How to Write a Literature-Based Dissertation? | Tips, Examples & Challenges

What is a Literature-Based Dissertation?

A literature-based dissertation is when a student uses existing literature as the basis for their empirical study. This type of dissertation requires students to read and analyze prior studies, identify gaps in the literature, develop questions to answer those gaps, and then use their research to answer those questions.

Main Components of a Literature-Based Dissertation

Get the literature-based dissertation pdf example of the above examples and learn about the main components of a literature-based dissertation.

1.   Introduction

The introduction should lay down an overview of the literature you will review and explain the main arguments you will make in your dissertation. It should also introduce the reader to the main themes you will discuss in your literature review.

2.   Literature Review

The literature review is where you will critically evaluate the existing research on your chosen topic. This section includes a discussion of the different approaches that have been taken to study your topic, as well as an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. You should also use this section to identify gaps in the existing research and formulate your research questions.

3.   Methodology

This section will describe the methods you will use to collect and analyze data for your dissertation. That may include a discussion of different research designs, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques. It is important to note that your methodology should align with the research questions you formulated in your literature review.

4.   Results

You will summarise your research's findings in the results section. It should include a detailed discussion of your collected data and how it relates to your research questions. It is crucial to note that you should not interpret your results in this section; rather, you should present the facts.

5.   Discussion

In the discussion section, you will interpret your results and discuss their implications for theory and practice. That is where you will address any limitations in your study and suggest areas for future research. You should also discuss how your findings contribute to our understanding of your chosen topic.

6.   Conclusion

The conclusion should summarise your main arguments and findings from your literature review and discussion sections.

The Process of Writing a Literature-Based Dissertation

Writing a successful literature-based dissertation involves several steps.

• First, you must choose your topic and define your research question(s).
• Next, you will need to select which sources you will use for your review.
• After that, you should begin by reading all the chosen material and making notes on key points.
• Once you have completed this step, it is time to create an outline for your paper that includes an introduction, body paragraphs with evidence supporting your thesis statement, and a conclusion. Lastly, it is time for you to write your final paper using proper citations for any information not original to your work.

Tips for Writing Your Literature-Based Dissertation

a.   Research Thoroughly 

The first step in writing your literature-based dissertation is researching thoroughly. Take the time to read through relevant academic sources, such as journal articles and books, to understand your chosen topic's current thinking.

That will help you form an argumentative stance and provide evidence for your claims. It's important to include recent research findings so that your paper is up-to-date with current knowledge and trends. 

b.   Develop a Clear Argument 

Once you have completed your research, developing a clear argument that you plan to discuss in your dissertation is important. Your argument should be based on facts from reliable sources rather than personal opinions or beliefs.

Make sure your argument is well supported with evidence from other academic sources, and check for any logical inconsistencies before presenting it in your paper.

c.   Organize Your Work Strategically 

When organizing and structuring your work for the literature-based dissertation, it’s helpful to divide it into sections such as the introduction, main body of text, discussion/conclusion section, and references/works cited page. It will help keep all the information organized and easy to follow when reading the paper.

Additionally, ensure that each section is clearly labelled so that readers can easily navigate throughout the document if they need additional information on any particular topic or claim made in the paper. 

d.   Be Concise and Direct 

When writing a literature-based dissertation, it is important to be concise and direct with your words. Avoid the temptation of using long sentences or complicated language; instead, focus on being clear with what you want to say.

Also, ensure not to include unnecessary details or information; stick with only relevant facts and data that contribute directly to your argument or thesis statement. Finally, try to avoid repeating yourself, as this can make your paper seem longer than necessary without providing additional insight into the topic.

Challenges Associated with Literature-Based Dissertation

I.   Time Management 

One of the most difficult characteristics of writing a literature-based dissertation is managing your time efficiently. You must dedicate enough time to research, reading, planning, drafting, and revising your work.

You need to ensure that each chapter follows logically from the previous one and contributes to the overall structure of your paper. To help manage your time more effectively and avoid procrastination, set achievable goals such as writing 500 words daily or reading 3 articles per week. It will help keep you on track throughout the entire process. 

ii.   Finding Relevant Sources 

Any literature-based dissertation's success depends on finding relevant sources supporting your argument or study topic. As such, it’s important that you have access to many different sources – including books, journal articles, websites etc. – to ensure that you have all the information necessary for your paper.

The internet is useful for finding relevant sources; however, it’s also important to use library databases such as JSTOR or EBSCOhost, which offer access to millions of academic journals and books covering a wide range of topics. 

iii.   Maintaining Focus 

When researching for your literature-based dissertation, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available; this can make it difficult to stay focused on your topic area or specific question/argument.

To help combat this issue, make sure you create an outline at the start which clearly states what each chapter should include as well as what points should be made in each section/paragraph; this will provide guidance throughout the process and help keep things focused on what’s important in terms of answering your research question/argument.