The Influence of Social Media on Purchase Decisions in the UK Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Red Carnation Hotels

The Influence of Social Media on Purchase Decisions in the UK Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Red Carnation Hotels Order Description Structure of Dissertation Title Page This should have your dissertation title, your name, your student number, title of degree and the date. Acknowledgements It is usual but not compulsory to thank those who have been of particular help to you in completing the dissertation. Abstract This is a short section (maximum one page), which concisely summarises the whole of the dissertation; the main aim of the research, the findings of the Literature Review, the research methodology adopted, the findings of your primary research and the conclusions made. It should be written in the past tense. Contents Page This should be written on a separate page and should show chapter/section headings and page numbers. It should include all appendices and be followed by separate lists of tables and figures if appropriate. Introduction Your introduction should contain your topic clearly stated and defined, the reason why it is of interest to you, a clear overall purpose and definitions of all special and general terms. This chapter should also end with a clear research question or questi ons, a list of objectives and a hypothesis or hypotheses if needed. Literature Review This chapter should demonstrate that you have conducted a thorough and critical investigation of relevant sources, outlining, comparing and discussing key ideas, expl anations, concepts, models and theories. You should present these ideas in a systematic, well structured and logical sequence. You will be expected to use prominent and up to date books and academic journals. This chapter should end with a statement of the gap in current knowledge which your research aims to fill. Methodology This chapter describes and assesses the approach you have taken to the data collection process (research philosophy, research strategy, method(s), validity etc.) For each research qu estion or hypothesis and objectives you should have a method for achieving it, making sure that you offer clear rationales for the decisions that you have made. You should explicitly describe your chosen method(s) and any sampling techniques used. It is al so important to give a brief assessment of other potential relevant data collection methods and why you discounted them. Do not describe all data collection methods. There should be a critique of the success, or otherwise, of your method(s). Explain the appropriateness of the data analysis techniques that you have selected. You must also discuss validity, reliability and generalisability. Findings / Results In this chapter the data generated should be reported as completely and neutrally as is possible such that the reader can assess it easily. This is where you will include such tables and graphs that will illustrate your findings. This chapter will also contain verbatim quotes from interviewees, or sections of narrative account that illustrate periods of unstructured observation. The purpose of this chapter is to present the facts. It is not appropriate in this chapter to begin to offer opinions on the facts. Analysis / Discussion of Findings You should present your analysis clearly and logically and it should be relevant to your research aim, research question(s), hypothesis (es) and objectives. Make sure that you relate the findings of your primary research to your Literature Review. You can do this by comparison: discussing similarities and particularly differences. If you think your findings have confirmed some literature findings, say so and say why. If you think your findings are at variance with the literature, say so and say why. Conclusions/ Recommendations State the main conclusions of your dissertation. State explicitly how and to what extent you have met your aims and objectives / answered your research question(s) / proved your hypothesis (es) whichever is appropriate. Your conclusions should follow logically from your findings and not contain any new material. Recommendations can be made if appropriate. Appendices, illustrations etc Any necessary information should be here, for example, sampled questionnaires, topic guides, etc. Each appendix should be lettered (A, B, C etc.) and should consist of detailed information that is interesting but not essential to the main thrust of your findings section. References Full references to every source used, presented in the format of the Harvard System of Referencing.