(Mark 72)
(Mark 75)
(Mark 91)
(Mark 85)
(Mark 85)
(Mark 85)
(Mark 91)
(Mark 85)
(Mark 75)
This dissertation achieved a mark of 84:
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The following outstanding dissertation example PDFs have their marks denoted in brackets. (Mark 70) (Mark 78) |
Home > College of Social Sciences > Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences > Social Science Master's Theses
Theses/dissertations from 2004 2004.
www.to-get-her.org : a global cyber community for Taiwanese lesbians , Ping-Ying Chang
The role of attachment in the social production of place in Pajaro Valley , Lori Burgman
The Nishimutas: the oral history of a Japanese/Spanish family, who lived in Oklahoma from 1917 , Juli Ann Ora Nishimuta
Muslim women speak their mind , Alexandra Maria da Silva Rubens
Gay bars of Silicon Valley : a study of the decline of a social institution , William M. Coker
Legacies transforming memories into memorials , Bonnie Evans
Identity and political consciousness : community involvement of Mexican/Chicano youth , Etsuko Maruyama
Homophonbia : a socio-cultural barrier to U.S female athletes in Olympic tryouts , Natalie L. Wells
The Vietnamese elderly refugees' experience in America , Thanh Dac Tran
The social construction of nature as the other and its human consequences , Shannon Abernathy
Telecommuting and its impact on business and personal relationships , Margaret G. Dreher
American family/work relationships : a case study of hospital nurses , Valora Glandt
Differential diagnosis of vertebral lytic lesions from an Ohlone cemetery site CA-SCL-038 , Victoria M. Wu
Audre Lorde and poetic activism , Jennifer Blackman
Sons of alcoholic fathers : psychological and methodological considerations , Dennis Haines
Doing quality time : development of a feminist treatment program for women prisoners and their children , Ann Rebecca Pierce Harrison
Women's education and employment in Yugoslavia and California , Milina Jovanovic
Understanding aging and the aged through mainstream films , Linda Janet Proudfoot
California Native American college students' experience : an ethnographic study , Linda Jane Christie
The Paleodemography of the Yukisma Site, CA-SCI-38 : a prehistoric cemetery of the South San Francisco Bay , Susan Morley
Beyond princess and squaw : Wilma Mankiller and the Cherokee gynocentric system , Maureen O'Dea Caragliano
The feminization of poverty : welfare to work research project , Kim S. Petersen
Every woman her own midwife : a study of empowerment through wise woman health care , Kimberly A. Bick-Maurischat
Cultural diversity training : corporate stratification or cultural diversity , Judy Lynn Carrico
On the trail to the coast : a view from CA-MEN-2136 : the Zeni Site , Patricia A. Dunning
Walker's way : an oral history of Mark Walker , Elizabeth L. Lake
Marketing culture : an ethnographic case study of organizational culture in Silicon Valley , Kathleen MacKenzie
Korean women in the labor market , Jeamin Seung
The public response to homelessness , Celine-Marie Pascale
An archaeological survey of some major drainages within Henry W. Coe State Park, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties, California , Theodora Goodrich
Oral histories of black gay men and a black transgender person in the San Francisco Bay Area , Nina Schjelderup
Four problems, one solution , Edward Emmanuel Corneille
Women, child-free and single , Margaret Hood Hynan
A reinterpretation of some Bay Area shellmound sites : a view from the mortuary complex from Ca-Ala-329, the Ryan Mound , Alan Leventhal
Institutional inequality : a case of educational tracking , Mary Etta Marshall
Chicanas in higher education : the road to success , Laura Alicia Salazar
U.S. policy toward Vietnam, 1960-1990 , An Ngoc Vu
Strong hopes/shattered dreams : study of college females and perceived economic future , Heather M. David
The Vietnamese refugee experience : a fundamental redefinition of an ethnic identity , Laura A. Furcinitti
Prelude, interludes, and etudes : a study of the feminist/spiritual journey and designs for its nurture and practice , Maureen Hilliard
Not in his image : a study of male priesthood and catholic women , Marilyn Faye Crnich Nutter
The Formation of an ethnic identity : the life history of a Filipino/Native American , Mark Pasion
The Problem of black access to American higher education is connected to institutional underpreparation , Daryl M. Poe
San Jose State University students and domestic violence , Bette S. Ruch Rose
A leadership model for a woman in the U.S. presidency , Patricia Anne Stroup
Archaic milling cultures of the southern San Francisco Bay region , Richard Thomas, Jr Fitzgerald
The use of terrorism as a means to create a homeland for stateless refugees in the Middle East , Chris D. Funk
A new method of skeletal aging using stages of sacral fusion as seen in the CA-Ala-329 burial population , Charlane Susan Gross
A breach of conduct : James A. Garfield and the court-martial of Fitz John Porter , William Warren Holland
Prehistoric native American adaptations along the central California coast of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties , Mark Gerald Hylkema
The Culpability of James VI of Scotland, later James I of England, in the North Berwick witchcraft trials of 1590-91 , Margaret Carol Kintscher
