What exactly is the importance of referencing? And in what portions of the thesis should you use references/in-text citations??
I am new to this whole concept of writing thesis and these points were just bugging me a bit, because I can’t really find much references. Everyone seem to emphasise on including references but actually, I am not that aware with its significance. Any inputs for the same?
It’s been a long time since I posted anything. With PhD, Supervisor, Husband and simply Life! I am totally packed. So, I have to conduct a literature review and I guess the heading says it all. How should I go about it? What’s the difference between conceptual and theoretical framework? How to find ‘the’ research gap? What is a concept matrix and how do you make one?
You must have read articles on your topic, now you just have to review them. Your question is too broad. I think you first need to read about literature review. Try this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Literature-Review-Step-Step-Students/dp/1412934265
My question is broad as I have just stepped on the first stair of conducting a literature review. Thanks for the book but I am looking for your experiences on how to do this research.
A true literature review is text that Synthesizes & Analyses all the available current research from Peer-reviewed Sources and shows how it relates to your investigation. You can basically categorize your LR as per your topic. For example, let’s say that I have to write an LR about the impact of customer satisfaction and service quality on the airline industry. So for that, I can divide my LR into subheads like, introduction to aviation industry, definition of customer satisfaction, definition of service quality, impact of customer satisfaction on aviation industry and impact of service quality on aviation industry. In each of this headings, I will explore the related studies, what methods are used by them and their findings. On this basis, I will now develop a research gap, something that the others have missed out. Then I can develop a conceptual framework pertaining to the variables I intend on examining like, reliability and tangibility (they define the service quality). That’s just a way to go about writing an LR. Can you relate your research to that?
Hi! I can help you out with differentiating between conceptual and theoretical framework. I am a student of California Institute of Technology and was stuck in the similar dilemma as you are right now. My professor gave me some crucial ideas to distinguish between both of them. The difference is minute but substantial, in simple term a conceptual framework should show your idea on how research problem should be explored and this idea is established on the grounds of theoretical framework which includes theories and findings of numerous investigations to substantiate your research. Follow this link to learn more:
http://www.thesisclinic.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-understand-the-conceptual-framework-in-a-better-way/
I checked out the above blog and I started going through the site. I found another one, where the writer has explained it real good, about how to make your Literature Review useful. You can refer to it.
http://www.thesisclinic.co.uk/blog/how-to-make-your-literature-review-more-valuable/
And how about you simply alter a framework that has already been developed by someone else, instead of creating your own intellectual framework from scratch?
Hi Adam, you are suggesting that I should just incorporate a variable (add-on) in a theoretical framework and call it as a conceptual framework? And which theoretical framework should be used, from old literature or recent ones?
I am just reading academic papers related to my area, lots of it, so I haven’t started writing it down. I am planning to first gather all the literature, go through it and first develop the gap, then Ill segregate the LR.
New framework is usually preferable, however, if relevant, you can use the old ones (which are less explored). The additions you make should be thoroughly researched and justified. So the variables you take should be backed with literature. The proper way of writing an LR is to first present the studies on the matter segregated with headings, then the gap is evaluated. After that the conceptual framework is created where you may/may not develop the hypothesis. Here you need to explore the literature about all your variables. I think that summarises everything. If unclear, you can certainly ask for any more doubts.
It’s not necessary to have a conceptual framework, really. The literature should be relevant, that is what matters. With a tinge of systematic organisation, you’ll be good to go.
Can anyone help me regarding my Concept paper which is taking toll on me? I have this huge task of getting my concept paper approved by my supervisor, but somehow the guy doesn’t seem to understand that I am tired of taking reviews on it. Though he is very cooperative but whenever I present my concept paper with revisions, the only remark I get is that you should not beat around the bush. I am stuck in a very disappointing situation. Either it’s me who is a complete bimbo or him. Can anyone of you offer me a suggestion as to how to hit the spot and get through this challenge? Pls. suggest!
Hey Morry, don’t get panicked. Even I was walking in your shoes last year when my supervisor didn’t seem to understand my situation. But then a friend of mine suggested me a strategy. He advised me to correct one section of dissertation in one go and then consult the guide if it is right or not. I used to interact regularly with my guide via skype chats. This strategy helped me and my supervisor get grasp of every section of my dissertation. I completed my dissertation by taking my guide into confidence and everything became a cakewalk for me.
I think you should refer for some professional advice as well. You can refer to “dissertationpal.com” for seeking help on this issue. I got my concept paper written from them and they are really expert in providing work within the deadlines.
Thanks very much Lucy. I was also looking for some help in this regard. I second you!!
Hey guys, thanks for all the suggestions. I am in constant contact with my supervisor now, I consult with him on every doubts and changes that I make, and it’s working!! He’s still critical but well, its better. So, Jack, your technique kinda works. Thanks!
• Random Sample – Under this every member of the population is equal.
• Voluntary response sample – Under this the subject of the sample decides, whether they’ll be a part of the survey or not.
