Thesis Writing

WRITING YOUR THESIS
HANAN ABBAS ABDO

PROFESSOR OF FAMILY
MEICINE
hanan abbas,prof. family medicine
12/24/16
Well begun is half done"

--Aristotle,
quoting an old proverb
12/24/16
Some Basic Ideas

Question
Doubt
Confidence
Four Questions
What data / evidence do I need?
What will be the source of that data / evidence?
How will I collect that data / evidence?
How will I analyze that data / evidence?
Audience:
your academic advisor and committee
12/24/16
Your proposal describes your proposed plan of

work:
What
you intend to study (scope and

research questions).
How you intend to study your topic
(methodology).
Why this topic needs to be studied
(significance).
When you will complete this work
(timeline).
(Occasionally) Where you will
conduct this work.
12/24/16
Proposal Writing and

Anxiety: General Advice
Establish a writing schedule.
Begin by free-writing.
Keep a small notebook with you to write
down relevant thoughts.
Compose different parts in different
computer files or on different index cards.
Start with more clear cut sections first.
12/24/16
Research Proposal Definitions - 1

the meaning of proposal suggests
looking forward, to what the researcher

plans to do in the future. The proposal
lays out the problem for research,
describes exactly how the research will
be conducted, and outlines in precise
detail the resources the researcher will
use to achieve the desired results.
12/24/16
Research Proposal Definitions - 2

A research proposal is a document that
describes the essential features of a study to be
conducted in the future, as well as the strategy
whereby the inquiry may be logically and
successfully accomplished.
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Research Proposal - Definitions - 3

The
academic research proposal is

a structured presentation of what
you plan to do in research and how
you plan to do it.
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Components of a Research Proposal
Title of the proposal

Background of the problem
Statement of the problem
Research objectives, questions, hypotheses
Significance of the study
Review of related literature
Definition of terms
limitations
Research methods and procedures
Expected results
Preliminary working bibliography
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Title of Research Project
Good
Concise title that gives reviewer a general sense
of what you are investigating.
For example:
Understanding the role anti-cell death protein BNIP3
plays in brain cancers.
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10
Punch, K. F. (2007). Developing Effective Research Proposals (2 ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
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11
Writing an introduction or background
Introduction should be short about one or two

pages
The research Problem

Studies that have addressed the problem
Deficiencies in the studies
The significance of the study for particular
audiences
The purpose statement
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12
Potential Sources of Research Problems - 1
Scanning and reading published and

unpublished research
Disagreeing with some previous research and
developing a new study to test its findings
Gaps in explanations or in accepted principles
Questioning the validity of a generally accepted
procedure
Replication Redoing the same thing with an
expectation of the same result
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Potential Sources of Research Problems - 2
Designing and developing of new research tools

and techniques
Developing new models

Studying areas where knowledge or information
is scarce, out-of-date, or indefinite
Attempting to deal with actual problems

Networking or sharing ideas and information
with colleagues
Interdisciplinary research Cross fertilization
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14
Functions of the Statement of the Problem
Establishes the existence of a unique problem
Suggests the benefits to be derived from the
study
Justifies the utility, significance, or interest
the problems
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of
15
Attributes Associated with the Statement of

the Problem Top Nine
Clarity and precision

Identification of what to study
Identification of an overarching question
Definition of key concepts / terms
Articulation of studys boundaries / parameters
Some generalizability
Conveyance of studys importance, benefits, and
justification
No use of unnecessary jargon
Conveyance of more than descriptive data providing a
snapshot
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16
Components of the Problem Statement
Any problem statement should contain four

elements:
A lead-in [narrative hook]
Declaration of originality (mentioning a
knowledge void which would be supported by
the literature review
Indication of the central focus of the study
(purpose statement); and
Explanation of study significance or benefits to
be derived from an investigation of the problem
(Rationale or justification of the study)
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17
Writing a Purpose statement - Guidelines
Begin with signaling words such as the purpose or intent of

Indicate the overall intent of the study such as the intent is to
examine the role of school teacher in promoting reading habit
Indicate the research design and strategy such as survey,
experiment, etc.
Identify the independent and / or dependent variables
Use words that connect the variables such as the relationship
between or the comparison of two or more variables
Position or order the variables from left to right in purpose
statement with independent variable followed by the
dependent variable
Make reference to the participant (unit of analysis) and mention
the research site
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19
Research Objectives, Questions, Hypotheses
Emerge from the Statement of the Problem

How the research problem is to be prepared to be
approached methodologically
A precise and formal statement
Wording of considerable importance
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20
Purpose/Aims/Rationale/Research
Questions
Explain the goals and research objectives
of the study.
Show the original contributions of your
study.
Provide a more detailed account of the
points summarized in the introduction.
Include a rationale for the study.
Be clear about what your study will not
address.
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21
Developing Research
Questions
Are the research objectives feasible?

