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Dissertation Preparation
Dissertation Guidance
Dr. Craig Jackson
Prof. Occupational Health Psychology
Division of Psychology
Birmingham City University
Overview of Dissertation Process
introduction
purpose
protocol development
approval & supervision
deadlines
assessment
ownership & publication
distribution
Writing the Dissertation
presentation
structure & content
layout
references
appendices
Need for Research Reporting
Complicated motion in tiny parts
Random and structureless
Naturalistic setting
Experimental Work vs Observational Work
Can lack luxury of laboratory conditions
Cannot filter out unwanted variables and outside effects
Work alongside randomness and uncontrollable factors
Good methodology = Good tool
Random walk
Heads
15 Heads & 14 Tails
What is underlying this “random” behaviour?
Tails
A monthly index of the price of tea?
The relief of a mountain range?
The audience ratings for a movie?
Blood pressure?
Heads and tails?
When the methodology is revealed, things don’t seem so “random”
Marking Scheme
Presentation / Structure
clarity of writing
use of tables and figures
logical arguments and information
citation and listing of references
overall structure
Introduction and Literature review
introduction to the topic
survey of relevant literature
definition of problem
definition of project objectives
Marking Scheme
Study design / Data collection
appropriate design
relevance of data
techniques used
response rate
Analysis and Discussion
quantity of information and results
critical analysis of information
assessment of limitations and weaknesses
discussion of “significance” of results
identification of future work
understanding wider implications
The
Dissertation
Process
Purpose
“substantial piece of academic work”
taught research methods module
suitable review and publication style
parity with academic peer review journal - although rather longer
clear, concise and should be approximately (set) length
(excluding references, appendices and tables).
excessive length discouraged - does not earn extra marks.
Purpose
investigation into occupational health, safety, or environment
specific question
potential problem
scientific manner
formal hypothesis testing
practical projects involving collection of data and subsequent analysis
“demonstrate student’s ability to define a problem, review relevant published
literature, to plan and carry out the collection, analysis and interpretation of
the data, to draw conclusions and to make suitable recommendations”.
Protocols
sound out course tutor / academic staff with ideas
think about project soon
consult lecturers, tutors, employers
supervisor assignment
reading around the subject area
familiarity with key publications
recent developments
type of study and design
feasibility need to be thought out as far as possible
2 page summary protocol submitted to course tutor
Protocols
background
reasons
current concerns
relevance
title
brevity and non-jovial
aim and objectives
aim
- questions the project will address
objectives
- specific targets to answer the aim
Protocols
study design
study type
population
sample selection
confounders
feasibility (consent, ethical, resources, time scale)
information needed?
pilot study?
safety implications
resources
sampling equipment
photocopying
travel
postage
analysis
questionnaires
Protocols
data
handling
statistical treatment
presentation of results
supervision
academic expertise required
exposure monitoring
epidemiology
lung disease
psychology
environment
Approval & Supervision
research protocol to be approved by course tutor and staff
alternative submission if not approved
no project work without approval
suitable project supervisor assigned
supervisors advise and plan conduct of project
provide text to supervisor in good time
contact is student responsibility
short notice appointments – discourteous and unrealistic
Deadlines
prepare timetable asap
background reading
in-depth reading
feasibility
contacts with organisations
financial implications
three bound copies submitted to course secretary
late submission penalty
possible extensions
Assessment
assessed by 2 markers
assessed by eternal examiner / exam board
written report worth 80%
viva voce worth 20%
objectives
structure
writing quality
research / analysis methods
data collection / results
interpretation / conclusions
literature / referencing
other comments
Ownership & Publication
not unusual to generate results worthy of publication
encouragement policy
consult supervisor
acknowledging inputs
joint authorship
footnote
suitability of material
most suitable publications
assistance in manuscript and format
Distribution & Dissemination
outside organizations
not usually a problem
check with course tutor
check with supervisor
distribution is not encouraged before any examination or assessment
of the project has been completed – Aug / Sep 2003
Pointers
avoid committees – espec. ethics
choose topic of interest to you
listen to supervision
think first
slow down
defer to nobody
don’t shy away from statistics
Planning
the
Dissertation
Considerations
“What things do I want to say ?”
“Does it answer the research question ?”
