how to write a thesis for social studies

• Harvard Library
• Research Guides
• Faculty of Arts & Sciences Libraries

Thesis 101: A Guide for Social Science Thesis Writers

Welcome to the harvard library, finding a researchable question, finding scholarly resources in your field, covid-19 - information & resources, helpful library services & tools.

• Subject Guide

Sue Gilroy , Librarian for Undergraduate Writing Programs and Liaison to Social Studies  ([email protected])

Diane Sredl , Data Reference Librarian and Liaison to the Department of Economics ([email protected])

Kathleen Sheehan , Research Librarian and Liaison to the Depts. of Government, Psychology & Sociology ([email protected])

Congratulations on choosing to write a senior thesis! This guide brings together resources and information to help you as you work though the thesis research and writing process.

What is Already Known

Handbooks  are a stock-in-trade for academic researchers. Typically, they're edited volumes, with chapters written by authorities -- or recognized experts, and they synthesize current "consensus" thinking around a particular topic, the most widely accepted perspectives on a topic  They usually contain extensive bibliographies which you can mine as well.

• Cambridge Handbooks O nline
• Cambridge Histories Online
• Oxford Handbooks Online
• Very Short Introductions

Current Trends & Questions

Literature reviews  are essays that help you easily understand—and contextualize—the principal contributions that have been made in your field. They not only track trends over time in the scholarly discussions of a topic, but also synthesize and connect related work. They cite the trailblazers and sometimes the outliers, and they even root out errors of fact or concept. Typically, they include a final section that identifies remaining questions or future directions research might take.

Among the databases for finding literature reviews, we recommend you start with:

• Annual Reviews offers comprehensive collections of critical reviews by leading scholars.
• Web of Science can be a powerful tool in uncovering literature reviews. A keyword topic search in Web of Science much like HOLLIS, will return results that you can then sift through using a variety of left-side filter categories.  Under document type, look for the review.  

Prioritizing My Reading  

• Oxford Bibliographies Online combine the best features of the annotated bibliography with an authoritative subject encyclopedia. Entries identify key contributions to a topic, idea, person, or event and indicate the value of the work. 
• Anthropology
• Social Studies
• Multidisciplinary

Research Guide:

• Anthropology Research

Key Databases:

• Anthropology Plus
• Anthropology Online

Library Research Contact:

Susan Gilman , Librarian for Tozzer Library

• Economics Research  
• Business Source Complete
• Business Premium Collection

Diane Sredl , Data Reference Librarian

• Library Research Guide for History  
• America History & Life
• Historical Abstracts

Fred Burchsted , Research Librarian

Anna Assogba , Research Librarian

• Sociology: a Guide to Research Resources
• Sociology Database
• Social Sciences Premium  

Kathleen Sheehan , Research Librarian

• Government: a Guide to Research Resources
• Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

Social Studies tends to be so interdisciplinary that it's sometimes hard to offer students  a "one-size fits all" starting point.  

Research Guides :

• Research Guides for Social Studies 98 (junior tutorials) may also cover -- broadly speaking -- an area of interest and you may find some leads there. But the 1:1 consult often can't be beat for  locating the databases and the primary sources that are  best suited to your project! 
• If your thesis is applied, our Social Sciences Premium database is sometimes, along with HOLLIS , a good jumping off point. 
• If your thesis is theoretical,   resources like Phil Papers or Philosopher's Index are also recommended.  

Sue Gilroy , Liaison to Social Studies, Lamont Library

• Contemporary Issues in Psychology

Key Database:

• Web of Science

Michael Leach , Head, Collection Development, Cabot Library

Research Guides:

• Research Travel Checklist
• HOLLIS User Guide
• Public Opinion Sources
• Beginner's Guide to Locating and Using Numeric Data
• Conducting Research Interviews: Selected Resources
• Academic Search Premier
• A Harvard COVID-19 Resource Roundup
• Harvard Library Restart Updates
• How to Borrow Materials and Use Our Services During COVID-19
• HathiTrust  for digitized materials
• Scan & Deliver
• Harvard Library Purchase request
• Check Harvard Library Bookmark - Use this bookmarklet to get quick access to subscriptions purchased by Harvard Library.
• Zotero: Getting Started  - A tool for saving, organizing and formatting your research sources.
• Ask a Librarian - Send us your question virtually.
• Borrow Direct & ILL  to borrow materials not currently available from the Harvard Library
• Harvard Map Collection
• Visualization Support
• Qualitative Research Support

The contents of this Guide are drawn largely from other Guides authored by Sue Gilroy, Librarian for Undergraduate Writing Programs and Liaison to Social Studies.

• Last Updated: Feb 26, 2024 1:50 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/thesis101

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

147 Social Studies Topics for Your Research Project

Social studies is an integrated research field. It includes a range of topics on social science and humanities, such as history, culture, geography, sociology, education, etc. A social studies essay might be assigned to any middle school, high school, or college student. It might seem like a daunting task, but perhaps the most challenging part of the job is choosing the best topic from the many research topics in social studies. Sure, you might have a specific topic assigned to you.

If you’re looking for social science research topics, you’re in the right place! Custom writing experts have prepared a fresh list of ideas! This article contains 147 social studies project topics on history, culture, politics, law, migration, and other fields.

New headings & sections:

• Social Study Areas => Social Science Topics & Research Areas
• Social Studies Topics on History => Social Studies Project Topics on History
• Other Social Studies Topics => Other Research Topics in Social Studies
• 🔝 Top 10 Topics

👨‍🎓 Social Study Areas

🎨 social studies topics on culture, 🏛️ social studies topics on politics & governance, 🏧 social studies topics on economics & consumption, 🏺 social studies topics on history, 💡 other social studies topics, 🔗 references, 🔝 top 10 social studies topics.

• Pros and cons of monarchy.
• Is voting a civic responsibility?
• Should democracy be everywhere?
• The causes of mass consumption.
• Globalization vs. Americanization.
• The elements of personal identity.
• What are the USA’s major resources?
• Do communication technologies impact politics?
• The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace
• How do religious institutions reinforce social stability?

Social studies can be represented by ten aspects described below:

• Culture. While working with social studies, you need to understand how culture shapes our society and affects our lives. It includes learning how people create, adapt to, and share their cultural diversity.
• People and the environment. This aspect helps students create their perception of the world and how human beings interact with their environment. It is achieved through learning about different locations, people, and resources that are there.
• Production and consumption. Here, it is all about studying how people manage the production and distribution of goods. Usually, this theme is represented by subjects connected with economics.
• Time. It is mostly related to history. Therefore, students get to know about the significant events and changes that influenced our present. In addition, they learn about the beliefs and values of our ancestors.
• Identity. This theme is vital because it allows learners to understand how personal identity develops. They find out how family, culture, and friends affect people’s actions and personal growth.
• Institutions and groups. There are multiple institutions created by people: families, colleges, governments, and religious organizations. This theme lets students understand how institutions are formed and maintained and what changes they bring.
• Authority and governments. One of the essential parts of social studies is the theme of authority. Thanks to it, students can understand how different forms of governance are created. It also includes analyzing the functions and purposes of political systems.
• Globalization. Learners are helped to discover the interconnections between societies and the issues they create on a global scale. Everything is interdependent nowadays, and the importance of global connections is rising.
• Civic ideas. Students need to understand civic ideas to be fully functioning independent members of society. This vital theme includes learning about citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
• Science and technology. This aspect is not only about the development of technology and scientific achievements. It is also about how society is connected to those processes. Moreover, students learn about their impacts on people.

If you are looking for social studies project topics on the culture, you might consider the following aspects.

Every social study project would focus on how cultural attributes, such as traditions, arts, literature, are created and shared. It is important to remember to highlight both differences and similarities while doing comparative research.

One of the features of culture is that it’s dynamic and continuously changing, which means it is correlated with the personal development and beliefs of citizens. Moreover, you can look into the influence of culture on different political and religious institutions.

All in all, the list of topics in social studies below is all about the interconnection between culture and society. If you’re not a fan of the listed options, you can at least take the keywords and use a generator of random topics to write about . This will give you a lot more variants to choose from.

• The principles of the multicultural policy of Australia : benefits. Australia is one of the countries that support cultural diversity. The government even created an official policy based on four principles to ensure that everybody has equal rights to participate in the community.
• Indonesian communities and ancestor worships. Practices connected to ancestor worship are based on the belief that the spirits of the dead have the powers to affect the destinies of the living.
• The domestic etiquette of modern Americans . All cultures have different etiquette – a set of rules that governs social behavior. Those norms are changing along with the culture, but can also be different depending on the social situation.
• Gender issues and women in Medieval society. In the Middle Ages, women were not allowed to receive education, had limited social rights, and had to obey their fathers’ and husbands’ will.
• Gender roles : how are boys and girls raised in American families? Gender roles enforce some specific standards and expectations of how men and women should behave. Study the socially appropriate gender roles in modern families.
• Taboos and emotions in modern society. Taboo is something prohibited from doing under the fear of punishment. Even though taboos are originally related to the sacred and spiritual practices, today, people are banned from expressing some emotions.
• How have hippies created the US? This research would focus on the ways the hippie movement made a change in the history of the country. Their cultural practices have influenced many aspects of our lives.

• Family values and religion. The family has always been considered the base of a happy American life. However, to what extent has religion affected the most common family values?
• Why does political correctness matter so much today? Political correctness means the ban on using some phrases that may be inappropriate. As a cultural phenomenon, it was created by college students in America in the 1980s.
• Is our future in social responsibility ? Social responsibility is a policy that encourages people to act for the benefit of their community and society as a whole. Could this approach help us build a better future?

One of the most important themes of social studies is about politics. When conducting science research related to this topic, you should possess a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in the issues described below.

Understanding the existing systems of governance means also knowing how political views and institutions were created. In the constantly changing world, the functions of authorities are dynamic as well.

However, you should not forget to include the relationship with citizens in this equation. Every member of society has needs, rights, and responsibilities, issues with which should also be addressed.

