Goals, principles to approach, elements often included, process to develop, and tips to write each chapter of your thesis/dissertation are presented.

1. Doctoral
Doctoral
Students
Students
DoctoralNet
Universi3es
Thank
You
for
Reading

2. How You Can Approach
Each Chapter of Your
Thesis/Dissertation

3. Each
type
of
academic
paper
has
its
own
structure

4. Most
Common
Thesis/
Dissertation
Structure
•
•
•
•
•
Introduc3on
Literature
review
Methodology
Findings
Discussion
of
findings,
conclusions,
and
recommenda3ons

5. Introduction
GOAL: PROVIDE A PRECISE PICTURE OF
WHAT THE STUDY IS ABOUT

6. Main
Principle
to
Approach
Introduction
Create a text that clearly states what should be studied, the reasons
for doing it, what to achieve, what to answer or test, and how to do
it.
Build
the
lighthouse
of
your
thesis/disserta3on

7. Elements
Often
Included
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction
Background
Theoretical Framework
Problem Statement
Purpose of the Study
Research Question(s)
Research Design
Definition of Terms
• Each
university
has
its
own
required
elements,
but
these
are
very
common

8. Process
to
Develop
Introduc3on
(First
Chapter
of
a
Thesis/Disserta3on)
Background
Theore3cal
Framework
Problem
Statement
Purpose
of
the
Study
Research
Ques3on
(Hypothesis
if
needed)
Research
Design

9. Tips
to
Write
Introduc0on
• State
the
problem,
purpose,
and
research
ques3on(s)
precisely.
The
clearer
they
are,
the
more
useful
to
guide
you
when
making
decisions.
• Be
concise
when
wri3ng
the
theore3cal
framework
and
the
research
design
(they
will
be
explained
in
other
chapters).
• Include
the
significance
of
the
study.
For
a
detailed
explanation
of
each
of
the
elements
of
Chapter
1
go
to:
http://www.slideshare.net/doctoralnet/
chapter-1-the-lighthouse-ss

10. Literature
Review
GOALS:
1.SUMMARIZE WHAT IS KNOWN IN RELATION TO THE
STUDY
2. IDENTIFY GAPS IN WHAT HAS BEEN STUDIED SO
FAR
3. CONNECT THE STUDY TO PRIOR RESEARCH,
ESPECIALLY TO THE IDENTIFIED GAPS

11. Main
Principles
to
Approach
the
Literature
Review
Discuss all the themes relevant to understand the target problem and
explain where the research question(s) come from. Do not leave
undiscussed any theoretical element that is included in other parts of
the thesis/dissertation like in instruments.
Build
the
founda3on
of
your
thesis/disserta3on

12. Common
Structure
Introduction: states the
reasons for reviewing the
literature and defines the
scope of such review.
Body: discusses theories,
models, and approaches
relevant to the study.
Presents prior research
studies and links the study to
them.
Conclusion: summarizes
a) the major
contributions of the
reviewed literature to
the topic of the study
b) the identified gaps as
well as how the study
addresses them.
Literature
review
may
be
wriQen
in
more
than
one
chapter

13. Process
to
Develop
the
Literature
Review
Iden3fy
Main
Themes
of
Your
Study
Look
for
Prior
Research
Studies
Look
for
Relevant
Theories,
Models,
&
Approaches
Make
Notes
on
How
Theory
and
Research
Relate
to
Your
Study
Build
an
Outline.
Check
Its
Coherence
Follow
the
Outline
to
Write

14. •
•
•
•
Tips
to
Write
the
Literature
Review
Use
reference
soWware
to
register
and
organize
readings.
Write
detailed
notes
for
each
reading,
including
its
significance
for
your
study.
State
how
your
study
relates
to
each
theme
and
other
studies
as
well
as
how
it
contributes
to
fill
up
the
iden3fied
gaps.
Concentrate
on
recent
studies
whose
findings
are
s3ll
valid.
Sources
older
than
10
years
can
be
used
only
if
they
are
seminal
works.
For
more
explanation
of
how
to
write
the
literature
review
go
to:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/143-parameters-of-lit-review.html
http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/150-dissertation_help-reading-the-lit.html
http://www.doctoralnet.com/reading-literature/item/129-writing-plan-for-lit-review.html

