Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to structure a thesis

design of thesis

A typical thesis structure

1. abstract, 2. introduction, 3. literature review, 6. discussion, 7. conclusion, 8. reference list, frequently asked questions about structuring a thesis, related articles.

Starting a thesis can be daunting. There are so many questions in the beginning:

  • How do you actually start your thesis?
  • How do you structure it?
  • What information should the individual chapters contain?

Each educational program has different demands on your thesis structure, which is why asking directly for the requirements of your program should be a first step. However, there is not much flexibility when it comes to structuring your thesis.

Abstract : a brief overview of your entire thesis.

Literature review : an evaluation of previous research on your topic that includes a discussion of gaps in the research and how your work may fill them.

Methods : outlines the methodology that you are using in your research.

Thesis : a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

The abstract is the overview of your thesis and generally very short. This section should highlight the main contents of your thesis “at a glance” so that someone who is curious about your work can get the gist quickly. Take a look at our guide on how to write an abstract for more info.

Tip: Consider writing your abstract last, after you’ve written everything else.

The introduction to your thesis gives an overview of its basics or main points. It should answer the following questions:

  • Why is the topic being studied?
  • How is the topic being studied?
  • What is being studied?

In answering the first question, you should know what your personal interest in this topic is and why it is relevant. Why does it matter?

To answer the "how", you should briefly explain how you are going to reach your research goal. Some prefer to answer that question in the methods chapter, but you can give a quick overview here.

And finally, you should explain "what" you are studying. You can also give background information here.

You should rewrite the introduction one last time when the writing is done to make sure it connects with your conclusion. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our thesis introduction guide .

A literature review is often part of the introduction, but it can be a separate section. It is an evaluation of previous research on the topic showing that there are gaps that your research will attempt to fill. A few tips for your literature review:

  • Use a wide array of sources
  • Show both sides of the coin
  • Make sure to cover the classics in your field
  • Present everything in a clear and structured manner

For more insights on lit reviews, take a look at our guide on how to write a literature review .

The methodology chapter outlines which methods you choose to gather data, how the data is analyzed and justifies why you chose that methodology . It shows how your choice of design and research methods is suited to answering your research question.

Make sure to also explain what the pitfalls of your approach are and how you have tried to mitigate them. Discussing where your study might come up short can give you more credibility, since it shows the reader that you are aware of its limitations.

Tip: Use graphs and tables, where appropriate, to visualize your results.

The results chapter outlines what you found out in relation to your research questions or hypotheses. It generally contains the facts of your research and does not include a lot of analysis, because that happens mostly in the discussion chapter.

Clearly visualize your results, using tables and graphs, especially when summarizing, and be consistent in your way of reporting. This means sticking to one format to help the reader evaluate and compare the data.

The discussion chapter includes your own analysis and interpretation of the data you gathered , comments on your results and explains what they mean. This is your opportunity to show that you have understood your findings and their significance.

Point out the limitations of your study, provide explanations for unexpected results, and note any questions that remain unanswered.

This is probably your most important chapter. This is where you highlight that your research objectives have been achieved. You can also reiterate any limitations to your study and make suggestions for future research.

Remember to check if you have really answered all your research questions and hypotheses in this chapter. Your thesis should be tied up nicely in the conclusion and show clearly what you did, what results you got, and what you learned. Discover how to write a good conclusion in our thesis conclusion guide .

At the end of your thesis, you’ll have to compile a list of references for everything you’ve cited above. Ideally, you should keep track of everything from the beginning. Otherwise, this could be a mammoth and pretty laborious task to do.

Consider using a reference manager like Paperpile to format and organize your citations. Paperpile allows you to organize and save your citations for later use and cite them in thousands of citation styles directly in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or LaTeX:

🔲 Introduction

🔲 Literature review

🔲 Discussion

🔲 Conclusion

🔲 Reference list

The basic elements of a thesis are: Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Reference List.

It's recommended to start a thesis by writing the literature review first. This way you learn more about the sources, before jumping to the discussion or any other element.

It's recommended to write the abstract of a thesis last, once everything else is done. This way you will be able to provide a complete overview of your work.

Usually, the discussion is the longest part of a thesis. In this part you are supposed to point out the limitations of your study, provide explanations for unexpected results, and note any questions that remain unanswered.

The order of the basic elements of a thesis are: 1. Abstract, 2. Introduction, 3. Literature Review, 4. Methods, 5. Results, 6. Discussion, 7. Conclusion, and 8. Reference List.

design of thesis

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Methodology

Research Design | Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Published on 5 May 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 20 March 2023.

A research design is a strategy for answering your research question  using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about:

  • Your overall aims and approach
  • The type of research design you’ll use
  • Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
  • Your data collection methods
  • The procedures you’ll follow to collect data
  • Your data analysis methods

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data.

Table of contents

Step 1: consider your aims and approach, step 2: choose a type of research design, step 3: identify your population and sampling method, step 4: choose your data collection methods, step 5: plan your data collection procedures, step 6: decide on your data analysis strategies, frequently asked questions.

  • Introduction

Before you can start designing your research, you should already have a clear idea of the research question you want to investigate.

There are many different ways you could go about answering this question. Your research design choices should be driven by your aims and priorities – start by thinking carefully about what you want to achieve.

The first choice you need to make is whether you’ll take a qualitative or quantitative approach.

Qualitative approach Quantitative approach

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible and inductive , allowing you to adjust your approach based on what you find throughout the research process.

Quantitative research designs tend to be more fixed and deductive , with variables and hypotheses clearly defined in advance of data collection.

It’s also possible to use a mixed methods design that integrates aspects of both approaches. By combining qualitative and quantitative insights, you can gain a more complete picture of the problem you’re studying and strengthen the credibility of your conclusions.

Practical and ethical considerations when designing research

As well as scientific considerations, you need to think practically when designing your research. If your research involves people or animals, you also need to consider research ethics .

  • How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
  • Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g., by travelling to a specific location or contacting specific people)?
  • Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g., statistical analysis or interview techniques)?
  • Will you need ethical approval ?

At each stage of the research design process, make sure that your choices are practically feasible.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Within both qualitative and quantitative approaches, there are several types of research design to choose from. Each type provides a framework for the overall shape of your research.

Types of quantitative research designs

Quantitative designs can be split into four main types. Experimental and   quasi-experimental designs allow you to test cause-and-effect relationships, while descriptive and correlational designs allow you to measure variables and describe relationships between them.

Type of design Purpose and characteristics
Experimental
Quasi-experimental
Correlational
Descriptive

With descriptive and correlational designs, you can get a clear picture of characteristics, trends, and relationships as they exist in the real world. However, you can’t draw conclusions about cause and effect (because correlation doesn’t imply causation ).

Experiments are the strongest way to test cause-and-effect relationships without the risk of other variables influencing the results. However, their controlled conditions may not always reflect how things work in the real world. They’re often also more difficult and expensive to implement.

Types of qualitative research designs

Qualitative designs are less strictly defined. This approach is about gaining a rich, detailed understanding of a specific context or phenomenon, and you can often be more creative and flexible in designing your research.

The table below shows some common types of qualitative design. They often have similar approaches in terms of data collection, but focus on different aspects when analysing the data.

Type of design Purpose and characteristics
Grounded theory
Phenomenology

Your research design should clearly define who or what your research will focus on, and how you’ll go about choosing your participants or subjects.

In research, a population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about, while a sample is the smaller group of individuals you’ll actually collect data from.

Defining the population

A population can be made up of anything you want to study – plants, animals, organisations, texts, countries, etc. In the social sciences, it most often refers to a group of people.

For example, will you focus on people from a specific demographic, region, or background? Are you interested in people with a certain job or medical condition, or users of a particular product?

The more precisely you define your population, the easier it will be to gather a representative sample.

Sampling methods

Even with a narrowly defined population, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every individual. Instead, you’ll collect data from a sample.

To select a sample, there are two main approaches: probability sampling and non-probability sampling . The sampling method you use affects how confidently you can generalise your results to the population as a whole.

Probability sampling Non-probability sampling

Probability sampling is the most statistically valid option, but it’s often difficult to achieve unless you’re dealing with a very small and accessible population.

For practical reasons, many studies use non-probability sampling, but it’s important to be aware of the limitations and carefully consider potential biases. You should always make an effort to gather a sample that’s as representative as possible of the population.

