Including appendices in a dissertation enhances the transparency of the valuable academic context. It has its title, length, and components to support the central research idea. The appendix section contains additional information. It encloses all the contextual information in the dissertation.
As per the recent report published by Statista on Feb 5, 2024,
- In 2021/22, over 2.86 million students will be enrolled in more than 2.75 million higher degree programs, as recorded in previous years 2020/21.
According to Libguides.Cambridge,
- The requirement for PhD digital thesis submissions has been increased by 1000 per year. Approximately 200 theses are received by Cambridge University annually.
Depending on the number of graduates, university requirements for theses or dissertation submissions have been increased to a good ratio. Students juggle to compose a valid and acceptable dissertation.
This guide introduces the conceptual framework of a dissertation appendix. Additionally, it provides strategic techniques to enhance the credibility of your dissertation.
What Is an Appendix in a Dissertation?
Appendices in a dissertation are incorporated to provide a detailed understanding of all the research-based information. It contains supplementary information, including tables, figures, graphics, etc. Usually, it is placed after the references in your dissertation. The benefit of including an appendix is to provide:
- Details to the lengthy and complex information.
- To control the word count limit.
- Multiple resources such as C.D.s, images, questionnaires, maps, etc.
How Do You Write an Appendix in a Dissertation? Top 10 Techniques
Dissertation appendix writing is a complex task, and one often needs clarification. Not following the correct set of tips can cause you to receive a rejection from the declaration committee. We have gathered the right techniques to follow while writing an appendix section in your dissertation.
From selecting a suitable topic to finalizing appendices, students delve into exhaustive research. Often, they grapple with deadlines, task organization, and practical research methodologies. Custom dissertation service providers can effectively address these challenges. These experts offer invaluable guidance, tailored content, and resource accessibility, facilitating the creation of top-notch dissertations.
Now, read and implement all the techniques to craft a synchronized dissertation if you want to attempt it yourself.
- Collect Authentic Data
Composing appendices in dissertations ensures the collection of credible data. Your supplementary data collection may include
- Sample calculations.
- Graphs, tables, and images.
- Different visuals may include videos, tape recordings, etc.
- Interviews and survey transcripts
- Featured questions and answers
- Emails, letters, and notes.
All the above-discussed data can help your readers engage effectively. Not only does it provide them with information, but it also highlights data source authenticity. Other online resources include Google Scholar, PubMed, J.S.T.O.R., Statista, and Google Public Data Explorer.
- Include Research Results
First things first, research results are an essential part of your dissertation. Not all the results and findings will be covered in the main body. Therefore, detailed results are mentioned in the appendix to support the central idea. At the same time, the precise and lengthy results can be placed as appendices in a dissertation.
This section may include the raw data and additional tests you have performed. For example, analytical results will be enclosed in an appendix if you have used statistical software. It generally contains less significant results, which are additional to the primary contextual information. These statistical results can be presented in various ways, such as tables, figures, and supplemental analyses.
Hence, it provides the reader with a straightforward narrative about the primary purpose of your paper. The Simon Fraser University provides the general instructions to compile the results section with the following:
- If research results are comprehensive, consider uploading them online, such as Google Drive or your institute’s online portal.
- Provide the details in the recommended format. For instance, if it is a video file, then consider mp4. If there is a data file, submit it in docx or epub.
- Mention the description of the supplementary file using the format described below:
Image source: Lib. S.F.U.
- Mention Details of Questionnaires and Interviews
Another effective technique is to include details of questionnaires and surveys in your appendices in a dissertation. The information gathered from interviews can consist of the following:
- Transcripts of interviews
- Copy of the survey questions
- Results retrieved from the questionnaires
Using this kind of information can enhance the credibility of your dissertation. Even though your main findings are discussed in a body, you can include long-form surveys in an appendix. Although these details are unnecessary, describing them can be a plus to your dissertation. By overviewing this additional information, readers can draw a logical conclusion.
- Illustration, Tables, and Figures
Appendices in a dissertation can also include graphics or illustrations. If using images and photographs in the main body can distract your reader, have them in this section.
For instance, if you want four datasets, try using different colors to highlight each. Make the data and trend lines more identifiable by drawing a clear visual implication on chart paper. Besides this, you can also include tables and figures to show the numerical data interpretation.
- Correspondence and Letters
Appendices in a dissertation must include correspondence. Correspondence refers to the mutual collaboration between all the researchers to reuse their research works. The most significant benefit of correspondence is to prevent plagiarism accusations in your dissertation.