(Time? Sample size? Technical expertise?)
Are the questions novel? Interesting? Useful?

(Will the answers open up new areas of research?)
Is the scope of the study well focused?

(Collecting too much data wastes time and money)
Is it ethical to ask these research questions?

(Unacceptable physical risks or invasion of
privacy?)
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22
Significance of the Study
Why this study is significant?

Why do it now?
What will it contribute to the existing research
literature?
What implications your findings may have?
Who will benefit from it?
12/24/16
23
Review of Related Literature Important

Information
Information concerning theory findings

Information concerning methods
Information concerning data analysis
Strengths and weaknesses
12/24/16
24
Tips on drafting a literature

review
Categorize the literature into recognizable

topic clusters:
build on conclusions that lead to your project, or

demonstrate the places where the literature is
lacking.
Avoid Smith says X, Jones says Y

literature reviews.
Avoid including all the studies on the
subject.
Avoid polemics, praise, and blame.
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25
Writing Literature Reviews:

Key Point
The literature review shows that

youve been listening and that
you have something valuable to
say.
After assessing the literature in

your field, you should be able to
answer the following questions:
Why should we study (further) this

research topic/problem?
What contributions will my study make
to the existing literature?
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26
Purposes of Literature Review - 1
Familiarity with the field of inquiry

Generation of research questions or hypotheses
for further studies
Knowledge of the methodologies common to
the field
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27
Purposes of Literature Review - 2
Can reveal sources of data that you may not

have known existed
Demonstrates why it is important and timely
To avoid or solve problems others have
encountered in their research (Limitations)
Increase your confidence in your topic because
others have invested considerable time,
effort, and resources in studying it
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An Effective Literature Review

should
Flesh out the background of your study.

Critically assess important research trends or areas of
interest.
Identify potential gaps in knowledge.
Establish a need for current and/or future research projects.
12/24/16
29
Steps in Conducting Literature Review - 1

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Identify a research topic

Identify keywords that are useful in locating relevant
information material
Develop an overall search strategy for the literature review
Search preliminary sources
Select relevant primary and secondary sources
Search the library for identified primary and secondary
sources
Establish a computer and paper trail including research
summaries in your own words that will be used in the
literature review
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30
Steps in Conducting Literature Review - 2

8.
Repeat step 47 as needed to refine search
9.
Develop themes/concepts that synthesize the
10.
11.
12.
literature
Relate the themes/concepts to one another
through an outline of the literature review, or a
literature map
Produce a final literature review that structures
or organizes the literature thematically or by
important concepts
Use the literature review to develop or refine the
research
objectives, questions, and hypothesis
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Definition of Terms
Variety and location

Operational definition of all the major concepts to
be
employed in the study
Should cover all the essential terms in the
Statement of the Problem and the Research
Objectives, Questions, Hypotheses
These definitions will establish the basis for the
objective tests for the outcomes of the
proposed study
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32
Limitations
Establish the boundaries, exceptions,

qualifications, and reservations
Delimitations - Before
How the study will be narrowed in scope

Controlled by the researcher
Limitations Before and After
Factors that will affect the study

Not controlled by the researcher
Should appear when imposed by the nature of

the problem
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33
Research Methods and Procedures Main

Decisions
Method
Population / Sample to be studied
Instrumentation
Data collection procedures
Data analysis
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34
Selecting the Research Design
Experimental design
Quasi-experimental design
Non-experimental design
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35
Methods - Design
Design examples
Prospective vs. Retrospective

Descriptive
Observation
Intervention clinical trial
Surveys, interviews, questionnaires
Focus groups, field studies
Example
We plan a prospective randomized controlled trial of

meditative music vs. no music
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Methods Sample/Sample
Size
Who are the study participants?

Describe inclusion criteria
Example: Adult men and women inpatients with
stage IV heart disease
Who is excluded?
Example: Patients who do not speak English
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Methods Sample contd
How will participants be recruited?

Convenience sample
Advertisements
Electronic Records search
How many participants are needed?

