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Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success 2nd Revised edition [Pehme köide]

  • Formaat: Paperback / softback, 304 pages, kõrgus x laius: 242x170 mm, kaal: 510 g
  • Sari: Student Success
  • Ilmumisaeg: 15-Aug-2013
  • Kirjastus: Sage Publications Ltd
  • ISBN-10: 1446253198
  • ISBN-13: 9781446253199
Teised raamatud teemal:
  • Formaat: Paperback / softback, 304 pages, kõrgus x laius: 242x170 mm, kaal: 510 g
  • Sari: Student Success
  • Ilmumisaeg: 15-Aug-2013
  • Kirjastus: Sage Publications Ltd
  • ISBN-10: 1446253198
  • ISBN-13: 9781446253199
Teised raamatud teemal:
A tried and tested guide for undergraduate students on how to write a brilliant dissertation.

'This is a refreshing and inspiring book, of equal value to both the anxious and the ambitious student'
- Lucinda Becker, Department of English Literature, University of Reading

In the second edition of this best-selling guide, Nicholas Walliman provides expert, step-by-step advice on managing and developing a successful undergraduate project.

This book takes you through each stage of your dissertation, answering questions including:

  • How do I choose an appropriate topic for my dissertation?
  • How do I write a research proposal?
  • What's a literature review, how do I conduct it and how do I write it up?
  • How can I ensure I'm an ethical researcher?
  • What methods of data collection are appropriate for my research question?
  • Once I have collected my data, what do I do?
  • What's the best structure for my dissertation?

Full of examples from real student projects, interdisciplinary case studies and illustrated with cartoons to make you smile along the way, this book will tell you all you need to know to write a brilliant dissertation.

Arvustused

This book is one of the most helpful I have seen in terms of helping undergraduate students understand the methods and principles involved in carrying out research for the final dissertation which many degree courses require. In essence it is a complete guide, covering every aspect of the process, outlining each step from selecting a theme to final writing and submission - ESCalate This is a refreshing and inspiring book, of equal value to both the anxious and the ambitious student -- Lucinda Becker Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success under the series of SAGE Study Skills is a really successful tool specifically designed to guide students in writing their dissertations...Overall, this is a comprehensive book that achieves its aims of guiding students in writing their dissertations successfully. It is full of lucid explanations, practical tips and gives students the opportunity to implement what they have learnt. It is true that SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Thank you, Nicholas, for this special gift. It is indeed a great book!      -- Tawanda Nhire Nelson António, Colégio Santo Tomás de Aquino (COSTA), Maputo, Mozambique

