Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

How do I plan a dissertation proposal? How do I clarify my research objectives? How do I conduct a literature review? What is essential to focus on while writing my Master's dissertation? This practical book offers straightforward guidance to help Master's students to clarify their objectives and structure their work in order to produce a successful dissertation. Using case examples of both good and bad student practice, the handbook takes students through each step of the dissertation process, from their initial research proposal to the final submission. The author uses clear illustrations of what students need to do - or not do - to reach their potential, helping them to avoid the most common pitfalls.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Introduction (p. 1)
• A Master's dissertation: what is it? (p. 1)
• So, what skills do you need to succeed? (p. 4)
• Watch your words! (p. 10)
• How to use this book (p. 12)
• Summary of key points (p. 13)
• 2 Preparing for your dissertation (p. 15)
• Putting together your research proposal (p. 15)
• Research focus and overall research aim (p. 15)
• Research objectives and keywords (p. 20)
• Research methods (p. 22)
• Setting a timescale (p. 23)
• Producing a dissertation template (p. 25)
• Supervisor meetings (p. 27)
• Summary of key points (p. 29)
• 3 The dissertation Introduction (p. 31)
• The general structure of the Introduction (p. 31)
• Background (p. 32)
• Research focus (revisited) (p. 37)
• Overall research aim and individual research objectives (p. 39)
• Value of your research (p. 44)
• A further suggestion (p. 46)
• Summary of key points (p. 48)
• 4 The Literature Review (p. 50)
• Focus on your research objectives (p. 50)
• Referencing (p. 54)
• Description vs critical evaluation (p. 64)
• Learning theory and your dissertation (p. 70)
• Structuring your Literature Review (p. 73)
• Summary of key points (p. 78)
• 5 Research methods (p. 79)
• What's it all about? (p. 79)
• Research strategy (p. 82)
• Introduction (p. 82)
• Quantitative vs qualitative research (p. 86)
• Sampling techniques (p. 88)
• Positivism and phenomenology (p. 92)
• Justifying your research strategy (p. 95)
• The question of reliability (and validity) (p. 99)
• Data collection (p. 101)
• Preparation, preparation, preparation (p. 101)
• What and why? (p. 104)
• Framework for data analysis (p. 113)
• Limitations and potential problems (p. 121)
• Summary of key points (p. 127)
• 6 Writing up your findings (p. 129)
• The general approach (p. 129)
• The process of description, analysis and synthesis: an example (p. 132)
• Summary of key points (p. 137)
• 7 Concluding your dissertation (p. 138)
• What's in a Conclusion? (p. 138)
• Research objectives: summary of findings and conclusions (p. 140)
• Recommendations (p. 147)
• Contribution to knowledge (p. 151)
• Self-reflection (p. 156)
• Summary of key points (p. 160)
• 8 Finally: Writing the abstract (p. 162)
• What is an abstract? (p. 162)
• How to write an abstract (p. 163)
• Abstract template (p. 167)
• Summary of key points (p. 169)
• 9 Practical issues (p. 171)
• Presenting your work and preparing for a viva (p. 171)
• Presenting your work: common mistakes (p. 171)
• Preparing for a viva (p. 176)
• The marking scheme (p. 179)
• Good grammar (p. 183)
• A word of warning: plagiarism (p. 190)
• What counts as plagiarism? (p. 191)
• What if you are accused of plagiarism? (p. 197)
• 10 Summary of good practice to adopt and bad practice to avoid (p. 199)
• Forewarned is forearmed (p. 199)
• Dissertation writing: summary of good practice to adopt and bad practice to avoid (p. 200)
• Practical issues: summary of good practice to adopt and bad practice to avoid (p. 202)
• Appendix A Sample Introduction (p. 205)
• Appendix B Sample chapter outline (p. 213)
• Appendix C Sample Literature Review Introduction (p. 215)
• Appendix D Sample Literature Review Conclusion (p. 217)
• Appendix E Sample Research Methods (p. 219)
• Appendix F Sample Questionnaire (p. 241)
• Appendix G Sample marking sheet (p. 247)
• Appendix H Sample completed marking sheet (p. 249)
• Appendix I Comprehensive set of useful verbs (p. 251)
• Appendix J List of research objective keywords (p. 255)
• References (p. 256)
• Index (p. 263)