FULL TITLE OF DISSERTATION

Name of student
Guided by:
Name of guide
Designation

Introduction
Background and Context
Give the background of the problem to be explored in your study and what led you to
doing this topic. For example, you might discuss unresolved issues, social concerns that
lead you to take up this topic.Outline the broad area of the study. If the study is about a
particular geographic area, explain the geographic and social context that is related to the
study.

Research Questions
Reframe the aims and objectives in the form of questions. You may have a central
question addressing the aim and three or four sub questions that address the objectives.

Aim and objectives

Define the aim of the study. Expand it to various objectives.

Scope, limitations and significance

Explain to what extent you are exploring the topic and define its limits. ie, what are
you doing (scope) and what are you not doing (limit). Lastly, explain the significance of your
topic. ie, if you complete the topic, who will benefit from it and in what way.

Literature Review
Begin your literature review with a systematic overview of what you have tried to explore in the
literature review. You can write this introduction properly only after you complete the literature
review.

For eg, you may start as follows:

This chapter explores the current theories and literature on the ecology of architecture. It begins with an
overall understanding of human ecology as a branch of science that interlinks humans and their environment.
Further, the Vedic literature of Vastu shastra is explored as a specialised branch that deals with the
understanding, development and creation of human living at a philosophical and practical level. Further, the
concept of living environment is examined in contrast with the idea of vasthupursha mandala and finally, the
concept of dwelling is investigated in the background of the research context.

Write the literature review based on headings related to your topic rather than writing
about each of the articles. Compare between the books and resources.

Summarise the literature review and discuss the implications from the literature for your
study – the theoretical framework for your study. Here you can make an explicit statement
of the hypotheses, propositions or research questions and how they are derived from
existing theory and literature. Establish from the literature (or gap in the literature) the
need for this study and the likelihood of obtaining meaningful, relevant, and significant
results.

For eg you may conclude the literature study like this:

From the above review, it is revealed that designing living environments is closely linked to
the understanding of the human ecology. However, it is found that a holistic approach in the
understanding and application of human ecology with in the architecture paradigm is less
explored(GAP). Therefore, this study seeks to develop a conceptual framework for human
ecology with in the field of architecture.

Methodology

Start the chapter with an overview like the example given under literature review.

You may begin in a similar way.

This chapter presents the methodology that was followed to complete the dissertation
objectives. Firstly, it explores the overarching methodology and gives an overview of the
various methods. Secondly, the various data sources and types are explained. Thirdly, each
method of data collection is expanded and the details are explored including the samples of
questionnaires, extract of recorded interviews etc. Fourthly, the methods used to analyse the
data is explained. Fifthly and finally, it explores the ethical procedures, issues, limitations,
advantages and disadvantages of the methods that where employed.

Data sources and Data types

Explain the source of your data. Details that you followed for conducting the survey,
study, photographs, interviews etc. For eg: How many case studies did you do, on what
basis did you choose the case studies. Or, how did you carry out the survey. How many
people did you survey or, How did you choose participants for your interview and how many
interviews did you do.

Use tables and explanations about this.

Data collection
Outline the procedure used in your study for collecting and recording data. This could
include how, when (in what order) and where the data was collected.

Data reduction and analysis

Discuss about how the data that you had collected was analysed and categorised.

Ethics and Limitations

Explain whether you got written permission from your participants or concerned
authorities to collect the required data. Explain the measures taken to avoid plagiarism.

Results
Start the chapter with a summary that outlines the results. You may use the same
format as given in the earlier chapters.

The findings from your primary and secondary data collection in a non-interpretive
neutral format. It should be factual and un-emotional. In the results chapter, there will be
very less reference to other books and articles. One can use tables and figures if
appropriate. Tables and figures should be named as follows:

The title of the table should be above the table, eg:

Table 4-1: Name of the table

and

Title of figures to be at the bottom of the figure, eg:

Figure 4-1: Name of the figure (Source)

Discussion

As with the previous chapters, include a paragraph at the beginning summarising the
structure of the chapter. In the discussion chapter, there will be a lot of references to other
books and articles. This is because you are trying to build the theory that you studied in the
literature review in light of the new data that you have collected.

.
Conclusion
This chapter contains conclusions, limitations, and recommendations – so what is the
theory? Where to from here? What are the practical implications? Discussion of where the
study may be extended.

Again, the chapter should begin with a summary paragraph of the chapter structure
Reference
Appendices