1 A Complete Dissertation The Big Picture Objectives Chapter 1 Objectives • Provide a cursory glance at the constitution of an entire dissertation. • Offer a comprehensive outline of all key elements for each section of the dissertation—that is, a precursor of what is to come, with each element being more fully developed and explained further along in the book. • For each key element, explain reason for inclusion, quality markers, and frequent or common errors. OVERVIEW FRONT MATTER Following is a road map that briefly outlines Order and format of front matter may vary the contents of an entire dissertation. This is by institution and department. a comprehensive overview, and as such is helpful in making sure that at a glance you • Title page understand up front the necessary elements • Copyright page (optional) that will constitute each section of your • Abstract dissertation. This broad overview is a prelude • Dedication (optional) to the steps involved in each of the chapters • Acknowledgments (optional) that are described and demonstrated in Part II. • Table of contents While certain elements are common to most • List of tables and figures (only those in dissertations, please note that dissertation chapters, not those in appendices) requirements vary by institution. Toward that end, students should always consult 1. Title Page with their advisor and committee members to ascertain any details that might be specific The title gives a clear and concise descrip- or particular to institutional or departmental tion of the topic/problem and the scope of requirements. the study. The title page will show the title; 3 4 PART I. TAKING CHARGE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK the author’s full name; the degree to be con- The copyright symbol (©) should appear ferred; the university, department, and col- with author’s name and year centered lege in which the degree is earned; and the between the margins on the lower half of the month and year of approval. Margins for the backside of the title page. Below the copy- title page and the entire document are right line, include the statement “All Rights left—1.5 inches; right, top, and bottom— Reserved.” 1 inch. Also, the title should be in all capitals. © Carla Nicole Bloomberg Reason All Rights Reserved The title both guides and reflects the pur- pose and content of the study, making its 3. Abstract relevance apparent to prospective readers. The abstract, limited to 350 words, is a The title is also important for retrieval pur- concise summary description of the study, poses enabling other researchers to locate it including statement of the problem, pur- through a literature search. pose, scope, research tradition, data sources, methodology, key findings, and implica- Quality Markers tions. The abstract is written after the dis- sertation is completed, and is written from A well-crafted title conveys the essence the perspective of an outside reader (i.e., not and purpose of the study. The title should “My dissertation examines” but “An exami- include the type of study (“An Analysis”) nation of . .”). and the participants. Use of keywords will The page numbers before the text are in promote proper categorization into data- Roman numerals. The abstract page is the bases such as ERIC (the Education Resources first page to be numbered, but as iii. All Information Center) and Dissertation Roman numerals should be centered between Abstracts International. the left and right margins, and 1 inch from the bottom of the page. The title of the page, Frequent Errors “ABSTRACT,” should be in all capitals and centered between the left and right margins, Frequent title errors include the use of and 2 inches from the top. trendy, elaborate, nonspecific, or literary language, and grandiose or unrealistic expec- tations (e.g., “Finally, a Solution to . .”). Reason The abstract’s inclusion in Dissertation Abstracts International (which mandates a 2. Copyright Page (optional) 350-word limit) makes it possible for other Copyright is the legal right of an owner of researchers to determine the relevance of this created material to control copying and own- work to their own studies. Over 95% of ership of that material. Authors of research American dissertations are included in Dis- documents who wish to protect their writing sertation Abstracts International. through copyright may do so. A student may file a claim to copyright by corresponding Quality Markers directly with the U.S. Copyright Office (Library of Congress, 101 Independence Marks of quality include conciseness and Avenue S.E., Washington, DC 20559-6000). accuracy. The abstract should also be written Chapter 1. A Complete Dissertation 5 in the third person (active voice without the The heading “TABLE OF CONTENTS” personal pronouns I and we). Generally, the is centered between the left and right mar- first sentence of an abstract describes the gins, 2 inches from the top of the page. The entire study; subsequent sentences expand on listing begins one double space below and that description. even with the left margin. Leader dots are placed from the end of each listing to the cor- responding page number. All major titles are Frequent Errors typed exactly as they appear in the text. Inclusion of irrelevant material (i.e., When a title or subtitle exceeds one line, the examples, information extraneous to the dis- second and succeeding lines are single-spaced sertation itself), exclusion of necessary mate- and indented two spaces. Double spacing is rial (i.e., problem, purpose, scope, research used between major titles and between each tradition, data sources, methodology, key major title and its subtitle. findings, and implications), and incorrect The table of contents may be followed by format are frequent abstract errors. any of the following, if needed, and any of these subsequent lists are formatted in the same manner as the table of contents: 4. Dedication and Acknowledgments (optional) • List of tables These pages are optional, although most • List of figures dissertations include a brief acknowledg- • List of illustrations • List of symbols ment of the contributions of committee members, colleagues, friends, and family members who have supported the students’ Reason research. “ACKNOWLEDGMENTS” The table of contents assists the researcher should be capitalized and should appear in organizing the material while promoting centered between the left and right mar- accessibility for the reader. gins, 2 inches from the top. Text should begin two line spaces after “ACKNOWL- EDGMENTS.” Quality Markers The dedication page is separate from the The headings and subheadings clearly and acknowledgments page. If included, the dedi- concisely reflect the material being presented. cation text should be centered between the Headings and subheadings are parallel gram- left and right margins and between the top matically (i.e., “Introduction,” “Review of and bottom margins; it should also reflect a Literature” not “Introduction,” “Reviewing professional nature. Do not include the title the Literature”). The headings and subhead- “DEDICATION” on the dedication page. ings in the table of contents are worded exactly the same as those headings and sub- 5. Table of Contents headings in the text. An outline of the entire dissertation, list- Frequent Errors ing headings and subheadings with their respective page numbers, the table of con- Frequent errors include lack of parallelism tents lists all chapters and major sections in headings and subheadings, as well as within chapters and all back matter with wording in the table of contents that does page numbers. not match wording in text. 6 PART I. TAKING CHARGE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK DISSERTATION CHAPTERS the research setting, the sample, instrumen- tation (if relevant), and methods of data Order and format of dissertation chapters collection and analysis used. may vary by institution and department. • Rationale and significance: Rationale is the justification for the study presented as a 1. Introduction logical argument. Significance addresses the benefits that may be derived from doing 2. Literature review the study, thereby reaffirming the research 3. Methodology purpose. • Role of the researcher: This section explains 4. Findings the role of the researcher in planning and 5. Analysis and synthesis conducting the study. • Researcher assumptions: This section 6. Conclusions and recommendations makes explicit relevant researcher assump- tions, beliefs, and biases (if applicable). Chapter 1: Introduction • Definition of key terminology: Some terms may be unfamiliar to readers. Additionally, This chapter makes a case for the signifi- the meanings of certain terms can vary cance of the problem, contextualizes the depending on the context, conceptual frame- study, and provides an introduction to its work, or field of study. Making terms basic components. It should be informative explicit adds precision and ensures clarity of and able to stand alone as a document. understanding. These terms should be oper- ationally defined or explained; that is, make clear how these terms are used in your study. • Introduction: The introduction includes an • Organization of the dissertation: This overview of the purpose and focus of the brief concluding explanation delineates the study, why it is significant, how it was con- contents of the remaining chapters in the ducted, and how it will contribute to pro- dissertation. fessional knowledge and practice. • Problem statement: The problem indicates the need for the study, describes the issue