You have finally gathered all the information for your dissertation so you want to start writing. But suddenly you have doubts: the results are so banal, so trivial...
Why is that?
The answer is simple: YOU have deduced everything logically, have delved deep into the subject and understand everything perfectly. Therefore, it is easy for YOU to understand but not for others!
So come down (or better up :-) ) and answer the following 5 questions:
Question 1: Have I achieved the original goals of my dissertation and gained the desired insight?
Measure your findings against the original goals! When you first started, you wrote a proposal with your goals, the current state of research and your approach. Dig out this document again. Look at your destination at that time. Compare it with the current results. If your results are mostly in line with the goals you set at the time, you should be satisfied with the results and finish writing the text. If you need to change the target formulation on the way, this will serve as your benchmark.
Question 2: Did my supervisor approve the goal of my dissertation when I started my PhD?
You discussed your concept or proposal with your supervisor in the beginning phases of your thesis. Therefore, it only makes sense that the formulation of objectives also has to be approved. If your current results are largely consistent with the goals you set at the time, and if these results are accepted by your supervisor, then stop brooding and get on with it.
Question 3: Did I proceed as planned with the proposal for my dissertation?
When you first started, you defined your goals, your approach and your methods. Have you followed these steps closely? Have you applied the methods largely without any compromises? Have you been able to obtain and evaluate the data? Then your results should be acceptable and you should accept them.
Question 4: What does my supervisor think about my findings?
Present the results to your supervisor and ask him/her directly how he/she assesses these findings.
- Discuss the depth and scope of your individual findings and insight.
- Defend your findings.
- Take notes.
- Then revise your results again, one last time!
Question 5: Has the state of research developed further in the meantime? Are there new findings from other authors?
Did someone discover the same results as you already? What a nightmare to read about your findings in another author's article... On the positive side, it is another incentive to finish the dissertation quickly so something like this doesn't happen. As long as you keep an eye on the current state of research, you can be sure that your results are unique. So make sure that the world finally sees your findings and stop brooding about the quality of your results.
Now finish your text and have it printed.
Good luck writing your text!
Silvio and the Aristolo Team
PS: Check out the PhD Guide for writing a PhD in 200 days.