Case selection in qualitative research

In some types of qualitative designs, sampling may not be relevant.

For example, in an ethnography or a case study, your aim is to deeply understand a specific context, not to generalise to a population. Instead of sampling, you may simply aim to collect as much data as possible about the context you are studying.

In these types of design, you still have to carefully consider your choice of case or community. You should have a clear rationale for why this particular case is suitable for answering your research question.

For example, you might choose a case study that reveals an unusual or neglected aspect of your research problem, or you might choose several very similar or very different cases in order to compare them.

Data collection methods are ways of directly measuring variables and gathering information. They allow you to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.

You can choose just one data collection method, or use several methods in the same study.

Survey methods

Surveys allow you to collect data about opinions, behaviours, experiences, and characteristics by asking people directly. There are two main survey methods to choose from: questionnaires and interviews.

Questionnaires Interviews

Observation methods

Observations allow you to collect data unobtrusively, observing characteristics, behaviours, or social interactions without relying on self-reporting.

Observations may be conducted in real time, taking notes as you observe, or you might make audiovisual recordings for later analysis. They can be qualitative or quantitative.

Quantitative observation

Other methods of data collection

There are many other ways you might collect data depending on your field and topic.

Field Examples of data collection methods
Media & communication Collecting a sample of texts (e.g., speeches, articles, or social media posts) for data on cultural norms and narratives
Psychology Using technologies like neuroimaging, eye-tracking, or computer-based tasks to collect data on things like attention, emotional response, or reaction time
Education Using tests or assignments to collect data on knowledge and skills
Physical sciences Using scientific instruments to collect data on things like weight, blood pressure, or chemical composition

If you’re not sure which methods will work best for your research design, try reading some papers in your field to see what data collection methods they used.

Secondary data

If you don’t have the time or resources to collect data from the population you’re interested in, you can also choose to use secondary data that other researchers already collected – for example, datasets from government surveys or previous studies on your topic.

With this raw data, you can do your own analysis to answer new research questions that weren’t addressed by the original study.

Using secondary data can expand the scope of your research, as you may be able to access much larger and more varied samples than you could collect yourself.

However, it also means you don’t have any control over which variables to measure or how to measure them, so the conclusions you can draw may be limited.

As well as deciding on your methods, you need to plan exactly how you’ll use these methods to collect data that’s consistent, accurate, and unbiased.

Planning systematic procedures is especially important in quantitative research, where you need to precisely define your variables and ensure your measurements are reliable and valid.

Operationalisation

Some variables, like height or age, are easily measured. But often you’ll be dealing with more abstract concepts, like satisfaction, anxiety, or competence. Operationalisation means turning these fuzzy ideas into measurable indicators.

If you’re using observations , which events or actions will you count?

If you’re using surveys , which questions will you ask and what range of responses will be offered?

You may also choose to use or adapt existing materials designed to measure the concept you’re interested in – for example, questionnaires or inventories whose reliability and validity has already been established.

Reliability and validity

Reliability means your results can be consistently reproduced , while validity means that you’re actually measuring the concept you’re interested in.

Reliability Validity

For valid and reliable results, your measurement materials should be thoroughly researched and carefully designed. Plan your procedures to make sure you carry out the same steps in the same way for each participant.

If you’re developing a new questionnaire or other instrument to measure a specific concept, running a pilot study allows you to check its validity and reliability in advance.

Sampling procedures

As well as choosing an appropriate sampling method, you need a concrete plan for how you’ll actually contact and recruit your selected sample.

That means making decisions about things like:

  • How many participants do you need for an adequate sample size?
  • What inclusion and exclusion criteria will you use to identify eligible participants?
  • How will you contact your sample – by mail, online, by phone, or in person?

If you’re using a probability sampling method, it’s important that everyone who is randomly selected actually participates in the study. How will you ensure a high response rate?

If you’re using a non-probability method, how will you avoid bias and ensure a representative sample?

Data management

It’s also important to create a data management plan for organising and storing your data.

Will you need to transcribe interviews or perform data entry for observations? You should anonymise and safeguard any sensitive data, and make sure it’s backed up regularly.

Keeping your data well organised will save time when it comes to analysing them. It can also help other researchers validate and add to your findings.

On their own, raw data can’t answer your research question. The last step of designing your research is planning how you’ll analyse the data.

Quantitative data analysis

In quantitative research, you’ll most likely use some form of statistical analysis . With statistics, you can summarise your sample data, make estimates, and test hypotheses.

Using descriptive statistics , you can summarise your sample data in terms of:

  • The distribution of the data (e.g., the frequency of each score on a test)
  • The central tendency of the data (e.g., the mean to describe the average score)
  • The variability of the data (e.g., the standard deviation to describe how spread out the scores are)

The specific calculations you can do depend on the level of measurement of your variables.

Using inferential statistics , you can:

  • Make estimates about the population based on your sample data.
  • Test hypotheses about a relationship between variables.

Regression and correlation tests look for associations between two or more variables, while comparison tests (such as t tests and ANOVAs ) look for differences in the outcomes of different groups.

Your choice of statistical test depends on various aspects of your research design, including the types of variables you’re dealing with and the distribution of your data.

Qualitative data analysis

In qualitative research, your data will usually be very dense with information and ideas. Instead of summing it up in numbers, you’ll need to comb through the data in detail, interpret its meanings, identify patterns, and extract the parts that are most relevant to your research question.

Two of the most common approaches to doing this are thematic analysis and discourse analysis .

Approach Characteristics
Thematic analysis
Discourse analysis

There are many other ways of analysing qualitative data depending on the aims of your research. To get a sense of potential approaches, try reading some qualitative research papers in your field.

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population. Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your research.

For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students.

Statistical sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a population. There are various sampling methods you can use to ensure that your sample is representative of the population as a whole.

Operationalisation means turning abstract conceptual ideas into measurable observations.

For example, the concept of social anxiety isn’t directly observable, but it can be operationally defined in terms of self-rating scores, behavioural avoidance of crowded places, or physical anxiety symptoms in social situations.

Before collecting data , it’s important to consider how you will operationalise the variables that you want to measure.

The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .

  • If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis , use quantitative methods . If you want to explore ideas, thoughts, and meanings, use qualitative methods .
  • If you want to analyse a large amount of readily available data, use secondary data. If you want data specific to your purposes with control over how they are generated, collect primary data.
  • If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables , use experimental methods. If you want to understand the characteristics of a research subject, use descriptive methods.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, March 20). Research Design | Step-by-Step Guide with Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 29 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/research-methods/research-design/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Shona McCombes

  • How it works

researchprospect post subheader

How to Write a Research Design – Guide with Examples

Published by Alaxendra Bets at August 14th, 2021 , Revised On June 24, 2024

A research design is a structure that combines different components of research. It involves the use of different data collection and data analysis techniques logically to answer the  research questions .

It would be best to make some decisions about addressing the research questions adequately before starting the research process, which is achieved with the help of the research design.

Below are the key aspects of the decision-making process:

  • Data type required for research
  • Research resources
  • Participants required for research
  • Hypothesis based upon research question(s)
  • Data analysis  methodologies
  • Variables (Independent, dependent, and confounding)
  • The location and timescale for conducting the data
  • The time period required for research

The research design provides the strategy of investigation for your project. Furthermore, it defines the parameters and criteria to compile the data to evaluate results and conclude.

Your project’s validity depends on the data collection and  interpretation techniques.  A strong research design reflects a strong  dissertation , scientific paper, or research proposal .

Steps of research design

Step 1: Establish Priorities for Research Design

Before conducting any research study, you must address an important question: “how to create a research design.”

The research design depends on the researcher’s priorities and choices because every research has different priorities. For a complex research study involving multiple methods, you may choose to have more than one research design.

Multimethodology or multimethod research includes using more than one data collection method or research in a research study or set of related studies.

If one research design is weak in one area, then another research design can cover that weakness. For instance, a  dissertation analyzing different situations or cases will have more than one research design.

For example:

  • Experimental research involves experimental investigation and laboratory experience, but it does not accurately investigate the real world.
  • Quantitative research is good for the  statistical part of the project, but it may not provide an in-depth understanding of the  topic .
  • Also, correlational research will not provide experimental results because it is a technique that assesses the statistical relationship between two variables.

