How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis: The 20,000-Foot View

Writing a dissertation or thesis is no small task. It requires time, dedication, and a lot of persistence to reach the finish line. While the process can be challenging, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you understand the overall process of how to write a dissertation, you’ll be better equipped to manage your research journey smoothly.

In this guide, we’ll outline the big picture involved in writing a high-quality dissertation or thesis, without losing your sanity along the way. Whether you’re just starting out or need a refresher, this step-by-step breakdown will help you navigate the dissertation process with confidence.

Step 1: Understand What a Dissertation Is

It may sound simple, but many students struggle because they don’t fully grasp what a dissertation or thesis actually is. So, let’s start with the basics.

At its core, a dissertation is a formal research project that follows the standard research process. This process typically involves four key steps:

1. Asking a clear, specific research question (or questions).
2. Reviewing existing research to see if it has already been answered.
3. If not, conducting your own research in a rigorous manner.
4. Answering the original research question based on your findings.

A good dissertation isn’t just an opinion piece—it’s a systematic approach to answering a research question. It requires you to set aside any preconceived ideas and focus on the evidence. Understanding this research-driven mindset will set you up for success right from the start.

Step 2: Find a Unique and Valuable Research Topic

The next step in how to write a dissertation is finding a research topic that is both unique and valuable. This means identifying a specific question or set of questions that your dissertation will aim to answer.

But it’s not as simple as picking any question. A strong dissertation topic needs to be:

• Clear: Your topic should be specific and focused, with no ambiguity.
• Unique: It should ask a question that hasn’t been addressed before, or at least not in the same context.
• Important: The question should add value to the field, either by contributing new insights or by addressing a gap in the existing research.

For example, instead of a vague topic like “consumer trust,” you might focus on a specific, original question like: “What factors influence consumer trust in British low-cost online brokerage firms?” This type of clear, focused research question will set a strong foundation for your dissertation.

Step 3: Develop a Convincing Research Proposal

Once you’ve identified your research topic, the next step is to create a research proposal. This proposal outlines your planned research and is usually required by your university for approval before you can begin.

The purpose of the proposal is to show that your topic is worth researching and that you have a clear plan for how to conduct the research. A strong research proposal will include:

1. A clear, original topic: Explain why your topic is unique and important.
2. A lightweight literature review: Demonstrate that you’ve done some initial reading and identified a gap in the existing research.
3. A preliminary methodology: Provide a rough outline of how you plan to collect and analyse your data.

The proposal doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should show that you’ve done your homework and have a solid plan in place.

Step 4: Write a Strong Introduction Chapter

Once your proposal is approved, it’s time to start writing the dissertation itself, beginning with the introduction chapter. The introduction sets the stage for your research by outlining what you’re studying and why it matters.

Typically, the introduction chapter includes:

• Background: A brief overview of the research area.
• Problem statement: An explanation of the gap in the current research.
• Research questions: The specific questions your dissertation will answer.
• Significance: Why your research is important and how it contributes to the field.

The goal of the introduction is to engage your reader and make it clear what your dissertation will explore. A well-written introduction sets a strong foundation for the rest of your research.

Step 5: Review the Literature and Write a Literature Review

After completing your introduction, the next step is to conduct an in-depth review of the existing literature on your topic. This involves reading and summarising previous research that is relevant to your dissertation.

Your literature review should achieve three key objectives:

1. Synthesis: Show how different pieces of research fit together and highlight any patterns or disagreements.
2. Identify the gap: Clearly explain the gap in the research that your dissertation will address.
3. Inform your methodology: Use the existing research to guide your own research design.

Remember, a literature review isn’t just a summary of other research—it’s a critical analysis that sets the stage for your own study.

Step 6: Carry Out Your Own Research

Now it’s time to design and carry out your research. This will vary depending on your field and the type of research you’re conducting, but it generally involves two main tasks:

Designing your research strategy: Decide on your methodology (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) and how you will collect and analyse your data (e.g., surveys, interviews, or experiments).

Collecting and analysing your data: Once your research strategy is in place, you’ll need to collect your data, prepare it for analysis, and then analyse it according to your chosen method.

This step requires careful planning and execution, so give yourself plenty of time to complete it.

Step 7: Present Your Findings

After collecting and analysing your data, you’ll need to present your findings in a clear, organised way. This usually involves two chapters:

1. Results chapter: Present the raw findings of your research, without interpreting them.
2. Discussion chapter: Provide your interpretation of the results and explain how they answer your research questions.

Make sure your findings link back to your original research questions and contribute to the overall argument of your dissertation.

Step 8: Conclude and Discuss Implications

The final step in how to write a dissertation is to draw conclusions and discuss the implications of your research. This is your opportunity to explain the significance of your findings and suggest how they might impact future research or the industry.

In your conclusion chapter, you should:

1. Summarise key findings: Highlight the most important findings from your research.
2. Discuss implications: Explain what these findings mean for the field or industry.
3. Address limitations: Acknowledge any limitations of your research and suggest areas for future study.

By bringing everything together, your conclusion provides a fitting end to your dissertation journey.

Final Thoughts: How to Write a Dissertation

Writing a dissertation is a challenging but rewarding process. By following these eight steps, you can approach the task methodically and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

To recap, the key steps to writing a successful dissertation are:

1. Understand what a dissertation is.
2. Choose a unique and valuable research topic.
3. Develop a convincing research proposal.
4. Write a strong introduction chapter.
5. Conduct an in-depth literature review.
6. Carry out your own research.
7. Present your findings clearly.
8. Conclude with the implications of your research.

Remember, writing a dissertation is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay focused, keep moving forward, and don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it.