Dissertations & Extended Research Projects

A dissertation (sometimes called an extended research project) is a final major project that brings together the academic skills developed throughout your studies - critical thinking, research, analysis, and written communication.

A dissertation is different to other assignments in a number of ways:

• Length and depth - at 4,000 - 10,000 words, a dissertation lets you explore a topic or question of your choosing in much greater detail than an essay or studio project.
• Independence - you'll have guidance from your dissertation supervisor, but you set the direction - choosing your own topic, planning your approach and managing your time over several months rather than weeks.
• Originality - this doesn't necessarily mean something that hasn't been done before, but that you're developing your own ideas and arguments based on your research.
• Process as well as product - it's about how you research, reflect and develop your understanding along the way, not just the final piece.

In Your Research Project: How to Manage it, Andy Hunt describes the dissertation as a pivotal moment in your studies where you transform yourself from a student into a manager of a research project (2005:4). This can be both exciting and daunting, hence this guide provides some tips, tools and resources to approach your dissertation with confidence.

Reference

HUNT, Andy. 2005. Your Research Project How to Manage It. London: Routledge.