A dissertation is one of the last steps a student takes on the way to a scientific career. It is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of effort and extensive knowledge. Some people think that it is easy to conduct research, to gather information that has already been written before into a single whole. But it is a misconception.
Most students underestimate the importance of writing a thesis, even though successful graduation depends on this task. High quality writing, topic, length, and even presentation skills can guarantee an excellent result. Below, you can find a complete guide and information on what a dissertation is, how to choose a thesis statement, how to write a dissertation, and the main steps to take before the dissertation defense, etc.
But If you struggle with any part of this process, you might consider seeking help from a dissertation writing service. Our professional writers collect all the necessary information about the dissertation process and everything related to it.
What is a dissertation?
Anyone who decides to write a dissertation accomplishes a real feat, because this work requires not only deep knowledge and professional skills, but also great patience, perseverance, and faith in one’s own abilities.
So what is a dissertation? A dissertation is a scientific work that is the result of the author’s independent research and presents new, previously unknown scientific knowledge or a solution to a specific scientific problem. It is a prerequisite for obtaining a PhD or doctoral program.
The main purpose of the dissertation is to demonstrate the researcher’s ability to conduct independent scientific research and make original contributions to the chosen field of knowledge.
It is achieved through an in-depth analysis of the available literature, development of a research methodology, conducting experiments or studies, and interpretation of the results. In short, the typical structure of a dissertation includes a description of the research problem, its relevance, analysis of previous studies on the topic, and identification of knowledge gaps.
Also, one of the main elements that should be present is a description of the methods and approaches that were used to conduct the research. Of course, the student must present the data obtained and analyze them. In particular, to compare with previous studies, to note possible limitations and to recommend steps for further research.
Dissertations Vs. Thesis
In higher education, there are two main types of written work that students and researchers complete to obtain various academic degrees: a dissertation and a thesis. Although both documents have a common goal of demonstrating the author’s scientific knowledge and research skills, there are significant differences between them.
These differences are reflected in the scope, depth of research, structure, and purpose of writing. Understanding these differences is important for students who are planning their academic path and striving to successfully complete their research projects.
A thesis is a written paper that students usually write for a bachelor’s or master’s degree. They are smaller in scope and focus on analyzing and synthesizing existing knowledge on a particular topic.
Its aim is intended to show the student’s ability to think critically and analyze available information, demonstrating the ability to conduct independent research within the known knowledge.
The structure of a dissertation includes the following sections: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusions. Theses have a similar structure, but are often less detailed.
Moreover, a dissertation is usually a large document, ranging from 100 to 300 pages or more, depending on the level of the degree and the field of study. It can take several years of research and writing. In contrast, theses are much shorter, usually between 40 and 100 pages, and are written within one or two semesters.
In conclusion, a dissertation and a thesis differ in terms of scope, depth of research, and level of academic qualification. A thesis aims to produce new knowledge, while a dissertation focuses on analyzing and synthesizing existing knowledge. Here you can find a short summarized table:
| Characteristics | Dissertation | Thesis |
| Purpose | Contribution of new knowledge to science | Analysis and synthesis of available information |
| Qualification level | Candidate or Doctor of Science | Bachelor or Master |
| Length | 100 – 300 pages and more | 40 – 100 pages |
| Structure | Introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions | Introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions |
| Writing time | Several years | One or two semesters |
| Depth of research | In-depth, original research | Analysis of existing knowledge |
Dissertation Structure
Writing a dissertation is a complicated process that all your friends, professors, and the Internet have already scared you about, but taking detailed notes can simplify and organize your efforts. But if you are a student, and you need to write a dissertation but you don’t know how to write a dissertation, don’t worry.
We’ll go over the structure to make it easier for you to navigate the process. We will explain how to prepare each element of the work so that you can move confidently from the beginning to the end of your assignment.
Cover page
The title page is the first thing the reader sees, so it is important that it is properly designed and meets the requirements of your educational institution. Usually, the title page contains the title of the dissertation, the name of the author, the name of the educational institution, faculty, department, supervisor, place and year of writing. It is important to follow all the requirements for formatting, which may vary from university to university.
Acknowledgments
The acknowledgments section is a place where you can express your gratitude to those who helped you in the process of writing. These may include your supervisor, professors, colleagues, friends, and family.
The acknowledgements should not be too long, but they should be sincere and specific, emphasizing the importance of the contribution of each of those who supported you along the way.
Abstract
The abstract is a brief overview, usually between 150 and 300 words. It should outline the main idea, objective, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. The text should be concise and clear, as it is often the first text that potential reviewers and other interested parties read.
Table of contents
It is a navigation section that helps readers quickly find the sections and subsections they need in your dissertation. It contains the titles of all chapters and subsections with page numbers.
Make sure that the table of contents reflects all the main parts of your dissertation and their structure. It will make it much easier for both you and those who will read it to work with the text.
List of figures and tables
If there are figures, graphs, or tables in your chapters, you should create a separate list for them. This list helps readers quickly find visuals that illustrate your data or findings. Please don’t forget to include the numbers, titles, and pages on which the figures and tables appear.
List of abbreviations
If you use specific abbreviations, acronyms, or acronyms in your chapters, you should create a list of them with explanations. It will help readers understand specific terms and avoid misunderstandings. You have to place the list of abbreviations at the beginning of the dissertation, after the table of contents. It is the obligatory academic rule.
Glossary
A glossary is a dictionary of terms used in the text. It explains the meaning of specialized terms and concepts that are important for easier understanding. It is especially useful if your research contains a lot of technical terms or jargon.
Introduction
Now it is high time for you to introduce your dissertation topic, the purpose of the study, and justify its relevance. The introduction should include an overview of the problem of research gap, a brief description of what is already known in the field, and what you plan to investigate.
It is also important to outline the main research questions and hypotheses, if any. Be careful during writing the introduction, because it sets the tone for the rest of the paper.
Literature review
The next section that you have to include is a literature review. During this step, you analyze and synthesize existing research related to your topic. It helps you to determine what is already known about the topic, what methods have been used in the past, and what research gap in knowledge exists.
The literature review should be structured and logical, showing your understanding of the topic and your ability to critically evaluate previous research.
Methodology
In the methodology section, you describe how the research was conducted. It can include data collection methods, tools, procedures, and data analysis. The methodology should be detailed and clear so that other researchers can replicate your study if necessary. It is also important to justify the choice of methods and explain why they are the best for achieving the research goal.
Results
After doing the researches, you have to present the main findings. This section may include textual descriptions, tables, graphs, and figures that illustrate the findings. Please present the results clearly and concisely, without interpretation or discussion of their meaning. The results should answer the main research questions and confirm or refute the hypotheses.
Discussion
The section that requires the most creativity from you. Because it is where you interpret your findings and explain their significance in the context of existing knowledge.
Here, you can compare your findings with those of other studies, discuss possible causes and consequences of your findings, and offer recommendations for future research.
Conclusion
Here, you briefly but vividly emphasize the most important results and explain why they are so essential. Don’t forget to mention that not everything was covered and what questions should be addressed in the future. The main thing is to clearly show how your research changes our understanding of the topic.
Bibliography
A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used in the process of writing your dissertation. It is very important to cite them correctly so that others can easily find these sources and continue your work. Each educational institution has its own rules for bibliographies, so check with your supervisor.
Appendices
These are additional materials that may be of interest to those who want to delve into the details. These can be tables, graphs, questionnaires – anything that will help to better understand your research. The main thing is not to overload the reader, but only to add valuable information.
