Consolidation and direct transfer in findings treatment in dissertation projects: a note

Consolidation and direct transfer in findings treatment in dissertation projects: a note

For MBA dissertation projects that employ the agile literature review approach and the table of content template, I come up with the specific terms as related to findings:

Chapter 4: presentation of research findings

Findings direct from the data gathering phase of research methods are called research findings [RFs]. These research findings are relatively raw in the sense that they have not be further processed with theory-driven analysis (theories from theoretical framework 1a) and data analysis (quantitative and qualitative research analysis). Nevertheless, in this chapter, some treatments are specifically made on the minute research findings (i.e. minute findings) before a set of research findings are finalized; the treatments on minute findings are two kinds: (i) consolidation and (ii) direct transfer.

Chapter 5: discussion of findings

Discussion findings [DFs] are the processed outputs from research findings [RFs] as inputs, via the treatment of (i) theory-driven analysis and data analysis as well as (ii) consolidation/ direct transfer on RFs.

The consolidation and direct transfer treatment of findings are depicted in the following diagram:

Regarding the diagram, (a) several minute research findings can be consolidated to produce one research finding and (b) a minute finding, being a critical one, can be directly transferred to gain the research finding status. The two treatments of consolidation and direct transfer can take place in Chapter 4: presentation of findings, Chapter 5: discussion of findings and, lastly in Chapter 6: conclusions and recommendations. In Chapter 6, (a) two or more discussion findings [DFs] can be considered to support the formulation of 1 recommendation [the consolidation case] and (b) one critical discussion finding [DF] can be considered to support the formulation of 1 recommendation [the direct transfer case].

Finally, it is important to refer to these findings, with clear pointers and pointer labels, in your dissertation discussion in essay form to clearly establish your line of reasoning.

Note: the ideas of (a) research and discussion findings as well as (b) the treatment of findings are also useful ones for my Housing Studies students to learn and employ in their dissertation report work. They probably will have one consolidated chapter on findings and analysis instead of two chapters on presentation of findings and discussion of findings.

References

1. How to formulate research findings

2. Chain of evidence design and execution

3. Making recommendations in dissertation reports.