About the Author xv
Acknowledgements xvii
Introduction 1(2)
1 What's it all for?
3(12)
1.1 Why do I have to do a dissertation? The point of independent study
3(2)
1.1 The main components of a dissertation
5(2)
1.1 What will impress? Seeing it from the examiner's point of view
7(3)
1.1
Chapter summary
10(1)
1.1 What should I do now?
10(2)
1.1 References to more information
12(3)
2 What Types of Studies Are Suitable for a Dissertation?
15(12)
2.2 Your choice
15(1)
2.2 Practical investigations versus theoretical studies
16(2)
2.2 Practical investigations
18(2)
2.2 Theoretical studies
20(2)
2.2 Another way of looking at types of dissertation
22(1)
2.2
Chapter summary
23(1)
2.2 What should I do now?
24(1)
2.2 References to more information
25(2)
3 What Will It Be About?
27(12)
3.3 What really interests you?
27(4)
3.3 Regulations and supervision
31(1)
3.3 Previous examples
32(2)
3.3 Getting background information
34(2)
3.3
Chapter summary
36(1)
3.3 What should I do now?
36(1)
3.3 References to more information
37(2)
4 How Do I Get Started?
39(18)
4.4 What's the problem?
39(4)
4.4 Second review of literature
43(1)
4.4 What are the main concepts?
43(2)
4.4 What about indicators?
45(1)
4.4 What are the main variables and values?
46(1)
4.4 Ways of stating your research problem
47(4)
4.4 Definition of research objectives
51(2)
4.4
Chapter summary
53(1)
4.4 What should I do now?
53(1)
4.4 References to more information
54(3)
5 What's All This About Philosophy?
57(10)
5.5 Can I believe what I see? Do I see what I believe?
57(1)
5.5 Positivism
58(2)
5.5 Relativism
60(2)
5.5 How do these attitudes affect your dissertation?
62(1)
5.5
Chapter summary
63(1)
5.5 What should I do now?
63(3)
5.5 References to more information
66(1)
6 How Do I Write a Proposal?
67(12)
6.6 What is a proposal?
67(1)
6.6 The subject title
68(2)
6.6 The aims or objectives
70(1)
6.6 The background
70(1)
6.6 Defining the research problem
71(1)
6.6 The main concepts and variables
72(1)
6.6 Methods
73(1)
6.6 Expected outcomes
74(1)
6.6 Programme of work
74(1)
6.6
Chapter summary
75(1)
6.6 What should I do now?
75(2)
6.6 References to more information
77(2)
7 What About Working and Planning My Time?
79(14)
7.7 Motivation and discipline
79(1)
7.7 Moods
80(2)
7.7 Being creative
82(1)
7.7 All the things you need to do
83(2)
7.7 Setting up a programme
85(1)
7.7 Starting to write
86(3)
7.7
Chapter summary
89(1)
7.7 What should I do now?
90(1)
7.7 References to more information
91(2)
8 How Can I Find and Review the Literature?
93(14)
8.8 Information overload?
93(2)
8.8 Library searches
95(3)
8.8 The Internet
98(1)
8.8 Evaluating web sources
98(1)
8.8 Search techniques for online catalogues, databases and the net
99(1)
8.8 Doing a literature review
100(2)
8.8
Chapter summary
102(1)
8.8 What should I do now?
103(1)
8.8 References to more information
104(3)
9 How Can I Manage All the Notes?
107(12)
9.9 Introduction
107(1)
9.9 Reading techniques
108(1)
9.9 Identifying useful material
109(1)
9.9 Organizing your system
110(3)
9.9 Taking notes
113(1)
9.9
Chapter summary
114(1)
9.9 What should I do now?
115(1)
9.9 References to more information
116(3)
10 What's All This About Ethics?
119(14)
10.10 Introduction
119(1)
10.10 Honesty -- acknowledging other people's work and avoiding plagiarism
120(3)
10.10 Respect for other people
123(5)
10.10 Scientific honesty and subjectivity
128(2)
10.10
Chapter summary
130(1)
10.10 What should I do now?
130(1)
10.10 References to more information
131(2)
11 What Sorts of Data Will I Find?
133(14)
11.11 The nature of data
133(3)
11.11 Primary and secondary data
136(3)
11.11 Quantitative and qualitative data and levels of measurement
139(4)
11.11
Chapter summary
143(1)
11.11 What should I do now?
143(2)
11.11 References to more information
145(2)
12 How Do I Collect Data?
147(26)
12.12 Where are the necessary data?
147(2)
12.12 Collecting secondary data
149(2)
12.12 Collecting primary data
151(1)
12.12 Sampling
152(5)
12.12 Questionnaires
157(2)
12.12 Interviews: structured, semi-structured and open
159(2)
