Writing a master dissertation

Many students ask me to write a blog on how to write a perfect master dissertation that may help achieve master degree with highest possible marks. So, today I am going to write a few tips that may help you write a perfect dissertation for masters degree.

1.    Choose the right dissertation topic

In many instances choosing a wrong dissertation topic may lead to utter failure in achieving the degree. Providing you the free dissertation topic is the vital part of the dissertation writing process and if it is chosen correctly, rest of the dissertation writing becomes easier. So how to select the right dissertation topic? Here are a few steps that can help you.

First, ask yourself what is the most interesting field that you want to explore. Try to Google search a phrase or combination of the keywords related to your area of research. Find if there is already some research done on the area. If yes, you need to refine and modify your topic so your topic becomes unique and convince your supervisor that this area is still “unexplored”.

If you have access to proquest database for dissertations and theses then it will be much easier to decide a dissertation topic as there are thousands of dissertations and theses and you may see how previous authors have explored in your selected field.

2.    Write a dissertation proposal

Once you get a dissertation topic approved the next step will be to write a dissertation proposal on the chosen topic. The dissertation proposal tells your university r supervisor what you want to do and how you will do it. Usually, the dissertation proposal has the following parts:

i.              Dissertation topic

ii.             Background of the study

iii.            Statement of the problem

iv.           Aims and objectives of the study

v.            A brief review of the literature

vi.           Research methods

vii.          Gnat chart

viii.         Selected Bibliography

3.    Dissertation writing

There may be some revisions and modifications in getting the dissertation proposal approved. So, once it is approved, you may start writing your dissertation.  The first step in this direction will be to conduct secondary research for resources collection to write the introduction and the literature review chapters. There are a few online libraries such as questia library, ebrary, LexisLibrary, and Wiley Online Library. Further, there are a few most popular articles and journal databases such as EBSCOhost databases, Emerald Management eJournals, FAME, and SAGE Journals Online. However, the use of these databases depend on the study area you have selected as there are also some specific journals which provide access to the articles and journals on specific topics. So, you have to find the most relevant database to collect and compile your bibliography.

Once you have collected sufficient sources, it will be easier to study these journals, make notes and start writing your critical review of the literature. Your first two chapters, i.e., introduction and the literature review should be completed with these sources.

Choosing the right methodology for data collection is also very critical as your supervisor will only approve it if it is feasible and is in accordance with your university requirements. Data can be collected through both secondary and primary sources. The secondary data will be mostly analyzed using meta-analysis technique while the primary data is collected through surveys, focus group and interviews. The data analysis technique of all these differ and mostly students need to use SPSS for the data analysis of surveys and thematic analysis for the data analysis of interviews.

Once data is collected and analyzed it through appropriate data analysis method, you can easily summarize your findings and offer your conclusions and recommendations in the final chapters.

Still not clear? There are a few websites that offer dissertation samples from which you may download a free sample of dissertation. One of the website that I use some time and that keeps updating their dissertation sample database is the free dissertation examples provided by the Dissertation  Master.

However, you may google search “free dissertation samples” and you will find plenty of websites offering a free sample of dissertation. But be aware! You cannot use the sample dissertation to submit it as your own even if it is very close to your topic as the turnitin plagiarism scanner will detect the originality of it.