Does the sexualisation of industry women in music positively or negatively affect the way women are seen by consumers? is it empowering or demeaning?

PA6317 – DG November 2020
STRUCTURAL GUIDANCE FOR PA6317 DISSERTATION
Layout & Structure:
• Title Page with name, course and dissertation title
• Abstract (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Main Body
5. Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Appendices (optional depending on the type of dissertation)
Each section starts on a new page.
Abstract (200 words) (optional)
A short one maximum two paragraph chapter. Think of this as the back of book;
give a brief outline of the findings such as: ‘This dissertation will tell the reader
how to optimise and monetise an income portfolio from music the main areas
and findings are…’
Points to follow:
1. Short synopsis of your work
2. What is the focus point of the research
3. Main findings and conclusions
Acknowledgements (optional)
One of the few times first person is allowed, thank people and fellow
researchers, your University, parents etc. who have helped facilitate your
successful completion of the work.
Table of Contents
• All content needs to be listed in sequence and include page numbers
PA6317 – DG November 2020
• All sections and subsections; the list of references; the bibliography; and
any appendices
• Make sure that a new chapter or section start on a new page
Introduction (750 words)
• A brief introduction of the area in question.
• What does the dissertation aim to achieve?
• What is your focus?
• What will your dissertation show?
• What is your research question/research aim?
• Articulate the sub-questions/sub-headings within the main body and
explain how these are related and contribute to the point the dissertation
is hoping to make.
Literature Review (700-1000 words)
This section describes the existing and established theory and research
in your research area. You are providing a context for your work.
Literature review Introduction
• What type of literature are you reviewing?
• The scope of your literature
Literature review main body
• What are the common themes in the literature you have read?
• Provide an insight into the relation between your chosen topic and the
wider subject area
• Conclude these points by aligning them with the focus of your research
Literature review conclusion
• Summarise your ideas (consider the links to your research
question/research aim)
• Summarise the important aspects of the existing body of literature
• Outline areas for your final dissertation
Methodology (word count dependent on the type of dissertation)
Whether you’re aware or not, there are many ways to conduct research. The
rationale for choosing specific method over others is entirely dependent on the
topic, what you want to learn, what information is already available for you to
use etc.
PA6317 – DG November 2020
According to the Oxford Research Group Ltd (2018) there should be four mains
sub-sections within your methodology section:
• A recap of your research question/research aim;
• A description of your design or method;
• The background and rationale for your design choice;
• An evaluation of your choice of method, and a statement of its limitations.
For more guidance on methodologies and a breakdown of these four subsections, then please review the following website:
https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/writing-dissertation-methodology/
Main Body (4500-5000 words)
There are two differing options available to you when approaching the main
body.
Sub-questions/sub-headings structure
In order to answer your primary research question or intention, you can base
the main body around your sub-questions/sub-headings.
or
Results & Discussion
Results is the section where you describe everything you find out through
your research. You should give all of the results, and only the results of
your research activities. You need to do this in an objective and factual
way. It may be very helpful to include tables, graphs or illustrations here
to make it easier for the reader to understand the data. Do not include any
discussion, argument or conclusions – those come later.
Discussion is the section in which you can interpret your own
understanding of what the results of your research show. Here you make
interpretations and judgements. Remember to contextualise your ideas in
relation to other theories and with other similar research, particularly in
reference to the works mentioned in your literature survey. All of this
discussion must be framed within the purpose you stated in your title and
introduction. Do not draw out your conclusions here but open up the
discussion of possibilities.
Conclusion (600-800 words)
• What are the main findings?
• How has the research question/research aim been addressed through
your established evidence and fitting methodology?
PA6317 – DG November 2020
• The impact and importance of the research
• Make your conclusions and evaluate the findings.
• Critically analyse and illustrate points of further study derived from the
findings.
• There should be no new material included in this section.
Bibliography
List of books, journals, articles etc. that informed your dissertation whether it be
sources your directly cite or sources that informed your knowledge on topics.
Appendices (optional depending on the type of dissertation)
All relevant material to support dissertation:
– Interviews
– Data from Questionnaires/Surveys (not individual responses)
– Case Studies
– Musical transcriptions