Dissertation
Published: 11/07/2020
Updated: 18/10/2021
Disclaimer: my dissertation is a literature review of existing primary literature. However, I believe the principles can be useful to any type of dissertation.
Tip: screen your research results by using the crossing out function in word to identify which articles are appropriate and which would not be.
Identifying a topic
I found this to be the hardest part of my dissertation, I had no idea where to start. Here are my top tips
Choosing a topic area
- Read course textbooks
- Read frontline
- Read systematic reviews of the conditions you may be interested in
Here is a useful video about choosing and deciding on your dissertation topic
Next steps ...
- Pick a topic area that interests you (e.g. Respiratory, Neuro, MSK)
- Pick a condition or treatment technique which interests you (e.g. ABCT or behaviour change)
- Read more around the topic to learn about this area in detail
- Do an initial google scholar search to identify areas which have not yet been covered in previous systematic reviews or other questions identified by previous systematic
- Refine your research question with the help of your dissertation supervisor.
Initial search to check for available research
Prior to finalising your dissertation topic you should do an initial google scholar search to check the availability of research for your chosen area. Keep a log of the search results in a word document (see pictures below).
Keep a record of any systematic or literature reviews you find whilst recording your search results. Even if these reviews have asked the same question you may want to investigate, you can use their further research section to shape your research question.
Creating a research question
My advice
Use current research to help shape your question, such as what outcome measures you would want to include and aspects of the topic area to focus on.
Time management
Plan out in advance your work plan, include the dates of lectures for your dissertation, supervision meeting, time you will be unable to work (e.g. placement, holidays etc) and the assignment deadline. This will give you perspective over how long you have to complete your dissertation.
Key tip: allow plenty of time for database searching and screening of results (as these take the longest)
Searching the databases
- Be systematic - use the same keywords and boolan operators (AND/OR)
- Check the titles of your results to see if your search strategy is producing the results you desire
- Experiment with different key words - look at previous systematic reviews on the topic for their key words to give you ideas
Screening search results
Note down the following (to write in your PRISMA flow diagram later)
- Total number of search results (when combined from all the databases)
- Number of duplicates
- Number of results excluded at the title screening stage
- Number of results excluded at the abstract screening stage
- Number of results excluded at the full text screening stage
- Number of results used in your literature review
Before screening your results
- Create your inclusion and exclusion criteria
- Read about PRISMA reporting (references to journal article in useful resources section)
- Save and export your database search results (and record the dates the searches were run)
- Combine your results into 1 excel sheet (or into softwear such as Mendeley)
Screening your search results
- Use the control + F function in excel to find any duplicates (saves alot of time)
- Be rigorous and systematic - if unclear during the title and abstract stage do not exclude
Abstract and full text screening
- Note down on paper for each result which criteria (of inclusion) it satisfies and which are unclear or do not fit
- Use this from abstract screening to guide full-text screening (only look at papers with ? next to a certain criteria)
Critical appraisal of search results
Tools I used
- Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP)
- PEDro scale
What references I used to justify my choices
Maher, C.G., Sherrington, C., Herbet, R.D., Mosely, A.M. and Elkins, M. (2003) ‘Reliability of the PEDro Scale for Rating Quality of Randomised Controlled Trials’, Phys Therapy, 83, pp.713-721.
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2020) CASP Randomised Control Trial Checklist. [Online] Available at: https://casp-uk.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CASP_RCT_Checklist_PDF_Fillable_Form.pdf (Accessed: 2 December 2020).
Drafting my dissertation plan
I used the following heading to structure my review article:
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Method (search strategy)
- Results (PRSIMA diagram, summary of studies, outcome measure forest plots and critical appraisal)
- Discussion (conclusion, implications for practice, research priorities, strengths and limitations of the review)
- Appedices
- Reference list
I found the PRISMA statement really useful to aid my write-up notes as it tells you how a systematic review should report it's results and what each section should contain.
Dissertation drafting
Prior to writing my dissertation I create a draft plan using my notes from the articles I had read and analysed for my literature review. I then used this plan to help me write my dissertation section by section.
Useful resources
- Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide by Helen Aveyard
- How to read a paper: the basics of evidence-based medicine and healthcare by Trisha Greenhalgh
- Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G. and PRISMA group (2009) 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: the PRISMA Statement', PLoS Medicine, 6(7)
- Liberati, A., Altman, D.G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gotzche, P.C., Ioannidis, J.P.A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P.J., Kleijnen, J. and Moher, D. (2009) 'The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration', PLoS Medicine, 6(7).
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