Dr Paul McElheron

www.scba.dk

Researching & Writing a Dissertation

Things you shouldn’t say at your dissertation defence

Differences – Dissertations & Assignments

• The Dissertation differs from Assignments:

• You need to demonstrate you can identify an appropriate research question

• You have to demonstrate you know some thing about research methods

• Requires a critical review of existing literature

The Dissertation at a Glance

• About 15,000 words (+/- 10%)

• Individual research into a management issue of your choice

• In 2 parts – dissertation proposal (15% of the marks) and dissertation

• Graded as assignments

Covered in this session:

• Project proposal

• The dissertation process

• Getting started – choosing a topic

• Research methods

• Writing the dissertation

• Referencing

• Workshop / any questions

What the Dissertation is NOT

• Not a purely work-based project

• Not the “Last Word”

• Not an extended essay

• Not “Research First-Think Later”

• Not statistics for the sake of statistics

What the Project Might be…

• A “why” question that requires analysis

• An emphasis upon problem solving research

• The problem clearly defined

• A method of solution discovered

You Are Being Asked to Do the Following

• Identify & define a research question

• Critically review existing literature

• Design a piece of research

• Analyse, present & discuss

Project Proposal

• 15% of the total project mark

• Minimum 2000 words

• Project Tutors will advise on scope and feasibility

Project Proposal Framework

• Use the University Dissertation Proposal Pro-Forma

• Background and overview• Statement of issue and research objectives• Methodology• Analysis• Structure of final project• Time schedule• Can be submitted online

The Dissertation Process

• Research Question

• Literature Review

• Research Design

• Data Collection

• Data Analysis

• Conclusions

• Implications

What is a Dissertation?

• A major piece of work 15,000 words

• Chosen individually

• Likely to include an empirical* element

• Likely to be academic research

• A “why” question – problem based

• Difficult? Knowledge based on experience & observation

Why you are asked to do a dissertation

• Sharpen your information gathering, critical & analytical skills

• Enhance your subject specific knowledge

• Relate academic theories to real world problems

• Develop transferable skills

Choosing a Topic (1)

• Personal interests & relevance• Further your knowledge & development• Of value to your organisation (possibly)• Durability/substance• Topic adequacy• A future/immediate career orientated choice• Access• Feasibility• Micro-politics • Resources

Choosing a Topic (2)

• Choose something manageable

• Choose something interesting

• Choose something which doesn’t overlap too much with other assessments you have submitted

• Discuss your choice

The topic needs to be:

• Interesting to you• Feasible• Course-related• Academic• Analytical

Six stage process for choosing a topic

• Identify broad topic & academic discipline

• Determine the scope

• Brainstorm issues, puzzles & questions

• Map and structure the issues

• Conduct a reconnaissance

• Frame your research question

Consider Formulating the

Title as a Question

• Is an Academic Education the Best Preparation for a Career in the Senior Management?

• How Far Can Western Management Training Practices be Used to Develop the Asia-Manager?

Planning your work

• When do you want to have each chapter completed?

• How much time will you need for primary research?

• When must all research work be completed?• How much time will you need for writing up?• Will you need your dissertation bound in any

way?

How Long Does it Take?

• Organisation of ideas is the hard bit

• You will find weaknesses/flaws only when you start to write up – state them

• Allow 30% of time for writing up

• 4-6 months?

What is Research?

• Research is an Original Contribution to Knowledge

• Your must show two (maybe three) things:

Identification of an unanswered question

Evidence of analysis The Answer!

Fundamental concerns

• Four categories of information sought:• Attitudes or what people see/understand• Beliefs what people think is true, (stronger than attitudes)• Behaviour or what people do• Attributes or what people are

• Validity – the degree to which we are measuring what we need to measure

• Reliability

Research Terminology

• Methods & Methodology

• Empirical research vs theoretical

• Epistomology

Epistemology – what constitutes valid knowledge and

how can we obtain it?

• Positivism – social researcher as a scientist

• Facts not values• Theory testing

• Phenomenology – social researcher as a detective

• Values play a significant part

• Theory building

The Methodological Continuum

• Phenomenology• Theory-Building• Qualitative• 5 Depth face-to-face

interviews• High response rates

expected• More analytical

• Positivism• Theory Testing• Quantitative• 500 closed-ended

postal questionnaires• Low response rate

expected• More design /

implementation work

Choice of Research Methods

• Data search• Interviews• Questionnaires• Panels, including

focus groups• Observation• Delphi technique

The Methodology Chapter

• Need to show knowledge of methodological debates

• Examiners look closely at this

• Shows what you learned about the process of research itself

Research design – the University

expects…

• Awareness of different approaches

• Clear justification of the approach taken

• Description of approach, (sampling, collection, analysis & presentation

• Critical presentation of the methodology

• Demonstrates an understanding of the approach taken

Sources of Information

• Academic journals – the gold standard

• Working Papers – most peer reviewed

• Books

• Non-academic journals – standards vary

• Consultancy reports – use for context only

• Newspapers – use for context only

• The internet

Selecting the Research Method

• What information is needed?• How will it be collected?• How accurate will it be?• Will the methods get all the information?• Will the information appear credible?• Will the participants conform?• Who will administer the methods?• How can the information be analysed?

