how to write your dissertation

7/28/2019 HOW TO WRITE YOUR DISSERTATION

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Same things about your

dissertation

andsomething more!


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Outline

General Aspects

Organizing your dissertation

Writing style


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Homeopathy is witchcraft:

Brit docs*

BMA said taxpayers

should not foot the bill

for remedies with no

scientific basis to

support them.

* Times of India, May 16, 2010


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Challenges in Siddha research System related

Lack of generalizability

No uniformity (in diagnosis, drug standards,treatment)

Safety issues

Person related Lack of interest / mentality

Technical knowledge

Lack of personnel Lack of collaboration

Funding


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An overview of dissertation

Disserto (latin) discuss

A research report

History


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Purpose of dissertation

Promote the development of criticaljudgment, habits of self education,imagination and scholarship as well as the

acquisition of knowledge and researchskills

Produce physicians who can evaluate datacritically

Learn how to understand scientificmethods practically


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The beginning

When to start

Have 3 or 4 topics

Prepare a concept paper

Pilot study

If change needed

Can finish well in advance


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Choosing a research topic

FINER*

Feasible

Interesting

Novel

Ethical

Relevant

No controversies

*Hulley et al, 2001


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Planning your dissertation

Develop a protocol; get itapproved by technicalcommittee (may be theguide) and ethics committeeand stick to it

Make a time-table (using

software, GANTT chart)

List of things to get doneinside college and outside

List the people to discusswith, places/labs to contact

Make a folder for eachchapter

Keep your time and budgetlimits in mind


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Task Name Duration

Aug-06

Sep-06

Oct-06

Nov-06

Dec-06

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

June-07

July-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

May-08

June-08

July-08

1. Planning &

Preparation 12 weeks

2. Workshop to

develop the tool

(NDST) and CCC 4 weeks

3. Pilot the tool4 weeks

4. Finalize the tool4 weeks

5. Validation of NDST

5.1Training workshop

(National & Zonal)4 weeks

5.2Data Collection8 weeks

5.3Data analysis4 weeks

5.4 Report writing4 weeks

5.5Dissemination4 weeks

6.Prevalence survey

6.1Training workshop

(National & Zonal)

4 weeks

6.2 Data Collection24 weeks

6.3 Data analysis8 weeks

6.4 Report writing8 weeks

6.5 Dissemination4 weeks

Total Duration24 months


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The layout (Structure)

The Beginning: Title Page Dedication Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of Figures / Tables / Appendices / Abbreviations (also known as

Nomenclature in some disciplines) IMRaD structure Introduction Methods Results (And) Discussion References (also known as Bibliography in some disciplines) Glossary Appendices


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Proportion of contents

Introduction (incl. RoL) - 20 30%

Methods - 10 20%

Results - 30 40% Discussion - 20 25%


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Title

Clear

Specific but comprehensive

Short / crispy but sufficiently descriptive Interesting and attractive

No abbreviations

Should be easy to catalogue


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Introduction

Background material to make the readerunderstand

Existing state of knowledge

Gaps in knowledge which research will fill

State what you Intend to do How the topic was chosen

How it is related to the contemporary world

It does not Review the history of the subject

Does not identify all the other gaps in knowledge

Do not include methods, results and discussion


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Objectives

What is to be achieved by the study

General objective

Specific objective State whether you will be

Estimating a quantity

Testing a hypothesis


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Examples of objectives

to estimate a quantity

Measure the level of decline of blood pressureamong patients treated with venthamaraichooranam (Gunapadam, Maruthuvam)

Estimate the correlation between envagaithervu and allopathic diagnostic methods formega noi patients (Noi nadal)

Descriptive analysis of similarities between

xxxx varma points in Siddha system with xxxxacupuncture points in traditional Chinesemedicine (Sirappu maruthuvam)


