How To Structure A Dissertation Introduction With Examples

Composing a dissertation is an overwhelming academic assignment that MBA and Ph.D. candidates must complete to obtain their degrees. Crafting an MBA dissertation demonstrates your research proficiency and comprehension of your field and area of focus. You must understand how to write a dissertation introduction to capture your reader’s interest.

The tone for your entire Ph.D. dissertation is established by its introduction, which readies the reader for what is to come. This guide explains how MBA and Ph.D. students should structure a dissertation or thesis introduction with examples for better understanding and increase their success chances.

How to Structure A Dissertation Introduction

While the introduction marks the beginning of your thesis paper, it doesn’t mean it should be the first thing to write. Writing it last after your research and before the abstract is advisable. You may need to create a draft of your introduction to guide your research writing.

In case you wrote a proposal, let it be your template. A research proposal features nearly similar elements to what your dissertation should have. Fine-tune your introduction as you write your dissertation and ensure it aligns with the subsequent sections.

Since the introduction is the first chapter of your dissertation, it must be perfect and captivating. It’s the gateway to the research and justifies your paper. Structure it correctly to capture the audience’s attention.

The introduction must summarize your main research arguments and how they benefit your academic field. Here are the different parts your dissertation’s introduction must include:

Background Information (Topic & Context)

Start by briefly overviewing the research topic you’re addressing in your dissertation. Give the reader basic details so they understand your thesis context and its significance. Consider mentioning the following:

• Historical context
• Ideal news pieces like an academic debate
• Specific practical concern or problem
• Recent developments in the field

Example

Let’s say you’re writing a dissertation about the impacts of technology on modern businesses. Your background information could be:

Research Scope and Focus Area

The following section in the introduction of your dissertation should focus on and define your research scope. Explain your research’s specific boundaries or parameters and clarify the aspects your paper will address. Be clear about the focus and scope so your reader understands the research limitations and generalizability of the findings. Some of the research parameters include the following:

• Time frame
• Community or demographics under study
• Geographical area
• Topic aspects or themes

Example

Imagine your dissertation is about the impact of social media on mental health. Your research could be:

Relevance and Significance

Share the reason or motive for conducting your research in the introduction of your dissertation. This includes providing a brief overview of the existing literature in your field and explaining how your research builds on it. You should also state the new perceptions that your study will provide.

To write the relevance and significance section, summarize your research’s current state. Cite significant literature without going into great detail, as you’ll do so in the literature review section in chapter two.

The research significance depends on your discipline. If you’re writing about management, it may focus on your paper’s practical benefit or use. Alternatively, it might focus on adding new data, building theories, or advancing academic understanding of the topic. Ensure the relevance and importance section of your introduction explains how the dissertation or thesis:

• Closes a gap in the available works
• Suggests new insights or understanding of your research topic
• Solves a specific theoretical or practical issue
• Relates to existing research

Example

“The increasing globalization of business has led to a growing interest in cross-cultural management practices. While several studies have explored the importance of cultural differences in the workplace (Hofstede, 1980; Trompenaars, 1993; House et al., 2004), there is still a need for research that focuses specifically on the role of communication in cross-cultural management.

Effective communication is essential for building trust and understanding between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. However, it is also well-documented that miscommunication and misunderstandings can arise due to differences in communication styles and norms (Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey, 1988; Ting-Toomey, 1999).

This dissertation examines the impact of cross-cultural communication on team performance in multinational organizations. By investigating the communication practices of teams from different cultural backgrounds, the study will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in cross-cultural collaboration.”

Research Questions, Objectives, and Aims

It’s where you outline the research aim or objective and set the expectations for your dissertation. Formulate your research questions and dreams based on your focus area, research topic, and academic field. Ensure they are clear and concise and indicate the study’s primary purpose.

Remember to briefly outline the research methodology used to obtain answers to your research questions. Avoid going into details, mainly if your dissertation includes a different chapter for research methods, tools, and design.

If you’re testing hypotheses, formulate them in your questions and objectives section. It is also a perfect part of the introduction to include a conceptual framework explaining how your research variables relate.

Example

Let’s say you’re writing a dissertation on the impact of technology on business. Your research question could be:

How does adopting digital technologies affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the retail sector?

Aims and Objectives:

• To identify the digital technologies SMEs adopt in the retail sector.
• To assess the impact of digital technologies on SMEs’ performance in the retail sector.
• To investigate the challenges SMEs face in adopting digital technologies in the retail sector.
• To provide recommendations on how SMEs can effectively adopt digital technologies to improve their performance in the retail sector.

Overview of the Structure

It’s the last part of your dissertation introduction and summarizes your sections to guide your readers. Finalize your introduction with an overview of your thesis’s outline or structure readers should follow. Give a clear and concise summary of the dissertation and explain how it contributes to your objectives. Keep the overview short and describe each section using 1-2 two sentences.

Example

If you’re writing a dissertation on the impact of social media on mental health, its overview of the structure could be:

“In Chapter 2, I will conduct a literature review of existing research on social media and mental health. Chapter 3 will present my research methodology, including data collection and analysis methods. Chapter 4 will present the findings of my research and analyze them. Chapter 5 will discuss the findings and provide my conclusions and recommendations for future research.”

Seek Expert Dissertation Writing Help Today

A well-structured introduction captures the reader’s attention, sets the tone for your dissertation, and generates interest in the topic. It contains the information background, focus and scope area, relevance and significance, questions and objectives, and an overview summary.

Each section plays a vital role in the introduction, and the writer should ensure that they are well-written and relevant to the research problem. If you need dissertation writing help, we at 911 Papers are your number 1 choice. We offer the best dissertation and thesis writing services to students looking to maximize their chances of graduating and achieving academic success. Contact us today for quality dissertation writing services.

FAQS

How do you start an introduction for a dissertation?

To start an introduction for a dissertation, you should begin with a hook to capture the reader’s attention and provide a background of information on the topic and its context. Then, introduce your research’s scope and focus area, explain its relevance and significance, and present your research questions, aims, and objectives. Remember to give an overview of the structure of your dissertation.

How long should a dissertation introduction be?

A dissertation introduction should be around 5-10% of the total word count, about 1500 to 2000 words for most dissertations. This may vary depending on your institution’s guidelines and the specific requirements of your dissertation.

What are the three essential parts of the introduction chapter of a dissertation?

The three essential parts of the introduction chapter of a dissertation are the background of information, the research scope and focus area, and the relevance and significance of the study. They provide crucial information for the reader to understand the dissertation.

What should I include in a research paper introduction?

In a research paper introduction, you should provide a brief background of information on the topic and its context, state the purpose of your study, present your research questions or hypotheses, and explain the significance of your research. You can also include an overview of the structure of your paper.