《研08overallstructureofthethesis》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《研08overallstructureofthethesis（80页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、研08overallstructureofthethesisStillwatersrundeep.流静水深流静水深,人静心深人静心深Wherethereislife,thereishope。有生命必有希望。有生命必有希望1.Writing a research proposal 2.Writing a research paper3.Getting your research paper publishedChapter VIII Overall Structure of the Thesis 1.Writing a research proposal Chapter VIII Overall
2、 Structure of the Thesis 1. Writing a research proposal a.Preamble/introductionb.The problemc.Objectives of the studyd.Hypothesis to be testede.Study designf.The settingg.Measurement proceduresh.Ethical issuesi.Samplingj.Analysis of datak.Structure of the reportl.Problems and limitations m.appendix1
3、) Contents of a research proposal2) Structure of the research proposalIntroduction: depending on the scope of your proposal, the introduction will contain a number of sub-sections.background to the studythe significance of the study/ aims and significance of the studythe statement of the problemrese
4、arch questions and hypothesesdefinitions1. Writing a research proposal 2) Structure of the research proposalLiterature review: the literature review provides the rationale for your research topic. It should give an overview of the current research on the topic area. It should identify a gap in the r
5、esearch. This is important because it shows why your topic is important. The literature review should also review relevant methodologies, which show how your research is to be done.1. Writing a research proposal 2) Structure of the research proposalResearch design/ methodology: this section will inc
6、lude a number of subsections. It should describe the type of study you propose to do as well as how you propose to do it. You need to describe your participants/subjects, your data collection procedure and method of data analysis, as well as the limitations of your project.1. Writing a research prop
7、osal 2) Structure of the research proposalProposed timeframe: provide a brief timeline for your projectExpected outcomes: what you hope to achieveReferences: a full list of all references cited in your proposal. You may also include a description of any pilot studies which have been undertaken. It m
8、ay also be advisable to include a section on your theoretical orientation. If your research involves human participants you may need to include a section on ethical considerations. 1. Writing a research proposal 3) Sample short research proposalThe requirements for research proposals will vary for d
9、ifferent disciplines, but the elements in this example are fairly generic.Research proposal 1. Writing a research proposal Title: A case study of the political implications of deregulation of Telecommunications in Australia in 1987-1992.The title identifies and introduces the topic. Literature Revie
10、w: The political implications of deregulation in regard to telecommunications policy formation has been reported on in a number of other countries. In Britain, Jones and Brownford (1989) conducted a study into the process of deregulation under the Thatcher Government. This study suggested that a lac
11、k of public participation held a number of important consequences for the deregulation process. Briefly, these were that effective and organised lobby groups were found to exert a degree of influence on the process, but were unable to effect lasting changes in the Thatcher Governments plans to dereg
12、ulate the telecommunications industry and that it was found that the political rhetoric of the key players had little consistency with the actual process of deregulation. In Sweden, Percy (1990) offered a historical review of the telecommunications industry and compared this history with Britains. I
13、t was found that both countries had adopted the approach of deregulating the industry based on economic rationalist ideology. This approach, in both countries, included a lack of public consultation. The literature review gives a overview of the current research on the topic area and provides the ra
14、tionale for the research question/ topic. It is brief and remains focused on the thesis topic.Literature Review: Two case-studies of the deregulation of the telecommunications industries in France and Belgium was the topic of an important paper by Wooten, Trivett and Hampton (1993). By studying the
15、correlation of political, economic and industry theory models, they argued that industry models and pressure from the business communities had a strong impact on the outcomes of deregulation and the public attitudes towards this process. Theimpact of deregulation on the structure and future of the t
16、elecommunications industry was the subject of a study by Merten and Skillen (1995) in New Zealand. This paper found that pressure from lobby groups influenced the Governments decisions on the deregulation process. It was found that these decisions adversely affected the capacity of the telecommunica
17、tions industry to compete effectively on an international level. The deregulation process in New Zealand was also shown to have adversely affected the quality of services available to the local market.Most of the studies cited in this literature review relate to the aims and objectives of the thesis
18、. This is one way to keep this type of literature review brief: maintain the focus on the thesis topic. In the thesis itself, much more detail would be provided.None of these issues have been investigated within the Australian context. The need for a comprehensive investigation into the deregulation
19、 process and its possible outcomes becomes increasingly important as the liberal Government moves towards deregulation and the partial sale of Telstra. The aims of this study are to provide a historical overview of the telecommunications industry in Australia, to analyse the Governments reasons for
20、deregulating the industry and, in light of the above, provide comments on the future role of telecommunications in Australia.These first two sentences introduce a gap in previous research. This is important because it shows why your proposed research is worth doing.This last sentence introduces the
