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Home / How to Write a Dissertation Introduction | Steps and Examples How to Write a Dissertation Introduction  The dissertation introduction chapter appears at the start after the table of contents in your academic writing. In PhD, master’s, and bachelor’s projects, the introductory chapter describes the scope of your research.  However, many students don’t know how to outline the structure of the dissertation chapter of their research study. If you want to know how to write a dissertation introduction, this blog is for you. Let’s start by providing an overview of a dissertation and why the introductory chapter of a dissertation is important. What is a Dissertation? A dissertation is an academic paper typically called the “final exam stage” in graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs for earning academic degrees. The objective of a dissertation is to unravel the skill of a student om research and expertise in a specific field of study.  It is a scholarly piece of work submitted according to the guides at the university, but in general, it happens with the assistance of a subject mentor. A board of specialists then asses the dissertation and determine if it qualifies for a degree or not. Hence, how long should the introduction of a dissertation be plays a crucial role in writing the research problem, methodology, and objectives in your thesis. The students present their dissertation study in front of the committee of faculty in an oral seminar. This is called a dissertation defense. In this blog, you will see that we have used the word dissertation interchangeably with thesis paper. The terminology is confusing because different countries use these two conventions in different ways. In the United States, for instance, dissertations are required to earn a PhD degree, and a thesis for bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The condition is reversed in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where the dissertations refer to undergraduate degrees. How Long Should a Dissertation Be? There are no fixed standards on how many words is a dissertation. Remember one thing that dissertation are very lengthy to write. The word and page count of your dissertation is usually different in accordance to factors such as:  Degree Level: The higher the academic degree, the longer your dissertation will be. Institutional Guidelines: Each university or department accepts its own dissertation length requirements.  It’s crucial to check your institution’s rules and then decide how long should the introduction of a dissertation be and the total word count expectations. Field of Study: Research fields like the health sciences require more extensive research and data collection, so such dissertations are long. Here are some general guidelines on how many words is a dissertation can be: Undergraduate Dissertations:  Typically have a word count range of 8,000 to 15,000 words, depending on the course. At this academic level, introducing a dissertation is focused just on clear problem statement and the goals of the study.   Master’s Dissertations: They are longer with a word count of  12,000 to 50,000. The dissertation introduction at this level gives a comprehensive overview of research and lays the groundwork for further investigation of the issue.   PhD Thesis: Such dissertations are of book-length and the word count can go to 70,000 to 100,000 words. How long should a dissertation introduction will vary as it will include analysis of already present literature, research gap, and contribution to the field of study. There is flexibility in the length of the dissertation as it also includes figures and diagrams, especially for the field of science, technology, and medicine. Qualities of a Good Dissertation: In your dissertation, show how your research is adding valuable contribution to your field. Explain why your topic is important for real world issues and how it helps fill a gap in the existing state of research. Your writing should be based on evidence. For this, carefully evaluate different viewpoints and angles of your study, and clearly point out limitations of your topic. It’s also important to keep in mind the ethics of research practices, especially if you are working with human participants. Always respect their privacy and well-being throughout the research process. Why is the Introduction Chapter of a Dissertation Important? A well-structured dissertation introduction communicates the context of the study that the reader needs to know. It defines the basics of a research and explain the topic of study clearly to the audience. Your dissertation introduction chapter needs the following: Research gap in the existing research Research idea, thesis of topic, and current state of research Stating your aims and objectives, and research questions Brief explanation of findings from the study. Highlighting the relevance and significance of your study Give a brief overview of the structure of the entire dissertation. A student needs to know how to write a dissertation introduction because examiners form their first impression from this part of your dissertation. Now you have understood how to write a dissertation introduction, let’s explore some practical tips to help you write it effectively.  Tips to Write an Interesting Dissertation Introduction A dissertation introduction allows your reader to understand the objectives of your research at first glance, so you need to write it very clearly and concisely. Writing a PhD-level or master’s level dissertation is difficult because it involves presenting original research while adhering to the strict academic standards. The dissertation introduction is especially challenging because it provides the necessary background for your study.  Here are some tips on introducing a dissertation: Write your introduction at the end of writing the dissertation. Use concise language and establish the theoretical framework of your thesis. Briefly highlight the current state of available research and its relevance to your topic. When writing your dissertation, keep in mind to describe the results and conclusions of your research.  Include a brief summary of the methodology chapter, data collection, and limitations of the study. While introducing a dissertation, remember the objectives, research objectives, questions, and significance all relate to the core research problem. Once you understand how to write a dissertation

