key terms in dissertation

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Glossary in a Dissertation – A Comprehensive Guide

Published by Owen Ingram at August 26th, 2021 , Revised On September 20, 2023

A list of glossary contains all those terms used in your dissertation, but the meanings of which may not be evident to the readers. Here is all you need to know about the glossary in a dissertation.

Basically, any term you use in your dissertation that you know, without a doubt, is not going to be common knowledge to readers outside of your field, is included in a list called glossary. And since every field has its unique, technical jargon, a glossary list can contain many terms some readers might not have even heard of before.

A typical glossary in a dissertation may look something like this:

Do you Even Need Glossary in your Dissertation to Begin with?

You may or may not be required to have a separate list of glossaries in your  dissertation . The decision whether to have a list of glossaries in a dissertation depends on whether it will improve the readability of your paper.

For example , if you are  writing a dissertation  for an engineering degree and have used several technical terms that readers—especially laymen—may not be familiar with, \ it is advised to add a glossary in a dissertation.

Listing Terms in a Glossary

A recommended practice of adding a glossary in a dissertation is to sort the terms alphabetically and provide a definition or explanations for each of those terms. Having the terms listed in alphabetical order will help the readers to easily locate the information they are interested in.

Location of a Glossary List in a Dissertation

The glossary list is generally placed at the beginning of the dissertation paper, just after the  list of tables and figures or the list of abbreviations.  However, if your paper does not have a list of abbreviations or a list of tables and figures, you can place the glossary right after the  table of contents .

This gives readers the opportunity to understand the meanings of key terms they are not familiar with even before they start to read the main content of the paper.

However, if you haven’t used a lot of technical terms in your dissertation, you can choose to provide an explanation and meanings of the few terms that you have used in the form of footnotes .

Difference Between Abbreviations and Glossary

It is important not to confuse the glossary in the dissertation with the abbreviations, which are put in the list of abbreviations.

A list of abbreviations contains all the terms that have abbreviations. For instance, if you have used terms like NASA , UNICEF , UNESCO , UN , NIH , etc., such terms along with what they stand for will come under the list of abbreviations.

Note, however, that only their full forms, and not their meanings, are mentioned in that list. That is what’s mentioned in a glossary list, though: meanings. Definitions of terms, terms that were used in the dissertation. The terms themselves aren’t abbreviation.

For instance, in a linguistics’ dissertation, you might end up creating a glossary list containing terms like phenomenology, code-switching, diglossia, etc. Notice how these are complete terms , not abbreviations.

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Example of a Glossary in Dissertation

If you haven’t created a list of glossaries before then you will find the below example of a glossary in a dissertation particularly useful:

Other Lists you can have in your Dissertation

You might also want to have a list of tables and figures as well as a list of abbreviations in your dissertation particularly if you are writing a master’s or PhD dissertation. However, make sure to keep the following order:

• Table of contents
• Lists of figures and tables
• List of abbreviations

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FAQs About Glossary in a Dissertation

What is a glossary.

It’s a list of special terms—single words, phrases, etc.—that are not commonly known to the ‘average’ reader or to a reader who isn’t an expert in that field.

What is included in a glossary?

Ideally, words are included in a glossary. However, in some cases—depending on the topic— abbreviations , phrases etc. might also be mentioned within the list of glossary in a dissertation. Sometimes, it might also include a brief definition of how to pronounce a certain word/phrase.

What is the best way to create a glossary?

Keep in mind two things while creating a glossary list: keep the language of the definition simple so that every kind of reader can understand it. That’s why a glossary is given, to begin with, to simplify technical jargon and inform laymen. Secondly, arrange the terms inside it alphabetically.

How many times can I include the same term in a glossary list?

No matter how many times a word or a phrase appears in your dissertation , include it and define it only once in your glossary. There should be no duplicate entries in a glossary list.

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Key Terms: Introduction

In academic writing, there are times when certain words or phrases are made to carry precise technical meaning. In other words, there are times when certain words or phrases in academic writing get elevated to the status of Key Terms. This happens in every academic discipline for a number of interrelated reasons:

• because an analysis that seeks to “prove” a given claim must by necessity function as a kind of calculation, and while language will never be as rigid and precise as math or symbolic logic, defining key terms carefully makes it possible to conduct an analysis with a meaningful degree of logical rigor.
• because terms that name a complex concept or phenomenon can serve as a short-hand for that thing once it has been defined.
• because one way to contribute scholarly knowledge is to coin a term for a currently un-named concept or phenomenon in order to do the difficult work of identifying that thing’s defining attributes.
• because scholars need to know when they are and are not talking about the same thing.