21、aims of the study. By introducing this after pointing out the gap in research, the writer is showing how the thesis will fill this gap in knowledge.Scope: The case study will primarily focus on the Australian political arena and telecommunications industry, however where relevant and necessary an an
22、alysis of international events and circumstances pertaining to the Australian situation will be made. This introduces the scope of study, identifying what the research will and will not cover.AIMS/OBJECTIVES: The project will aim to achieve the following objectives:1. An investigation into the dereg
23、ulation of telecommunications in Australia from an historical perspective. 2. An analysis of these findings with the benefit of hindsight, observe the political nuances unique to the case study, and accordingly interpret the processes that led to and ultimately influenced the Governments actions dur
24、ing the 1987-1992 period. A conclusion will also be provided on the basis of this analysis as to the future role of telecommunications in Australia 3. The preparation of a report outlining the findings in (1) and the conclusions reached in (2).Clearly stated aims and objectives are provided and they
25、 are numbered.Areas to investigate: An investigation conducted into the following areas will made to fulfill the objectives detailed above. 1. The policies and assumptions that led the Government towards industry deregulation. 2. The political rhetoric touted by key players during reform. 3. The mai
26、n lobby groups that participated in the deregulation process and the premise from which these groups exerted political pressure. Pressure is broadly identified as originating from the telecommunications industry, business community, and the international circuit. 4. The events that took placeduring
27、1987-1991 with political, economic, and industry theory models. 5. The history of telecommunications in Australia to draw reference for support.Here the student has listed the areas within the topic that will be investigated. These are the issues and topics the student has identifies as necessary to
28、 investigate in order to fulfill the aims and objectives. They could become potential chapter headings in the thesis.Implications: The immediate implications of the reform process are readily observable in the telecommunications sector and concern the structure of the industry. The present regulatio
29、n and legislation regarding the industry will affect the future direction of telecommunications in Australia and also the ability with which Australian communications can compete overseas. The decisions made by the Government will directly affect industry policy.This section attempts to identify the
30、 implications of carrying out the research. It answers the question of how the research findings may impact on the topic and the field.Project Plan: The plan for this project is provided on the basis that it is a general guide to direction. Due to the nature of the research some information may be d
31、ifficult to obtain on schedule and allowance for this needs to be made. This plan is also subject to change on re-evaluation.Stage 1:Construct a history of the events that took place from 1987-1991, and obtain an understanding of the political and industry changes since the destruction of the Post M
32、aster Generals Department. Conduct and complete reviews of relevant literature.Stage 2:Analyse and prepare the information gathered in stage 1 for interpretation.Stage 3: Put forward an interpretation of the politics of deregulation of telecommunications in AustraliaStage 4:Prepare report for final
33、submission.This section shows what the student is going to do and how the student intends to approach the topic. These stages could be mapped out on a timeline and provide a map of activities and research for the student. Note how the student points out that this plan could change.Methodology: Relev
34、ant documents will be obtained from Government Departments such as the Department of Transport and Communications (DOTAC), and the Department of Industry Technology and Commerce (DITAC). Parliamentary papers and Acts will also be studied. Information will also be obtained from AUSTEL and the Telecom
35、munications Industry Development Agency (TIDA). Further material will come from publications released by the key lobby groups. A review will also be made of events according to the reports in the press and published media. Literature concerning the explanation of political, economic and industry usi
36、ng models and theories will be examined. Note: Plan has been compiled subject to future change.This section, although titled Methodology, is really a list of the sources that will be used in the research.2.Writing a research paperChapter VIII Overall Structure of the Thesis Abstracts1) Descriptive A
37、bstractsTopic Specification: WHAT the research is about? Purpose Statement: WHY the research was done?Methodology and Data: HOW the research was done? Abstract 2) Informative Abstracts Topic Specification: WHAT the research is about? Background Information: WHAT question the research is answering or
38、 what gap in previous research the present research fills? Purpose Statement: WHY the research was done?Methodology and Data: HOW the research was done? Results/Findings: WHAT the research found? Implications/Conclusions: WHY the results are significant, WHAT the implications are? Other Consideratio
39、ns1) Purpose and scopeThe main purpose of an introductory chapter is to introduce your research and your thesis; However, the scope of the introduction can vary significantly according to the nature of your study and your discipline area.Traditionally the introductory chapter functions to introduce
40、the research in detail and establish the validity of the research by showing that the previous research in the field contains a gap in knowledge that will be filled by your research.Chapter I Introduction 2) FunctionEstablish the field of your researchSummarize and review the previous research in th
41、e fieldPrepare for your research by showing a gap in the previous research or raising questions based on, or prompted by, previous researchIntroduce your research in detail and state the purpose or aim of your researchOutline the whole thesisNot all introductions will fulfill all of the functions su