• This type of sample depends on the selection of easy to obtain members from the population.
• Systematic Sample – It is chosen on the basis of an ordered system.
• Cluster sample – It involves using a simple random sample of evident groups that the population contains.
• Stratified Sample – It is used when the population is split into atleast to non-overlapping sub-populations.
It is really important to know the difference between the types of Samples because though they may sound same with almost similar names but they could be majorly different or even a minute difference to could result in many errors.
hello!
can you please explain a bit more about systematic sampling? I am researching about employee engagement and its effect on organizational commitment and job satisfaction. I intend to interview managers as well as employees. My supervisor suggested I go in for Systematic sampling for the survey. But i am not quite clear with how to go about it.
Plagiarism is the intentional use of someone else’s ideas, words, concepts in your work/assignments. It is considered as a serious misconduct at all the Universities and should be avoided at all times.
Central Queensland University (CQU) also has a policy on plagiarism and students are strongly
encouraged to familiarise themself with it.
Committing plagiarism carries very serious penalties for the students, including expulsion from a
university.
Regrettably, students have been known to commit offences of plagiarism by not understanding what acceptable paraphrasing, summarising or quoting techniques are.
The best way to avoid being accused of plagiarism is to acknowledge the resources upon which
you have based your ideas.
Note: Expulsion, for some international students, may mean having to return to their
own country because this forfeits their student visa.
I totally agree! one of my friends got expelled from a university in Canada and had to return back to Saudi Arabia because of visa issues. The university however had issued him 3 warnings before taking such a serious step.
I wonder why students find it so difficult to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism does not necessarily discourage you from using facts and conclusions drawn by others, but merely requires you to interpret those facts in the particular context you are working and giving credit to the author whose work you have utilized. It is really beyond my understanding why students do not wish to give credit to someone who has worked hard in finding useful results.
Below are some tips which can help you get your thesis proposal selected in the first go-
1. Always remember that the main purpose of writing a proposal is to convince your guide.
2. Your proposal should look like that you have done enough research about the topic and really want to start with the next step. Though you need not mention each and everything you found in the proposal.
3. You must mention the outcomes and shortcomings of the previous research and also why do you want to start with this topic
4. It should convince the reader that you’ll be able to formulate a testable hypothesis and test it in a planned manner.
Hey Morry
Thanks for this post. I am really confused as to what all should i mention in the proposal. Do i need to include a detailed literature review? because if i don’t, will the research gap be justified? Also, my guide says i must mention the research methodology in the proposal. What if i am not able to gather the targeted data from the primary sources? Is it okay to modify the methodology once it is approved?
Tips on writing a persuasive dissertation-
1. Identify the target reader first.
2. Start with one or two very strong and convincing sentences so that the audience is temted to read further.
3. Write a paragraph about the problem and dissertation from your point of view so that the audience will understand and will keep in mind while reading.
4. Write clearly and concisely
5. Try to create a connect between you and your audience.
6. You can even try to cite the opposite point of view
7. Give yourself atleast 2 days for writing a thesis.
8. Do get a grammar check and formatting check to make it look more professional and impressive.
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davidbergeviin 7:47 am on August 29, 2016 Permalink |
Technically, you need to reference every time you write a point/idea which is not yours, but of another writer’s. Let’s say, you read something of worth in an article and you decide to write it in your paper in your words, then you need to cite that article, because those may be your words but not your ideas. So, wherever in your thesis, when you make such points, you mention the source of that information.
adamflindeers 7:54 am on August 29, 2016 Permalink |
References in a thesis are counted as highly valuable as it shows the amount of extensive research you have done. It means that you have thoroughly conducted your research. That is why it is so important.
terrywellch 11:33 am on August 29, 2016 Permalink |
The major use of referencing is in the literature review section of the thesis. You can find references using the computer and electronic databases on web such as EBSCO, Google Scholar, IEEE, Google Search Engine, online newsletters, existing thesis on this subject, peer reviewed journals, SANS report, NIST standard and other databases. Apart from these, you can refer books from your college library and also look into your supervisor’s work. I am sure you can find something there.
jackthomas01 12:34 pm on August 30, 2016 Permalink |
In a thesis, referencing is mostly done in the initial chapters: Introduction, literature review and research methodology. Analysis, results and conclusion are refereeing to your own findings, therefore, they don’t need references. However, discussion chapter is something where you put in a lot of references, which are again taken from the LR chapter. So yeah, that is all.
tappedward 10:35 am on August 31, 2016 Permalink |
Well, my supervisor asked me to put in at least 20 references in my literature review chapter. That is the most important chapter, which involves a lot of referencing. Now there are also various methods of structuring and referencing an LR such as the annotated form, the matric form etc. I think you should first consult your supervisor about it.
morry1 5:19 am on September 12, 2016 Permalink |
Hey thanks a lot guys for the response. What I am understanding is that I need to cite the source from where I take the facts. Is there a rule about what all references should be used and what all must not be taken?