According to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, a dissertation is "an extended, usually systematic oral or written treatment of a subject; a substantial paper that is submitted to the faculty of a university by a candidate for an advanced degree that is typically based on independent research and that, if acceptable, usually gives evidence of the candidate's mastery of both the subject and of scholarly method" (1999, p. 656). Dissertations therefore typically involve developing a comprehensive analysis on a specific topic. Indeed, depending on the subject matter that is involved, dissertations may require several years to complete.
Like a thesis, the structure of the dissertation is divided into several chapters, with the introductory chapter generally being used to provide an overview and background concerning what is going to be studied, a statement of the problem to be considered, a list of research questions and/or guiding hypotheses, the rationale in support of the selection of the topic for the dissertation and a description of the remainder of the study. Other chapters of dissertations generally mirror the types of chapters that are used in theses, with a chapter (usually the second chapter) being devoted to a critical review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature, and a chapter (usually the third chapter) that fully describes the dissertation's methodology, including the databases consulted and the data-gathering approach used. Other chapters are used for the analysis of the data developed during the research process and a discussion of the findings that emerge from this research. The concluding chapter of dissertations typically provides a summary of the research, conclusions drawn and in some cases, recommendations. Other elements that may be required for a concluding chapter of dissertations include personal reflections and directions for future research, but every academic institution will differ in the specific elements that are required.
Dissertations also usually proceed in a step-wish fashion, beginning with a dissertation proposal which may be a brief document that consists of an outline and concise explanation of the proposed dissertation that typically includes the following elements at a minimum:
- Introduction and Theoretical Framework
- Statement of the Problem
- Purpose of the Study
- Review of the Literature
- Research Question
- The Design--Methods and Procedures A. Data Collection
- Limitations and Delimitations
- Significance of the Study
B. Data Analysis
Other elements may also be required for this type of brief proposal, depending on the specific requirements of the academic institution.
In other cases, the first three chapters of the dissertation: the introductory chapter (as noted above, used to present the background, statement of the problem, research questions/hypotheses and rationale in support of the study); the review of the relevant literature chapter and a methodology chapter are used for the proposal, with the content of the introductory and methodology chapters being phrased in the future tense. Once the proposal is accepted by the academic institution, the remaining chapters are compiled as described above and the future tense in the proposal chapters is changed to past tense.
Unlike theses, dissertation proposals may require an oral explanation before a dissertation committee prior to be formally accepted as part of the degree requirements and, like the procedures used for approval of theses, another oral defense may be required once the dissertation is completed before the dissertation committee. Once again, the specific standards for these steps vary from academic institution to academic institution, with the oral defense representing a mere "rubber stamping" process while at others, a much more rigorous defense is required and substantial changes may be necessary before the dissertation is approved.
References
Webster's third new international dictionary (1999). Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Co.