Here are some examples of social studies topics related to politics, which you may find useful:

• The American Whig party: a case study of the South. In the 19th century, the Whigs were one of two main political parties in the US. In this research, you could concentrate on analyzing the political tensions of this party in the South.
• Political parties and violence in the US. There are two major political parties nowadays. However, have you ever thought about why there are so much political violence and harsh competition between them?
• The change of the ideology of the Republican party after the Civil War. The Civil War has changed the perception of many people. It left a mark on the political views as well. Track the transformation of the Republican party’s ideology since then.
• Tory party and the British welfare under their rule. For the sake of some diversity, we have included a topic on the British political party as well. In this research, you would look into the social issues caused by the Tories.
• Is there a connection between anti-Americanism and anti-Semitic movement? Study the roots of anti-Americanism as a political view. Also, you can work on contrasting and comparing it to anti-Semitism.
• Student activism and the Black Power movement. This civil rights movement has been around for ages. For this research, you would need to study the Black Power’s topic and the student activism involved in it.
• The difficulties of the civil war in Sri Lanka. This island country has suffered the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict and the proceeding civil war. Your task would be to look into the complexities of this conflict.
• The power of Congress over presidential elections. It is one of the social science topics that requires gathering a lot of materials. You would have to analyze the Constitution and find the related cases in history.
• Voting technology: what can the law do against election fraud? Bribery and other corrupt practices in relation to the election process is not anything new. However, how can the law make a change?
• The most prominent political machines of the last decade. This paper would be interesting for students you prefer analyzing and comparing. You would need to gather information on the most prominent political machines in the US.
• A discussion of judicial independence
• Political culture in the U.S.
• A comparison of the models of democracy
• A comparison of electoral systems
• Authoritarianism vs. totalitarianism

Research topics in social studies on economics would always be related to the theme of production and consumption. You would have to understand how people manage to produce and sell goods and services worldwide.

There are multiple issues in the global economics that you, as a student, could address in your argumentative paper. It includes the unequal distribution of goods along with the growing demand.

You might as well find it interesting to research how the production of specific goods is organized and the role of technology in that process. It is also essential to look into how governments cope with market failures and how they improve the well-being of the economies.

• The flaws of the economic democracy system: a case study. Pick and analyze the issues that this socioeconomic system might have. It would be better if you add real-life cases to the analysis.
• Morality and global capitalism. Your task would be to analyze the five features of global capitalism and determine how it can be socially acceptable. Look through every moral issue that arises.
• The bankruptcy of the middle class in the US. This research focuses on the root causes, as well as consequences, of so many cases of bankruptcy among American middle-class families.
• Can we foresee the future of the European Monetary System? Ever since 1979, the Euro has been serving its purpose. However, this paper would highlight the economic factors that can lead to disruptions in this system.
• Wall Street: did we learn from the 2008 crash? The year of 2008 punched many Americans, leaving their wealth reduced noticeably. But did we learn from past mistakes? Can we prevent the crisis from happening again? 
• Understanding stock markets : profitable investments. To make a profitable investment, you need to know everything about the industry sector and stock market cycles. Compile the tips and tricks that can make it work.
• How has the Silk Road influenced the current global economy? Connecting East and West, those trade routes existed for centuries. For this cool research, you would need to analyze the current economic situation and find the features that exist thanks to the Silk Road.
• Coffee beans and fair trade. Selling coffee beans internationally, some communities and families depend on this business. However, how fair is this fair trade market? Who looks after social justice?
• Pros and cons of dollarization: a case study. Currency substitution or dollarization can’t solve the economic crisis. Study some cases of this process in different countries and analyze the benefits and problems of it.
• How to predict the exchange rate behavior? In this research, you would need to study the sources of changes in the exchange rates. You might as well look into the tools that might help predict the behavior of the rates. 

• Provide real-life examples of how you or someone else plans their studies, controls pocket money, or organizes their working day.
• How organizations foster social and civic responsibility 
• Crisis management post-9/11 
• The growth of management in developing countries
• Conflict management in virtual and global teams
• An analysis of the benefits vs. cost of attaining a post-secondary education
• Wealth distribution and the availability of resources
• An examination of the trickle-down effect in today’s society
• Is the financial crisis of 2008 really over?
• How advertisements can create a sense of separation and association with the feminine identity
• The role of censorship in advertising
• The image of perfection in advertising
• Gender roles in advertising
• Rhetorical analysis of various marketing campaigns . How global corporations influence people’s decisions?
• Transnational organizations analytics. Determining the most appropriate and effective marketing strategies
• Advertisement analysis . The significance of the assessment in a rhetorical essay.
• Marketing reports. Explain the primary objectives of the document. When writing business or marketing essays, it is crucial to include analysis of particular examples.
• The importance of an analytical paragraph in a business essay. How does it help to define specific company’s strengths and weaknesses?
• Unethical advertising examples. What must be avoided when developing another strategy?
• Is it always worth it to spend immense amounts of money on risky advertising campaigns?
• Will the most common advertising methods work for every kind of a product?
• What issues must be considered when organizing an ad campaign?
• Positive and negative effects of advertising .

In the list of social science essay topics, there should always be at least a few questions dedicated to history. Unless we know our past, we can’t possibly understand human nature.

For high school students, it is necessary to learn about the changes and different experiences in society. The way that values, traditions, and rules have been changing shapes our current development.

While looking for interesting social studies topics in this field, consider analyzing the root causes and consequences of different changes. Look into the ways how our social system has been developing, and you would find something exciting, for sure!

• What was the social meaning of corsets in the 20th century? Corsets are the part of the outfit that was designed to shape or modify the figure. By the 20th century, it has somewhat shaped the culture as well.
• Demystifying the stereotypes about 19th-century women in the US. There was war, and there were changes. How did the life a woman look like back then? Find the most common misunderstandings about it and conduct a historical analysis.
• African American: the historical study of social factors affecting crime. For this research, you could look into the cultural and social aspects that have influenced the response of African Americans to crimes and injustice.
• The changes in the lives of average American citizens in the 1930s. Urbanization and technological development shook the world in those years. Find out how Americans were adjusting to their new lives.
• How the environment shapes the perspective: the baby boomers ? In the example of the baby boomers’ generation, study the effects of the social and cultural aspects on identity and personal values.
• The process of development of Italian fashion and the US. You would be studying the historical facts in support of the idea that the US played an essential role in the Italian fashion industry development.
• Generation X and global leaders. This topic focuses on the most prominent world leaders in different areas. Your task would be to find the connection between the personal specifics of generation X and global leaders.
• Women in the Victorian Age and domestic rules. Conduct research on the ideology of Victorian women. What social challenges connected to industrialization were they forced to face?
• Servants in the American houses in the middle of the 20th century. In the 1920s, women started quitting their housewives’ chores and hiring servants to do them instead. You would look into the social sources of such a change in the domestic life of that time.
• What is the connection between social change and the American schooling system? Look into the development of the educational institutions in the US over a chosen period. Find out what social factors have affected the process.
• Civil disorders
• Political terrorism
• Non-political terrorism
• Limited political terrorism
• Expand on the problem of democracy and domestic terrorism
• A study of terrorist groups
• State-sponsored terrorism
• The tactics of terrorism
• The history of terrorism
• The causes of terrorism 
• Responses to terrorism and counter-terrorism global policy
• For more topics ideas, check out Research Guide for Students .
• How enlistment in the U.S. Army works
• The top five army bases
• Customs and courtesies in the military
• The history of Memorial Day
• The threat of homelessness for veterans
• Turkic migration
• Mongol invasions
• Great migration of the 1630s
• Great migration of African Americans
• Government regulations
• Socially irresponsible corporations
• Antitrust provision
• International business law and legal regulations for international corporations and companies
• Business law in the Islamic world and how it differs from that of other countries 

Criminology

• Crime prevention
• Juvenile delinquency
• Victimology
• Deviant behavior

When you write an essay on justice, you have a great opportunity to present your opinion on the subject. Here are some potential topics:

• Justice: A Myth or Reality?
• Tell about today’s idea of justice. What do people do to establish justice in the world?
• Give your reasons why absolute justice is impossible.
• How justice is portrayed in Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky
• Discuss the Heaven Justice

Gender Studies

• Women and the Taliban
• Chinese women as seen through the Chinese culture
• Women and Confucian cultures in Korea
• Witch hunts in the Western world
• The influence of feminism on men
• The challenge of feminist biblical interpretation
• Gender identity and the particulars of word-of-mouth communication
• How leadership styles differ based on gender
• Women empowerment
• Why do women think that their rights are neglected in free countries?
• Gender inequality: are men more likely to receive well-paid jobs than women with precisely same characteristics?
• Are men considered to be better employees than women? 
• Can feminists persuade the government to make changes in the law beneficial for them?
• Gender discrimination in everyday life
• The purpose of feminist demonstrations
• Are people concerned about the problem of gender inequality in their everyday lives?
• Where are the human rights of women neglected and why?
• Causes of gender inequality
• Is the factor of overall equality necessary for the development of the world or not?
• What are the most popular examples of equality among citizens of one country?

• Gender stratification definition. Where can it be observed in the modern society?
• What can be changed because of mass feminism?
• Gender stereotypes . Is everything that we hear about discrimination right?
• What is gender stratification?
• Are females discriminated in the modern society, or this issue is fabricated?
• Gender roles in the workplace
• Factors contributing to gender inequality.
• Disadvantages of gender equality
• Gender equality theory
• Gender imbalance definition. What is the origin of the term and where it is used?
• Gender superiority. Is it true that males were always dominant figures in the history?
• History of gender discrimination . Was this societal rule present in the prehistoric times, and when it was introduced?
• Gender disparity definition. What is the origin of the term and where it is used today?

This might be interesting for you:

• Funny Informative Speech Topics and Ideas for Presentation
• A List of Informative Speech Topics: Best Creative Topic Ideas
• Good Informative Speech Topics: How to Get Thunders of Applause
• Best Science and Technology Essay Topics to Write About
• Satirical Essay Examples and Best Satire Essay Topics
• 309 Human Rights Research Topics & Essay Ideas
• Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: The Introduction
• Social Studies Education Topics at Questia
• National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: Executive Summary
• Social Studies Topics at BrainPOP
• Social Studies Research Project Topics
• Social Studies Fair
• About Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
• 11 Smart Sociology Research Topics That Will Get You an A
• Reflective Essay On Social Studies
• Social Work Personal Statements
• Scientific Reports
• Social Work Research Guides
• Social Work Literature Review Guidelines
• How to Survive Peer Review in Social Sciences and Humanities
• Behavioral and Social Sciences Resources
• Social Studies Topics at Flocabulary
• Social Studies Lessons at TED-Ed
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

If you are about to go into the world of graduate school, then one of the first things you need to do is choose from all the possible dissertation topics available to you. This is no small task. You are likely to spend many years researching your Master’s or Ph.D....

