A note about sending dissertation report draft to supervisor to review: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A note about sending dissertation report draft to supervisor to review: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "When writing dissertation reports to my dissertation supervisor to review, is it a good practice to send dissertation report chapter by chapter sequentially to the supervisor for review? Also is it a good practice for me, the student, to write up one chapter before starting to write the next chapter? Please advice with reference to MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects."

The reply: "When writing dissertation reports for MBA or Housing Studies projects, it is widely considered good practice to send chapters to your dissertation supervisor for feedback as you complete them, rather than waiting until the whole dissertation is finished. This chapter-by-chapter submission allows your supervisor to provide focused, timely input, helping you catch errors, improve clarity, and ensure alignment with academic expectations early in the process. Here are some key points specific to your questions:

1. Sending Dissertation Chapters Sequentially for Review

• Recommended Practice: Submitting each chapter as you finish it is both efficient and pedagogically sound. Supervisors are better able to give detailed feedback, and you avoid accumulating multiple issues to fix at the end. This approach is standard across MBA dissertations and equally beneficial for research projects in Housing Studies and related social science fields.

• Benefits:

  • You get prompt advice, allowing corrections and improvements before you move too far ahead.

  • Major structural or content issues can be addressed early, reducing extensive reworking later.

  • It encourages consistent progress and can help manage workload stress.

2. Writing Up One Chapter Before Starting the Next

• Practical Approach: While it's generally helpful to focus on drafting one chapter at a time (to ensure depth and logical flow), dissertation writing is rarely strictly linear. For example, you might draft sections of your methodology while finalizing your literature review, as the two often overlap conceptually.

• Best Practices:

  • Develop a detailed outline at the start, so you are clear about links between chapters.

  • Prioritize finishing core chapters (like literature review or methodology) before advanced sections (like discussion or recommendations) because the latter depend on the content and direction of earlier parts.

  • Be flexible: returning to earlier chapters to refine details as your research evolves is considered good academic practice and ensures logical connections throughout.

• Specific to MBA and Housing Studies: Both fields typically require sequential, connected chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) and each chapter builds upon the prior ones—making it wise to draft and revise in this order but with flexibility for refinement.

Summary of Recommendations

• Yes, it is good practice to send your dissertation chapters sequentially to your supervisor for review.

• Yes, it is helpful to draft and finish one chapter at a time, but allow yourself to iterate and move between chapters as needed to maintain logical connections and coherence across your dissertation.

• Maintain a detailed outline and regularly update it as your research and writing progress.

• Seek feedback from your supervisor regularly—early feedback saves time and improves quality.

This structured, iterative approach is considered best practice for MBA dissertations and is equally applicable for Housing Studies and other research-oriented postgraduate projects."

My question 2: "Is it also important for me, the dissertation student, to produce some notes from time to time related to other dissertation chapters in an evolutionary, non-linear mode for learning and report writing purpose? My understanding is that writing is also a kind of learning, and that dissertation project process itself can also be an evolutionary project (including learning) process."

The reply: "Yes, your understanding is absolutely correct. Producing notes related to other dissertation chapters in an evolutionary, non-linear way is not only important but also highly beneficial for both your learning and writing process. Here’s why this approach is effective, especially in the context of an MBA or Housing Studies dissertation:

Writing as Learning and Dissertation as an Evolutionary Process

1. Writing is Part of the Learning Journey

   • As you research and write, you deepen your understanding of your topic. Taking notes continuously helps you process new insights, clarify complex ideas, and connect concepts across chapters.

   • These notes act as a repository of your evolving thoughts and analyses, allowing you to revisit and refine arguments or sections when needed.

2. Non-Linear and Iterative Nature of Dissertation Writing

   • Dissertations often evolve as new data or readings shape your perspective. It’s natural to move back and forth: for example, revising your literature review after new findings in your results chapter.

   • Notes created during various stages can help capture these developments comprehensively, making it easier to update and maintain coherence throughout the project.

3. Cross-Referencing Across Chapters

   • Since chapters are interconnected (e.g., methodology informs results, which feed into discussion), informal notes that highlight relationships or inconsistencies can guide you in maintaining logical flow.

   • You may jot down ideas about implications or recommendations as you write earlier chapters, even if those sections will be formally developed later.

4. Supporting Supervisor Communication and Feedback

   • Notes also help track questions or uncertainties you want to raise with your supervisor, making your consultations more focused and productive.

   • They demonstrate your active engagement with the project, which supervisors often appreciate.

Practical Tips for Using Notes Effectively

• Keep a dedicated research journal or digital document for ongoing reflections and cross-chapter observations.

• Use these notes to update your dissertation outline regularly, ensuring it reflects the project’s current state.

• Summarize key learnings or challenges after each writing session to build momentum and clarify next steps.

• Don’t hesitate to insert “placeholders” or brief notes in draft chapters indicating where you plan to add or revise content later.

In summary: Evolving notes that span multiple chapters and reflect your developing understanding are a crucial part of a successful dissertation process. They support learning, writing, coherence, and effective communication — all essential for strong MBA or Housing Studies dissertations. So yes, embrace this non-linear, note-taking habit as a best practice."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.