How to Do Your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines

This is a practical guide to selecting, designing and carrying out a project and producing a dissertation based on research in the fields of geography, environmental science and related disciplines. The book should be of interest to undergraduates in geography, and environmental science and geology preparing to do their projects (usually in their first year).

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction: the aim of this book; how to use this book; our friend Eric; dissertations - what this book is all about. Part 2 What is a good dissertation and why do I have to do one?: what is a dissertation?; what makes a good dissertation?; why do I have to do one?; a prize-winning dissertation?. Part 3 When should I start and how long will it take?: the importance of a timetable; institutional guidelines and the deadline; constructing a timetable; a do-it-yourself timetable kit; fitting the jobs into the timetable; your own individual timetable. Part 4 What shall I do it on?: topics, problems and questions; types of question. Part 5 How do I do it?: getting answers to questions; types of question; research design; logic; inductive reasoning; deductive reasoning; the logic of scientific discovery; designing your own research; research design for explanation; finding out how and why ...?; research design for other questions; finding out when, where, what ...?. Part 6 What kind of data do I need and how do I get them?: data, data analysis and data quantity; what kind of data do I need?; types of data; data reliability; primary data; secondary data. Part 7 What can I do with my data when I've got them?: data processing; types of data; samples and populations; types of question and types of data processing; A = ?; A = B?; A ????? B?; A > B?; A B?; A -> B?; A ????? B?. Part 8 What amount of data do I need?: different amounts of data are needed for different things; necessary minimum amounts of data for statistical analyses; how many data are enough to answer my question(s)?. Part 9 Should I model?: what do we mean by modelling?; modelling as a technique for problem solving; conceptual modelling. Part 10 Help! it's all gone horribly wrong. what can I do?: introduction - what can go wrong?; fixing the mess when things go wrong; if this is the answer, what was the question?; facing up to the mess. Part 11 What should it look like when it's done?: introduction - the research report; the rules of your institution; structure and presentation; dissertation structure; dissertation chapters; the title page; the contents page; the abstract; the introduction; the results section; the discussion; the conclusion; the reference list; writing English; presenting text, figures and photographs; how long should it be?; binding and submission. Part 12 How will it be marked?: examination and assessment procedures; what the examiners are looking for; a marking guide; first impressions; plagiarism; the viva.