CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH STUDY

Synopsis
Start with a synopsis - indicating to the reader how this chapter fits in with the remainder of the chapter. This is best done through means of a SmartArt list diagram in MS Word.

Background to the research study
Provide a detailed introduction to your research study. Basically, tell a "story" that builds up and leads the reader to see how your research problem came about. Also provide a "sneak peek" as to why it is important that your research study is to be conducted

Research problem, research questions, and research objectives
Clearly state what your research problem is. Your research problem should be very apparent and stem directly from the previous section where you provided background to the research study. Following this, plot your main (primary) research question and main (primary) research objective; your secondary (investigative) research questions and secondary (investigative) research objectives.

Research design, methodology and methods
Provide a brief overview of the research design (blueprint of the research study), as well as the research methodology (the plan of action to be followed to execute the blueprint of the research study). Also cover the research methods (tools to be used to help execute the blueprint of the research study). Where needed, include a SmartArt process diagram in MS Word.

Contribution of the research study
Give insight as to what the outputs will be from your research study (what you are to develop and give) to relevant stakeholders as well as the outcomes of these outputs when used by relevant stakeholders (what should happen when the outputs are used). The contribution of the research study should be pragmatic and actually be executed after the study is conducted.

Conclusion
Conclude on the writing done in the chapter. Ensure that the conclusion rounds off the chapter and builds a foundation whereby the next chapter is introduced. Also, for Chapter 1, include a brief overview of what each remaining chapter in your thesis will cover.

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW *

* There may be more than one literature review chapter required for your study; this decision depends on an array of factors. The main intention of a literature review chapter is to clearly conceptualise (define in your own words) terms and contextualise (give proper context of) your study. This, in turn, is required to develop your data collection tool(s), among other reasons, and after reading this chapter(s), the reader should be able to understand your research problem in exactly the same manner as you understand it.

Synopsis
Start with a synopsis - indicating to the reader how this chapter fits in with the remainder of the chapter. This is best done through means of a SmartArt list diagram in MS Word.

[Main heading(s)]
The main headings of your literature review chapter(s) will depend what your study is about. More often than not, the best way to provide context is through means of a generic historic overview of a phenomenon, after which it is covered within the context of your research problem. Throughout, be as detailed as possible and ensure that existing definitions of phenomena are included, while also inserting your own conceptualisations. Very important - the reader should be able to understand your research problem in exactly the same way you understand it after reading your literature review chapter(s).

Conclusion
Conclude on the writing done in the chapter. Ensure that the conclusion rounds off the chapter and builds a foundation whereby the next chapter is introduced.

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN, METHODOLOGY AND METHODS

Synopsis
Start with a synopsis - indicating to the reader how this chapter fits in with the remainder of the chapter. This is best done through means of a SmartArt list diagram in MS Word.

Introduction
Provide an introduction to the chapter by bringing up your main (primary) research objective. Also give a brief summary of the research design, research methodology and research methods you are to use in your study (rely on Chapter 1 to guide you here).

Ethical considerations
Cover the aspect of ethical considerations, and explain how your research study satisfied each standard ethical consideration. Keep in mind that this section is not just "talking the talk", for there needs to be evidence that ethical considerations were taken into account when conducting your research study (e.g. in your data collection tools).

Research assumptions
Over the years, this heading has become increasingly important. The reason for this is that it shows the lens through which a researcher viewed the world when conducting the research study. For the most part, research assumptions are based on the work of researchers Burrell and Morgan. Please refer to tips, tricks and tools to find a LinkedIn article speaking to this heading's content.

Limitations of the research study
Explain the limitations (potential weaknesses) of your research study. This may include, but is not be limited to the coverage of only a geographical location with the exclusion of all other, and the inclusion of only specific research subjects with the exclusion of other. For every limitation listed through, there should be an "upside" as to why it is not such a bad thing.

Research design
Cover your research design in depth.

