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What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started

Published on 26 March 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 5 May 2022.

A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree.

The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the level and field of study. However, there are some key questions that can help you understand the requirements and get started on your dissertation project.

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Table of contents

When and why do you have to write a dissertation, who will supervise your dissertation, what type of research will you do, how should your dissertation be structured, what formatting and referencing rules do you have to follow, frequently asked questions about dissertations.

A dissertation, sometimes called a thesis, comes at the end of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It is a larger project than the other essays you’ve written, requiring a higher word count and a greater depth of research.

You’ll generally work on your dissertation during the final year of your degree, over a longer period than you would take for a standard essay . For example, the dissertation might be your main focus for the last six months of your degree.

Why is the dissertation important?

The dissertation is a test of your capacity for independent research. You are given a lot of autonomy in writing your dissertation: you come up with your own ideas, conduct your own research, and write and structure the text by yourself.

This means that it is an important preparation for your future, whether you continue in academia or not: it teaches you to manage your own time, generate original ideas, and work independently.

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During the planning and writing of your dissertation, you’ll work with a supervisor from your department. The supervisor’s job is to give you feedback and advice throughout the process.

The dissertation supervisor is often assigned by the department, but you might be allowed to indicate preferences or approach potential supervisors. If so, try to pick someone who is familiar with your chosen topic, whom you get along with on a personal level, and whose feedback you’ve found useful in the past.

How will your supervisor help you?

Your supervisor is there to guide you through the dissertation project, but you’re still working independently. They can give feedback on your ideas, but not come up with ideas for you.

You may need to take the initiative to request an initial meeting with your supervisor. Then you can plan out your future meetings and set reasonable deadlines for things like completion of data collection, a structure outline, a first chapter, a first draft, and so on.

Make sure to prepare in advance for your meetings. Formulate your ideas as fully as you can, and determine where exactly you’re having difficulties so you can ask your supervisor for specific advice.

Your approach to your dissertation will vary depending on your field of study. The first thing to consider is whether you will do empirical research , which involves collecting original data, or non-empirical research , which involves analysing sources.

Empirical dissertations (sciences)

An empirical dissertation focuses on collecting and analysing original data. You’ll usually write this type of dissertation if you are studying a subject in the sciences or social sciences.

• What are airline workers’ attitudes towards the challenges posed for their industry by climate change?
• How effective is cognitive behavioural therapy in treating depression in young adults?
• What are the short-term health effects of switching from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes?

There are many different empirical research methods you can use to answer these questions – for example, experiments , observations, surveys , and interviews.

When doing empirical research, you need to consider things like the variables you will investigate, the reliability and validity of your measurements, and your sampling method . The aim is to produce robust, reproducible scientific knowledge.

Non-empirical dissertations (arts and humanities)

A non-empirical dissertation works with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, critique and argumentation, but no original data. This approach is typical of arts and humanities subjects.

• What attitudes did commentators in the British press take towards the French Revolution in 1789–1792?
• How do the themes of gender and inheritance intersect in Shakespeare’s Macbeth ?
• How did Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia influence nineteenth century utopian socialist thought?

The first steps in this type of dissertation are to decide on your topic and begin collecting your primary and secondary sources .

Primary sources are the direct objects of your research. They give you first-hand evidence about your subject. Examples of primary sources include novels, artworks and historical documents.

Secondary sources provide information that informs your analysis. They describe, interpret, or evaluate information from primary sources. For example, you might consider previous analyses of the novel or author you are working on, or theoretical texts that you plan to apply to your primary sources.

Dissertations are divided into chapters and sections. Empirical dissertations usually follow a standard structure, while non-empirical dissertations are more flexible.

Structure of an empirical dissertation

Empirical dissertations generally include these chapters:

• Introduction : An explanation of your topic and the research question(s) you want to answer.
• Literature review : A survey and evaluation of previous research on your topic.
• Methodology : An explanation of how you collected and analysed your data.
• Results : A brief description of what you found.
• Discussion : Interpretation of what these results reveal.
• Conclusion : Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your findings contribute to knowledge in your field.

Sometimes the order or naming of chapters might be slightly different, but all of the above information must be included in order to produce thorough, valid scientific research.

Other dissertation structures

If your dissertation doesn’t involve data collection, your structure is more flexible. You can think of it like an extended essay – the text should be logically organised in a way that serves your argument:

• Introduction: An explanation of your topic and the question(s) you want to answer.
• Main body: The development of your analysis, usually divided into 2–4 chapters.
• Conclusion: Answers to your research question(s) and summary of what your analysis contributes to knowledge in your field.

The chapters of the main body can be organised around different themes, time periods, or texts. Below you can see some example structures for dissertations in different subjects.

• Political philosophy

This example, on the topic of the British press’s coverage of the French Revolution, shows how you might structure each chapter around a specific theme.

This example, on the topic of Plato’s and More’s influences on utopian socialist thought, shows a different approach to dividing the chapters by theme.

This example, a master’s dissertation on the topic of how writers respond to persecution, shows how you can also use section headings within each chapter. Each of the three chapters deals with a specific text, while the sections are organised thematically.

Like other academic texts, it’s important that your dissertation follows the formatting guidelines set out by your university. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

Formatting guidelines concern things like:

• line spacing
• page numbers
• punctuation
• title pages
• presentation of tables and figures

If you’re unsure about the formatting requirements, check with your supervisor or department. You can lose marks unnecessarily over mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to get all these elements right.

How will you reference your sources?

Referencing means properly listing the sources you cite and refer to in your dissertation, so that the reader can find them. This avoids plagiarism by acknowledging where you’ve used the work of others.

Keep track of everything you read as you prepare your dissertation. The key information to note down for a reference is:

• The publication date
• Page numbers for the parts you refer to (especially when using direct quotes)

Different referencing styles each have their own specific rules for how to reference. The most commonly used styles in UK universities are listed below.

You can use the free APA Reference Generator to automatically create and store your references.

APA Reference Generator

The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:

• In the UK, you write a dissertation at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a thesis to complete a PhD.
• In the US, it’s the other way around: you may write a thesis at the end of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and you write a dissertation to complete a PhD.

The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.

Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

• An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
• A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
• A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.

A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.

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Home » Dissertation Methodology – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Dissertation Methodology – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Dissertation Methodology

The methodology section of a dissertation explains the approach, design, and methods you used to conduct your research. This section is critical for demonstrating the rigor and credibility of your study and allows readers to evaluate the reliability and validity of your findings. The methodology should be clear, detailed, and justified, ensuring that anyone reading it understands how and why the research was conducted.

Purpose of a Dissertation Methodology

The methodology section serves several essential purposes:

• Justifies the Research Approach : Explains why specific research methods were chosen and how they align with the research question.
• Describes Data Collection and Analysis : Details the tools, techniques, and procedures used to gather and analyze data.
• Ensures Replicability : Provides enough detail for other researchers to replicate or build on the study.
• Addresses Limitations : Identifies any limitations or constraints of the chosen methodology and their potential impact on results.

Structure of a Dissertation Methodology

A well-organized methodology section is usually structured into five main components: Research Design , Participants/Sampling , Data Collection Methods , Data Analysis , and Ethical Considerations . Some dissertations may include additional sections as needed for specific methods or fields of study.

1. Research Design

Definition : The research design is the overall strategy and framework guiding the study. It outlines whether the research is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods and justifies this choice in relation to the research question.

Example : If studying consumer behavior, a quantitative survey might be appropriate to gather statistical data, while qualitative interviews could provide in-depth insights into motivations.

Typical Components :

• Approach : Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods.
• Research Type : Experimental, observational, survey-based, case study, etc.
• Justification : Explanation of why this design aligns with the research objectives.

2. Participants and Sampling

Definition : This section describes the study population, how participants were chosen, and the sample size. It should include the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, as well as details about recruitment procedures.

Example : For a study on workplace satisfaction, you might select employees from various departments in a company and use a sample size calculated based on statistical power analysis.

• Target Population : The demographic characteristics and scope of the population studied.
• Sampling Method : Probability or non-probability sampling (e.g., random sampling, convenience sampling).
• Sample Size : The number of participants included and justification for this number.

3. Data Collection Methods

Definition : This section describes how data was collected, detailing the tools and techniques used. It should include specifics on instruments (e.g., surveys, interviews, experiments), how they were administered, and why these methods are appropriate for the study.

