This is the first book to concentrate specifically on the planning and procedures that students need to consider when preparing their dissertations in geography, environmental science and geology. It goes through each of the stages, from deciding what topic to work on, through designing the research and collecting the data, to handing in the final bound volume. It suggests practical ways of tackling the tasks involved and locates common pitfalls associated with each.
Part 1 Introduction: the aim of this book; how to use this book; our
friend Eric; dissertations - what this book is all about. Part 2 What is a
good dissertation and why do I have to do one?: what is a dissertation?; what
makes a good dissertation?; why do I have to do one?; a prize-winning
dissertation?. Part 3 When should I start and how long will it take?: the
importance of a timetable; institutional guidelines and the deadline;
constructing a timetable; a do-it-yourself timetable kit; fitting the jobs
into the timetable; your own individual timetable. Part 4 What shall I do it
on?: topics, problems and questions; types of question. Part 5 How do I do
it?: getting answers to questions; types of question; research design; logic;
inductive reasoning; deductive reasoning; the logic of scientific discovery;
designing your own research; research design for explanation; finding out how
and why ...?; research design for other questions; finding out when, where,
what ...?. Part 6 What kind of data do I need and how do I get them?: data,
data analysis and data quantity; what kind of data do I need?; types of data;
data reliability; primary data; secondary data. Part 7 What can I do with my
data when I've got them?: data processing; types of data; samples and
populations; types of question and types of data processing; A = ?; A = B?; A
????? B?; A > B?; A B?; A -> B?; A ????? B?. Part 8 What amount of data do I
need?: different amounts of data are needed for different things; necessary
minimum amounts of data for statistical analyses; how many data are enough to
answer my question(s)?. Part 9 Should I model?: what do we mean by
modelling?; modelling as a technique for problem solving; conceptual
modelling. Part 10 Help! it's all gone horribly wrong. what can I do?:
introduction - what can go wrong?; fixing the mess when things go wrong; if
this is the answer, what was the question?; facing up to the mess. Part 11
What should it look like when it's done?: introduction - the research report;
the rules of your institution; structure and presentation; dissertation
structure; dissertation chapters; the title page; the contents page; the
abstract; the introduction; the results section; the discussion; the
conclusion; the reference list; writing English; presenting text, figures and
photographs; how long should it be?; binding and submission. Part 12 How will
it be marked?: examination and assessment procedures; what the examiners are
looking for; a marking guide; first impressions; plagiarism; the viva.