Looking for a good argumentative essay topic? In need of a persuasive idea for a research paper? You’ve found the right page! Academic writing is never easy, whether it is for middle school or college. That’s why there are numerous educational materials on composing an argumentative and persuasive essay, for...

Persuasive speech is the art of convincing the audience to understand and trust your opinion. Are you ready to persuade someone in your view? Our list of sports persuasive speech topics will help you find a position to take and defend. If you need more options quick, apart from contents...

When you look for a good research paper topic, you can easily become the severest critic of any proposed idea. Some topics do not interest you at the very least, while others might shock your teachers. Where is the golden mean? Check out this list of top 100 research paper...

Can there possibly be anything fun about academic writing? It seems there is – what are all those fun persuasive speech topics then for, after all? However, creating a bunch of good topics might seem hard the first time around. No need to worry though – there’s always plenty of...

A persuasive speech on any topic is a performance designed to convince people about something and prove your point. Choosing a suitable topic is crucial for your speech’s success. Do you need some help with finding easy topics for a persuasive speech? Then check these fantastic and easy ideas from...

A proposal argument is an essay in which you describe a specific issue that needs fixing. It focuses on problem solutions. Are you interested in writing high-quality proposal essays? Or maybe you’re wondering what can make your writing truly outstanding? Here you will find answers to these questions as well...

Sometimes you just wish there was a marketplace with vendors shouting, “Topics for argument essays! Who wants inspirational topics to write about?” Well, you are lucky enough: you’ll find plenty of inspiring things here! Coming up with some argument essay topics is quite easy! In this article, you’ll find some...

Are you searching for original, thought-provoking, and really controversial debate topics? Here they are! Selecting any of these 25 controversial topics for debate from Custom-writing.org, you can guarantee a heated dispute in class or exciting polemics with your friends. But first, let’s figure it out, what is debate and how you should pick up great...

Perhaps, each person has unforgettable memories of school life. It might be their first day when everything seemed to be exciting and unknown. Or it might be some picnic or trip when they spent a great day outside with their classmates. Writing a high school experience essay requires you to...

We came up with this guide to make school essay writing easy for you. Need some creative writing topics for grade 8? Or recommendations for the 11th-grade expository paper? We’ve got you! Helpful tips and essay topics for grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12— our Custom-writing.org team has advice for everyone. Here, you’ll find: In fact, our recommendations will be perfectly suitable for both middle and high school students....

Have you ever thought about the importance of transportation? Every day we see cars, trucks, planes, and ships and never wonder what exactly they are doing. In fact, these vehicles not only transport people from one place to another. They also form a vast system that plays a vital role...

Such an inspiring and candid glimpse into the life of a great man, Fred Hampton!! May he rest in Black Power!

what can be the subject for exam fear

I am impressed!

I like those topics. How can I get the material?

I believe you can use some tips from this article .

How to Write a Social Science or Humanities Thesis/Dissertation

Writing a thesis/dissertation is a huge task, and it is common to feel overwhelmed at the start. A thesis and a dissertation are both long pieces of focused research written as the sum of your graduate or postgraduate course.

The difference between a thesis and a dissertation can depend on which part of the world you are in. In Europe, a dissertation is written as part of a Master’s degree, while a thesis is written by doctoral students. In the US, a thesis is generally the major research paper written by Master’s students to complete their programs, while a dissertation is written at the doctoral level.

The purpose of both types of research is generally the same: to demonstrate that you, the student, is capable of performing a degree of original, structured, long-term research. Writing a thesis/dissertation gives you experience in project planning and management, and allows you the opportunity to develop your expertise in a particular subject of interest. In that sense, a thesis/dissertation is a luxury, as you are allowed time and resources to pursue your own personal academic interest.

Writing a thesis/dissertation is a larger project than the shorter papers you likely wrote in your coursework. Therefore, the structure of a thesis/dissertation can differ from what you are used to. It may also differ based on what field you are in and what kind of research you do. In this article, we’ll look at how to structure a humanities or social science thesis/dissertation and offer some tips for writing such a big paper. Once you have a solid understanding of how your thesis/dissertation should be structured, you will be ready to begin writing.

How are humanities and social science thesis/dissertations structured?

The structure of a thesis/dissertation will vary depending on the topic, your academic discipline, methodology, and the place you are studying in. Generally, social science and humanities theses/dissertations are structured differently from those in natural sciences, as there are differences in methodologies and sources. However, some social science theses/dissertations can use the same format as natural science dissertations, especially if it heavily uses quantitative research methods. Such theses/dissertations generally follow the “IMRAD” model :

• Introduction

Social science theses/dissertations often range from 80-120 pages in length.

Humanities thesis/dissertations, on the other hand, are often structured more like long essays. This is because these theses/dissertations rely more heavily on discussions of previous literature and/or case studies. They build up an argument around a central thesis citing literature and case studies as examples. Humanities theses/dissertations tend to range from between 100-300 pages in length.

The parts of a dissertation: Starting out

Never assume what your reader knows! Explain every step of your process clearly and concisely as you write, and structure your thesis/dissertation with this goal in mind.

As you prepare your topic and structure your social science or humanities thesis/dissertation, always keep your audience in mind. Who are you writing for? Even if your topic is other experts in the field, you should aim to write in sufficient detail that someone unfamiliar with your topic could follow along. Never assume what your reader knows! Explain every step of your process clearly and concisely as you write, and structure your thesis/dissertation with this goal in mind.

While the structure of social science and humanities theses/dissertations differ somewhat, they both have some basic elements in common. Both types will typically begin with the following elements:

What is the title of your paper?

A good title is catchy and concisely indicates what your paper is about. This page also likely has your name, department and advisor information, and ID number. However, the specific information listed varies by institution.

Acknowledgments page

Many people probably helped you write your thesis/dissertation. If you want to say thank you, this is the place where it can be included.

Your abstract is a one-page summary (300 words or less) of your entire paper. Beginning with your thesis/dissertation question and a brief background information, it explains your research and findings. This is what most people will read before they decide whether to read your paper or not, so you should make it compelling and to the point.

Table of contents

This section lists the chapter and subchapter titles along with their page numbers. It should be written to help your reader easily navigate through your thesis/dissertation.

While these elements are found at the beginning of your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation, most people write them last. Otherwise, they’ll undergo a lot of needless revisions, particularly the table of contents, as you revise, edit, and proofread your thesis/dissertation.

The parts of a humanities thesis/dissertation

As we mentioned above, humanities and some social science theses/dissertations follow an essay-like structure . A typical humanities thesis/dissertation structure includes the following chapters:

• References (Bibliography)

The number of themes above was merely chosen as an example.

In a humanities thesis/dissertation, the introduction and background are often not separate chapters. The introduction and background of a humanities thesis/dissertation introduces the overall topic and provides the reader with a guide for how you will approach the issue. You can then explain why the topic is of interest, highlight the main debates in the field, and provide background information. Then you explain what you are investigating and why. You should also specifically indicate your hypothesis before moving on to the first thematic chapter. 

Thematic chapters (and you can have as many of them as your thesis/dissertation guidelines allow) are generally structured as follows:

• Introduction: Briefly introduce the theme of the chapter and inform the reader what you are going to talk about.
• Argument : State the argument the chapter presents
• Material : Discuss the material you will be using
• Analysis : Provide an analysis of the materials used
• Conclusion : How does this relate to your main argument and connect to the next theme chapter?

Finally, the conclusion of your paper will bring everything together and summarize your argument clearly. This is followed by the references or bibliography section, which lists all of the sources you cited in your thesis/dissertation.

The parts of a social science thesis/dissertation

In contrast to the essay structure of a humanities thesis/dissertation, a typical social science thesis/dissertation structure includes the following chapters:

• Literature Review
• Methodology

Unlike the humanities thesis/dissertation, the introduction and literature review sections are clearly separated in a social science thesis/dissertation. The introduction tells your reader what you will talk about and presents the significance of your topic within the broader context. By the end of your introduction, it should be clear to your reader what you are doing, how you are doing it, and why.

The literature review analyzes the existing research and centres your own work within it. It should provide the reader with a clear understanding of what other people have said about the topic you are investigating. You should make it clear whether the topic you will research is contentious or not, and how much research has been done. Finally, you should explain how this thesis/dissertation will fit within the existing research and what it contributes to the literature overall.

In the methodology section of a social science thesis/dissertation, you should clearly explain how you have performed your research. Did you use qualitative or quantitative methods? How was your process structured? Why did you do it this way? What are the limitations (weaknesses) of your methodological approach?

Once you have explained your methods, it is time to provide your results . What did your research find? This is followed by the discussion , which explores the significance of your results and whether or not they were as you expected. If your research yielded the expected results, why did that happen? If not, why not? Finally, wrap up with a conclusion that reiterates what you did and why it matters, and point to future matters for research. The bibliography section lists all of the sources you cited, and the appendices list any extra information or resources such as raw data, survey questions, etc. that your reader may want to know.

In social science theses/dissertations that rely more heavily on qualitative rather than quantitative methods, the above structure can still be followed. However, sometimes the results and discussion chapters will be intertwined or combined. Certain types of social science theses/dissertations, such as public policy, history, or anthropology, may follow the humanities thesis/dissertation structure as we mentioned above.

Critical steps for writing and structuring a humanities/social science thesis/dissertation

If you are still struggling to get started, here is a checklist of steps for writing and structuring your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation.

• Choose your thesis/dissertation topic
• What is the word count/page length requirement?
• What chapters must be included?
• What chapters are optional?
• Conduct preliminary research
• Decide on your own research methodology
• Outline your proposed methods and expected results
• Use your proposed methodology to choose what chapters to include in your thesis/dissertation
• Create a preliminary table of contents to outline the structure of your thesis/dissertation

By following these steps, you should be able to organize the structure of your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation before you begin writing.

Final tips for writing and structuring a thesis/dissertation

Although writing a thesis/dissertation is a difficult project, it is also very rewarding. You will get the most out of the experience if you properly prepare yourself by carefully learning about each step. Before you decide how to structure your thesis/dissertation, you will need to decide on a thesis topic and come up with a hypothesis. You should do as much preliminary reading and notetaking as you have time for.

Since most people writing a thesis/dissertation are doing it for the first time, you should also take some time to learn about the many tools that exist to help students write better and organize their citations. Citation generators and reference managers like EndNote help you keep track of your sources and AI grammar and writing checkers are helpful as you write. You should also keep in mind that you will need to edit and proofread your thesis/dissertation once you have the bulk of the writing complete. Many thesis editing and proofreading services are available to help you with this as well.

