Define the question
Narrow a broad interest into a researchable question. Consider scope, access, timeframe and the contribution you can realistically make.
Dissertation guidance
A big project.
A more manageable plan.
Connect your question, literature, methods and findings—one purposeful stage at a time.
The research journey
Keep the whole project connected.
Build the design
Align your objectives, literature and methods. Explain why the design fits the question, including limitations and ethical considerations.
Tell the research story
Link findings to the objectives, interpret them alongside the literature and make conclusions that stay within the evidence.
Chapter by chapter
Support for each stage.
| Stage | Questions we help you work through |
|---|---|
| Proposal & objectives | Is the scope feasible? Are the objectives specific? Can the planned evidence answer the question? |
| Literature review | What debates matter? Where do sources agree or disagree? How does the review justify the study? |
| Methodology | Why this approach? What assumptions underpin it? How will selection, analysis and ethics be explained? |
| Findings & analysis | Are tables meaningful? Are methods applied consistently? Can the reader follow how interpretations were reached? |
| Discussion & conclusion | Do claims answer the question? How do findings relate to prior work? Are limitations and implications proportionate? |
Research integrity
Sound methods. Real evidence.
Secondary research
Plan transparent search terms, inclusion criteria, source appraisal and a method for synthesis. Public availability does not automatically make every dataset appropriate for your research question.
Primary research
Follow your university’s ethics process before recruiting participants or collecting data. We can discuss design and reporting, but do not invent participants, results, consent or ethics approval.
Practical planning
Build your next milestone.
Illustrative planning guide. Agree actual milestones with your supervisor and allow for ethics approval where needed.
Your supervisor matters
Use our support alongside university guidance.
Bring supervisor comments and your module handbook to each review. Where advice differs, your university’s requirements take priority. We help you interpret feedback and prepare more specific questions for your next supervision meeting.