Step 15: Writing the Dissertation
- Most empirical dissertations follow the same structure: abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references, appendices.
- A rough word budget for 10,000 words: introduction 10%, literature review 25%, methodology 20%, results 20%, discussion 20%, conclusion 5%.
- Results report what you found; the discussion explains what it means and links it back to the literature.
- Write the abstract last: question, method, main findings, main implication, in about 200–300 words.
- Plan backwards from the deadline, draft early, and leave at least two weeks for revising and proofreading.
The standard structure
| Chapter | Job | Share of 10,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Context, problem, question, aims and objectives, why it matters, chapter outline | 10% · 1,000 |
| Literature review | What is known, debates, theory, the gap (Step 3) | 25% · 2,500 |
| Methodology | Design, sample, measures, procedure, analysis, ethics, limitations | 20% · 2,000 |
| Results / findings | What the data show, in tables, figures and themes | 20% · 2,000 |
| Discussion | Interpretation, comparison with the literature, implications, limitations | 20% · 2,000 |
| Conclusion | Answer to the question, contribution, recommendations, future research | 5% · 500 |
These shares are a starting point; check your own course handbook, which always takes priority. Qualitative dissertations often merge results and discussion into one “findings and discussion” chapter.
Chapter 15 of Research Methods Made Simple covers this in full, with chapter-by-chapter checklists and a dissertation timeline template.Get the textbook · $15
Chapter by chapter
Introduction
Move from broad to narrow: the context (many students now work during term), the problem (evidence on the academic effect is mixed), your question and objectives, and why the answer matters. End with a short outline of the chapters.
Methodology
Write it so that a reader could repeat the study. Cover: the design and why you chose it; the population and sampling; the instruments (questionnaire, interview guide) and how they were piloted; the procedure; the analysis methods; ethics approval and safeguards; and the limitations of your approach.
Results
Report findings in the order of your objectives. Start with descriptive statistics (Step 11), then tests and models (Steps 12–13), or themes with quotations (Step 10). Describe, do not yet explain.
Discussion
This is where marks are won. For each main finding: restate it in a sentence, interpret what it means, compare it with earlier studies (agrees? contradicts? why?), and say what it implies for theory, policy or practice. Then discuss limitations honestly and how they affect your conclusions.
Turn a result into a discussion paragraph.
Conclusion
Answer the research question directly in the first paragraph. Summarise the contribution, give realistic recommendations that follow from your findings, and suggest specific future research. Do not introduce new results.
Abstract
Write it last. In 200–300 words: the question, the method and sample, the main findings with key numbers, and the main implication.
Planning your time
Work backwards from the deadline. A common plan for a 6-month project: month 1, question and literature; month 2, proposal, ethics and instruments; month 3, data collection; month 4, analysis; month 5, drafting; month 6, revision and proofreading. Share drafts with your supervisor chapter by chapter, not all at once at the end.
Practise until it sticks: Research Methods Made Simple Practice Questions has 1,004 questions, each with a worked answer.Get the practice book · $9
Practise: 6 questions
Try each one on paper first, then check the worked answer.
EasyQ1. List the main chapters of an empirical dissertation in order. Show worked answer
EasyQ2. Why should the abstract be written last? Show worked answer
MediumQ3. Using the shares in this step, allocate words for an 8,000-word dissertation. Show worked answer
MediumQ4. Is this sentence for the results or the discussion? “This finding contradicts Study C, possibly because our sample was drawn from a single campus.” Show worked answer
MediumQ5. Give four things a methodology chapter must report. Show worked answer
ExamQ6. Explain what makes a strong discussion chapter. [6] Show worked answer
Check yourself
1. Comparing your findings with earlier studies belongs in
2. The conclusion should
3. The chapter that should let a reader repeat your study is
Your score: 0 out of 3
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The short version
- Introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion: each has a distinct job.
- Budget words roughly 10 / 25 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 5%, then follow your handbook.
- Results describe; the discussion interprets, compares and draws implications.
- Abstract last; plan backwards; share drafts early.
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