Category
The Dissertation Dictionary
Everything you need to decode the jargon, explained in plain English with real examples.
Most popular
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Saunders’ (2019) Research Onion
The six methodology decisions every dissertation involves, peeled one layer at a time
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The Research Gap (Literature Gap)
How to find the elusive research gap – with practical examples
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Examples: Thesis Acknowledgements
5 well-structured samples for your inspiration
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Thematic Coding Explained (With Examples)
From data point to code to category to theme, with examples
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Open, Axial & Selective Coding
All three grounded theory phases, with examples from one dataset
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Structural Coding Explained (With Examples)
How – and why – to index your qualitative data by research question
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Values Coding 101 (With Examples)
Coding what people value, and when they contradict themselves
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Can You Remove Outliers from Your Dataset?
How to decide, and how to document what you did
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How Do I Choose the Right Statistical Test?
Matching the test to your goal and your data type
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What Does P-Value Actually Mean?
What it tells you, and the mistakes people make with it
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What's the Difference Between Ontology and Epistemology?
Both terms in plain language, with examples
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PhD Dissertation 101: Key Ingredients
Here’s what your examiners want (and need) to see
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Qualitative 101: The High-Level Process
What you need to know – before you start your study
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How to Choose Your Analysis Method
Choosing between thematic, content, narrative and discourse analysis
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Explainer: Reflexivity & Triangulation
Two critical tools to help manage subjectivity in your research
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Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research
The four criteria that make qualitative research trustworthy
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Triangulation in Research: The Basics
Data, methodology, investigator and theoretical triangulation
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Structured, Semi-Structured & Unstructured
The “big 3” interview approaches explained
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References, Bibliography & “Works Cited”
Which list your paper needs, and what goes in each
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Qualitative Coding Examples
Three worked examples: process coding, values coding & in vivo coding
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What (Exactly) Are Research Ethics?
The key ethical considerations explained simply – with examples
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Implications & Recommendations
What your findings mean, and what should happen next
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What Are Research Limitations?
Naming your study's constraints without undermining it
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In Vivo Coding 101 (With Examples)
When (and how) to use your participants' own words as codes
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All But Dissertation (ABD) Status
Why students stall at ABD, and the path from stuck to submitted
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Process Coding 101 (With Examples)
Coding for action: how to capture what people actually do
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Inductive vs Deductive Coding
The same extract, coded both ways, so you can see what changes
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Research Proposal Writing Hacks
4 time-saving tips to fast-track your proposal
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PODCAST: Master the Methodology
4 tips to ensure your methodology is perfectly on point
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Working with Your Thesis Advisor
How to get the most from the student-supervisor relationship
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The Acknowledgements Section
How to write the acknowledgements for your thesis or dissertation
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What Are Inferential Statistics?
From sample to population: the tests, when to use them, what they mean
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What Is a Research Question?
Everything you need to know to write a high-quality research question
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Practical Examples: Research Questions
25+ practical examples & ideas to help you get started
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What Are Descriptive Statistics?
Means, medians, modes & more – explained simply
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AI Research Tools: Hype or Help?
It’s time for a balanced discussion
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Validity & Reliability in Research
A plain-language explanation (with examples)
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How to “Synthesize” the Literature
Literature synthesis explained simply – with examples
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3 Key Literature Review Ingredients
Theory, empirical research and design: the three ingredients
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What Is Research Philosophy?
Positivism, interpretivism & pragmatism – explained simply
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What Are Logos, Pathos & Ethos?
The three appeals of persuasion, with examples of each
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What (Exactly) Is Research Design?
The overall plan that connects your questions to your methods
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What Are Research Constructs?
Constructs, validity & reliability – explained simply
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The Research Problem & Statement
What they are & how to write them – with examples
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Theoretical vs Conceptual Framework
What they are & how they’re different – explained simply
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What (Exactly) Is Narrative Analysis?
Analyzing the stories people tell – method, uses and examples
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Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources
Which source type is which, and when each earns a citation
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What (Exactly) Are Research Variables?
Independent, dependent and control variables – explained simply
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Sampling Methods & Strategies 101
Probability and non-probability sampling, and how to choose
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Research Bias: The Hidden Monster
The “big 3” biases you need to know about
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Research Limitations & Delimitations
What they are – and how they’re different (with examples)
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Research Aims, Objectives & Questions
The “golden thread” explained simply – with examples
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What Is Discourse Analysis?
Language in context: what discourse analysis is and when to use it
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What (Exactly) Is Thematic Analysis?
Finding the patterns in qualitative data – six steps, with examples
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What Is Qualitative Content Analysis?
Making sense of texts, messages and media – method and examples
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Qualitative Data Coding 101
How to code your qualitative data – the smart way
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Quantitative Data Analysis 101
Descriptive and inferential statistics, and how to choose between them
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Nominal, Ordinal, Interval & Ratio Data
Levels of measurement explained simply – with examples
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Dissertation vs Thesis vs Capstone
How the three differ by country, level and purpose
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What (Exactly) Is a Literature Review?
The reading and the chapter: both meanings, explained (+ free template)
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Qualitative vs Quantitative Research 101
How to choose the right methodology for your project
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The Dissertation/Thesis Abstract
How to write a high-impact abstract – with examples
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What Is Research Methodology?
The what, why and how of collecting and analyzing your data
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What (Exactly) Is a Research Proposal?
What you'll research, why it matters, and how you'll do it
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What Is a Longitudinal Study?
A plain-language explanation & definition (with examples)
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What Is a Cross-Sectional Study?
Snapshot research: strengths, limits and when to use it
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What Is a Research Hypothesis?
What makes a hypothesis testable – with examples across fields
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What (Exactly) Is a Dissertation?
What a dissertation is – and the structure examiners expect
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