writing a thesis

Methodologicalnotes on

writing a thesis

Methodologicalnotes on

writing a thesis

David AlexanderUniversity College London

Research:an individual process of discovery

which is often very solitaryand which involves an element

of risk of failure.

Research:an individual process of discovery

which is often very solitaryand which involves an element

of risk of failure.

If that element of risk of failuredoes not exist, perhaps the

research is not worth doing...

If that element of risk of failuredoes not exist, perhaps the

research is not worth doing...

Research is divided into:-• inductive and deductive types• empirical and review types

Research is divided into:-• inductive and deductive types• empirical and review types

The most mediocre and uninterestingresearch, that which is least

successful, is inductive: unfortunatelyit is also the most common type...

The most mediocre and uninterestingresearch, that which is least

successful, is inductive: unfortunatelyit is also the most common type...

Induction: the inference of a generalprinciple from particular instances

Deduction: the inference ofparticular instances from a

[hypothesized] general principle

Induction: the inference of a generalprinciple from particular instances

Deduction: the inference ofparticular instances from a

[hypothesized] general principle

Carl Hempel

Karl Popper

ConfirmationConfirmation

ObservationObservation

HypothesisHypothesis

TheoryTheory Deduction

TheoryTheoryInduction

TentativehypothesisTentativehypothesis

PatternPattern

ObservationObservation

Induction: the inference of ageneral law from particular instances

Deduction: the inference ofparticular instances from a[hypothesized] general law.

Induction: the inference of ageneral law from particular instances

Deduction: the inference ofparticular instances from a[hypothesized] general law.

Deduction is a much stronger methodologythan induction, but it always incorporateselements of the latter (as feedback loops).

Deduction is a much stronger methodologythan induction, but it always incorporateselements of the latter (as feedback loops).

Empirical research via deductive method• formulate a hypothesis• collect data in order to verifythe hypothesis

• analyse the data to do this• verify the hypothesis in thelight of the data analysis.

Empirical research via deductive method• formulate a hypothesis• collect data in order to verifythe hypothesis

• analyse the data to do this• verify the hypothesis in thelight of the data analysis.

Two strategies:-Two strategies:-

1. The 'funnel': begin with a giganticproblem and try to reduce it tosomething that is small enoughto be tackled in the thesis

-- a bad, bad strategy!

1. The 'funnel': begin with a giganticproblem and try to reduce it tosomething that is small enoughto be tackled in the thesis

-- a bad, bad strategy!

2. The 'inverse funnel': begin with aproblem that seems too modest tobe worth studying and add more andmore elements until it is large enoughto be worth writing a thesis about-- the right strategy!!

2. The 'inverse funnel': begin with aproblem that seems too modest tobe worth studying and add more andmore elements until it is large enoughto be worth writing a thesis about-- the right strategy!!

In other words, better to "seethe world in a grain of sand" than

try to see how many grains ofsand there are in the world...

In other words, better to "seethe world in a grain of sand" than

try to see how many grains ofsand there are in the world...

Begin with a hypothesis about a modestrelationship between two phenomenaDevise or find a method to verify it

Create a model and a procedureto conduct the verification

If the work seems to be too little,raise your sights and add more.

Begin with a hypothesis about a modestrelationship between two phenomenaDevise or find a method to verify it

Create a model and a procedureto conduct the verification

If the work seems to be too little,raise your sights and add more.

What is a hypothesis?a vague sensation that there isa cause-and-effect relationshipbetween two phenomena

• the relationship must be verifiablein the time and with the resourcesof data and equipment thatare available to the student

• in the hypothesis, we assume, supposeand propose (but we do not know).

What is a hypothesis?a vague sensation that there isa cause-and-effect relationshipbetween two phenomena

• the relationship must be verifiablein the time and with the resourcesof data and equipment thatare available to the student

• in the hypothesis, we assume, supposeand propose (but we do not know).

Null hypothesis:-H0: there is no relationship [of cause

and effect] between A and B

Alternative hypothesis:-H1: a relationship does exist

between A and B

Null hypothesis:-H0: there is no relationship [of cause

and effect] between A and B

Alternative hypothesis:-H1: a relationship does exist

between A and B

Careful! Correlation does not provethe existence of a cause-effectrelationship, only of covariation.

There are many kinds of relationship...A --> BA --> C --> BB --> AA <--> BA <-- C --> B

Correlation analysis is widelyused in inductive research...