As this list makes clear, the work of managing Key Terms is essential to academic writing. Put simply, it is not possible to participate in the project of collective knowledge-building without establishing precise meanings for the concepts and phenomena being discussed and analyzed. At times, managing Key Terms involves coining a new term and imbuing it with a precise meaning. At other times, it involves defining existing terms for your reader, commenting on the differences between competing Key Terms used by different scholars in your field, or noticing when you or someone else is relying on a word or phrase that should be treated with technical precision but is currently being used in a way that vaguely invokes a range of common-sense meanings.

Often, the work of managing Key Terms only becomes a priority in the revision process. In large part, this is because first drafts are a time when writing is used as an opportunity for thinking and figuring things out. Our ideas might grow and change as we proceed, and while that growth is a good thing in the long run, it means that early drafts rarely display rigorous consistency of meaning. Entries in this category offer ways to approach revision with a focus on managing your Key Terms.

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Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

• Acknowledgements page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Table of contents , list of figures and tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Discussion
• Chapter 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

• The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
• The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
• The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
• The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

• Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
• Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
• Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

• The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
• The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
• Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

• Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
• Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
• Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
• Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

• Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
• Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
• Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
• Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

• What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
• Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
• What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
• What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
• How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
• How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

• What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
• Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
• How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
• How does your research contribute something original?
• How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

• Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
• Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings . In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

• Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

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36 Comments

many thanks i found it very useful

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

It is so necessary or avital course

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

This is so good

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Academic Phrasebank

Defining terms.

• GENERAL LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS
• Being cautious
• Being critical
• Classifying and listing
• Compare and contrast
• Describing trends
• Describing quantities
• Explaining causality
• Giving examples
• Signalling transition
• Writing about the past

In academic work students are often expected to give definitions of key words and phrases in order to demonstrate to their tutors that they understand these terms clearly. More generally, however, academic writers define terms so that their readers understand exactly what is meant when certain key terms are used. When important words are not clearly understood misinterpretation may result. In fact, many disagreements (academic, legal, diplomatic, personal) arise as a result of different interpretations of the same term. In academic writing, teachers and their students often have to explore these differing interpretations before moving on to study a topic.

Introductory phrases

The term ‘X’ was first used by … The term ‘X’ can be traced back to … Previous studies mostly defined X as … The term ‘X’ was introduced by Smith in her … Historically, the term ‘X’ has been used to describe … It is necessary here to clarify exactly what is meant by … This shows a need to be explicit about exactly what is meant by the word ‘X’.

Simple three-part definitions

General meanings or application of meanings.

X can broadly be defined as … X can be loosely described as … X can be defined as … It encompasses … In the literature, the term tends to be used to refer to … In broad terms, X can be defined as any stimulus that is … Whereas X refers to the operations of …, Y refers to the … The broad use of the term ‘X’ is sometimes equated with … The term ‘disease’ refers to a biological event characterised by … Defined as …, X is now considered a worldwide problem and is associated with …

Indicating varying definitions

The definition of X has evolved. There are multiple definitions of X. Several definitions of X have been proposed. In the field of X, various definitions of X are found. The term ‘X’ embodies a multitude of concepts which … This term has two overlapping, even slightly confusing meanings. Widely varying definitions of X have emerged (Smith and Jones, 1999). Despite its common usage, X is used in different disciplines to mean different things. Since the definition of X varies among researchers, it is important to clarify how the term is …

Indicating difficulties in defining a term

X is a contested term. X is a rather nebulous term … X is challenging to define because … A precise definition of X has proved elusive. A generally accepted definition of X is lacking. Unfortunately, X remains a poorly defined term. There is no agreed definition on what constitutes … There is little consensus about what X actually means. There is a degree of uncertainty around the terminology in … These terms are often used interchangeably and without precision. Numerous terms are used to describe X, the most common of which are …. The definition of X varies in the literature and there is terminological confusion. Smith (2001) identified four abilities that might be subsumed under the term ‘X’: a) … ‘X’ is a term frequently used in the literature, but to date there is no consensus about … X is a commonly-used notion in psychology and yet it is a concept difficult to define precisely. Although differences of opinion still exist, there appears to be some agreement that X refers to …

Specifying terms that are used in an essay or thesis

The term ‘X’ is used here to refer to … In the present study, X is defined as … The term ‘X’ will be used solely when referring to … In this essay, the term ‘X’ will be used in its broadest sense to refer to all … In this paper, the term that will be used to describe this phenomenon is ‘X’. In this dissertation, the terms ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are used interchangeably to mean … Throughout this thesis, the term ‘X’ is used to refer to informal systems as well as … While a variety of definitions of the term ‘X’ have been suggested, this paper will use the definition first suggested by Smith (1968) who saw it as …

