2. Dissertation : What it is?
A long essay on a particular subject, especially
one written for a university degree or
diploma.
Expectation: The learner, takes responsibility
for own learning and produces a literature
review, chooses a method for undertaking a
study, writes up the findings and discusses the
outcomes in a discussion section.
3. Purpose of Dissertation in Syllabi
• Identify your own area of interest.
• Explore an area in depth.
• Define your own questions.
• Experience the process of producing knowledge.
• Manage a project from beginning to end.
• Consolidate your communication, information-seeking and
intellectual skills.
• In many ways this is about doing social science rather than writing
about the social science that others have produced.
• Develop effectiveness in collecting, manipulating and interrogating
information, its application and the production of reports - all of
which are useful skills in future research and employment.
4. Thesis and Dissertation
A thesis statement declares what you believe and what
you intend to prove. A good thesis should be a
thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of
facts.
The words “thesis” and “dissertation” are often used interchangeably.
The main similarity between the dissertation and the thesis is the
structure. Both have
• Introduction
• Literary review
• Main body
• Conclusion
• Bibliography and Appendix.
5. Thesis v/s Dissertation
• Depth of Knowledge
• Originality : Subject & Own Hypothesis v/s
insights.
• Role of Review of Literature ( Analysis / New Hypothesis)
• Length of the Document
• Conclusive research ahead of author opinion.
6. Other Research Terminologies
• Research Project: It is the research into
questions posed by scientific theories and
hypotheses. Since, it is a project it often
involves pre determined objectives, specificity
of investment on research work and the time
duration also. There are many agencies which
provide funding for research projects in social
sciences apart from the ministries like ICSSR,
UGC etc.
7. Research Paper v/s Review Paper
Research Paper
A research paper is based on
original research. The kind of
research may vary, depending on
your field or the topic,
(experiments, survey, interview,
questionnaire, etc.), but authors
need to collect and analyze raw
data and conduct an original
study. The research paper will be
based on the analysis and
interpretation of this data.
Review Paper
It is based on other published articles. It
does not report original research. Review
articles generally summarize the existing
literature on a topic in an attempt to explain
the current state of understanding on the
topic. Review articles can be of three kinds:
A narrative review explains the existing
knowledge on a topic based on all the
published research available on the topic.
A systematic review searches for the answer
to a particular question in the existing
scientific literature on a topic.
A meta-analysis compares and combines
the findings of previously published studies,
usually to assess the effectiveness of an
intervention or mode of treatment.
They often have a high impact and receive a
lot of citations.
8. Synopsis
It is a brief or condensed statement giving a
general view of some research to be carried
forward in future. It is a compendium of heads
or short paragraphs giving a view of the whole.
The heads include : Statement of the problem,
Review of literature, Need of the study,
Objectives, Research Methodology, Limitations
of the study, tentative chapter plan….
It is a sort of summary.
9. Abstract
It is much similar to gist of the poem / story in
literature. It not only introduces the topic, its
importance but gives a brief description of
whatever has been done in the research paper
beginning from objectives to implications of the
study. A good abstract is often subdivide into
various heads
10. ABSTRACT The modern world has led consumers to become
increasingly concerned about the environment. Such
concerns have begun to be displayed in their purchasing
patterns, with consumers increasingly preferring to buy so-
called ‘ environmentally friendly products ’ . Marketing
managers have in turn recognised the strategic importance of
marketing in finding responses to the ‘ environmental needs
’ of consumers due to the influence this may have on their
consumption habits. The growing number of organisations
entering the green product market also indicates the need for
suitable segmentation and positioning strategies. This paper
focuses on the identification of distinct market segments.
Through the use of variables related to the environment, as
well as demographic variables, the segments that are
occupied by consumers with different sensitivities to
environmental matters are identified, and the possible
implications of these results for the marketing strategies of
companies are also discussed.
11. Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to: design a comprehensive, review-based and statistically
tested corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) index; measure item-wise and
theme-wise the social performance of the top 82 companies in India; and investigate
item-wise and theme-wise the variations in CSRD.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents an empirical study of CSRD in
2009-2010, using content analysis, Cronbach’s a, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-
Wilk tests of normality and a six point scale (0-5), mean, skewness, kurtosis, and
Levene’s, Kruskal-Wallis’s and Mood’s median tests for analysis and interpretation.
Findings – CSRD shows less satisfactory social performance, mainly narrative, and
varies significantly among items and themes. Community development, with a mean
score of 14.30, is the most disclosed theme, followed by HR, with a score of 11.20. The
human element is the center of social performance in India. More than equal focus
should be given to the environment and to emissions, which impact the greater interests
of the world. Some burning global issues like water usage, alternative sources of energy,
product safety and innovation have not received adequate attention.
Research limitations/implications – The study offers ample scope for the further
studies as each and every theme and item considered in the model/index requires
individual focus to serve the future generations of mankind. Longitudinal/transnational
studies in the area of CSR could be carried out to set the scene for further studies
12. Practical implications – The paper recommends mandatory CSR norms leading to
improved disclosure, the sharing of innovative knowledge, cost reductions and enhanced
effectiveness in
managing scarce resources.
Originality/value – The paper evaluates social performance in the economic, social,
religious environment and highlights the emerging philanthropic attitude. The paper
improves an existing model by incorporating an emerging dimension, i.e. ‘‘Emissions of
carbon and other harmful gases’’. The CSEEE index designed here is highly appropriate
for developing economies like India. The paper measures CSRD using six-point scales
for the first time.
Keywords Carbon emissions, CSEEE index, Community, Energy, Environment, Human
resources, India, Social responsibility, Disclosure
Paper type Research paper
