The chain of evidence structure for the academic-oriented dissertation projects (with the agile literature review approach)

The chain of evidence structure for the academic-oriented dissertation projects (with the agile literature review approach)

This brief note introduce the chain of evidence structure for the academic-oriented dissertation projects. As the current research work is for the MBA students doing dissertation projects, it should be mainly employed in this type of dissertation works. Briefly, the chain of evidence structure (i.e., sequence of evidence pointers) is as follows:

(A) The triggering point of intellectual curiosity ---> (B) research gap items # ---> (C) research objectives # ---> (D) theoretical framework items ---> (E) academic theories/ concepts/ research gaps (in the academic literature)/ contextual contingency factors --> (F) research methods employed ---> (G) research findings ---> (H) discussion findings ---> (I) academic values/ practical values of research/ discussion findings---> (J) future research works to do/ recommendations on improved business practices. 

Note: A to J are evidence pointers.

The following evidence pointers are covered in the four project deliverables:

Deliverable 1. The research gap-translation diagram: A, B.

Deliverable 2. The research gap-objective table: B, C.

Deliverable 3. Theoretical framework-A: D, E.

Deliverable 4. Theoretical framework-B: F.

In addition, the rest of the evidence pointers are covered in the following dissertation report chapters:

Chapter 4: Presentation of research findings: G.

Chapter 5: Discussion of findings: H, I.

Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations: I, J.