Research Activities in Semester &Thesis Writing

                                 Research Activities in Semester &Thesis Writing

                                    

Outline

• What thesis is and isn’t?

 • Why writing thesis?

• How to write thesis?

• Common mistakes and some tips

What is a thesis?

• Demonstration of an understanding of the state of the art

– Critical appreciation of existing work

 • A novel contribution

– Evaluated systematically

What a thesis isn’t?

•      What I did in the lab over the last 6 months

–     I first read the background material

–     I ran some experiments

–     …

•      A thesis is a logical reconstruction

–     With a single coherent message

–     Not a historical narrative

Why to write a thesis?

•      It will make you famous

–     Unlikely

–     But YES

•      It will radically change science

–     Unlikely

–     But YES

Why to write a thesis?

•      It will advance our knowledge

–     Just a little

–     Main benefit is in teaching you to research

•      In the process, you will learn

–     How to research

–     How to write

•      Shorter conference & journal papers will be easy!

Thesis Message

•      Write a thesis message

–     1 sentence

–     1 paragraph

–     1 page

•      Everything you write should be directed at this

–     Thesis (noun).

1. A proposition maintained by argument

2. A dissertation advancing original research

Thesis Message

•      You’re tackling an important research problem

–     E.g. Nesting Success of Vulture

•      You’ve made an original contribution to its resolution

–     E.g. Efficient and effective global management of carcasses

What Next?

•      So, I’ve got a good thesis message

•      What do I do next?

–     Write the table of contents

–     Logical structure of your thesis

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1     Background

1.2     Rationale

1.3     Objectives

1.4     Limations (if any)

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Chapter 3: Materials and Methods

2.1 Study Area

2.2 Methods

Chapter 4: Results

Chapter 5: Discussion

Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations

6.1 Conclusion

6.2 Recommendations

What Next?

•      So, I’ve got a good thesis message

•      And a table of contents

•      What do I do next?

–     Make a timetable

•      Targets to meet

•      Light at the end of the tunnel

Timetable

•      “Your thesis is your baby”      P. Prosser

–     Give as much time as you can

•      “You have to know when to let it go”

–     Put a fence around what you’ve done

What Next?

•      So, I’ve got a good thesis message

•      And a table of contents, timetable

•      What do I do next?

–     Work to your timetable!

Writing Each Chapter

•      Don’t start with the Introduction or Conclusion

•      Start where you feel the happiest

–     Typically a middle chapter

–     Write outwards

–     Finally Conclusions and end with the Introduction

•      Write everything with your thesis message in mind

Rule of Three

•      Within each chapter, repeat yourself 3 times

–     Intro. We will show...

–     Body. Show them…

–     Concl. We have shown …

•      Within thesis, repeat your contributions 3 times

–     Intro chapter

–     Main chapters

–     Conclusion chapter

–     But don’t bore reader

–     E.g. in introduction be brief, in conclusions be broader

INTRODUCTION

•      Gives substantive background of the research with literature overview of the theme

•      Explain existing problem and status of previous efforts

•      Overview of methods used to study the theme and which method the student has chosen

Note: Sets the scene against which the action of the thesis will take place

•      Indicates of why the geographical location/animal/organism was chosen

•      Indicates research question and hypotheses/prediction to be tested

•      Indication of applied value

Three moments and formula for introduction: RCA (in sequence)

•      Review: not a historical background of long span, take  papers with pertinent information for background of your research, problem statements

–     ask peers to comment, use your intelligence and skill

•      Claim: the most important part, middle,  claim your work is a worthwhile extension of the review, motivation of research (claim=0, lack of motivation)

•      Agenda: end part, summarize what you will show the as your research goes on, how research works to fulfil your claim, clarify your claim, keep it short

MATERIALS & METHODS

•      Study area

•      Methods

–     Conceptual Framing/Research Design (subheading)

–     Sampling/Survey Design (subheading)

–     Field/Laboratory Methods (subheading)

–     Analysis

•      Methods in the lab/field

–     Detail procedures to give an accurate idea of what was done

–     Reliable, standard, tested/verified (Published- Established Protocols), photographs and diagrams (labelled) of setup

–     Materials (tool/instrument) – Describe EXACTLY what you used to do your research

Must be replicable: possible to go out in the field and repeat the study to verify/reject the findings?