While scientific considerations are a fundamental aspect of the research design, It is equally important that the researcher think practically before deciding on its structure. Here are some questions that you should think of;

  • Do you have enough time to gather data and complete the write-up?
  • Will you be able to collect the necessary data by interviewing a specific person or visiting a specific location?
  • Do you have in-depth knowledge about the  different statistical analysis and data collection techniques to address the research questions  or test the  hypothesis ?

If you think that the chosen research design cannot answer the research questions properly, you can refine your research questions to gain better insight.

Step 2: Data Type you Need for Research

Decide on the type of data you need for your research. The type of data you need to collect depends on your research questions or research hypothesis. Two types of research data can be used to answer the research questions:

Primary Data Vs. Secondary Data

The researcher collects the primary data from first-hand sources with the help of different data collection methods such as interviews, experiments, surveys, etc. Primary research data is considered far more authentic and relevant, but it involves additional cost and time.
Research on academic references which themselves incorporate primary data will be regarded as secondary data. There is no need to do a survey or interview with a person directly, and it is time effective. The researcher should focus on the validity and reliability of the source.

Qualitative Vs. Quantitative Data

This type of data encircles the researcher’s descriptive experience and shows the relationship between the observation and collected data. It involves interpretation and conceptual understanding of the research. There are many theories involved which can approve or disapprove the mathematical and statistical calculation. For instance, you are searching how to write a research design proposal. It means you require qualitative data about the mentioned topic.
If your research requires statistical and mathematical approaches for measuring the variable and testing your hypothesis, your objective is to compile quantitative data. Many businesses and researchers use this type of data with pre-determined data collection methods and variables for their research design.

Also, see; Research methods, design, and analysis .

Need help with a thesis chapter?

  • Hire an expert from ResearchProspect today!
  • Statistical analysis, research methodology, discussion of the results or conclusion – our experts can help you no matter how complex the requirements are.

analysis image

Step 3: Data Collection Techniques

Once you have selected the type of research to answer your research question, you need to decide where and how to collect the data.

It is time to determine your research method to address the  research problem . Research methods involve procedures, techniques, materials, and tools used for the study.

For instance, a dissertation research design includes the different resources and data collection techniques and helps establish your  dissertation’s structure .

The following table shows the characteristics of the most popularly employed research methods.

Research Methods

Methods What to consider
Surveys The survey planning requires;

Selection of responses and how many responses are required for the research?

Survey distribution techniques (online, by post, in person, etc.)

Techniques to design the question

Interviews Criteria to select the interviewee.

Time and location of the interview.

Type of interviews; i.e., structured, semi-structured, or unstructured

Experiments Place of the experiment; laboratory or in the field.

Measuring of the variables

Design of the experiment

Secondary Data Criteria to select the references and source for the data.

The reliability of the references.

The technique used for compiling the data source.

Step 4: Procedure of Data Analysis

Use of the  correct data and statistical analysis technique is necessary for the validity of your research. Therefore, you need to be certain about the data type that would best address the research problem. Choosing an appropriate analysis method is the final step for the research design. It can be split into two main categories;

Quantitative Data Analysis

The quantitative data analysis technique involves analyzing the numerical data with the help of different applications such as; SPSS, STATA, Excel, origin lab, etc.

This data analysis strategy tests different variables such as spectrum, frequencies, averages, and more. The research question and the hypothesis must be established to identify the variables for testing.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative data analysis of figures, themes, and words allows for flexibility and the researcher’s subjective opinions. This means that the researcher’s primary focus will be interpreting patterns, tendencies, and accounts and understanding the implications and social framework.

You should be clear about your research objectives before starting to analyze the data. For example, you should ask yourself whether you need to explain respondents’ experiences and insights or do you also need to evaluate their responses with reference to a certain social framework.

Step 5: Write your Research Proposal

The research design is an important component of a research proposal because it plans the project’s execution. You can share it with the supervisor, who would evaluate the feasibility and capacity of the results  and  conclusion .

Read our guidelines to write a research proposal  if you have already formulated your research design. The research proposal is written in the future tense because you are writing your proposal before conducting research.

The  research methodology  or research design, on the other hand, is generally written in the past tense.

How to Write a Research Design – Conclusion

A research design is the plan, structure, strategy of investigation conceived to answer the research question and test the hypothesis. The dissertation research design can be classified based on the type of data and the type of analysis.

Above mentioned five steps are the answer to how to write a research design. So, follow these steps to  formulate the perfect research design for your dissertation .

ResearchProspect writers have years of experience creating research designs that align with the dissertation’s aim and objectives. If you are struggling with your dissertation methodology chapter, you might want to look at our dissertation part-writing service.

Our dissertation writers can also help you with the full dissertation paper . No matter how urgent or complex your need may be, ResearchProspect can help. We also offer PhD level research paper writing services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is research design.

Research design is a systematic plan that guides the research process, outlining the methodology and procedures for collecting and analysing data. It determines the structure of the study, ensuring the research question is answered effectively, reliably, and validly. It serves as the blueprint for the entire research project.

How to write a research design?

To write a research design, define your research question, identify the research method (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed), choose data collection techniques (e.g., surveys, interviews), determine the sample size and sampling method, outline data analysis procedures, and highlight potential limitations and ethical considerations for the study.

How to write the design section of a research paper?

In the design section of a research paper, describe the research methodology chosen and justify its selection. Outline the data collection methods, participants or samples, instruments used, and procedures followed. Detail any experimental controls, if applicable. Ensure clarity and precision to enable replication of the study by other researchers.

How to write a research design in methodology?

To write a research design in methodology, clearly outline the research strategy (e.g., experimental, survey, case study). Describe the sampling technique, participants, and data collection methods. Detail the procedures for data collection and analysis. Justify choices by linking them to research objectives, addressing reliability and validity.

You May Also Like

Make sure that your selected topic is intriguing, manageable, and relevant. Here are some guidelines to help understand how to find a good dissertation topic.

Find how to write research questions with the mentioned steps required for a perfect research question. Choose an interesting topic and begin your research.

How to write a hypothesis for dissertation,? A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested with the help of experimental or theoretical research.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

researchprospect-reviews-trust-site

COMPANY DETAILS

Research-Prospect-Writing-Service

  • How It Works

HOW TO WRITE A THESIS: Steps by step guide

design of thesis

Introduction

In the academic world, one of the hallmark rites signifying mastery of a course or academic area is the writing of a thesis . Essentially a thesis is a typewritten work, usually 50 to 350 pages in length depending on institutions, discipline, and educational level which is often aimed at addressing a particular problem in a given field.

While a thesis is inadequate to address all the problems in a given field, it is succinct enough to address a specialized aspect of the problem by taking a stance or making a claim on what the resolution of the problem should be. Writing a thesis can be a very daunting task because most times it is the first complex research undertaking for the student. The lack of research and writing skills to write a thesis coupled with fear and a limited time frame are factors that makes the writing of a thesis daunting. However, commitment to excellence on the part of the student combined with some of the techniques and methods that will be discussed below gives a fair chance that the student will be able to deliver an excellent thesis regardless of the subject area, the depth of the research specialization and the daunting amount of materials that must be comprehended(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

Contact us now if you need help with writing your thesis. Check out our services

Visit our facebookpage

What is a thesis?

A thesis is a statement, theory, argument, proposal or proposition, which is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. It explains the stand someone takes on an issue and how the person intends to justify the stand. It is always better to pick a topic that will be able to render professional help, a topic that you will be happy to talk about with anybody, a topic you have personal interest and passion for, because when writing a thesis gets frustrating personal interest, happiness and passion coupled with the professional help it will be easier to write a great thesis (see you through the thesis). One has to source for a lot of information concerning the topic one is writing a thesis on in order to know the important question, because for you to take a good stand on an issue you have to study the evidence first.

Qualities of a good thesis

A good thesis has the following qualities

  • A good thesis must solve an existing problem in the society, organisation, government among others.
  • A good thesis should be contestable, it should propose a point that is arguable which people can agree with or disagree.
  • It is specific, clear and focused.
  •   A good thesis does not use general terms and abstractions.  
  • The claims of a good thesis should be definable and arguable.
  • It anticipates the counter-argument s
  • It does not use unclear language
  • It avoids the first person. (“In my opinion”)
  • A strong thesis should be able to take a stand and not just taking a stand but should be able to justify the stand that is taken, so that the reader will be tempted to ask questions like how or why.
  • The thesis should be arguable, contestable, focused, specific, and clear. Make your thesis clear, strong and easy to find.
  • The conclusion of a thesis should be based on evidence.

