2. An Introduction to your chosen area of research- including clear statements
about: the research problem that you are trying to solve and why this is worth
doing. This should lead to a brief summary of the research aims/ objectives.
3. Literature review – a short review of relevant literature consulted, identifying
key theoretical concepts you will use in your dissertation. For quantitative
studies, you should attempt to use the literature to create around 2-4
theoretically grounded hypotheses that may form the basis for all or part of
your dissertation. For qualitative studies, you could choose to form 1-2
broader research questions.
4. Methodology – the anticipated research methods you will use to collect data,
why this approach is appropriate, sampling procedures (if relevant), data
collection instrument development (including relevant scales for quantitative
research to be employed or questions for the interview protocol), fieldwork
elements that should be taken under consideration (if applicable). Additionally,
provide a brief overview of your anticipated data analysis strategy.
5. Ethical Issues – a short statement demonstrating that you have reflected on
any potential issues surrounding your proposed research.
6. Timeline – a summary timetable showing your ‘action plan’ for the dissertation itself. You can choose to use something like a Gantt chart, critical path method (CPM) or a simple table.
an Optional Appendices section may also be included (Very occasionally it may be appropriate to present, in an Appendix, material which does not properly belong in the main body of the assessment but which some students wish to
provide for the sake of completeness. Appendices will have no role in the assessment; examiners are under no obligation to read Appendices and they do not form part of the word count.