Sampling Plan

• Sampling unit – who will be surveyed?

• Sample size – how many shall be surveyed?

• Sampling procedure – how should respondents be chosen?

Approaches to the main research

methodsUnstructured Structured

Interviews In-depth, open Keep to script, answer options

Panels Focus groups Delphi

Questionnaire Research diary Tick boxes

Observation Research diary Observation schedule, Activity sampling

Data search Search engine Primary/secondary

Interviewing

• Several types, arranged, intercept, structured

• Very versatile• Can record additional

observations• Expensive• Susceptible to

interviewer bias

Questionnaires - advantages

• Relatively inexpensive• Can reach people at long

distance• Avoids interviewer bias• Anonymity possible• Response quality may be

better, (respondents may gather & consult sources)

Questionnaires - disadvantages

• Low response rates• Difficult to develop rapport• No opportunity to probe or clarify• Strong tendency to give answers

that are socially, desirable, make the respondent look good, please the researcher

• Can the respondent provide a meaningful answer?

• Biased response?• Easy to critique

Focus Group Research

• A gathering of 6-10 people invited to spend a few hours with a skilled moderator to discuss a product, service, organisation or marketing entity.

• Start with a broad question, encourage free & easy discussion, hoping that group dynamics will reveal deep feelings and thoughts.

Focus Groups - advantages

• Use homogenous groups, similar needs & interests

• Good for ascertaining interest or acceptance

• Suited to motivational research, attitudes, perceptions

• Used as a prelude to more sophisticated techniques

Focus Groups - disadvantages

• Is it real research?• Biased participation?• Nature and direction of

discussion led by the most articulate or aggressive

• Conclusions have to be inferred by reading the discussion

• Results cannot be quantified, (small sample)

Observational Research

• Fresh data can be gathered by observing

• Can obtain findings not accessible by other methods

Common errors made in Research

• Selective observation• Inaccurate observation• Over-generalisation• Made-up information• Ex post facto hypothesising• Illogical reasoning• Ego involvement in

understanding• Premature closure of inquiry• Mystification

Delphi Technique

• A forecasting method• A group decision making tool

– reaps the benefit of group decision making while insulating the process from group decision making

• Aids decision making in a political of emotional environment

• Useful where decisions affect strong factions with opposing views, conflicting goals

• Works formally or informally

Common errors made in research

• I found a juicy data set and accidentally found that serial killers all had telephone numbers with the number 13 in them. I then decided that fear of the number 13 makes people into serial killers, wrote a book about my findings and became famous.

• What error of human enquiry is NOT present in this scenario?

• Ex post facto hypothesizing• Illogical reasoning• Made-up information• Inaccurate observation

Standard format of a dissertation: 6

chapters• Executive summary• Contents• Introduction (1000-1500)• Theory/Literature review (2500-3000)• Research methods (1500-2000)• Data description, presentation of findings (2500-

3000)• Analysis & interpretation of findings (3500-4000)• Conclusions, recommendations, reflections (1000-

1500)• References

Writing the Dissertation

• The marker will be less knowledgeable on detail than you

• Explain motivations, goals, methodology, make no assumptions, apart from basics

• Get feedback, (supervisors, friends, fellow students – give feedback too).

Ideas for the Introduction

• A clear statement of your subject• An explanation of why the research is

worthwhile• An outline of the methods used• An indication of the limitations of the study• A summary of the chapters to follow• Thanks to any person or agency who gave

you special help

Ideas for the Chapters

• Each one should answer a major question• Each chapter should contain lots of answers to

smaller questions• Use sub-headings to guide the reader• Develop points carefully, step by step• Each chapter should make sense if read on its

own• Give chapters introductions and conclusions as

well

Writing Style Revisited

• A review of good practice…

A Well Written Dissertation..

