Writing built environment dissertations and projects : practical guidance and examples / Peter Farrell with Fred Sherratt and Alan Richardson.

Revised editon of: Writing a built environment dissertation. 2011.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Author biographies -- Preface -- About the companion website -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Terminology -- nomenclature -- 1.3 Document structure -- 1.4 Possible subject areas for your research -- 1.5 Professional bodies and the non-technical or technical dissertation or project -- 1.5.1 The difference between non-technical and technical -- 1.6 Qualitative or quantitative analysis? -- 1.7 The student/supervisor relationship and time management -- 1.8 Ethical compliance and risk assessments -- 1.8.1 Physical or emotional harm -- Laboratory risk assessments -- 1.8.2 Confidentiality and anonymity -- 1.8.3 Generally -- 1.9 House style or style guide -- 1.10 Writing style -- 1.11 Proofreading -- 1.12 Extra support? -- 1.13 A research proposal -- 1.14 A viva or viva voce -- Summary -- References -- Chapter 2 The introduction chapter to the dissertation or project -- 2.1 Introduction contents -- 2.2 Articulation or description of the problem and provisional objectives -- Summary of this chapter -- References -- Chapter 3 Review of theory and the literature -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Style and contents of a literature review -- 3.3 Judgements or opinions? -- 3.4 Sources of data -- 3.5 Methods of finding the literature -- 3.6 Embedding theory in dissertations and projects -- 3.7 Referencing as evidence of reading -- 3.8 Citing literature sources in the narrative of your work -- 3.8.1 Verbatim citations -- 3.8.2 Paraphrasing -- 3.8.3 Secondary citing -- 3.8.4 Who to cite in your narrative -- 3.8.5 Page numbers and emphasising the authority of the source -- 3.9 References or bibliography or both? -- 3.10 Common mistakes by students -- 3.11 Using software to help with references -- 3.12 Avoiding the charge of plagiarism -- 4.7.3 A relationship, not a cause: strength of relationships -- 4.8 Writing the hypothesis: nulls and tails -- a matter of semantics -- 4.9 'Lots' of variables at large, intervening variables -- 4.10 Ancillary or subject variables -- 4.11 No relationship between the IV and the DV -- 4.12 Designing measurement instruments -- use authoritative tools and adapt the work of others -- 4.12.1 Variable values with high or low numbers as best? -- 4.12.2 Measurement scales of 0-10 and 0-100 -- multiple-item scales -- 4.13 Levels of measurement -- 4.14 Examples of categorical or nominal data in construction -- Of this chapter -- References -- Chapter 4 Research goals and their measurement -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Aim -- 4.3 Research questions -- 4.4 Objectives -- 4.4.1 Objectives that 'wobble' -- 4.4.2 The literature review as an objective? -- 4.4.3 Objectives that do not match was has been done -- 4.5 Variables -- 4.6 A hypothesis with one variable -- 4.7 A hypothesis with two variables: independent and dependent -- 4.7.1 Which is the IV and which the DV? Variables 'melting' into each other -- 4.7.2 Manipulation or observation variables in research?