There are various approaches to research writing when it comes to higher levels of education. Think of it like having a toolbox with a bunch of tools inside. All of these tools can help you accomplish different tasks. In this post, we’ll explore different types of dissertation research and tips on choosing the right one for your paper.
As an aspiring researcher, you must understand how research is attained. These types vary in characteristics, methodologies, and purposes. The research writing types can be divided into three major categories:
If you’re measuring the length of something, you won’t pick a magnifying glass from your toolbox. Rather, you’d look for a ruler or measuring tape. Similarly, it’s crucial to pick the right kind of research for your requirements.
In this manner, the researcher can convey their findings efficiently. Further, they can contribute to their field’s existing body of knowledge. This diversity in dissertation types reflects the interdisciplinary nature of research.
Different fields of study require different approaches, and by exploring the range of dissertation types, researchers can gain insights into methodologies applicable across disciplines.
In the upcoming segments, we will delve deep into each type of dissertation, exploring their characteristics, methodologies, and strengths.
The methodology refers to the specific process, methods or techniques used to gather and analyze data. The methodology a researcher chooses can greatly impact the outcomes of their work.
An empirical study, which involves gathering and analyzing primary data, may require various methodologies.
For example:
“Suppose your dissertation writing guide aims to measure the effect of exercise on heart rate. Here, the methodology may require conducting experiments. You can ask involved individuals to perform different levels of exercise to measure their heart rate.”
In theoretical dissertations, the methodology can significantly impact the overall findings and contributions of the study. This kind of study targets the building and expansion of theoretical frameworks.
It focuses on developing new models or conducting theoretical analysis of specific phenomena. This study involves analyzing existing theories, conducting extensive literature reviews, and formulating new theoretical frameworks.
This approach helps researchers understand the subject matter and make meaningful contributions to the field.
In these studies, the methodology revolves around synthesizing and reviewing existing literature. The researcher can identify common themes, gaps, and controversies within the field by going through relevant literature.
For example:
“A literature-based dissertation could involve a comprehensive review of research on climate change impacts on:
Finally, it concludes the synthesis.”
Students can encounter yet another type of challenge when it comes to picking the right type of dissertation writing help. Registering the purpose of the research is also important before picking your dissertation type.
Exploratory dissertations aim to explore and gain insights into relatively unexplored research areas. Students conducting this research may delve into topics with limited information or knowledge. They focus on generating new ideas, hypotheses, or theories.
To showcase:
Explanatory dissertations seek to explain existing phenomena or theories. Students conducting explanatory research aim to provide a deeper understanding of the subject under investigation. They may explore causal relationships, analyze variables, and test hypotheses.
For instance:
Descriptive dissertations describe a specific phenomenon, group, or event. Researchers focus on presenting an accurate and comprehensive portrayal of the subject of study, often using qualitative research methods and extensive data collection.
Examples:
Understanding the types of dissertations by field can help you align your research with your discipline’s conventions, methodologies, and expectations. So, let’s get into it.
This type of research is common in scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering. Researchers conduct experiments to collect and analyze data to explore scientific phenomena.
Examples:
This form of dissertation encompasses areas like sociology, psychology, anthropology, or political science. These studies focus on individuals, societies, and social structures to understand human behavior.
Examples:
Such studies often focus on literature, history, philosophy, or cultural studies. In this type of dissertation, researchers analyze texts, artifacts, and cultural phenomena to gain insights into human experiences.
To showcase:
This dissertation focuses on business administration, management, or economics topics. Here, the researchers examine organizational behavior, strategies, and economic theories.
For instance:
Here is a table that can help you understand the major differences.
| Dissertation Type | Key Features | Pros | Cons | Analysis | Examples |
| Empirical Research Dissertation | Gathering and analyzing primary data through experiments, surveys, or interviews. Using real-life data. | Provides direct and tangible evidence. Allows testing of hypotheses. | Requires time and resources for data collection and analysis. | Analyzing the collected data to draw conclusions and support arguments. | Studying the effects of exercise on heart rate, determining consumer preferences. |
| Theoretical Research Dissertation | Focuses on building new theoretical frameworks or developing mathematical models. | Enhances understanding of a subject. No need for data collection. | Challenging to develop new theories or complex mathematical models. | Analyzing theories, frameworks, or mathematical models to explore new concepts or phenomena. | Developing mathematical models, theoretical analysis of phenomena. |
| Literature-Based Dissertation | Synthesizing and reviewing existing literature on a specific topic. | Provides a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge. No need for primary data collection. | Challenges in finding relevant and high-quality literature. | Analyzing and synthesizing existing literature to identify trends, patterns, or gaps in knowledge. | Comprehensive reviews of climate change impacts, analysis of historical documents. |
Here are some factors that influence your choice for types of dissertation.
The research questions or objectives drive the choice of dissertation type. Researchers must align their research questions with the purpose of their dissertation, whether it is exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory.
Different fields of study require different types of research methods and approaches. Scientific research, for instance, involves conducting experiments and analyzing data, while humanities research focuses on analyzing texts and cultural phenomena.
The type of data available can influence the choice of dissertation type. If data is limited, researchers may opt for an exploratory research design, while the availability of extensive data may favor an explanatory approach.
Time constraints can also play a role in the choice of dissertation type. A descriptive approach may take less time than an explanatory one, requiring more data collection and analysis.
Personal interests and passions can also impact the choice of dissertation type. Students may opt for a type of dissertation that resonates with their research interests, which motivates them to conduct in-depth research and make valuable contributions to their chosen field of study.
Here are some practical tips that you can follow to navigate through different types of dissertation research.
Examples:
Exploratory research for new topics and empirical research for data analysis.
Examples:
Surveys, interviews, and experiments.
Understanding types of dissertation research can be a lot tougher than students assume. However, with proper guidelines, learners are sure to produce positive outcomes. We’re sure this guide of ours helped in your understanding of these types.
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