Research methodology
Cover your research methodology in depth.

Research methods
Cover your research methods in depth.

Data collection tool(s)
Cover your data collection tool(s) in depth.

Data collection tool(s)
Cover your data collection tool(s) in depth.

Conclusion
Conclude on the writing done in the chapter. Ensure that the conclusion rounds off the chapter and builds a foundation whereby the next chapter is introduced.

CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Synopsis
Start with a synopsis - indicating to the reader how this chapter fits in with the remainder of the chapter. This is best done through means of a SmartArt list diagram in MS Word.

Data validity
Provide an overview of what data validity is and how your collected data (through the data collection tool(s) deployed) were validated. The most important elements are that of face validity, content validity and construct validity. In order to validate data, dendrograms can be used - indicating how e.g. questions in a questionnaire are linked to one another.

[Main heading(s)]
The next main headings will depend on what it is you want to explain to the reader. Take note that throughout, you will need to showcase analysed data that help answer your secondary (investigative) research questions that help achieve your secondary (investigative) research objectives, that help answer your main (primary) research question that help achieve your main (primary) research objective. To do so, you may want to cover respondent demographics, general descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with quantitative data. In addition, if you work with qualitative data, you may want to cover aspects such as thematic analyses, narrative analysis, and grounded theory, among other. After the analysed data are provided, it is imperative that it is discussed (explained) in depth to help the reader understand what the results / findings say, and why it is important for the reader to know this (constantly linking it to the research problem).

Conclusion
Conclude on the writing done in the chapter. Ensure that the conclusion rounds off the chapter and builds a foundation whereby the next chapter is introduced.

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

Synopsis
Start with a synopsis - indicating to the reader how this chapter fits in with the remainder of the chapter. This is best done through means of a SmartArt list diagram in MS Word.

Research problem revisited
Refer back to Chapter 1 and bring to the reader's attention (remind them) what the research problem was about. Also explain what had to be done (briefly) to help solve and/or mitigate it #MainResearchQuestionAndMainResearchObjective.

Main research question and main research objective revisited
Refer back to Chapter 1 and bring to the reader's attention (remind them) what the main (primary) research question and main (primary) research objective were. Also explain what had to be done (briefly) to help answer and/or achieve it #SecondaryResearchQuestionsAndSecondaryResearchObjectives.

Secondary research questions and secondary research objectives revisited
Refer back to Chapter 1 and bring to the reader's attention (remind them) what each secondary (investigative) research question and secondary (investigative) research objective were. Also explain how they were answered and/or addressed by making reference to Chapter 2 (and other literature review chapters, if applicable) and Chapter 4. Here, your coverage should be very thorough and the reader should have NO doubt that each secondary (investigative) research question and secondary (investigative) research objective were dealt with sufficiently.

Recommendations
Provide recommendations to relevant stakeholders how they should go about to help solve and/or mitigate the research problem using your own research conducted as basis. These recommendations should tie up with the research contributions in Chapter 1, but it should be more detailed considering that you have completed the research study.

Avenues for further research
Stemming from your research conducted, identify all possible avenues for further research that can be conducted either by yourself in future or other researchers, after being inspired by your research study. These avenues should be logical, feasible, pragmatic and directly linked to your research problem and all previous chapters.

[Artefact name]
When pursuing a doctoral degree, it is required to come up with something new. This can take on the form of a model (theoretical concepts that are shown in picture format) or a framework (a depiction of components, dimensions and directions). Regardless of the new thing that is to be developed, we will refer to it as an artefact.

Under this heading, your artefact needs to be introduced (where the idea comes from - by making reference to your research conducted) from where it is depicted and explained in depth. The good news is that you need no references in this main heading as this is your own work that is built on your completed research study.

Conclusion
Conclude on the writing done in the chapter. Ensure that the conclusion rounds off the chapter and study, as a whole.

REFERENCES

ANNEXURES