Referring to people’s definitions: author prominent

For Smith (2001), X means … Smith (2001) uses the term ‘X’ to refer to … Smith (1954) was apparently the first to use the term … In 1987, psychologist John Smith popularized the term ‘X’ to describe … According to a definition provided by Smith (2001:23), X is ‘the maximally … This definition is close to those of Smith (2012) and Jones (2013) who define X as … Smith, has shown that, as late as 1920, Jones was using the term ‘X’ to refer to particular … One of the first people to define nursing was Florence Nightingale (1860), who wrote: ‘… …’ Chomsky writes that a grammar is a ‘device of some sort for producing the ….’ (1957, p.11). Aristotle defines the imagination as ‘the movement which results upon an actual sensation.’ Smith  et al . (2002) have provided a new definition of health: ‘health is a state of being with …

Referring to people’s definitions: author non-prominent

X is defined by Smith (2003: 119) as ‘… …’ The term ‘X’ is used by Smith (2001) to refer to … X is, for Smith (2012), the situation which occurs when … A further definition of X is given by Smith (1982) who describes … The term ‘X’ is used by Aristotle in four overlapping senses. First, it is the underlying … X is the degree to which an assessment process or device measures … (Smith  et al ., 1986).

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Research Tutorial

• Introduction
• Understanding Your Assignment
• Developing Key Term from Your Topic
• Creating Searches
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Developing Key Terms for Your Topic

Develop lists of "key terms" for your thesis. Most library databases don't work like Google. You can't just type in your question, and get a useful answer. So you need a list of key terms—single words or short phrases that capture the most important ideas about your topic. These are what you will use to search. Here's how to develop key terms:

• Break up your question/statement into the most important concepts (usually no more than two or three).
• Write lists of words that describe each concept and use a thesaurus to help find synonyms.
• You may need to think of specific examples, in some cases, and not just synonyms.

Example: For a paper on college sports, you might write out the following:

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Chapter Twelve: Positing a Thesis Statement and Composing a Title / Defining Key Terms

Defining Key Terms

You are viewing the first edition of this textbook. a second edition is available – please visit the latest edition for updated information..

Earlier in this course, we discussed how to conduct a library search using key terms. Here we discuss how to present key terms. Place yourself in your audience’s position and try to anticipate their need for information. Is your audience composed mostly of novices or professionals? If they are novices, you will need to provide more definition and context for your key concepts and terms.

Because disciplinary knowledge is filled with specialized terms, an ordinary dictionary is of limited value. Disciplines like psychology, cultural studies, and history use terms in ways that are often different from the way we communicate in daily life. Some disciplines have their own dictionaries of key terms. Others may have terms scattered throughout glossaries in important primary texts and textbooks.

Key terms are the “means of exchange” in disciplines. You gain entry into the discussion by demonstrating how well you know and understand them. Some disciplinary keywords can be tricky because they mean one thing in ordinary speech but can mean something different in the discipline. For instance, in ordinary speech, we use the word  shadow  to refer to a darker area produced by an object or person between a light source and a surface. In Jungian psychology,  shadow  refers to the unconscious or unknown aspects of a personality. Sometimes there is debate within a discipline about what key terms mean or how they should be used.

To avoid confusion, define all key terms in your paper before you begin a discussion about them. Even if you think your audience knows the definition of key terms, readers want to see how  you  understand the terms before you move ahead. If a definition is contested—meaning different writers define the term in different ways—make sure you acknowledge these differences and explain why you favor one definition over the others. Cite your sources when presenting key terms and concepts.

Key Takeaways

Strategies for Conducting Literary Research Copyright © 2021 by Barry Mauer & John Venecek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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• What is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples

What Is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples

Published on 26 May 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on 25 October 2022.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader.

Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and it’s intended to enhance their understanding of your work. Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one.

If you do choose to include a glossary, it should go at the beginning of your document, just after the table of contents and (if applicable) list of tables and figures or list of abbreviations . It’s helpful to place your glossary at the beginning, so your readers can familiarise themselves with key terms prior to reading your work. Remember that glossaries are always in alphabetical order.

To help you get started, download our glossary template in the format of your choice below.

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• Table of contents

Example of a glossary

Citing sources for your glossary, additional lists to include in your dissertation, frequently asked questions about glossaries.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Glossaries and definitions often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited.

However, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to citing your sources , in order to avoid accidental plagiarism .

If you’d prefer to cite just in case, you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA Style for citations in your glossary. Remember that direct quotes should always be accompanied by a citation.

In addition to the glossary, you can also include a list of tables and figures and a list of abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation if you choose.

Include your lists in the following order:

• List of figures and tables
• List of abbreviations

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organised by page number.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

George, T. (2022, October 25). What Is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 13 May 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/what-is-a-glossary/

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Definition of terms for every dissertation.

