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A Social Sciences or Humanities Abstract Has Typical Requirements

The abstract for humanities or social sciences is most of the time unstructured in comparison to others. It is not divided into specific sections matching with the content, such as the Introduction, Methods, Results and so on. Most of the time it comprises a single paragraph that elaborates the content and the scope of the study. The length of a social sciences abstract is somewhere closer to 150-250 words. With that limited word count available, the writer has to be very sure of including only the necessary stuff. Know that although the abstract is written as a single paragraph, it has to include a very crisp summary of the significant sections of the study. Some things that don’t have to be missed are the objectives, approach, findings and conclusion. Since all this content has to be included, it is best advised to write the content after having completed the entire document. This gives you a more clear idea about the content and the scope of the work so you are able to put across a more holistic summary of the content in the abstract in the best possible condensed manner.

Some of the main elements of the abstract are:

Statement of purpose: This statement of purpose has to clearly explain why it was chosen to conduct this study. The reason because of which the problem is significant or what is the gap in the existing literature you have identified that you intend to fill.

Methods or approach: What has been the course you have adopted to get the results that you have presented and what process you adopted to get your results? In other words here you need to talk about the research methodology in a very brief way.

Results: This is very important and the only thing that is completely unique and novel to your study. This is what makes or mars the worthiness of your study. Mostly readers, the seasoned ones prefer to go to the results straight away so make sure your abstract gives the significant results that you have derived from the above mentioned procedures.

Conclusions: The conclusion part is where you try to tell the readers why your study is significant and why how are your results contributing in the existing literature. The larger implications of your findings are how do they identify with the gap in research that has been identified by you is again a very important component of the abstract and has to be given in as concise a manner as possible.

Cautions for Using Footnotes

It is easy to find students making mistakes with footnotes as a lot of students use footnotes without actually knowing how they should be used precisely. The thumb rule says that if you do not know the way in which the footnotes should be used, then you perhaps should not use them at all. First … Continue reading “Cautions for Using Footnotes”

First of all let us understand the distinction between footnotes and bibliography. The purpose of using footnotes is to provide the reader with some extra information about the content. As the name is indicative, a footnote is to be found at the bottom of the page and gets it referencing through a superscript number placed on the main content. While, the bibliography page is the last page of the section of your essay or dissertation and incorporates the entire citation information for any of the information that has been used in the content and retrieved from any external source. The purpose of bibliography is to give the complete detail to the reader including the place and time of publication of the content in reference. All these details are not included in the footnote.

There is a way to use the footnotes correctly and one should actually be very specific about adopting the correct means. Always write your footnotes in the last. Most of the times it is the shortest version of the citation placed in the bibliography. The best thing to do is to leave writing the footnotes till the end until the essay is finished and the entire bibliography is complete. Never think that using footnotes can be a replacement for bibliography. The impact of bibliography may diminish with a lot of use of footnotes, however it does not become redundant. A bibliography is a proof that you are a well-read writer, so all the information that you have adopted in your writing, whether it is directly referenced or no, bibliography is a place to tell about it.

Footnotes can be written in different citation styles and each university may have its own norm about which referencing style to follow. The most commonly used referencing styles are Harvard, Oxford and Chicago. Whichever be the preference of your university, focus on the intricacies that the style demands.

Footnotes isn’t a thing to be forgotten and how much ever you get trapped in the writing process, do not ignore the use of references and bibliography as that is the key distinction between generalised writing and academic writing.

What Do You Mean by PhD Methodology?

In every PhD, whatever be the discipline, the requirement is to explain the methodological approach. It is important and so an exclusive chapter is dedicated to it. In some disciplines, it is also included in the introductory chapters or maybe just a separate section. Whatever be the structure, there has to be a sound and … Continue reading “What Do You Mean by PhD Methodology?”

In every PhD, whatever be the discipline, the requirement is to explain the methodological approach. It is important and so an exclusive chapter is dedicated to it. In some disciplines, it is also included in the introductory chapters or maybe just a separate section. Whatever be the structure, there has to be a sound and realistic justification provided by the researcher for the methodology adopted for research? To be able to do this, primarily, it is important to understand the concept of methodology.

Primarily, a lot of researchers at their beginning stages, confuse between methodology and methods. It had to be known and understood that they are not synonyms. Methods are nothing more than the techniques and processes that the researcher adopts in conducting his research while methodology is a discipline that applies or puts these methods into use. The tools for carrying out the research are supplied by the methods and the justification comes from the methodology. A lot of researchers do not use or follow this distinction, but it surely helps to appreciate the difference so that you can better understand the basis upon which the practical research is carried out.

