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PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF A MASTER DISSERTATION
AND DOCTORAL THESIS
Compiled by Prof. Flip du Plessis Dept. of Marketing and Communication Management University of Pretoria 2005
As a rule a master’s dissertation or doctoral thesis should:
- Make a distinct and meaningful contribution to the body of knowledge through original research
- Demonstrate competence in research processes
- Understand appropriate research and statistical techniques
- Be able to report, interpret and integrate findings in a cohesive manner
- Relate findings to the theoretical foundation of the study and draw conclusions from findings
- Indicate implications of the research
TITLE PAGE
ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF DIAGRAMS/EXHIBITS
(Page numbering of the above in Roman letters)
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction 1.2 Background 1.3 Problem statement 1.4 Hypotheses/propositions/objectives 1.5 Importance of the research 1.6 Methodology (sources, population, sample, measuring instrument, data collection, data analysis) 1.7 Demarcation/scope of study (International, national, geographic area) 1.8 Structure of the dissertation/thesis 1.9 Conclusion
CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION
2.1 Introduction 2.2 (Base theory of the sub-discipline) 2.3 etc 2.4 Conclusion
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH PROBLEM THEORY
3.1 Introduction 3.2 (Theoretical frameworks/models, and related research issues) 3.3 etc 3.4 Conclusion
CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
4.1 Introduction 4.2 Justification for the methodology (population, method of data collection, measuring instrument, operationalisation of variables, qualifying questions) 4.3 (Research procedures including method of analysis, and statistical techniques employed) 4.4 Ethical considerations 4.5 Limitations 4.6 Conclusion
CHAPTER 5 RESEARCH RESULTS
5.1 Introduction 5.2 Description of the sample/respondents (indication of representativeness) 5.3 Analysis of data (supporting tables/figures/exhibits/diagrams etc, use of statistical analysis to interpret findings, validity and reliability of the data). 5.4 Conclusion
CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
6.1 Introduction 6.2 Conclusions on each hypothesis/research issue/proposition (based on the results in chapter 5). 6.3 Conclusions on the research problem 6.4 Relation to theory 6.5 Implications and recommendations (management, academia/scholars) 6.6 Limitations 6.7 Recommendations for future research 6.8 Conclusions
LIST OF REFERENCES