Steps in writing a Thesis

  • First, think about good topics and theories that you can write before writing the thesis, then pick a topic. The topic or thesis statement is derived from a review of existing literature in the area of study that the researcher wants to explore. This route is taken when the unknowns in an area of study are not yet defined. Some areas of study have existing problems yearning to be solved and the drafting of the thesis topic or statement revolves around a selection of one of these problems.
  • Once you have a good thesis, put it down and draw an outline . The outline is like a map of the whole thesis and it covers more commonly the introduction, literature review, discussion of methodology, discussion of results and the thesis’ conclusions and recommendations. The outline might differ from one institution to another but the one described in the preceding sentence is what is more commonly obtainable. It is imperative at this point to note that the outline drew still requires other mini- outlines for each of the sections mentioned. The outlines and mini- outlines provide a graphical over- view of the whole project and can also be used in allocating the word- count for each section and sub- section based on the overall word- count requirement of the thesis(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).
  • Literature search. Remember to draw a good outline you need to do literature search to familiarize yourself with the concepts and the works of others. Similarly, to achieve this, you need to read as much material that contains necessary information as you can. There will always be a counter argument for everything so anticipate it because it will help shape your thesis. Read everything you can–academic research, trade literature, and information in the popular press and on the Internet(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).
  • After getting all the information you need, the knowledge you gathered should help in suggesting the aim of your thesis.

Remember; a thesis is not supposed to be a question or a list, thesis should specific and as clear as possible. The claims of a thesis should be definable and also arguable.

  • Then collecting and analyzing data, after data analysis, the result of the analysis should be written and discussed, followed by summary, conclusion, recommendations, list of references and the appendices
  • The last step is editing of the thesis and proper spell checking.

Structure of a Thesis

A conventional thesis has five chapters – chapter 1-5 which will be discussed in detail below. However, it is important to state that a thesis is not limited to any chapter or section as the case may be. In fact, a thesis can be five, six, seven or even eight chapters.  What determines the number of chapters in a thesis includes institution rules/ guideline, researcher choice, supervisor choice, programme or educational level. In fact, most PhD thesis are usually more than 5 chapters(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

Preliminaries Pages: The preliminaries are the cover page, the title page, the table of contents page, and the abstract.

The introduction: The introduction is the first section and it provides as the name implies an introduction to the thesis. The introduction contains such aspects as the background to the study which provides information on the topic in the context of what is happening in the world as related to the topic. It also discusses the relevance of the topic to society, policies formulated success and failure. The introduction also contains the statement of the problem which is essentially a succinct description of the problem that the thesis want to solve and what the trend will be if the problem is not solved. The concluding part of the statement of problem ends with an outline of the research questions. These are the questions which when answered helps in achieving the aim of the thesis. The third section is the outline of research objectives. Conventionally research objectives re a conversion the research questions into an active statement form. Other parts of the introduction are a discussion of hypotheses (if any), the significance of the study, delimitations, proposed methodology and a discussion of the structure of the study(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

The main body includes the following; the literature review, methodology, research results and discussion of the result, the summary, conclusion and recommendations, the list of references and the appendices.

The literature review : The literature review is often the most voluminous aspects of a thesis because it reviews past empirical and theoretical literature about the problem being studied. This section starts by discussing the concepts relevant to the problem as indicated in the topic, the relationship between the concepts and what discoveries have being made on topic based on the choice of methodologies. The validity of the studies reviewed are questioned and findings are compared in order to get a comprehensive picture of the problem. The literature review also discusses the theories and theoretical frameworks that are relevant to the problem, the gaps that are evident in literature and how the thesis being written helps in resolving some of the gaps.

The major importance of Literature review is that it specifies the gap in the existing knowledge (gap in literature). The source of the literature that is being reviewed should be specified. For instance; ‘It has been argued that if the rural youth are to be aware of their community development role they need to be educated’ Effiong, (1992). The author’s name can be at the beginning, end or in between the literature. The literature should be discussed and not just stated (RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

The methodology: The third section is a discussion of the research methodology adopted in the thesis and touches on aspects such as the research design, the area, population and sample that will be considered for the study as well as the sampling procedure. These aspects are discussed in terms of choice, method and rationale. This section also covers the sub- section of data collection, data analysis and measures of ensuring validity of study. It is the chapter 3. This chapter explains the method used in data collection and data analysis. It explains the methodology adopted and why it is the best method to be used, it also explains every step of data collection and analysis. The data used could be primary data or secondary data. While analysing the data, proper statistical tool should be used in order to fit the stated objectives of the thesis. The statistical tool could be; the spearman rank order correlation, chi square, analysis of variance (ANOVA) etc (RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

The findings and discussion of result : The next section is a discussion of findings based on the data collection instrumentation used and the objectives or hypotheses of study if any. It is the chapter 4. It is research results. This is the part that describes the research. It shows the result gotten from data that is collected and analysed. It discusses the result and how it relates to your profession.

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation: This is normally the chapter 5. The last section discusses the summary of the study and the conclusions arrived at based on the findings discussed in the previous section. This section also presents any policy recommendations that the researcher wants to propose (RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

References: It cite all ideas, concepts, text, data that are not your own. It is acceptable to put the initials of the individual authors behind their last names. The way single author is referenced is different from the way more than one author is referenced (RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).

The appendices; it includes all data in the appendix. Reference data or materials that is not easily available. It includes tables and calculations, List of equipment used for an experiment or details of complicated procedures. If a large number of references are consulted but all are not cited, it may also be included in the appendix. The appendices also contain supportive or complementary information like the questionnaire, the interview schedule, tables and charts while the references section contain an ordered list of all literature, academic and contemporary cited in the thesis. Different schools have their own preferred referencing styles(RE: write a thesis or writing a thesis).   

Follow the following steps to achieve successful thesis writing

Start writing early. Do not delay writing until you have finished your project or research. Write complete and concise “Technical Reports” as and when you finish each nugget of work. This way, you will remember everything you did and document it accurately, when the work is still fresh in your mind. This is especially so if your work involves programming.

Spot errors early. A well-written “Technical Report” will force you to think about what you have done, before you move on to something else. If anything is amiss, you will detect it at once and can easily correct it, rather than have to re-visit the work later, when you may be pressured for time and have lost touch with it.

Write your thesis from the inside out. Begin with the chapters on your own experimental work. You will develop confidence in writing them because you know your own work better than anyone else. Once you have overcome the initial inertia, move on to the other chapters.

End with a bang, not a whimper. First things first, and save the best for last. First and last impressions persist. Arrange your chapters so that your first and last experimental chapters are sound and solid.

Write the Introduction after writing the Conclusions. The examiner will read the Introduction first, and then the Conclusions, to see if the promises made in the former are indeed fulfilled in the latter. Ensure that your introduction and Conclusions match.

“No man is an Island”. The critical review of the literature places your work in context. Usually, one third of the PhD thesis is about others’ work; two thirds, what you have done yourself. After a thorough and critical literature review, the PhD candidate must be able to identify the major researchers in the field and make a sound proposal for doctoral research. Estimate the time to write your thesis and then multiply it by three to get the correct estimate. Writing at one stretch is very demanding and it is all too easy to underestimate the time required for it; inflating your first estimate by a factor of three is more realistic.

Punctuating your thesis

Punctuation Good punctuation makes reading easy. The simplest way to find out where to punctuate is to read aloud what you have written. Each time you pause, you should add a punctuation symbol. There are four major pause symbols, arranged below in ascending order of “degree of pause”:

  • Comma. Use the comma to indicate a short pause or to separate items in a list. A pair of commas may delimit the beginning and end of a subordinate clause or phrase. Sometimes, this is also done with a pair of “em dashes” which are printed like this:
  • Semi-colon. The semi-colon signifies a longer pause than the comma. It separates segments of a sentence that are “further apart” in position, or meaning, but which are nevertheless related. If the ideas were “closer together”, a comma would have been used. It is also used to separate two clauses that may stand on their own but which are too closely related for a colon or full stop to intervene between them.
  • Colon. The colon is used before one or more examples of a concept, and whenever items are to be listed in a visually separate fashion. The sentence that introduced the itemized list you are now reading ended in a colon. It may also be used to separate two fairly—but not totally—independent clauses in a sentence.
  • Full stop or period. The full stop ends a sentence. If the sentence embodies a question or an exclamation, then, of course, it is ended with a question mark or exclamation mark, respectively. The full stop is also used to terminate abbreviations like etc., (for et cetera), e.g., (for exempli gratia), et al., (for et alia) etc., but not with abbreviations for SI units. The readability of your writing will improve greatly if you take the trouble to learn the basic rules of punctuation given above.

