Chapter  1:  The  Lighthouse  of  Your  Thesis  or  Dissertation  

Most  Common  Structure  of  a  Thesis  or  Disserta4on    

Each  University  states  how  many  chapters  a  thesis/disserta5on  should  have.  However,  there  are  five  main  parts  that  are  common.  They  are:  •  Introduc5on  •  Literature  review  •  Methodology  •  Findings  •  Discussion,  conclusions,  and  recommenda5ons  

Role  of  Each  Chapter  (I)  

•  Introduc5on:  provides  a  precise  picture  of  what  the  thesis/disserta5on  is  about  

•  Literature  review:  discusses  the  theories,  models,  approaches,  and  prior  research  that  serve  as  the  founda5on  of  the  study.  It  lets  us  be  aware  of  what  is  known  so  as  to  explore  the  unknown.  

•  Methodology:  states  how  to  gather  and  analyze  data,  who  you  work  with,  and  why  you  do  it.  

Role  of  Each  Chapter  (II)  

•  Findings:  presents  the  results  of  the  study  generally  without  interpre5ng  them.  That  is  not  always  possible  in  qualita5ve  studies,  but  the  level  of  interpreta5on  is  low.  

•  Discussion,  conclusions,  and  recommenda5ons:  gives  meaning  to  results  by  linking  them  to  previous  research,  theories,  and  prac5ce  and  also  to  future  research,  improved  theories  and  prac5ce.  

Relationship  among  Chapters  

Chapter  1  Sets  what  to  do   Chapter  2  

Gives  founda5on  

Chapter  3  Sets  how  to  do  the  

study  

Chapter  4  Presents  results  

Chapter  5  Discusses  results  

 Why  Is  Chapter  1  the  Lighthouse  of  a  

Thesis  or  Disserta4on?    

Because  it  states:  •   What  we  think  should  be  studied  •  The  theore5cal  and  research  framework  within  it  should  be  studied  

•  What  we  expect  to  achieve  •  What  we  have  to  answer  or  test  •  How  we  will  look  for  that  answer  or  do  that  test  Each  of  these  items  influences  any  decision  we  made  in  the  process  and  all  of  them  are  together  in  chapter  1.  Therefore,  we  always  have  to  look  at  it  in  order  to  know  what  to  do.  It  is  our  lighthouse.  

Main  Elements  of  Chapter  1  (but  not  necessarily  presented  as  headings)  

•  Introduc5on  or  Overview  •  Background  •  Theore5cal  or  Conceptual  Framework  •  Problem  Statement  •  Purpose  of  the  Study  •  Research  Ques5ons  •  Research  Design  •  Other  elements  usually  included    

USUALLY  IT  IS  EXPECTED  THAT  YOU  PROVIDE  THE  ROADMAP  OF  WHAT  IS  PRESENTED  IN  THE  CHAPTER,  INCLUDING  THE  SCOPE  OF  THE  STUDY  IN  TERMS  OF  WHAT  WAS  DONE,  WHO  PARTICIPATED,  AND  HOW  IT  WAS  CONDUCTED.  THIS  HAS  TO  BEEN  DONE  VERY  SUCCINCTLY  IN  NOT  MORE  THAN  2  PARAGRAPHS.  

Introduction or Overview

A  NARRATIVE  THAT  INTENDS  TO  SET  UP  THE  CONTEXT  WITHIN  WHICH  THE  RESEARCH  PROBLEM  EMERGES  AND  STATES  THE  NEED  AND  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  STUDY.  TO  DO  IT,  YOU  DISCUSS  WHAT  HAS  ALREADY  BEEN  RESEARCHED  SO  FAR  AND  WHAT  GAP(S)  YOUR  STUDY  TRIES  TO  FILL  UP,  USING  LITERATURE  TO  SUPPORT  POINTS  OF  VIEW.  THE  MAIN  GOALS  ARE  TO  CONTEXTUALIZE  THE  STUDY,  GRAB  READERS’  ATTENTION,  AND  EMPHASIZE  THE  SIGNIFICANCE  OF  THE  STUDY.  