Careful! Correlation does not provethe existence of a cause-effectrelationship, only of covariation.

There are many kinds of relationship...A --> BA --> C --> BB --> AA <--> BA <-- C --> B

Correlation analysis is widelyused in inductive research...

The use of models:-

A model is a simplification of realitydesigned to render it more comprehensible

... by selecting the elements that aremost useful to explanation and

reducing them to an elegant minimum,... but without reductio ad absurdam.

The use of models:-

A model is a simplification of realitydesigned to render it more comprehensible

... by selecting the elements that aremost useful to explanation and

reducing them to an elegant minimum,... but without reductio ad absurdam.

Chapters of an empirical thesis

1 - Introduction2 - Literature review3 - Data collection methods4 - Data analysis5 - Results6 - Discussion and conclusions

Chapters of an empirical thesis

1 - Introduction2 - Literature review3 - Data collection methods4 - Data analysis5 - Results6 - Discussion and conclusions

Summary:-

• Introduction - area of study• The problem - that I intend to tackle• What the literature says about

this problem (NOT the area of study)• How I tackle this problem

(methods and methodology)• What happened when I did it

(analysis, results)• What the implications are

(discussion, conclusion).

Summary:-

• Introduction - area of study• The problem - that I intend to tackle• What the literature says about

this problem (NOT the area of study)• How I tackle this problem

(methods and methodology)• What happened when I did it

(analysis, results)• What the implications are

(discussion, conclusion).

1. Introduction

• the problem - general area of study• the problem - specific introduction• the hypothesis• introduction to the area wherethe hypothesis will be tested -or the conditions underwhich that will happen.

1. Introduction

• the problem - general area of study• the problem - specific introduction• the hypothesis• introduction to the area wherethe hypothesis will be tested -or the conditions underwhich that will happen.

2. Literature review

• what do we already knowabout the problem in question?

• the review must be specific tothe problem at hand, not general

• it is essential to be selective inone's treatment of the literature.

2. Literature review

• what do we already knowabout the problem in question?

• the review must be specific tothe problem at hand, not general

• it is essential to be selective inone's treatment of the literature.

Literature survey:-• Find sources• Make a list of references• Read each paper or chapter selectively• Paraphrase - summarise - quote extracts• Make an outline• Organise notes into the outline• Turn it into a proper written account.

Literature survey:-• Find sources• Make a list of references• Read each paper or chapter selectively• Paraphrase - summarise - quote extracts• Make an outline• Organise notes into the outline• Turn it into a proper written account.

Typical defects of aliterature review chapter

• the review and the choice ofliterature are not sufficientlyspecific to the problem under study

• the treatment is acritical• the writer tries to tackle, and

perhaps solve, too many problems.

Typical defects of aliterature review chapter

• the review and the choice ofliterature are not sufficientlyspecific to the problem under study

• the treatment is acritical• the writer tries to tackle, and

perhaps solve, too many problems.

3. Data collection

• describe the data collection methods• describe the problems encountered

and solutions adopted during thedata collection phase of the work

• describe the data collected- various choices encountered- explain the choices- how the data will contribute to the

verification of the hypothesis.

3. Data collection

• describe the data collection methods• describe the problems encountered

and solutions adopted during thedata collection phase of the work

• describe the data collected- various choices encountered- explain the choices- how the data will contribute to the

verification of the hypothesis.

4. Analysis

• metodologies usedto analyse the data

• problems encountedand solutions adopted

4. Analysis

• metodologies usedto analyse the data

• problems encountedand solutions adopted

5. Results

• describe the results obtainedfrom the data analysis

• graphics and tables of results• use the analysis to verify hypothesis• sensitivity and variation of the results• confidence limits and intervals.

5. Results

• describe the results obtainedfrom the data analysis

• graphics and tables of results• use the analysis to verify hypothesis• sensitivity and variation of the results• confidence limits and intervals.

6. Conclusions

• "the result of the results"• what can be deduced from the results• the wider significance of the results• and, to conclude, a summary of

the work that remains to be done...

6. Conclusions

• "the result of the results"• what can be deduced from the results• the wider significance of the results• and, to conclude, a summary of

the work that remains to be done...

The conclusion allows you to revisitthe introduction with the benefitof the knowledge gained by your

research and analysis.

The conclusion allows you to revisitthe introduction with the benefitof the knowledge gained by your

research and analysis.