15. Methodology
GOALS:
PROVIDE THE INFORMATION…
* RELATED TO HOW THE STUDY IS CONDUCTED
* NEEDED TO EVALUATE HOW VALID THE STUDY IS
* NECESSARY TO REPLICATE THE STUDY

16. Main
Principles
to
Approach
Methodology
Describe and justify all the information needed to know how the
study is done. Think of it as a set of instructions to understand,
evaluate, and replicate your study.
Build
the
user
guide
of
your
thesis/disserta3on

17. Elements
Often
Included
• Introduction (restating
purpose and research
questions)
• Population & Sample
• Research Design
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Procedures
• Instruments
• Limitations and
Assumptions*
Each
university
has
its
own
required
elements,
but
these
are
very
common
*
Some3mes
they
are
in
the
first
chapter

18. Process
to
Develop
the
Methodology
Problem
Purpose
Research
Ques3on(s)
Popula3on
&
Sample
Research
Design
Data
Collec3on
&
Analysis
Procedures

19. Tips
to
Write
the
Methodology
• Write clearly and precisely.
• Provide as many details as
necessary to ease the replication
of the study.
• Explain how each component was
developed.
• Show you understand the whole
process and why it is designed in
that way.
For
more
explanation
of
how
to
write
the
methodology
go
to:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/choosing-methods/item/147-thinking-about-methodologyvideo.html
http://www.doctoralnet.com/choosing-methods/item/152-dissertation_help-methodology.html
http://www.doctoralnet.com/qualitative-quantitative-research.html

20. Findings
GOAL: PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE
STUDY

21. Main
Principles
to
Approach
Findings
Show the results of your study focusing on their relationship to the
research question(s). Think as a spectator rather than as the
presenter. Be simple and direct. Do not discuss findings; just present
them.
Build
the
display
of
your
thesis/disserta3on

22. Elements
Often
Included
• Texts: to guide readers
through the information
that answers your
research question(s)
without discussing it.
• Tables and Figures: to
illustrate results. They
are referred to from the
introductory text.
• Each
university
has
its
own
requirements
to
present
findings,
but
these
are
very
common

23. Process
to
Develop
the
Findings
Answers
Research
Ques3on(s)
Data
Collec3on
Data
Analysis
Answers

24. Tips
to
Write
the
Findings
• Present results according to the
research question they refer to.
• Use texts to introduce tables and
figures.
• Tell what the key result is that
each table or figure conveys.
• Use only tables and figures that
are strictly necessary to show
results.
• Be simple and direct.
For
more
explanation
of
how
to
write
the
Aindings
go
to:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/data-collection-analysis/item/85-overview-ch-4-and-5members.html

25. Discussion
of
Findings,
Conclusions,
and
Recommendations
GOALS:
1.DISCUSS FINDINGS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ANSWER THE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RELATE TO THE LITERATURE REVIEW
2. SUMMARIZE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
3. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF
FINDINGS (IF POSSIBLE) AND FOR FUTURE STUDIES

26. Main
Principles
to
Approach
Discussion
Discuss the findings in relation to how they answer the research
question(s) and contribute to the state of the art of the field of study
presented in the literature review. Foresee future studies.
Build
the
promo3on
of
your
thesis/disserta3on

27. Elements
Often
Included
• Answer(s) of research
question(s)
• Interpretation of
answer(s) by linking it/
them to what was
discussed in the
literature review
• Discussion of the
implications of the study
• Recommendation(s) in
relation to the
application of findings
and future studies
• Each
university
has
its
own
requirements
to
discuss
findings,
but
these
are
very
common

28. Process
to
Develop
the
Discussion
Findings
Research
Ques3on(s)
Literature
Review
Discussion

29. Tips
to
Write
the
Discussion
• Discuss results according to the
research question they refer to.
• Link the discussion to the
literature review.
• Support your arguments with
citations.
• Discuss any unexpected result.
• Restrict your conclusions to what
the data shows.
• Make specific recommendations.
For
more
explanation
of
how
to
write
the
discussion
go
to:
http://www.doctoralnet.com/data-collection-analysis/item/85-overview-ch-4-and-5members.html

30. Any Question?
Now
You
Know
1. Goals of each chapter
2. Main principles to write each
chapter
3. Elements or common structure
of each chapter
4. Process to develop each
chapter
5. Tips for writing each chapter
6. Useful links

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