Editor’s pick

Get free updates.

Subscribe to our newsletter for regular insights from the research and publishing industry!

What are the parts of a social science thesis/dissertation? +

A social science thesis/dissertation is usually structured as follows:

How long is a typical social science thesis/dissertation? +

What are the parts of a humanities thesis/dissertation +.

Humanities theses/dissertations are usually structured like this:

• Thematic Chapters

What is the typical structure of a thematic chapter in a humanities thesis/dissertation? +

A thematic chapter in a humanities thesis/dissertation is structured like this:

How long is a typical humanities thesis/dissertation? +

A typical humanities thesis/dissertation tends to range from 100 to 300 pages in length.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to ChatBot Assistant
• Academic Writing
• What is a Research Paper?
• Steps in Writing a Research Paper
• Critical Reading and Writing
• Punctuation
• Writing Exercises
• ELL/ESL Resources

Developing a Research Thesis

A research thesis has most of the same  thesis characteristics as a thesis for a non-research essay. The difference lies in the fact that you will be gathering information and evidence from appropriate, valid sources to support your perspective on a topic or stand on an issue. Yet although your sources provide information that informs your thesis, the thesis ideas should be your own, particular to your personal way of thinking about and analyzing a topic.

The thesis focuses your ideas and information for the research paper. Remember that word "focus." Student writers often make the mistake of forgetting the focus and making the research thesis far too broad in order to include too much research. Yet depth more than breadth is the hallmark of a sophisticated research paper.

Create a working thesis for the research paper by specifying and ordering your categories of information. For example, the following theses offer the writers' main arguments and focus their research by specifying and ordering the reasons for their stance:

• Competency-based management is practical, logical, and accessible to managers and workers.
• Workforce training in basic skills is now necessary because of the lower reading and writing levels of the workforce, the fact that a person now entering the workforce will change jobs many times, the shift in jobs from the manufacturing to the service sectors, and the more comprehensive, abstract nature of those service jobs.

As you can see, a research thesis is your proposed answer to your research question, which you finalize only after completing the research. (It's okay to modify and revise the working thesis as you research more about the topic or issue.)

Developing a good working thesis, just like developing a good research question (researchable: neither too broad nor too narrow) is an important research skill.

Need Assistance?

If you would like assistance with any type of writing assignment, learning coaches are available to assist you. Please contact Academic Support by emailing [email protected].

Questions or feedback about SUNY Empire's Writing Support?

Contact us at [email protected] .

Smart Cookies

They're not just in our classes – they help power our website. Cookies and similar tools allow us to better understand the experience of our visitors. By continuing to use this website, you consent to SUNY Empire State University's usage of cookies and similar technologies in accordance with the university's Privacy Notice and Cookies Policy .

Understanding and solving intractable resource governance problems.

• In the Press
• Conferences and Talks
• Exploring models of electronic wastes governance in the United States and Mexico: Recycling, risk and environmental justice
• The Collaborative Resource Governance Lab (CoReGovLab)
• Water Conflicts in Mexico: A Multi-Method Approach
• Past projects
• Publications and scholarly output
• Research Interests
• Higher education and academia
• Public administration, public policy and public management research
• Research-oriented blog posts
• Stuff about research methods
• Research trajectory
• Publications
• Developing a Writing Practice
• Outlining Papers
• Publishing strategies
• Writing a book manuscript
• Writing a research paper, book chapter or dissertation/thesis chapter
• Everything Notebook
• Literature Reviews
• Note-Taking Techniques
• Organization and Time Management
• Planning Methods and Approaches
• Qualitative Methods, Qualitative Research, Qualitative Analysis
• Reading Notes of Books
• Reading Strategies
• Teaching Public Policy, Public Administration and Public Management
• My Reading Notes of Books on How to Write a Doctoral Dissertation/How to Conduct PhD Research
• Writing a Thesis (Undergraduate or Masters) or a Dissertation (PhD)
• Reading strategies for undergraduates
• Social Media in Academia
• Resources for Job Seekers in the Academic Market
• Writing Groups and Retreats
• Regional Development (Fall 2015)
• State and Local Government (Fall 2015)
• Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2016)
• Regional Development (Fall 2016)
• Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2018)
• Public Policy Analysis (Fall 2019)
• Public Policy Analysis (Spring 2016)
• POLI 351 Environmental Policy and Politics (Summer Session 2011)
• POLI 352 Comparative Politics of Public Policy (Term 2)
• POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics (Term 2)
• POLI 350A Public Policy (Term 2)
• POLI 351 Environmental Policy and Politics (Term 1)
• POLI 332 Latin American Environmental Politics (Term 2, Spring 2012)
• POLI 350A Public Policy (Term 1, Sep-Dec 2011)
• POLI 375A Global Environmental Politics (Term 1, Sep-Dec 2011)

The Dissertation ‘Two Pager’: A strategy to sustain a “big picture” view of a doctoral thesis

When I was in graduate school, I took several courses with Professor Anthony (Tony) Dorcey , Professor Emeritus with the School of Community and Regional Planning at The University of British Columbia. Perhaps unbeknownst to everyone but only those closest to me, my first interest was in water planning and governance using multistakeholder processes. Professor Dorcey was an expert precisely in this field, and he taught me a method that I have adapted for my own doctoral students, the Dissertation Two Pager (DTP) .

The way Tony Dorcey taught me to write a DTP was basically to summarize my dissertation in a narrative form within the constraints of a 2 pager. I couldn’t find a link on his website to draw upon. Anyways, a two pager is a document whose maximum length is precisely 2 pages, single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman. Tony asked that his students maintained a DTP throughout their studies, and I now do the same with my own doctoral trainees. I have obviously adapted Tony’s approach to my own, particularly because not everyone can write the narrative from scratch, and I ask my students specific questions that help them guide how they think about their research problem.

As I mentioned on Twitter, DTPs evolve through time . I wouldn’t expect a first year doctoral student to know exactly what they want to answer. But I still ask them to write a DTP. I would characterize four types of DTP:

• A pre-comprehensive exams’ DTP . In this case, the student is still doing coursework and hasn’t written his/her doctoral exams. At this point, I would expect DTPs to be still draft forms of research questions, methods and expected outcomes.
• A post-comprehensive exams’, pre-proposal defense DTP . At this stage, I would expect the student to know his/her/their field well enough that he would have a very clear outline of what he/she/they plan to do and within what time frame. I would expect that my students would use their DTP to formulate their proposal.
• A post-proposal defense, fieldwork-focused DTP. At this stage, I would expect that the trainee would be incorporating results from what he/she/they have found in their research. It’s likely that by this point, one or more of their papers would be submitted to a journal.
• A pre-doctoral defense DTP . At this stage, I would expect the student to have dominated every single element of his doctoral research, and therefore his/her/their DTP would be an extended version of their thesis’ abstract.

A DTP for Stages 1 and 2 would include, in my view, the following elements (I pay particular emphasis on the gap in the literature and how the dissertation contributes):

But alas, I couldn’t find it. Here’s what my own version of the Dissertation Two Pager looks like: it’s a living summary of your doctoral dissertation and the maximum length is two single-spaced pages, 12 point Times New Roman. I usually ask my students for the following: pic.twitter.com/nSeEUdTh88 — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) August 9, 2018

For a DTP at Stage 3 and 4, I would expect them to be able to answer all the items I mentioned in this blog post .

At their defence, my doctoral students should be able to showcase the following elements, as noted in my blog post: https://t.co/M6W84kOV5K from their first DTP to the final DTP, there will be A LOT of change. But if you think about it, the final DTP is the thesis abstract. pic.twitter.com/VeDU9U153f — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) August 9, 2018

As I mentioned on Twitter, my students’ DTP change every semester, and they notice the difference. I wrote my doctoral dissertation as a book, but I’ve mentored students to write 3 papers’ theses. That’s why I find the DTP such a useful tool: you can synthesize all three (or four) papers, show The Throughline (main argument), or you can summarize all chapters in the thesis, and still be able to show The Throughline. I also insist that my students write their DTP in a positive, assertive voice. “ In this dissertation, I show how A, B and C variables impact Y phenomenon. Using a combination of text-as-data, social network analysis and ethnographic fieldwork strategies, I demonstrate Z “.

This last item is perhaps the one that is the most overlooked when I read doctoral dissertations for external examination. Students are hesitant about what they found. By the time you’re done with your PhD thesis, YOU are the expert. You should write as such. Hopefully my adaptation and version of the Dissertation Two Pager technique will help many students keep seeing the forest while focused on the trees.

If you liked this blog post, you may also be interested in my Resources for Graduate Students page, and on my reading notes of books I’ve read on how to do a doctoral degree.

You can share this blog post on the following social networks by clicking on their icon.

Posted in academia , research , research methods , writing .

Tagged with Dissertation Two Pager , DTP , PhD journey .

By Raul Pacheco-Vega – August 9, 2018

5 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post .

Thank you!!!! Thank you for taking the time to guide us with your experience and knowledge.

Continuing the Discussion

[…] Dissertation Two-Pager (DTP) – which gives the student (and the supervisor!) an overview of the entire thesis and where […]

[…] and Masters’ theses AND book manuscripts. In fact, strongly believe you could totally use the DTP, the DAT and the GDN to craft your book […]

[…] Dissertation Analytical Table (DAT) complements the Dissertation Two Pager (DTP), another Overview Device I use with my students to help them see their overall research from a […]

[…] students, the moment when they need to start writing the doctoral dissertation is when their Dissertation Two Pager (DTP), their Dissertation Analytical Table (DAT) and their Global Dissertation Narrative (GDN} […]

Leave a Reply Cancel Some HTML is OK

Name (required)

Email (required, but never shared)

or, reply to this post via trackback .

About Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD

Find me online.

My Research Output

• Google Scholar Profile
• Academia.Edu
• ResearchGate

My Social Networks

• Polycentricity Network

Recent Posts

• “State-Sponsored Activism: Bureaucrats and Social Movements in Brazil” – Jessica Rich – my reading notes
• Reading Like a Writer – Francine Prose – my reading notes
• Using the Pacheco-Vega workflows and frameworks to write and/or revise a scholarly book
• On framing, the value of narrative and storytelling in scholarly research, and the importance of asking the “what is this a story of” question
• The Abstract Decomposition Matrix Technique to find a gap in the literature

Recent Comments

• Hazera on On framing, the value of narrative and storytelling in scholarly research, and the importance of asking the “what is this a story of” question
• Kipi Fidelis on A sequential framework for teaching how to write good research questions
• Razib Paul on On framing, the value of narrative and storytelling in scholarly research, and the importance of asking the “what is this a story of” question
• Jonathan Wilcox on An improved version of the Drafts Review Matrix – responding to reviewers and editors’ comments
• Catherine Franz on What’s the difference between the Everything Notebook and the Commonplace Book?

