Introduction

The five chapters that are presented at the end of a dissertation are:

 Chapter I: Introduction
 Chapter II: Review of Literature
 Chapter III: Methodology (Research Design & Methods)
 Chapter IV: Presentation of Research (Results)
 Chapter V: Summary, Implications, Conclusions (Discussion)

Chapter I: Introduction

 Introduction
 Background of the study
 Statement of the Problem
 Purpose of the Study
 Research Questions
 Significance of the Study
 Definition of Terms
 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations
 Conclusion

In Chapter 1, a compelling case should be made regarding the problem under investigation,
the purpose of the study, and research questions to be investigated. Where applicable, the
theoretical or conceptual framework upon which the dissertation is based should also be
introduced.

The introduction advises the reader on what to expect in the chapter or document as a whole
and it must be relevant to the scope of study.

The background of the study reflects in the problem at hand. It must be presented using a
funnel approach, starting at global level, followed by continental level, followed by regional
level and finally your area of study (geographically).
 Statement of the Problem. This section should focus on why the particular study is needed.
It should not be too long, but long enough to tell what the study will contribute to theory or
the problem under consideration. It must emphasise on:

 The problem which is to be examined by the study

 The effects of not addressing the problem
 Providing statistical evidence

Statement of the Purpose. A distinct, direct, short section that explicitly states what the
study is about is often helpful. This section describes specifically what the study will attempt
to discover or accomplish. With a clear statement of purpose, the study becomes focused, the
under girding logic becomes evident, and the relationship between what is going to be studied
and how the study will be conducted becomes clearer.

Research Questions. At this point, research questions are posed. They usually are succinct
statements of the broad implications expected from the study. Depending upon the research
paradigm guiding the study, hypotheses may be postulated.

Significance of the Study. The study must be justified with respect to established theory,
previously conducted research, and the significance of the anticipated results to practitioners
and scholars. This is a broad statement as to why the study is important.

Definition of Terms. You should define any technical terms necessary for the reader to
understand; however, this usually does not include as much detail as the dissertation itself.

Chapter II: Review of the Literature

 Introduction
 Search Description
 Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
 Review of Research (organized by variable or themes)

This chapter serves as the foundation on which the study is built and as a basis for discussing
results and interpretations. It summarizes what is known and identifies what is unknown
about the topic of the dissertation study. The more extensive the previous work, the more
involved the preparation of this chapter becomes. Likewise, there may be several areas of
 investigation related to the problem. Although a thorough review of the previous research and
literature is a necessity, only that which has a direct bearing on the problem should be
included. Unnecessary details should be avoided, but major findings and relevant
methodological issues should be included. It may be desirable to have a discussion section at
the end of the review in which the implications of the previous studies are summarized and
then are compared and contrasted with the study under investigation. Relevant examples of
research that reports findings that do not support the case being made for the dissertation
should also be included.

Theoretical or Conceptual Framework. The dissertation should include a brief yet

substantive summary of the theory that under girds the study and briefly summarizes
previously conducted studies most relevant to the topic under investigation. A conceptual
framework provides a narrative and sometimes a visual structure depicting the logical
connections among key elements of the theory, constructs, and/or phenomenon of interest.
The conceptual framework reflects on the key variables the dissertation will focus on. It is
developed after doing a literature review and it is based on the topic of the study. It must be
presented in form of a diagram.

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD (or METHODOLOGY) (Qualitative)

 Introduction
 Research Design
 Research Questions
 Setting
 Participants
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Conclusion

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD (or METHODOLOGY) (Quantitative)

 Introduction
 Research Design
 Research Questions and Hypotheses
 Population and Sample
 Instrumentation
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Conclusion

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD (or METHODOLOGY) (Mixed)

 Introduction
 Research Design
 Research Questions and Hypotheses
 Setting and Sample
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Conclusion

The methods are the procedures used to acquire empirical evidence and analyse it for
purposes of answering research questions, testing hypotheses, and examining foreshadowed
problems, following up on conjectures, and going forward from exploratory questions. The
choice of methodology should be made in light of the literature review and with careful
deliberation.

The research design is described in sufficient detail in Chapter 3 that readers come away with
a clear understanding of how the study will be conducted, and future researchers would know
precisely what procedures to follow should they want to replicate this study.

Research Questions. The research questions presented in Chapter 1 should be replicated

exactly near the beginning of Chapter 3. A brief introduction may precede these questions.