“Is the report worth writing ?”
“Does it match with my protocol ?”
“Have I done this work before ?”
“What is the correct format for the message ?”
“Who is my audience ?”
“Would it be good enough for a journal submission ?”
Structure
The question to be answered is hinted at in the TITLE and stated in the
INTRODUCTION
How the answer was sought and the hypothesis tested is explained in the
METHOD
Evidence (and counter-evidence) bearing the answer is described in
RESULTS along with descriptions of the analysis / analyses
Answers to the question, and judgment of the hypothesis are in the
DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION
Structure
A project will contain a critical argument
progressive
linear
narrative
TITLE
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHOD
RESULTS
ABSTRACT
DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
METHOD
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Writing
the
Dissertation
Presentation
clear legible typescript
double line spacing with 4cm margin on the left and 2cm on outside border
preliminary pages not numbered
pagination begins with the first page of the text (Introduction)
A4 size paper, one side only, and number all pages consecutively
letter-quality typeface, with either serif or sans-serif fonts exclusively
page number foot of the page, 2 cm above the edge
be consistent in style
photographic plates of clear and of high quality
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
preliminary pages
title page
abstract
acknowledgments
dedication
preamble
table of contents
list of illustrations
list of tables
glossary (if necessary)
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
Title page
show the title of the dissertation
followed by the name of the author
a statement of the degree for which the dissertation is to be submitted.
bottom right corner should state department, university and year of
submission, (each on a separate line).
make sure that the title page gives your full name
An Investigation into the health effects of
cleanroom working in NHS hospital pharmacies
A report submitted by
Dawn Wilson
A candidate for the degree of MSc in Occupational Health
Division of Primary Care, Public and Occupational Health
Institute of Occupational Health
University of Birmingham
August
2002
Title
Twenty research projects into
“Managers’ attitudes to health and safety and workers’ accident rates”
Soul-destroying
Use a little journalism or hyperbole
Don’t shy away from creativity
“A trial of 4,4-diethyl-hydro-crapola acid in acute coryzal infections”
is not as effective as
“A new treatment for colds”
Do not be too comical or glib
Title Guidelines
Simpler the better
Consider target reader
Brevity is best
Avoid excessive adjectives and noun-strings
Don’t be too sensationalist - think of audience / examiner / journal
Abstract
A brief statement of the chief points of a larger work
Second most read part of a paper
Forms basis of judgement by uncritical readers
Rewards time spent writing it
Should stand alone
(abstracting services)
Abstract Guidelines
No longer than 300 words
Keep it intelligible
Keep it informative
Keep it interesting
Why you did what you did
What you did
What you found
What you concluded
Abstract Perfection
a study into the effectiveness of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
Uses Why you did it, What you did, What you found, and What you concluded
STUDY DETAILS:
•Comparison of Fluoxetine and another established anti-depressant (MAOI).
•Subjects were nurses in a Manchester NHS district hospital.
•All subjects were suffering clinical depression.
•48 received Fluoxetine and 52 received the MAOI once a day for 6 months.
•At start, 3 months, and 6 months on, mental health scores were recorded
•No difference was found between the 2 groups at the start and 3 months on.
•At 6 months, scores were significantly different (P=<.05).
•Fluoxetine subjects had scores ranging from 2 - 40 (mean GHQ score of 22).
•MAOI subjects had scores ranging from 17 - 82 (mean GHQ score of 47).
Fluoxetine is a novel compound for the treatment of reactive depression, but so
far only anecdotal reports have indicated that it is effective. We attempted a
controlled trial in NHS nurses
A randomized double blind study of consecutively encountered clinically
depressed employees from a large NHS district hospital in Manchester was
undertaken. Fluoxetine (20 mg / day) was compared with MAOI. Participants were
assessed at 0, 3, and 6 months by a standardized psychometric test, and their
DID
socially adjusted mental health scores recorded
One hundred volunteers were recruited, of whom 48 received Fluoxetine and 52
traditional MAOI. There was no difference in the in the adjusted mental health
scores at 0 and 3 months, but at 6 months those in the Fluoxetine group had a
range of scores of 2-40 (mean 22) compared with 17-82 (mean 47) in the other
group, showing a difference in median score of 25 (95% confidence interval)
FOUND
For the relief of depression in health service workers at least, Fluoxetine appears
to be significantly more effective than MAOI, but only after being taken for more
than 3 months.
