LibGuides: Dissertations/Final Year Projects: Planning your Dissertation

Planning Process

Stella Cottrell

According to Stella Cottrell, there are five key steps in the process of writing a dissertation.

Different Structures

There are several types of dissertation or final year project. The type you will do will usually depend on your discipline and your choice of topic. The four most common types are illustrated in this figure. The types fall under two broad areas, which can be called Practical and Theoretical.

The type of dissertation or project you do will strongly affect the process and structure. For example, if you're writing a constructed or practical type of dissertation, you'll be spending time setting up and then collecting your data. You'll then be expected to analyse your data and write up your work as a report. If you're writing an abstract type of dissertation, you'll spend a lot of your time reading and making notes, clarifying your ideas and then writing your work up in a structure of your choice.

Click on the info icons on the image below to find out more about the different types. Reference for the content: Source: Walliman, N. (2004). Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The essential guide for success. London: Sage

An empirical dissertation is centred on collecting and analysing original data to explore a specific research question. It involves conducting primary research through methods such as experiments, surveys, interviews, case studies, or observations. The gathered data is then examined using suitable statistical or qualitative techniques to draw conclusions.

The structure of an empirical dissertation typically includes:

Introduction (research question, objectives, background)
Literature Review (contextualizing the research)
Methodology (how data is collected and analysed)
Results (presentation of findings)
Discussion (interpretation of the results)
Conclusion (summarizing the findings and suggesting further research).

A theoretical dissertation is centred on interpreting original sources such as historical texts, literature, artworks, or archival documents to explore, develop, or critique theories and concepts. It is rooted in qualitative research and emphasises on critical thinking, detailed textual or comparative analysis, and interpretation within a specific academic or philosophical framework. Its aim is often to generate new theoretical insights or deepen understanding of existing ideas.

The structure of a theoretical dissertation typically includes:

Introduction (research aim and importance of the topic)
Literature Review (review of existing theories and concepts)
Theoretical Framework (developing or challenging existing theories)
Discussion (critical analysis and synthesis – key arguments)
Conclusion (summary of findings and implications)