A study note on academic writing style in dissertation report writing (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "If there is no single academic writing style for dissertation writing, then how does the choice of research philosophy, e.g. positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism and critical realism affect the academic writing style in dissertation writing in (1) business management and (2) housing studies?"
The reply: "The choice of research philosophy-such as positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism, and critical realism-significantly influences the academic writing style in dissertation writing by shaping the research approach, methodology, presentation of findings, and the overall narrative tone. This effect varies between disciplines like business management and housing studies due to their differing epistemological and ontological traditions.
How Research Philosophy Affects Academic Writing Style in Dissertations
1. Positivism
Nature and Style: Positivism emphasizes objective, measurable reality and often employs quantitative methods. Writing under this philosophy tends to be formal, structured, and impersonal, focusing on hypothesis testing, statistical analysis, and generalizable results. The style is concise, precise, and emphasizes clarity and replicability.
In Business Management: Positivist dissertations often adopt a scientific tone, use technical language related to statistical methods, and present findings with charts, tables, and figures to support claims objectively. The writing is linear and deductive, moving from theory to data to conclusions.
In Housing Studies: Positivist approaches are less dominant but when used, the writing focuses on empirical data about housing markets, policies, or physical conditions, with an emphasis on policy implications and measurable outcomes.
2. Interpretivism
Nature and Style: Interpretivism focuses on understanding subjective meanings and social constructions. The writing style is often more narrative, reflective, and rich in qualitative descriptions. It acknowledges the researcher’s role in co-constructing knowledge and emphasizes context and depth.
In Business Management: The dissertation writing may include detailed case studies, participant quotes, and thematic analysis. The tone is exploratory and descriptive, highlighting the complexity of human behaviors and organizational cultures.
In Housing Studies: Interpretivist dissertations explore lived experiences of housing, social meanings of home, and community narratives. The writing is often interdisciplinary, drawing from sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies, with a style that is less formal and more discursive.
3. Critical Realism
Nature and Style: Critical realism bridges positivism and interpretivism by recognizing an objective reality influenced by social structures and human agency. The writing style integrates empirical evidence with theoretical analysis, often combining qualitative and quantitative data.
In Business Management: Dissertations under critical realism critically analyze organizational structures and human actions, presenting layered explanations that consider both observable events and underlying mechanisms. The style is analytical and reflective, balancing description with critique.
In Housing Studies: As highlighted by Simon Peter Taylor (2020), critical realism is well-suited for housing research due to the field’s complexity and interdisciplinarity. Writing under this philosophy carefully separates observable phenomena from deeper social, historical, and political conditions affecting housing. The style is comprehensive, integrating theory and practice, and often compares alternative philosophical approaches like social constructionism15.
4. Pragmatism
Nature and Style: Pragmatism is outcome-oriented and flexible, focusing on practical solutions and mixed methods. Writing tends to be clear, straightforward, and geared toward addressing real-world problems rather than adhering strictly to philosophical purity.
In Business Management: Pragmatic dissertations often combine qualitative and quantitative data, with a writing style that is adaptive and problem-solving focused. The narrative highlights the usefulness and applicability of findings.
In Housing Studies: Pragmatism supports applied housing research, blending methods to tackle policy or community challenges. Writing is pragmatic, emphasizing actionable insights and policy relevance.
Conclusion
The absence of a single academic writing style for dissertations reflects the diversity of research philosophies. In business management, positivism and pragmatism often lead to more structured and quantitative writing, while interpretivism and critical realism encourage richer qualitative and mixed-method narratives. In housing studies, critical realism is particularly influential due to the field’s complexity, resulting in writing that integrates theory with empirical analysis across disciplines. Interpretivism adds depth through social and cultural insights, while positivism and pragmatism focus on measurable outcomes and practical solutions. Thus, the choice of research philosophy fundamentally shapes the dissertation’s writing style, structure, and presentation in both fields145."
My question 2: "Please provide 1 example for each of the research philosophies chosen in a dissertation report writing in this case."
The reply: "Here are one example of dissertation report writing for each of the four research philosophies-positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism, and critical realism-illustrated in the contexts of business management and housing studies:
1. Positivism Example
Business Management Dissertation Example:
Title: "The Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee Productivity: A Quantitative Study"
Research Philosophy: Positivism
Writing Style: Structured, objective, and quantitative.
Content: The dissertation formulates hypotheses about the relationship between leadership styles (independent variable) and employee productivity (dependent variable). It uses surveys with standardized questionnaires, collects numerical data from a large sample of employees, and applies statistical methods (e.g., regression analysis) to test causal relationships. The writing is formal, emphasizes measurement validity, and presents results in tables and graphs with clear, concise interpretation.
Purpose: To establish generalizable, causal knowledge about leadership effects on productivity through empirical testing1213.
Housing Studies Dissertation Example:
Title: "Quantitative Analysis of Housing Affordability and Its Impact on Urban Migration Patterns"
Research Philosophy: Positivism
Writing Style: Empirical, data-driven, and policy-oriented.
Content: The study uses housing market data and census statistics to test hypotheses about how affordability influences migration. It employs econometric models to identify causal effects, presenting findings with statistical rigor and emphasizing replicability and objectivity.
Purpose: To provide measurable evidence for housing policy formulation based on observable data12.