Black Berets for Justice , Arturo Villarreal
A history of the Ohlone Indians of Mission Santa Clara , Debra Kitsmiller Barth
Women reclaiming ourselves : the conflict between affiliation and individuation , Jana Bartley
The cycle of the feminine spirit : women, the earth, and athe return of the goddess , Wendy Denton
Sourcing Monterey banded chert, a cryptocrystalline hydrosilicate : with emphasis on its physical and thermal traits as applied to central California archaeology , Gary Alan Parsons
Concerned women for America : the handmaidens of the new right , Teri Ann Bengiveno
Daughter of the landlord : life history of a Chinese immigrant , Joan M. Beck Coulson
Self-esteem of sexually abused adolescent girls in group home placement , Audrey Damon
The U.S. policy toward China during the Nixon presidency , Tuan Khac Truong
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Writing a thesis/dissertation is a huge task, and it is common to feel overwhelmed at the start. A thesis and a dissertation are both long pieces of focused research written as the sum of your graduate or postgraduate course.
The difference between a thesis and a dissertation can depend on which part of the world you are in. In Europe, a dissertation is written as part of a Master’s degree, while a thesis is written by doctoral students. In the US, a thesis is generally the major research paper written by Master’s students to complete their programs, while a dissertation is written at the doctoral level.
The purpose of both types of research is generally the same: to demonstrate that you, the student, is capable of performing a degree of original, structured, long-term research. Writing a thesis/dissertation gives you experience in project planning and management, and allows you the opportunity to develop your expertise in a particular subject of interest. In that sense, a thesis/dissertation is a luxury, as you are allowed time and resources to pursue your own personal academic interest.
Writing a thesis/dissertation is a larger project than the shorter papers you likely wrote in your coursework. Therefore, the structure of a thesis/dissertation can differ from what you are used to. It may also differ based on what field you are in and what kind of research you do. In this article, we’ll look at how to structure a humanities or social science thesis/dissertation and offer some tips for writing such a big paper. Once you have a solid understanding of how your thesis/dissertation should be structured, you will be ready to begin writing.
The structure of a thesis/dissertation will vary depending on the topic, your academic discipline, methodology, and the place you are studying in. Generally, social science and humanities theses/dissertations are structured differently from those in natural sciences, as there are differences in methodologies and sources. However, some social science theses/dissertations can use the same format as natural science dissertations, especially if it heavily uses quantitative research methods. Such theses/dissertations generally follow the “IMRAD” model :
Social science theses/dissertations often range from 80-120 pages in length.
Humanities thesis/dissertations, on the other hand, are often structured more like long essays. This is because these theses/dissertations rely more heavily on discussions of previous literature and/or case studies. They build up an argument around a central thesis citing literature and case studies as examples. Humanities theses/dissertations tend to range from between 100-300 pages in length.
Never assume what your reader knows! Explain every step of your process clearly and concisely as you write, and structure your thesis/dissertation with this goal in mind.
As you prepare your topic and structure your social science or humanities thesis/dissertation, always keep your audience in mind. Who are you writing for? Even if your topic is other experts in the field, you should aim to write in sufficient detail that someone unfamiliar with your topic could follow along. Never assume what your reader knows! Explain every step of your process clearly and concisely as you write, and structure your thesis/dissertation with this goal in mind.
While the structure of social science and humanities theses/dissertations differ somewhat, they both have some basic elements in common. Both types will typically begin with the following elements:
A good title is catchy and concisely indicates what your paper is about. This page also likely has your name, department and advisor information, and ID number. However, the specific information listed varies by institution.
Many people probably helped you write your thesis/dissertation. If you want to say thank you, this is the place where it can be included.
Your abstract is a one-page summary (300 words or less) of your entire paper. Beginning with your thesis/dissertation question and a brief background information, it explains your research and findings. This is what most people will read before they decide whether to read your paper or not, so you should make it compelling and to the point.
This section lists the chapter and subchapter titles along with their page numbers. It should be written to help your reader easily navigate through your thesis/dissertation.
