8/31/2009
W iti a thesis:
Writing
th i An
A introduction
i t d ti
to
t
academic writing
Christina Keller
Assistant professor in Informatics,
Jönköping International Business School
Welcome to the world of academic writing!
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What are the characteristics of a good title?
•
•
•
•
Informative and to the point
Not witty or ambiguous
Describing the topic of the thesis adequately
Main title and subtitle, two examples:
• Automotive Innovation: A Study of the Innovation Process at Volvo
• Electronic
El t i Health
H lth R
Records:
d IImplementation
l
t ti iin Th
Three S
Swedish
di h
County Councils
TITLE PAGE
•
•
•
•
•
Title
Author(s)
Course
Month and year (e.g. October, 2009)
School
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ABSTRACT or SUMMARY
• Should be readable independently of the thesis
• Keep it short! 200-300 words or 1/3 of a page is
enough!
• Should include the aim, methods and results
• Keep a bird’s-eye view of your thesis!
• The very last thing to write!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Includes
•
•
•
•
Headings
References
Appendices
Figures and tables
• Use the features of your word processing program
to create the table of contents!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS – AN EXAMPLE
1.
INTRODUCTION
1
2.
BACKGROUND
2.1 Organizational
g
factors
2.2 Technological factors
2.3 Individual factors
3
3
5
7
3.
AIM
9
4.
METHOD
4.1 Research methodology
4.2 Techniques of data collection
4.3 Data analysis
10
10
12
15
5.
RESULTS
5.1 Interviews
5 2 Questionnaire
5.2
17
17
20
6.
ANALYSIS
24
7.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 28
8.
REFERENCES
30
APPENDICES
Appendix I: Interview guide
Appendix 2: Questionnaire
31
INTRODUCTION
• Introducing the topic of the thesis
• Why is the topic interesting?
• Use a so-called funnel structure – start with a
general description of the topic and specify the
problem of your study in the end.
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BACKGROUND or LITERATURE REVIEW
•
The lit
Th
literature
t
mustt b
build
ild upon previous
i
research within the knowledge area
•
Reflect different views and theories on the
topic of your thesis
•
Define terms and concepts
•
Conclude the literature review with a
discussion phrased in your own words
BACKGROUND or LITERATURE REVIEW
•
Chose sources for the literature review carefully!
•
Cite and quote, but always refer to the original author!
•
Smith (2009) or (Smith, 2009)
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AIM or PURPOSE
• Guides the remaining parts of the
thesis
• Consists of one to three sentences
which should be phrased as exactly
as possible
AIM or PURPOSE
• Preferable use words like ”explore”,
”explain”, ”describe”, ”evaluate” etc.
• Is the foundation for the objectives, or
research questions, of the thesis
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AIM or PURPOSE
• The aim or the purpose is broken down
into…
• …objectives, which are the foundation
of…
• …concrete questions used in the data
collection (e.g. in interviews and
questionnaires).
METHODS
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• The method of the study should
b d
be
described
ib d as exactly
tl as
possible in order for another
researcher being able to duplicate
the study!
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METHODS: Interviews
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Individual – group?
Structured – semi-structured – unstructured?
Interview questions – interview guide
How many respondents?
Where?
How long did it last?
Audio-recording, brief notes, transcriptions?
METHODS: Questionnaires
• Questionnaire items/questions
• Was the questionnaire tested
beforehand?
• How was the questionnaire distributed?
• How was data analysed?
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METHODS: Observations
• How and where were
observations performed?
• Why a specific form of
observation?
• How did you analyse the
observation data?
METHODS: SAMPLES and DROP-OUTS
• Why and how has sampling been conducted?
• How many respondents have been selected and on what
criteria (e.g. gender, age, profession)?
• What is the size of the drop-out rate?
• What are the probable reasons for drop-outs?
• Have
H
d
drop-outs
t influenced
i fl
d th
the fifindings
di
off th
the study
t d iin any
way?
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RESULTS
• Presentation of the findings of the empirical data
collection
• If you have collected quantitative data – make efficient
use of tables and diagrams
• If you have collected qualitative data – give examples by
illustrations and quotations
• The results should speak for themselves. Leave personal
comments, discussion and analysis for later parts of the
thesis!
ANALYSIS
• The results are analysed and interpreted
• How do your results correspond to the theories presented
in the literature review?
• Has the aim (or purpose) been fulfilled?
• Has the study raised new questions?
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DISCUSSION
• Discussion of results
• Discussion of method – strengths and weaknesses
• Your own critical reflection on the study
• Practical implications of the results – how could the
results be used by others?
CONCLUSION
• The most important things that you
want the reader to remember from your
study!
• Approximately one page long.
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REFERENCE LIST
• All written references cited or quoted in the report should
be included in the reference list
• A reference list should contain all the necessary
information for the reader to retrieve each document
• References are cited and listed according to the Harvard,
or Vancouver systems. Use course literature, manuals
and advice from your supervisor to learn to cite references
correctly!
APPENDICES
• Appendices are attached and numbered after the
reference list
• Common appendices are:
•
•
•
•
Interview guides
Questionnaires
Observation protocols
Tables and figures which are too large to include in the
text of the thesis
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GENERAL ADVICE:
• Academic writing is a craft: it takes time
to master, but nearly everybody makes it
in the end!
• Learn to write by writing!
• D
Don’t
’t start
t t ffrom th
the b
beginning
i i and
d workk
towards the end!
GENERAL ADVICE
• Use a clear and distinct language
• Keep the logical consistency throughout the
thesis
• Let others read the thesis!
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GOOD LUCK!
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