Example : In a study examining consumer satisfaction, data collection could involve an online survey with closed-ended questions to quantify satisfaction levels.

• Tools/Procedures : Description of instruments, procedures, and protocols.
• Type of Data Collected : Qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups) or quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments).
• Rationale : Explanation of why these data collection methods were chosen.

4. Data Analysis

Definition : Data analysis involves explaining the methods and techniques used to interpret the collected data. This includes any statistical or thematic analysis methods applied, as well as software used.

Example : For quantitative data, you might use software like SPSS or R for statistical analysis, while qualitative data could be analyzed using NVivo to identify key themes.

• Techniques : Statistical tests for quantitative data (e.g., t-tests, regression analysis) or coding for qualitative data.
• Software : Mention any software used, such as SPSS, R, or NVivo.
• Justification : Explanation of why these analysis methods are appropriate for the research question and data.

5. Ethical Considerations

Definition : Ethical considerations involve addressing any ethical issues related to the study, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and participant welfare.

Example : In a study involving human subjects, ethical considerations might include obtaining informed consent and ensuring data anonymity.

• Informed Consent : Description of how participants were informed about the study and consent obtained.
• Confidentiality : Explanation of measures taken to protect participants’ privacy.
• Risk Mitigation : Any procedures in place to protect participants from harm.

Example of a Dissertation Methodology

Here is a sample methodology for a hypothetical dissertation examining the impact of online learning on student engagement.

Title : The Impact of Online Learning Platforms on Student Engagement in Higher Education

• This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to obtain a comprehensive understanding of student engagement in online learning. The quantitative component provides generalizable data, while the qualitative component offers in-depth insights.
• Participants include 300 undergraduate students enrolled in online courses at three universities. A random sampling method was used to ensure a representative sample across different disciplines.
• Data collection involved an online survey with closed-ended questions on engagement, followed by semi-structured interviews with a subset of 20 students to explore their experiences more deeply.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis in SPSS to assess relationships between variables. Qualitative data were coded and thematically analyzed using NVivo to identify key themes.
• Ethical approval was obtained from each institution’s review board. Participants were informed of the study’s purpose, and informed consent was obtained. All responses were anonymized to ensure confidentiality.

Writing Guide for Dissertation Methodology

Step 1: choose the research design and justify it.

Begin by identifying the research design that best suits your research question. Justify your choice based on how it aligns with the study’s objectives and the type of data needed.

Example : For a dissertation on the effects of diet on physical health, a longitudinal study might be chosen to observe changes over time, with justification based on the need to monitor long-term health outcomes.

Step 2: Describe the Sampling Process

Explain the target population, sampling method, and sample size. Justify your choices by explaining how they ensure the data will be representative and reliable.

Example : A study on employee motivation might choose a random sampling method to prevent bias, ensuring that findings can be generalized to a broader workforce.

Step 3: Outline Data Collection Methods

Provide a detailed description of how data was collected, including any instruments, techniques, and procedures. Explain why these methods are appropriate for capturing the data needed to answer the research question.

Example : If measuring customer satisfaction, an online survey may be selected due to its efficiency and reach, and its questions might be chosen to quantify specific satisfaction dimensions.

Step 4: Explain Data Analysis Procedures

Describe how you analyzed the data and justify the chosen techniques. Include information on any software used and specific statistical or thematic analysis methods applied.

Example : For a quantitative study, you might perform regression analysis to explore relationships between variables. In qualitative studies, you might use thematic coding to identify patterns.

Step 5: Address Ethical Considerations

Identify any ethical issues related to your study and describe how you addressed them. Ethical considerations are crucial for studies involving human subjects, as they help protect participant rights.

Example : For a study involving interviews, explain how participants were assured of confidentiality and provided with the option to withdraw at any time.

Tips for Writing an Effective Methodology

• Be Clear and Detailed : Provide enough detail so that another researcher could replicate the study based on your description.
• Use Justification for Every Choice : Explain why each methodological choice is suitable for your research objectives.
• Stay Objective and Neutral : Avoid using personal opinions or biases; focus on describing your research design and methods factually.
• Organize Logically : Follow a logical flow, usually beginning with research design, followed by sampling, data collection, data analysis, and ethical considerations.
• Keep It Concise but Comprehensive : Avoid unnecessary detail, but ensure you cover all relevant information needed to understand your methodology.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Vagueness : Avoid vague language and provide specific details for each section.
• Lack of Justification : Justify all choices, from sampling methods to analytical techniques, to demonstrate thoughtfulness and rigor.
• Overcomplicating Language : Use clear, straightforward language rather than overly technical jargon to improve readability.
• Ignoring Limitations : Acknowledge any limitations in your methodology and discuss how they may impact the results.