Don't forget to contact us for your thesis and other academic assistance

36 thoughts on “how to write a thesis: steps by step guide”.

' src=

wow.. thanks for sharing

' src=

Thanks for the article it’s very helpful

' src=

It’s very good

' src=

This is a great deal

' src=

Thank you much respect from here.

' src=

Thanks for the education.

' src=

thank you for the guide ,is very educating.

' src=

What can I say but THANK YOU. I will read your post many times in the future to clear my doubts.

' src=

Just came across this insightful article when about to start my PhD program. This is helpful thanks

' src=

Very informative website.

' src=

I’m really interested in your help. I’m doing my Master and this is my real challenge. I have given my thesis topic already.

chat with us on 09062671816

' src=

thanks so much and i will keep on reading till I get much more understanding.

' src=

thanks so much i will get in touch with you

' src=

Thanks for sharing…

Thanyou for sharing…

' src=

You can write my ms thesis

Pingback: My Site

' src=

There is perceptibly a bunch to realize about this. I assume you made some nice points in features also.

' src=

Loving the information on this web site, you have done great job on the blog posts.

' src=

Am happy to come across this web site, thanks a lot may God bless. In few months time I will be back.

' src=

anafranil prices

' src=

colchicine tablet brand name in india

can i buy colchicine without a prescription

synthroid over the counter online

' src=

Wow, marvelous blog format! How long have you been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The entire look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!

' src=

thank you very much

' src=

Helpful info. Lucky me I discovered your website accidentally, and I’m surprised why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

Helpful info. Lucky me I discovered your website accidentally, aand I’m surprised why this accident did nnot happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

' src=

For newest news you have to pay a visit internet and on internet I found this site as a most excellent web page for hottest updates.

' src=

Great info and right to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thank you

' src=

Wow, this article is good, my sister is analyzing these kinds of things, so I am going to inform her.

' src=

I really love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you develop this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m attempting to create my own personal blog and would like to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Many thanks!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

  • How It Works
  • PhD thesis writing
  • Master thesis writing
  • Bachelor thesis writing
  • Dissertation writing service
  • Dissertation abstract writing
  • Thesis proposal writing
  • Thesis editing service
  • Thesis proofreading service
  • Thesis formatting service
  • Coursework writing service
  • Research paper writing service
  • Architecture thesis writing
  • Computer science thesis writing
  • Engineering thesis writing
  • History thesis writing
  • MBA thesis writing
  • Nursing dissertation writing
  • Psychology dissertation writing
  • Sociology thesis writing
  • Statistics dissertation writing
  • Buy dissertation online
  • Write my dissertation
  • Cheap thesis
  • Cheap dissertation
  • Custom dissertation
  • Dissertation help
  • Pay for thesis
  • Pay for dissertation
  • Senior thesis
  • Write my thesis

How To Write A Research Design Like A Pro

How to Write a Research Design

The overall strategy that a researcher chooses to address all the different parts of their study in a logical and clear manner is known as a research design.

So, what is research design in research paper? A research design is a general plan explaining what one looks to do so as to answer the research question. Generally, it is a detailed outline of how research or an investigation will take place including; how data will be collected, which tools will be employed and how they will be used, and the ways through with the data will be analyzed.

It lays out the method you use to collect, measure, and analyze information. It states that you do this logically and coherently to ensure that you thoroughly address the research problem with which you are dealing. There are numerous types of research design including:

Action Study Research Design Case Study Research Design Casual Research Design Cohort Research Design Cross-Sectional Research Design Correlational Research Design Descriptive Research Design Experimental Research Design Exploratory Research Design Historical Research Design Longitudinal Research Design Observational Research Design Philosophical Research Design Qualitative Research Design Quantitative Research Design Sequential Research Design

The research paper design you choose depends on the research problem. You should analyze the problem carefully and consider it from numerous perspectives. You may consider using a mixed methods research design which is a combination of any two designs listed above. But you must choose a type of research design that is strong and will make your project progress smoothly.

Example Of A Nursing Research Design

To assess the links between professional satisfaction, job satisfaction, and contributing factors using a quantitative approach, an appropriate method is to gain use questionnaires or surveys that provide numerical data from the sample. To achieve an appropriate sample, a sampling plan should be developed. In this case, the population of concern will be identified. This will be nursing staff members, possibly across a wide range of departments to gain a better insight into the links overall. A stratified sampling method would be appropriate here to ensure that the sample is made up of sub-populations that are in line with the sub-populations of the total: the strata should include gender, number of years in nursing, department, and any other factors that could be confounding variables. This will ensure that the sample is representative of the population of interest. In a population of 1000 nurses, a confidence interval of five, and a confidence level of 99%, the sample size needed is 400. Inclusion criteria will include: nursing staff working at the hospital, ability to speak the language that the survey is administered in, and those that have given informed consent. Exclusion criteria will be visiting nursing staff, staff who are not nurses, and those that do not hold relevant nursing criteria.

Sampling Plan: Qualitative

A more appropriate methodology for qualitative approaches is to use interviews or focus groups. This means that the sample size can be much smaller, often as low as ten. In this case, the sampling plan will have the same population of concern, but a different approach to sampling can be used. It may be more appropriate to use quota, self-selection sampling here, as nursing staff need to be willing to give up some time to respond. This has drawbacks, including self-selection bias, but it would be unethical to force nursing staff to participate in the project, especially considering interviews can take one hour or more. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are as above.

How to Write a Research Design Proposal

For most research problems, you will have to make some tradeoffs. One design can be strong in some areas and weak in other areas. This is the reason many students choose to select more than one design to gather all the information accurately and effectively they need to address the problem. This is one of the first things you should know about how to write research design and methods section.

  • Consider Your Practicalities and Priorities

What do we mean when we say you need to think about practicalities and priorities? Another thing to know about how to write design and methodology of the research is asking several questions before settling on one or two methodologies. You will not have the time or resources to conduct tests using several research designs, so you need to write down and answer precisely what your priorities are and the practical nature of your study.

A good place to start is at the library where you have access to other academic studies in your field. You can find similar studies and look at published samples that have been approved by experts in the field. You can also get a sense of the number of resources you have available. Pre-planning is a great way of making sure your project stays on track.

  • Determine the Kind of Information You Need

The next to know about how to write a qualitative research design is figuring out the kind of information or data you need to answer the research problem. There are two places where you get this: through primary and secondary data. In your research study, you get original data through experiments, interviews, and surveys. This is information you analyze and incorporate into your research finding.

Your study will also incorporate information gathered by someone else in previous studies. This type of data is available in libraries and online databases where you can look at national statistics, official records, and publications from academic and government sources.

  • Identify How You Are Going to Collect Information

Once you know the kind of information you need to gather (qualitative and quantitative) you need to decide where, when, and how you will gather it. How to write a research design requires you to describe your research methods. This means putting in detail the materials, procedures, tools, and techniques you will use and apply. You also need to point out the criteria you will use to choose your participants and sources. (For example, how many participants will you need to fill out services to get a good method to sample).

  • Decide How You Are Going to Analyze the Information

Another thing you need to know about how to write a research design relates to the way you are going to analyze the information you collect. The process of analysis is the last step you need to develop your research design. Numerous computer applications will sort through information and retrieve what you need to answer the research problem (For example, Access and Excel). Identify the ones you will use and state this in the research design.

  • Draft Your Research Design as You Would Other Sections

Now you can start writing the first draft. You should approach this like you would other academic assignments. Use a draft that lists all the sub-sections you need to address in the research design. Be clear and concise. The research design should not include your opinions. It must show the reader an exact description of the way you conducted your study.