Follow me on Twitter:

Proudly powered by WordPress and Carrington .

Carrington Theme by Crowd Favorite

Stack and Save!     Get 10% OFF when you buy 3 or more books & use code 'STACKANDSAVE' at checkout    

• British Pounds (GBP)
• US Dollar (USD)
• Australian Dollar (AUD)
• New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

Recently Viewed

• / Education
• / Language Arts & Disciplines
• / Your Masters Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Revise by Alan Bond

Your Masters Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Revise by Alan Bond

Write a review.

   Delivery: We ship to over 200 countries!    Range: Millions of books available    Reviews: Booksplease rated "Excellent" on Trustpilot

• Create New Wish List

Frequently Bought Together:

Description

Related titles.

Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation by Patrick Dunleavy

The Academic Essay: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Revise by Dr. Derek Soles 9781842854259

How to Write a Thesis by Umberto Eco

How to Write Your Nursing Dissertation by Alan Glasper

How to Write a Marketing Plan: Define Your Strategy, Plan Effectively and Reach Your Marketing Goals by John Westwood

Booksplease  Reviews

One of the best online booksellers out there.

I always check Booksplease before looking at other online sellers because in many instances, particularly with older titles, their books are a lot cheaper. There is added postage, but when you add this to the overall cost you are still spending less than you would otherwise pay elsewhere.

Great all round

Easy to navigate website, my purchase was delivered really quickly, in perfect condition and at a very reasonable price. Will use this service again,

Had a few order with them

Had a few order with them. Arrived quickly and were as described. Price is a bargain. Will definitely use again

Love the £1.99 postage for whatever

Love the £1.99 postage for whatever/ however many you buy. Couldn't believe the books were brand new for the price. Quick delivery. Hard to believe it's such a good deal for buyers. pay elsewhere.

•    Home

I have already discussed the PhD introduction and literature review in detail. In this paper, I discuss the PhD methodology, results and how to write a stunning conclusion for your thesis. The main objective of this paper is to help   PhD candidates to understand what is a PhD methodology and guide them in writing a systematic and meaningful PhD methodology, results and conclusion.   The methodology used in this research is a descriptive method as it deliberates and defines the various parts of PhD methodology, results and conclusion writing process and elucidates the “ how to do ” in a very unpretentious and understanding manner. As thus, this paper summarises the various steps of thesis methodology, results and conclusion writing to pilot the PhD students. This road map   is a useful guidance especially for students of social science studies. Additionally, in this paper, methodology writing techniques, procedures and important strategies are enlightened in a simple manner. This paper adopts a “ how-to approach ” when discussing a variety of relevant topics such as introduction, formulation of the methodology, variables, research design process, types of sampling, data collection process, interviews, questionnaires, data analysis techniques and so on. Results and conclusions are also discussed in detail, so that PhD candidates can follow the guide clearly. This paper has 5 parts such as Introduction, Literature reviews, Methodology,   Results and Conclusion. As such, I discuss Methodology, Results and Conclusion as the final assessment of the PhD thesis writing process.

Thesis Writing Process , PhD , Social Science , Research Methodology , Results , Conclusion

Share and Cite:

1. The PhD Research Process

1.1. Introduction

Once you have identified a research problem that you wish to investigate, you must validate your research problem by doing a thorough investigation of documented literature. This section I have already discussed in the previous publication. Next, the question that should come to your mind is: HOW am I going to conduct my research so that I can resolve the problem? You should also ask WHY you want to make the investigation. What is the theoretical basis for investigating the research problem? You need to plan a research design and a roadmap so that you can proceed with your study scientifically. The most important section of your research design is the methodology. As a researcher, you need to distinguish between methodology and method. Methodology refers to the theoretical analysis of your research while method refers to a systematic and orderly arrangement and measurement of your research. Different studies require different methodologies.

For example, in a research on human feelings, the methodology used might be Triangulation, i.e. a mixture of qualitative, quantitative, and descriptive studies. The method described in such a study would refer to the research design, population sample, test instrument, the determination of validity, reliability of results and so on. Understanding the research terminologies is crucial in order to comprehend the meaning of research and their applications so that the PhD candidates conduct their investigations successfully. The followings are some useful and selected terminologies and their meanings:

Variables: When something is a variable, it is not consistent but is prone to change, for example, age, height, weight, and income. These attributes take different values among people. When conducting your research, you must understand and measure your variables that can bring changes in your experimental investigation. “Whether we accept it or not, we all make value judgements constantly in our daily lives: ‘This food is excellent’; ‘I could not sleep well last night’; ‘I do not like this’; and ‘I think this is wonderful’. These are all judgements based upon our own preferences, indicators or assessment. Because these explain feelings or preferences, the basis on which they are made may vary markedly from person to person. There is no uniform yardstick with which to measure them. A food may be judged ‘excellent’ by one person but ‘awful’ by another, and something else could be wonderful to one person but ugly to another.

When people express these feelings or preferences, they do so because of certain criteria in their minds, or in relation to their expectations. If you were to question them, you will discover that their judgement is based upon indicators and/or expectations that lead them to conclude and express a particular opinion. ‘An image, perception or concept that is capable of measurement―hence capable of taking on different values is called a variable. In other words, a concept that can be measured is called a variable.’ A variable is a property that takes on different values. Putting it redundantly, a variable is something that varies.’ A variable is a symbol to which numerals or values are attached.” (Ranjit, 2011).

Dependent and independent variables: These are tested in the experimental field. Whatever changes happen to a dependent variable, it is because of an independent variable. For instance, you want to develop a multimedia learning courseware, and you want to test its effectiveness in your class. You notice changes to your students’ level of knowledge (dependent variable) after using the learning software (independent variable). Your students’ varying levels of knowledge are dependent variables. In layman language, it is cause and effect. A change or a cause is an independent variable while its outcome or effects are the dependent variables.

Causation: When you are investigating, you will notice changes in your sample or subject before and after an experiment. For instance, if it is found that absentee students form the largest group of failures, we can conclude that absenteeism is the cause of failure.

Correlation: This refers to a relationship between two variables. You want to measure the variable that is the cause of a change. Once you notice a change in one variable, then you can presume how another will change. For instance, you note that hard working students always pass their exams with flying colours. On the other hand, those who are not hard working always perform badly in their exams. There is thus a positive correlation between hard work and success.

Pre-test: In research when you want to make an experimental study, you have two groups of students. To know their actual and existing knowledge, you should administer a preliminary test to determine their base knowledge (before experiment).

Post-test: This test is administered to students after completion of an experiment to evaluate their achievement (after experiment).

Random sample: When you need a certain number of participants for a survey or experimental study, opting for a random sampling implies that all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected.

Validity and reliability: These are two well-known concepts to evaluate the quality of your experimental research. Your study is considered reliable when other researchers repeat it and obtain similar results. Validity ensures that your instrument has validity (the instrument should measure what it is supposed to measure).

Sampling: You must decide how to select a small but representative portion of the target population.

Triangulation: This method mixes three methodologies, viz. qualitative, quantitative, and observation. It is vital to choose a methodology that is appropriate for your research. Qualitative method is used to collect and analyse data while quantitative method can be used to further strengthen the qualitative data. Research shows that quantitative data reinforces qualitative data. According to Thompson (2004) , in research, it is better to use both eyes rather than one.

Research further indicates that qualitative methodology is very naturalistic and conducted in real time with the investigator in control (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003; Golafshani, 2003; Hoepfi, 1997) . Studies have also indicated that a mixed methodology design leads the researcher to understand the research problem better (Hanson et al., 2005) . Furthermore, researchers utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods to evaluate their research questions. In Observation method, you observe your sample and listen to their conversations. Observation can also be conducted through recording, such as narrative and categorical recording of the participants’ oral discourse.

1.2. Useful Tipsin Writing Your Research Methodology

Choose your methodology based on the type of research you are conducting. Institute a clear affiliation between your study and your methodology. Ask yourself whether this methodology will facilitate finding answers to your research questions. Provide meaningful reasons for choosing your methodology e.g. following the footsteps of previous researchers in related studies. Make sure your method includes research design, sample population, test instrument, validity, reliability and implementation phases. Most importantly, are you comfortable with the research methodology that you have chosen?

As evident from the above discussion, there are many types of research methodologies when conducting a scholarly investigation. Here I will explain the commonly used methods in social science. When conducting a research, two issues must be considered: Firstly, counting and measuring (Quantitative) and secondly, discussion (Qualitative) with people. These two methods of doing research are vital in social science research (MacDonald & Headlam, 2014) :

1) Quantitative Method: This method of investigation systematically views the population numerically and quantifies the data in percentages in relation to the whole. Participants’ responses in questionnaires are accorded scores. The data are then analysed and interpreted statistically. This method makes it easier for other researchers to repeat your experiment or study to test its reliability.

2) Qualitative Method: It deals with contextualization, interpretation, understanding and perspectives of respondents. This method investigates the quality of information and data. It is aimed at collecting information on people’s views and perceptions through interviews and surveys. As such, the qualitative method is subjective, the outcome depending on the respondents’ feelings, views and perceptions. Hence, the researcher using this method of investigation has to have scholarly judgement and interpretation. The investigation in the qualitative method is descriptive, so you cannot predict.

It is based on face to face interviews as well as phone interviews, group discussions, behavioural related enquiries, observations, and video conferencing. Using various ways to collect data, the qualitative method can contribute meaningful and accurate information.

2. The Significance of This Research

Writing methodology for your PhD thesis requires exceptional skill that every PhD candidate must take note. Unfortunately, majority of the PhD candidates find it difficult to finish their thesis on time because of confusion and lake of expertise in writing the methodology for their research. Most of them in deed do not know how to write the methodology correctly, scientifically and how to analyse them properly. As thus, this investigation is truly helpful for the PhD candidates in particular and for the researchers in general.

3. Objectives

1) To assist PhD candidates to understand what is methodology all about.

2) To describe correct methodology writing process.

3) To help PhD candidates and researchers to write their methodology and results academically and scholarly.

