How to justify and not die trying

You are doing your thesis work, and you passed the phase of posing the problem, however now you have been left blank with the issue of elaborating the justification of your work.

Probably, when you asked your tutor for help on the subject, he gave you the typical phrase: "You only have to explain the reasons why you are doing the research", and surely you thought of writing "I want to graduate, and I have no choice."

We are going to explain to you step by step how you can write an excellent justification, so that you do not have to resort to this crazy idea.

What is a justification?

Before explaining how to make a good justification, it is important to make it clear that this is the part of the theoretical development of the project in which we define the reasons that prompted us to develop the study (yes, your teacher gave you good advice) but This is a very general way of saying it, because in a justification we touch on several essential aspects of the work; Therefore, to fully define we must answer a series of questions that we can cover in the following steps:

Brief description of the problem

In the first section, we briefly describe the topic of our research. In this brief introduction we must show the general panorama of our research, implicitly showing the causes that where the need for the study arises. The development of this idea gives us the preamble to develop the following ideas.

State the intention of the investigation

All our actions respond to an objective, and when we put that end in our mind, the execution of precise actions that allow us to achieve them, is a simple task. Therefore, before starting to write, review the objectives that you have already set, and define within which category yours falls:

• Complement research: When our work is intended to complete work started by someone else, then I am developing such an investigation. In this case, in the first paragraph, we must develop around the question: Am I continuing another study?
• Opposition investigation: If, on the contrary, your study seeks to rethink an archaic model, if you do a work that proposes an innovation in a specific area then, you must express that intention, developing a paragraph around the question: Does my work set out to refute a theoretical model?

Reasons justifying the study

Behind the intention of the investigation, there must be a motive that prompts it. It is about demonstrating the reasons that give meaning to the development of the investigation, since if there is no clear and concise reason, its execution is meaningless. In the development of this idea you must be very eloquent, but you must take care of the order in which you present your words, since if you ramble, you can lose the essence of what you want to express. You can develop your ideas by answering the following questions:

• In what aspect of the field of study did you show the need for your work?

• What is the benefit that your work would bring?

• Who would benefit from your research?

Synthesis of the methodology

Once we have made the purpose of the research clear, we must explain, in general, how we have proposed to achieve it. This paragraph gives strength to our justification, since it shows that the development of the study is feasible, and that it is well planned.

Budget and required materials

 Brief explanation about the budget and inputs needed for development. To explain this part, you must sit down to analyze the costs for the execution of the activities that you have proposed to satisfy the objectives: laboratory tests, surveys, prototype development, transportation, copies, etc. You should not give a detailed explanation, you should only mention the required budget; however, your analysis must be detailed, since you must know where you stand.

Small conclusion: Present a closing idea that reinforces the justification for the work you are going to do.

Tips for writing a good justification

• Use appropriate language: writing in the third person is recommended, it is more impersonal, and therefore gives your work seriousness.
• Check prestigious bibliographic sources: Not all the information you find comes from a reliable source, so try to choose those that come from a certified source, or backed by a prestigious institution: universities, publishers, etc.
• Make an outline: When we do something for the first time, it is overwhelming to organize the information accurately, so it is recommended that before you start giving free rein to your hand with arguments that justify your work, please make an outline that serve as a guide map. Use short sentences to define the main ideas that you are going to develop in each section.
• Analyze separately each of the steps that have been explained to you, and adjust them to your study. It is easier if you divide the work.
• Discuss with your other classmates the relevant topics of your study. If you are alone, turn to your tutor, or someone else with authority in the area.

Importance of a strong justification

The development of a research work can be compared to the construction of a building, if you do not lay the foundations well, when you start to build, the wrongly distributed weight will end up making you fall. For this reason, the first phases of the project are the most delicate, and must be carried out with awareness. Detailed analysis of each phase is vital.

Surely you already realized that the justification includes in summary form, aspects of each chapter of your work. That is why their proper development is closely linked to the correct approach to justification:

• You must be very clear about the statement of your problem to develop the first part of the text.
• In addition to this you must express the intention you are pursuing.
• You touch a little the methodology that you propose to follow (if you are not clear at this point, when you go to develop the methodological framework you will make a disaster).
• You also refer to the materials and the budget you handle.

For all these reasons, make your approach consciously, since a solid investigation reaches conclusive results.