If you don’t know it already, you will very soon–the Definition of Terms section in the introductory chapter of your dissertation, that is. As your chair, peers, or friendly dissertation consultants have probably shared with you, this section serves to introduce your readers to key terminology that you’ll use throughout your dissertation or thesis writing in discussing your study’s specific contribution to your academic discipline.

You’ve also probably come across a few Definition of Terms sections in your own research (and especially in preparing for the literature review ) and found that they can include everything from specific populations, to key variables (for studies undertaking statistical analysis) or concepts (for qualitative research and analysis), to specific legislation or medical procedures–and beyond.

The best way to think about what to include in your study’s Definition of Terms section is by thinking of it almost as a short glossary or checklist of what your readers absolutely need to know to orient themselves to the specific ideas and language of your topic and field of research. By way of illustration, and since examples in context are often the best form of dissertation assistance, we thought we’d offer up our own Definition of Terms–basically, a short (or not-so-short) list of the main terms and concepts our dissertation consulting clients encounter, and often for the first time, during the research process.

For this and many other terms on the list, alignment has a specific meaning within the context of academic research and, especially, dissertation and thesis writing . However! Alignment, in its perhaps most common real-word usage–wheel alignment for automobiles–actually serves as a helpful analogy here. When your wheel alignment is off, your car might pull off to one side, shake, and often your steering wheel won’t actually correspond to how straight your car drives on the road. To fix wheel alignment, you don’t adjust the wheels themselves, but rather the suspension, the system that connects the wheels to the car.

Similarly, with dissertation research, alignment refers to how well you’ve clearly connected the foundational elements of your study. Does your purpose statement, in fact, address the specific issue identified in your problem statement–or does it pull away from the problem to focus on something perhaps only tangentially related? Does your methodology correspond to the problem as you’ve described it? If you’re planning on a quantitative study with statistical analysis , for example, do your variables tie back to the problem and purpose, as well?

The vast majority of doctoral candidates who reach out to us for dissertation consulting often need support with exactly this issue in their studies, and we’ve found that if you think about the dissertation as a system that needs to properly connect all of its key parts, then it often becomes easier to look at the foundations of your study with a fresh perspective.

Research problem

If there’s a word you’re likely to get sick of hearing first from your chair, committee, and yes, even your dissertation coach, we’re betting that word is problem, in all its variations–research problem, problem statement, general and/or local problem, business problem… You get the idea. That being said, as with the rest of the terms on this list, while problem gets used and abused during the dissertation process, it’s because it’s a very important (you might say the most important) element of your overall study.

The research problem is the specific issue in your field that you plan to explore or examine in your dissertation or thesis writing. It’s a “problem” in the sense that you’ve identified an unanswered question (or series of questions!) and other scholars have pointed out that the lack of research on this topic needs to be addressed.

As this might indicate, you can’t figure out your research problem, of course, until you determine the gap in the research that your study will address! So while you might find, first, that there’s a gap in the research on successful strategies for food delivery apps, you might then decide to further focus this gap to look at specific strategies or barriers for success for areas with more urban or suburban sprawl (after confirming this is part of the existing gap). Finding that initial gap is key–so that you can narrow it down to the specific problem that you can address.

Hook and anchor

While this phrase is most directly relevant for DBA candidates studying at Walden University (one of our primary universities for dissertation assistance), the concept of “hook and anchor” is one that offers some important insight when it comes to breaking down your problem statement into a clear and compelling justification for your topic. In fact, those of you with some background in business or management, regardless of your current doctoral program or research focus, may already be familiar with the idea of a “hook” and an “anchor” in a professional setting.

The purpose of a hook and anchor in your problem statement is to establish the larger significance of your proposed research (sometimes also called the general problem or the global problem) before outlining the specific aspect of this issue that you’ll focus on for your dissertation research. The hook, specifically, should introduce the issue and include support from very recent scholarship, to clearly indicate that this issue is current and unaddressed–in other words, it should “hook” your reader and get their attention! At Walden, the hook is specifically talked about in terms of a “WOW statement” , a well-known sales term for getting to the point fast (and making sure your point’s a good one).

Once you’ve established your hook, the purpose of the anchor, then (also well-named) is to ground this initial statement in concrete evidence (if you’re thinking “statistics,” here, you’re right!). It’s important to understand this difference between the hook and anchor, and we can absolutely help you review your progress so far if you’re currently seeking preliminary dissertation help as you finalize your topic and problem statement.

If approached properly, the hook and anchor help you to establish, immediately and clearly, the importance of continued research in your field. However, if you’ve found an appropriate research gap (see above), then this broader introduction is far too much to tackle for one dissertation–so the hook and anchor also set the stage for a more focused discussion of the specific research problem you’ll address through your original quantitative and/or qualitative research .