Study Design. The methods used in the study will be determined to a considerable extent by
what is to be studied. A number of research design options usually are available to the
investigator. The design ultimately selected will be described in this section. Each step in the
execution of the research study should be described in detail. Appropriate citations making
the case for the use of the chosen study design and procedures should be included.

Study Context and Intervention (if applicable). If the study will examine the effects of a
particular intervention or treatment, this should be described in detail.
Participants. The participants in the study should be specified, indicating any relevant
demographic information, as well as how participants were selected. The plan for recruitment
of participants, as well as for resending invitations multiple times, or any incentives offered
should be described.

Data Sources. The tools used for measuring the variables in the study should be described.
Interview or focus group protocols should be described and the full set of directions and
questions should be included in an appendix. Survey tools should provide information as to
how the survey was developed and by whom, the number of items, subscales if applicable,
the response set, sample items, and validity and reliability information. The full measure
should be included in an appendix if feasible.

Data Collection. This section should describe in detail the means used to gather data.

Data Analysis. In this section, readers learn what techniques and tools the research plans to
use to analyse and summarize the data. In the case of a quantitative or mixed-method study,
assumptions made about the nature of the data should be stated. Commonly accepted
statistical devices should be noted, and unusual devices described. Depending upon the study
design, the inclusion of a table that lists the research questions, along with the data sources
and data analyses that will be used to answer each research question is often helpful.

Ethical Considerations. All students must obtain approval of the School of Education
Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects before collecting or analyzing data.
Additional ethical considerations relevant to the study design should also be described in this
section.

Assumptions, Delimitations, and Limitations. Assumptions, delimitations, and limitations,

unique to the study should be clarified. In focusing the study, the researcher places certain
limits on what is to be studied, setting restrictions on such considerations as the population to
be studied, the range of variables included, or the treatments selected. It may prove helpful to
list these specific delimitations in the proposal. In addition, listing limitations of the study
outside the control of the researcher, as well as assumptions held by the researcher are
generally expected aspects of scholarly research.
 Timeline. At the proposal stage, it may be useful to construct a timeline detailing important
anticipated checkpoints. This timeline can be eliminated in the final dissertation. At the
proposal stage, the methods will be described in the future tense, while in the dissertation
they will be presented in the past tense and report on the actual rather than the anticipated
study elements, such as the participants, data collection methods, and analyses.

CHAPTER IV: PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH (or RESULTS)

 Introduction
 Findings (organized by Research Questions or Hypotheses)
 Conclusion

In this chapter, a factual reporting of the study results is presented. Findings are generally
organized around the research questions. Tables may be used to summarize information.
Detailed information may be put in an appendix. Interpretations of the data should wait for
the next chapter. A summary of the research findings may be presented at the end of chapter
four or the beginning of chapter 5, but not both.

CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, IMPLICATIONS, and OUTCOMES (or DISCUSSION)

 Introduction
 Summary of Findings
 Conclusions (organised by Research Questions or Hypotheses)
 Discussion
 Suggestions or recommendations for Future Research
 Conclusion

In this final chapter, the implications of the study findings are discussed. This may include
implications for practice as well as implications for future research. Findings are integrated
with the theory employed in the first chapter and the body of knowledge presented in the
second chapter. The chapter ends with a cogent conclusion summarizing the importance of
the study findings. This chapter outlines the key issues that will emerge from the study.

Conclusions are based on an integration of the study findings, analysis, interpretation, and
synthesis. Concluding statements end the dissertation with strong, clear, concise “takeaway
messages” for the reader. Conclusions are not the same as findings; neither are conclusions
the same as interpretations. Rather, conclusions are essentially conclusive statements of what
you now know, having done this research, that you did not know before. Conclusions must be
logically tied to one another. There should be consistency among your conclusions; none of
them should be at odds with any of the others. Recommendations are actionable; that is, they
suggest implications for policy and practice based on the findings, providing specific action
planning and next steps.

Recommendations support the belief that scholarly work initiates as many questions as it
answers, thus opening the way for further practice and research. Recommendations for
research describe topics that require closer examination and that may generate new questions
for further study.

Antioch University (n.d), The dissertation: Chapter breakdown, Available at:

https://wex.antioch.edu/2016/04/12/the-dissertation-chapter-breakdown (Accessed 6 October
2024)

https://education.wm.edu/documents/doctoral/Sample%20Dissertation%20Overview.pdf
(Accessed 4 October 2024)