Broad Outline

I downloaded and skimmed two dissertations from the University of Helskinki. Both use Activity Theory. Both have 11 chapters - quite a different structure from the 5-chapter format we typically see.

1. Chapter 1 introduces the study and situates it in the field.
2. Chapter 2 offers a literature review
3. Chapter 3 describes theoretical starting points
4. Chapter 4 varied. One put themes, hypothesis and research questions in the fourth chapter. The other described the setting or research site.
   
5. In both dissertations, Chapter 5 discussed methodological issues.
6. Chapters 6 - 9 focused on findings. It appears one chapter was devoted to each research question.
   
7. Chapter 10 focused on conclusions.
8. Chapter 11 was titled Epilogue for one of the dissertations and "Reflections on Research" for the other dissertation.
   

There are some aspects of this structure I like and I've started thinking about how my own work might be structured.

• Of course, having an introduction makes a lot of sense.
• I plan to include a bracketing/reflexivity section, but I'm not yet sure where it should be placed.
• I like the idea of doing one chapter on portfolios and another on Activity Theory, because I want my dissertation to have a tutorial on CHAT. However, I also like that I'm beginning to get a good handle on synthesizing the two areas - finding examples of CHAT concepts in other people's work - and this nudges me in the direction of just doing one combined chapter to avoid redundancy. For the moment, I still think two separate chapters is the better idea. I just need to be attentive to doing it well so the readers doesn't think it redundant.
• I need to incorporate methodology. Wolcott suggests putting it at the end because it's not interesting, but I like the idea of weaving it throughout the data collection and analysis sections as I've seen it discussed in several of the qualitative books I've been reading. And of course, it's usually put as chapter 3 of 5.
  
• For my dissertation, I think a chapter on Home Brew U and a separate chapter for Vendor College (with a description of the context, analysis, and findings in each) makes sense.
• These two chapters should be followed by a cross-case analysis and discussion.
  
• Conclusions
• I think it's an interesting idea to include Reflections on the Research Process, but don't know if I will want to do it.