While these elements are found at the beginning of your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation, most people write them last. Otherwise, they’ll undergo a lot of needless revisions, particularly the table of contents, as you revise, edit, and proofread your thesis/dissertation.
As we mentioned above, humanities and some social science theses/dissertations follow an essay-like structure . A typical humanities thesis/dissertation structure includes the following chapters:
The number of themes above was merely chosen as an example.
In a humanities thesis/dissertation, the introduction and background are often not separate chapters. The introduction and background of a humanities thesis/dissertation introduces the overall topic and provides the reader with a guide for how you will approach the issue. You can then explain why the topic is of interest, highlight the main debates in the field, and provide background information. Then you explain what you are investigating and why. You should also specifically indicate your hypothesis before moving on to the first thematic chapter.
Thematic chapters (and you can have as many of them as your thesis/dissertation guidelines allow) are generally structured as follows:
Finally, the conclusion of your paper will bring everything together and summarize your argument clearly. This is followed by the references or bibliography section, which lists all of the sources you cited in your thesis/dissertation.
In contrast to the essay structure of a humanities thesis/dissertation, a typical social science thesis/dissertation structure includes the following chapters:
Unlike the humanities thesis/dissertation, the introduction and literature review sections are clearly separated in a social science thesis/dissertation. The introduction tells your reader what you will talk about and presents the significance of your topic within the broader context. By the end of your introduction, it should be clear to your reader what you are doing, how you are doing it, and why.
The literature review analyzes the existing research and centres your own work within it. It should provide the reader with a clear understanding of what other people have said about the topic you are investigating. You should make it clear whether the topic you will research is contentious or not, and how much research has been done. Finally, you should explain how this thesis/dissertation will fit within the existing research and what it contributes to the literature overall.
In the methodology section of a social science thesis/dissertation, you should clearly explain how you have performed your research. Did you use qualitative or quantitative methods? How was your process structured? Why did you do it this way? What are the limitations (weaknesses) of your methodological approach?
Once you have explained your methods, it is time to provide your results . What did your research find? This is followed by the discussion , which explores the significance of your results and whether or not they were as you expected. If your research yielded the expected results, why did that happen? If not, why not? Finally, wrap up with a conclusion that reiterates what you did and why it matters, and point to future matters for research. The bibliography section lists all of the sources you cited, and the appendices list any extra information or resources such as raw data, survey questions, etc. that your reader may want to know.
In social science theses/dissertations that rely more heavily on qualitative rather than quantitative methods, the above structure can still be followed. However, sometimes the results and discussion chapters will be intertwined or combined. Certain types of social science theses/dissertations, such as public policy, history, or anthropology, may follow the humanities thesis/dissertation structure as we mentioned above.
If you are still struggling to get started, here is a checklist of steps for writing and structuring your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation.
By following these steps, you should be able to organize the structure of your humanities or social science thesis/dissertation before you begin writing.
Although writing a thesis/dissertation is a difficult project, it is also very rewarding. You will get the most out of the experience if you properly prepare yourself by carefully learning about each step. Before you decide how to structure your thesis/dissertation, you will need to decide on a thesis topic and come up with a hypothesis. You should do as much preliminary reading and notetaking as you have time for.
Since most people writing a thesis/dissertation are doing it for the first time, you should also take some time to learn about the many tools that exist to help students write better and organize their citations. Citation generators and reference managers like EndNote help you keep track of your sources and AI grammar and writing checkers are helpful as you write. You should also keep in mind that you will need to edit and proofread your thesis/dissertation once you have the bulk of the writing complete. Many thesis editing and proofreading services are available to help you with this as well.
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A social science thesis/dissertation is usually structured as follows:
What are the parts of a humanities thesis/dissertation +.
Humanities theses/dissertations are usually structured like this:
A thematic chapter in a humanities thesis/dissertation is structured like this:
A typical humanities thesis/dissertation tends to range from 100 to 300 pages in length.
Articles (free for csuc users), additional how-to guides and help.
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The University of the West Indies (UWI) has specific guidelines for the writing of theses, dissertations and research papers (applicable to higher degree candidates, graduate students). Social Sciences students should consult their academic supervisors and lecturers regarding the guidelines that ought to be followed for a specific assignment.
The Alma Jordan Library (AJL) provides access to several databases that offer access to theses and dissertations (UWI and non-UWI), in Social Sciecnes and other disciplines.
Please refer to the link below.
For other relevant guidelines, policies and procedures relating to UWI theses and dissertations, please visit the Graduate Studies and Research Information Portal (GRIP).
