How To Write Accounting Dissertations
Handling accounting assignments has never been that easy. But completing an accounting dissertation and thesis is a different ball game altogether. It usually is a daunting prospect for many college accounting students. You did not come here to learn how difficult it can get, though. You are here to learn accounting dissertation writing tips. The ability to write like an accomplished accountant is undoubtedly a critical skill to possess in the 21st century. College hopes to prepare you for the real world of accountancy, which includes a lot of technical writing and number crunching.
Accounting Dissertation Writing Tips
Choose your accounting dissertation topic
Begin from the beginning: choose your accounting dissertation topic. In some cases, your advisor may propose topics for you. But usually, you will pick the issues you would like to investigate. Every dissertation situation is different, and you should confirm with your department every requirement you should satisfy. Do not start working on your accounting dissertation before you have established that you have met all the terms regarding handling such a project.
You want to select topics others in your faculty would find interesting and valuable. Preferably, choose topics that are currently generating debate or even controversy. Study a narrower area of your topic to make your study more focused. Above all, pick an area you have the smarts for and are passionate about.
Type of research
At this time, you have learned a ton of accounting principles, rules, and concepts. It is time to package all that knowledge into a concrete structure and form called a dissertation. Before you proceed further, you need to decide the kind of research you are going to be carrying out. You can choose to collect raw data and perform data analysis to extract valuable information. Alternatively, you can use both online and offline resources to research various relevant sources. In either case, you seek evidence that helps you to develop an informed point of view. Let us assume you have decided to use already existing data. Where do we go from here?
Understand your research problem
Ask yourself: why am I spending time and resources on this project? Which specific problem does my work address? Is there a problem in the first place? What is its scope? Establish how far others have gone concerning resolving the issue. Develop your research questions and hypotheses. These are going to be the tools that help you discover the solutions you seek.
Write your proposal
You are supposed to do a write-up that helps your advisor get a clear picture concerning what your research will cover. You need to get your proposal approved before you start executing your accounting dissertation or thesis. Typically, your proposal includes an introduction, literature review, and research methodology. What is the difference between a proposal and a dissertation? A dissertation contains your results and conclusion while a proposal cannot and does not have them.
Develop an informed argument
At this point, you need to review adequate, relevant material. Such literature review helps you understand if any gaps exist in the current body of accounting knowledge. You do not want to duplicate studies. You aim to leverage existing understanding to create new knowledge that leads to the development of your discipline. Research extensively, take notes, think and process information. Notice connections between concepts, ideas, and facts. You should be able to form an informed argument that confirms and challenges existing theories and notions in various ways. In other words, you are only able to write your thesis statement after reviewing relevant material and thinking through it.
Accounting Dissertation Writing Tips: Dissertation Structure
You have gathered data or information critical to the eventual success of your dissertation. It is time to present your argument. Admittedly, there is no specific format you are supposed to follow. That said, a typical dissertation consists of five chapters comprising of an introduction, literature review, research methodology, findings or results, and a conclusion.
Introduction
Your accounting dissertation’s introduction includes some background information, problem statement, research questions, the study’s significance, and any assumptions made. If you mishandle your introduction, you can as well forget about the rest of your accounting dissertation. Focus all your energies here. Get organized mentally. Succinctly state why your study matters, what led you to it, the research questions you are investigating, the problem, and assumptions. Aim to be as concise as you can. The effectiveness of your paper stands or collapses based on how well you write your introduction.
Literature review
Discuss the theoretical framework within which you will be working. Additionally, provide details concerning the material you have reviewed. Show why they are critical to the study at hand.
Research methodology
Describe your variables. Provide specific information regarding whether you are carrying qualitative data analysis or quantitative research. Discuss your approach and method and with clarity, state your hypotheses. Your research questions help you as you organize your hypotheses. Making mistakes here can lead others to question the reliability of the results obtained.
Findings or results
Describe the data you have collected. Also, inform the reader regarding the analysis of those findings. Various tools are available that can help you perform comprehensive data analyses. You should find out the data analysis methods your field prefers. It is the analysis process that converts the ton of data collected into clear information that makes sense.
Conclusion
You do not need to announce to the reader that they are about to read your accounting dissertation’s conclusion. If you have used transitions accurately, your audience can sense without fail that you are winding up. Your conclusion summarizes your results, discussion, and implications as well as suggestions for further study.
Editorial style & in-text citations
Typically, accounting papers use the APA style. Be sure to apply the rules of this editorial style throughout the document. Use APA when writing the title page, in-text citations, running head, references page, and appendices. Observe the rules when labeling figures and tables, too. Failure to get it right with a formatting style can cost you marks. Keep yourself informed about referencing style-related changes.
You have learned how to write an effective dissertation and thesis. You can now handle an accounting dissertation or thesis no matter how involved it gets. Don’t procrastinate — start now.
Now that you have read and understood accounting dissertation writing tips, it is time to put into test what you’ve learn’t. Unfortunately you may lack enough time. Our OBU thesis help will assist you develop quality accounting dissertation proposal as you prepare to write the final project.