Social change

Again, this term is particularly critical for doctoral candidates attending Walden University [https://www.waldenu.edu/about/social-change], but even if you’re attending another online or brick and mortar university for your doctoral studies, the concept of social change is useful when you’re thinking and writing about the overall significance of your proposed dissertation research. This is especially true since, more and more, academic research is evaluated on the merits of its contribution to society at large.

Put simply, “social change refers to the transformation of culture, behavior, social institutions, and social structure over time” . In the context of dissertation or thesis writing, then, understanding your study’s contribution to social change involves asking yourself, “why does this matter?” The next step is looking to the literature in your field to see why the research gap you plan to address is an important one in a broader societal context (as we discussed above, just because there’s a gap in the research, doesn’t mean that gap needs to be filled).

Don’t be daunted by this idea if your study focuses on a very specialized (or not traditionally “academic”) topic! After all, even food can be a tool for social change, according to “social gastronomist” David Hertz (and we’d love to help you with your dissertation as you determine your study’s contribution):

We can use food to create a more inclusive society. Food touches on every aspect of human life: the environment, agriculture, our economy, health, even our social lives. Social gastronomy “uses food to turn social inequalities — such as hunger, poor nutrition, unemployment, inequality — into dignity, opportunities and well-being,” says Hertz.

Anthropomorphism

Even seasoned academic writers often find themselves taken to task for anthropomorphism, so if you’re finding comments pointing this out as an issue to address in your dissertation editing , you’re in good company! And as with many of the terms on this list, it’s important to keep in mind the dissertation as your specific context for anthropomorphism. After all, in other contexts, this concept–the tendency of humans to attribute human qualities to animals or inanimate objects–is actually helping us learn exciting new things about the world around us.

Take Inky the Octopus , for example, whose escape from a New Zealand aquarium into the Pacific Ocean highlighted the ways in which animals’ complex intelligence and abilities are often minimized in order to emphasize their difference from people. Viewing animal and human intelligence on a continuum could, in fact, ultimately allow us to understand more about both.

However, in the context of editing your dissertation, anthropomorphism is a bit more cut-and-dry. In less formal (or more literary speech), you can easily find instances in which speakers refer to the ways in which a study “suggests” or “claims” or even “finds” some important knowledge that you, as a researcher, are excited to incorporate into your own discussion. However, technically, research itself cannot suggest or claim anything–those are human qualities.

That being said, if you’re desperate to change up your sentences (so it’s not just X and Y found that Z, over and over), you can (following APA editing guidelines for anthropomorphism) write that studies “show” or “indicate.” But that’s it! So use sparingly.

Reliability

For those who are considering developing their own quantitative instrument, however, there are a number of options for determining that an instrument accomplishes the purpose of your study (pilot testing, again, is critical here). These range from evaluating the content development of the instrument (using experts to develop survey questions, for example) to a cross-comparison with existing instruments that should provide similar results. Again–additional literature searches, outreach to experts, and statistical analysis are often required here, so especially for those already planning to employ statistical> [link to quant methods page] or other dissertation assistance for your study, try to find an existing instrument first! (And if you still have questions or need further statistics consulting, [link url="contact.shtml"]we’re happy to help )!

Belmont Report

You’re bound to come across the Belmont Report at some stage in your doctoral journey–for most doctoral candidates, this report becomes important while drafting the methodology chapter and preparing for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and approval . Published in 1979, the Belmont Report is an exhaustive discussion of ethical guidelines to follow when conducting research using human subjects. Most relevant to doctoral researchers are the report’s guidelines for assessing and minimizing risk to participants, identifying and recruiting research participants, and ensuring informed consent.

While the necessary steps to ensure adherence to the guidelines and principles of the Belmont Report can often feel like just another task to complete before beginning the most exciting part of your study–the actual research!–it’s very important to ensure that you clearly and carefully plan your process for selecting participants, recruitment, and informed consent. In fact, as many doctoral candidates who reach out for help with their dissertations while completing their IRB applications find, there is a direct benefit for you (beyond ensuring the safe and voluntary participation of your study subjects). The better you plan your recruitment and data collection process, the easier it will be to carry out when the time comes!

Luckily, you can access the entire Belmont Report in its entirety online, so this information is readily available to you as you finalize your research design and begin to think about carrying out your proposed quantitative or qualitative research and analysis. And if you’re wondering at all where to begin, be sure to check out our data collection checklist or contact us for more information about our specialized approach to this phase of dissertation assistance!

Peer-reviewed articles

For many novice researchers, the literature review is often the most daunting part of the dissertation or thesis writing process. In fact, it’s one of the main areas that doctoral candidates reach out to us about when they ask about dissertation consulting or dissertation coach services. Over the past 12 years, we’ve found that the primary stumbling block for many graduate-level researchers is finding appropriately scholarly (i.e., peer-reviewed) research to include in the literature review. (We’ve actually devoted a separate blog post to this topic – so if this is an issue for you, and you’re currently considering dissertation assistance, definitely check that out.)