Dissertation guidance.
All SPS students have access to the SPS Research Training Centre Support for Dissertations Learn hub (accessed via MyEd). If you do not have access, please email [email protected] .
The Student Development Hub provides general advice on academic writing, including the Graduate School's Learning and Academic Skills Handbook.
Visit the Student Development Hub
The deadline for Taught MSc dissertations in the 2023/24 academic year is Thursday 8th August 2024, 23:59 (UK Time).
The formal requirements and binding regulations that apply can be found in the School MSc Dissertation Handbook 2023-24
There will be variations across programmes, and programme directors and/or subject areas can provide more detailed specific guidance on the scope of dissertations, the general timeline of the dissertation cycle, and the way supervisors are allocated.
Most research begins with a question. Think about which topics and theories you are interested in and what you would like to know more about.
Think about the topics and theories you have studied in your degree programme. Is there some question you feel the body of knowledge in your field does not answer adequately?
Once you have a question in mind, begin looking for information relevant to the topic and its theoretical framework. Read everything you can - academic research and peer-reviewed journals, and information in the popular press and on the Internet.
As you become well-informed about your topic and prior research on the topic, your knowledge should suggest a purpose for your dissertation. When you can articulate this purpose clearly, you are ready to write your dissertation proposal.
This proposal specifies:
At this point, you are encouraged to go and see any staff members that you feel could advise your on their topic.
After a supervisor is allocated, you should try to set up a first meeting to refine your plans and to plan the process towards completion of the thesis.
At this stage it is very important to have a good understanding of the different sections most dissertations comprise. You will then start to work on drafting a first outline of your dissertation together with your supervisor.
Each supervisor prefers a distinct approach regarding the structure of a dissertation and is dependent on the kind of project you undertake. Please refer to your course guide and departmental regulations for further information.
A short description of dissertation chapters is provided in the section below. However, bear in mind that these are brief in scope and only advisory. Please refer to the secondary literature at the end of this page for more in-depth information.
The following chapters are commonly used:
The title itself is an important opportunity to tell the potential reader what your research is about. You will need it to be succinct, specific, descriptive, and representative of the research you have done.
There is likely to be a required format for the title page in your discipline, so you will need to check what that is.
The abstract is a very short summary or digest of an article or dissertation whose basic task is to tell a potential reader, searching for scholarly or research-based material by topic or title, whether or not this is what she is looking for.
Writing a good one is quite a craft and there is no substitute for reading lots of abstracts to develop the knack of summarising and selecting the key points.
A good abstract gives information about the problem under investigation, research aims, methods and procedures, results and implications.
A quick test involves checking whether your abstract answers the questions ‘why?’, ‘how?’, ‘what?’ and ‘so what’?.
In the acknowledgements, you thank those who have helped you at any stage in the research or writing process; for example:
The contents pages will show up the structure of the dissertation.
Any imbalance in space devoted to different sections of content will become apparent. This is a useful check on whether amalgamation of sections, or creation of further sections or sub-sections is needed.
The introduction should discuss:
It should also include a summary of the contents and main arguments in the dissertation.
Generally, a literature review is a survey of the work that has previously been published in your subject. It can be a separate assignment or it can form part of a larger body of work, such as a dissertation. It should be comprehensive and relevant in its scope.
A literature review can also mean the process of reviewing the literature. It starts when you pick up your first paper, book, or source, it continues as you research and question, write, and edit the piece, and finishes when you complete your final draft.
What is the purpose of a literature review?
A key part of your dissertation or thesis is the methodology. This is not quite the same as ‘methods’.
The methodology describes the broad philosophical underpinning to your chosen research methods, including whether you are using qualitative or quantitative methods, or a mixture of both, and why.
If you are submitting your dissertation in sections, with the methodology submitted before you actually undertake the research, you should use this section to set out exactly what you plan to do.
The methodology should be linked back to the literature to explain why you are using certain methods, and the academic basis of your choice.
There are numerous research methods that can be used when researching scientific subjects; you should discuss which are the most appropriate for your research with your supervisor.
Here are some helpful pages on the Skills You Need website:
Writing your Dissertation: Methodology – Skills You Need Research Methods – Skills You Need
This is where you review your own research in relation to the wider context in which it is located.
You can refer back to the rationale that you gave for your research in the literature review, and discuss what your own research has added in this context.
It is important to show that you appreciate the limitations of your research, and how these may affect the validity or usefulness of your findings. Given the acknowledged limitations, you can report on the implications of your findings for theory, research, and practice.
