如何写dissertation：Step 1: Dissertation proposals（title、instruction、Aims and objectives）
08-05, 2014
Step 1: Dissertation proposals
Title
You need a working title to focus on throughout your research. It may be that you will improve on the wording later but make sure the title you begin with means something.
Remember:
Future employers may ask about the topic of your dissertation. It might be worth thinking to the future in order to come up with something that will gain their interest.
Which of the following would gain your interest if you were the manager of a web-based sales company?
"Intranets and their use in advertising"
"Using Intranets to build a knowledge management system"
"How recent developments in Intranet technology can be used improve sales performance."
Introduction
Set out your reasons for undertaking this particular study in your Introduction.
Set your ideas into a theoretical/academic context.
Your statement should:
Outline the problem – what is the key issue?
Explain why you think this is worth investigating
Describe the nature and purpose of your research
Indicate what you hope to achieve.
Remember:
Some lecturers prefer students to weave their literature review into the introduction; others prefer it to be kept separate.
If you are unable to complete your statement then you are not yet ready to begin.
Aims and objectives
The primary focus of your research project is usually expressed in terms of aims and objectives.
What is the difference between an aim and an objective in an academic context?
Aim
An intention or aspiration; what you hope to achieve.
Aims are statements of intent, written in broad terms.
Aims set out what you hope to achieve at the end of the project.
Objective
A goal or a step on the way to meeting the aim; how you will achieve it.
Objectives use specific statements which define measurable outcomes. For example: what steps will you take to achieve the desired outcome?
Objectives should be S.M.A.R.T.:
Specific – be precise about what you are going to do
Measureable –you will know when you have reached your goal
Achievable – Don’t attempt too much. A less ambitious but completed objective is better than an over-ambitious one that you cannot possible achieve.
Realistic – do you have the necessary resources to achieve the objective? For example: time, money, skills, etc?
Time constrained – determine when each stage needs to be completed. Is there time in your schedule to allow for unexpected delays?
Remember:
Use strong positive statements which use strong verbs. Avoid weaker verbs.
Strong verbs: collect, construct, classify, develop, devise, measure, produce, revise, select, synthesise
Weak verbs: appreciate, consider, enquire, learn, know, understand, be aware of, appreciate, listen, perceive
How many aims or objectives should there be?
There are no fixed number of aims or objectives.
Some tutors are happy with one clear strong aim, whilst others like to see a main aim supported by at least two subsidiary aims.
You will be required to produce sufficient objectives to be able to measure progress towards meeting the aim/s.
Remember:
Aims describe what you want to achieve. Objectives describe how you are going to achieve those aims.
Example
Aim:
To investigate the relationship between tectonic-plate movement and the gravitational effect of the alignment of the major planets.
Objectives:
Data sets will be extracted from the known historical record of tectonic-plate movement
Data sets will be extracted from astronomical tables detailing the various alignments of the major planets covering the same period as data from the geological record.
The data from both sets will be synthesised to establish if correlation points exist between major geological events and planetary alignments.
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