42、ggested above; Some disciplines will typically include an outline of the thesis in the introduction, while others may not. Chapter I Introduction The introduction provides a logical progression of information from the general to the specific. These movements in the text introduce the reader to the g
43、eneral field, then summarize relevant previous research in a specific field in a way that allows the gap in the field to be identified. This gap prepares for and provides a rationale for the research presented in the thesis. These movements can be represented by the following diagram:4) Summary:Intr
44、oduction generally includes:Background: Tell what is behind the problem and why it is needed. Purpose: tell what you hope to do with the study.Theoretical Foundation/Conceptual Foundation: describe briefly the theory. Significance: Why is your study important? What impact could it make? Who might be
45、 affected? What change in society or perceptions or actions might come from this study? Scope: How wide ranging are the results? Hypotheses or Research Questions: It is good to give these in the first Chapter and repeat again in Chapter III and then the answer or respond to them in Chapter IV. Gener
46、ally hypotheses are used in Quantitative studies and research questions in Qualitative studies. In a mixed model, you may have both. Definition of Terms: the terms, as they will be used in the study, help clarify the meaning for the reader. Structure of the thesis.Your literature review needs to loo
47、k at several important aspects.1) It should give research, which utilizes the same design or methodology you will be using. For example, if you are using a survey, try to show how similar studies utilized surveys, what to look for, how they are designed, validated, found reliable and finally how the
48、y were interpreted.Chapter II Literature Review2) Demonstrate that you have examined a great deal of relevant research concerning your project. Look at them critically, both those that support your basic ideas and those that refute them. These should be rather current studies, journal articles withi
49、n the last two or three years. You can include some older studies to show you have looked at a wide range of studies.Chapter II Literature Review3)The literature review is a fine place to develop your theoretical underpinnings, again giving fairly current sources to substantiate your use of this the
50、oretical and conceptual background.4)Use primary sources as much as possible. When using secondary sources, make certain you identify them.5)End the chapter with a brief summary of what was covered, its importance to the overall study and lead us into the Methodology section (Chapter III).Chapter II
51、 Literature Review1) Contents The methods chapter tells your reader how you carried out the research that was needed to answer your research questions. The methods section/chapter functions to explain:WHEN the study was carried outWHERE the study was carried outWHAT materials, techniques, samples, d
52、ata, approaches, theoretical frameworks were used in the studyHOW you intend to analyze the data. Include how you will collect the data, what you will do with it when you get it. HOW the study was carried outWHAT procedures were used.Chapter III Methodology The methods section is very important in S
53、cience and Engineering disciplines. In these disciplines, detailed description of the methods used in the research allows the research to be replicated by other researchers.You should tell how the design relates to your hypotheses and/or research question. How will it get at the information you are
54、trying to get?Chapter III Methodology 2) Tense and voice choices The methodology chapter is usually written using past tense, e.g. “data were examined ” The reason for this is that the data examination was carried out before it was written up in the thesis. It is written in the passive voice as well
55、: this is used so that focus falls on what was examined and not on who did the examining.Chapter III Methodology4) Summary Methodology generally includes: 1. Introduction. Tell again what the problem is, the purpose, the research questions and a little background. 2. Design of the Study, including:
56、Description of the target population. If you are going to use a sample, show how you will obtain this sample, where it comes from and how many you anticipate will participate.Tell what you intend to do with this sample. Tell if you will use a Pilot Study to determine clarity, validity and reliabilit
57、y. Who will do the pilot?If a case study, how many, how obtained, where and how will you get information, who will interview, are you using an interview for your guideline? If experimental or quasi-experimental, discuss the independent and dependent variables, how and where will you be doing this. T
58、ell how this design relates to your hypotheses and/or research question. How will it get at the information you are trying to get?Tell how you intend to analyze the data. Include how you will collect the data, what you will do with it when you get it. Be as specific as you can.Finally, summarize the
59、 chapter. 1) ContentsStart with a brief Introduction. Restate the Problem. Give us again a description of the population and the sample. Briefly tell us again how you obtained the data when and where. Do this in answering your research questions or in supporting or rejecting your hypotheses. Be spec
60、ific as to what statistics were used and why and exactly what they show.Chapter IV Results, Presentation of the Data1) ContentsThe results chapter tells your reader what you found, or what the results of your research were. The results are normally written up using complete paragraphs but are often
61、supported by tables and/or graphs. Results sections should be organized so that they reflect:the methods outlined in the methodology chapter the sequence of information presented in the methods section the aims or research question/s outlined in the Introduction.Chapter IV Results, Presentation of t
62、he Data1) ContentsResults sections should present only the results/ findings and should not include interpretations of the results. Interpretation belongs only in a discussion section.Results sections can, in some disciplines, be combined with discussion in a Results and Discussion chapter/section.
