How to Structure a Dissertation: Chapters & Sub Chapters

The following post includes a concise and in-depth overview of the chapters and subchapters normally contained within a dissertation. These would be very useful when deciding what should go where, and what you should write next. We use this template at our site when assisting students with their dissertations and in particular writing dissertation chapters. We hope you benefit strongly from it as well.
Dissertation Chapters & Sub Chapters
Dissertations should be structured in the following manner:

TITLE PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
DEDICATION
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES (If available)
LIST OF FIGURES (if available)
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY
ORGANISATION UNDER STUDY
PROBLEM STATEMENT
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
DISSERTATION STRUCTURE
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE REVIEW
FINAL SUBCHAPTERS SHOULD INCLUDE:
LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY
RESEARCH QUESTION
Do not be descriptive in your literature review. For every one of 2 reviews on a particular subject, come up with equal critiques by opposing authors to have a balanced critique of the subject you are reviewing.
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY
RESEARCH APPROACH
RESEARCH STRATEGY
DATA COLLECTION
DATA ANALYSIS
ACCESS
RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, AND GENERALISABILITY
ETHICAL ISSUES
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
Dissertation Chapters
For most sections of the methodology, you should include an appropriate rationale for why you chose to use that particular methodology over an opposing methodology. If you choose positivist over interpretivist, why did you do it?
RESULTS
If Quantitative, you should include all the figures, along with a description of the results.
If Qualitative or Case Study, you should include the relevant findings in a descriptive format.
DISCUSSION
Justification of research topic (why you chose that topic)
Recap of Literature Review, and Methodology
Justification of Sample
Brief Recap of Results
Analysis – Split the research question into different sections, and answer each one of the sub questions, based on Literature Review and Results. Then eventually, write a summary that answers the whole research question.
Analysis – Make sure you answer the research question. The results should be analyzed in line with the Literature you reviewed in Chapter 2.
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX
You must be a good storyteller to write a dissertation. You are not expected to interview or survey anybody, but you must be able to understand the organisation, literature review and methodology, up until the point that you can write a convincing thesis to answer your proposed research question (ask for samples if you need them).
I suggest and totally recommend that you start from the literature review. We have provided a simple guide called, how to write a dissertation the literature review, that might be helpful to you. Since you are not really conducting the interviews and reports, the literature review would give you a well-rounded overview of the topic.
Most social sciences and Law dissertations adopt secondary research, compared to business dissertations that primarily use Primary Research. Ensure that your choice of research is the most adequate for the topic you are working on.
Summary
Reviewer
John – WP Admin
Review Date
2017-08-18
Reviewed Item
Dissertation Writing Guide: How to Structure a Dissertation?
Author Rating
5