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Examples of objectives

to test a hypothesis

Determine the effectiveness of venthamarai

chooranam versus asai chooranam in reducing blood

pressure among newly diagnosed patients with

pithathikkam

Determine the diagnostic validity of neer kuri and nei

kuri compared with Hb1Ac among newly diagnosed

patients with Diabetes mellitus

Determine the efficacy of Aya pringaraja panitham as

compared to banana panitham in the treatment ofanaemia among children


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Review of literature

Relevant material of past

Global National Local

Progressively zoom in

Dont just copy/paste

Sources Previous dissertations

Journals

Websites Books

References


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Methods

Explain what you did in simple terms

Provide key information Variables

Type of study

Data collection techniques

Sampling

Sample size

Plan for data collection

Plan for data processing and analysis

Ethical considerations

Pretest / Pilot study

Do not add results


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Statistical analysis

Clinical trial Descriptive statistics

For before and after treatment assessments Paired t test for means

McNemars Chi-square for proportions

For two groups t test for means Chi-square for proportions

Multivariate analysis to study the independent effect of the trial drug

Toxicology study Descriptive statistics

Diagnostic study Descriptive statistics Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, ROC curves

(if applicable)

McNemars Chi-square


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Results

Describe your findings in simple terms

Do not use general sentences

Start with baseline characteristics

Do not explain methods (e.g., criteria used)

Always give numbers, and not only proportions Of the XX subjects, XX (XX%) reported doing

Describe the information in the tables as captions Cases and controls did not differ with respect to baseline

characteristics (Table 1). Back up statements with data in the sentence, data in

the tables or mention data not shown

Do not discuss results nor use references


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Discussion

Discuss by

Objectives

Variables

Basis for conclusion and recommendation

Other studies

Support or contradict


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Summary & Conclusion

Summarize all in short paragraphs (one

page)

Draw conclusion from your summary


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Recommendations

Dont confuse conclusions &

recommendations

Based on your observations

For the betterment of

To whom administrative people, policy

makers, fellow researchers and

practitioners, community at large

Suggestions for future works


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Limitations

Imposed mainly by Budget

Time constraints

Possible limitations Sample size

Investigations

State them directly

State to which extend the study would

have been degraded


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Appendix

Case Report Form

Questionnaire Proforma

Consent form

Others


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Reference citation

Follow guidelines of the ICMJE (www.icmje.org)

For an article:Author(s) Surname followed byinitials - Title of article - Name of Journal -

Year, Volume, (number): page numbers ofarticle.

For a book:Author(s) Surname followed byinitials. Title of book. Place: Publisher, year,

Edition

For a website: Author Title of the webpage Name of the website Date of publication URL
http://www.icmje.org/http://www.icmje.org/


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Problems you may face during your

dissertation study

Poor number of cases

Laboratory results not so encouraging

Mid-time changes Controversies with guide / authorities

Unexpected health conditions

Psychological lack of enthusiasm aftersome time


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Regulations of TNMMU (1/2)

Students will be assigned a topic within 4months of his admission and be intimated tothe COE.

HOD will assign a topic In lieu of Dissertation, Proof of publication

or acceptance as a principal author in areputed medical journal Bound Volume. Minimum 50 pages and

maximum 75 pages. Typed matter. Double-spacing. One side only excluding certificate,

acknowledgement, annexure & bibliography 4 copies to be submitted 4 months prior tothe exam to the COE


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Regulations of TNMMU (2/2)

Evaluated by 4 examiners at the time ofClinical/Practical exam

Dissertation is approved but examiners suggestminor corrections & resubmission. Thecandidates' results shall be withheld, again

reexamined. If failed in the written/practical, Dissertation

mark will be carried over to the subsequentexams

If Dissertation is rejected by two exams or more,

Candidate is permitted to appear forwritten/practical exams but results will not bedeclared/withheld. Resubmit prior to the nextexam.


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Regulations of CCIM

General expectations Must contain own account of research

Able to re-express observations and draw conclusions

Be suitable for its publication in an abridged form

Contents

Contain a summary < 150 words Outer cover: title, the names of dissertation, department, student,

guide and year of submission

50-150 pages including chart, diagram, photograph. Bibliography etc.

