Coursework vs. Dissertation: Comparative Analysis

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Style
Organization
Argument
Planning and Writing Process
Benefits and Challenges
Conclusion
References

Introduction

It is important to note that there are similarities and differences between coursework and dissertation writing since they serve distinct purposes. Essentially, a dissertation is about creating new knowledge, which implies designing a research methodology, analysing the results, and presenting an argument to fill the gap. However, coursework is more precisely focused on specific module areas with the purpose of employing and measuring competencies of mastering the key subjects. The given comparative analysis will focus on the previous works titled ‘Overconfidence and Trading Activity’ and ‘Protection for Self-Employed Individuals.’ Therefore, there are stylistic, organizational, argumentative, and procedural differences and similarities between a dissertation and coursework with their own corresponding strengths and challenges.

Style

When it comes to style, coursework is inherently focused on the measurement of skills, knowledge, and understanding within a specific module or course. A dissertation is designed to research and present a thesis of a student in an area of his or her own interest (Terrell, 2022). Both have a similar style due to the academic nature of the writing, especially in the case of consulting outside expert scholarly evidence (Terrell, 2022). In other words, a dissertation’s literature review section and coursework rely on reliable outside sources to substantiate the arguments made and conclusions derived.

However, the key difference lies in the style of writing used in coursework, which primarily and extensively depends on presenting what other experts and academics know about the subject. In other words, it does not seek to produce a piece of new knowledge or observation, which is reflected in its style of writing, where all essential statements need external evidence (Joyner et al., 2018). A dissertation’s main purpose is to create new knowledge, which means that it incorporates some elements of the coursework’s style in its sections, such as a literature review (Terrell, 2022). However, it uses a more analytical style for its own observations, findings, and conclusions.

Organization

In the case of the organisation of coursework, it is simpler and less extensive compared to a dissertation. It essentially has an introduction with a thesis, several body paragraphs on specific thesis elements as core topics of focus, and a conclusion (Joyner et al., 2018). However, a dissertation is built around an introduction, literature review, methodology, results or findings, discussion and analysis, and a conclusion.

Therefore, the similarity is manifested in the fact that both forms of academic writing review external literature, but they are different for the most part when it comes to methodology, results, and discussion (Joyner et al., 2018). It is important to note that although both coursework and dissertation use outside sources, the literature review section analyses evidence through its themes and topics (Joyner et al., 2018). In contrast, coursework uses external evidence in accordance with the focus on an element of the thesis or argument.

Since the dissertation is still in the process of writing, the past coursework will be used to compare with the general structure of the former. For example, coursework on ‘Overconfidence and Trading Activity’ has an organisation consisting of an introduction, several body sections, and a conclusion, and the body is titled ‘Decision Making in Trading Activity.’

It is divided into four subsections named ‘Financial Decision Making,’ ‘Psychological Explanation for Trading Activities,’ ‘Methodological and Empirical Controversies,’ and ‘Evidence on Relationship between Overconfidence and Trading Activities.’ Another example of past coursework is on ‘Protection for Self-Employed Individuals,’ which has an organisation consisting of an introduction, several body sections, and a conclusion as well. The body sections are titled ‘Market Needs,’ ‘Importance of Insurance,’ and ‘Protection Products.’ The latter section is further divided into subsections, such as ‘Life Insurance,’ ‘Health Insurance Cover,’ and ‘Income Protection Insurance.’

In both coursework writings, a clear use of literature is evident in all of its paragraphs, subsections, and body sections. It is important to indicate that the introduction and conclusion are the only texts missing citations in accordance with academic writing standards. However, a dissertation uses citations mainly in its literature review sections with a lesser use to no use of external sources in its discussion, methodology, or the results sections. The majority of evidence-primarily comes from the research data and findings rather than the literature when it comes to the core thesis. As a result, a dissertation creates a piece of new knowledge through its own efforts of evidence generation, but coursework uses other experts’ findings as supporting information for its argument.

Argument

Coursework and dissertation are highly distinct in terms of their central arguments. On the one hand, coursework presents a thesis within the scope of existing knowledge. In other words, an academic writer studies the available body of knowledge, identifies patterns or themes, and builds an argument on the basis of the information (Terrell, 2022). On the other hand, a dissertation’s core claim, thesis, or argument is a statement based on what is outside of existing knowledge. The argument is made by not relying or minimally relying on the available information but rather on the researcher’s own findings through experiments or other methods of research (Terrell, 2022). Therefore, both propose a specific and evidence-based claim, but the latter is derived from differential types of sources, such as the existing knowledge for coursework or research findings for a dissertation.