The methodology section is a vital part of a dissertation, outlining the design, participants, data collection, data analysis, and ethical considerations. By following a structured approach, providing justifications for each choice, and ensuring clarity, you can write a robust methodology that supports the credibility and reliability of your research. A well-written methodology allows readers to evaluate the validity of your study and serves as a foundation for replicating or expanding upon your work.

• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Flick, U. (2018). An Introduction to Qualitative Research (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative Research (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Yin, R. K. (2017). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2016). Research Methods for Business Students (7th ed.). Pearson.

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Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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What Exactly Is A Dissertation (Or Thesis)?

If you’ve landed on this article, chances are you’ve got a dissertation or thesis project coming up (hopefully it’s not due next week!), and you’re now asking yourself the classic question, “what the #%#%^ is a dissertation?”…

In this post, I’ll break down the basics of exactly what a dissertation is, in plain language. No ivory tower academia.

So, let’s get to the pressing question – what is a dissertation?

A dissertation (or thesis) = a research project

Simply put, a dissertation (or thesis – depending on which country you’re studying in) is a research project . In other words, your task is to ask a research question (or set of questions) and then set about finding the answer(s). Simple enough, right?

Well, the catch is that you’ve got to undertake this research project in an academic fashion , and there’s a wealth of academic language that makes it all (look) rather confusing (thanks, academia). However, at its core, a dissertation is about undertaking research (investigating something). This is really important to understand, because the key skill that your university is trying to develop in you (and will be testing you on) is your ability to undertake research in a well-structured structured, critical and academically rigorous way.

This research-centric focus is significantly different from assignments or essays, where the main concern is whether you can understand and apply the prescribed module theory. I’ll explain some other key differences between dissertations or theses and assignments a bit later in this article, but for now, let’s dig a little deeper into what a dissertation is.

A dissertation (or thesis) is a process.

Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let’s go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms.

The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process – more specifically a research process (it is a research project, after all). This process involves four essential steps, which I’ll discuss below.

Step 1 – You identify a worthy research question

The very first step of the research process is to find a meaningful research question, or a set of questions. In other words, you need to find a suitable topic for investigation. Since a dissertation is all about research, identifying the key question(s) is the critical first step. Here’s an example of a well-defined research question:

“Which factors cultivate or erode customer trust in UK-based life insurance brokers?”

This clearly defined question sets the direction of the research . From the question alone, you can understand exactly what the outcome of the research might look like – i.e. a set of findings about which factors help brokers develop customer trust, and which factors negatively impact trust.

But how on earth do I find a suitable research question, you ask? Don’t worry about this right now – when you’re ready, you can read our article about finding a dissertation topic . However, right now, the important thing to understand is that the first step in the dissertation process is identifying the key research question(s). Without a clear question, you cannot move forward.

Step 2 – You review the existing research

Once the research question is clearly established, the next step is to review the existing research/literature (both academic and professional/industry) to understand what has already been said with regard to the question. In academic speak, this is called a literature review .

This step is critically important as, in all likelihood, someone else has asked a similar question to yours, and therefore you can build on the work of others . Good academic research is not about reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch – it’s about familiarising yourself with the current state of knowledge, and then using that as your basis for further research.

Simply put, the first step to answering your research question is to look at what other researchers have to say about it. Sometimes this will lead you to change your research question or direction slightly (for example, if the existing research already provides a comprehensive answer). Don’t stress – this is completely acceptable and a normal part of the research process.

Step 3 – You carry out your own research

Once you’ve got a decent understanding of the existing state of knowledge, you will carry out your own research by collecting and analysing the relevant data. This could take to form of primary research (collecting your own fresh data), secondary research (synthesising existing data) or both, depending on the nature of your degree, research question(s) and even your university’s specific requirements.

