Complete your thesis or dissertation successfully: Practical guidelines provides fundamentally important information to students of the social sciences completing their master’s or doctoral studies, as well as to their supervisors and study leaders. Eminent scholars have contributed to the book and have created a text that is easy to read and use, yet does not water down the conceptual and terminological complexities of the process. For the very first time the most recent and current perspectives on how to complete master’s or doctoral studies have been brought together in one publication that will equip relatively inexperienced researchers to write a thesis or dissertation.

Current, practical, South African, up-to-date, cross-disciplinary, the book includes numerous examples of best practice, provides research sites to consult and includes a chapter on article writing.

Chapter 1: The quality of doctoral education in South Africa: A question of significance

by Jonathan D Jansen

• Introduction
• The quest for significance in doctoral research
• Kinds of significance

Chapter 2: Planning your thesis: Systemic and personal issues

by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon

• Introduction
• Systemic issues: choosing an institution for your research
• Systemic issues: choosing a supervisor for your research
• Systemic issues: you as a postgraduate researcher
• Procedures for managing systemic issues

Chapter 3: Choosing a topic

by Gertie Pretorius and Brandon Morgan

• Introduction
• Choosing a topic
• Narrowing down the topic
• Technical support with regard to choosing a topic
• The researcher’s capabilities
• Is the research original?
• Matching the topic with the research method
• Practical tips and suggestions

Chapter 4: Writing a research proposal

by Ronél Ferreira

• Introduction
• Purpose of a research proposal
• Components of a research proposal
• Practical guidelines for writing a research proposal

Chapter 5: Theoretical-conceptual and structural aspects of thesis writing

by James A Athanasou, Elias Mpofu, W Dent Gitchel and Maurice J Elias

• Introduction
• Conceptual framework
• The research question
• The importance of structure
• Should one follow a particular structure?

Chapter 6: Basic issues in thesis writing

by W Dent Gitchel and Elias Mpofu

• Introduction
• The research premise
• The research paradigm
• Methodological assumptions
• The SWH model
• How to approach the thesis-writing process

Chapter 7: Sampling and research paradigms

by Brandon Morgan and Rony H Sklar

• Introduction
• Sampling
• Research paradigms
• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Mixed-methods research
• Fixed reality and multiple realities: the ontological shift

Chapter 8: Research designs and data collection techniques

by Joseph Seabi

• Introduction
• Research designs
• Types of research designs
• Data collection techniques

Chapter 9: Conducting qualitative research: Practical guidelines on fieldwork

by Linda C Theron and Macalane J Malindi

• Introduction
• Planning your fieldwork
• Doing fieldwork
• Following up on your fieldwork

Chapter 10: Writing the quantitative research method chapter

by Brandon Morgan and Rony H Sklar

• Introduction
• The components of a research method chapter
• The introduction
• Aims
• Quantitative research strategy and design
• Participants
• Research instruments/measures/data collection instruments
• Research procedure
• Data analysis
• Ethics in quantitative research
• Conducting quantitative research fieldwork: guidelines

Chapter 11: Conducting mixed-methods research

by Justin C Perry

• Introduction
• What is the mixed-methods approach?
• Why do mixed-methods research?
• Illustrative examples
• Guidelines for writing a mixed-methods thesis

Chapter 12: Ensuring quality in scholarly writing

by Annamaria Di Fabio and JG (Kobus) Maree

• Introduction
• The recording of sessions between supervisors and students
• Quantitative approaches Validity
• Qualitative approaches
• Data analysis in qualitative research
• Trustworthiness
• Triangulation
• Crystallisation
• Triangulation or crystallisation? Or both?
• References

Chapter 13: Linking purpose and ethics in thesis writing: South African illustrations of an international perspective

by Maurice J Elias and Linda C Theron

• Introduction
• Alternative contributions that a thesis can make
• Ethical principles
• Informed consent
• Inclusion of university/college students as experimental participants in research
• Assessment of risks and benefits
• Equitable selection of participants
• Endnotes
• References
• Appendix 13.1: Sample informed consent letter

Chapter 14: Writing style

by JG (Kobus) Maree

• Introduction
• General aspects of writing style in theses
• Basic linguistic and stylistic guidelines
• Common areas of error

Chapter 15: Communication between student and supervisor

by Gertie Pretorius

• Introduction
• Finding a potential supervisor
• The roles and responsibilities of the student
• The roles and responsibilities of the supervisor
• The research contract
• Communication and conflict
• Conclusion
• Endnote
• References
• Appendix 15.1: An example of a supervisor–student contract

Chapter 16: The role of critical readers in postgraduate studies

by Jan Nieuwenhuis

• Introduction
• What is critical reading?
• What is meant by the term ‘critical review’?
• What does it take to be a good critical reviewer?
• When to involve critical readers
• The critical review process

Chapter 17: Examining a thesis and writing an examiner’s report

by JG (Kobus) Maree

• Introduction
• Generic aspects of thesis examination
• Failing a candidate
• Criteria for evaluating a thesis
• Appendix 17.1: Template for evaluation
• Appendix 17.2: Example of an examiner’s report

Chapter 18: Choosing examiners for a thesis or dissertation

by JG (Kobus) Maree

• Introduction
• Why are examiners’ reports so important?
• Should national (local) or international examiners be appointed to examine theses?
• The nature of examiners’ reports
• Whom to appoint as examiners
• Ensuring a fair examination process

Chapter 19: How to prepare for an oral doctoral examination

by JG (Kobus) Maree

• Introduction
• Procedure for an oral examination
• Why an oral examination?
• Components of an oral defence
• Structure of an oral defence
• Possible questions during an oral defence