• Has an appropriate structure – it flows• Has headings and sub-headings• Includes research methods & background information• Demonstrates evidence of a wide range of information

sources• Includes reference to relevant theory, correctly referenced• Uses both qualitative and quantitative sources of

information• Is “analytical” rather than descriptive• Uses tables, figures and models to support the narrative• Makes appropriate recommendations and conclusions

Style of the Dissertation

• Use a title page and number the pages• Put in a ”contents” list• Do what you say you will do in the introduction• Footnotes not recommended• Use quotes from opposing views• Quotes and paraphrasing work well together• Avoid excessive use of “bullet points”• Plagiarism – don’t do it

Writing Style

• Personal• Information comes from the

writer’s experience• Personal feelings and views

• Recounts, tells a personal story

• Non-technical vocabulary• “I” at the centre

• Academic• Information comes from a

range of sources• Evidence & argument, citing &

referencing others work• Comments, evaluates,

analyses• Subject specific vocabulary• “I” as observer & commentator

Language to Avoid

• Obviously• Research shows..• It is true that..• This proves..• Where does this lead

us?• It’s a well known fact

• “I”, “we”, “you”• I think• I feel• Good, bad, normal• Contractions• Jargon

Language to use

• “this suggests..”

• “it is plausible..”

• This argument appears reasonable \ unreasonable because..

• Use the terminology!

A Word about Word Count

• Approximately 15,000 words – stick to the format

• The word count starts after the contents page and ends before the references

• Words in the appendix don’t count

• Words in models don’t count

Literature Review

• The University will expect…

• Normally 40-50 credible references

• Harvard system referencing throughout

• Use of original sources where possible

• Avoid the Heathrow library!

References

• Closely tied to the review done early in the dissertation

• Markers usually check out this section early on and will form preliminary assessment notions early

• References must appear in the main body

Requirements for Referencing

• Assertions or statements of fact

• Theories views or arguments

• Where information came from

• Who created the information

• Who collated the information

When to Reference

I. Brahm’s wrote four symphonies

II. Brahm’s compositions were driven by unrequited love

III. Harry Potter was a wizard

IV. The Harry Potter books constitute a danger to the moral fabric of youth

Types of Referencing

• Quotations• Paraphrasing• Using your own words

Examples

• QUOTATION: “… to which the automatic human reaction is helpless discouragement. But for the successful leader failure is the beginning, the springboard of hope.” (Bennis and Nanus, 1985, p.71).

• PARAPHRASE: Failure is finality, a dead feeling of helpless discouragement. For the successful leader, failure can be the springboard to a new beginning, (Bennis & Nanus, 1985).

• OWN WORDS: Bennis and Nanus (1985) point out that effective leaders react to failure differently than other people. Rather than becoming de-motivated and discouraged as most people do, leaders see failure as a challenge which rousers them to greater efforts and stimulates hope for a brighter future.

• REFERENCE: Bennis, W., and Nanus, B. (1985). Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge New York: Harper & Row, p.71.

An Ideal List of References

• Sources from the recommended reading

• Recognised leaders in the field

• Some up-to-date sources• Something the marker

has not yet read• Contextualised

information

Conclusions

• Short concise statements of inferences made as a result of work done (numbered subsections ?)

• Must be directly related to the research question/problems raised

• Markers will scrutinise this section• Future research – useful to

people following in your tracks

Recommendations

• Suggest ways of solving the problems

• How the recommendations link to the aims of the dissertation

• Timescale and ressource allocation

• Should flow logically from the conclusions

Reflections

• Analysis & evaluation of the research process

• Strengths & weaknesses of the dissertation

• Problems or constraints encountered

Think of the Marker

• Make no unreasonable assumptions about the marker

• Don’t bore the marker• Markers hate to work hard on

trivia, (to understand poorly named sections, organise themselves from your work, wade through bad grammar).

• Create a good impression• Refer to QAA Assessment

criteria for M Level

Appendices

• Designed to let you include material not fitted easily into any chapter

• Important material referred to in more than one chapter

• Does not count against word count• Material which casts light on work done but

would impede the clear delivery of ideas• Mathematical proofs unless prime focus• Huge tables of data• Lengthy company profiles

Support - Blackboard

• Announcements• ULMC staff• Project guidelines /

support materials• Library / external links• Discussion boards• Study skills• Example

dissertations

The Pub Bore Test

• Write an interesting account of your dissertation, in a few sentences, that you could use when someone in the pub asks, “What is your research about?” It has to be something to catch the listeners attention.

Why writing a dissertation is harder than having a baby

• Conceiving a baby is way more fun that conceiving a topic

• You know exactly how long pregnancy takes

• Everyone will admire your baby• No one will complain that your baby

is too similar to another one• You can borrow other peoples stuff

without it being called plagiarism

You’re Almost There…