The discussion is arguably the most difficult section to write, as it is predominantly interpretative and discursive.
In this section, you will examine your results in relation to your research questions or hypotheses and, more broadly, in relation to existing research. This will enable you to assess the contribution of your research to the field, and to make suggestions for further research where appropriate.
Useful hints on the DOCEO website in the section on findings and discussion
In this section you will bring together the work of the dissertation by showing how the initial research plan has been addressed in such a way that conclusions may be formed from the evidence of the dissertation.
No new material or references should be placed here. The conclusions should make a statement on the extent to which each of the aims and objectives has been met.
You should bring back your research questions and state clearly your understanding of those questions. Be careful not to make claims that are not substantiated from the evidence you have presented in earlier chapters.
Meet 15 clas graduate students awarded prestigious fellowships to support their research and creative work.
By Charlotte Brookins
A total of 15 graduate students have been named prestigious fellows by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with five receiving 2024-25 Marcus Bach Fellowships and ten receiving 2024 CLAS Dissertation Writing Fellowships.
Congratulations to these deserving students!
The Marcus Bach Fellowship , named for the 1942 University of Iowa graduate of the same name, is awarded to graduate students in the humanities to support the completion of an MFA project or doctoral dissertation. The fellowship’s goal is to foster intercultural communication and the understanding of diverse philosophies and religious perspectives.
Each fellow receives a semester of support including a $10,700 salary, a tuition scholarship for 2 semester hours credit, and more.
The five recipients for the 2024-25 school year are:
The CLAS Dissertation Writing Fellowship is awarded annually to 10 graduate students, providing time and funding for the completion of a PhD dissertation. The fellowship provides a total of $14,000 to each student.
Christopher Quintana '24 PhD explores how technology design can impact and undermine an individual’s capacity for independent practical reasoning.
VILLANOVA, Pa. - “Christopher Quintana ’24 PhD sees the value of philosophy for the world,” says Villanova University Professor of Philosophy Sally Scholz, PhD.
Dr. Quintana, who graduated from Villanova’s Philosophy doctoral program in May, specializes in the philosophy and ethics of technology. His dissertation, Characterizing Digital Design: A Philosophical Approach , evaluates user interface and experience design through Aristotle’s ideas of virtues, especially the virtue of practical rationality. Specifically, he explores how technology design can impact and undermine an individual’s capacity for independent practical reasoning. What happens to us when so much of our social and personal activity is mediated by technology? How do our relationships to technology change?
“Christopher is a creative philosopher working at the forefront of the burgeoning subfield of philosophy and technology,” adds Dr. Scholz, who served as the director of Dr. Quintana’s dissertation committee. “He draws on the ancient tradition of virtue theory to scrutinize user interface in information communication technologies and to articulate principles that could guide the development of a good or virtuous design of technology. His research promises to transform the human/technology relation.”
Most recently, Dr. Quintana authored a chapter, “ Ethics at the Intersection: Human-Centered AI and User Experience Design ,” in a new book, Human-Centered AI , published in March 2024. Dr. Quintana was a finalist and Audience Choice Award winner at the 2022 Villanova 3MT competition , and a participant in the 2021 CLAS Graduate Research Symposium . He was awarded a CLAS Graduate Summer Research Fellowship, four CLAS Graduate Studies Travel Grants, and the John G. Tich Memorial Award for Excellence in Research. He served as the managing editorial assistant at the journal Social Epistemology: A Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Policy and was a graduate fellow at the Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published on moral and social issues in technology and has presented at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to his scholarship at Villanova, he taught the undergraduate philosophy course, Knowledge, Reality, Self.
“Christopher’s dissertation puts him in conversation with some of the leading ethicists in the field, shaping policy for the coming years,” says Dr. Scholz. “He has published on these topics and participated in workshops and conferences around the world, suggesting that his work is at the heart of contemporary philosophical and technological debates. Philosophers need to be at the table in discussions about the ethics of AI and the pernicious use of smart phones.”
In addition to Dr. Scholz, Dr. Quintana’s dissertation committee included Villanova faculty Georg Theiner, PhD and Justin Humphreys, PhD, as well as James Wetzel, PhD, who served at the proposal stage. Later, Shannon Vallor, PhD, director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures within the Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh, joined as an external reader. Dr. Vallor is a leading scholar in technology ethics.
Says Dr. Quintana, “I enjoyed my time in coursework, but I hit my stride after I formed my dissertation committee. All committee members were generous in their mentorship, feedback and spirit.”
The prominence of the Philosophy faculty and the research support offered by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) drew Dr. Quintana to Villanova.
