Since writing dissertations is a core component of any postgraduate program, it is very essential to know what a dissertation is. A dissertation is defined as a “treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree.”
To understand what is a dissertation, it is necessary to also understand what the dissertation ought to contain and how these are generally organized.
The first part of the dissertation is generally the introduction. What is contained in this part of the dissertation? The introduction will generally outline the background against which the problem is set, and will also include a statement of that problem. It will state what the purpose of the dissertation is, what the importance and scope of the dissertation are, and the conceptual framework that the study will follow. It will also have a testable hypothesis.
Apart from the introduction, there is also the literature review. It is important to know what is to be included in this part of the dissertation. This will normally contain a review of studies conducted on the problem, including the lasting contributions such studies have made and the areas that still merit attention. The dissertation will have a segment that explains what data will be used to either confirm or disapprove the hypothesis. It will also explain how the data will be collected and analyzed and what the assumptions and limitations of the study are.
The research findings will follow, and then the conclusion which summarizes what the dissertation is saying, draws inferences, and points out further areas that still need research .
These guidelines however provide just a brief overview of what a dissertation is. To get the complete picture, send us a request via this link.