•      Methods used for numerical analyses: Stats. and Analysis

–     Data quality and management, approaches, rational use of statistics- no use, overuse or misuse--- software (version)

•      You should be able to answer

–     What data did you choose to collect?

–     Is some data lacking?

–     Are there some practical or methodical difficulties / limitations?

–     Are all the data needed to answer the objective of the study?

RESULTS

•      Observation of your research

•      Present results based on data collection in an order

•      Text: easy to understand, no repetition

•      Figures: easy to understand, self explanatory Fig. text underneath

•      Tables: easy to read, and in correct format with table head and explanation of abbreviation

•      Text, Figure & Table: CORRECT ORDER

•      Explain and describe data, including any qualitative observations

•      Say exactly what you found, patterns, trends, or relationships observed

•      Use graphics – graphs, figures (visualization speaks more)

Plus Point: DO NOT repeat the methods in RESULTS!

DISCUSSION

•      Interpret with scientific reasons

–     Example: Regression – Intercept, slope, p, R² ?

Plus Point:+ Numbers speak but what do they mean to you? +

•      Critically evaluate

–     Is data telling you as you wish?

–     If yes, how and why?

–     If no, how and why?

–     Is everything alright?

Plus Point; Bonus: if you can successfully identify and address legitimate counterarguments to your thesis, your writing much stronger

•      Compare to other works

–     do your results speak as others have?

–     do they say different stories?

–     if any – what could be the reason your output is that way?

Note: Examine the amount and possible sources of variability in your data, including errors

•      Develop arguments for and against your hypotheses and interpretations

+ Do not make generalized statements that are not based on your data, known facts, or reason +

•      Be sure to relate your findings to other studies and cite those studies

•      Draw positive conclusions from your study whenever possible

Plus Point: + Be critical on your own data and methods, or any indication of self-evaluation +

 

CONCLUSION

•      Should be sound and toughly sustained

•      Backed by what has gone before/evidence you have looked at findings

•      Nothing new should be introduced at this stage

RECOMMENDATIONS

•      Should be sound and well defined

•      Concise and itemized

•      Discreet, especially towards the findings of persons likely to be affected

•      Fully considered, including their consequences, which should be stated and costed where appropriate

Common mistakes

•      Informal text

–     Examiners will jump on imprecision

•      Opinions

–     A thesis is an argument!

•      Complex sentences full of long words

–     A thesis should be a simple, convincing argument!

Plus Point: + Examiners greatly appreciate finding a few mistakes +

•      Writing too much

–     There are rules about maximum length

–     But rarely rules about the minimum

–     Nash’s PhD thesis

•      27 pages long

•      Won him a Nobel prize

•      At some point, your brain will surely become toast

–     Take a break

–     Eat properly, exercise, sleep …

•      Toasted brain is only temporary

SOME TIPS

1. Use relevant materials ONLY

–     A thesis is not a topic, it is the statement of an argument

–     It is the statement from which everything else in your thesis emanates- arguments, counterarguments, examples, descriptions, implications, etc.

–     Don't include irrelevant material

2. Use high-quality and relevant sources

–     Don't plagiarize

3. Write how you speak

–     Don't use slang

–     Use short sentences

–     Don't disorient your reader with abrupt changes in topic

–     Instead, include appropriate transitions from one paragraph to the next

–     If you simply must change topics, use a section break

4. Be succinct

–     Don't use fifty words when thirty will do, five words when four will do

5. Check your language

–     Nothing is more distracting than misspelled words and sloppy grammar

 

Thanks!