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    Thesis Discussion

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    This document outlines the typical structure and content of a thesis or dissertation. It includes sections for the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, and appendices. The introduction should provide an overview of the research topic and questions. The literature review surveys previous work and positions the study. The theoretical framework describes the concepts and theories used. The methodology chapter justifies the research design and methods. The analysis chapters apply the framework to examine the empirical material in detail. Discussion and interpretation contextualize the findings. The conclusion restates key results and their implications. Appendices can include supplementary materials like interview guides. Maintaining a clear connection between each part and the overarching research questions

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    Thesis Discussion

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    prj0
    184 views4 pages
    This document outlines the typical structure and content of a thesis or dissertation. It includes sections for the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, and appendices. The introduction should provide an overview of the research topic and questions. The literature review surveys previous work and positions the study. The theoretical framework describes the concepts and theories used. The methodology chapter justifies the research design and methods. The analysis chapters apply the framework to examine the empirical material in detail. Discussion and interpretation contextualize the findings. The conclusion restates key results and their implications. Appendices can include supplementary materials like interview guides. Maintaining a clear connection between each part and the overarching research questions

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    This document outlines the typical structure and content of a thesis or dissertation. It includes sections for the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, and appendices. The introduction should provide an overview of the research topic and questions. The literature review surveys previous work and positions the study. The theoretical framework describes the concepts and theories used. The methodology chapter justifies the research design and methods. The analysis chapters apply the framework to examine the empirical material in detail. Discussion and interpretation contextualize the findings. The conclusion restates key results and their implications. Appendices can include supplementary materials like interview guides. Maintaining a clear connection between each part and the overarching research questions

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    184 views4 pages

    Thesis Discussion

    Uploaded by

    prj0
    This document outlines the typical structure and content of a thesis or dissertation. It includes sections for the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, and appendices. The introduction should provide an overview of the research topic and questions. The literature review surveys previous work and positions the study. The theoretical framework describes the concepts and theories used. The methodology chapter justifies the research design and methods. The analysis chapters apply the framework to examine the empirical material in detail. Discussion and interpretation contextualize the findings. The conclusion restates key results and their implications. Appendices can include supplementary materials like interview guides. Maintaining a clear connection between each part and the overarching research questions

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    of 4

    INF5220 2012 // SF

    WHAT GOES WHERE IN A THESIS OR DISSERTATION?

    Title
    Summery 1 page (or an abstract)
    Acknowledgement
    Table of content

    Introduction: Setting the stage. Provide the readers knowledge about the
    content and answer the question: what is this piece of work about? by giving
    the reader a short precise presentation of the content of your work, including
    the motivation for your study: what are you inquiring (object/subject of
    investigation) how and in what way is it important for a broader audience?
    Present:
    * Your main motivation for conducting your study (explain in what
    way your study is important)
    * Describe the area of your research (the problem domain)
    * Purpose of your research, incl. your research question(s)
    * Your contribution
    * A brief description of how you attempt to find out
    (methodology/methods/theory/analytical concepts)
    * You could also try to answer:
    * What is the target audience?
    * What is your personal motivation for this study?
    * Sketch the structure (content in each chapter) of the thesis

    Literature review: Position your work vis--vis related and/or similar


    research. In doing so you show your contribution to a specific research area.
    A survey of literature (journals, conference proceedings, books) on areas
    relevant to your research question(s) and study. What do you see as
    challenges in relation to existing literature on the topic youre studying (e.g.
    this topic is new; this is under researched; or, x has never been
    approached from this methodological or theoretical angle)? You do find
    inspiration in the literature? State similarities and differences. Write one
    section pr. each subject matter that you locate. If no or limited research
    has been published on your specific topic think alternatively about it (does
    it concern organization of something, functionality, use, design,
    categorization, decision-making, did the field merge into another field, etc.)
    Conclude the chapter with summarizing what you want to develop further
    (vis--vis the exciting literature) or what you see as a challenge. A
    summery could be presented in a list, model, etc. Each issue could
    correspond to your analytical chapters or sections in your analytical
    chapter; but they should definitely be discussed in the discussion or
    conclusion of your thesis.

    Theoretical chapter: Description of the theory and/or the analytical concepts


    you have chosen to work with.
    In what way is the theory/concepts fruitful when engaging with your
    material? Both in the field, when analyzing, and writing up your thesis.
    Argue for you choice of theory, framework, or concepts, and justify your

    1:3
    INF5220 2012 // SF

    choice.
    Do not explaining the theory, framework, or the concepts with examples
    from your fieldwork in this chapter (save it for your analyses).
    If you aim at developing theory (using Grounded Theory), your chapter
    should be structured in a way that leads up to your motivation (e.g.
    argument such as: the theory needs elaboration in this and this way, which
    I will provide insight on in xxx way).