Number of copies One each for the libraries of University, College and the guide

Publication requirements Shall become the property of the University and seek permission to

publish from the university

In no case, it should be published before it is accepted


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Regulations of CCIM : Time-line

Title be registered with the University within onemonth from the declaration of the result of the secondyear examination

Submission by 1 October of the year preceding the year

of final examination Should be submitted during the third year of the

examination

If not approved Returned to the student with the remarks of the examiner

Resubmit the same after complying with the observations ofthe examiners

Two chances for resubmission of the dissertation at the end ofsix months period each after the first submission


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Points to consider (1/4)

Be brief & to the point

Avoid repetition and duplication of ideas

Spare and allow enough time for writing

Use a simple direct style which is condensed but not so

condensed as to be critic or sacrifices precision andclarity of results

Organize the material in a logical sequence and notaccording to the order in which experiments were

conducted Revise the material until it has unity, coherence,

emphasis and accuracy and so clear that it cannot bemisunderstood


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Avoid unnecessary details. However give all the factsnecessary for a trained person to repeat the

experiment(s)

Design suitable headings, sub-headings and sub-sub-

headings. The paragraphs and sentences should beshort, to enable the reader to skim the thesis for its

general subject matter and to locate quickly any

detailed part he/she seeks or interested

Let the tabular data and illustrations speak for

themselves. Confine the text discussion for meaning of

data.

Plan the illustrations and tables according to the page

dimensions


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Insert the photos that are glossy, have plenty of

contrast and pertain to the text.

Avoid long and complex or undigested (unclassified)

data or too many tables

Arrange the tables that to portrait or landscape on a

page wherever possible and so cast these that they

could be accommodated in the prescribed format

Provide a complete caption/title for every table,figure and illustration which is self explanatory and

nouns in the caption /title should preferably start in

capital


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Provide clear and concise column headings and

subheadings

Explain every symbol used in a table as a footnote of

the same

Avoid footnotes for the citation of references, if any,

should be included in the text and quoted in the list of

references at the end of the thesis proceeding to

appendices

Include letter, survey forms, raw data, statisticalcomputations and other materials which have been

used or collected during the study in the appendices


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Scientific writing style

Use the past to report what you did

Use the present for established facts

Write short, sequential sentences

Place one idea per sentence

Be specific

Do not use bold nor underlining

Do not include footnotes


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Things to avoid inscientific writing

Avoid qualifiers This was a verylarge outbreak

Avoid emphasis This is the largest outbreak ever reported as thousands and

thousands of people were affected

Avoid accusations Irresponsible behaviours among health care workers lead to

the spread of this Lassa fever outbreak

Avoid apologies Because of a lack of resources we could not

Avoid clearly If it is clear, you dont need the word clearly


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Examples of passive and active voice

use

Passive voice A study was conducted

A sample was selected

Questionnaires were administered Active voice

We conducted a study

We selected a sample Field workers administered the

questionnaires


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Documenting the evidence

Verbs to use

Clear evidence: Use Indicate

Partial evidence: Use Suggest

Words to avoid Probably use may

Show use indicate

Prove use indicate

Reveal use indicate or suggest

It appears Spell out what data suggests that


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Optimizing the center

of gravity of the sentence

Each sentence contains a main idea

The verb constitutes the centre of gravity

of a sentence

Make sure the verb contains the key idea

Avoid neutral verbs


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Optimizing the centre of gravity of

the sentence: Examples

We conducted an investigation of theoutbreak

We investigated the outbreak

We tooka sample of the population

We sampledthe population

We madean assessment of the situation

We assessedthe situation


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Measuring and testing

The verb estimate denotes measurement

The verb determine denotes hypothesis testing

Assess is generic and must be replaced when dealingwith measurement or hypothesis testing