Home / The Different Types of Research Methods For Students What is a research method? Research method is the set of strategies, techniques, and processes to collect, analyz,e and uncover new information. The purpose of a research method is to understand a topic, find answers and share useful knowledge with the reader.  Research is the backbone of every academic level. From writing an essay, a thesis, or an academic paper for publication, understanding the different types of research methods helps you rationalize your thoughts logically and well organized academic work. Why are different research methods important for a student? Research methodology is a structured framework used for raw data collection and analysis. The research methods types make the results of your study credible and trustworthy for the audience. Students use different kinds of research methods to explain their ideas and answer their research questions more clearly.  For example, if a student interviews teachers or classmates to learn their opinions about school rules, it is primary research on the other hand, if a student looks at newspapers or government websites to find past statistics about pollution, it is secondary types of research methodology. Each types of research methods offers unique ways to convert raw data into meaningful results, making it easier for you to explore problems from multiple angles. The correct types of research methods for every subject make your work more trustworthy, and help others understand your main argument of your clearly. What are different kinds of research methods? There are various types of research methods and each has its own strengths, limitations and usability. The selection from the different types of research methodology depends on your subject matter. When choosing among different types of research methodology you must consider two important factors: How and what type of data will be collected? Collect the required data using different forms of research methods like surveys, observations, or experiments. How to analyze data into meaningful results: Analyse the obtained data using different types of analysis methods to understand the meaning and patterns of the data. When selecting different types of research methods, one important element to consider is if your research will focus on numerical data or on the experiences of your chosen participants. According to the types of data collection and analysis, there are three different types of research methodology. Qualitative forms of research methods: Qualitative research is performed using non-numerical data such as opinions and emotions of the readers. Scholars use qualitative research when the goal of the study is to understand human behavior, culture or traditions. It is useful in social science studies.   Common qualitative research methodology types include open-ended questions in surveys, observations of human behaviors stated verbally, and literature review of theories on the same topics. Qualitative types of research methodology are used to study customer preferences, their buying behavior and market size of a specific product. It collects detailed information through open-ended and casual conversations.  This method involves observing people’s emotions behind doing something. The researcher or interviewer hears what people say and tries to understand what drives people’s choices in their everyday life. You can read more about how we use qualitative research in social science, essay publication and research paper writing. Qualitative Methodology Types of Research Methods Document analysis: In this method, researchers study pre-written material, such as archives, letters, policy papers, books, or guidelines. Researchers use these research methods types to find ideas and themes relevant to the research topic. Participant Interviews Interviews are informal conversations to gather details about a person’s personal experiences, beliefs, and motivations. The one-on-one interviews are divided into three types: Structured interviews (e.g., a questionnaire),  Open-ended questions (e.g., autobiographical interviews, or free conversations) or  Semi-structured interviews (e.g., interview guides) Case Study Analysis In a case study, a researcher focuses on a single event, organization, event, or group. It is one of the easiest ways of qualitative research. In this, a person carries out a depth study on an event by using multiple data sources i.e. any inquiries and interviews, to identify one unifying factor. This factor is usually a direct or indirect answer to the research question. Focus Group: Focus groups are a method of qualitative research methods performed using 6-10 individuals from a specific market. Researchers ask individuals questions about how and why scenarios. It works by gathering people with similar (or sometimes varied) expertise on a topic to share detailed insights and knowledge. The focus group is especially useful in product testing before releasing it into the market. Observational Study: Observational research methods types include the usage of sensory organs like touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing to analyze the characteristics and quality differences of a single or multiple entities. Record Keeping:  One of the different kinds of research methods is record keeping, which involves using pre-existing research materials. Instead of collecting new information, researchers examine trustworthy documents, such as academic articles, government reports, meeting notes, and historical records to form a strong foundation on a specific topic. Among the different kinds of research methods it is low-cost, efficient, and appropriate for long-term projects. However, it also requires careful evaluation of the source’s reliability and relevance to ensure the information supports the research goals accurately. Ethnographic types of method research: Ethnographic types of research methodologies is one of the most detailed types of method research methodology, focusing on observing people in their real-life environments. Ethnographic types and methods of research place the researcher within a specific scenario to observe human behaviors and interactions directly. As one of the different types of research methodology, ethnography is designed to explore cultural norms in different human societies. For carrying out this kinds of research methods  researchers live within the community for months or even years, to understand how people think, act, and communicate in their natural context. This types of research methodologies do not rely heavily on interviews or surveys. Instead, the researcher gathers data through direct experience and interaction. It is particularly useful in anthropology, sociology, and