Useful Phrases in Writing A Skripsi/Thesis

Useful Phrases in Writing A Skripsi/Thesis

Collected by Ari Julianto


We are supposed to use technical and professional language in writing our skripsi/thesis, but there are certain words and phrases that can add up to the overall positive effect of our paper and make it look like a uniform piece of writing rather than just a pile of fancy words and technical phrases. Below I have collected some useful phrases that will help you to unify your paper.

1. The Purpose
- Part of the aim of this research is to develop software that is compatible with X operating system.
- The main purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of ....
- There are two primary aims of this study: 1. To investigate .... 2. To ascertain ....
- The aim of this research has therefore been to try and establish what ....
- The aim of this study is to investigate the differences between .....
- The main aim of this investigation is to assess the doses and risks associated with ....
- This thesis intends to determine the extent to which .... and whether ....
- This thesis will examine the way in which the ....
- This research examines the emerging role of X in the context of....
- This research seeks to explain the development of ....
- This case study seeks to examine the changing nature of .....
- Drawing upon two stands of research into X, this study attempts to ....
- The aim of this study is to shine new light on these debates through an examination of ....
- The major objective of this study was to investigate .....
- One purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which these factors were ....
- The objectives of this research are to determine ....
- This study therefore set out to assess the effect of management by ...., and the effect of ....
- This study systematically reviews the data for...., aiming to provide clarity surrounding the role of …..

2. The Issue
- This study is an attempt to address the issue of ....
- In the present study, the issue under scrutiny is ....
- The issue of whether ....is clouded by the fact that ....
- To portray the issue in (X)‘s terms, ....
- Given the centrality of this issue to (my claim), I will now ....
- This research is concerned with the issue of (how/whether/what) ....

3.The Evidence
- The available evidence seems to suggest that ..../point to ....
- On the basis of the evidence currently available, it seems fair to suggest that ....
- There is overwhelming evidence corroborating the notion that ....
- Further evidence supporting/against (X) may lie in the findings of (Y), who ....
- These results provide confirmatory evidence that ....

4. Problem of Study
- However, these rapid changes are having a serious effect ....
- However, a major problem with this kind of application is ....
- Lack of X has existed as a health problem for many years.
- Despite its safety and efficacy, X suffers from several major drawbacks:
- However, research has consistently shown that first year students have not attained an adequate understanding of ....
- There is increasing concern that some Xs are being disadvantaged ....
- Despite its long clinical success, X has a number of problems in use.
- Questions have been raised about the safety of prolonged use of....
- However, the main issue with this solution is....
- Despite the positive aspects, it has some major issues.
- There are some grave concerns that....

5. Scope and Limitations
- Due to practical constraints, this paper cannot provide a comprehensive review of ....
- It is beyond the scope of this study to examine the ....
- The reader should bear in mind that the study is based on ....
- Another potential problem is that the scope of my thesis may be too broad.
- A full discussion of X lies beyond the scope of this study.

6. Significance of the Study
- We develop theory to explain how...
- Our most important contribution is...
- This study advances our understanding of...
- To date, no systematic investigation has considered...
- We examine how organizations use [insert text] to overcome...
- Recent developments in X have heightened the need for ....
- In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in ....
- In the arena of X , there has been a recent surge in interest and research.
- Recent developments in the field of X have led to a renewed interest in ....
- Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in ....
- Since 1949 the submarine area off X has undergone intensive investigation ....
- The past decade has seen the rapid development and diffusion of X in many ....
- The past thirty years have seen increasingly rapid advances in the field of.....
- Over the past century there has been a dramatic increase in ....
- In the past two decades a number of researchers have sought to determine .....
- X proved an important literary genre in the early Y community.
- One of the most important events of the 1970s was ....
- Traditionally, Xs have subscribed to the belief that ....

7. Research Questions (Hypotheses)
- The central question in this dissertation asks how ....
- In particular, this dissertation will examine six main research questions:
- The hypothesis that will be tested is that ....
- The key research question of this study was thus whether or not....
- This study aimed to address the following research questions:Another question is whether ....

 8. Review of Literature
- Recently investigators have examined the effects of X on Y.
- In the past two decades a number of researchers have sought to determine ....
- Previous studies have reported ....
- A considerable amount of literature has been published on X. - These studies ....
- Smith (1984: 217) shows how, in the past, research into X was mainly concerned with ....
- Surveys such as that conducted by Smith (1988) showed that ....
- The first serious discussions and analyses of X emerged during the 1970s with ....
- Recent evidence suggests that ....
- Several attempts have been made to ....
- A number of researchers have reported ....
- Xs were reported in the first models of Y (e.g., Smith, 1977; Smith, & Patel, 1977).
- What we know about X is largely based upon empirical studies that investigate how ....
- Studies of X show the importance of ....

9. Previous (Related) Studies
- Most studies in the field of X have only focused on ....
- Most studies in X have only been carried out in a small number of areas.
- The generalisability of much published research on this issue is problematic.
- The experimental data are rather controversial, and there is no general agreement about ....
- Such expositions are unsatisfactory because they ....
- However, few writers have been able to draw on any structured research into the opinions of .....
- The research to date has tended to focus on X rather than Y.
- The existing accounts fail to resolve the contradiction between X and Y.
- Researchers have not treated X in much detail.
- Previous studies of X have not dealt with ....
- Half of the studies evaluated failed to specify whether ....
- However, much of the research up to now has been descriptive in nature ….
- Although extensive research has been carried out on X, no single  study exists which adequately covers ....
- However, these results were based upon data from over 30 years ago and it is unclear if these differences still persist.
- X's analysis does not take account of .... nor does he examine ....

10. Method of Research/Sources of Data
- This study follows a case-study design, with in-depth analysis of ....
- This study was exploratory and interpretative in nature.
- The approach to empirical research adopted for this study was one of a qualitative, semi-structured interview methodology.
- By employing qualitative modes of inquiry, I attempt to illuminate the ....
- This work takes the form of a case-study of the ....
- Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this investigation.
- Qualitative and quantitative research designs were adopted to provide both descriptive, interpretive and  empirical data.
- A holistic approach is utilized, integrating literary, humanistic and archaeological material to establish ....
- The research data in this thesis is drawn from four main sources: ....
- The study was conducted in the form of a survey, with data being  gathered via ....

(Taken from any sources)

I hope today's posting will be useful for all of us. Amien.