literature review
Step 2: Search for relevant literature and plot
mind-maps to link these ideas.
Try it for yourself.
Remember to also map the relevant citations for each node on
your mind-map.
Get your data from reliable sources: e.g. Web of Science,
reputable publishers (Taylor and Francis, etc.)
Each node should cover these two things: concepts (definition of
ideas) and theories (explanations of phenomena)
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 16
COOK UP A
LITERATURE
REVIEW
3 steps to cook up a literature review
Step 3:
Present your understanding of the literat ure
in your own voice.
Write as though you are delivering a great
lecture where you’re not merely referr ing t o
notes, but you’re trying to engage as much as
you can with your audience.
Avoid merely reporting and
summarising points.
You need to take a step
back and explain in your own
words.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 17
BUILDING THE
RESEARCH
BLUEPRINT
RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY
The triangle of research designs
This chapter aims to convince your examiners
your methods are also reliable, valid, and
trustworthy, and you are explaining how you are
using them to address your research quest ions in
great depth. If you want to be regarded like a
professional, you will have to do more t han just
describe procedures. You must also pr ovide a
discussion of the procedures.
There are three component in every research
design that you must address in order t o answer
the research questions:
Data types
Data collection methods
Data analysis methods
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
www.be-adept.com | 18
BUILDING THE
RESEARCH
BLUEPRINT
RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY
Fill in the following details of your own research
to help build your research methods and
methodology chapter.
Data Types
E.g.Narratives of
people who use
drugs
Data
Collection
Methods
E.g. Face-to-face
semi structured
survey
Data Analysis
Methods
E.g. van
Leeuwen (1992)
framework of
analysis
Advantages &
Disadvantages
E.g. Expensive
and time
consuming
compared to
focus group
method.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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ANALYSING
DATA
Think like a scientist
An analysis aims to provide insights to what is
hidden. Check out the illustration of an iceberg
metaphor below.
The iceberg (data) is what we can easily see and
observe. A scholar should try to make sense of the what
is holding the iceberg in place by examining what is
hidden from view. This is the crux of an analysis.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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ANALYSING
DATA
5 steps in doing an analysis
Step 1 - Make a claim
The fella is likely to have been murder ed by a
fork.
Step 2 - Provide exhibit (evidence)
The fella is likely to have been murder ed by a
fork.
Exhibit A. Dead guy
Provide relevant descriptions of the exhibit .
Photo taken at scene of incident at 10: 23pm by
the forensic unit
Body was found lying stomach down.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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ANALYSING
DATA
5 steps in doing an analysis
Step 3 - Activate/highlight relevant parts in the
exhibit and discuss in detail
There are four puncture marks on the head
which is of interest.
Depth of puncture marks = 2cm. The front al
lobe is punctured.
*Do not activate irrelevant parts, e.g. colour of
hair, shoes, armpit hair.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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ANALYSING
DATA
5 steps in doing an analysis
Step 4 - Provide logical and qualified
interpretations
The puncture marks indicate forceful impact of
a sharp object.
Sharp object is likely to be a fork.
Further biochemistry analysis will further
corroborate evidence if death is caused by
puncture marks.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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ANALYSING
DATA
5 steps in doing an analysis
Step 5 - Organise your analysis into themes
Make sure you are telling a story. Use headers
and section headers to narrate your analysis.
Keep it to 3 levels.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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PROPER
CLOSURE
Give your research a good ending.
Short chapter that contains three parts:
Summary
Summarise key ideas
Recommendations to the problem statements
Link findings to problem statements;
provide suggestions to solve problems
Recommendations to future research
Relate back to the limitations of the
research and what can be done in the
future
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EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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GET MORE HELP ON
RESEARCH WRITING
Comprehensive lectures that
save your time & money.
Accessible anywhere, anytime online
Full course available on Udemy. Discount ed price
for a limited time only.
How to write an excellent research thesis
Learn the ways to exceed your examiners'
expectations in less than 3 hours!
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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GET MORE HELP ON
RESEARCH WRITING
3 years for a PhD? Here’s how to do it right.
To learn more, consider getting this easy-t o-read
eBook by Dr. David Yoong.
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020
EXCELLENT RESEARCH
THESIS WRITING
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The BE Adept team
Dr David Yoong
Sue-Anne Lim
(PhD La Trobe, MCJ Malaya,
MLing Malaya, BA USM)
(M.Couns Malaya, ACCA,
B.Comm&Law Melbourne)
Personal development
trainer, author, academic
researcher, consultant
Trained counselor,
acceptance and
commitment therapist
Dr David Yoong was a
university researcher and
senior lecturer at the
Faculty of Languages and
Linguistics, University of
Malaya. He was also
Deputy Dean of Research
and Development.
Sue-Anne Lim was a tax
consultant at Ernst &
Young. Today, she is a
trained counselor who
helps people gain clarity
and under-standing of
their emotions.
delphi@be-adept.com
www.be-adept.com
Facebook: @daveyoong.ideas
(C) DAVID YOONG & SUE-ANNE LIM COPYRIGHT 2020