12.12 Standardized scales and tests
161(1)
12.12 Accounts
162(1)
12.12 Observation
162(2)
12.12 Experiments and models
164(4)
12.12
Chapter summary
168(1)
12.12 What should I do now?
169(1)
12.12 References to more information
170(3)
13 How Do I Analyse Quantitative Data?
173(12)
13.13 Raw data
173(1)
13.13 Refer to the research questions
174(1)
13.13 Analysis according to types of data
175(1)
13.13 Quantitative analysis
176(1)
13.13 Parametric and non-parametric statistics
177(1)
13.13 Statistical tests: parametric
178(2)
13.13 Statistical tests: non-parametric
180(1)
13.13 Discussion of results
181(1)
13.13
Chapter summary
182(1)
13.13 What should I do now?
182(1)
13.13 References to more information
183(2)
14 How Do I Analyse Qualitative Data?
185(16)
14.14 Qualitative research
185(1)
14.14 Qualitative data collection and analysis
186(2)
14.14 Preliminary analysis during data collection
188(1)
14.14 Typologies and taxonomies
189(2)
14.14 Pattern coding, memoing and interim summary
191(1)
14.14 Main analysis during and after data collection
192(5)
14.14
Chapter summary
197(1)
14.14 What should I do now?
198(1)
14.14 References to more information
199(2)
15 Why Do I Need Arguments?
201(20)
15.15 Introduction
201(2)
15.15 The use of language
203(1)
15.15 Statements
204(3)
15.15 Argument
207(2)
15.15 Different types of argument
209(2)
15.15 Do I need to use logic in my argument?
211(1)
15.15 Fallacies in argument
212(4)
15.15 Building up your argument: the essential thread
216(2)
15.15 Gathering your results
218(1)
15.15
Chapter summary
219(1)
15.15 What should I do now?
219(1)
15.15 References to more information
220(1)
16 How Can I Manage Such a Long Piece of Writing?
221(14)
16.16 When to start writing up
221(2)
16.16 Frame and fill
223(3)
16.16 Marshalling your notes and drafting your text
226(1)
16.16 Revisions
227(2)
16.16 Tops and tails
229(1)
16.16 Coming to conclusions
230(1)
16.16 Don't forget your grammar and punctuation!
231(1)
16.16
Chapter summary
232(1)
16.16 What should I do now?
233(1)
16.16 References to more information
233(2)
17 What About Referencing?
235(10)
17.17 Why should I bother about references?
235(2)
17.17 Keeping track
237(1)
17.17 Right ways of doing it
237(4)
17.17 How many references do I need?
241(1)
17.17
Chapter summary
242(1)
17.17 What should I do now?
243(1)
17.17 References to more information
243(2)
18 How Can I Make My Work Look Interesting and Easy to Read?
245(18)
18.18 Presentation ideas
245(1)
18.18 Cover design and binding
246(1)
18.18 Title
247(1)
18.18 Acknowledgements
248(1)
18.18 Abstract
249(1)
18.18 Contents list
249(1)
18.18 Introduction
250(1)
18.18 References and bibliography
251(1)
18.18 Appendices
252(1)
18.18 Internal layout and design
252(6)
18.18 Avoid the production blues
258(1)
18.18
Chapter summary
259(1)
18.18 What should I do now?
260(1)
18.18 References to more information
261(2)
19 Who Else Might Be Interested in My Writing?
263(12)
19.19 Don't waste all your hard work: make it work for you!
263(2)
19.19 Feedback to subjects and participants
265(1)
19.19 Newspapers, journals and magazines
266(1)
19.19 Radio and TV
267(1)
19.19 Conference papers and poster presentations
268(1)
19.19 Grants, awards and prizes
269(1)
19.19 Publishing on the Internet
269(1)
19.19 Setting up your own business
270(1)
19.19 Ethics reminder
271(1)
19.19
Chapter summary
272(1)
19.19 What should I do now?
272(1)
19.19 References to more information
272(3)
References 275(2)
Index 277
Dr Nicholas Walliman is a qualified architect and Associate Lecturer in the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University and is a former research associate in the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development. He has been engaged on a series of nationally and internationally funded research projects on aspects of building technology and has published many research papers. He has also supervised and examined numerous PhD, MPhil and Masters students. He has published a number of books on doing research and writing papers, dissertations and theses.