4. The PhD Thesis Process

I have already discussed PhD thesis problem statement, introduction, objectives and literature review in the previous publications. In this chapter, I would like to explain and provide a useful road map on the “How to Do” of PhD thesis research Methodology, research result and research conclusion.

4.1. Research Methodology

The methodology applied in this research was descriptive as it discusses and describes the various parts of methodology writing process and explains the how to do of them in a very simple and understanding language (Faryadi, 2018) . Descriptive analysis is applied to explain the basic features of thesis writing process (García & Fombona, 2015) . Descriptive method is very useful in providing basic summaries of the chapters (Al-Raqqad et al., 2017) . The followings are the process of PhD thesis writing process (parts of methodology).

4.2. Research Design Process

Research design refers to the way you establish a road map to conduct your research. What type of strategy will you adopt to integrate all the parts of your investigation? Your research design dictates the type of data you need to collect, what methods and methodology to apply, and how you will analyse your data to answer your research questions. It is all about the organization and structure of your study. You need to decide on the type of design you will use, such as experimental, descriptive, exploratory and so on. In other words, your research design is the outline of your study.

Although research designs may differ from one discipline to another, a general road map should include the following:

1) Topic of research

2) Research problem, questions and hypotheses

3) Review of current literature

4) Theoretical framework or methodology

5) Data collection and testing if any

6) Data analysis

4.3. Population and Sampling

When you wish to conduct an investigative study, it is vital to identify the target population and the size of your sampling. Sampling means that you take an appropriate portion of your population that can represent your population without bias. A good sampling indicates that you have selected an adequate number that is representative of the target population statistically so that you can make informed conclusions about your results based on the collected data. It is sometimes thought that the larger the sample, the better the results and more accurate the outcome. However, this may not necessarily be true. In research, one must contend with likelihood and probabilities. Statistics will determine how accurate your sample is in representing the target population. Statistics will indicate how likely you can get more accurate results by growing the size of your sample.

There are times that you should stop searching for more answers. We should avoid wasting time and resources unnecessarily trying to measure a huge sample of the target population. Indeed, a very large sample is not as important as your research questions and questionnaires in your search for answers. A huge sample cannot convert your bad data into good ones. In fact, the use of appropriate statistical software will dictate how much is too much. Remember, less is more. You can get a reliable statistician to help you. Most social science researchers use SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) as it is considered one of the best statistics software currently in use (Gordon & Petre, 2010) .

4.4. How Do You Calculate Samples?

When you want to take an appropriate sample from a large target population, it is advisable to follow the following procedures: Let’s say you want to know the average age of your target population. Obviously, you don’t want to ask everyone his or her age. You want only the average age from a sample of the target population. Hence, you choose some of your participants, let’s say 6 out of 15 students from your class. Now you do a simple calculation: Ask your 6 students about their ages and then add all their ages, divide them by your sample size, i.e. 6. You will get the average or the mean of your population in the class. Take note that the objective of selecting an appropriate sample is to make sure that you are selecting a sample that is as representative as possible to the rest of the target population. In research, always avoid human errors such as bias and discrimination. One of the difficulties of sampling is deciding on the sample size. If you have too small sample, the probability of error is high; if you have a large sample size from your population, you may assume erroneously that your findings are much more accurate.

4.5. Types of Sampling

Random Sampling: It is a type of sampling that implies every member of the population has an equal chance of being part of the study. It is vital that the selection is based on the probability that each member of the population is independent and free from bias and individual preferences. The sample must not only be representative of the target population but also be selected without any discrimination. For example, you are interested to know why, in your class of 100 students, more than 65 failed in their final exam. Unfortunately, 20 students refused to participate in your investigation. Now you have a population of 80 students to study. Whatever sample you take from the remaining 80 students, therefore, is not valid as it does not represent the whole population equally. This type of sampling is not representative of the whole population.

However, if the percentage of non-participation is not sufficiently large in relation to the whole population, then the sampling can be considered fairly representative.

Let’s discuss how you can have your random sample from the target population of 100 students. Let me illustrate with a simple example. Write each name on a separate piece of paper and insert it inside a box. Then select one by one without looking till you have your desired sample size. You would notice that logically all the 100 students could have an equal chance of being selected. Thus, your selection would represent the whole population without discrimination.

Non-random Sampling: This type of sampling, as the phrase suggests, does not fall into the categories of probability and random selection. Random sampling is done because there is a problem in the selection of participants from the target population. It could be due to the fact that the total number of your population is either unknown or too large to be sampled individually. The following methods are useful for taking your desired samples:

Quota Sampling: Let’s say you want to study a specific characteristic of the target population. You need to select a sample for your research. It is done at your own timing and liking. Look for those who have the characteristic and keep on selecting until you are satisfied with quantity. Let’s take an example of quota sampling. You want to know the age of male teachers in a school. You stand at the gate entrance and when any male teacher enters you ask him for his age until you are satisfied with the number. This type of sampling is the most convenient and least expensive. However, the disadvantage of this sampling is that the result may not be based on probability and cannot be generalized to the whole population.

Accidental Sampling: This type of sampling is similar to quota sampling but without a selected predetermined characteristic that is obvious or visible.

Purposive Sampling: This sampling is based on personal preference and judgment. You select only participants who you think will provide you with the kind of information you need. So, it is based on the researcher’s opinion and decision.

Expert Sampling: You select only the experts. You know that such participants or respondents are knowledgeable and will give you the information you require.

Snow Ball Sampling: In such an exercise, you first select a few individuals of the target population. After they have provided you with the necessary information, ask them to suggest suitable people to participate in a similar interview or survey.

Mixed Sampling: This type of research sampling uses a mixture of random and non-random sampling principles.

As apparent from the above discussion, it is important to decide on the size of your sampling. Once you have decided, just proceed to collect the necessary data. Take note that in a qualitative study, you pay less attention to the sample size, while in quantitative research, it is important to have an appropriate sample size in relation to the target population.

4.6. Data Collection Process

Data collection in research is a long process of gathering, measuring and establishing meaning so that you have answers to your questions. It is useful to have a systematic road map for gathering relevant and current data to answer your hypotheses and research questions. Before proceeding with data collection, there are some questions you need to ask yourself.

For instance: What kind of data do I need? How am I going to collect the necessary information?

The following are some useful guidelines:

1) Choose an appropriate instrument for a meaningful outcome. The researcher should investigate ways of collecting relevant information. It requires reading, talking with peers, reviewing related literature to see how other scholars have conducted their data collection. It is crucial to understand theoretical concepts on data collection. As such, you should have a clear vision of your research so that the data collected will meet the objectives of your study.

2) Ensure that the instrument has validity (the instrument should measure what it is supposed to measure) and reliability (it is accurate and consistent in measuring your variables).

3) Your instrument should not have any bias. It is the duty of the researcher to make sure that the respondents are not under pressure to provide information.

4.7. Data Collection

4.7.1. Primary Data Collection

If the information collected is from original research that is documented in international journals, proceedings and theses, the data source is considered primary. The data is from first-hand work that is peer-reviewed, indexed, and published for the first time. Primary data also refers to your collection of information directly from your sample population. For instance, you wish to investigate the effectiveness of university lecturers. You go to the field to investigate the job satisfaction of lecturers, students’ perception of the quality of teaching, and so on. Take note that effective primary data collection depends on your purpose, professional skills, and your resources. Collecting the wrong data would invariably yield inaccurate results. Hence before commencing your data collection, make sure that you study the background of the target population, such as demographic characteristics, socioeconomic, educational level, their age group, gender and so on.

4.7.2. Research Instruments for Gathering Primary Data

1) Questionnaire Design

It is vital to construct a questionnaire that will yield vital information for your study. The structure of a questionnaire, like writing an essay, requires an introduction, main issue, and a conclusion. It is a good idea to begin your questionnaire with an introduction that explains your topic and purpose, as well as a brief introduction of yourself, the researcher.

Write your introduction politely, indicating that participation is not compulsory and only takes about 5 minutes. Always indicate clearly in your introduction that respondents’ answers are strictly confidential. This will ensure that your respondents would feel comfortable giving their feedback or personal information. At the end of your questionnaire, do not forget to express your gratitude and thanks. When designing your questionnaire, make sure that your questions are theoretically sound and field-tested so the validity and reliability of your instrument will not be questioned. Once your questionnaire is ready, you can administer it via the post, telephone, email/internet or self-administered surveys.

2) Types of Questions

Open-ended Questions: This cannot be answered by a simple yes or no; it requires elaboration.

Ranking Scales: Participants’ responses to selected statements are given ranking. The ranking scale is normally based on comparison, e.g. No 1 is the lowest and No 10 is the highest.

Sliding Scales: Such questions aim to record the respondent’s attitude and feelings toward a given situation or product. For example, the respondent is asked to indicate his degree of agreement or disagreement with a given statement.

Multiple-choice Questions: The participant responds by choosing one of the several options.

Dichotomous Questions: The participant responds by choosing either Yes/No or True/False.

4.7.3. Primary Data Collection Methods

Field notes: when you conduct an experimental study, you should have a note-taking habit of what you observe happening in the field. Observation: This is one of most effective ways of collecting primary data for your research. You observe your sample and listen to their conversations. Observation can also be conducted through recording, such as narrative and categorical recording of the participants’ oral discourse.

There are two types of observations, namely participants’ observation and non-participants’ observation. In participants’ observation, the researcher directly participates with the sample population and observes the situation. It can be done secretly or with their knowledge. For instance, if you want to know the progress of an English class in your university, you could pretend to be a student in that class to know exactly what is happening.

In non-participants’ observation, you are not involved in any activity; you just watch and listen to the conversation of a selected sample and take notes. It must be pointed out that research observation has its disadvantages and may lead to a wrong conclusion. If your participants know that you are observing them, they may change their behaviour and thus the data collected may not be totally accurate. Furthermore, the element of bias may cloud the observer’s interpretation or judgment of the situation.

Interview: Another popular method of collecting data is through interviews. After you have chosen your sample, conduct an interview with the participants and record the session for viewing later. The interview can be conducted face to face or via the phone. One of the advantages of an interview is that you have the freedom of asking any question (in an unstructured interview). Interviews are conducted in a friendly manner. It is the duty of the researcher to make the session interesting and motivating so that the respondents would feel at ease when talking.