Throughout the body sections, one can observe an extensive use of external scholarly literature as evidence to substantiate the topic sentences and claims. An example of the claim is that among existing cognitive biases, overconfidence is one of the most harmful ones. It is followed by evidence, where Combrink & Lew (2019) stated that accurate self-rating and assessment of one’s abilities are hard for people and even more challenging when they need to be compared to others. At no point coursework uses its own research data to support its thesis, which is why it does not present sections on methodology, results, and discussion.

Similarly, one can observe an extensive use of external scholarly literature as evidence to substantiate the topic sentences and claims throughout the body sections. For instance, a claim is made that insurance is important because it ensures that self-employed people are prepared for unexpected events and be able to continue pursuing their goals. The latter is backed and supported by evidence, which states that a person who has insured his business or professional practice will not be affected should his or her premise be damaged in an inferno (Wolfe & Patel, 2019). A specific evidence-based example is provided to substantiate the claim made on the importance of insurance for a population of interest.

Planning and Writing Process

The planning and writing process for a dissertation and coursework differ since the former incorporates elements absent or less extensive in coursework. The key similarity is that both academic writings begin with an identification of the subject of focus, followed by a search for an existing body of knowledge. In other words, a writer of coursework or dissertation begins their efforts by consulting reliable and valid evidence on the topic (Joyner et al., 2018). However, the major difference is that a coursework writer’s further analysis is limited to what was found as a result of the literature assessment (Terrell, 2022). Essentially, he or she has to make in-depth observations of patterns and themes to answer the research question or make an argument.

On the contrary, a writer of a dissertation needs to use the existing knowledge to identify gaps within it to be filled in by him or her. As a result, a proper methodology of research needs to be designed to address the gap with the identification of key variables, instruments, the population of interest, and the method of data analysis (Terrell, 2022). The thesis cannot be built without conducting the research through the selected methodological framework and deriving properly analysed results.

Benefits and Challenges

The benefit of coursework is that it allows a person to acquire in-depth knowledge of a specific module to the point that he or she can make insightful observations. In addition, one can identify patterns in the existing body of evidence, which develops his or her skills within this specific area. The advantage of a dissertation is more apparent since it enables a person to create new knowledge, which was previously identified as a gap derived from the analysis of existing literature (Joyner et al., 2018). It profoundly develops not only module area skills and competencies but research abilities and analytical capabilities as well. Therefore, the core challenge of a dissertation writer is being self-sufficient and independent since it is he or she who has to find the gap, design a proper method of analysis, and conduct the research (Terrell, 2022). On the contrary, the major difficulty in writing coursework is finding and filtering the evidence as well as identifying patterns.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are stylistic, organisational, argumentative, and procedural distinctions and similarities between the writing processes of a dissertation and coursework with their own corresponding advantages and challenges. Firstly, a dissertation is designed to research and present a thesis of a student in an area of his or her own interest. However, coursework is inherently focused on the measurement of skills, knowledge, and understanding within a specific module or course. Secondly, coursework is simpler and less extensive compared to a dissertation in the case of the organisation since it has an introduction with a thesis, body sections, and a conclusion. On the contrary, a dissertation is built around an introduction, literature review, methodology, results or findings, discussion and analysis, and a conclusion. Thirdly, a dissertation’s argument is made by not relying or minimally relying on the available information but rather on the researcher’s own findings through experiments or other methods of research. Coursework presents a thesis within the scope of existing knowledge.

Fourthly, a coursework writer’s further analysis is limited to what was found as a result of the literature analysis. However, a dissertation writer must design a research methodology, analyse the results, and present an argument to fill the gap. Fifthly, the advantage of coursework is that one can identify patterns in the existing body of evidence, which develops his or her skills within this specific area. It allows a person to acquire in-depth knowledge of a specific module to the point that he or she can make insightful observations. A dissertation profoundly develops research abilities and analytical capabilities as well.

References

Combrink, S., & Lew, C. (2019). Potential underdog bias, overconfidence and risk propensity in investor decision-making behaviour. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 21(4), 337-351. Web.

Joyner, R. L., Rouse, W. A., & Glatthorn, A. A. (2018). Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: A step-by-step guide. (4^th ed.). Corwin.

Terrell, S. R. (2022). Writing a proposal for your dissertation: Guidelines and examples (2^nd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Wolfe, M. T., & Patel, P. C. (2019). To your health: Health insurance, self‐employment exit, and older entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business Management, 57(2), 593-615. Web.

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