“The Philosophy PhD program has an impressive range of scholars in varying intellectual traditions. We also maintain a consistent interest in contemporary social issues and the history of our discipline. Our breadth helps students develop the capacity to translate concepts and ideas across traditions, styles and levels of expertise,” Dr. Quintana says. “I also appreciate that the PhD program and CLAS Graduate Studies contribute to grants and fellowships for independent research and conference presentations. Learning how to develop and carry out research proposals, present your work, connect with other scholars, and engage international or interdisciplinary audiences, is an important part of graduate education.”
Dr. Quintana continues to present his scholarship at conferences this summer while exploring both traditional faculty roles and careers outside of the academy.
“This is an exciting time of growth for the university and a good time to contribute to the program's storied history,” he says. “Our alumni have been successful in finding roles both in and outside of academia. Our faculty encourages intellectual exploration during coursework, and I got the sense that the program was open to the possibility that you will arrive interested in one area but grow to love and want to work in another. The university also attracts talented undergraduate students, so when you reach the stage in the program where you teach—which is an invaluable experience—you have the benefit of teaching engaged students.”
About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.
Office of Graduate Studies College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Villanova University Vasey Hall - Suite 202
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The CLAS Office of Graduate Studies offers personal tours of the beautiful Villanova campus. All tours begin in the Graduate Studies Office, located in Vasey Hall. Schedule your tour !
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Methodology
Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.
What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .
There are five key steps to writing a literature review:
A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.
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What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.
When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:
Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.
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Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.
You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.
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Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .
If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .
Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.
Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:
You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.
Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.
You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.
For each publication, ask yourself:
Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.
You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.
As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.
It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.
To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:
This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.
There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).
The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.
Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.
If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.
For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.
If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:
A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.
You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.
Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.
The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.
Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.
As you write, you can follow these tips:
In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.
When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !
This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.
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A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .
It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.
There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:
Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.
The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .
A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .
An annotated bibliography is a list of source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a paper .
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Social science majors examine local, national, and international issues with an understanding of the global context in which they occur. Students interested in questions of inequality and social justice, cultural diversity, societal influences and social identities, political advocacy, social movements, and globalization should consider the social science major at Metropolitan State University. Students in the program engage in a rigorous process of investigation and develop tools to explore, analyze, and ultimately act on the social environment.
Our program is committed to offering quality academic education and to providing opportunities for students to integrate their skills into community-based experience. The department helps students identify internships to explore civic and career interests and build professional relationships.
For the social science major, students complete 40 credits. All students participate in an interdisciplinary series of four advanced “core” courses that provide a creative and rigorous educational experience. These courses are taken in sequence. Students also integrate their skills with community-based internship experience. In addition, students take 20 elective credits within their chosen “track.” Social science majors choose one of five specialized tracks or the generalist track.
The tracks offer a variety of options:
Our graduates have a well-developed skill-set that leads them to become strong, competitive candidates for a variety of professions:
Employers, graduate and professional schools seek potential employees who have a deep and broad educational basis as well as the specific skills our students develop in the major:
The learning outcomes for this major provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to enter the 21st-century workplace to:
Current students: declare this program.
Once you’re admitted as an undergraduate student and have met any further admission requirements your chosen program may have, you may declare a major or declare an optional minor .
Apply to Metropolitan State: Start the journey toward your Social Science BA now. Learn about the steps to enroll or, if you have questions about what Metropolitan State can offer you, request information, visit campus or chat with an admissions counselor .
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Summary (40 credits).
At least half of the credits required for the major must be completed at Metropolitan State University. Students must earn a grade of C- or above in all major courses. Student should select lower division electives and upper division electives in consultation with an advisor. Transfer courses may be applicable to major requirements. The university's degree audit will specify transfer courses that are directly equivalent to major requirements. Other transfer courses must be approved by a faculty advisor in the department.
Students may select courses in anthropology, geography, political science, sociology, and social science. Students may also select ECON 200 as a lower division elective. Students may not apply more than 6 credits in any one discipline.
All social science majors must complete all four core courses (SSCI 300, SSCI 311, SSCI 411, and SSCI 451/452). Sequencing: SSCI 300, SSCI 311, SSCI 411, and SSCI 451 or SSCI 452. Social science majors may take one core course at a time. Alternatively, majors may take SSCI 300 and SSCI 311 concurrently, or they may take SSCI 311 and SSCI 411 concurrently. SSCI 300, 311, and 411 must be completed before beginning a capstone class (SSCI 451 or 452).