1) Types of Interviews

Structured Interview: In a structured interview, the questions are structured and already designed ahead of the interview. This type of interview can be conducted either face to face or by phone. One of the benefits of a structured interview is that the collected data is uniform, and comparability of the data is assured. Furthermore, it does not require a skillful researcher to conduct the interview.

Unstructured Interview: This is a less formal interview. The researcher has complete freedom with regard to the content, wording, and the manner of asking questions. Unstructured interviews are common in qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection.

Questionnaires: Another method of collecting information to answer your research questions is by distributing questionnaires to your sample population. What is a questionnaire? It is a uniform set of written questions to gather information from the respondents. It is the duty of the researcher to ensure that the questions are clear, simple, easy to understand, and does not take up too much time or thinking to answer. Questionnaires are distributed in many ways, such as through e-mail, phone conversation, public places and so on. One of the important benefits of using the questionnaire for data collection is that it is not expensive. You save time, money, and resources. Furthermore, respondents can express themselves more freely as they are not required to reveal their names.

However, questionnaires are not without disadvantages. Some questions might be biased. Some participants might not answer all the questions truthfully or they might be in a hurry and will simply rush through the questionnaire without giving the questions much thought. Moreover, you cannot ask questions that are deemed sensitive.

4.7.4. Secondary Data Collection Sources

Secondary data sources refer to existing information in the form of specific subjects, books, monographs, hospital records, etc. that provide second-hand data. In other words, the author is not the original source of the information but is only citing or extracting information from the original source. The documents are already established and documented by scholars and have undergone rigorous scientific measurement. Examples are academic text books, journal review articles, documentaries, biographies, official statistics and annotations. The advantage of doing secondary data collection is that you can interpret information and present it based on their types. Collection of secondary data is as crucial as primary data collection. It is important to collect from sources that are relevant to your research. Take note of your citation and ensure there is proper referencing to the actual data source.

1) Disadvantages of Secondary Data

Validity and reliability of source as well as information might be questionable. The possibility of bias especially from sources such as personal views, articles, diaries and magazines. There might be problems accessing relevant or related data for verification.

4.7.5. Data Analysis Process

Once you have finished the collection of data, you have raw data in your hands. Such data do not mean anything unless you analyze and interpret them. The data must undergo an important process called data analysis. This is a systematic process of applying logical technique and statistical instrument to give meaning and interpretation to your data. Your data must be illustrated and evaluated properly so that it leads you to a meaningful conclusion. Your results and the accuracy of your findings depend on whether your data have been analyzed correctly. When conducting data analysis, a sound theoretical framework must be applied. One of the significant data analysis techniques that is developed by Miles and Huberman (1994) has a theoretical framework that describes the major phases of data analysis. Pre-test, post-test, questionnaires, surveys, observation, checklist and interviews must be coded and made ready for data entry. A significant and primary tool to analyse collected data is the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel computer software programmes.

The most commonly used modules of statistical analyses include descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies, counts and percentages), and common statistical tools (ANOVA, pairwise t-test, etc.). Based on Miles and Huberman’s framework, the collected data are analysed as follows:

1) Data Reduction

You should use a combination of deductive and inductive analyses to organise your collected data. The data must be categorized and meaningfully reconfigured. Select crucial data to focus on, then simplify and extract them for easy comprehension.

2) Data Display

Patterns and interrelationships among the collected data must be organized. Critical means and supporting evidence should be carefully analyzed. The data should be organized based on your research questions, problem, and hypotheses.

3) Data Verification

Data conformity and validity must be verified. The implications of collected data for your research questions must be verified. Your data must be cross-checked several times to determine its validity and reliability. Please take note that if you are not an expert on handling statistics and data analysis, you can get an expert to help you (Faryadi, 2012) .

4.8. Important Considerations When Doing Your Research

1) Do not take off your shoes without seeing the water: Research is all about techniques, employing the appropriate methodology and method, having an open and unbiased mind, and ability to make predictions. However, do not make any decision without a thorough investigation of the possibilities.

2) Arm yourself with relevant knowledge: Ignorance is the mother of all problems. So, read and read and read until you think you have the power to conquer the mountain. Only a knowledgeable person can think of a good problem and formulate answerable research questions.

3) Don’t be too ambitious and expect too much: Walk your journey slowly. Think of your questions. Do not pose big questions that might take a lifetime to answer. Think of questions that offer the possibility of being answered, taking into consideration your expertise, time and resources. If you think that you cannot achieve an outcome, don’t waste your time and resources; be adaptable and make changes. Think of an investigation that you can pose precise questions and hypotheses. You must know what you are doing; otherwise, you are wasting a huge portion of your life.

4) Don’t be arrogant, prejudiced, or selfish: A good research requires a good honest researcher who is also a gentleman. If you don’t know something, be honest with yourself and ask your peers for help. At the same time, read and read. Go to the library and arm yourself with the sword of knowledge so that you can make informed decisions. Arrogance destroys your findings. Remember this saying? Those who know that they don’t know are better than those who don’t know that they don’t know. You are not expected to be an expert on everything. Therefore, be humble and ask for help if and when necessary.

5. PhD Results Process

5.1. Results

Now you are in the Results chapter of your thesis. Congratulations! The time has come to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Now you can declare to the world what you have discovered in your investigation. No discussion in this chapter. You need only to document your results scientifically. Just report the information collected and analyze your findings without bias. Your results should be accompanied by figures, tables, charts as well as illustrations, if necessary, so that your problem statement, hypothesis and research questions are addressed clearly. Take note that your results, whether negative or positive, are still significant contributions to existing knowledge.

5.2. PhD Result Writing Process

When you are reporting your results, make sure they are properly organized. It is always helpful to start with a small abstract-style introduction stating what you intend to do in this chapter. A short paragraph would help your reader remember your research problem, questions and hypothesis so that when they read this chapter, they can understand your results better. Pay attention to the key findings of your investigation. Report your results in the past tense as the data have already been collected. When you are declaring your results, do not mention phrases such as I, We, or I found that…, we found that… because it is unprofessional for a scholar to boast. Instead you may state: this research has investigated, this study has found that…. and so on.

Start from your problem statement and put forth evidence to show that you have proved or disproved the research problem. Mention your research questions and explain with evidence what you have discovered. Have you answered all your research questions? Next, discuss your hypothesis and explain whether it was accepted or rejected, using evidence based on your results. Explain your findings and relate them to your problem, questions and hypothesis. Show the significance of your findings. Do not interpret and discuss anything in the Results chapter. Only report what you have found, based on the data collected. Any interpretation and argument can be discussed in the chapter that follows, i.e. the Conclusion chapter.

The length of your Results chapter depends on the amount of data collected as well as the number of charts, tables, graphs, etc. to make the presentation of your results more meaningful and easier to understand. Outline the significance of your findings chronologically. Report the most significant part of your results first. At the end of the Results chapter, write a concluding paragraph similar to the one in the introduction. In this way, your readers will remember what you have stated earlier.

5.3. When Documenting Your Results, Keep in Mind

1) The Results section is indeed a very important section of your scholarly and scientific research. Here you are reporting the results of all the investigations, data collection and their analysis. Write in a scientific and scholarly style. Use proper terminology when writing your results. Do not attempt to interpret the findings; just report what you discovered objectively. Make sure that you write clearly and use charts or tables to help your reader understand your findings and relate them to your investigation.

2) Don’t worry if your findings do not support your hypothesis or your research questions, just be professional and honest. Even if you have negative results, they are still significant findings which may be of interest to other researchers so that they continue to investigate further. The findings of any research must be verifiable by other researchers (Bavdekar & Chandak, 2015) .

3) Make an outline of the content in the Results chapter so that you know exactly what to include or exclude. Just imagine you are narrating a story to your audience. Make sure that your narration does not go beyond the scope of the story. Similarly, when presenting your results, make sure that you narrate whatever is relevant to your problem, questions and hypothesis. If you put in too many facts and unnecessary findings, your Results chapter will be cluttered and dense. So be concise and to the point, so that your results are manageable and easy to understand.

4) Report your results using statistics to support your claims. At the end of the chapter, make a summary of how the results yielded answers to your problem, questions and hypothesis.

As apparent from the above explanation, the objective of your Results chapter is to outline the crucial findings of your investigations without discussion and interpreting the meaning of your variables and findings. Take note that your thesis is a fine piece of scholarly writing. You must make sure that it is free from typing errors and grammatical mistakes. Use a reputable editor to fine tune your thesis-writing.

6. The PhD Discussion and Conclusion Chapter

Writing the Conclusion is as challenging as writing your Introduction. One big difference, however, is that in the Introduction chapter, you pose questions to your audience while in this chapter, you present the answers to those questions. It is important to bear in mind that the Conclusion is not a summary of your Introduction even though it needs a paragraph that may summarize the whole thesis.

In the Conclusion chapter, it might be useful to mention briefly again your research questions and hypotheses so that the reader can relate it to the discussion of your findings. Outline your objectives in conducting the research. Emphasize the importance of your investigation and the answers you have found. Discuss the why, the what and the how of your investigation. Emphasize the significance and impact of your research in your Conclusion. Your readers are keen to know how your findings have contributed to existing knowledge in the discipline. They are also eager to know how your investigation could provide solutions to similar problems.

In the Conclusion, you should argue how your findings have bridged the gap in the particular area of knowledge. You should provide adequate information for other researchers to conduct further studies with a suitable methodology such as yours. Do not add any unrelated materials that are not part of your research. The Conclusion chapter, like the rest of the chapters, should follow a scientific style of thesis writing as other scholars might want to cite your paper to acknowledge your contribution. When you present your arguments, avoid mentioning your weaknesses. Always stress that you have a reliable and measurable outcome and contribution (Robert et al., 2005) .

Remember, when writing the Introduction chapter, you start from general to specific statements but in your Conclusion, it is vital to remember that you discuss everything starting from specific and end up with a general understanding of things. Direct your readers to the real applications of your findings and to what extent the findings can be generalized. When you are writing your conclusion, it is vital that pose some questions for your readers to ponder on. Make sure to summarize the main issues in your thesis so that you can refresh the reader’s memory.

In addition, stress the fact that you have proved or disproved your problem, that you have answered your research questions, and tested your hypothesis. Remember, your Conclusion is the most important part of your thesis. Many readers read the abstract, a little bit of introduction, go through your results and focus on the relevance and impact of your findings. That is your conclusion. Now is your chance to answer this question in a scholarly manner and make your point that your research is worthy of reading as you have accomplished what you have set out to investigate.

