Dissertation writing is a very complex and crucial task. And yet, finishing one’s dissertation is essential because a student does not get a degree without it. Writing a dissertation requires a student to do an immense amount of hard work. It also requires them to be very efficient. Not only does dissertation writing require hard work and dedication, it requires knowledge of how to actually go about writing a dissertation. Thus, it is especially difficult and problematic for students who are writing their dissertations for the first time. In other words, even if students are putting in the hard work necessary, they can still get very frustrated because many of these “first timers” do not even know how to begin their dissertation.
Students would benefit greatly from understanding that in the times when nothing seems to make sense, the best way to overcome the confusion is to plan things out. In the case of writing a dissertation, referring to a first chapter of dissertation methodology can always help as it can ease the overwhelming confusion students may feel when they face the task of writing their dissertation. Once a student has a clean chart of dissertation methodology in front of him or her, things start to make sense. Dissertation methodology is a chapter that carries the most important and necessary information about the subject of one’s research. Dissertation methodology generally includes the following steps:
- Participants
- Procedures
- Instruments and
- Data Analysis
The first thing that a student must do is decide the nature of his/her dissertation. He/she must decide whether his/her research is Qualitative or Quantitative? When deciding between Qualitative and Quantitative, one must consider a number of issues. Neither of the two methodologies is ‘simpler’ or ‘better’. The decision is merely based on what one wants the end of his/her dissertation to be. To decide the methodology, the student has to see the target audience and decide which methodology will easily help this audience understand the steps of the project. It also depends on the student’s research questions and targets. After choosing the approach, the student can analyze collected data. This can be done through methods like grounded theory, domain analysis, analytic induction, factor analysis, or cluster analysis etc. The dissertation methodology should be based on getting the most useful information in the most effective and practical manner.
Going through the following steps will make writing a Dissertation Methodology chapter much easier:
- Sketch out a plan as an overview of the way your Dissertation Methodology would come out. It is fruitful to know your next step when you finish the one before it, as it helps in not missing out on any of the important aspects of the methodology.
- Try to be patient, careful and attentive while writing those steps.
- Time management is a very important aspect at this point. Planning while you are well aware of the vast amount of other things that you have to take care of is key.
- Whatever information you gather, you should always cross check for its correctness.
- While gathering the theoretical and literary data for dissertation methodology, you should bear in mind that the sources of that data should be authentic and clear to you.
- It is always important to be logical and up to the mark in your methodology. This holds true, for instance, while giving examples and dividing parts and paragraphs.
- Analyze your practical calculation and theory very carefully.
After finishing your Dissertation Methodology chapter, you will have a much more focused idea for your dissertation. Designing the most important part of your dissertations will clearly make the task of your actual dissertation very easy and clear. Additionally, it will help you in organizing your skills and knowledge for writing the dissertation.