Exactly what data you collect and how you go about analysing it depends largely on the research question(s) you are asking, but very often you will take either a qualitative approach (e.g. interviews or focus groups) or a quantitative approach (e.g. online surveys). In other words, your research approach can be words-based, numbers-based, or both . Don’t let the terminology scare you and don’t worry about these technical details for now – we’ll explain research methodology in later posts .

Step 4 – You develop answers to your research question(s)

Combining your understanding of the existing research (Step 2) with the findings from your own original research (Step 3), you then (attempt to) answer your original research question (s). The process of asking, investigating and then answering has gone full circle.

Of course, your research won’t always provide rock-solid answers to your original questions, and indeed you might find that your findings spur new questions altogether. Don’t worry – this is completely acceptable and is a natural part of the research process.

So, to recap, a dissertation is best understood as a research process, where you are:

• Ask a meaningful research question(s)
• Carry out the research (both existing research and your own)
• Analyse the results to develop an answer to your original research question(s).

Depending on your specific degree and the way your university designs its coursework, you might be asking yourself “but isn’t this just a longer version of a normal assignment?”. Well, it’s quite possible that your previous assignments required a similar research process, but there are some key differences you need to be aware of, which I’ll explain next.

Same same, but different…

While there are, naturally, similarities between dissertations/theses and assignments, its important to understand the differences  so that you approach your dissertation with the right mindset and focus your energy on the right things. Here, I’ll discuss four ways in which writing a dissertation differs substantially from assignments and essays, and why this matters.

Difference #1 – You must decide (and live with) the direction.

Unlike assignments or essays, where the general topic is determined for you, for your dissertation, you will (typically) be the one who decides on your research questions and overall direction. This means that you will need to:

• Find a suitable research question (or set of questions)
• Justify why its worth investigating (in the form of a research proposal )
• Find all the relevant existing research and familiarise yourself with the theory

This is very different from assignments, where the theory is given to you on a platter, and the direction is largely pre-defined. Therefore, before you start the dissertation process, you need to understand the basics of academic research, how to find a suitable research topic and how to source the relevant literature.

Difference #2 – It’s a long project, and you’re on your own.

A dissertation is a long journey, at least compared to assignments. Typically, you will spend 3 – 6 months writing around 15,000 – 25,000 words (for Masters-level, much more for PhD) on just one subject. Therefore, successfully completing your dissertation requires a substantial amount of stamina .

To make it even more challenging, your classmates will not be researching the same thing as you are, so you have limited support, other than your supervisor (who may be very busy). This can make it quite a lonely journey . Therefore, you need a lot of self-discipline and self-direction in order to see it through to the end. You should also try to build a support network of people who can help you through the process (perhaps alumni, faculty or a private coach ).

Difference #3 – They’re testing research skills.

We touched on this earlier. Unlike assignments or essays, where the markers are assessing your ability to understand and apply the theories, models and frameworks that they provide you with, your dissertation will be is assessing your ability to undertake high-quality research in an academically rigorous manner.

Of course, your ability to understand the relevant theory (i.e. within your literature review) is still very important, but this is only one piece of the research skills puzzle. You need to demonstrate the full spectrum of research skills.

It’s important to note that your research does not need to be ground-breaking, revolutionary or world-changing – that is not what the markers are assessing. They are assessing whether you can apply well-established research principles and skills to a worthwhile topic of enquiry. Don’t feel like you need to solve the world’s major problems. It’s simply not going to happen (you’re a first-time researcher, after all) – and doesn’t need to happen in order to earn good marks.

Difference #4 – Your focus needs to be narrow and deep.

In your assignments, you were likely encouraged to take a broad, interconnected, high-level view of the theory and connect as many different ideas and concepts as possible. In your dissertation, however, you typically need to narrow your focus and go deep into one particular topic. Think about the research question we looked at earlier:

The focus is intentionally very narrow – specifically the focus is on:

• The UK only – no other countries are being considered.
• Life insurance brokers only – not financial services, not vehicle insurance, not medical insurance, etc.
• Customer trust only – not reputation, not customer loyalty, not employee trust, supplier trust, etc.

By keeping the focus narrow, you enable yourself to deeply probe whichever topic you choose – and this depth is essential for earning good marks. Importantly, ringfencing your focus doesn’t mean ignoring the connections to other topics – you should still acknowledge all the linkages, but don’t get distracted – stay focused on the research question(s).

