Essential parts of a Post graduate dissertation and how to write it ?

Dr Mansoor Ali
This article helps you to identify the major parts of a postgraduate dissertation and methods of writing it

Parts of Dissertation 

1. First is Title page – make it as simple
2. Declaration by the student
3. Certificate by the Guide
4. Endorsement by HOD or Principal
5. Copyright to University
6. Acknowledgment – follow hierarchy
   • First to Guide,Princial, HOD
   • Then Statistician
   • Then Patients
   • Then Health care team
   • No mention about husband, wife or family in acknowledgment, since this is an official document. You can mention them while publishing a book.
7. Table of Contents
   • 6 items only
   • Recheck before submission
   • No vertical lines

Total: 6 chapters

• Heading : 14 bold
• Sub heading : 12 bold
• Matter : 12 Times New Roman
• Double space

No italics in dissertation – but use in medicine grading, bacteria name etc.

Margin: 1 inch on three sides and 1.5 inch on Lt side for proper binding.

CHAPTER DIVISION

• Chapter 1
  Background of the problem
• Need and significance of the study
• Statement of the problem
• Objectives
• Operational definitions
• Assumptions (if any)
• Hypothesis (Write research hypothesis)
• Conceptual/theoretical frame work

Chapter II

• Review of literature
• Subheading of the literature reviewed

Chapter III

• Methodology
• Research approach
• Research design
• Variables
• Setting of the study
• Population
• Sample and sampling technique
• Plan for data analysis

Chapter IV

• Analysis and interpretation
• (Section wise presentation of data)

Chapter V

• Objectives
• Hypotheses
• Results

Chapter VI

• Discussion
• Summary
• Conclusion
• Limitations
• Recommendations

Points to remember 

1.Certificates Name, year, branch, institution, guide, HOD

2. Acknowledgment –  No  family acknowledgment since this is an official document.

3.Table of contents

4. List of abbreviations – Standard

2. Introduction :  specify the lacunae in current knowledge with respect to study area and states the justification of study

3. Aims and Objectives
Aim – broad single statement

Objective – Specific short bullet pointed statement

4. Review of Literature -what is already known, why new research, 2 page in synopsis, 10  page in dissertation

5. Materials and Methods

6. Observation and results

7. Discussion -conclusion

8. Reference – Should not write as Bibliography which means all related publications

9. Annexure

References

1. Ananatha Krishnan N:medicaal postgraduate dissertation a step by step approach.India:Wolters Kluwer;2013
2. Munir Ahammed R : Research Methodology.Bangalore: Centre for Homeopathic Studies;2005
3. Writing a reference list in the Vancouver style:VIKO; [Published 29.04.2011;Cited on 30-04-2016].Available from http://www.ntnu.no/viko/english/papers/vancouverlist
4. PubMed Central : National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine ; [cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
5. Cochrane Libray : Wiley Online Library;[cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from  http://www.cochranelibrary.com/

Dr Mansoor Ali K R BHMS,MD(Hom)
Associate  Professor- Govt. Homeopathic Medical College, Calicut
Email : homoeobook@gmail.com