What do I need to do to write a literature, context or systematic review?
How do I explain my research methods and write up my findings?
Help! How do I prepare for a viva?
This essential handbook carefully guides the student through the entire dissertation process from start to finish, offering clear, straightforward and practical advice. Biggam uses clear illustrations of what students should do- or not do - to reach their full potential, helping them to succeed with their dissertation and avoid common pitfalls along the way.
Thoroughly updated, this popular book takes the student from research proposal, through literature reviews, research methods, and writing up, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, through to submission and marking, featuring:
• New chapter on ‘Introducing the Master’s Dissertation’ focusing on the skills you need to succeed
• New material on Contextual Review for computer science, art and performance art students
• Updated material on the benefits of using university library databases and social media in research
• Expanded advice on the emotional journey and where to find assistance and support
• New Research Methods chapter for art, drama and computer science students
This is key reading for any social science, business, humanities or healthcare student required to complete a dissertation as part of their studies. It will also prove useful for undergraduate students considering postgraduate studies and for supervisors facilitating dissertation supervision.
"This book is a really excellent and friendly guide through the Master’s dissertation process. It is clearly and engagingly written and easily understandable to a student. It also guides students gently from a general understanding in the first chapter, down to a significant level of detail in each subsequent chapter with worked examples and relevant practical tips. It also usefully highlights common mistakes. The book presents a realistic view of undertaking a Master’s degree, presenting the generic skills needed for success and acknowledging that life outside the dissertation is complex, messy, and can sometimes get in the way!
It is particularly useful and relevant to my students as, unlike many other books on this topic, it does not ignore practice-based forms of research, in fact the book includes a substantial chapter on practice-as-research in the creative disciplines. This chapter includes software alongside creative arts and is therefore particularly suitable for inter- or multi-disciplinary postgraduates using technology to enhance their existing understanding of a subject (or their practice) through research.
I also really like the fact that the chapter on Abstracts is at the end (where it belongs!) and that students are explicitly told to write it last – no matter how many times I tell my students this, it is a common and recurring mistake!"
Daisy Abbott, School of Simulation and Visualisation, The Glasgow School of Art, UK
"The dissertation component of a Master’s programme can be very daunting for students. In this book John Biggam demystifies both the concept, and process of a dissertation. Biggam clearly explains the different parts of a dissertation, and offers a pragmatic structure which can be used by students to help frame their ideas. Also, the guidance given in the book is written in a reassuring tone which is never patronising. The summary on good practise in dissertation writing should be particularly useful during the planning stage, and as a final check for students."Dr Donna Murray SFHEA, Head of Taught Student Development, Institute for Academic Development, The University of Edinburgh, UK
Author(s): John Biggam
Publisher: Open University Press
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 0
City: London
1 INTRODUCTION
A Master’s dissertation: what is it?
So, what skills do you need to succeed?
Developing your i-skills
Determining your information needs
Organising skills
Literature search skills
Speed reading
Critiquing skills
Communication skills
Using social media in research
Watch your words!
How to use this book
Further reading
Summary of key points
2 REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM
What is referencing?
In-text referencing
Using Latin abbreviations and terms
Creating a reference list
Book
E-book
Conference paper
Government publication
Journal paper
Newspaper article
Theses and dissertations
Website
Plagiarism
Further reading
Summary of key points
3 PREPARING FOR YOUR DISSERTATION
Putting together your research proposal
Research proposal: working title
Research proposal: background information
Research proposal: overall research aim
Research proposal: specific research objectives
Research proposal: research methods
Research proposal: setting a timescale
Research proposal: ethics
Producing a dissertation template
Supervision: roles, responsibilities, and meetings
Roles and responsibilities
Meetings
An emotional journey
Further reading
Summary of key points
4 THE DISSERTATION INTRODUCTION
The general structure of the Introduction
Background
Research focus (revisited)
Overall research aim and individual research objectives
Outline research methods and timescales
Value of your research
A further suggestion
Summary of key points
5 THE LITERATURE REVIEW
What constitutes a good Literature Review?
Structuring your Literature Review
Description versus critical evaluation
Learning theory and your dissertation
Literature search techniques
Select topic
Define terms
Set boundaries
Select sources
Analyse sources
Google it!
University library databases
Contextual Review
Example 1: Computer Science – Software Development
Example 2: Art
Example 3: Theatre Studies
Further reading
Summary of key points
6 SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
What is a Systematic Review?
The stages of a Systematic Review
Stage 1: Determine review objective/question
Stage 2: The literature search process
Stage 3: What literature was selected (and why)?
Stage 4: Pool studies
Stage 5: Place findings in context
AMSTAR: a checklist for Systematic Reviews
Further reading
Summary of key points
7 RESEARCH METHODS 1: TRADITIONAL APPROACHES
What’s it all about?
Research strategy
Case study
Survey
Ethnography
Experimental research
Historical research
Action research
Grounded theory
Quantitative versus qualitative research
Sampling techniques
Positivism and phenomenology
Justifying your research strategy
The question of reliability (and validity)
Data collection
Preparation, preparation, preparation
What and why?
Framework for data analysis
Limitations and potential problems
Further reading
Summary of key points
8 RESEARCH METHODS 2: ARTIST AS RESEARCHER
Who is this chapter for?
Practice as research
Writing about your research methods
Writing a brief introduction
Writing about your research strategy
Writing about your data collection techniques
Writing about how you will analyse your artefact
Writing about limitations and potential problems
Further reading
Summary of key points
9 WRITING UP YOUR FINDINGS
Writing up the findings: traditional dissertations
Writing up the findings: art and performance-based dissertations
Further reading
Summary of key points
10 CONCLUDING YOUR DISSERTATION
What’s in a Conclusion?
Research objectives: summary of findings and conclusions
Recommendations
Contribution to knowledge
Self-reflection
Summary of key points
11 WRITING THE ABSTRACT
What is an abstract?
How to write an abstract
Example 1 (an abstract on cybercrime)
Example 2 (an abstract on software piracy)
Example 3 (an abstract on plagiarism)eding with Your Master’s Dissertation.
Example 4 (an abstract on practice-based research: embroidery and weaving)
Abstract template
Summary of key points
12 FINALLY: VIVA, DISSERTATION MARKING SCHEME, AND SUMMARY OF GOOD/BAD PRACTICE
Preparing for a viva
The dissertation marking scheme
Dissertation writing: summary of good practice to adopt and bad practice to avoid
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Harvard referencing formats (with examples)
Appendix B: Typical dissertation proposal form
Appendix C: Research objective keywords
Appendix D: Sample dissertation proposal
Appendix E: Sample Introduction
Appendix F: Sample chapter outline
Appendix G: Sample Literature Review introduction
Appendix H: Sample Literature Review conclusion
Appendix I: Comprehensive set of useful verbs
Appendix J: Sample research methods chapter
Appendix K: Sample questionnaire
Appendix L: Sample marking sheet
Appendix M: Sample completed marking sheet