CONCLUDED
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
Abstract
brief summary (approximately 250-300 words)
immediately behind the title page
describe objectives of the work, design, methodology, results and conclusions
Acknowledgements
mention any help received, particularly academic supervision,
if the project is carried out at work and is part of a larger programme of work
include anyone whose input distinct from presence of mind, made a
contribution to the project being completed
Acknowledgements
Courtesy to supervising academic staff
(supervisor is usually the 1st project marker)
After the Abstract, a page acknowledging:
• sources of funding
• academic supervisor
• any additional supervisors
• and anyone who’s help, distinct from attitude of mind enabled
progress
“I am very grateful to X who provided the most valuable advice and
supervision over this project. I am also very thankful to Y with respect to
his/her time contribution and knowledge to my analysis in the study. I also
wish to thank all university staff who helped by participating in my research”
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
Dedication
Person(s) to whom work and effort dedicated
Distinct from acknowledgements
Sincerity –
To my family* who mean more to me than they will ever know
*and other animals
Preamble
Literary aspect
Artistic sensibility
“Goodbye to my Julie, farewell to my Rosie
Adios mis Amigos, take care my sweet Mary
You wont have a name when you ride the big airplane
All they will call you will be just employees”
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
Contents
table of contents always be provided
chapter / section titles given along with page numbers
Table of Contents
page
1
2
3
5
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
INTRODUCTION
Risk assessment for display screen equipment
The cause of musculoskeletal disease
Aims of the present study
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
6
6
7
8
2.7
LITERATURE REVIEW
Possible causes of musculoskeletal pain
The influence of VDU work on musculoskeletal pain
Long hours use of VDUs
-------------------------Study aims and objectives
3.
3.1
3.2
3.3
METHOD
Study design
Population
Exclusion criteria
19
19
20
21
18
Table of Contents
4.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.5
4.5.1
5.
5.1
6.
7.
RESULTS
Response rate and participant numbers
Attrition rates
Reasons given for non participation
Descriptive data
Age
Sex
Language
-------------------------Answers to specific objectives
Objective 1: Comparison of VDU users with non VDU workers
-------------------------DISCUSSION
Objective 1: Comparison of VDU users with non VDU workers
-------------------------CONCLUSIONS
APPENDICES
page
40
40
42
43
44
44
45
46
65
65
89
89
106
113
Structure and Content of Preliminary Pages
List of illustrations
list of illustrations follows table of contents
should match the latter in appearance
if various illustrations are included, list can be subdivided into headed
sections, e.g. Figures, Plates, Maps or Charts
page number should follow the title of the illustration
List of tables
follows the list of illustrations on a separate page
Glossary
should be included if there are a large number of symbols or technical terms
used within the main text
may be useful to provide a list of abbreviations and acronyms
Structure and Content of Main Text
dissertation should be laid out in chapters / sections
most reports will follow a standard format
Chapter 1
Introduction
Chapter 2
Literature Review
Chapter 3
Methodology
Chapter 4
Results
Chapter 5
Discussion
Chapter 6
Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter 7
References
Chapter 8
Appendices
Introduction & Literature Review
Bring the reader upto speed
Why this research?
Identify knowledge gap
Review the relevant literature
(not Darwin)
Cite references to justify research
Brevity
State clearly what research question is
Provide a reference for every fact or claim made
Clarity is essential
(if methodology not clear, then neither will be the Introduction)
Methodology
Describe the work accurately enough to allow replication
Little salvation for flawed / inappropriate methodology
Little remedy at report writing stage
Indicates trustworthiness of research
Gaps & Vagueness
Would a qualified reader be able to replicate the work from reading report?
Being honest?
Did it happen as claimed?
Methodology guidelines
How n was chosen
How subjects were chosen (sample frame) and contacted
How subject selection was randomised (if the case)
Reason for inclusion / exclusion of subjects (list criteria)
Ethical features or special considerations
List materials / equipment used (not pencils!)
Give exact measures e.g. exposure sizes, metrics, tests, drug doses etc.