Consider the Following When Writing Your PhD Conclusion

1) Explain clearly what we understand now that we did not understand before. Write for your readers, not for yourself. Never mention the words I, We or I found that and so on.

2) Explicate your problem statement and show with evidence from the Results section that you have indeed bridged a gap in knowledge as pointed out earlier in your literature review.

3) Show how your hypotheses have proven or otherwise and their significance. Don’t worry if your results are negative or positive; they are still significant. For example, a study claimed that magnesium chloride is not the solution for depression. However, your experimental results showed that magnesium chloride is, in fact, the solution for fighting severe depression. There you are! Start reasoning and give evidence from scholarly publications that support your hypothesis and findings. Those supportive references should be in your literature review chapter.

4) Discuss the significance of your contribution as a result of your investigation.

5) Lastly, do not forget to be concise and precise.

It is evident from the above discussion that a piece of scholarly research must pass specific tests, such as those concerning its methodology (quantitative, qualitative, experimental, observation and so on), validity (logical procedure to answer a question), and reliability (quality of measurement), besides having an unbiased conclusion (accurate measures are taken to make sure that it is free from vested interest). As such, a PhD thesis should be a significant contribution to existing academic knowledge. As apparent from the above discussion, your thesis either must confront or concur with existing literature with regard to your research findings. Your conclusion must elucidate the originality of the problem and illustrate what critical thinking and skills have been used to prove or disprove the problem. In the Conclusion, you must explain how the problem was solved and how it has bridged the gap in existing knowledge. Let’s us sum up the differences between the introduction, discussion, and conclusion so that you have an idea how these sections are interlinked.

7.1. Introduction

The Introduction starts with a general statement and aims to engage the reader’s interest and curiosity.

It introduces the main issue of the thesis, i.e. your problem statement and emphasizes the significance of the study. It poses the research question and states how it will be answered. An outline of the research strategy is given. It highlights the severity of the research problem and cites documented evidence. An ideal introduction should form 10% of your total thesis.

7.2. Discussion

The Discussion is an important part of your thesis. In this section, you need to argue scientifically and logically to defend, support, and explain your answers to the research questions. Remember that your thesis may not be a perfect one, but you should endeavour to make your readers understand the significance of your findings. When writing your discussion, make sure to include only issues that are of vital importance, while excluding less important issues. Always start with specific issues, i.e. interpret your findings, and gradually move on to discuss how your findings can be generalized and applied. Don’t forget to show how sound, field-tested theories have lent support to your findings. You can also cite documented evidence from other researchers who have done similar studies on the related topic. Point out how your application of an appropriate methodology and clearly-defined concepts have increased the validity and reliability of your investigation. Do not deviate from your original terminologies, concepts, and key words introduced at the beginning of your thesis. It is important to always link your results and findings to current and peer reviewed literature. In your discussion, you must address all important issues such as your problem, research questions and hypotheses one by one, and support your justification with documented evidence from your findings and other scholarly work. Impartiality is vital when discussing arguments from scholars who have contrarian views. If you don’t agree with a particular researcher, explain why your point of view is more reasonable, practical and relevant to the study at hand. Explain how your findings are different from others and support your claims with evidence. If you have conflicting findings, explicate them so that you can make a meaningful and logical presentation. Remember to briefly outline the potential real-life applications of your findings so that you can show their significance and impact.

7.3. Important Tips When Writing Your Discussion

When you write your discussion chapter, state the main points and show their significance by bringing in current and relevant evidence. Keep in mind that your Discussion section is like the heart of your thesis, keeping the other parts connected and relevant. When you discuss your findings, you are also highlighting the significance of your results in relation to your research questions. The main purpose of the Discussion is to enlighten your readers about the significance of your findings. The Discussion highlights the evidence and data you have collected and shows how your research questions have been answered. The Discussion should also refer to other similar or related studies.

You should aim to show the truth; your job is not to prove or disprove anything. Always remember that there are other possible answers to your research questions. Show your research findings can be applied to real life situations. Don’t forget to discuss the weaknesses and the limitations of the study so that other researchers can carry on further investigative work that is beyond the scope of your study.

Never speculate but keep your focus on the research topic. Keep in mind that the Discussion chapter is a humble presentation of your scientific investigation. Have respect for other scholastic work and do not be too critical. Do not be defensive. If you follow these ethics of research, you will be acknowledged among your peers.

7.4. Conclusion

The conclusion chapter reaffirms your topic, problem, questions, and hypotheses. Mention the main points from your Introduction, emphasize why and what you have set out to do, then briefly report the findings and their significance. Although it may sound repetitive, mentioning the main points again will reinforce your message. Maintain the flow of your thesis and do not add any new points that are not part of your investigation. Don’t be selfish about your work; leave room for other researchers to challenge or support your research. In fact, you need to mention that further investigations are needed to strengthen the validity and reliability of your study. Do not repeat the same old thing again and again. An ideal conclusion should form 10% of your total thesis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

•   Articles
•   Archive
•   Indexing
•   Aims & Scope
•   Editorial Board
•   For Authors
•   Publication Fees

Journals Menu  

• Open Special Issues
• Published Special Issues
• Special Issues Guideline
• E-Mail Alert
• CE Subscription
• Publication Ethics & OA Statement
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recommend to Peers
• Recommend to Library
• History Issue

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

• Journals A-Z

About SCIRP

• Publication Fees
• For Authors
• Peer-Review Issues
• Special Issues
• Manuscript Tracking System
• Subscription
• Translation & Proofreading
• Volume & Issue
• Open Access
• Publication Ethics
• Preservation
• Privacy Policy

• Utility Menu

Committee on Degrees in Social Studies

A Guide to Writing a Senior Thesis in Social Studies answers many of the common questions students have about the thesis-writing process. You may want to read this guide once through before beginning your thesis process, so that you know what’s in store. Then, we suggest that you refer back to the guide while working on your project, using the table of contents to identify questions that come up once your work on the project has begun.

Writing a Social Studies thesis is a significant academic project. A Social Studies thesis needs to be between 20,000 and 30,000 words long, roughly equivalent to 100 double-spaced pages. It must incorporate a substantial amount of primary source data and make an original argument supported by that research.

Our goal is to make the thesis process manageable and to help support you as best we can. Along with the guide above, we have numerous ways that we provide support through all phases of your thesis work . Additionally, our thesis supervisor database   can be a good starting point to begin your thesis supervisor search. These methods resources may help fill some gaps as you conceptualize your project. You may also want to read through some of our past thesis titles   to get a sense of the wide variety of past student projects or read a sample thesis on the Social Studies 99 website. Of course, you can also reach out to our concentration advisers with any questions you have at any stage of your process—from project conception to research to writing.  

• Concentration Requirements

Supervisor Database

• Thesis Supervisor Form
• Methods Resources
• Thesis Formatting
• Late Policy
• Grading and Honors
• Past Thesis Titles
• Advice from the Class of 2016
• Senior Thesis Reflections
• Study Abroad

Provide details on what you need help with along with a budget and time limit. Questions are posted anonymously and can be made 100% private.

Studypool matches you to the best tutor to help you with your question. Our tutors are highly qualified and vetted.

Your matched tutor provides personalized help according to your question details. Payment is made only after you have completed your 1-on-1 session and are satisfied with your session.

• Homework Q&A
• Become a Tutor

All Subjects

Mathematics

Programming

Health & Medical

Engineering

Computer Science

Foreign Languages

Access over 20 million homework & study documents

A guide to writing a senior thesis in social studies harvard university.

Sign up to view the full document!

24/7 Homework Help

Stuck on a homework question? Our verified tutors can answer all questions, from basic  math  to advanced rocket science !

Similar Documents

working on a homework question?

Studypool is powered by Microtutoring TM

Copyright © 2024. Studypool Inc.

Studypool is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university.

Ongoing Conversations

Access over 20 million homework documents through the notebank

Get on-demand Q&A homework help from verified tutors

Read 1000s of rich book guides covering popular titles

Sign up with Google

Sign up with Facebook

Already have an account? Login

Login with Google

Login with Facebook

Don't have an account? Sign Up

The Honors Program in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Translation provides a unique opportunity to majors and minors in any of its language and culture disciplines to conduct field research through study abroad or applied internships. After taking a course that prepares them to do and write up research, students will have the opportunity to share their findings either through an honors project or thesis. Students have the opportunity to share their findings either through an honors project or thesis. This is the highest distinction that the department bestows on its majors and minors; honors in Languages, Cultures, and Translation is an excellent preparation for graduate school, and it is a great addition to student resumes.

All program-level Admissions and Progression Requirements are in addition to the  University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements   .

Admission Requirements

Current unc charlotte undergraduate students.

See University Admission Requirements    

To be admitted to the Languages and Culture Studies honors program, students must have:

• 3.0 overall GPA
• Completed the 2201 course level in their language of choice with a grade of B or above
• Permission of the Honors Director

Progression Requirements

Honors candidates must participate in at least 3 credit hours of either study abroad or a department-approved internship or experiential learning opportunity.

In order to graduate with departmental honors, students must:

• Complete the Application to Candidacy through the Honors College
• Complete LACS 3700    with a grade of A or a grade of B with approval of the Honors Director
• Complete a study abroad or program-approved internship and/or experiential learning opportunity of at least 3 credit hours
• Complete LACS 4700    with a grade of A to receive honors (Students earning a lower grade can still earn elective credit)
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 in the Languages and Culture Studies major or minor

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

How to Prepare and Write a Thesis? Advices to PhD and Ms Students in Economics Studies

2009, Journal of the New Economic Association

RELATED PAPERS

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Sandrine Blazy

买deakin学位证书 迪肯大学毕业证学位证书案例原版一模一样

Journal of Applied Physics

George A Antonelli

Fabio Nascimento

Clinical Neurophysiology

Moussa Antoine CHALAH

留学生买文凭加拿大TUA毕业证书制作 办理阿尔伯塔大学毕业证书成绩单修改

Khandaker Hossain

Leo Chandra

Dimitrie Siriopol

Produsen Bronjong Kawat Bronjong Kawat

tyghfg hjgfdfd

Scientific Reports

Philani Hlophe

WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health

Ranjan Wijesinghe

Jurnal Kimia dan Kemasan

Eliana Prabalaras

Sandra Brammer

Economics Letters

Avik Chakrabarti

Banks and Bank Systems

poppy koeswayo

Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi

GULSEN ALBAYRAK ARI

Juan Manuel Alba

South African Journal of Science

Adam Cruise

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024