For instance, a research scholar in law may want to use a comparative approach in his PhD and that would be the methodology. It will become necessary and imperative to explain what the key components of the comparative approach are and the reason because of which you think its application in your research is justified. Your research could be text based or non-text based, which means questionnaires or theoretical explanations but they need to be explained properly as they hold a particular importance in the science of PhD.

In deciding the methodology of PhD, the role of the supervisor is also very significant as the supervisor can tell the best way to explain it. Looking at previously done work can also guide on how to handle the methodology. Sometimes scholars do not have the expertise and technical knowledge to adopt the right methods or justify it through methodology. In that case, taking expert advice and opinion is also helpful or even a short course in research methodology can be of great help and one should never shy away from it, rather a quick brush up on methodology is always advisable and recommended so that in the first go only, the adopted methodology is just and appropriate for the need of the research.

Do You Want Some Tips with Financial Aid for Your PhD?

It is a pressure to pay for higher education if you have a dearth of funds. Often scholars are unsure of what to do and where to seek help. The best thing to do is to ask someone in the Financial Aid office. They would explain from where to start and what are the options. Often all the financial aid options that are available have a certain deadline date. Primarily ensure that you stick by the deadline, rather keep some buffer time in hand in case there is scope for correction in the form that you fill. All the different sources for financial aid for students would have their own eligibility criteria. Most of the time is linked to the amount of financial aid and the academic progress. Keep a very strong understanding of the terms and conditions, hidden clauses and technicalities before you actually get into a contract with any of the financial aid institutions

The second alternative for getting financial support is the using credit cards but I am not s staunch supporter of using credit cards as often they come with a cost that we might not be able to afford. Often getting se to using credit cards because of easy access and operations makes one get into a lot of frivolous spending. Sometimes too much use of credit card may take you on the other end of the continuum, from seeking financial aid for academic purpose to extreme debts for reckless spending. The credit card agencies are usually ruthless when it comes to collecting their money. A credit card is a loan that has to be paid back with interest. Remember it each time you swipe it as once you are in unmanageable debts it can have a variety of negative outcomes and have sleep deprivation, bring down your grades immensely and cause a lot of mental stress.

The third option for getting financial support during doctoral research is student savvy consumerism. Become alert and vigilant about coupons, promotions, offers and schemes. Some valid particularly for students also can be very useful. Sometimes discounts are available for students on air fare, bus fare or departmental stores. Using them judiciously can be very useful.

This time is the perfect time to start good financial management. In a perfect world, credit cards would be used only in emergencies and not for impulse purchases. Balancing your expenses and becoming a smart shopper and a savvy consumer are good ways to ensure that in this phase of your higher education your expenses don’t become a cause of concern.

At the Beginning of Your PhD…How Should You Approach the Dissertation?

Before your PhD, all your previous education gives you the structure on the platter. You grow up throughout your academics in an environment where you are told what to do in a nice and structured way. But when you move to doctoral education, that structure is withdrawn and you have to stand up and take charge. It sounds pretty exciting but at the same time it can be frightening. Do not take your dissertation as a challenge that cannot be met or it makes it a very daunting process for you. Avail it as a wonderful opportunity to develop your own study in an area that is of your interest.

There is a way to approach your dissertation. First and fore mostly, when selecting your area of doctoral study, do not divert yourself from your main area of study. During the course of your academics, you would have developed interests in multiple things and a lot of topics would have generated or kindled your interest for further exploration. Go back to those memories and pen down all your interest and likings. This is the preliminary stage where you need to further read and explore in order to finalise, you may need many options so don’t exclude any, write down all the preferences that you have because as you read more and more in detail, more new ideas will click and you may find more interest in some ideas in comparison to others and you may discover a great scope of further research in one viz a vis other. Be creative and think about how your choice of topic would help you in the future to develop more projects. DO not seek monetary gains or fame when choosing your topic, they are momentary, most importantly, since the dissertation is a long and challenging journey, you topic has to be good enough and you should be so much in love with your topic that you would survive through the journey with the support of your interest area. Remember it is a learning and would add value to your knowledge and learning in the time to come.

From the start itself, it is important that you follow a realistic approach towards your dissertation. Give yourself a timeline for each stage of the entire process of writing your dissertation and keep the timeline in your visibility as a constant reminder. Make sure that your time line is applicable and practical, fitting in your timeline, so that you succeed in getting things done.

Remember that the planning stage is the preliminary stage of dissertation writing, do it with a lot of thinking and understanding of the system and expectations so that this planning simplifies your entire PhD journey.