What does “peer reviewed” mean in this context? Luckily, there’s nothing complex about the name. Peer-reviewed research is research that, once completed, is then subjected to an extensive critique by scholars in the field. Journals that follow a peer review process are generally viewed as more credible and trustworthy, because the methods and findings of the researchers they publish have held up under scrutiny by established experts in the field. Perhaps you’ve already begun thinking about how to turn your completed dissertation research into a published article in your “dream journal”–it’s an exciting next step once you’ve completed your doctoral degree, and one we can assist with as a next or final step for many of our dissertation consulting clients.

In terms of determining whether a journal article is peer-reviewed , most major databases (like ProQuest) offer you the option of searching only for this type of publication. Of course the next step is to ensure that the article (not an opinion piece or letter to the editor) is in fact peer-reviewed, and a quick way to verify this is to check out the journal’s homepage. If the editors submit their articles to peer review, they won’t be shy about letting you know!

Of course, once you’ve mastered the search process to include only peer-reviewed and scholarly sources, you then need to refine your newly honed skills further–to ensure that you’re reviewing and including only the most recent, relevant sources (to support the need for your study right now, today). This can definitely be tricky, particularly if you’re further along in drafting your literature review, but we can absolutely help you with your dissertation so that you keep moving forward!

Did we miss anything? Let us know the essential terminology you’ve learned during your dissertation or thesis writing process in comments!

• California Polytechnic State University. (2017). Find peer-reviewed articles. Retrieved from https://lib.calpoly.edu/support/how-to/find-articles
• D’Arcy, Patrick. (2018, July 12). How food–yes, food–can be a tool for social change. TED Talks: IDEAS.TED.COM. Retrieved from https://ideas.ted.com/how-food-yes-food-can-be-a-tool-for-social-change/
• Kaufmann Entrepreneurs. (2016, July 28). Powerful presentations: Crafting your WOW statement. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneurship.org/videos/powerful-presentations/crafting-your-wow-statement
• Lazzaroni, M., Peretto, P., Rinaldi, P., & Catelani, M. (2011). The Concept of “Statistical” Reliability. In Reliability Engineering (chapter 2). Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-20983-3_2
• National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Phelan, C., & Wren, J. (2006). Exploring reliability in academic assessment. Retrieved from https://chfasoa.uni.edu/reliabilityandvalidity.htm
• Riederer, R. (2016, April 26). Inky the Octopus and the upsides of anthropomorphism. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/inky-the-octopus-and-the-upsides-of-anthropomorphism
• University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. (2010). Understanding social change. In Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (chapter 20.1). Retrieved from http://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/20-1-understanding-social-change/
• Walden University. (2018). Social change. Retrieved from https://www.waldenu.edu/about/social-change

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How to Write the Definition of Terms in Chapter 1 of a Thesis

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GSLC Dissertation Support Guide

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Abstract Requirements

Selecting keywords & subject headings.

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The Dissertation Abstract

The abstract is your dissertation's calling card to the world.  The abstract is usually your first connection with every potential reader.   It also is a key feature in discovery of your dissertation through search engines.

Abstract Requirements and Checklist :

• Number of paragraphs  : Abstract should be ONE PARAGRAPH  [no returns]
• CC License Option: If you have chosen a Creative Commons License , this must specified in the abstract mentioning the type of license and linking back the the CC License page.
• how many supplemental files
• type of file
• whether or not they are also accessible within the PDF.  
• T his includes the author video abstract
• Length:  Abstracts no longer have length requirements in UMI/Proquest, but the print version of the database will cut off at 350 words MAXIMUM.   APA Style calls for 150-250 words, which is most reasonable.    The shorter, the better.
• Final Sentence :  To enhance discovery every abstract must carry this sentence at the end

  This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, https://aura.antioch.edu/  and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

Keywords are also essential to your dissertation being discovered online.

Keyword Guidelines:

• Place the keywords a few lines below the Abstract in your dissertation
• Your Keyword field is limited to 350  characters
• The Keywords in the Final Submission Form must match the Keywords in the Dissertation

Selecting Keyword :

Consider:   Which words would someone interested in my dissertation use? 

• ​ Language/ Jargon  used in your academic field? e,g, community of practice, best self
• Synonyms and Related Terms:  e.g. non-profit, not-for-profit, third sector / eating disorders,  anorexia, bulimia
• Alternate Spellings :  e.g. organisation, organization
• Methodology : e.g. grounded theory, qualitative, etc.
• Population:   e.g.  teachers, executives, African Americans, college students, grandparents
• Venue:   e.g.  workplace, corporations, elementary schools

Test your Keywords in Google and Google Scholar to see if they yield the items similar to your dissertation.