  • Revise Your Research Design After Some Time Away

Hindsight is one of the best things that can come from separating yourself from your assignment for a few days. We recommend students remove themselves completely from their work to get a mental break. The distance will help them rethink their writing and make changes that improve the overall quality of an assignment.

The trick is to do stay away a few days instead of just a few hours. The time away from any piece of writing will allow for more self-evaluation that is objective. Many students will find ways to remove, add, or rearrange words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that make their assignments stronger.

  • Edit and Proofread Your Research Design for Perfection

These two activities are not interchangeable. Editing focuses on deep issues like correcting sentence constructions and word choices. A thorough editing session will improve things like clarity, readability, and tone. Proofreading focuses on details like grammar, punctuation, and misspellings. It will also look at page numbering, formatting, alignment, and visual elements.

Both activities are important stages of the writing process. A great editor will begin his or her work during the revising process. A great proofread will also begin his or her work during the editing process. While they may overlap you should always treat them as two separate tasks and designate enough time to do each without distraction.

  • Have a Colleague Review Your Work for Feedback

Having a colleague or peer review your work is an important step to the academic writing process. A person or a group of people that understands your field and the high standard of researching and writing that comes with putting together a great research paper can valuable toward your success at the collegiate and graduate levels. Even if you can only show your work to one person for a few hours, his or her feedback can help you make changes to improve the overall quality of your research design.

Here are some questions you should consider before asking someone to review your work:

Do they understand the research subject and/or topic? Do they know the professor or panel that will grade your work? Have they submitted research studies in the past? Do they have great to excellent grades when it comes to research? Are they committed to providing you constructive criticism and feedback?

What to Do If You Can’t Do the Research Design

You may not have enough time to create this section, especially when you have a short deadline. On these occasions, it is a good idea to find a template for a research design paper. You can find templates online or can refer to published research papers in academic journals. The formats are standard so as long as you apply your words to a template that matches your design approach.

If you need more information or assistance learning about how to write a research design section, our customer support team can point you to more resources or put you in contact with one of our academic writing and editing experts. Each expert has earned either a bachelor’s or master’s degree and specialize in specific disciplines. You can rest assured that you will be assigned someone that knows your field inside and outside and can give you the writing research design and methodology help that you need to excel academically.

tentative thesis

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * Error message

Name * Error message

Email * Error message

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

As Putin continues killing civilians, bombing kindergartens, and threatening WWIII, Ukraine fights for the world's peaceful future.

Ukraine Live Updates

design of thesis

Free Download

Dissertation/Thesis Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a winning dissertation that showcases your study and earns you marks. 

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

design of thesis

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

design of thesis

What’s Covered In The Template?

This dissertation template is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your document has a smooth, logical flow. Here’s how it’s structured:

  • The title page/cover page
  • Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)
  • Table of contents
  • List of figures /list of tables
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Literature review
  • Chapter 3: Methodology
  • Chapter 4: Research findings /results 
  • Chapter 5: Discussion /analysis of findings
  • Chapter 6: Conclusion
  • Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

Download The Template

100% Free. Instant Access.

I agree to receive the free template and other useful resources.

Download Now (Instant Access)

Awards

FAQs: Dissertation & Thesis Template

Faqs: dissertation template, what format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The dissertation template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of dissertations/theses can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research projects such as dissertations or theses, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Will this work for a research paper?

A research paper follows a similar format, but there are a few differences. You can find our research paper template here .

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my dissertation/thesis be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, Masters-level projects are usually 15,000 – 20,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects are often in excess of 60,000 words.

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this dissertation template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our dissertation and thesis coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a dissertation or thesis, be sure to also check these resources out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

The Grad Coach Resource Center

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

Using the Library

  • Teaching & publication support
  • Ask a Librarian

A-Z Databases

Find the best library databases for your research., the library provides access to these e-resources for current uva students, faculty, and staff, but it is  subject to licenses and terms  of their contracts. among other prohibitions, systematic/excessive downloading can result in suspension of access for the entire campus. we appreciate your diligence. .

  • 434-924-3021
  • [email protected]
  • UVA Alderman Library P.O. Box 400113 160 McCormick Road Charlottesville, VA 22904

About the Library

  • Staff Directory
  • Fellowships
  • Library Use Policies
  • Off-Grounds Access
  • ITS Computing Accounts
  • Accessibility Services
  • Emergency Information
  • UVA Privacy Policy
  • Tracking Opt-out

Other Sites

  • Cavalier Advantage
  • Library Staff Site

design of thesis

2024 Theses Doctoral

Deep Learning Artifact Identification and Correction Methods for Accessible MRI

Manso Jimeno, Marina

Despite its potential, 66% of the world's population lacks access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The main factors contributing to the uneven distribution of this imaging modality worldwide are the elevated cost and intricate nature of MRI systems coupled with the high level of knowledge and expertise required for its operation and maintenance. To improve its worldwide accessibility, MRI technology and techniques must undergo modifications to deliver a more cost-effective system that is easier to site and use without compromising on the diagnostic quality of the images. This thesis presents two deep learning methods, ArtifactID and GDCNet, developed for artifact detection and correction and tailored for their integration into accessible MRI systems. ArtifactID is targeted to resource-constrained settings where skilled personnel are scarce. It automates part of the quality assessment step, critical during image acquisition to ensure data quality and the success of downstream analysis or interpretation. This study utilized two types of T1-weighted neuroimaging datasets: publicly available and prospective. Combining the two, ArtifactID successfully identified wrap-around and rigid head motion in multi-field strength and multi-vendor data. We leveraged the public datasets for artifact simulation, model training, and testing. In contrast, prospective datasets were reserved for validation and testing and to assess the models’ performance in data representative of clinical and deployment settings. We trained individual convolutional neural networks for each artifact. The wrap-around models perform binary classification, while the multi-class motion classification model allows distinction between moderate and severe motion artifacts. Our models demonstrated strong agreement with ground truth labels and motion metrics and proved potential for generalization to various data distributions. Furthermore, Grad-CAM heatmaps allowed early identification of failure modes, artifact localization within the image, and fine-tuning the pre-processing steps. GDCNet correction applies to imaging techniques highly susceptible to local B0 deviations and systems whose design entails high B0 inhomogeneity. The method estimates a geometric distortion map by non-linear registration to a reference image. The self-supervised model, consisting of a U-Net and a spatial transform function unit, learned the correction by optimizing the similarity between the distorted and the reference images. We initially developed the tool for distortion correction of echo-planar imaging functional MRI images at 3 T. This method allows dynamic correction of the functional data as a distortion map is estimated for each temporal frame. For this model, we leveraged T1-weighted anatomical images as target images. We trained the model on publicly available datasets and tested it on in-distribution and out-of-distribution datasets consisting of other public datasets unseen during training and a prospectively acquired dataset. Comparing GDCNet to state-of-the-art EPI geometric distortion methods, our technique demonstrated statistically significant improvements in normalized mutual information between the corrected and reference images and 14 times faster processing times without requiring the acquisition of additional sequences for field map estimation. We adapted the GDCNet method for distortion correction of low-bandwidth images acquired in a 47 mT permanent magnet system. These systems are characterized by large B0 spatial inhomogeneity and low signal sensitivity. In this case, the model used high-field images or images acquired with higher acquisition bandwidths as reference. The goal was to exploit the signal-to-noise ratio improvements that low bandwidth acquisition offers while limiting geometric distortion artifacts in the images. We investigated two versions of the model using different similarity loss functions. Both models were trained and tested on an in vitro dataset of image-quality phantoms. Additionally, we evaluated the models’ generalization ability to an in vivo dataset. The models successfully reduced distortions to levels comparable to those of the high bandwidth images in vitro and improved geometric accuracy in vivo. Furthermore, the method indicated robust performance on reference images with large levels of noise. Incorporating the methods presented in this thesis into the software of a clinical MRI system will alleviate some of the barriers currently restricting the democratization of MR technology. First, automating the time-consuming process of artifact identification during image quality assessment will improve scan efficiency and augment expertise on-site by assisting non-skilled personnel. Second, efficient off-resonance correction during image reconstruction will ease the tight B0 homogeneity requirements of magnet design, allowing more compact and lightweight systems that are easier to refrigerate and site.

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Deep learning (Machine learning)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Nervous system--Imaging

This item is currently under embargo. It will be available starting 2025-05-28.