63、This is often the case in disciplines such as Engineering and Education.In these combined sections, the presentation of results and the discussion of those results usually occur in different sub-sections.Chapter IV Results, Presentation of the Data2) Verb tense choices in results sectionsThe results
64、 chapter or section of your thesis typically uses past tense verbs, for example: “The sap of E. viminalis accounted for 94% of the feeding observation time ”Occasionally, however, present tense is used when describing a table or graph or figure e.g. : “Table 1 gives the number of days that the subje
65、cts used the drug”, or when comparing results e.g. “the data obtained in study 1 show differences in size when compared with study 2”.Chapter IV Results, Presentation of the Data4) SummaryResults chapter usually: Start with a brief Introduction. Restate the Problem. Give us again a description of th
66、e population and the sample. Briefly tell again how you obtained the data when and where. Do this in answering your research questions or in supporting or rejecting your hypotheses.Summarize. 1) Function The function of a discussion section is to:interpret the results presented in the results sectio
67、ndiscuss them in relation to your research question and to the results of previous research in the field.Of course, to present any discussion about results from previous research, you must already have introduced this research in your literature review. Discussion chapters also often include sub-sec
68、tions on issues arising from the study, or detail the implications of the research.Chapter V Discussion 2) Verb tense choices in discussion sectionsDiscussion sections or chapters use a range of tenses depending on whether results are being discussed, or whether claims or generalizations based on th
69、e results are being made. Present tense is used when making statements about how things are, while past tense is used when making statements about what was found.1) ContentsThe conclusion might begin by reiteratingthe aims of the researchthe results of the researchthe implications of the results.Cha
70、pter VI Conclusion2) Function Its main function is to:make generalizations arising from the discussion of the resultslook at the implications of the findings for practice, accepted theoretical models/paradigmsindicate the overall importance of the research to the fieldin some theses, make recommenda
71、tions for future practice, or future research.4)SummaryConclusion usually includes:What can you draw from your findings? Give your question a brief discussion of the finding and the conclusion drawn from it.Show how your results reflect or reject the theoretical foundation or conceptual organization
72、. Show how this study impacted social change.Limitations: list them. Finally, give recommendations for a future study what you might have done differently. 5) Three models The results, discussion and conclusion sections of a thesis may appear as separate chapters or may be combined in different ways
73、. Three models below show different combinations.3.Getting your research paper publishedChapter VIII Overall Structure of the Thesis 3. Getting your research paper published1) Improving your chancesAn improved understanding of the structure and logic of articles published in English, in the humaniti
74、es and social Sciences;Knowledge of specific English language features of different sections of published articles;Knowledge of the stages involved in the process of submitting an article for publication;Assessing your own research writing for its relevance to the journals of your choice;Searching i
75、n published articles for their scholarly features and their language.3. Getting your research paper published2) Some considerationsMany journals available you need to select one to submit your work to. Important factors to consider are:SSCI statusImpact factor：times the papers in a journal are cited
76、 on average. It does not give an indication about a single paper.Kind and level of your research (If you aim too high, you may be rejected; if you aim too low, your work may be wasted)3. Getting your research paper published3) Selecting target journalsCheck if the journalnormally published the kind
77、of work you are doingis fully refereedpublishes reasonably quicklyhas no page charges or will waive themhas a clear and efficient international submission processarticles in your references will likely lead you to the right journal3. Getting your research paper published3) Selecting target journalsG
78、etting to know a journalGo to the journals home-page on the internet, if it has one (or find a hard copy of the journal in the library)Read the Product Information, often called Aims and Scope, Readership, Objectives etc. (Does the information here match your research?)Scan the Tables of Contents of
79、 several issues over the last few years (Is your work relevant to other work that has been published?)3. Getting your research paper published3) Selecting target journalsGetting to know a journalPublishing in an international journal = joining an international conversationSo you must listen before y
80、ou speak (= read before you write)Try to cite papers from the target journal in your manuscript, to show you are aware of the conversation in that journal.3. Getting your research paper published3) Selecting target journalsPersonal task in your own timeCompare four journals you think are likely to a