Subject Headings

On the Final Submission Form you will also be able to select Subject Headings for the Ohiolink ETD Center Archive;

• These subject headings DO NOT go into your dissertation
• This is a "Controlled Vocabulary" List.    You cannot change or add to the list.  There is no Subject Heading for LEADERSHIP. So add 'leadership' in your keyword list.
• Choose the most appropriate subject headings for your dissertation.  

Attached below is the current list from which you will choose.

• << Previous: Dissertation Titles and Online Discovery
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• Last Updated: Apr 3, 2024 8:05 AM
• URL: https://libguides-phd.antioch.edu/AUETDCENTRAL

Simplifying a thesis by defining the key terms of the research

Thesis research involves many complex elements. Every chapter in a thesis serves a different purpose which simplifies these elements. For instance, the introduction chapter of a thesis discusses key information about the topic, objectives, and problem statement. Another key element of the chapter is the definition of key terms, which considers the knowledge level of the reviewer. This article explains how to present the definition of key terms of a thesis.

The reviewer may not be always from the field on which the thesis is based. Thus, there are chances of non-familiarity with the technical words of that field. To address this issue of lack of clarity, the researcher should include the definition of key terms section to define important terminologies. This section simplifies the complexity of the thesis and also enables better engagement.

Key terms are the main terminologies that are present in your thesis. For instance, in a thesis on the influence of branding, loyalty, and satisfaction on consumer buying behaviour, the key terms can be branding, loyalty, satisfaction and consumer behaviour. A reviewer who is unfamiliar with these terms because they do not belong to the marketing field will want to know their meaning before reading any further.

While defining the key terms includes definitions by other scholars to establish credibility. It also acts as a foundation for the research problem and the literature reviews (USCLibraries, 2017b).

The key terms section should be concise

The introduction chapter accounts for 10% of the thesis. Therefore the definition of the key terms section should be critical, relevant and concise. However, it should be indicative and explanatory. This section should start with a brief one or two-line opening sentence to enable the reviewer to get in the flow of the topic. This should be followed by the terms and their corresponding meanings and definition in bullet points format.

• The section must be written with the help of the most common, popular, and widely used definitions. They must also be sourced from credible and published authors. Data and statistics should be avoided in the definition of key terms unless it is indispensable.
• Every term should end with a mention of the relevance of the term in the field as well as the topic.
• Avoid giving more than one definition per term.

An example of how to present it

• Branding: Branding refers to the act of creating brands that are differentiated from the competition, thereby reducing the number of perceived substitutes in the marketplace (Sammut-Bonnici, 2015, p.1).
• Consumer loyalty: A deeply held commitment to rebuy or patronize a preferred product/service consistently in the future, thereby causing repetitive same-brand or same brand-set purchasing despite situational influences and marketing efforts having the potential to cause switching behaviour (Oliver, 1997, p. 392).
• Consumer satisfaction: Consumer satisfaction is defined as pleasurable fulfilment. That is the consumer senses that consumption fulfils some need, desire, goal, or so forth and that this fulfilment is pleasurable (Oliver, 1999, p. 34).
• Consumer buying behaviour: Consumer buying behaviour refers to the selection, purchase and consumption of goods and services for the satisfaction of their wants (Ramya and Ali, 2016, p. 76).
• Cedep. (2015). Unit One : Introduction to Research. Soas , 1–41.
• Halloran, G. M., & Collins, W. J. (1974). Strategic human resource management. Annals of Botany , 38 (5), 1039–1044. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a084894
• Oliver, Richard L. (1999), “Whence Customer Loyalty”,  Journal of Marketing , 63, Special Issue, 33-44
• Oliver, R. L. (1999). Whence consumer loyalty? The Journal of Marketing, 63, 33–44.
• Qassem, M. (2017). Thesis, Dissertation and Article Writing Preparing Research Paper, Dissertation and Thesis. February 2014, 1–20.
• Ramya, N. and Ali, SA (2016). Factors affecting consumer buying behavior. International Journal of Applied Research , 2 (10). 76-80.
• Salaman, G., Storey, J., & Billsberry, J. (2005). Strategic Human Resource Management: Defining the Field. SHRM-Intro , January , 1–12.
• Sammut-Bonnici, T. (2015). Wiley Encyclopedia of Management. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.
• USCLibraries. (2017a). Glossary of Research Terms This . Usc.Edu. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/background
• USCLibraries. (2017b). Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper . Usc.Edu. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/background
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How to provide a definition of key terms in a dissertation.