More About This Work

  • DOI Copy DOI to clipboard
  • MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Prof. William Scheideler at ECE Fall 2024 Colloquium

Nanomanufacturing of 2d oxides for scalable electronics and energy.

The future of ubiquitous electronics and energy systems call for rethinking how we design and sustainably manufacture devices combining sensing, energy harvesting, and computing. Scalable nanomanufacturing via printing technologies could deliver these multifunctional systems by allowing low-cost integration of nanoscale materials. In this talk we apply roll-based printing to address two fundamental challenges for scalable fabrication: 1) how to extend printing towards high performing ultrathin semiconductors and 2) how to design inks for large-scale ultra-uniformity. We focus on an emerging class of two-dimensional (2D) metal oxide semiconductors printed via a roll-based continuous Cabrera Mott surface oxidation of liquid metals. These wide bandgap 2D conducting oxides (In2O3, Ga2O3, etc.) are uniquely capable of driving large area technologies (displays, smart windows, etc) leveraging their high transparency and tunable electronic structure.   

3-230 Keller Hall

  • Future undergraduate students
  • Future transfer students
  • Future graduate students
  • Future international students
  • Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities
  • Learn abroad
  • Living Learning Communities
  • Mentor programs
  • Programs for women
  • Student groups
  • Visit, Apply & Next Steps
  • Information for current students
  • Departments and majors overview
  • Departments
  • Undergraduate majors
  • Graduate programs
  • Integrated Degree Programs
  • Additional degree-granting programs
  • Online learning
  • Academic Advising overview
  • Academic Advising FAQ
  • Academic Advising Blog
  • Appointments and drop-ins
  • Academic support
  • Commencement
  • Four-year plans
  • Honors advising
  • Policies, procedures, and forms
  • Career Services overview
  • Resumes and cover letters
  • Jobs and internships
  • Interviews and job offers
  • CSE Career Fair
  • Major and career exploration
  • Graduate school
  • Collegiate Life overview
  • Scholarships
  • Diversity & Inclusivity Alliance
  • Anderson Student Innovation Labs
  • Information for alumni
  • Get engaged with CSE
  • Upcoming events
  • CSE Alumni Society Board
  • Alumni volunteer interest form
  • Golden Medallion Society Reunion
  • 50-Year Reunion
  • Alumni honors and awards
  • Outstanding Achievement
  • Alumni Service
  • Distinguished Leadership
  • Honorary Doctorate Degrees
  • Nobel Laureates
  • Alumni resources
  • Alumni career resources
  • Alumni news outlets
  • CSE branded clothing
  • International alumni resources
  • Inventing Tomorrow magazine
  • Update your info
  • CSE giving overview
  • Why give to CSE?
  • College priorities
  • Give online now
  • External relations
  • Giving priorities
  • CSE Dean's Club
  • Donor stories
  • Impact of giving
  • Ways to give to CSE
  • Matching gifts
  • CSE directories
  • Invest in your company and the future
  • Recruit our students
  • Connect with researchers
  • K-12 initiatives
  • Diversity initiatives
  • Research news
  • Give to CSE
  • CSE priorities
  • Corporate relations
  • Information for faculty and staff
  • Administrative offices overview
  • Office of the Dean
  • Academic affairs
  • Finance and Operations
  • Communications
  • Human resources
  • Undergraduate programs and student services
  • CSE Committees
  • CSE policies overview
  • Academic policies
  • Faculty hiring and tenure policies
  • Finance policies and information
  • Graduate education policies
  • Human resources policies
  • Research policies
  • Research overview
  • Research centers and facilities
  • Research proposal submission process
  • Research safety
  • Award-winning CSE faculty
  • National academies
  • University awards
  • Honorary professorships
  • Collegiate awards
  • Other CSE honors and awards
  • Staff awards
  • Performance Management Process
  • Work. With Flexibility in CSE
  • K-12 outreach overview
  • Summer camps
  • Outreach events
  • Enrichment programs
  • Field trips and tours
  • CSE K-12 Virtual Classroom Resources
  • Educator development
  • Sponsor an event

2024 Interior Architecture thesis works

Wooden balcony with a couch

  • Published: 26.8.2024
  • Updated: 26.8.2024

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Dissertation
  • Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples

Published on May 19, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

The title page (or cover page) of your thesis , dissertation , or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes:

  • Dissertation or thesis title
  • The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper)
  • The department and institution
  • The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
  • The date of submission

It sometimes also includes your dissertation topic or field of study, your student number, your supervisor’s name, and your university’s logo.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

Title page format, title page templates, title page example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

Your department will usually tell you exactly what should be included on your title page and how it should be formatted. Be sure to check whether there are specific guidelines for margins, spacing, and font size.

Title pages for APA and MLA style

The format of your title page can also depend on the citation style you’re using. There may be guidelines in regards to alignment, page numbering, and mandatory elements.

  • MLA guidelines for formatting the title page
  • APA guidelines for formatting the title page

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

We’ve created a few templates to help you design the title page for your thesis, dissertation, or research paper. You can download them in the format of your choice by clicking on the corresponding button.

Research paper Google Doc

Dissertation Google Doc

Thesis Google Doc

A typical example of a thesis title page looks like this:

Thesis title Page

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Research bias

  • Anchoring bias
  • Halo effect
  • The Baader–Meinhof phenomenon
  • The placebo effect
  • Nonresponse bias
  • Deep learning
  • Generative AI
  • Machine learning
  • Reinforcement learning
  • Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

  • Grammar Checker
  • Paraphrasing Tool
  • Text Summarizer
  • AI Detector
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • Citation Generator

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

design of thesis

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

  • Your instructor requires one, or
  • Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, July 18). Thesis & Dissertation Title Page | Free Templates & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/title-page/

Is this article helpful?

Tegan George

Tegan George

Other students also liked, thesis & dissertation acknowledgements | tips & examples, dissertation table of contents in word | instructions & examples, figure and table lists | word instructions, template & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

low-cost replicable tiny house addresses india’s residential needs with its adaptable interior

Harshit singh kothari & tanvi jain unveil replicable housing.

Harshit Singh Kothari and Tanvi Jain reveal the Tiny House, a compact residence that serves as a prototype for affordable living in Indore, India . The house, built with concrete foundations, a concrete frame structure, and brick infill walls, uses standard construction methods. Allowing for easy replication without specialized techniques or expensive technology, the building comfortably accommodates a family of four. The dwelling occupies a minimal footprint of 19.5 square meters, with an additional six square meters of spill-out space. Despite its modest size, the interior feels expansive, featuring a single large volume that adapts to various daily needs. This volume is divided into a mezzanine above and a toilet and store at the back. The building is approached from the east through a semi-open space, avoiding the conventional layout of separate living, dining, and sleeping areas. Instead, it offers flexible spaces that can be reconfigured based on the needs of its residents, such as a daybed that transforms into a double bed at night. 

tiny house prototype in India features adaptable interior

The Tiny House emphasizes natural light and ventilation, with carefully placed openings on all facades. Harshit Singh Kothari (find more here ) and Tanvi Jain have installed a 45-centimeter-thick double wall on the western facade, which reduces thermal gain while enhancing comfort. The kitchenette and bathroom are strategically positioned near an overhead water tank to ensure adequate water pressure and optimize plumbing costs. A foldable table opposite the kitchenette serves as a dining area and a study. The prototype is adaptable to freestanding units in peri-urban areas and dense urban settings. When clustered, these houses can share infrastructure, such as staircases, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting systems, further reducing costs and supporting sustainable resource use.

Remarkably, the project is constructed for just INR 4,55,000 (USD 5,424), yet it includes high-quality finishes such as marble flooring, teak-framed double-pane windows, and premium fixtures. This cost-effective design meets the aspirations of lower-income groups in tier-two Indian cities by offering multifunctional spaces and efficient resource use. 

occupying a minimal footprint of 18 square meters, the house features a six square meters spill-out space

the building is approached from the east through a semi-open space

project info:

name:  Tiny House designer: Harshit Singh Kothari | @harshitsk , Tanvi Jain | @sin.by.cos

location: Indore, India

photographer: The Space Tracing company | @the_space_tracing_company

designboom has received this project from our  DIY submissions  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers  here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

architecture in india (335)

Concrete architecture and design (744), residential architecture and interiors (4048), spaces under 50 sqm (287), product library.

a diverse digital database that acts as a valuable guide in gaining insight and information about a product directly from the manufacturer, and serves as a rich reference point in developing a project or scheme.