Be specific and detailed when it is technical
Use a diagram if the study design is complex
Results
Summaries of data
(not raw data)
Mixture of text, tables, graphs, and diagrams
Results of statistical analyses
Descriptive analyses:
how many respondents
how many men / women
demographics
Inferential analyses:
significance tests
association tests
regressions
modelling
include Means, Standard Deviations, P-values etc
Results guidelines
Start with descriptive statistics
e.g. response rate, how many of each sex, age distribution
data to describe who the sample are - humanise them
Then present inferential statistics
e.g. significance tests, correlations
data which answers specific questions / objectives
Tables and illustrations must stand alone - titles essential
Graphs need both axes labelling
Prepare and format tables to an identical style and stick to it
Don’t over present tables with excessive colours or fonts
Present a final sub section - “summary of results”
bullet point the main findings
Tables & Figures
Present a separate table listing all the tables in the report
(each table consecutively numbered & show page number)
Present a separate table listing all the figures in the report
(each figure consecutively numbered & show page number)
Keep format identical to the larger Table of Contents
Tables
numbered consecutively e.g. Table 4
have the same margins as the main text
sufficient title
whole page tables should be page numbered
each table should be individually discussed in the report
Table 5: Mean ages of males and females in the sample
Sex
n
Mean age
F
P
Male
56
34.7 (± 6.5)
7.65
0.04
Female 49
30.5 (± 7.4)
Figures
charts, diagrams, graphs, line drawings etc are all figures
numbered consecutively e.g. Figure 2.1, Figure 2.2 etc.
same margins as the text
sufficient title
both axes (abscissa and ordinate) properly labeled
colour diagrams only permitted if essential
whole page figures should be page numbered
each figure discussed in the report
Figure 4.7: Flight data for space shuttle challenger, with plots of launch temperature
against O-ring failure, and separate regressions marked
Probability of failure
1
launches with O-ring
problems
launches without
O-ring problems
0.5
0
50
60
70
80
Launch Temp.
90
100
oF
Feynman, R.P “What do you care what other people think?” Further adventures of
a curious character. Harper Collins,1992
Discussion
Exercise in logical progression and discipline
Literary re-statement of main findings of the analysis
Highlight any aspects of the methodology that may have been lacking
Explain any inconsistencies between research and previously cited works
Mention implications for future research or policy
Not a policy document
Recommend (changes for) future research projects
Humility
Good discussion is a get out clause for a poor project
DO NOT REGURGITATE RESULTS
References
indicate sources of info in text
use a superscript number 1 - Vancouver method
or
author name and date (Smith and Jones, 1988) - Harvard method
All citations listed at the end
numerically for Vancouver
alphabetically for Harvard
APA Referencing Style
Journal article:
Fine MA, Kurdek LA (1993). Reflections on determining authorship credit and
authorship order on faculty-student collaborations. American Psychologist 1993; 48:
1141-1147.
Book:
Nicol AAM, Pexman PM. Presenting your findings: A practical guide for creating
tables. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. 1999.
Book chapter:
O'Neil JM, & Egan J. Men's and women's gender role journeys: Metaphor for
healing, transition, and transformation. In Wainrib BR. (ed) Gender issues across
the life cycle Springer, New York; 1992. 107-123.
Appendices
Include a table of contents of the Appendix
Consecutively number the appendices
Contains those things that have no use in the main body of the text
Include raw data (in hardcopy format or disks)
correspondence with participants
questionnaires
maps
extraneous information
addresses
ethical committee correspondence
Still be selective about content.
Appendices do not need to be used for journal submissions
Pointers
supervisor determined by research area - usually
supervisor – student relationship
timely
supervisor has multiple students
acknowledgements important
strive for publication
don’t compete
supervisor = examiner
Viva Voce
Oral examination
2 internal examiners (one is supervisor)
30 minutes approx
Asked to explain:
Choice of research
Choice of method
Results
Shortcomings
Improvements
“Bonus points” attitude
Summary of themes in research reports
Making sense of randomness of world
Independent Variables affect Dependent Variables
Must prove chance has not changed variables
Control the possibility of Extraneous Variables causing any changes
Sample widely from a population
Distributions
Measure Appropriately
Multiple Measurements
Replicable
Appropriate Statistics
Clear Presentation
Methodical & Linear
Reasoned