An effective dissertation presentation does three things: 1. Define your research area (by placing your research in a broader context) One of the first things that should be done in the introduction is to make general statements outlining the importance of the topic and providing enough background information for the reader to understand the context in which your research sits (although be careful not to get into the research. In this case, you must refer to existing studies.
- Explain and justify with a niche (describing why research is needed) The introduction should also discuss the gap your research fills. You will then outline your research questions and the problems to which the research relates.
- Explain the significance of the study (describing how you did the study) The introduction should also discuss the value that this research brings to a wider field or discipline (i.e., your contribution). You do this by stating the main argument, the aims of the research, the structure of the discussion (referring to any theories or concepts you use), the methods used, the limitations of the research and the layout of the work.
- Like the summary, the introduction should give the reader everything they need to know: 1. What your thesis is about 2. Why it is important 3. How it was performed 4. How it is set Unlike the abstract, in the introduction you need to go further and set the research up.
- What does this mean? Above all, the meaning and significance of the dissertation should be outlined in the introduction as a whole. The main criteria for a doctoral degree are its role as an initial contribution to knowledge, so the introduction is a space where you clearly outline that contribution. By talking about what the research is about, why it is important, how it was done and what you found, you are all showing well that your thesis makes a clear contribution.