81、ccept your article.When all the information is recorded, rank the four journals in order of preference for your article, taking all the criteria into consideration.Assignment (Group work)1. Go over the model abstract from a Commerce PhD thesis and answer the following questions.What is the research
82、about?What question is the research answeringWhat gap does the present research fill?Why was the research done, i.e. the purpose or aims of the research?How was the research done, i.e. the methodology that was used?What did the research find, i.e. the results?Why are the results significant and what
83、 are the implications?Thesis topic: Interorganisational Relations and Public Regulation: The Case of Partially Mandated Occupational Rehabilitation Networks Abstract Research on the implications of law for organization theory in general and interorganizational relations (IOR) in particular is conspi
84、cuous by its neglect. The tendency has been to take the legal context as a unidimensional institutional given, ignoring the fact that there are many challenges to legislative efficacy. For this reason alone, theoretical and practical contributions by organizational scholars to important mainstream d
85、ebates on regulation, deregulation and reregulation have been limited. The purpose of this study is to offer some redress to the situation by focusing on legally mandated IOR. Specifically, it poses and seeks to answer the following question: what are the implications of legally mandating IOR throug
86、h public policy, with particular reference to occupational rehabilitation in New South Wales? Using Cranstons (1987) four phase process model of legislative efficacy, modified to account more fully for the compliance(服从) behaviour of the target population, a conceptof partially mandated IOR is devel
87、oped. This concept attempts to explain the differences and the interaction between mandated and voluntary IOR contingencies. Following a case study research design which allows for contextually embedded analysis employing multiple methods, the above model and concept, together with six theoretical p
88、ropositions, are examined and subsequently validated in their application to legally mandated occupational rehabilitation. The largely historical analysis of mandate emergence draws attention to the need for interorganizational learning and adaptation to a complex uncertain and variable set of unenf
89、orced, self-regulatory circumstances. Content analysis of mandate form shows it to be vague, open-ended and partial in nature and reliant upon the authority of nonmandated organizations (insurers and treating doctors). Network analysis of andate implementation is based on 81 interviews with 79 infor
90、mants in 56 organizations which, except for the regulatory agency, are all situated in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Agency-target IOR tended to be consultative, based on broadly unbridled target organization discretion. Compliance behaviour was found to depend on voluntary incentives and
91、 the voluntary cooperation of the non mandated rather than through agency enforcement. Finally, the absence of objective mandate impact measures did not preclude the formation of positive views and experience largely attributed to successful interorganizational activities. These findings draw attent
92、ion to the need for IOR theory to acknowledge the partial nature of mandates, and for the public regulation literature to embrace IOR in policy formulation as well as implementation. In addition to identifying the potential utility of interorganizational collaboration in the management of IOR at a l
93、ocal, network and policy level, the study also proposes a number of future research directions based on the concept of partial mandates. 2. Read the following paragraphs and find out the thesis statement: 1) What has happened to the American male? For a long time, he seemed utterly confident in his
94、manhood, sure of his masculine role in society, easy and definite in his sense of sexual identity. The frontiersmen of James Fenimore Cooper, for example, never had any concern about masculinity; they were men, and it did not occur to them to think twice about it. Even well into the twentieth centur
95、y, the heroes of Dreiser, of Fitzgerald, of Hemingway remain men. But one begins to detect a new theme emerging in some of these authors, especially in Hemingway: the theme of the male hero increasingly preoccupied with proving his virility to himself. And by mid-century, the male role had plainly l
96、ost its rugged clarity of outline. Today men are more and more conscious of maleness not as a fact but as a problem. The ways by which American men affirm their masculinity are uncertain and obscure. There are multiplying signs, indeed, that something has gone badly wrong with the American males con
97、ception of himself. 2) Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent, and our languageso the argument runsmust inevitably share in
98、the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape fo
99、r our own purposes. Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an in
100、tensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, b
101、ut the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If o
102、ne gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer. Meanwhile, here are five specimens of the English language as it is now habitually written.