2. Interpretivism Example
Business Management Dissertation Example:
Title: "Understanding Employee Motivation in Remote Work Settings: A Qualitative Study"
Research Philosophy: Interpretivism
Writing Style: Narrative, descriptive, and reflective.
Content: This dissertation uses in-depth interviews and thematic analysis to explore employees’ subjective experiences and meanings related to motivation in remote work. The writing includes rich participant quotes, contextualizes findings within organizational culture, and acknowledges the researcher’s interpretive role.
Purpose: To gain deep understanding of individual perspectives rather than generalize findings1314.
Housing Studies Dissertation Example:
Title: "The Social Meaning of Home Among Low-Income Families: A Phenomenological Approach"
Research Philosophy: Interpretivism
Writing Style: Qualitative, interdisciplinary, and discursive.
Content: The study explores how families perceive and experience "home" beyond physical shelter, using interviews and participant observation. The writing integrates sociological and cultural insights, focusing on lived experiences and social constructions of housing.
Purpose: To reveal nuanced social and emotional dimensions of housing that quantitative studies might overlook13.
3. Pragmatism Example
Business Management Dissertation Example:
Title: "Evaluating the Effectiveness of NGO Programmes: A Mixed-Methods Pragmatic Approach"
Research Philosophy: Pragmatism
Writing Style: Clear, practical, and solution-focused.
Content: The dissertation combines qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to assess NGO program outcomes. It emphasizes actionable knowledge, linking findings directly to organizational decision-making and improvement strategies. The writing balances empirical data with narrative explanations.
Purpose: To address real-world organizational problems by integrating multiple methods and perspectives14.
Housing Studies Dissertation Example:
Title: "Developing Sustainable Housing Solutions: A Pragmatic Mixed-Methods Study"
Research Philosophy: Pragmatism
Writing Style: Applied, flexible, and outcome-oriented.
Content: This study uses surveys, focus groups, and case studies to evaluate sustainable housing initiatives. The writing highlights practical implications for policymakers and stakeholders, focusing on what works in specific contexts.
Purpose: To generate practical solutions through methodological flexibility and responsiveness to complex housing challenges14.
4. Critical Realism Example
Business Management Dissertation Example:
Title: "Exploring the Mechanisms Behind Organizational Change: A Critical Realist Case Study"
Research Philosophy: Critical Realism
Writing Style: Analytical, layered, combining theory and empirical data.
Content: The dissertation investigates how organizational structures and human agency interact to produce change. It uses case studies to identify underlying causal mechanisms, combining qualitative interviews with document analysis. The writing critically reflects on both observable events and deeper social conditions.
Purpose: To develop theory-informed explanations that account for complexity beyond surface observations12.
Housing Studies Dissertation Example:
Title: "Housing Inequality and Social Structures: A Critical Realist Analysis of Urban Displacement"
Research Philosophy: Critical Realism
Writing Style: Comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and explanatory.
Content: This dissertation examines how economic, political, and social structures cause housing displacement, using mixed methods and comparative case studies. It distinguishes between observable phenomena and underlying mechanisms, providing a nuanced explanation of housing inequality.
Purpose: To build robust, context-sensitive theories that inform housing policy and social justice12.
These examples illustrate how the choice of research philosophy shapes not only methodology but also the academic writing style, structure, and focus in dissertations within business management and housing studies. Each philosophy leads to distinct approaches to presenting knowledge, reflecting its epistemological and ontological assumptions."
My question 3: "Should the dissertation writer uses "I" or "this writer" in dissertation writing with reference to the research philosophy chosen?"
The reply: "The choice between using "I," "this writer," or avoiding first-person pronouns in dissertation writing depends on the research philosophy and disciplinary conventions, but generally:
Positivism
Positivist dissertations aim for objectivity and impersonality, often avoiding first-person pronouns to maintain a formal, detached tone.
Writing typically uses passive voice or third-person constructions (e.g., "The experiment was conducted") rather than "I conducted the experiment" or "this writer conducted the experiment"25.
Interpretivism and Critical Realism
These philosophies acknowledge the researcher's active role in knowledge construction, making first-person usage ("I") more acceptable and sometimes preferable.
Using "I" can clarify the researcher's perspective, reflexivity, and interpretive role, which is important in qualitative and critical realist studies23.
However, "this writer" is less common and can sound awkward or overly formal; "I" is clearer and more direct.
Pragmatism
Pragmatism values clarity and practical communication, so using "I" is often appropriate to clearly state the researcher’s actions and decisions.
The writing style is flexible and outcome-oriented, so first-person pronouns can be used judiciously to improve readability and ownership of the work38.
General Guidance
Many academic advisors and style guides now accept or even encourage the judicious use of "I" in dissertations to avoid awkward passive constructions and to make the writing clearer and more engaging3.
Using "this writer" is generally discouraged because it can make the text cumbersome and less readable3.
The key is consistency and appropriateness to the discipline, institution, and research philosophy.
Always check your university’s specific guidelines and consult your supervisor.
Summary Table
In conclusion, the use of "I" is generally acceptable and often preferred in interpretivist, critical realist, and pragmatic dissertations, while positivist dissertations tend to avoid it to maintain objectivity. The phrase "this writer" is rarely recommended due to its awkwardness. Always align your choice with your research philosophy, disciplinary norms, and institutional guidelines2368."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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