BibliographyAppendices

• use the "Harvardsystem" of references

BibliographyAppendices

• use the "Harvardsystem" of references

Citing published literature

• citations must beconsistent and complete

• be careful to observeproper academic conventions.

Citing published literature

• citations must beconsistent and complete

• be careful to observeproper academic conventions.

"Harvard style""Harvard style"

Alexander, D.E. 2002. Principles of Emergency Planning andManagement. Oxford University Press, New York, 340 pp.Alexander, D.E. 2005. Towards the development of astandard in emergency planning. Disaster Prevention andManagement 14(2): 158-175.Alexander, D.E. 2005. Vulnerability to landslides. InT. Glade, M. Anderson and M. Crozier (eds) LandslideHazard and Risk. Wiley, Chichester, UK: 175-198.

Alexander, D.E. 2002. Principles of Emergency Planning andManagement. Oxford University Press, New York, 340 pp.Alexander, D.E. 2005. Towards the development of astandard in emergency planning. Disaster Prevention andManagement 14(2): 158-175.Alexander, D.E. 2005. Vulnerability to landslides. InT. Glade, M. Anderson and M. Crozier (eds) LandslideHazard and Risk. Wiley, Chichester, UK: 175-198.

Surname. Name or Initials. Year. Title of book.Publisher, place of publication, pages.

Surname; Name or Initials, Year. Title ofarticle. Journal Volume no. (and issue): Pages.

Surname. Name or Initials. Year. Title of book.Publisher, place of publication, pages.

Surname; Name or Initials, Year. Title ofarticle. Journal Volume no. (and issue): Pages.

"Harvard style""Harvard style"

Citations in the text:-

Alexander (2005)(Alexander 2005)(Alexander 2005a, 2005b)etc.

Citations in the text:-

Alexander (2005)(Alexander 2005)(Alexander 2005a, 2005b)etc.

The abstract - a 250 wordsummary of what is in the thesis

• not an introduction but a summary• make it balanced: problem -

analysis - results - conclusions• a few words each.

The abstract - a 250 wordsummary of what is in the thesis

• not an introduction but a summary• make it balanced: problem -

analysis - results - conclusions• a few words each.

Avoid:-

• using a style that is toopedantic or pseudo-scientific

• confusion of any kind (in theanalysis, visual aspects,observations, references, etc.)

Avoid:-

• using a style that is toopedantic or pseudo-scientific

• confusion of any kind (in theanalysis, visual aspects,observations, references, etc.)

Promote:-

• a simple, clear style• a spartan, economic analysis• a sober but lively style.

Promote:-

• a simple, clear style• a spartan, economic analysis• a sober but lively style.

"In order to stake their claims to territory andresources, people with long-standing place-basedaffiliations are often obliged to foreground the

enduring success of their adaptation to variable localenvironments. But what an appreciation of the collidingtemporalities manifest in the natural hazard alerts us to is the likelihood that adaptive strategies are hardwon, painfully accrued, and inevitably provisional."

Clark et al. 2013. Geographical Journal 179(3): 108.

"In order to stake their claims to territory andresources, people with long-standing place-basedaffiliations are often obliged to foreground the

enduring success of their adaptation to variable localenvironments. But what an appreciation of the collidingtemporalities manifest in the natural hazard alerts us to is the likelihood that adaptive strategies are hardwon, painfully accrued, and inevitably provisional."

Clark et al. 2013. Geographical Journal 179(3): 108.

Avoid this sort of academic writingAT ALL COSTS:

write simply and clearly.

Avoid this sort of academic writingAT ALL COSTS:

write simply and clearly.

Learn how to....• choose a problem, a topic and

a form of analysis that can becompleted the available time

• apply a deductive methodologyto the chosen research problem

• tackle a problem that can be solvedin a few months, not many years

• do not enlarge the scale of analysisbeyond what is strictly necessary.

Learn how to....• choose a problem, a topic and

a form of analysis that can becompleted the available time

• apply a deductive methodologyto the chosen research problem

• tackle a problem that can be solvedin a few months, not many years

• do not enlarge the scale of analysisbeyond what is strictly necessary.

david.alexander@ucl.ac.ukemergency-planning.blogspot.comwww.slideshare.com/dealexander

david.alexander@ucl.ac.ukemergency-planning.blogspot.comwww.slideshare.com/dealexander