Background

THIS  IS  A  SUCCINCT  DISCUSSION  OF  THE  THEORIES,  PRINCIPLES,  MODELS,  APPROACHES,  AND  RESEARCH  THAT  ARE  BEHIND  THE  VARIABLES  OF  YOUR  STUDY  AND  THEIR  RELATIONSHIPS.  IN  THIS  SENSE,  IT  IS  A  QUICK  VIEW  OF  WHAT  YOU  WILL  DISCUSS  IN  THE  LITERATURE  REVIEW.  CITATIONS  ARE  A  MUST.  THE  GOAL  IS  TO  PRESENT  THE  THEORETICAL  AND  RESEARCH  BASES  OF  THE  STUDY  IN  A  VERY  SUMMARIZED  WAY.  

Theoretical or Conceptual Framework

SPECIFIC  DESCRIPTION  OF  WHAT  INTRIGUES  A  RESEARCHER.  GENERALLY  SPEAKING,  IT  INCLUDES  BRIEFLY  WHAT  IT  IS  ALREADY  KNOWN  ABOUT  THE  PROBLEM  SITUATION  AND  THAT  ESTABLISHES  THE  CONTEXT  FROM  WHICH  THE  RESEARCH  PROBLEM  EMERGES,  WHAT  IS  UNKNOWN  AND  DESERVES  TO  BE  STUDIED  –  THE  RESEARCH  PROBLEM-­‐  AND  WHY  IT  IS  IMPORTANT  TO  KNOW  ABOUT  THAT  PROBLEM      

Problem Statement

WHAT  A  RESEARCHER  INTENDS  TO  FIND  OUT  OR  DO  IN  A  STUDY  .IT  DEFINES  THE  GOAL  TO  ACHIEVE  AS  A  RESULT  OF  DOING  THE  STUDY.    

Purpose of the Study

WHAT  A  RESEARCHER  SPECIFICALLY  WANTS  TO  ANSWER  –  OR  TEST-­‐  CONDUCTING  A  STUDY.  EACH  RESEARCH  QUESTION  SHOULD  ADDRESS  A  SPECIFIC  ASPECT  OF  THE  RESEARCH  PROBLEM  IN  ORDER  TO  BE  ABLE  TO  HAVE  ANSWERS  THAT  PROVIDE  CLEAR,  VALID,  UNMIXED,  AND  USEFUL  INFORMATION.  THIS  IMPLIES  THAT  YOU  MAY  HAVE  GENERAL  AND  SPECIFIC  RESEARCH  QUESTIONS.  

Research Questions

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  STUDY  COULD  BE  INCLUDED  IN  THE  BACKGROUND  OR  AS  A  SEPARATE  SECTION.  THE  MAIN  POINT  IS  THAT  THE  THEORETICAL  AND/OR  PRACTICAL  BENEFITS  OF  THE  STUDY  MUST  BE  CLEARLY  STATED.  

Significance of the Study

ALTHOUGH  NOT  ALL  UNIVERSITIES  ASK  FOR  A  SUMMARY  OF  METHODOLOGY  IN  CHAPTER  1,  IT  IS  USEFUL  TO  INCLUDE  IT  SINCE  IT  LETS  READERS  EVALUATE  THE  APPROPRIATENESS  OF  THE  RESEARCH  DESIGN  JUST  FROM  THE  BEGINNING  AND  ALSO  HELPS  YOU  HAVE  A  QUICK  VIEW  OF  METHODOLOGY  WHENEVER  YOU  NEED  TO  MAKE  DECISIONS  ON  THE  THESIS/DISSERTATION  PROCESS.  

Research Design

HYPOTHESES  (IN  QUANTITATIVE  AND  MIXED  METHODS  STUDIES),  ASSUMPTIONS,  LIMITATIONS  ,  AND  DEFINITION  OF  KEY  TERMS  

Other Elements Usually Included

Process  to  Develop  Chapter  1  

Background   Theore5cal  Framework  

Problem  Statement  

Purpose  of  the  Study  

Research  Ques5on  (Hypothesis  if  

needed)  

Research  Design  

Now  You  Know  

1.  The most common structure of a thesis or dissertation

2.  The role of each chapter in it 3.  The relationship among

chapters 4.  Main elements of chapter 1 5.  The process to develop it

Any  question?  

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