Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for Supervisors

Research perspective, topic and purpose of the thesis 
or disser tation
Students can be asked to consider the research perspective and topic of their
research project and the extent to which this impacts on how they will write
their thesis or dissertation. They can consider, for example, whether they are
doing a quantitative or qualitative study or whether their research project is
an example of ‘mixed method’ research, and what particular assumptions
these perspectives imply. This includes what sorts of claims can be made in
the particular perspective and area of study, and what claims cannot.
Students can then be asked to consider the actual purpose of their research,
and in turn, their thesis or dissertation. This may, for example, be to answer a
question, to solve a problem, or to prove something, as well as to contribute
to knowledge in their area of study. The purpose may equally be to display
knowledge and understanding of a particular topic, to demonstrate particular
skills, to convince a reader, as well as, often, to ‘gain admission to a particular
area of study’. Students are often required in this kind of writing not only to
answer their research question/s, but also to ‘show what they know’ in doing
this (see Chapters 3, 5 and 6 where this is discussed in more detail).