How to write a good title for a postgraduate dissertation

Dr Mansoor Ali

The dissertation title is your first opportunity to let the reader know what your dissertation is about.

With just a few words, the title has to highlight the purpose of the study, include its context, outcomes, and important aspects of the research strategy adopted – that means entire work in fe words.

Here is an example
Area : Type 2 Diabetes
Objectives : Role of Helonias in micro vascular complications
Type of study : Case control study
Study population : Urban population of Kozhikode

Title : A study of Homoeopathic Remedy Helonias in micro-vascular complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Urban Population of Kozhikode – A case control study.

Only give title as “Usefulness of Homoeopathic Medicine in….” Not as “Efficacy of Homoeopathic Medicine in…” – Efficacy applicable only to RCT

Avoid the use of any abbreviations, acronyms and/or initials to the main body of the dissertation.

The key to writing a good thesis title is to make sure it is not too long, is catchy and holds the reader’s interest

Aim of the study

• Aim is a broad statement of the general intentions of the research and the desired outcomes.
• Emphasize what is to be accomplished, not how it is to be accomplished.
• Address the long-term project outcomes, .i.e. they should reflect the aspirations and expectations of the research topic.

Aims and Objectives are not the same
Objective: means how to achieve aim
May be Primary or Secondary

Example:
Main objective: Dehydration management of diarrhoeas

Secondary objective:

1. To reduce number of stools
2. To prevent dehydration
3. To prevent complications
4. To access intensity by a scale 

• Primary objectives should be simple, specific, and stated in advance and numbered
• Sample size should be  calculated for each objective and would have at least one  table in the result section.
• Do not include  too many objectives that cannot be adequately answered – as per KUHS 3.
• Secondary objectives may be mentioned, but specific sample size calculation not required.

References

1. Ananatha Krishnan N:medicaal postgraduate dissertation a step by step approach.India:Wolters Kluwer;2013
2. Munir Ahammed R : Research Methodology.Bangalore: Centre for Homeopathic Studies;2005
3. Writing a reference list in the Vancouver style:VIKO; [Published 29.04.2011;Cited on 30-04-2016].Available from http://www.ntnu.no/viko/english/papers/vancouverlist
4. PubMed Central : National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine ; [cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
5. Cochrane Libray : Wiley Online Library;[cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from  http://www.cochranelibrary.com/

Dr Mansoor Ali K R BHMS,MD(Hom)
Associate  Professor- Govt. Homeopathic Medical College, Calicut
Email : homoeobook@gmail.com