Overview
A suggested MSc dissertation Structure
Title of the study……………………………………………..
- Chapter One ===Introduction
- 1.1 Purpose of this study (or Aim of the study) e.g. this study examines or (this study investigates)……
- 1.2 Background to the study, in this section you present the background of your research area organised as follows
- Highlighting some of the key influential authors on the topic, for instance, what are the main arguments in this area?
- Briefly what and how much is known about your topic and its subject area?
- What aspects/issues have generated significant debate on the topic?
- Is there a gap in knowledge in your area which needs addressing?
- You should explain the need for further research and in particular the need for the study that you are proposing by positioning it in China or any other country
- Discuss research context, profile of the case study e.g. company, industry, organisation from which you are collecting data etc.(hospitality industry, Banking sector, Public sector etc.
- 1.3 Statement of the problem in this section you state
- What is the nature of the problem, which you wish to address/ investigate? **Remember there no research without a problem that needs solving or a question that needs answering.
- Tell the examiner what you are trying to find out and why is the problem worth addressing?
- 1.4 Research questions. Research questions are the most crucial part of the research because
- Research questions define the research and guide the arguments and the focus of investigation.
- Research questions generally emerge from reading the literature.
- Research questions should be: relevant, clear and researchable.
- Formulate a research question that is neither too broad nor too narrow
- 1.5 Research objectives Research objectives of a study indicate what researchers expect to achieve by the study.
- Formulating clear objectives will help you to:
- Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials).
- Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly necessary for understanding and solving the problem you have identified.
- Structure the study in clearly defined parts or phases.
- Facilitate the development of your research methodology and will help to direct the collection, analysis, interpretation and utilisation of data.
- Remember: clearly phrased research objectives show exactly what you are going to do, where, and for what purpose.
- Be SMART use SMART Objectives
- 1.6 Justification/significance/rationale of the study. This section should explain why this study is worth undertaking.
- It identifies the benefits that are likely be derived from the findings the study. Who is going to benefit or which parties/bodies are potentially going to be interested in this research.
- What practical implications would the findings of this study have?
- 1.7 Structure of the study. This section outlines briefly the overall frame of your research. For instance: This study consists of six chapters
This chapter contains the following sections, put subheadings with numbers as indicated)
S Specific
M Measurable
A Achievable
R Relevant
T Time-bound
** Use action/dynamic verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated e.g. to analyse, to investigate, to assess etc.
Chapter One: provides the research background and clearly explains the problem justifying why it is important and contextualises the problem within an organisational setting. It also sets the research questions and objectives.
Chapter Two: critically reviews the literature related to…………
Chapter Three: discusses the methodology and methods that are used in line with the aims and objectives of this study. It justifies the methodology and methods selected…………..
Chapter Five …………….
Chapter Six………………..
Chapter TWO Literature Review
Critically review relevant previous studies. This will be a comprehensive review of the literature.
- Identify and explain what research has been done on the topic,
- Highlight the different ways researchers have treated the topic.
- Identify patterns or trends in the literature
- Highlight gaps in and omissions in previous research or questions left unanswered
- Show how your study relates to the literature in general
- Conclude by summarising what the literature says.
- NB Avoid dated sources. Use only recent academic sources. Avoid website sources
Chapter Three Research Methodology and Methods
- Outline and justify the proposed methodology and methods.
- Discuss the rationale for your selection of a research philosophy, research methods, justify your choice of methods why are the methods selected suitable for your study
- Discuss sampling procedures, size, sampling population justify your data collection instruments, explain validity and reliability etc.