(OK for the general idea of assessment) Examples

We determined the prevalence of trachoma

We estimated the prevalence of trachoma

The objective was to assess the use of short course treatment

The objective was to determine whether short coursetreatment can be used


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Proof reading (1/2)

Names, initials and affiliations

Formatting errors

Typos

Symbols

Reference numbering

Reference format


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Proof reading (2/2)

Tables

Alignment

Totals

Calculations

Digit loss

Figures

Re-drawn OK

No format loss


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Resources

http://www.who.int

http://www.whoindia.org

http://www.icmr.nic.in

http://www.ijaronline.nic.in

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/069-1/

http://www.annals.org

http://www.biomedcentral.com
http://www.who.int/http://www.whoindia.org/http://www.icmr.nic.in/http://www.ijaronline.nic.in/http://www.cdc.gov/http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/069-1/http://www.annals.org/http://www.biomedcentral.com/http://www.biomedcentral.com/http://www.annals.org/http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/069-1/http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/069-1/http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/069-1/http://www.cdc.gov/http://www.ijaronline.nic.in/http://www.icmr.nic.in/http://www.whoindia.org/http://www.who.int/


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Examiners point of view

Review of literature

To what extent is the review relevant to the research

study?

Has the candidate slipped into Here is all I know about

x?

Is there evidence of critical appraisal of other work, or is

the review just descriptive?

How well has the candidate mastered the technical or

theoretical literature?

Does the candidate make the links between the reviewand his or her methodology explicit?

Is there a summary of the essential features of other work

as it relates to this study?


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Examiners point of viewMethodology

What precautions were taken against likely sourcesof bias?

What are the limitations in the methodology? Is the

candidate aware of them?

Is the methodology for data collection appropriate?

Are the techniques used for analysis appropriate?

In the circumstances, has the best methodology been

chosen? Has the candidate given an adequate justification to

the methodology?


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Examiners point of viewResults

Have the hypotheses in fact been tested?

Do the solutions obtained relate to the questions

posed?

Is the level and form of analysis appropriate for thedata?

Could the presentation of the results been made

clearer?

Are patterns and trends in the results accuratelyidentified and summarized?

Does the software appear to work satisfactorily?

f


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Examiners point of viewDiscussion & Conclusion

Is the candidate aware of possible limits to

confidence/reliability/validity of the work?

Have the main points to emerge from the results

been picked up for discussion? Are there links made to the literature?

Is there evidence of attempts at theory building or

reconceptualisation of problems?

Are there speculations? Are they well grounded inthe results?


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Defense

Lets see, what can I ask the candidate? The examiners may have decided before the exam

whether to pass you.

Abstract References Summary & Conclusion

Defense, viva, exam, ... viva = viva voce = lively discussion

The exam is to check its your work... Talk fluently about the work; show youve thought

about it (which you have!).

...and a chance to clarify things that arent clear inthe thesis. These are areas where corrections are likely.


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After passing

Go far more detailed, next level studies

Practice it!

Publish

Disseminate Effort of DoS, TNMMU

D fi iti f l l f id d di


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Definition of levels of evidence and gradingof recommendation

Level Type of evidence available from Grade

I a Meta-analysis of RCTsA

I b At least one RCT

I I a At least one well-designed controlled studywithout randomization

BI I b At least one other type of well-designed quasi-

experimental study

III Well-designed non-experimental descriptivestudies

IV Expert committee reports or opinions and/or

clinical experience of respected authoritiesC

Ph f i l


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Phase I Clinical pharmacology & toxicity Human volunteers

Hospital study

Phase II Initial clinical investigation for treatment effects

Patients Hospital study

Phase III Full-scale evaluation

Patients

Hospital study

Phase IV Post-marketing surveillance

Phases of trial


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Possible study designs in Siddha

Observational What is the biochemical profile of patients taking

siddha medicine for more than six months

Exploratory Literature Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu

Clinical trial Open, non-randomized, RCT, Meta-analysis

Case control To establish the cause as per Siddha system

Cohort Same as above

Toxicity Diagnostic


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