A common and standard section in a dissertation is the definition of terms. This is a key part as it helps the reader to understand the key terminology and concepts particularly if you have used unusual terms or terms that are not widely known.

Importance of definition of terms

One major mistake that most students make is to go overboard with their extensive definition of terms or doing the exact opposite and providing just but a few definitions. You should bear in mind that your dissertation will be read by other scholars who are already familiar with the terms that are related to the design and methodology. When you clearly define the terminology, it will be possible for you to enhance the reader’s understanding of the important terms.

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Which terms do you define?

There are two instances where definition of terms should be defined. These are:

• Where the term is not widely used
• Where a term has a unique or specific meaning in a context and it is necessary for the reader of the dissertation to understand the actual meaning. For instance, a word such as success can be used in various contexts. It could be that the goal of the research design is to evaluate the success and nature of a program .In this case, it is necessary to inform the reader how the term success has been operationalized.

How to do definition of terms

It is important for you to ground the definition of terms in peer-reviewed sources that will help to support the definition. This can help to rationalize the terminology before understanding and connecting the language to the common usage of terminology in a field. It may also be necessary for you to alphabetize your definitions to ensure that your readers are able to easily navigate when searching for terms that they don’t understand.

You also need to clearly define the acronyms. When developing your dissertation, you can easily get deeply immersed in your topics and the details including common acronyms around that topic. This can make you to easily forget that your readership audience may not understand the meaning of the acronym particularly in that context of the study. This is why it is important for the student to include the parenthetical definition of an acronym in the first chapter where it appears. When you follow these guidelines, it will be easy for you to provide definition of key terms in a way that is easy for your reads to understand.

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Writing Better University Essays/Defining key terms

Having decided what to include in the answer, there is another way to make sure the answer is focused: telling the reader what we are talking about. By defining what the key terms mean, we do two things. Firstly, we show that we know what we are writing about. Secondly, we avoid misunderstandings by settling on a single understanding of the key terms. It might be that your marker understands power in a Marxist way, and you want to approach the essay from a feminist point of view. By providing a brief definition, there will be no misunderstanding. Your marker may not agree with you, but that is not necessary to get good grades. A definition makes sure you and your readers talk about the same things. For example, you can define fruit salad as consisting of bananas, pineapples, and yellow apples (ideally you would have a reason for this, too). Having done so, your reader will not object when you later state that fruit salad lacks the vital bits of red.

In order to define the key terms, you first have to bluntly state what they are. Always include the key words included in the question. These have been identified as central concepts for you, and by excluding them, you’ll be very likely answering a different question from the one set. There are often other key terms you want to include, and it’s usually worth spending some time thinking about which ones are the key concept. This is time worth spending, because you can later use the concepts without giving any further qualifications or comments. For this reason you should also define the terms carefully. Having defined power in a particular way, for example, every time you use the term in the essay, it only means what you want it to be.

Providing the definition of the key terms also works as a signal to your marker that you know what you’re talking about. By defining power in a certain way, you demonstrate that you’re aware of other interpretations. In fact, it’ll often not be necessary to state what the other interpretations are, unless the distinction is a key aspect of the argument. Very often, you’ll use the work of somebody else to help you define the key terms. Make sure that you put references accordingly.

The following three paragraphs define the concepts social disadvantage, social mobility, and siblings. The definitions are taken from a range of sources, and referenced accordingly. In the context of another essay, these definitions may be too long or too short.

Depending on the length of your essay, you’ll have between 2 and maybe 5 key terms. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to think which terms are the central ones. Consider the following phrases as ways to define terms: X is understood as a process by which , X regards Y as , one view is that there is X so that Y , or X is commonly considered as .

Sources for Definitions [ edit | edit source ]

When writing your definition, there are a number of sources you can use to help you. Using a common-sense definition is hardly ever suitable. In many cases, a definition as found in a specialist dictionary will do. In other cases, you want something even more specialized, and consult your course material. Many introductory books define key terms, and then discuss them in more detail in the chapter. It’s important not just to simply copy a definition, but choose what is suitable for your needs. Bear in mind that every text, even a specialized dictionary, was written with a specific purpose in mind. What you need for your essay is likely to be a bit different.

Google and other internet search engines may be an easy way, but they are usually not suitable. Apart from the fact that your source may not be reliable, you’re likely to end up with a definition that is either too generic, or from a different area. A definition of power from a physics text may not be what we want in our discipline.

It’s often worth spending some time on the key terms. This is the case, because the way you set out this section will direct the remainder of the essay a great deal. Choosing a certain way to interpret a concept rather than another may be just as important as focusing on certain issues and not others in the main part of the essay. Despite its importance, the section providing the definitions should not be too long: focus on the concepts that are really central. These are usually the concepts that are recurring throughout the essay.

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