There is vast amount of information available on the steps involved in writing research thesis. If you are the proverbial grasshopper then here is what you need to know to get it done in less time and still make it to the top grades.
How to choose a topic for research?
Conventional knowledge says that it is important to choose a topic that is of interest to you. However, that should not be the only governing criteria. Smart thing would be to choose a topic that is of interest to you and also has good amount of information already available and you would be on the roll. To make it to good grades in less time, it would be useful to find a topic that has reasonable amount of existing research but still has scope of developing new insights into the topic.
Where to find information?
The internet provides easy access to vast information on just about any topic under the sun. Add to this the information available from research databases and your institution's library; it is easy to get overwhelmed by the data glut.
To begin with the internet is a useful source in generating idea about the given research topic. Using these sources directly can be very tempting as this information is more easily available. It is important to note that in writing research, using peer reviewed sources outscore the infomercial type.
Based on background research done on the internet, the topics of interest can be more easily found in research databases. If your institute does not provide you access to them then it may be worth the money spent to buy membership with them. Just one should suffice. Before you reach out for your credit card do ensure that the selected research database provides ample related information by using their topic search feature.
Outcome of the research - Begin from the end
There is little purpose of carrying out research if there is no substantial outcome. An outcome that adds to the knowledge of a given topic will be received more favorably. Logically, outcome of the research should be arrived at the end of the research but that would tantamount to shooting in the dark. A typical research may begin with a proposition and go on to provide evidence in its favor or disprove it. Keeping in mind the conclusion of the research helps in maintaining focus of the research and keeps one from wandering off topic and losing valuable time.
Provide ‘Framework’ analysis
How important is it to propose a framework as outcome of research? Well, that depends on the type of topic under consideration. If you do propose an original and useful framework then it is bound to be a hit. However, you are not home and dry yet. It is simply not enough to propose a framework, but also important to provide a review of the framework and demonstrate its usefulness.
How to paraphrase?
Plagiarism is considered heinous crime in the literary world. One may use various sources for information, paraphrase them, site the sources and be done with it. Alas, it is easier said than done. I have seen many people struggle to paraphrase their sources. Using alternate words was cited as major stumbling block, especially for but not limited to native speakers of the language. The simplest way of paraphrasing a sentence is to use an editor that provides grammar correction and synonyms guide (example MS Word) and rephrase the sentence using synonym suggestions from the editor. Alternately, synonyms can be looked up from various dictionary sites on the internet.
Here is to speedy dissertation writing!
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