How will you justify the sample size?
Has there been a power analysis?
Do you have a comparison or control group?
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Setting
Describe the sites where you plan to
conduct the study
Do you have support from the
administration of the site to conduct the
study?
Letters of support from site
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39
STUDY POPULATION
Population to be studied: All pts referred to the

laboratory between Jan 1, 2007 and Dec 31, 2007
with the criteria .
Inclusion criteria: Age and sex of the patient

must be available in the chart (only men aged 2070 yrs will be included).
Exclusion criteria: Patients who have brain

tumors, strokes or other mass lesions on brain
imaging studies will be excluded. Patients who
happen to be lab. employees will be excluded.
12/24/16
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Preliminary Working Bibliography
Materials cited in the proposal
Quality, not quantity
Full bibliographical details
Style of citation
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41
The objective of the proposed study should

be clear
The objective stated should be specific, achievable
and measurable
Too many objectives to be avoided
Even just one clearly stated relevant objective for a
study would be good enough
If there is more than one objective the objectives can
be presented in the appropriate order of importance
12/24/16
42
Data Analysis
Describe your analysis plan

What statistical tests will you use?
Be sure your statistics are appropriate for your
study design
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Style Considerations:
Coherence
Move from old information to new
information.
Put the most important information at the
end of the sentence (stress position).
Keep the subject and verb together.
Start sentences with short, easily
understood phrases.
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44
Visual Aids
Incorporate charts, graphs,

diagrams, illustrations,
etc., wherever possible,
permissible, or practical.
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45
Timeline/Plan of Work
Some things to keep in mind:
Consult your advisor.
Be aware of important dates for submitting and
defending dissertations.
Do not be overly ambitious.
Remember that your proposed timeline
demonstrates your awareness of the various
elements of the study (IRB approval, travel;
design, testing, and length of experiments;
negotiation of entry into the study site;
purchase of necessary equipment; drafting;
redrafting).
12/24/16
46
It can be presented in tabular or graphic

form (Gantt chart)
Flow charts and other diagrams are often
useful for highlighting the sequencing and
interrelationship of different activities in the
study
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47
Timeline, continued
Provide timeline benchmarks
Example:
Months 1 3 Prepare study tools

Months 4-10Collect data
Months 11-12 Analyze data
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Facilities
The proposal should also include the

important facilities required / available
for the study namely computers, laboratories,
special equipment etc
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Personnel
Proposal should include who are the primary

investigators and co- investigators, their
qualifications, research experience etc
The proposal may also include the Major
roles to be taken up by different investigators
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Budget
The
budget translates project activities

into monetary terms
It is a statement of how much money will
be required to accomplish the various tasks
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Budget
Major items
Salary for staff
Travel
Purchase of equipment
Printing / Xeroxing
Consultancy charges
Institutional overheads
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Common pitfalls to avoid
Missing aims or purpose

Not enough detail about protocol
Write your proposal so anyone reading it can understand your
plan
Is your study significant?
Does it answer the larger So what question? Why should
researchers care about this work?
Underpowered sample size
Describe why you are using the sample size and justify it
Invalid or unreliable instrumentation
Has your instrument been tested with the population you are
studying? If not, will you test it within your study?
Improper statistics
Are you using the appropriate statistical analysis?
12/24/16
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WRITING YOUR THESIS

HANAN ABBAS ABDO

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Well begun is half done"

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Some Basic Ideas

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Your proposal describes your proposed plan of

you intend to study (scope and

Proposal Writing and

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Research Proposal Definitions - 1

looking forward, to what the researcher

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Research Proposal Definitions - 2

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Research Proposal - Definitions - 3

academic research proposal is

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Components of a Research Proposal

Title of the proposal

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Title of Research Project

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Writing an introduction or background

Introduction should be short about one or two

The research Problem

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Potential Sources of Research Problems - 1

Scanning and reading published and

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Potential Sources of Research Problems - 2

Designing and developing of new research tools

Developing new models

Attempting to deal with actual problems

Interdisciplinary research Cross fertilization

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Functions of the Statement of the Problem

Establishes the existence of a unique problem

Suggests the benefits to be derived from the

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Attributes Associated with the Statement of

Clarity and precision

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Components of the Problem Statement

Any problem statement should contain four

Writing a Purpose statement - Guidelines

Begin with signaling words such as the purpose or intent of

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Research Objectives, Questions, Hypotheses

Emerge from the Statement of the Problem

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Are the research objectives feasible?

Are the questions novel? Interesting? Useful?

Is the scope of the study well focused?

Is it ethical to ask these research questions?

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Significance of the Study

Why this study is significant?

hanan abbas,prof. family medicine

Review of Related Literature Important