Most of us are only dimly aware of how politics, culture, and society influence, and often coerce, our daily lives. The calling of a social scientist is to help us make these invisible social structures visible. In this course, students develop the skills and tools to discover, analyze, and interpret these obscure social processes. Ideally, this knowledge will have a liberating effect on their individual lives. Students will also perceive how their civic and ethical participation can change politics, culture, and society, as well as themselves.
Full course description for Seeing Like a Social Scientist
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of social science research. Students learn and implement a variety of research methods, and critically reflect on the relationship of these methods to philosophical traditions within social science. The courses examines two approaches to social science research, quantitative and qualitative, and the unique contribution of each approach for understanding social life. Experiential activities enhance classroom learning.
Full course description for Research Methods in Social Science
Social scientists study the world so that we may take informed action to solve social problems. In this class, students explore how theory contributes to solving social problems. Students will learn how theorists identify and analyze social problems, as well as offer potential solutions. Special emphasis will be placed on some of the most contested and controversial social problems of our time, such as neoliberalism and its role in deepening economic inequality, climate collapse, and the erosion of democracy globally. Students will also explore issues such as identity politics and oppression based on identity categories, which may include race, gender, sexuality, ability, and nationality. Students will consider how theory helps us to envision and pursue a more just, humane, and sustainable world.
Full course description for Theory and Social Problems
Social scientists investigate the patterns of human interactions and then seek to interpret, explain and communicate human behavior. This seminar is designed to provide a final, integrating experience for students with a social science major. Seminar participants complete a senior project that demonstrates an ability to design a study, collect new or existing data, analyze those findings and communicate the results.
Full course description for Empirical Research Capstone
The social sciences have been shaping our understanding of the human condition for 175 years. Students will be comparing and evaluating ideas that continue to engage and perplex thoughtful public intellectuals. The capstone project involves researching an idea that remains disputable. The goal of a student's thesis is an independent interpretation of a specific concept.
Full course description for Conceptual Research Capstone
Students may take upper division courses in anthropology, political science, and sociology to reach 40 credits.
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Award-winning master's theses. University: University of Edinburgh Faculty: Informatics Author: Christopher Sipola Award: 2018 Social Responsibility & Sustainability Dissertation Prize Title: Summarizing electricity usage with a neural network University: University of Ottawa Faculty: Education Author: Matthew Brillinger Award: 2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Humanities Prize
what is the readiness of social work students to work with autistic individuals?, ignacio aguilar pelaez. pdf. examining experiences among social workers working with parents who suffer from substance use disorder, alicia alvarado and eleno zepeda. pdf. covid-19, social isolation, and msw students' mental health, cassandra barajas. pdf
Sovereign debt and economic policy: a relational sociology of debt in the United Kingdom, 1960s-1980s . Labarca, José Tomás (The University of Edinburgh, 2022-01-12) This thesis studies how what I call relational fiscal practices shape government elites' (and non-government actors') understandings of economic policy options.
Graduate, Masters Theses. Culture, Economic Sociology, Health, Political Economy, Political Sociology, Public Health, Social Class, Social Welfare, Sociological Theory, Theory. Abu-Hazeem, A. (2019). Bound by Narrative: An In-depth Exploration of the Effects of Racialized, Gendered, and Sexualized Scripts on Black Boys' Socialization in and out ...
f your bound thesis to Social Studies on thesis day. You will turn in the second copy of your thesis to. the other department in which you are concentrating. Both copies of the thesis must be the same, and even if the other department has a later due. ate, you need to follow the Social Stud.
If you are considering graduate school in sociology or the social sciences, humanities, or even the sciences, we encourage you to write a thesis. The experience of writing a thesis is the closest you can come as an undergraduate to understanding what advanced gradu-ate study will look like.
Topping up the tank: enhancing the emotional resilience of social workers in local authority adult services . Rose, Sarah (The University of Edinburgh, 2022-11-17) The emotional resilience of social workers has increasingly been a focus of research, particularly in response to high levels of stress in the profession.
Time to recap…. And there you have it - the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows: Title page. Acknowledgments page. Abstract (or executive summary) Table of contents, list of figures and tables.
Writing a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation in the Social Sciences Anne Jordan, Ph.D. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto ©2020 A guide for doctoral students at various stages of their doctoral theses and dissertations: Designing their thesis proposals, developing their research
They not only track trends over time in the scholarly discussions of a topic, but also synthesize and connect related work. They cite the trailblazers and sometimes the outliers, and they even root out errors of fact or concept. Typically, they include a final section that identifies remaining questions or future directions research might take.
