THESIS WRITING

PARTS OF THESIS
• TITLE AND ABSTRACT
• CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 2- REVIEW OF LITERATURE
• CHAPTER 3- METHODOLOGY
• CHAPTER 4- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• CHAPTER 5- SUMMARY AND
CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES
 TITLE AND ABSTRACT
1. Title page: Contain title of thesis , authors full legal
name, bachelors thesis or masters thesis, department,
place and date of completion
2. Title of thesis: Highlight the aim, design and setting of
the study in few words. Should be short, informative,
specific and accurate should not exceed 15 words. The
title gives the potential reader, concise and accurate
impression of the articles content.
3. Authors: Authors full legal name.
4. Abstract: A brief summary of your thesis.

The aim of abstract is to briefly provide the reader with

the most important information from the entire text.

The components of a generally structured abstract are

introduction, the objective of the study, the methods,
results in brief with their statistical significance and the
main conclusion.

5. Dedication: Mention those who supported the study by

all means during the research work.
6. Acknowledgement : It can be placed in the beginning
or at the end of the thesis. Names of the colleagues who
supported the study including the computer assistant can
be added while highlighting ones gratefulness.
7. List of abbreviations: Explanation of acronyms. Topic
specific abbreviations and definitions that are common in
your field of study. By using this the reader can easily
locate the defined abbreviations.
Table of content: Topic outline of the thesis. It is put
together by listing the headings in the thesis down to
whichever level you choose.
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

[Link] of the research:

• Introduction is the part that gives the first impression about
the thesis.
• The introduction gives information to the reader about the
background and context of the study and how it relates to the
previous works done in the area.
• It gives an outline of the broad field of study and focus on the
research problem.
Used to
1. Establish the overall field
2. Summarise previous research
3. Indicate the research gap
4. State the purpose of study
2. Rationale/ justification of research:
• Start broadly laying out the background and then
narrow it to the specific question that is being
addressed.
• It should include, background of the project, short
history and current situations, context of the work,
gaps in the research, nature of problem and its
relevance, reason for specific interest, justification
in brief and ends with broad objectives of the
study.
 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

❑ The objectives of the research project should be

summarize what is to be achieved by the study.
❑ Aim or the general objective of a study states what
is expected to be achieved by the study in general
terms.
❑ Objectives answer the questions like what, where,
when about the study.
❖ Objectives must be SMART
• S- Specific
• M-Measurable
• A-Achievable
• R- Relevant
• T- Time bound
CHAPTER 2 : REVIEW OF LITERATURE

• In this part you must get your data and

information's from unpublished material such as
previous or old study.
• The literature review demonstrates an authors
knowledge about a particular field of study and its
methods.
• Organized to cover the specific problems.
• Take the note of all the evidences that the
previous researcher came up.
• Should be related to your topic.
 THE STEPS FOR SEARCH A USEFUL AND
COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE
1. Central topic of the study has be decided. Then the
literature review leads to the dark areas to be surveyed
further it helps to relate new findings to existing
knowledge.
2. Identification of the specific literature to be surveyed
and relevant reviews to be collected.
3. Redefine the research question from broad area to a
narrower but to a specific area of interest.
4. Narrow down the search to get methodological insights
in other similar studies.
5. Set a stage for our own study based on the strengths
and weakness of other studies.
6. Identify the problems and possible solutions from
previous similar study.
PROCEDURE
• Collection of original articles.
• Separate them into descriptive, analytical and
interventional studies.
• Consolidation and writing the findings in an
appropriate manner under definition,
prevalence, risk associations and
effectiveness of interventions
SOURCES
1. Primary sources : Original materials, on which subsequent
researches are based, not interpreted, or evaluated.
Eg: original documents, original articles published in peer
reviewed journals
2. Secondary sources: Interpretation and evaluation of the
primary source.
Eg : bibliographies, biographical work, criticisms, magazines,
newspapers etc.
3. Tertiary sources: Information derived and collected from
primary and secondary sources
Eg: text books, dictionaries, guide books Apart from printed or
physical sources like books, magazines, journal etc. electronic
sources particularly medical related search sources like PubMed,
Medline etc
 CHAPTER 3:METHODS

Description of general means through which

the goals of the study will be achieved: methods
procedures, materials etc.
• Describes in detail how the study was
conducted.
• What and how it was done?
• How could the study answer the specific
questions?
• Who are the study population and what was
the sample size and Sampling strategies?
• Describe research procedure in detail.
• Describe laboratory techniques used.
• Reproducibility.
 STEPS IN METHODOLOGY

• Describes the subjects/ • Accuracy of method

material used
• Mode of selection of • Response rate of
subjects participants
• Description of control group • Plan of data analysis
• In case control studies,
cohort studies and non • Sample size should be
randomized clinical trials, adequate to ensure
choice of the controls must power of the study. In
be described precisely.
• Randomization procedure the case of negative
• Blinding procedure study results, power of
• Measurement of data the study should be re
• Methods of collection calculated and
mentioned.
 CHAPTER 4: RESULT
• The findings should be presented clearly and objectively
without interpretation.
• The result section should address directly aims of the study.
• Should be presented in a well- structured readily
understandable and consistent manner.
• Section should include a comprehensive description of the
study population.
• Results can be summarized and presented as texts , tablets,
charts, pictures.
• Photographs should have a figure number written in Arabic
numerals and a short caption. eg. Fig 1: Mast cell with dense
granules
• Tablets should be numbered in roman numeral. Eg. Table I
• Clear writing is an expression of clear voice that should be
used. By changing the phase verb.
• As far as possible, write in past tense.
• Punctuators particularly commas, full stops and quotation
marks should be used carefully as wrong usage can alter the
meaning totally.
 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION

Discuss his or her results with detailed

interpretations.
1. Highlight the most significant results.
2. Questions posed in introduction are answered by
result section.
3. Discuss whether the objectives are fulfilled .
4. Explain whether the data support your hypothesis.
5. Describes how hypothesis is tested and results are
in favour of or against null hypothesis.
6. Compare the data with eariler studies and see
how these answers fit with the existing knowledge.
7. Discuss whether your results are consistent with
what other investigators have reported.
Explanation of unexpected results should be
included in this area.
8. Critical analyses of limitations of the study
are an essential part of this section.
9. Concludes with suggestions for further
research to answer the questions raised by the
result
 CHAPTER 6:SUMMARY AND
CONCLUSION

• The brief and logical interpretation of

the result and the answer to your
research questions in brief.
• The summary should concisely
describe-
1. The problem
2. The solution
3. The principal conclusion
 REFERENCES
❑ The authenticity of the literature review is
enhanced by the use of references citing
their source, author, time period.
❑ There are two styles for citing and listing
Listing of references
Vancouver referencing style: References
are numbered according to their
appearances in the text and listed
accordingly
Harvard style: References are listed in
alphabetical order irrespective of the order
of their appearance in the text.