What is a Dissertation Preface? Definition and Examples

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A dissertation preface is an integral part of the dissertation writing process for both graduate and doctoral students. Even though the preface is found at the beginning of the dissertation, it is essentially a task that authors engage in at the very end of their dissertation work.

What is a Dissertation Preface?

A dissertation preface is a section that precedes the main body of your dissertation. Unlike other sections of the dissertation, which are strictly academic and formal, the preface offers a more personal touch as it provides context and insight into your research journey. In this section, the author outlines the background and criticality of the work they have done, acknowledges contributions, and reflects on the experiences and challenges they faced during the research process.

The dissertation preface serves various purposes, including:

Providing context: The key purpose is to provide the study’s main context so that the reader can understand its relevance and scope.
Sharing the author’s experience in writing the document: In the preface, there is space for the author’s personal reflections as they talk about the importance of the work, personal experiences, and issues and challenges they would have faced. The author can discuss their research goals, the particular research methods that were utilized, and the reasons for their choice.
Expressing the author’s motivation: The preface is also used to express the interests or motivations that led to the research and its writing.
Acknowledging contributions: Although a separate acknowledgements section is often included, most authors choose to mention key institutions, faculty, mentors, family, and friends who contributed in significant ways to the research.

What to include in a dissertation preface?

Here are the essential components that should be covered in a dissertation preface:

A short personal background of the author.
A brief account of your personal experiences with the study matter or circumstances that inspired you to conduct the research.
A brief description of how you did your research and any challenges during the research process.
Mention the target audience of your dissertation.
In the closing of the preface, provide your name and place. And date of writing.

Is Preface and Acknowledgements same?

While both the preface and the acknowledgements sections are personal, they are two very distinct sections that serve different purposes and are placed differently within a dissertation. Usually, dissertations contain either a preface or an acknowledgement section. As detailed above, the preface provides context, shares personal experiences while writing and the circumstances that motivated the conduct of the study. Institutions and critical individuals are also acknowledged for their contributions. The acknowledgements section is focused entirely on expressing gratitude to all persons and institutions that contributed significantly to the research and dissertation writing process.

How to write a dissertation preface?

Provide a brief introduction to your topic: Begin with an engaging statement or anecdote that captures the reader’s attention and introduces your dissertation topic. Offer a glimpse of the content, key topics you discuss, and why your central theme or argument is crucial to be studied in depth.
Express what inspired you to conduct the study: Briefly discuss the rationale for your research, including aspects that motivated you to delve deeper into the study.
Detail your research process: Mention how you conducted the research, the setbacks or challenges, the choice of methods and so on can be outlined.
Specify your target audience: This is important to engage the interest of the concerned people in your research work.
Thank those who supported your research and dissertation: Give due credit to the people and institutions that helped you complete your research and dissertation.

Preface example

Understanding the existential issue of climate change and its impact on our environment, specifically on fragile coral reef ecosystems, has been a persistent goal for me since high school. The work before you is the result of this passion and my desire to discover ways to mitigate the damages caused by quickly changing climate conditions. Over the years, I have followed and put in many years of research and hard work to find ways to preserve these “rainforests of the sea.” Engaging with subject experts and advocates of environmental sustainability across academic circles and also the industry gave me the necessary wherewithal to start thinking of this research work.

As I went along this challenging journey, I learned many things that have enriched this study. From navigating the complexities of data collection to balancing academic commitments, each step taught me valuable lessons in perseverance and critical thinking. This would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of many people.

I am deeply grateful to my mentor and supervisor, Professor Janine Forsythe, for her guidance and support throughout this project. Her expertise and encouragement were invaluable in my research. A special thanks to my faculty for their support and for providing me with an enriching research environment. It would be remiss of me not to mention and thank the National Endowment Fund for providing me with the necessary grant, without which this work would not have been completed. Lastly, I am grateful to my family and friends for putting up with my long working hours and often distracted self. I hope my work will inspire others to take up further research and study in this field.

Peter Morris

Washington DC, 11 June 2022

In writing the dissertation preface, always remember to keep it brief, engaging, and impactful. Providing a personalized account of your motivations and study approach helps the intended audience to relate to your work. While you can write in the first person, ensure that you do not stray from an academic tone.

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