If you have any letters or correspondence, use them directly in an appendix, as it will inform the readers about effective communication for crafting authentic information. This could be in any format: emails, text messages, transcripts, and audio messages.
- List of Abbreviations
Acronyms are formed by the first letter of a phrase; first, write the phrase, then put the abbreviation in parentheses. Use the following style to narrate the acronym:
- Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
Including a list of abbreviations and acronyms in appendices in your dissertation is wise. Different technical terms may be challenging for readers to understand. Therefore, it is suggested that the whole list be displayed in this section. Researchers often find writing the appendices in a dissertation as a glossary for better understanding.
Hence, it is considered a worthwhile addition to your dissertation by minimizing confusion and increasing readability. A list of abbreviations should be added alphabetically, starting from A, B, C, and so on… For a better understanding, see the following format for writing abbreviations.
List of Abbreviations
A.A.R.O.M. Active Assistive Range of Motion
B.A.C. Bacterial Artificial Chromosome
C.P.R. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has proposed the following guidelines while writing abbreviations for appendices in a dissertation using A.P.A. style.
- Acronyms and abbreviations should be spelled out entirely while writing appendices in a dissertation.
- Capitalize all four letters of books and articles. Don’t use capitalization in theories, laws, and hypotheses.
- Don’t hyphenate a compound adjective.
- Adhere to Professional Formatting
Your appendix in the dissertation structure is optional to be split into different components. But you can break the information into components to navigate it effectively. However, you can also have one lengthy appendix in your dissertation.
Here are a few tips described by the University of Northern Lowa to follow while composing appendices in a dissertation:
- Always start writing it on the new page. Assign it to the Heading Appendix, which should be aligned on the new page.
- Every reference should have its number. For example, assign each appendix from the number one.
- Each attachment should be placed on a separate sheet.
- Include the page break at the end of every page so that formatting may not get disturbed when opened in another version of Microsoft.
- Do the Right Placement
Usually, the appendix in the dissertation should be placed at the end after the reference list. It encloses all the relevant information from supplementary results to numerical figures. Every institute or journal in which you are publishing has its formatting criteria. You must adhere to the placement for writing appendices in a dissertation accordingly.
For instance, some institutions or supervisors ask to create a separate appendix document and deliver it along with the dissertation. Moreover, the appropriateness of placement will also depend upon the scope and type of your research paper. Per the displayed criteria for organizing appendices, the University of Southern California suggests the following points:
- Appendices in a dissertation are always followed after the reference list.
- There should be complete synchronization in order. It should be per the text of your research paper.
- An appropriate list should include a table of contents in appendices.
- Page numbering should proceed from the text page to the appendices page.
- Consider It as a Separate Chapter
Don’t consider appendices in a dissertation a separate thing; instead, consider them an individual chapter. It must be formatted as a proper chapter assigned with an appropriate heading. Different appendices should be named A, B, C, etc. Similarly, all must be started from new pages. Don’t merge the information into one single page.
If you have an approved Institutional Review Board (I.R.B.), include it in the appendix. Adding this letter can be a best practice to reflect more credibility. The approval committee also reviews the appendix section as part of the process. Name the separate appendix and write some description attached with a supporting file to sound authoritative.
- Appendix Checklist
Appendices in a dissertation are added to the dissertation to reflect the authenticity of the written content. They contain additional information to provide evidence to the whole contextual details. Check a list of appendices in a dissertation by ensuring the following things:
- The title and subtitle must be included.
- Make sure you have started it on a new page.
- Check the number sequencing.
- Material is divided into manageable and visual chunks such as graphs, tables, and interviews.
- Check the formatting, heading, and appropriate spacing.
- They are easy to understand and adhere to the advised criteria by the institution.
- Also, ensure the validity of non-textual elements, interview transcripts, research instruments, sample calculation, and raw statistical data.
Also, adhere to your institute’s guidelines when writing the appendices section. Many students struggle to organize supplementary information due to a lack of formatting expertise and strategic planning. In this case, seeking assistance from online dissertation writing services can benefit students because help from experts ensures a professional and meticulously structured appendix section.
Conclusion
Appendices in a dissertation are not less important than the whole dissertation. Including this section serves a diverse approach to match the quoted information. Follow the above-discussed expert techniques to craft a well-organized appendix. Incorporate images, questionnaires, surveys, tables, and graphs to create relevancy with the primary body information to make your papers winning and easy to accept.
Read More: How to Plan Your Coursework.