So, as you can see, a dissertation is more than just an extended assignment or essay. It’s a unique research project that you (and only you) must lead from start to finish. The good news is that, if done right, completing your dissertation will equip you with strong research skills, which you will most certainly use in the future, regardless of whether you follow an academic or professional path.

Wrapping up

Hopefully in this post, I’ve answered your key question, “what is a dissertation?”, at least at a big picture-level. To recap on the key points:

• A dissertation is simply a structured research project .
• It’s useful to view a dissertation as a process involving asking a question, undertaking research and then answering that question.
• First and foremost, your marker(s) will be assessing your research skills , so its essential that you focus on producing a rigorous, academically sound piece of work (as opposed to changing the world or making a scientific breakthrough).
• While there are similarities, a dissertation is different from assignments and essays in multiple ways. It’s important to understand these differences if you want to produce a quality dissertation.

In this post, I’ve gently touched on some of the intricacies of the dissertation, including research questions, data types and research methodologies. Be sure to check out the Grad Coach Blog  for more detailed discussion of these areas.

36 Comments

Hello Derek

Yes, I struggle with literature review and am highly frustrated (with myself).

Thank you for the guide that you have sent, especially the apps. I am working through the guide and busy with the implementation of it.

Hope to hear from you again!

Regards Micheal

Great to hear that, Michael. All the best with your research!

Very useful and clear information.

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That’s great, Pheladi. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your videos and writing research proposal and dissertation. These videos are useful. I was struggling, but now I am starting to write. I hope to watch your more videos to learn more about the dissertation.

Before this post, I didn’t know where to start my research, today I have some light and do certain % of my research. I may need for direction on literature review. Big thanks to you.

Very very good Derek

Thanks immensely Derek

You’re welcome 🙂 Good luck with your dissertation/thesis.

Thank you Derek for widening my scope on research, this can be likened to a blind man whose eyes can now see.

Remain bless sir🙏

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Hello Derek,

I got stuck in the concept paper because I changed my topic. Now I don’t know where to pick up the pieces again. How can I focus and stay on track. I am getting scared.

Thank you so much Derek, I am a new comer, learning for the first time how to write a good research. These in information’s to me is a mind opener, I hope to learn more from you in the future, Thanks and God bless.

Thanks Guys this means so much to me

A pretty good and insightful piece for beginners like me. Looking forward to more helpful hints and guide. Thanks to Derek.

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Great to hear that

On cybersecurity Analytics research to banking transactions

This was of great help to me and quite informative .

Thank you so much GradCoach,

This is like a light at the end of the tunnel. You are a lifesaver. Thank you once again.

hello, I’m so grateful for such great information. It appears basic, but it is so relevant in understanding the research process.

Your website is very helpful for writing thesis. A big well done to the team. Do you have a website for paper writing and academic publishing or how to publish my thesis, how to land a fully funded PhD, etc. Just the general upward trajectory in the academia. Thank you

I have learned a lot from the lectures, it was beneficial and helped me a lot in my research journey. Thank you very much

Thank you for your gifts of enlightenment to a person like me who’s always a student. May your ‘well’not dry out.

It’s quite a fun and superb, now I have come to believe that the way one teach can have an impact in understanding and can change one’s assumption and position about a subject or a problem, before I came here and learn I consider research methodology a hard thing because, I wasn’t taught by a mentor like this one. Thanks so much who ever have make this effort to make this something easy and engaging

I can’t imagine that world has achieved major aspects of every field of study

Thank you very much for all the valuable, wonderful and comprehensive amount of information… I highly appreciate your support, 100% I recommend you

This topic is intended for my MPhil. Work (The perception of parents on Technical and Vocational Education, the impact on educational policy). May you consider the suitability of the topic for me and refine if the need be. Thank you,

Hello here…

i have gone through the notes and it is interesting. All i need now is a pdf file that contain a whole dissertation writing inclusive of chapter 1 to 5 on motivation as a topic… thanks

Remarkable!!! You made it sound so simple

I got stuck in my writing because I need to change my topic. I am getting scared as I have a semester left 🙁

Thanks for such an educational opportunity and support

Thanks for your educational opportunity and support

Could you please share me with the App. to use for literature review

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