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Methodology
This chapter describes exactly the steps that you took
to investigate your research problem. It explains your
research design, the methodology that you selected (survey,
interviews, historical research, document analysis or
extended literature review for example), the instruments
that you used and how they were developed, the sample
that you selected, and the description of your data
collection process. Copies of correspondence, instruments
if you used any (questionnaires or interview scripts),
raw data if appropriate and other items relating to
the methodology are included as appendices, with references
from the appropriate place in this chapter.
Findings
This chapter is the essence of your dissertation. It
describes what you found in your research, without discussion,
interpretation or reference to the literature. Just
the facts, presented as tables, figures, interview summaries
and/or descriptions of what you found that is important
and noteworthy. The objective is to present a simple,
clear and complete account of the results of your research.
Discussion
This chapter is where you relate your findings to your
original statement of the problem and your literature
review. Begin by briefly summarizing the previous chapters,
and then discuss what you found.
Ask
yourself why the results were what they were, and then
try to provide meaningful answers to the question. Feel
free to interpret objectively and subjectively and to
make references to what others have said on the subject,
but make sure that every conclusion you draw is defensible
and not just your own personal opinion.
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