Originality of a Dissertation

The primary purpose of writing a dissertation is to learn more about a particular topic. Although your work must be original, it’s not possible to specify exactly what that means, as everyone’s work relies tremendously on previous research and the ideas of other writers. However, you can demonstrate your originality in a number of ways. First, you can show originality in your understanding of past literature. Here you can show previously unidentified gaps and/or inconsistencies in the literature, or conversely, you might identify patterns that had not been mentioned by previous writers as you carefully synthesize the ideas or results of previous studies. In both of these cases, the key is to apply independent, critical thinking when reading previous literature. In this case, critical thinking involves analyzing an issue by looking at it from various angles, judging the evidence that has been presented by previous writers with a degree of skepticism, and examining the appropriateness of the inferences and conclusions that they make. Because no researcher can provide more than a part of the ‘truth’, and the history of science shows that we often understand an issue partially or incorrectly, adopting a questioning attitude is prudent. A second way that you can demonstrate your understanding of an area is through your conceptualization of the problem that you study. This might involve using a previously untried theoretical approach to investigate the problem. You might also bring in a concept or theory from another academic field. This strategy has been used successfully a great many times in some branches of the social sciences, such as in the field of education. You might also synthesize ideas from two or more writers to create a new idea that has not been explored previously. A third way that you can show your originality is by adopting a new approach to the problem you are investigating. You might do this in your research design or your choice of analytical tools. For instance, some areas are primarily studied using cross-sectional experimental designs in which data are only collected at one point in time. The use of a longitudinal design in which you collect data over a period of several weeks or months would probably provide new and interesting information about the phenomenon. Alternatively, in areas in which either a quantitative or qualitative approach has been used predominantly, you could take ‘the road less travelled’. Ultimately, you can show convincingly the value of your study and the originality of your work by providing new findings about the issue that you are investigating; no one will argue that your study is not sufficiently original if you have results that make a real contribution to your field of study. An additional – and very important part of your efforts to produce an original piece of work – is to develop a distinctive and personalized view of the field and the issues you are studying. In other words, you need to develop a sense of ownership over the knowledge that you are developing.

(Inside Track to Writing Dissertation and Thesis)

Task 6. Read the text “Originality of a Dissertation” and choose the best answer.

1. Showing originality in your understanding of past literature means that

1. you can show understanding the gaps in the literature.

2. you can identify results of previous studies.

3. Both

2. One of the ways you can show originality of your study is

1. conceptualization of the problem.

2. understanding an issue partially.

3. using a previously tried theoretical approach.

3. Conceptualization of the problem is

1. using unknown approach in theory.

2. brining a concept from another field of study.

3. Both

4. You can adopt a new approach to the problem by

1. choosing your own research design.

2. your choice of analytical tools.

3. Both

5. You can show that the research is valuable and original by

1. providing new findings about the issue.

2. qualitative approach.

3. producing an original research.

Task 7. Decide if the statements are true, false or not mentioned in the text “Originality of a Dissertation”.

1. As a researcher, you have ethical obligations to your sources of information, and especially to people or organizations that cooperate with your collection of data or other aspects of your research project.

2. The dissertation should exhibit originality in the sense that it duplicates the work of someone else.

3. The essence of a dissertation is critical thinking when reading past literature, not just experimental data.

4. When conducting research for the dissertation many students find it helpful to have access to on-line services.

5. A dissertation will be valuable and original if you present, analyze and interpret new research findings in such a way as to inform others studying and researching in the field, while also presenting your own, reasoned and critical argument or point of view on these findings.

6. To bring in a concept or theory from another academic field is a strategy that has been used successfully in some branches of the social sciences.

Task 8. Choose the correct spelling. In some cases two spellings are possible (one for Great Britain and one for the USA).

1. You can synthesize / synthesise ideas from two or more writers to create a new idea that has not been explored previously.

2. To develop a personalized / personalised view of the field / fuild is a very important part of your efforts / afforts to demonstrate the originality of a dissertation.

3. Critical thinking / tinking involves judging the evidence that has been presented by previose / previous writers with a degree of skepticism / scepticism.

4. Adopting a questioning attitude / atitude is prudent.

5. In order to fulfill / fullfil / fulfil the objectives of your dissertation, you need extra findings.

6. The use of a longitudinal design / desine would probably provide new and interesting information about the phenomenon / phenominon .

Task 9. Make the word collocations and translate them.

to develop	a. gaps
to make	b. inconsistency
to identify	c. the evidence
to synthesize	d. a contribution
to judge	e. a concept
to examine	f. the appropriateness
to demonstrate	g. ideas
to bring in	h. an approach
to create	i. understanding
to adopt

Task 10. Answer the questions about the text “Originality of a Dissertation”.

1. What ways can you show originality in understanding of past literature?

2. What ways can you show understanding of an area that you study?

3. Can you show the value of your dissertation by presenting new findings about the issue that you are investigating?

4. How can you adopt a new approach to the problem you are investigating?

5. Is a distinctive and personalized view of the field important?

Task 11. List some of the ways in which you personally try to demonstrate the originality of your dissertation. Share your ideas with a partner.

Task 12. Read the text “Citation indexes and impact factors” and decide on the best word. Translate it.