  • alastair philip wiper (7)
  • architectural photography (327)
  • photography (394)
  • underground architecture (98)
  • architecture in china (1823)
  • AZL architects (9)
  • brick architecture (330)
  • museums and galleries (685)
  • airbnb (71)
  • architecture in the US (1514)
  • architecture in korea (424)
  • facades (290)
  • thomas heatherwick (106)

IMAGES

  1. Thesis Template Format

    design of thesis

  2. Master's Thesis Book Design :: Behance

    design of thesis

  3. Sample Thesis layout

    design of thesis

  4. Phd Thesis Front Page

    design of thesis

  5. How to create a thesis for a research paper

    design of thesis

  6. How To Structure a Thesis?

    design of thesis

VIDEO

  1. Thesis Pitch: Humanitarian Design for Refugees

  2. Textile Thesis Disply (GCUF) Fitfd

  3. Thesis display 2024

  4. Interior Design Thesis Show 2016

  5. FILM & T.V INSTITUTE

  6. My Interior Design Thesis

COMMENTS

  1. What Is a Research Design

    A research design is a strategy for answering your research question using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about: Your overall research objectives and approach. Whether you'll rely on primary research or secondary research. Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects. Your data collection methods.

  2. Dissertation & Thesis Outline

    Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on November 21, 2023. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process.It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to ...

  3. Thesis

    Thesis is a scholarly document that presents a student's original research and findings on a particular topic or question. It is usually written as a requirement for a graduate degree program and is intended to demonstrate the student's mastery of the subject matter and their ability to conduct independent research.

  4. How to structure a thesis

    A typical thesis structure. 1. Abstract. The abstract is the overview of your thesis and generally very short. This section should highlight the main contents of your thesis "at a glance" so that someone who is curious about your work can get the gist quickly. Take a look at our guide on how to write an abstract for more info.

  5. What Is Research Design? 8 Types + Examples

    Research design refers to the overall plan, structure or strategy that guides a research project, from its conception to the final analysis of data. Research designs for quantitative studies include descriptive, correlational, experimental and quasi-experimenta l designs. Research designs for qualitative studies include phenomenological ...

  6. Dissertation Structure & Layout 101 (+ Examples)

    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.

  7. What Is a Thesis?

    Revised on April 16, 2024. A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master's program or a capstone to a bachelor's degree. Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation, it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete.

  8. What is a thesis

    A thesis is an in-depth research study that identifies a particular topic of inquiry and presents a clear argument or perspective about that topic using evidence and logic. Writing a thesis showcases your ability of critical thinking, gathering evidence, and making a compelling argument. Integral to these competencies is thorough research ...

  9. Developing A Thesis

    A good thesis has two parts. It should tell what you plan to argue, and it should "telegraph" how you plan to argue—that is, what particular support for your claim is going where in your essay. Steps in Constructing a Thesis. First, analyze your primary sources. Look for tension, interest, ambiguity, controversy, and/or complication.

  10. Research Design

    A research design is a strategy for answering your research question using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about: ... so she's an expert at writing a great thesis. She has also worked as an editor and teacher, working with students at all different levels to improve their academic writing.

  11. How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis

    Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.

  12. Thesis Format

    For example, let's consider a thesis on the impact of social media on mental health among teenagers. The methodology for this thesis might involve the following steps: Research Design: The researcher may choose to conduct a quantitative study using a survey questionnaire to collect data on social media usage and mental health among teenagers.

  13. Format of theThesis

    Format of the Thesis. In form, the thesis is a lengthy experimental, design, or theoretical report, with a problem - method - results - discussion structure. This recurrent hypothetico-deductive pattern of developing a thesis to solve a problem and then constructing a methodology and testing for results is common in research writing.

  14. PDF Chapter 8. Design Thesis

    ter 8. Design Thesis — Case oriented ResearchWhen relevant, at least a clear description of the concept of which the final design, project, plan or construction is the realisation, the concept that represents the essen tial assumptions, values, idea'setc, to be see. as the equivalent of a scientific hy pothesis.CRI. ERION 2: THEORETICAL.

  15. How to Write a Research Design

    Step 1: Establish Priorities for Research Design. Before conducting any research study, you must address an important question: "how to create a research design.". The research design depends on the researcher's priorities and choices because every research has different priorities.

  16. HOW TO WRITE A THESIS: Steps by step guide

    Remember; a thesis is not supposed to be a question or a list, thesis should specific and as clear as possible. The claims of a thesis should be definable and also arguable. ... section is a discussion of the research methodology adopted in the thesis and touches on aspects such as the research design, the area, population and sample that will ...

  17. How to Write a Thesis Statement

    Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.

  18. How to Write a Research Design: Guide For Students

    Use a draft that lists all the sub-sections you need to address in the research design. Be clear and concise. The research design should not include your opinions. It must show the reader an exact description of the way you conducted your study. Revise Your Research Design After Some Time Away.

  19. Thesis Generator

    Remember that the thesis statement is a kind of "mapping tool" that helps you organize your ideas, and it helps your reader follow your argument. After the topic sentence, include any evidence in this body paragraph, such as a quotation, statistic, or data point, that supports this first point. Explain what the evidence means.

  20. PDF Thesis Dissertation Handbook

    have approved your thesis or dissertation by the final day for adding a class in the semester of graduation. See the Graduate Calendar. Submit your document . at least . a week prior to the last day to add classes in order to provide the editor adequate time to examine the document, request corrections, and grant approval by her deadline.

  21. Self-Publishing Book Cover Design 101

    In self-publishing, book cover design is crucial to making a strong first impression. A striking cover design can be all the difference. Whether you're a new author navigating self-publishing book cover design for the first time, or a seasoned author, understanding the essentials of cover design is key to your success.

  22. Free Dissertation & Thesis Template (Word Doc & PDF)

    This dissertation template is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your document has a smooth, logical flow. Here's how it's structured: The title page/cover page. Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)

  23. A-Z Databases

    Find the best library databases for your research. The Library provides access to these e-resources for current UVA students, faculty, and staff, but it is subject to licenses and terms of their contracts. Among other prohibitions, systematic/excessive downloading can result in suspension of access for the entire campus.

  24. Deep Learning Artifact Identification and Correction Methods for

    This thesis presents two deep learning methods, ArtifactID and GDCNet, developed for artifact detection and correction and tailored for their integration into accessible MRI systems. ... off-resonance correction during image reconstruction will ease the tight B0 homogeneity requirements of magnet design, allowing more compact and lightweight ...

  25. How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction

    Overview of the structure. To help guide your reader, end your introduction with an outline of the structure of the thesis or dissertation to follow. Share a brief summary of each chapter, clearly showing how each contributes to your central aims. However, be careful to keep this overview concise: 1-2 sentences should be enough.

  26. A new strategy for manufacturing, modeling, and optimization of 3D

    A New Systematic Approach for Design, Modeling and Optimization of the Engineering Problems Based on Stochastic Multiple-Nonlinear Neuro-Regression Analysis and Non Traditional Search Algorithms. PhD Thesis, 2023, Izmir: İzmir Katip Çelebi University.

  27. Prof. William Scheideler at ECE Fall 2024 Colloquium

    Nanomanufacturing of 2D oxides for scalable electronics and energyThe future of ubiquitous electronics and energy systems call for rethinking how we design and sustainably manufacture devices combining sensing, energy harvesting, and computing. Scalable nanomanufacturing via printing technologies could deliver these multifunctional systems by allowing low-cost integration of nanoscale ...

  28. 2024 Interior Architecture thesis works

    A collection of 2024 thesis works from the program of the Interior Architecture. Emma Nordlund(2024)_Travelling along the metro line Enzo Lux(2024)_Cultural Satellites: Potential of mixed reality applications for the future of decentralised exhibition spaces

  29. Thesis & Dissertation Title Page

    The title page (or cover page) of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes: Dissertation or thesis title. Your name. The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper) The department and institution. The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)

  30. low-cost tiny house addresses india's residential needs

    FOAID 2024 enters a new era, uniting india's architecture & interior design community. Aug 27, 2024. perforated terracotta facade enfolds rahul pudale's porous adobe in india.