Research methodology
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Define your topic
Defining a relevant and well-outlined topic is a fundamental step in the dissertation process. Clearly and concisely expressing it will determine the direction of your research and the structure of your argumentation.
Use the 5 W's method (Who? What? When? Why? Where? How?) to clarify essential concepts and better understand the key points of your topic. You can also use mind maps to visualize and organize your ideas.
For each identified concept, create a list of keywords, search for synonyms or equivalent terms, and translate them into English.
Finally, ensure you meet the academic requirements of your program (topics, methodology, format, layout, volume) and consult the guidelines provided by your institution.
Tip! Consult non-confidential theses or dissertations by HEC students who received an A or B grade, as they can provide concrete examples.
Identify your sources
Identifying and selecting appropriate sources is essential to ensure the quality and credibility of your research work.
Leverage the resources available at HEC Paris’s Learning Center, which provides privileged access to a vast array of databases, specialized books, scientific articles, and journals through its search portal. Don’t hesitate to ask for a research assistance from the librarians.
You can also complement your research by exploring resources available on the web. Consider using academic search engines and exploring available search options.
Finally, enhance your research by consulting experts or conducting interviews with professors, researchers, or professionals in your field of study. These exchanges will add an empirical dimension to your work.
Tip! Add the Lean Library extension to your browser. This tool will automatically inform you whether the electronic resource you wish to access is available through HEC Paris’s Learning Center.
Conduct your research
Once your sources are identified, it’s time to move on to the active research phase. This step requires rigorous preparation to fully exploit the available resources.
Prepare your HEC login credentials to access useful databases for your research. If additional codes are required, contact the Learning Center: learning-center@hec.fr
Then, adapt your research techniques to the tools you are using. Use features like Boolean operators, truncations, quotation marks, parentheses, and refine your searches with filters.
Test and adjust your keywords based on the results obtained. If your initial searches are too broad or too narrow, modify the terms used, test synonyms or variations, and use filters to better target relevant sources. You can also use AI-powered search functions when available.
Tip! HEC Paris’s Learning Center recommends creating a dashboard (including dates, names, keywords used, results obtained, etc.) to maintain a detailed history and track your research progress.
Analyze your results
Analyzing the results of your research is a key step that allows you to structure and synthesize your work.
Identify the major concepts and ideas that emerge and that will support your argumentation.
Then, create a clear and coherent outline for your dissertation or thesis. It should reflect a logical progression of your thoughts.
At the same time, it is advisable to use reference management software. This helps you collect and organize your references, insert them as citations in your chosen style, and automatically generate your bibliography.
Finally, begin writing your dissertation or thesis based on the established outline. Ensure each section is well-argued and supported by the sources you have selected.
Tip! HEC Paris’s Learning Center offers introductory and training sessions, either in person or online, for the Zotero bibliographic software.
Cite your sources
The bibliography demonstrates your mastery of the subject and mentions the sources that enriched your work. It allows the reader to evaluate the relevance of your references or consult them for further reading.
To ensure academic rigor in your work, you must cite your sources. Each citation must be correctly attributed to its author to avoid any form of plagiarism.
To do so, it is essential to use the citation style required by your institution or discipline. Common citation styles include APA, MLA, or Chicago.
Finally, don’t forget to draft a complete bibliography listing all the sources you consulted and cited in your work. This list must be organized coherently and follow the format of the chosen citation style.