Dissertation examples. Listed below are some of the best examples of research projects and dissertations from undergraduate and taught postgraduate students at the University of Leeds We have not been able to gather examples from all schools. The module requirements for research projects may have changed since these examples were written.
Theses/Dissertations from 2000 PDF. The Vietnamese elderly refugees' experience in America, Thanh Dac Tran. Theses/Dissertations from 1999 PDF. The social construction of nature as the other and its human consequences, Shannon Abernathy. PDF. Telecommuting and its impact on business and personal relationships, Margaret G. Dreher. PDF
master's dissertation) or large (in the case of a PhD thesis) original contribution to knowledge. As the authors mention, their first book (Damaskinidis and Chri stodoulou, 2014) arose from the need to fill part of the literature gap on research methodology when writing a research proposal for a master's dissertation or doctoral thesis.
However, hard science and social science dissertations typically include a review of existing works, a methodology section, an analysis of your original research, and a presentation of your results, presented in different chapters. Dissertation examples. We've compiled a list of dissertation examples to help you get started.
The Harvard University Archives' collection of theses, dissertations, and prize papers document the wide range of academic research undertaken by Harvard students over the course of the University's history.. Beyond their value as pieces of original research, these collections document the history of American higher education, chronicling both the growth of Harvard as a major research ...
ere are a fe. other tips to keep in mind as well.1. Be Flexible! There is no one set way to do your thesis. research or examine a par-ticular research question. If and when you hit roadblocks during the research project, evaluate the kinds of roadblocks you are encountering to decide what, if anything, you shou.
Decide on your own research methodology. Outline your proposed methods and expected results. Use your proposed methodology to choose what chapters to include in your thesis/dissertation. Create a preliminary table of contents to outline the structure of your thesis/dissertation. By following these steps, you should be able to organize the ...
Literature Review Examples. Master's Theses. Database of master's theses written by CSU, Chico students, from 2009 on. Many of these will contain published examples of literature reviews. Proquest Dissertations and Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection. Containes over 2 million dissertations and theses with abstracts, 24 page ...
The online Dissertation Library includes content from all postgraduate degrees in the School, including all taught and research MScs and the Masters of Social Work (MSW). As an SPS masters student in the School of Social and Political Science, you are given exclusive access to the Library. Please note that dissertations from any given academic year may not be uploaded before March/April of the ...
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has specific guidelines for the writing of theses, dissertations and research papers (applicable to higher degree candidates, graduate students). Social Sciences students should consult their academic supervisors and lecturers regarding the guidelines that ought to be followed for a specific assignment.
Dissertation guidance. All SPS students have access to the SPS Research Training Centre Support for Dissertations Learn hub (accessed via MyEd). If you do not have access, please email [email protected]. The Student Development Hub provides general advice on academic writing, including the Graduate School's Learning and Academic Skills Handbook.
Example 1: Passive construction. The passive voice is a common choice for outlines and overviews because the context makes it clear who is carrying out the action (e.g., you are conducting the research ). However, overuse of the passive voice can make your text vague and imprecise. Example: Passive construction.
MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY RELEASE FORM Name of Author: Tapiwa Makaya (R173519H) Research Title: An assessment of the effects of land reform on human security in Sub-Sahara Africa. A case study of Zimbabwe. Degree: Master of Science in International Affairs Year: 2018 Permission is hereby granted to the Midlands State University to reproduce copies of this
Marcus Bach Fellowship . The Marcus Bach Fellowship, named for the 1942 University of Iowa graduate of the same name, is awarded to graduate students in the humanities to support the completion of an MFA project or doctoral dissertation.The fellowship's goal is to foster intercultural communication and the understanding of diverse philosophies and religious perspectives.
June 27, 2024 - "Christopher Quintana '24 PhD sees the value of philosophy for the world," says Villanova University Professor of Philosophy Sally Scholz, PhD. Dr. Quintana, who graduated from Villanova's Philosophy doctoral program in May, specializes in the philosophy and ethics of technology. His dissertation, Characterizing Digital Design: A Philosophical Approach, evaluates user ...
Tip If you are writing the literature review as part of your dissertation or thesis, reiterate your central problem or research question and give a brief summary of the scholarly context. You can emphasize the timeliness of the topic ("many recent studies have focused on the problem of x") or highlight a gap in the literature ("while ...
Social science majors examine local, national, and international issues with an understanding of the global context in which they occur. Students interested in questions of inequality and social justice, cultural diversity, societal influences and social identities, political advocacy, social movements, and globalization should consider the social science major at Metropolitan State University.