Dissertation, thesis, research project
- 1. Dissertation and Thesis, Research Paper, Review Paper, Abstract, Synopsis
- 2. Dissertation : What it is? A long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma. Expectation: The learner, takes responsibility for own learning and produces a literature review, chooses a method for undertaking a study, writes up the findings and discusses the outcomes in a discussion section.
- 3. Purpose of Dissertation in Syllabi • Identify your own area of interest. • Explore an area in depth. • Define your own questions. • Experience the process of producing knowledge. • Manage a project from beginning to end. • Consolidate your communication, information-seeking and intellectual skills. • In many ways this is about doing social science rather than writing about the social science that others have produced. • Develop effectiveness in collecting, manipulating and interrogating information, its application and the production of reports - all of which are useful skills in future research and employment.
- 4. Thesis and Dissertation A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove. A good thesis should be a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts. The words “thesis” and “dissertation” are often used interchangeably. The main similarity between the dissertation and the thesis is the structure. Both have • Introduction • Literary review • Main body • Conclusion • Bibliography and Appendix.
- 5. Thesis v/s Dissertation • Depth of Knowledge • Originality : Subject & Own Hypothesis v/s insights. • Role of Review of Literature ( Analysis / New Hypothesis) • Length of the Document • Conclusive research ahead of author opinion.
- 6. Other Research Terminologies • Research Project: It is the research into questions posed by scientific theories and hypotheses. Since, it is a project it often involves pre determined objectives, specificity of investment on research work and the time duration also. There are many agencies which provide funding for research projects in social sciences apart from the ministries like ICSSR, UGC etc.
- 7. Research Paper v/s Review Paper Research Paper A research paper is based on original research. The kind of research may vary, depending on your field or the topic, (experiments, survey, interview, questionnaire, etc.), but authors need to collect and analyze raw data and conduct an original study. The research paper will be based on the analysis and interpretation of this data. Review Paper It is based on other published articles. It does not report original research. Review articles generally summarize the existing literature on a topic in an attempt to explain the current state of understanding on the topic. Review articles can be of three kinds: A narrative review explains the existing knowledge on a topic based on all the published research available on the topic. A systematic review searches for the answer to a particular question in the existing scientific literature on a topic. A meta-analysis compares and combines the findings of previously published studies, usually to assess the effectiveness of an intervention or mode of treatment. They often have a high impact and receive a lot of citations.
- 8. Synopsis It is a brief or condensed statement giving a general view of some research to be carried forward in future. It is a compendium of heads or short paragraphs giving a view of the whole. The heads include : Statement of the problem, Review of literature, Need of the study, Objectives, Research Methodology, Limitations of the study, tentative chapter plan…. It is a sort of summary.
- 9. Abstract It is much similar to gist of the poem / story in literature. It not only introduces the topic, its importance but gives a brief description of whatever has been done in the research paper beginning from objectives to implications of the study. A good abstract is often subdivide into various heads
- 10. ABSTRACT The modern world has led consumers to become increasingly concerned about the environment. Such concerns have begun to be displayed in their purchasing patterns, with consumers increasingly preferring to buy so- called ‘ environmentally friendly products ’ . Marketing managers have in turn recognised the strategic importance of marketing in finding responses to the ‘ environmental needs ’ of consumers due to the influence this may have on their consumption habits. The growing number of organisations entering the green product market also indicates the need for suitable segmentation and positioning strategies. This paper focuses on the identification of distinct market segments. Through the use of variables related to the environment, as well as demographic variables, the segments that are occupied by consumers with different sensitivities to environmental matters are identified, and the possible implications of these results for the marketing strategies of companies are also discussed.
- 11. Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to: design a comprehensive, review-based and statistically tested corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) index; measure item-wise and theme-wise the social performance of the top 82 companies in India; and investigate item-wise and theme-wise the variations in CSRD. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents an empirical study of CSRD in 2009-2010, using content analysis, Cronbach’s a, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro- Wilk tests of normality and a six point scale (0-5), mean, skewness, kurtosis, and Levene’s, Kruskal-Wallis’s and Mood’s median tests for analysis and interpretation. Findings – CSRD shows less satisfactory social performance, mainly narrative, and varies significantly among items and themes. Community development, with a mean score of 14.30, is the most disclosed theme, followed by HR, with a score of 11.20. The human element is the center of social performance in India. More than equal focus should be given to the environment and to emissions, which impact the greater interests of the world. Some burning global issues like water usage, alternative sources of energy, product safety and innovation have not received adequate attention. Research limitations/implications – The study offers ample scope for the further studies as each and every theme and item considered in the model/index requires individual focus to serve the future generations of mankind. Longitudinal/transnational studies in the area of CSR could be carried out to set the scene for further studies
- 12. Practical implications – The paper recommends mandatory CSR norms leading to improved disclosure, the sharing of innovative knowledge, cost reductions and enhanced effectiveness in managing scarce resources. Originality/value – The paper evaluates social performance in the economic, social, religious environment and highlights the emerging philanthropic attitude. The paper improves an existing model by incorporating an emerging dimension, i.e. ‘‘Emissions of carbon and other harmful gases’’. The CSEEE index designed here is highly appropriate for developing economies like India. The paper measures CSRD using six-point scales for the first time. Keywords Carbon emissions, CSEEE index, Community, Energy, Environment, Human resources, India, Social responsibility, Disclosure Paper type Research paper