    Case chapter: Where, what, whom, when, duration of time and why. Provide
    a description of the setting/field/place/object of study. In this chapter you
    should argue for and justify your choices: how/why did you select your case
    and its participants?
    Provide an overall impression of the place where your research unfolded ->
    the specific background information that is necessary (helpful) for
    understanding your case; but which is not the kind of information you want
    to delineate within your analyses. That is, rich descriptions of e.g.: a
    company, its products (services), it customers, the participants in your study
    (who were involved, why these participants, and if relevant: their age,
    gender, educational background, etc.), their inter-relations, work task,
    practices etc., duration of the study.
    The description of your case could be based on your own empirical work
    mixed with others descriptions (research, documents, web page, etc.).
    Not always a separate chapter. You could present this information in the
    methodology chapter in a section devoted to describing your case.

    Methodology chapter: a discussion of what you have chosen to do and how


    your choice is relevant and relates to the knowledge you seek.
    Law + ethical considerations: e.g. sensitive data?, personal data? Consent
    form; confidentiality; anonymity (keys?); only collect material relating to the
    topic of your thesis; deletion of material after successful end exam (date of
    completion) -> here you make use of Gisles lecture.1
    Paradigm
    A choice of methodology and methods between alternatives -> justify. You
    should demonstrate that you are aware of strengths and weakness of your
    strategy and methods used.
    A detailed report of the fieldwork that was carried out:
    What did you do, how did you do it, and why did you what you did
    (justification + relevance). Some of the activities can be summarized
    in an appendix outlining your activities in the field + e.g. your interview
    guide. How did you conduct observations (what kind of situations,
    what time, what activities, particular focus, etc.)? Whom did you
    interview, on what issue(s), in what situations or settings (during work
    hours, in an office, at a cafe?) Did you collect documents (which ones,
    from where, specific situation?).

    1
    During data collection, I will follow the Norwegian regulations on collecting and managing personal information
    entitled: Personopplysningsloven (Personopplysningsloven, 2000). Pursuant to Section 8 of this law, I will collect data
    only from those who give written consent. Prior to getting consent, the participants will be informed about the
    conditions with which the data will be used, as defined in Section 19. In accordance with Section 11, I will only collect
    data which is relevant to my study, and use it only to the closely defined purpose of this thesis. No sensitive data will
    be collected, and all data will be kept confidential. Rekaa, I. E. L. (2010) master thesis. This excerpt appears with
    Rekaas consent.

    2:3
    INF5220 2012 // SF

    How did you work with your data (organize by indexing in themes,
    concepts? coding/memos?)
    Do you encounter any challenges during generation of data (access,
    change of method, some transcripts not read (verified) by participants,
    limited time, break down of recorder during an interview, etc.)

    Analytical chapters (analysis of empirical material). In working actively


    with your field material you show how you land on your conclusions (answer
    your research question(s)).
    Theory /concepts are briefly re-introduced and applied.
    Thoroughly analyze a broad variety of your research material (show
    patterns/deviations and explain what they mean e.g. follow a statement or
    an argument about xxx through your different field material and explain what
    it means. Or, you can show and exemplify categories/topics of interest for
    your outcome by using your different field material.
    One or several chapters - how do they relate to each other?
    Analysis and discussion can be integrated. Alternatively, the discussion can
    be provided in a separate chapter. The discussion should link up to the
    issues discussed in chapter two and/or three (literature review + theory).

    Interpretation/discussion: Put into perspective and contextualize your


    contribution.
    If you do not integrate your analysis and discussion then you need a chapter
    devoted to interpretation/discussion. Its a matte style (or how you work).
    What does the outcome (your findings) from your analysis tell? In what way
    is it important and relevant, for whom, why? What e.g. did you point to in the
    literature review as challenging and how does your outcome relate to this?

    Conclusion Sum up and cementation of the outcome of you fieldwork.


    Summary of findings, main problems and your conclusions.
    Present your research question(s) once more (you should return to them or
    to your initially stated aim through the conclusions drawn).
    What did they lead to?
    Comparisons with literature in chapter two - how does your outcomes
    (findings) fit in?
    What is your contribution and what is its implications (practical, theoretical
    and/or methodological)?
    Possible directions for further research.

    Bibliography - alphabetically listing of all the texts referred to or cited

    Appendix: e.g. interview guide, photos or a visual depiction like a drawing of


    the field site and/or the relations of material-immaterial members -> if
    relevant, such depiction could go into one of the chapters), maybe a log of
    activities in the field (date/time; activities (observation, interview, attending
    meetings, phone, email, online visits)).

    NB! Remember, throughout your chapters, to bring with you your research questions. E.g.
    when writing the methodology chapter, think about the questions you seek answers to and
    how the methodology and methods have been fruitful in generating empirical material that
    answers these questions. Always remember to argue for and show the relevance of the

    3:3
    INF5220 2012 // SF

    choices you have made. Move between description and explanation (justification/relevance).

    This outline is based on Silverman 2005, previous lectures, questions from and conversations with previous students
    of INF5/9220

    4:3

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