Professor Joseph M. Piro
E-mail: joseph.piro@liu.edu
Phone: 516- 299-3683
FAX- 516-299-3312
Dissertation Chapters- A Brief Description of Some Content
Description of Dissertation Chapters
A doctoral dissertation makes an original contribution to knowledge, as defined in a discipline or an interdisciplinary domain and addresses a significant researchable problem. In general, a dissertation is comprised of five chapters. These chapters are assembled over a reasonable period of time to reflect the doctoral candidate’s understanding, mastery, and analysis of the issues being probed. The dissertation should reflect the requirements, standards, and expectations on Long Island University.
While these chapter divisions reflect the traditional structure of a dissertation, the candidate should discuss individual interpretations and use of this structure with the dissertation adviser and committee.
Basically, each chapter should encompass the following topics:
Chapter 1- Introduction, Overview, and Statement of the Problem
Chapter 2- Review of the Literature
Chapter 3- Research Design and Methodology
Chapter 4- Results of the Study
Chapter 5- Summary, Conclusions, Implications, Limitations, and Future Directions
Here are some specifics that can appear in each chapter. Remember to use well-structured sub-headings and section titles to help the reader keep track and stay organized as the reader transitions through the document:
Chapter 1- Begin with an Introduction and overview of the problem. Follow this by a discussion of the context- include a general review of the literature touching upon points you consider relevant--in other words, provide some kind of macro-view that gives your topic some weight and import. This review should serve to summarize the problem, show any gaps in the literature, and show where you study fits into the picture. Discuss the problem to be addressed in the research— the gaps, perplexities, and/ or inadequacies in existing theory, empirical knowledge, practice, or policy that prompted you to begin the study;talk about what your study will add and how it will inform practice in the field; present the theoretical/ conceptual framework; what will you include as well as exclude; follow this by discussing your research questions and the study's design, the type of data collection and proposed data analysis; include definition of terms you plan to use; Discuss any possible limitations of the study and any boundaries you, yourself, are setting around it. Remind the readers of its importance and how it will advance the field. Finally, briefly mention the organization of the remaining chapters.
Chapter 2- Introduce the chapter; restate the purpose of the study; explain the purpose of this chapter and describe its organization; begin the Lit Review; decide whether you want the review to proceed thematically, historically, chronologically, theoretically etc; discuss how/why you selected the studies you are including and how they relate to the research questions; focus on a critique of the major literature reviewing research questions, methodological strengths and weaknesses, and specific results; talk about the strengths and weaknesses of studies; conduct an analysis and synthesis of major points—don’t just list the studies but tell why they are important and what they have, thus far, added to the field; summarize the present state of knowledge in the field noting any gaps you perceive; reiterate what you plan to do to address these gaps and why it is important; close with a summary of the chapter and smoothly transition to the Chapter 3.
Chapter 3- (depending on whether this is for a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods study)
Introduction- restate the research problem and research questions- Perhaps think about including a conceptual map of your study and design
Qualitative: specific methodology, research questions, procedures, setting, population, data collection instruments, testing data collection details, data analysis procedures (coding etc.) and their rationale, statistical techniques adopted, including significance, threats to reliability and validity, summary (b ring everything back together)
Quantitative: theoretical perspectives; exploratory questions; research procedures; methodology; data collection; data analysis, limitations, summary (bring everything back together)
Chapter 4- Briefly describe the organization of the chapter; review the study's purpose, research questions etc.; present results generally in order of the research questions; begin with most important results and scaffold from there; use statistics to report significant results and tell how the whole study adds up; use visuals such as tables, charts, and graphs which should be introduced and explicated by text; for qualitative studies you can include transcripts and field notes; close by summarizing your key findings without elaborating too much on implications
Chapter 5- Briefly describe the organization of the chapter; summarize the problem(s), question(s) addressed (generally what appeared in Chapter 4); interpret results; state what the results mean and what they do not mean; tie back to the existing literature; organize chapter by level of importance; what are the implications of the findings for the field; what were some limitations or shortcomings of the study; based upon your results what might be some new, future directions for the field; what recommendations might you have for researchers, policy, makers, and/or the field in general; how did the study fill any gaps you felt were present in the field
Follow the last chapter with:
REFERENCES (only literature cited in chapters)
APPENDICES (in order of appearance in text)
•
Glossary of terms
Glossary of terms• Consent forms/ Letters
•Assent forms/letters
Assent forms/letters•Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter•Surveys/questionnaires
Surveys/questionnaires•Data collection guides/protocols
Data collection guides/protocols•Models/conceptual models
Models/conceptual models•Sample codes/interview responses/transcripts
Sample codes/interview responses/transcripts•Handwritten responses/writing samples
Handwritten responses/writing samples•Maps, handouts, flyers, brochures etc. used in the study
Maps, handouts, flyers, brochures etc. used in the study•Supplementary tables
Supplementary tables NOTE: The new edition of the APA STYLE Manual (Seventh edition) should be used. Students should follow this style manual for all dissertation work.
APA Style Manual- Seventh edition:
