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What is a thesis | A Complete Guide with Examples

Madalsa

Table of Contents

A thesis is a comprehensive academic paper based on your original research that presents new findings, arguments, and ideas of your study. It’s typically submitted at the end of your master’s degree or as a capstone of your bachelor’s degree.

However, writing a thesis can be laborious, especially for beginners. From the initial challenge of pinpointing a compelling research topic to organizing and presenting findings, the process is filled with potential pitfalls.

Therefore, to help you, this guide talks about what is a thesis. Additionally, it offers revelations and methodologies to transform it from an overwhelming task to a manageable and rewarding academic milestone.

What is a thesis?

A thesis is an in-depth research study that identifies a particular topic of inquiry and presents a clear argument or perspective about that topic using evidence and logic.

Writing a thesis showcases your ability of critical thinking, gathering evidence, and making a compelling argument. Integral to these competencies is thorough research, which not only fortifies your propositions but also confers credibility to your entire study.

Furthermore, there's another phenomenon you might often confuse with the thesis: the ' working thesis .' However, they aren't similar and shouldn't be used interchangeably.

A working thesis, often referred to as a preliminary or tentative thesis, is an initial version of your thesis statement. It serves as a draft or a starting point that guides your research in its early stages.

As you research more and gather more evidence, your initial thesis (aka working thesis) might change. It's like a starting point that can be adjusted as you learn more. It's normal for your main topic to change a few times before you finalize it.

While a thesis identifies and provides an overarching argument, the key to clearly communicating the central point of that argument lies in writing a strong thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement?

A strong thesis statement (aka thesis sentence) is a concise summary of the main argument or claim of the paper. It serves as a critical anchor in any academic work, succinctly encapsulating the primary argument or main idea of the entire paper.

Typically found within the introductory section, a strong thesis statement acts as a roadmap of your thesis, directing readers through your arguments and findings. By delineating the core focus of your investigation, it offers readers an immediate understanding of the context and the gravity of your study.

Furthermore, an effectively crafted thesis statement can set forth the boundaries of your research, helping readers anticipate the specific areas of inquiry you are addressing.

Different types of thesis statements

A good thesis statement is clear, specific, and arguable. Therefore, it is necessary for you to choose the right type of thesis statement for your academic papers.

Thesis statements can be classified based on their purpose and structure. Here are the primary types of thesis statements:

Argumentative (or Persuasive) thesis statement

Purpose : To convince the reader of a particular stance or point of view by presenting evidence and formulating a compelling argument.

Example : Reducing plastic use in daily life is essential for environmental health.

Analytical thesis statement

Purpose : To break down an idea or issue into its components and evaluate it.

Example : By examining the long-term effects, social implications, and economic impact of climate change, it becomes evident that immediate global action is necessary.

Expository (or Descriptive) thesis statement

Purpose : To explain a topic or subject to the reader.

Example : The Great Depression, spanning the 1930s, was a severe worldwide economic downturn triggered by a stock market crash, bank failures, and reduced consumer spending.

Cause and effect thesis statement

Purpose : To demonstrate a cause and its resulting effect.

Example : Overuse of smartphones can lead to impaired sleep patterns, reduced face-to-face social interactions, and increased levels of anxiety.

Compare and contrast thesis statement

Purpose : To highlight similarities and differences between two subjects.

Example : "While both novels '1984' and 'Brave New World' delve into dystopian futures, they differ in their portrayal of individual freedom, societal control, and the role of technology."

When you write a thesis statement , it's important to ensure clarity and precision, so the reader immediately understands the central focus of your work.

What is the difference between a thesis and a thesis statement?

While both terms are frequently used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings.

A thesis refers to the entire research document, encompassing all its chapters and sections. In contrast, a thesis statement is a brief assertion that encapsulates the central argument of the research.

Here’s an in-depth differentiation table of a thesis and a thesis statement.

Now, to craft a compelling thesis, it's crucial to adhere to a specific structure. Let’s break down these essential components that make up a thesis structure

15 components of a thesis structure

Navigating a thesis can be daunting. However, understanding its structure can make the process more manageable.

Here are the key components or different sections of a thesis structure:

Your thesis begins with the title page. It's not just a formality but the gateway to your research.

title-page-of-a-thesis

Here, you'll prominently display the necessary information about you (the author) and your institutional details.

  • Title of your thesis
  • Your full name
  • Your department
  • Your institution and degree program
  • Your submission date
  • Your Supervisor's name (in some cases)
  • Your Department or faculty (in some cases)
  • Your University's logo (in some cases)
  • Your Student ID (in some cases)

In a concise manner, you'll have to summarize the critical aspects of your research in typically no more than 200-300 words.

Abstract-section-of-a-thesis

This includes the problem statement, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. For many, the abstract will determine if they delve deeper into your work, so ensure it's clear and compelling.

Acknowledgments

Research is rarely a solitary endeavor. In the acknowledgments section, you have the chance to express gratitude to those who've supported your journey.

Acknowledgement-section-of-a-thesis

This might include advisors, peers, institutions, or even personal sources of inspiration and support. It's a personal touch, reflecting the humanity behind the academic rigor.

Table of contents

A roadmap for your readers, the table of contents lists the chapters, sections, and subsections of your thesis.

Table-of-contents-of-a-thesis

By providing page numbers, you allow readers to navigate your work easily, jumping to sections that pique their interest.

List of figures and tables

Research often involves data, and presenting this data visually can enhance understanding. This section provides an organized listing of all figures and tables in your thesis.

List-of-tables-and-figures-in-a-thesis

It's a visual index, ensuring that readers can quickly locate and reference your graphical data.

Introduction

Here's where you introduce your research topic, articulate the research question or objective, and outline the significance of your study.

Introduction-section-of-a-thesis

  • Present the research topic : Clearly articulate the central theme or subject of your research.
  • Background information : Ground your research topic, providing any necessary context or background information your readers might need to understand the significance of your study.
  • Define the scope : Clearly delineate the boundaries of your research, indicating what will and won't be covered.
  • Literature review : Introduce any relevant existing research on your topic, situating your work within the broader academic conversation and highlighting where your research fits in.
  • State the research Question(s) or objective(s) : Clearly articulate the primary questions or objectives your research aims to address.
  • Outline the study's structure : Give a brief overview of how the subsequent sections of your work will unfold, guiding your readers through the journey ahead.

The introduction should captivate your readers, making them eager to delve deeper into your research journey.

Literature review section

Your study correlates with existing research. Therefore, in the literature review section, you'll engage in a dialogue with existing knowledge, highlighting relevant studies, theories, and findings.

Literature-review-section-thesis

It's here that you identify gaps in the current knowledge, positioning your research as a bridge to new insights.

To streamline this process, consider leveraging AI tools. For example, the SciSpace literature review tool enables you to efficiently explore and delve into research papers, simplifying your literature review journey.

Methodology

In the research methodology section, you’ll detail the tools, techniques, and processes you employed to gather and analyze data. This section will inform the readers about how you approached your research questions and ensures the reproducibility of your study.

Methodology-section-thesis

Here's a breakdown of what it should encompass:

  • Research Design : Describe the overall structure and approach of your research. Are you conducting a qualitative study with in-depth interviews? Or is it a quantitative study using statistical analysis? Perhaps it's a mixed-methods approach?
  • Data Collection : Detail the methods you used to gather data. This could include surveys, experiments, observations, interviews, archival research, etc. Mention where you sourced your data, the duration of data collection, and any tools or instruments used.
  • Sampling : If applicable, explain how you selected participants or data sources for your study. Discuss the size of your sample and the rationale behind choosing it.
  • Data Analysis : Describe the techniques and tools you used to process and analyze the data. This could range from statistical tests in quantitative research to thematic analysis in qualitative research.
  • Validity and Reliability : Address the steps you took to ensure the validity and reliability of your findings to ensure that your results are both accurate and consistent.
  • Ethical Considerations : Highlight any ethical issues related to your research and the measures you took to address them, including — informed consent, confidentiality, and data storage and protection measures.

Moreover, different research questions necessitate different types of methodologies. For instance:

  • Experimental methodology : Often used in sciences, this involves a controlled experiment to discern causality.
  • Qualitative methodology : Employed when exploring patterns or phenomena without numerical data. Methods can include interviews, focus groups, or content analysis.
  • Quantitative methodology : Concerned with measurable data and often involves statistical analysis. Surveys and structured observations are common tools here.
  • Mixed methods : As the name implies, this combines both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

The Methodology section isn’t just about detailing the methods but also justifying why they were chosen. The appropriateness of the methods in addressing your research question can significantly impact the credibility of your findings.

Results (or Findings)

This section presents the outcomes of your research. It's crucial to note that the nature of your results may vary; they could be quantitative, qualitative, or a mix of both.

Results-section-thesis

Quantitative results often present statistical data, showcasing measurable outcomes, and they benefit from tables, graphs, and figures to depict these data points.

Qualitative results , on the other hand, might delve into patterns, themes, or narratives derived from non-numerical data, such as interviews or observations.

Regardless of the nature of your results, clarity is essential. This section is purely about presenting the data without offering interpretations — that comes later in the discussion.

In the discussion section, the raw data transforms into valuable insights.

Start by revisiting your research question and contrast it with the findings. How do your results expand, constrict, or challenge current academic conversations?

Dive into the intricacies of the data, guiding the reader through its implications. Detail potential limitations transparently, signaling your awareness of the research's boundaries. This is where your academic voice should be resonant and confident.

Practical implications (Recommendation) section

Based on the insights derived from your research, this section provides actionable suggestions or proposed solutions.

Whether aimed at industry professionals or the general public, recommendations translate your academic findings into potential real-world actions. They help readers understand the practical implications of your work and how it can be applied to effect change or improvement in a given field.

When crafting recommendations, it's essential to ensure they're feasible and rooted in the evidence provided by your research. They shouldn't merely be aspirational but should offer a clear path forward, grounded in your findings.

The conclusion provides closure to your research narrative.

It's not merely a recap but a synthesis of your main findings and their broader implications. Reconnect with the research questions or hypotheses posited at the beginning, offering clear answers based on your findings.

Conclusion-section-thesis

Reflect on the broader contributions of your study, considering its impact on the academic community and potential real-world applications.

Lastly, the conclusion should leave your readers with a clear understanding of the value and impact of your study.

References (or Bibliography)

Every theory you've expounded upon, every data point you've cited, and every methodological precedent you've followed finds its acknowledgment here.

References-section-thesis

In references, it's crucial to ensure meticulous consistency in formatting, mirroring the specific guidelines of the chosen citation style .

Proper referencing helps to avoid plagiarism , gives credit to original ideas, and allows readers to explore topics of interest. Moreover, it situates your work within the continuum of academic knowledge.

To properly cite the sources used in the study, you can rely on online citation generator tools  to generate accurate citations!

Here’s more on how you can cite your sources.

Often, the depth of research produces a wealth of material that, while crucial, can make the core content of the thesis cumbersome. The appendix is where you mention extra information that supports your research but isn't central to the main text.

Appendices-section-thesis

Whether it's raw datasets, detailed procedural methodologies, extended case studies, or any other ancillary material, the appendices ensure that these elements are archived for reference without breaking the main narrative's flow.

For thorough researchers and readers keen on meticulous details, the appendices provide a treasure trove of insights.

Glossary (optional)

In academics, specialized terminologies, and jargon are inevitable. However, not every reader is versed in every term.

The glossary, while optional, is a critical tool for accessibility. It's a bridge ensuring that even readers from outside the discipline can access, understand, and appreciate your work.

Glossary-section-of-a-thesis

By defining complex terms and providing context, you're inviting a wider audience to engage with your research, enhancing its reach and impact.

Remember, while these components provide a structured framework, the essence of your thesis lies in the originality of your ideas, the rigor of your research, and the clarity of your presentation.

As you craft each section, keep your readers in mind, ensuring that your passion and dedication shine through every page.

Thesis examples

To further elucidate the concept of a thesis, here are illustrative examples from various fields:

Example 1 (History): Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the ‘Noble Savage’ on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807 by Suchait Kahlon.
Example 2 (Climate Dynamics): Influence of external forcings on abrupt millennial-scale climate changes: a statistical modelling study by Takahito Mitsui ¡ Michel Crucifix

Checklist for your thesis evaluation

Evaluating your thesis ensures that your research meets the standards of academia. Here's an elaborate checklist to guide you through this critical process.

Content and structure

  • Is the thesis statement clear, concise, and debatable?
  • Does the introduction provide sufficient background and context?
  • Is the literature review comprehensive, relevant, and well-organized?
  • Does the methodology section clearly describe and justify the research methods?
  • Are the results/findings presented clearly and logically?
  • Does the discussion interpret the results in light of the research question and existing literature?
  • Is the conclusion summarizing the research and suggesting future directions or implications?

Clarity and coherence

  • Is the writing clear and free of jargon?
  • Are ideas and sections logically connected and flowing?
  • Is there a clear narrative or argument throughout the thesis?

Research quality

  • Is the research question significant and relevant?
  • Are the research methods appropriate for the question?
  • Is the sample size (if applicable) adequate?
  • Are the data analysis techniques appropriate and correctly applied?
  • Are potential biases or limitations addressed?

Originality and significance

  • Does the thesis contribute new knowledge or insights to the field?
  • Is the research grounded in existing literature while offering fresh perspectives?

Formatting and presentation

  • Is the thesis formatted according to institutional guidelines?
  • Are figures, tables, and charts clear, labeled, and referenced in the text?
  • Is the bibliography or reference list complete and consistently formatted?
  • Are appendices relevant and appropriately referenced in the main text?

Grammar and language

  • Is the thesis free of grammatical and spelling errors?
  • Is the language professional, consistent, and appropriate for an academic audience?
  • Are quotations and paraphrased material correctly cited?

Feedback and revision

  • Have you sought feedback from peers, advisors, or experts in the field?
  • Have you addressed the feedback and made the necessary revisions?

Overall assessment

  • Does the thesis as a whole feel cohesive and comprehensive?
  • Would the thesis be understandable and valuable to someone in your field?

Ensure to use this checklist to leave no ground for doubt or missed information in your thesis.

After writing your thesis, the next step is to discuss and defend your findings verbally in front of a knowledgeable panel. You’ve to be well prepared as your professors may grade your presentation abilities.

Preparing your thesis defense

A thesis defense, also known as "defending the thesis," is the culmination of a scholar's research journey. It's the final frontier, where you’ll present their findings and face scrutiny from a panel of experts.

Typically, the defense involves a public presentation where you’ll have to outline your study, followed by a question-and-answer session with a committee of experts. This committee assesses the validity, originality, and significance of the research.

The defense serves as a rite of passage for scholars. It's an opportunity to showcase expertise, address criticisms, and refine arguments. A successful defense not only validates the research but also establishes your authority as a researcher in your field.

Here’s how you can effectively prepare for your thesis defense .

Now, having touched upon the process of defending a thesis, it's worth noting that scholarly work can take various forms, depending on academic and regional practices.

One such form, often paralleled with the thesis, is the 'dissertation.' But what differentiates the two?

Dissertation vs. Thesis

Often used interchangeably in casual discourse, they refer to distinct research projects undertaken at different levels of higher education.

To the uninitiated, understanding their meaning might be elusive. So, let's demystify these terms and delve into their core differences.

Here's a table differentiating between the two.

Wrapping up

From understanding the foundational concept of a thesis to navigating its various components, differentiating it from a dissertation, and recognizing the importance of proper citation — this guide covers it all.

As scholars and readers, understanding these nuances not only aids in academic pursuits but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the relentless quest for knowledge that drives academia.

It’s important to remember that every thesis is a testament to curiosity, dedication, and the indomitable spirit of discovery.

Good luck with your thesis writing!

Frequently Asked Questions

A thesis typically ranges between 40-80 pages, but its length can vary based on the research topic, institution guidelines, and level of study.

A PhD thesis usually spans 200-300 pages, though this can vary based on the discipline, complexity of the research, and institutional requirements.

To identify a thesis topic, consider current trends in your field, gaps in existing literature, personal interests, and discussions with advisors or mentors. Additionally, reviewing related journals and conference proceedings can provide insights into potential areas of exploration.

The conceptual framework is often situated in the literature review or theoretical framework section of a thesis. It helps set the stage by providing the context, defining key concepts, and explaining the relationships between variables.

A thesis statement should be concise, clear, and specific. It should state the main argument or point of your research. Start by pinpointing the central question or issue your research addresses, then condense that into a single statement, ensuring it reflects the essence of your paper.

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  • Writing Tips

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper

4-minute read

  • 26th July 2023

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of a successful research paper . The thesis gives focus to your ideas, engages readers, and sets the tone for the rest of the paper. You’ve spent substantial time and effort to craft a well-written and effective study , so you want your thesis statement to accurately reflect the impact of your work.

However, writing a thesis is often easier said than done. So if you’ve already got the arguments, the data, and the conclusions, keep scrolling for our straightforward guide on how to write a thesis statement for a research paper.

What Is a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is a clear and succinct assertion that presents the main argument or central idea of a research paper or other academic work. You usually find the thesis, which serves as a road map for the entire piece of writing, at the end of the introductory paragraph. The thesis also highlights the importance and relevance of the research topic , explaining why it’s worth studying and what impact it may have.

A good thesis statement also invites critical discussion and debate. Although your statement should provide a compelling argument , it should also inspire readers to engage with your ideas and potentially challenge or explore alternative viewpoints.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should outline the scope and boundaries of the paper and indicate what aspects of the topic you’ll cover. But now that you know what a good thesis statement entails, where should you start? Check out our series of steps below for help on writing an impactful thesis statement that accurately summarizes your research and arguments.

Understand the Purpose of Your Research

Before you can write a thesis statement, you need to understand the purpose and scope of your research. Pinpoint the specific topic or issue you’ll be exploring and the main objective of your paper. You should also familiarize yourself with the existing literature and research related to your topic because these will help you refine your focus and identify gaps in the existing knowledge that your research can address.

Consider the Impact of Your Research

Your thesis statement should answer the question, What is the relevance? – meaning it should tell the reader what the practical implications of your research are, why the research is significant, and what it adds to the broader academic landscape.

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Make a Concise Claim or Argument

Your statement should be clear, specific, and concise, conveying the main point of your research in one or two sentences. It should present a claim or argument that you’ll go on to support and defend in your paper, so avoid purely factual or self-evident statements. Be precise in your wording and tailor your thesis statement to the scope of your research – don’t introduce a new or unrelated topic that you don’t expressly address in your paper. The thesis statement is meant to indicate what the reader can expect to find in your paper, and you must support the thesis with evidence throughout.

Revise and Refine the Statement

Crafting a strong thesis statement may require multiple attempts, so take the time to revise and edit it until you’re satisfied that it meets your requirements.

Example Thesis Statement

Below is an example of a strong thesis statement that clearly emphasizes the main points of a research topic:

In this example, the thesis statement clearly identifies the main topic (technology’s impact on education) and presents a strong argument about technology’s positive effects. The thesis conveys the essential message of the research concisely in one sentence, leaving no doubt about the position of the author and what they’ll address in the paper.

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Writing a paper: thesis statements, basics of thesis statements.

The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).

Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.

Being Specific

This thesis statement has no specific argument:

Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.

Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.

The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable.  We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors.  We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").

Making a Unique Argument

This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:

Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.

Creating a Debate

This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:

Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators.  The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.

Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership  is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.

Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:

Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.

Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.

Leaving Room for Discussion

This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:

Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.

Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.

Thesis Mad Libs

If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.

  • In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
  • While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
  • Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to Avoid and to Embrace

When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.

Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.

Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.

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  • How to Write a Thesis Statement for Your Research: Tips + Examples

busayo.longe

Every research paper builds on a central argument that reflects the position of the researcher—this is known as the thesis statement. More than defining the researcher’s central argument, a good thesis statement tells the reader how to interpret the subject matter being discussed. 

Without any doubt, writing a good thesis statement is an important step in developing an effective research paper. In this article, we’ll show you how to create different types of thesis statements plus examples you can learn from. Ready? Let’s get started! 

What is a Thesis Statement?  

A thesis statement is a single sentence or assertion that captures the core argument of your research. In other words, it summarizes the claim or primary idea that you want to pass across in the dissertation. 

A good thesis statement helps you achieve two major things. First, it gives the reader a clear idea of what your research is about; that is, what the paper is saying about the topic. Next, it asserts your unique position for or against the argument at hand. 

Typically, you’d find the thesis statement at the conclusion of your research paper’s introductory paragraph. So when next you’re reading a research paper, look out for that ONE sentence that ties together the main idea of the research paper’s argument. 

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Importance of a Thesis Statement

Since you have an abstract and research proposal, why should you bother writing a thesis statement? The first thing you need to know is that the abstract and thesis statement work differently. An abstract summarizes your research paper, highlighting its key points while a thesis statement communicates the core idea of your paper. 

Let’s go through a few reasons why you need a thesis statement in research. 

  • A good thesis statement establishes the core idea behind your research paper. It introduces readers to the core idea of your work. 
  • After reading your thesis statement, your professor would understand your unique position on the argument at hand. In other words, a thesis statement declares the position of the researcher on the specific subject. 
  • It serves as an “accountability check”. When you make a claim in research, you’d have to provide supporting arguments and points that confirm this claim. 
  • A good thesis helps the reader to focus on the main idea of your research paper. 
  • A thesis statement sets the pace for your essay and helps you to organize your ideas neatly. 
  • It tells the audience what comes next by presenting the writer’s point of view. The rest of your paper is about reinforcing this statement with supporting facts or case studies.
  • A good thesis statement helps you achieve cohesion and coherence in your essay. 
Read: Writing Research Proposals: Tips, Examples & Mistakes

Categories of Thesis Statements

1. informative thesis .

You’d find an informative thesis statement in essays and research papers that do not argue for or against a topic. In other words, an informative thesis is one that simply communicates the purpose of an essay, without making any arguments or claims that can be true or false. 

When writing an informative thesis, your primary focus should be communicating the purpose of your research in a clear and concise manner. Be careful not to steer up any arguments or make any claims that you need to provide evidence for. 

Examples of Informative Thesis Statements 

  • The first wave of feminism focused on securing women’s rights to vote and other legal issues. 
  • Diabetes is a major cause of medical conditions like blindness, kidney failure, and stroke. 
Important Read: Research Questions: Definitions, Types + [Examples]

2. Persuasive Thesis  

A persuasive thesis statement is one that makes a claim and goes on to show why that claim is true. Unlike an informative thesis, a persuasive thesis sets out to make a bold argument that forms the core idea of your research process. 

Persuasive statements have two parts. In the first part, the researcher makes an assertion that she believes to be true. In the second part of the statement, the researcher provides some evidence to back up this claim. The goal is to provide a solid backing that convinces the reader to agree with the researcher’s position. 

Let’s look at a few examples of a persuasive thesis statement. 

Learn About: How to Write a Problem Statement for your Research

Examples of a Persuasive Thesis Statement

  • Students who sleep early perform better in the classroom because they have higher levels of concentration. 
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best types of sandwiches because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good.

Many research papers adopt persuasive thesis statements because it allows the researcher to highlight major discoveries from their systematic investigation. 

Learn More: Cross-Sectional Studies: Types, Pros, Cons & Uses

Types of Thesis Statements 

Now that you’re familiar with the major categories of thesis statements, let’s discuss some common types of thesis in academic research. 

1. Analytical Thesis Statement 

An analytical statement is a logical presentation of the researcher’s stance in a systematic investigation. Here, the researcher breaks down an idea into different parts, evaluates these parts closely, and clearly presents the order of the analysis to the reader. This means that your thesis needs to mention the specific aspect that you’ll focus on and state what insight it gives us into the text’s meaning or purpose.

How to Formulate an Analytical Thesis Statement

  • Break down your main idea into its key components.
  • Discover the logical relationship among the parts.
  • Discover the motives, causes, and underlying assumptions. 
  • Make the required inferences and lay out evidence to support your claims. 

Examples of Analytical Thesis Statement 

Sample 1: Purdue.edu (Source)

An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.

Sample 2: Study.com (Source) 

Though World War I had many different causes, burgeoning nationalism fomented the sense of aggression that ultimately led to the War’s beginning and proliferation.

Read: Double Blind Studies in Research: Types, Pros & Cons

2. Expository Thesis Statement 

The purpose of an expository thesis statement is to get the reader acquainted with your research paper. In other words, it sets the expectations for your essay by stating your research topic plus the key areas you will touch on in the paper. 

Because of its nature, an expository thesis doesn’t have to give a strong opinion. Rather, it should clearly communicate the theme of your essay, and hint at supporting arguments that you will touch on. After reading your expository thesis, the reader should have a clear idea of what they’ll learn from your essay. 

Examples of an Expository Thesis Statement 

Sample 1: Scribbr.com (Source)

The invention of Braille transformed the lives of blind people in the nineteenth century, but its success depended on mainstream acceptance by sighted teachers, and this process was shaped by debates about disabled people’s place in society.

Although there are different causes of world war 1, Militarism, Nationalism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Assassination led to the war’s beginning.

Read: Hypothesis Testing: Definition, Uses, Limitations + Examples

3. Argumentative Thesis Statement

This is the most common type of thesis you’d find in research papers. Basically, the purpose of an argumentative thesis is to make a claim that people can agree or disagree with. Throughout the research paper, you’d have to provide facts, figures, and data that convince the audience to agree with your position.  

Examples of an Argumentative Thesis Statement 

  • Children who have single parents find socialization more challenging compared to their counterparts. 
  • Junk food can help you become healthier and get rid of excess calories. 

Elements of a Good Thesis Statement

How do you know you’ve written an excellent thesis statement? The simple way to do this is to match your thesis statement against the features on this list. 

In this section, we’d go through some of the elements of a good thesis statement. 

  • Interpretation: More than regurgitating facts, a good thesis statement must explain these facts and show their significance.
  • Precision: Your thesis statement should highlight specific facts, and create a logical relationship among these facts. it states that two ideas were similar or different, without explaining how they were similar or different, it is too vague.
  • Element of Surprise: Do you have any information that can catch the reader’s attention and convince them to agree with your position? Now is a good time to highlight them and win the reader over to your side. 
  • Evidence: A thesis statement should contain an opinion or point of view that can be supported with evidence.
  • Demonstrability : Any claims you’ve made in your statement must be backed by reasons and examples for your opinion. 

Read: Research Report: Definition, Types + [Writing Guide]

Steps for Writing a Thesis Statement

Step 1: Start with a Question 

Ask yourself a simple question concerning what you’d like to explore or find out regarding a topic. 

Step 2: Write an Answer to this Question

After conducting your initial research, string all the information you gather to form a tentative answer to this question. The purpose of this temporary response is to guide your research. 

Step 3: Develop Your Answer

This is the point where you flesh out your answer with new and supporting evidence. You need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you.

Examples of a Strong Thesis Statement

Sample 1 : Schools should provide educational resources for low-income students so that they can perform better in the classroom. 

Sample 2 : Prioritizing diversity and inclusion in the workplace can lead to richer ideas, better employee collaboration, and more empathy among people from different backgrounds. 

Sample 3 : Countries with high poverty levels record higher incidences of violence.   

Sample 4: Because half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives.

Examples of a Weak Thesis Statement 

A weak thesis statement is too broad or ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to understand your position. Weak thesis statements may also lack evidence. Here are a few samples. 

Sample 1: Technology has its advantages and disadvantages. 

This statement is weak because it doesn’t point to the type of technology you’re referring to. Also, it attempts to argue two points in a single sentence. 

Sample 2 : Taking affirmative action is a way to reduce gender-based violence. 

This is a statement of fact that doesn’t pique the interest of the reader. Instead, you should establish a thesis that is arguable, and state the how or why of your position. 

Although a thesis statement is just a single sentence, you should take your time to formulate one. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships.

When you have a well-rounded understanding of the data, you can build a strong thesis statement that captures the core of your research.

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Home » Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

Table of Contents

Dissertation

Dissertation

Definition:

Dissertation is a lengthy and detailed academic document that presents the results of original research on a specific topic or question. It is usually required as a final project for a doctoral degree or a master’s degree.

Dissertation Meaning in Research

In Research , a dissertation refers to a substantial research project that students undertake in order to obtain an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree.

Dissertation typically involves the exploration of a particular research question or topic in-depth, and it requires students to conduct original research, analyze data, and present their findings in a scholarly manner. It is often the culmination of years of study and represents a significant contribution to the academic field.

Types of Dissertation

Types of Dissertation are as follows:

Empirical Dissertation

An empirical dissertation is a research study that uses primary data collected through surveys, experiments, or observations. It typically follows a quantitative research approach and uses statistical methods to analyze the data.

Non-Empirical Dissertation

A non-empirical dissertation is based on secondary sources, such as books, articles, and online resources. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as content analysis or discourse analysis.

Narrative Dissertation

A narrative dissertation is a personal account of the researcher’s experience or journey. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, focus groups, or ethnography.

Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review is a comprehensive analysis of existing research on a specific topic. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as meta-analysis or thematic analysis.

Case Study Dissertation

A case study dissertation is an in-depth analysis of a specific individual, group, or organization. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, observations, or document analysis.

Mixed-Methods Dissertation

A mixed-methods dissertation combines both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to gather and analyze data. It typically uses methods such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups, as well as statistical analysis.

How to Write a Dissertation

Here are some general steps to help guide you through the process of writing a dissertation:

  • Choose a topic : Select a topic that you are passionate about and that is relevant to your field of study. It should be specific enough to allow for in-depth research but broad enough to be interesting and engaging.
  • Conduct research : Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic, utilizing a variety of sources, including books, academic journals, and online databases. Take detailed notes and organize your information in a way that makes sense to you.
  • Create an outline : Develop an outline that will serve as a roadmap for your dissertation. The outline should include the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
  • Write the introduction: The introduction should provide a brief overview of your topic, the research questions, and the significance of the study. It should also include a clear thesis statement that states your main argument.
  • Write the literature review: The literature review should provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research on your topic. It should identify gaps in the research and explain how your study will fill those gaps.
  • Write the methodology: The methodology section should explain the research methods you used to collect and analyze data. It should also include a discussion of any limitations or weaknesses in your approach.
  • Write the results: The results section should present the findings of your research in a clear and organized manner. Use charts, graphs, and tables to help illustrate your data.
  • Write the discussion: The discussion section should interpret your results and explain their significance. It should also address any limitations of the study and suggest areas for future research.
  • Write the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize your main findings and restate your thesis statement. It should also provide recommendations for future research.
  • Edit and revise: Once you have completed a draft of your dissertation, review it carefully to ensure that it is well-organized, clear, and free of errors. Make any necessary revisions and edits before submitting it to your advisor for review.

Dissertation Format

The format of a dissertation may vary depending on the institution and field of study, but generally, it follows a similar structure:

  • Title Page: This includes the title of the dissertation, the author’s name, and the date of submission.
  • Abstract : A brief summary of the dissertation’s purpose, methods, and findings.
  • Table of Contents: A list of the main sections and subsections of the dissertation, along with their page numbers.
  • Introduction : A statement of the problem or research question, a brief overview of the literature, and an explanation of the significance of the study.
  • Literature Review : A comprehensive review of the literature relevant to the research question or problem.
  • Methodology : A description of the methods used to conduct the research, including data collection and analysis procedures.
  • Results : A presentation of the findings of the research, including tables, charts, and graphs.
  • Discussion : A discussion of the implications of the findings, their significance in the context of the literature, and limitations of the study.
  • Conclusion : A summary of the main points of the study and their implications for future research.
  • References : A list of all sources cited in the dissertation.
  • Appendices : Additional materials that support the research, such as data tables, charts, or transcripts.

Dissertation Outline

Dissertation Outline is as follows:

Title Page:

  • Title of dissertation
  • Author name
  • Institutional affiliation
  • Date of submission
  • Brief summary of the dissertation’s research problem, objectives, methods, findings, and implications
  • Usually around 250-300 words

Table of Contents:

  • List of chapters and sections in the dissertation, with page numbers for each

I. Introduction

  • Background and context of the research
  • Research problem and objectives
  • Significance of the research

II. Literature Review

  • Overview of existing literature on the research topic
  • Identification of gaps in the literature
  • Theoretical framework and concepts

III. Methodology

  • Research design and methods used
  • Data collection and analysis techniques
  • Ethical considerations

IV. Results

  • Presentation and analysis of data collected
  • Findings and outcomes of the research
  • Interpretation of the results

V. Discussion

  • Discussion of the results in relation to the research problem and objectives
  • Evaluation of the research outcomes and implications
  • Suggestions for future research

VI. Conclusion

  • Summary of the research findings and outcomes
  • Implications for the research topic and field
  • Limitations and recommendations for future research

VII. References

  • List of sources cited in the dissertation

VIII. Appendices

  • Additional materials that support the research, such as tables, figures, or questionnaires.

Example of Dissertation

Here is an example Dissertation for students:

Title : Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Achievement and Well-being among College Students

This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of mindfulness meditation on the academic achievement and well-being of college students. Mindfulness meditation has gained popularity as a technique for reducing stress and enhancing mental health, but its effects on academic performance have not been extensively studied. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the study will compare the academic performance and well-being of college students who practice mindfulness meditation with those who do not. The study will also examine the moderating role of personality traits and demographic factors on the effects of mindfulness meditation.

Chapter Outline:

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Background and rationale for the study
  • Research questions and objectives
  • Significance of the study
  • Overview of the dissertation structure

Chapter 2: Literature Review

  • Definition and conceptualization of mindfulness meditation
  • Theoretical framework of mindfulness meditation
  • Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and academic achievement
  • Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and well-being
  • The role of personality and demographic factors in the effects of mindfulness meditation

Chapter 3: Methodology

  • Research design and hypothesis
  • Participants and sampling method
  • Intervention and procedure
  • Measures and instruments
  • Data analysis method

Chapter 4: Results

  • Descriptive statistics and data screening
  • Analysis of main effects
  • Analysis of moderating effects
  • Post-hoc analyses and sensitivity tests

Chapter 5: Discussion

  • Summary of findings
  • Implications for theory and practice
  • Limitations and directions for future research
  • Conclusion and contribution to the literature

Chapter 6: Conclusion

  • Recap of the research questions and objectives
  • Summary of the key findings
  • Contribution to the literature and practice
  • Implications for policy and practice
  • Final thoughts and recommendations.

References :

List of all the sources cited in the dissertation

Appendices :

Additional materials such as the survey questionnaire, interview guide, and consent forms.

Note : This is just an example and the structure of a dissertation may vary depending on the specific requirements and guidelines provided by the institution or the supervisor.

How Long is a Dissertation

The length of a dissertation can vary depending on the field of study, the level of degree being pursued, and the specific requirements of the institution. Generally, a dissertation for a doctoral degree can range from 80,000 to 100,000 words, while a dissertation for a master’s degree may be shorter, typically ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 words. However, it is important to note that these are general guidelines and the actual length of a dissertation can vary widely depending on the specific requirements of the program and the research topic being studied. It is always best to consult with your academic advisor or the guidelines provided by your institution for more specific information on dissertation length.

Applications of Dissertation

Here are some applications of a dissertation:

  • Advancing the Field: Dissertations often include new research or a new perspective on existing research, which can help to advance the field. The results of a dissertation can be used by other researchers to build upon or challenge existing knowledge, leading to further advancements in the field.
  • Career Advancement: Completing a dissertation demonstrates a high level of expertise in a particular field, which can lead to career advancement opportunities. For example, having a PhD can open doors to higher-paying jobs in academia, research institutions, or the private sector.
  • Publishing Opportunities: Dissertations can be published as books or journal articles, which can help to increase the visibility and credibility of the author’s research.
  • Personal Growth: The process of writing a dissertation involves a significant amount of research, analysis, and critical thinking. This can help students to develop important skills, such as time management, problem-solving, and communication, which can be valuable in both their personal and professional lives.
  • Policy Implications: The findings of a dissertation can have policy implications, particularly in fields such as public health, education, and social sciences. Policymakers can use the research to inform decision-making and improve outcomes for the population.

When to Write a Dissertation

Here are some situations where writing a dissertation may be necessary:

  • Pursuing a Doctoral Degree: Writing a dissertation is usually a requirement for earning a doctoral degree, so if you are interested in pursuing a doctorate, you will likely need to write a dissertation.
  • Conducting Original Research : Dissertations require students to conduct original research on a specific topic. If you are interested in conducting original research on a topic, writing a dissertation may be the best way to do so.
  • Advancing Your Career: Some professions, such as academia and research, may require individuals to have a doctoral degree. Writing a dissertation can help you advance your career by demonstrating your expertise in a particular area.
  • Contributing to Knowledge: Dissertations are often based on original research that can contribute to the knowledge base of a field. If you are passionate about advancing knowledge in a particular area, writing a dissertation can help you achieve that goal.
  • Meeting Academic Requirements : If you are a graduate student, writing a dissertation may be a requirement for completing your program. Be sure to check with your academic advisor to determine if this is the case for you.

Purpose of Dissertation

some common purposes of a dissertation include:

  • To contribute to the knowledge in a particular field : A dissertation is often the culmination of years of research and study, and it should make a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field.
  • To demonstrate mastery of a subject: A dissertation requires extensive research, analysis, and writing, and completing one demonstrates a student’s mastery of their subject area.
  • To develop critical thinking and research skills : A dissertation requires students to think critically about their research question, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on evidence. These skills are valuable not only in academia but also in many professional fields.
  • To demonstrate academic integrity: A dissertation must be conducted and written in accordance with rigorous academic standards, including ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent, protecting the privacy of participants, and avoiding plagiarism.
  • To prepare for an academic career: Completing a dissertation is often a requirement for obtaining a PhD and pursuing a career in academia. It can demonstrate to potential employers that the student has the necessary skills and experience to conduct original research and make meaningful contributions to their field.
  • To develop writing and communication skills: A dissertation requires a significant amount of writing and communication skills to convey complex ideas and research findings in a clear and concise manner. This skill set can be valuable in various professional fields.
  • To demonstrate independence and initiative: A dissertation requires students to work independently and take initiative in developing their research question, designing their study, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. This demonstrates to potential employers or academic institutions that the student is capable of independent research and taking initiative in their work.
  • To contribute to policy or practice: Some dissertations may have a practical application, such as informing policy decisions or improving practices in a particular field. These dissertations can have a significant impact on society, and their findings may be used to improve the lives of individuals or communities.
  • To pursue personal interests: Some students may choose to pursue a dissertation topic that aligns with their personal interests or passions, providing them with the opportunity to delve deeper into a topic that they find personally meaningful.

Advantage of Dissertation

Some advantages of writing a dissertation include:

  • Developing research and analytical skills: The process of writing a dissertation involves conducting extensive research, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a clear and coherent manner. This process can help students develop important research and analytical skills that can be useful in their future careers.
  • Demonstrating expertise in a subject: Writing a dissertation allows students to demonstrate their expertise in a particular subject area. It can help establish their credibility as a knowledgeable and competent professional in their field.
  • Contributing to the academic community: A well-written dissertation can contribute new knowledge to the academic community and potentially inform future research in the field.
  • Improving writing and communication skills : Writing a dissertation requires students to write and present their research in a clear and concise manner. This can help improve their writing and communication skills, which are essential for success in many professions.
  • Increasing job opportunities: Completing a dissertation can increase job opportunities in certain fields, particularly in academia and research-based positions.

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dissertation statement of research

  • Aims and Objectives – A Guide for Academic Writing
  • Doing a PhD

One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims and objectives will give your research focus and your reader clarity, with your aims indicating what is to be achieved, and your objectives indicating how it will be achieved.

Introduction

There is no getting away from the importance of the aims and objectives in determining the success of your research project. Unfortunately, however, it is an aspect that many students struggle with, and ultimately end up doing poorly. Given their importance, if you suspect that there is even the smallest possibility that you belong to this group of students, we strongly recommend you read this page in full.

This page describes what research aims and objectives are, how they differ from each other, how to write them correctly, and the common mistakes students make and how to avoid them. An example of a good aim and objectives from a past thesis has also been deconstructed to help your understanding.

What Are Aims and Objectives?

Research aims.

A research aim describes the main goal or the overarching purpose of your research project.

In doing so, it acts as a focal point for your research and provides your readers with clarity as to what your study is all about. Because of this, research aims are almost always located within its own subsection under the introduction section of a research document, regardless of whether it’s a thesis , a dissertation, or a research paper .

A research aim is usually formulated as a broad statement of the main goal of the research and can range in length from a single sentence to a short paragraph. Although the exact format may vary according to preference, they should all describe why your research is needed (i.e. the context), what it sets out to accomplish (the actual aim) and, briefly, how it intends to accomplish it (overview of your objectives).

To give an example, we have extracted the following research aim from a real PhD thesis:

Example of a Research Aim

The role of diametrical cup deformation as a factor to unsatisfactory implant performance has not been widely reported. The aim of this thesis was to gain an understanding of the diametrical deformation behaviour of acetabular cups and shells following impaction into the reamed acetabulum. The influence of a range of factors on deformation was investigated to ascertain if cup and shell deformation may be high enough to potentially contribute to early failure and high wear rates in metal-on-metal implants.

Note: Extracted with permission from thesis titled “T he Impact And Deformation Of Press-Fit Metal Acetabular Components ” produced by Dr H Hothi of previously Queen Mary University of London.

Research Objectives

Where a research aim specifies what your study will answer, research objectives specify how your study will answer it.

They divide your research aim into several smaller parts, each of which represents a key section of your research project. As a result, almost all research objectives take the form of a numbered list, with each item usually receiving its own chapter in a dissertation or thesis.

Following the example of the research aim shared above, here are it’s real research objectives as an example:

Example of a Research Objective

  • Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum.
  • Investigate the number, velocity and position of impacts needed to insert a cup.
  • Determine the relationship between the size of interference between the cup and cavity and deformation for different cup types.
  • Investigate the influence of non-uniform cup support and varying the orientation of the component in the cavity on deformation.
  • Examine the influence of errors during reaming of the acetabulum which introduce ovality to the cavity.
  • Determine the relationship between changes in the geometry of the component and deformation for different cup designs.
  • Develop three dimensional pelvis models with non-uniform bone material properties from a range of patients with varying bone quality.
  • Use the key parameters that influence deformation, as identified in the foam models to determine the range of deformations that may occur clinically using the anatomic models and if these deformations are clinically significant.

It’s worth noting that researchers sometimes use research questions instead of research objectives, or in other cases both. From a high-level perspective, research questions and research objectives make the same statements, but just in different formats.

Taking the first three research objectives as an example, they can be restructured into research questions as follows:

Restructuring Research Objectives as Research Questions

  • Can finite element models using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum together with explicit dynamics be used to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion?
  • What is the number, velocity and position of impacts needed to insert a cup?
  • What is the relationship between the size of interference between the cup and cavity and deformation for different cup types?

Difference Between Aims and Objectives

Hopefully the above explanations make clear the differences between aims and objectives, but to clarify:

  • The research aim focus on what the research project is intended to achieve; research objectives focus on how the aim will be achieved.
  • Research aims are relatively broad; research objectives are specific.
  • Research aims focus on a project’s long-term outcomes; research objectives focus on its immediate, short-term outcomes.
  • A research aim can be written in a single sentence or short paragraph; research objectives should be written as a numbered list.

How to Write Aims and Objectives

Before we discuss how to write a clear set of research aims and objectives, we should make it clear that there is no single way they must be written. Each researcher will approach their aims and objectives slightly differently, and often your supervisor will influence the formulation of yours on the basis of their own preferences.

Regardless, there are some basic principles that you should observe for good practice; these principles are described below.

Your aim should be made up of three parts that answer the below questions:

  • Why is this research required?
  • What is this research about?
  • How are you going to do it?

The easiest way to achieve this would be to address each question in its own sentence, although it does not matter whether you combine them or write multiple sentences for each, the key is to address each one.

The first question, why , provides context to your research project, the second question, what , describes the aim of your research, and the last question, how , acts as an introduction to your objectives which will immediately follow.

Scroll through the image set below to see the ‘why, what and how’ associated with our research aim example.

Explaining aims vs objectives

Note: Your research aims need not be limited to one. Some individuals per to define one broad ‘overarching aim’ of a project and then adopt two or three specific research aims for their thesis or dissertation. Remember, however, that in order for your assessors to consider your research project complete, you will need to prove you have fulfilled all of the aims you set out to achieve. Therefore, while having more than one research aim is not necessarily disadvantageous, consider whether a single overarching one will do.

Research Objectives

Each of your research objectives should be SMART :

  • Specific – is there any ambiguity in the action you are going to undertake, or is it focused and well-defined?
  • Measurable – how will you measure progress and determine when you have achieved the action?
  • Achievable – do you have the support, resources and facilities required to carry out the action?
  • Relevant – is the action essential to the achievement of your research aim?
  • Timebound – can you realistically complete the action in the available time alongside your other research tasks?

In addition to being SMART, your research objectives should start with a verb that helps communicate your intent. Common research verbs include:

Table of Research Verbs to Use in Aims and Objectives

Last, format your objectives into a numbered list. This is because when you write your thesis or dissertation, you will at times need to make reference to a specific research objective; structuring your research objectives in a numbered list will provide a clear way of doing this.

To bring all this together, let’s compare the first research objective in the previous example with the above guidance:

Checking Research Objective Example Against Recommended Approach

Research Objective:

1. Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum.

Checking Against Recommended Approach:

Q: Is it specific? A: Yes, it is clear what the student intends to do (produce a finite element model), why they intend to do it (mimic cup/shell blows) and their parameters have been well-defined ( using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum ).

Q: Is it measurable? A: Yes, it is clear that the research objective will be achieved once the finite element model is complete.

Q: Is it achievable? A: Yes, provided the student has access to a computer lab, modelling software and laboratory data.

Q: Is it relevant? A: Yes, mimicking impacts to a cup/shell is fundamental to the overall aim of understanding how they deform when impacted upon.

Q: Is it timebound? A: Yes, it is possible to create a limited-scope finite element model in a relatively short time, especially if you already have experience in modelling.

Q: Does it start with a verb? A: Yes, it starts with ‘develop’, which makes the intent of the objective immediately clear.

Q: Is it a numbered list? A: Yes, it is the first research objective in a list of eight.

Mistakes in Writing Research Aims and Objectives

1. making your research aim too broad.

Having a research aim too broad becomes very difficult to achieve. Normally, this occurs when a student develops their research aim before they have a good understanding of what they want to research. Remember that at the end of your project and during your viva defence , you will have to prove that you have achieved your research aims; if they are too broad, this will be an almost impossible task. In the early stages of your research project, your priority should be to narrow your study to a specific area. A good way to do this is to take the time to study existing literature, question their current approaches, findings and limitations, and consider whether there are any recurring gaps that could be investigated .

Note: Achieving a set of aims does not necessarily mean proving or disproving a theory or hypothesis, even if your research aim was to, but having done enough work to provide a useful and original insight into the principles that underlie your research aim.

2. Making Your Research Objectives Too Ambitious

Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available. It is natural to want to set ambitious research objectives that require sophisticated data collection and analysis, but only completing this with six months before the end of your PhD registration period is not a worthwhile trade-off.

3. Formulating Repetitive Research Objectives

Each research objective should have its own purpose and distinct measurable outcome. To this effect, a common mistake is to form research objectives which have large amounts of overlap. This makes it difficult to determine when an objective is truly complete, and also presents challenges in estimating the duration of objectives when creating your project timeline. It also makes it difficult to structure your thesis into unique chapters, making it more challenging for you to write and for your audience to read.

Fortunately, this oversight can be easily avoided by using SMART objectives.

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of how to create an effective set of aims and objectives for your research project, whether it be a thesis, dissertation or research paper. While it may be tempting to dive directly into your research, spending time on getting your aims and objectives right will give your research clear direction. This won’t only reduce the likelihood of problems arising later down the line, but will also lead to a more thorough and coherent research project.

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The purpose statement

The purpose statement is made up of three major components: (1) the motivation driving your dissertation; (2) the significance of the research you plan to carry out; and (3) the research questions you are going to address. Starting the first major chapter of your dissertation (usually Chapter One: Introduction ), the purpose statement establishes the intent of your entire dissertation. Just like a great song that needs a great "hook", the purpose statement needs to draw the reader in and keep their attention. This article explains the purpose of each of these three components that make up the purpose statement.

The "motivation" driving your dissertation

The "significance" of the research you plan to carry out, the "research questions" you are going to address.

Your choice of dissertation topic should be driven by some kind of motivation . This motivation is usually a problem or issue that you feel needs to be addressed or solved. This part of the purpose statement aims to answer the question: Why should we care? In other words, why should we be interested in the research problem or issue that you want to address?

The types of motivation that may drive your dissertation will vary depending on the subject area you are studying, as well as the specific dissertation topic you are interested in. However, some of the broad types of motivation that undergraduate and master's level dissertation students try to address are based around (a) individuals , (b) organisations , and/or (c) society .

Individuals face many problems and issues ranging from those associated with welfare , to health , prosperity , freedoms , security , and so on. From a health perspective, you may be concerned with the rise in childhood obesity and the potential need for regulation to combat the advertising of fast food to children. In terms of welfare and freedoms , you may be interested in the introduction of new legislation that aims to protect discrimination in the workplace, and its implications for small businesses.

Organisations also have a wide range of problems and issues that need to be addressed, whether relating to people , finances , operations , competition , regulations , and so forth. From a people perspective, you may be interested in how organisations use flexible working options to alleviate employee stress and burnout. In terms of regulations , you may be concerned with the growth in Internet piracy and the ways that organisations are dealing with such a threat.

Society is another lens through which you can view problems and issues that need to be addressed. These may relate to a wide range of societal risks or other problems and issues such as factory farming, the potential legalisation of marijuana, the health-related effects of talking on cell phones, and so forth. You may be interested in understanding individuals? views towards the potential legalisation of marijuana; or how these views are influenced by individuals? knowledge of the side-effects of marijuana use.

When communicating the motivation driving your dissertation to the reader, it is important to explain why the problem or issue you are addressing is interesting : that is, why should the reader care? It is not sufficient to simply state what the problem or issue is.

Whilst the motivation component of your purpose statement explains why the reader should care about your dissertation, the significance component justifies the value of the dissertation. In other words: What contribution will the dissertation make to the literature? Why should anyone bother to perform this research? What is its value?

Even though dissertations are rarely "ground-breaking" at the undergraduate or master's level (and are not expected to be), they should still be significant in some way. This component of the Introduction chapter, which follows the motivation section, should explain what this significance is. In this respect, your research may be significant in one of a number of ways. It may:

Capitalise on a recent event

Reflect a break from the past

Target a new audience

Address a flaw in a previous study

Expand a particular field of study

Help an individual, group, organisation, or community

When writing your purpose statement, you will need to explain the relationship between the motivation driving your dissertation and the significance of the research you plan to carry out. These two factors - motivation and significance - must be intrinsically linked; that is, you cannot have one without the other. The key point is that you must be able to explain the relationship between the motivation driving your dissertation and one (or more) of the types of significance highlighted in the bullets above.

The motivation and significance components of your Introduction chapter should signal to the reader the general intent of your dissertation. However, the research questions that you set out indicate the specific intent of your dissertation. In other words, your research questions tell the reader exactly what you intend to try and address (or answer) throughout the dissertation process.

In addition, since there are different types of research question (i.e., quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods research questions), it should be obvious from the significance component of your purpose statement which of these types of research question you intend to tackle [see the section, Research Questions , to learn more].

Having established the research questions you are going to address, this completes the purpose statement. At this point, the reader should be clear about the overall intent of your dissertation. If you are in the process of writing up your dissertation, we would recommend including a Chapter Summaries section after the Research Questions section of your Introduction chapter. This helps to let the reader know what to expect next from your dissertation.

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How to write a dissertation problem statement, published by steve tippins on may 7, 2020 may 7, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 03:07 am

Your Problem Statement is one of the most important sections of your dissertation.

Let that sink in for a moment.

(Breathe. Say an om. Try to fend off the existential anxiety that is a natural part of the dissertation-writing process).

Okay, ready to know more?

The reason why it’s so important is that your study is essentially a response to a problem. Your Purpose Statement arises from the problem. So, essentially, your problem statement dictates what your entire dissertation will be about.

Fortunately for you, it also has some pretty specific requirements, and if you follow these, you’ll nail your problem statement and write a strong dissertation proposal.

That’s why I wrote this article: to help you understand the specific requirements of a dissertation problem statement so that you can write one effectively.

woman in a white shirt holding a book in a library

How to Find a Research Problem for your Dissertation

Before you can write your dissertation’s problem statement, you have to find the research problem.

Your problem statement arises from a gap in literature . When there’s something that hasn’t been studied, and when also a good reason to study it, that constitutes a problem. At its essence, a problem statement is essentially saying, “We don’t know enough about X, and we really should because of Y.” 

So how do you find a research problem? There are several commonly-accepted approaches.

Literature Review

african american man in red sweater doing research inside a library

Oftentimes, the easiest and most direct way to discover a research problem is through a review of the literature. You will have to conduct a literature review anyway as part of your proposal, so make sure to write notes as you go along. 

Make sure you’re familiar with seminal texts, but the real gold is often found in more recent studies. The “Recommendations for Further Research” section may explicitly state gaps in research that need to be filled, leading to your problem.

dissertation statement of research

Personal Experience

Another excellent way of discovering a problem is through personal experience. Perhaps you’ve worked in a field and noticed a persistent problem that nobody has found an effective answer to. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the literature, though, before taking it too far–it could be somebody has already studied it (in which case you could still build off their study).

Discussion with Experts

Asking experts in the field is not only an expedient way to discover a research problem, it often leads to the most interesting problems as well. Those who have worked in the field for a long time have a depth and breadth of knowledge, and also often work at the frontier of knowledge in their field. They can provide a perspective that even a complete literature review on its own won’t be able to.

Discussion with Colleagues

two women having a conversation at a table next to the window

The old over-used phrase “synergy” applies here. Sometimes, even when two people have roughly the same level of knowledge and expertise in a subject, coming together in dialogue may produce ideas that neither could have found on their own. Or maybe your colleague has just read something interesting that leads you to your research problem. Either way, getting another perspective is always helpful.

Research Agendas

An advisor or group of faculty may already be working with an established research agenda. While your scope will be limited, you may also benefit from contributing to a larger research effort.

Contradictory Evidence

Look at the literature (or ask your advisors) with an eye towards contradicting evidence. If similar studies have contradicting results, the area must be explored more. This is related to “provocative exception,” when a consistent and accepted conclusion is contradicted by the appearance of a new finding. Keeping a key eye on the research can aid your awareness of these instances.

What Makes a Good Research Problem?

african american woman in white knitted sweater writing in a notebook by the window

You are interested in the problem. This may sound obvious, but may doctoral students have found themselves enmeshed in a research project that they have no genuine interest in because a faculty member thought they should pursue a particular topic. A dissertation is too long of a project to devote to something you’re not interested in. Plus, the quality of your research and writing will be much higher if indeed you are interested in the topic.

The scope of the problem is manageable . So many students submit problem statements that are beyond the scope of what can be explored in a single research project. Remember, the scope of the problem must be hyper-focused.

You have the time and resources to investigate the problem. This means that you can handle it with the time and resources you have now (or can count on having during the process). It’s far better to make small steps of progress than it is to bite off more than you can chew in an attempt to go in leaps and bounds.

The problem has theoretical or practical significance. This is essentially the answer to the question, “so what?” There are many problems in the world that don’t necessarily merit scientific inquiry. As I am writing at the picnic table outside, a slug appears to be trying to climb from one blade of grass to another but cannot reach the second one. This may be a problem for the slug, but doesn’t have great significance beyond this particular slug at this particular moment. Even if we were to consider the importance of this slug’s goal, it would still take longer than a day to conduct a study about how to help it, by which point I expect it will have already moved on.

It is ethical to investigate the problem. The history of scientific research is, unfortunately, marked by a trail of unethical behavior. From the scientific inquiries of the Nazis, to psychologically harmful studies here in the US, to horrific experiments that are still conducted on live animals, much harm has been done in the name of the pursuit of knowledge. As researchers, it is imperative that we consider the ethics of pursuing any research project.

man in a denim jacket focused on taking notes with his laptop

Now that you’ve identified the research problem you plan to address–that is, the hyper-specific area of focus for your study– you just have to write your dissertation’s problem statement.

The Key Elements of a Dissertation Problem Statement:

Essentially, you want to establish (a) what the problem is, (b) that it matters, and (c) that it addresses a meaningful gap in the literature. 

  • Give some brief background information. A few sentences to help the reader understand the context of the problem.
  • State the general research problem. This is one sentence that usually starts something like, “The general problem is…”
  • Establish relevancy. Here’s where you’ll cite research that supports that the general problem you just stated is relevant, current, and significant to the discipline.
  • Specific Problem Statement. This sentence should be worded similarly to your title and (future) purpose statement.
  • Conclusion and transition. Here, you’ll include a few sentences on the impacts of the problem on society or the relevant population, and transition to the next section.

Here are some recommended ways of beginning your dissertation problem statement:

  • It is not known ___
  • Absent from the literature is ___
  • While the literature indicates __, it is not known in ___ if
  • It is not known how or to what extent ___

After reading your problem statement, someone should have a very clear answer to the questions, “So what?” or “Why does it matter?”

Tips for Writing your Problem Statement

blonde professor giving advice to her stressed out student

Be concise . The wording of your problem statement should be clear and easy to follow. Avoid complexity. One of the most common mistakes students make is making their problem statement too complex. When in doubt, simplify.

Use Citations. Make sure that every claim you make is backed up by research. The vast majority of studies build on the work of previous researchers.

Focus on only one (very specific) problem. Don’t try to roll several problems into your problem statement. Also, avoid making your problem statement too broad.

Do not offer a ready solution. At most, explore possible avenues for solutions that may be tested with the help of your research.

Stay in alignment. It is also very important that your problem statement is in alignment with your title, gap in literature, purpose statement, and research questions. That means it’s saying the same thing, that it has the same hyper-specific focus. 

dissertation statement of research

How Long Is a Problem Statement?

While the actual General Problem Statement and Specific Problem Statement are one sentence each, the Problem Statement section can account for anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages. More than a few pages is usually too long. Remember, simplicity and specificity are key.

woman in a grey turtleneck studying next to the window

Dissertation Problem Statement Example

From Wiley :

The career development process is critical for the success of organizations. Research has shown that women managers experience career development differently from men. In addition, more and more African-American women are now joining the ranks of management, which presents new challenges and opportunities for these individuals.  However, little is known about the combined effects of sex and race on the career development process of individuals, and to the extent that current career development models accurately describe the process is unclear.  If career development is important for organizations and career development is viewed differently by women and men managers and more African-American women are now serving in the ranks of management, and if little is known about the combined effects of sex and race on the career development process, then more needs to be known about how African-American women perceive their career development experiences.  The purpose of this study was to focus on African-American women first-line supervisors undertake and conduct a qualitative study of their career development process.  *Adapted from: Cushnie, M. (1999). African-American women first-line supervisors: a qualitative study of their career development process.   From Wiley

From University of Houston : 

The importance of developing a constraint-free and reliable work plan has long been recognized by the [construction] industry. However, numerous construction projects are still plagued by delays and cost overruns, which can frequently be traced to ineffective identification and treatment of constraints. First, when a constraint is not properly identified during scheduling, subsequent conflicts in the field are inevitable. Today’s projects are becoming more and more technically complex and logistically challenging, which exposes construction operations to even more complex constraints.  Second, the traditional scheduling methods, bar charts and Critical Path Method (CPM) which are widely used as a basis for constraint analysis, greatly limit our capability in modeling and resolving constraints during look-ahead scheduling.  These methods have long been blamed for their limitations in modeling and communicating constraints, including inability to cope with non-time-related precedence constraints and difficulty to evaluate and communicate inter-dependencies at the field operation level (e.g. Sriprasert and Dawood 2002; Chua and Shen 2001). In summary, there is a need for a better understanding of constraints in construction and a structured approach in identifying and modeling constraints to ensure a constraint-free work plan.  From University of Houston

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Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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These OWL resources will help you develop and refine the arguments in your writing.

The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="dissertation statement of research"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Research statement, what is a research statement.

The research statement (or statement of research interests) is a common component of academic job applications. It is a summary of your research accomplishments, current work, and future direction and potential of your work.

The statement can discuss specific issues such as:

  • funding history and potential
  • requirements for laboratory equipment and space and other resources
  • potential research and industrial collaborations
  • how your research contributes to your field
  • future direction of your research

The research statement should be technical, but should be intelligible to all members of the department, including those outside your subdiscipline. So keep the “big picture” in mind. The strongest research statements present a readable, compelling, and realistic research agenda that fits well with the needs, facilities, and goals of the department.

Research statements can be weakened by:

  • overly ambitious proposals
  • lack of clear direction
  • lack of big-picture focus
  • inadequate attention to the needs and facilities of the department or position

Why a Research Statement?

  • It conveys to search committees the pieces of your professional identity and charts the course of your scholarly journey.
  • It communicates a sense that your research will follow logically from what you have done and that it will be different, important, and innovative.
  • It gives a context for your research interests—Why does your research matter? The so what?
  • It combines your achievements and current work with the proposal for upcoming research.
  • areas of specialty and expertise
  • potential to get funding
  • academic strengths and abilities
  • compatibility with the department or school
  • ability to think and communicate like a serious scholar and/or scientist

Formatting of Research Statements

The goal of the research statement is to introduce yourself to a search committee, which will probably contain scientists both in and outside your field, and get them excited about your research. To encourage people to read it:

  • make it one or two pages, three at most
  • use informative section headings and subheadings
  • use bullets
  • use an easily readable font size
  • make the margins a reasonable size

Organization of Research Statements

Think of the overarching theme guiding your main research subject area. Write an essay that lays out:

  • The main theme(s) and why it is important and what specific skills you use to attack the problem.
  • A few specific examples of problems you have already solved with success to build credibility and inform people outside your field about what you do.
  • A discussion of the future direction of your research. This section should be really exciting to people both in and outside your field. Don’t sell yourself short; if you think your research could lead to answers for big important questions, say so!
  • A final paragraph that gives a good overall impression of your research.

Writing Research Statements

  • Avoid jargon. Make sure that you describe your research in language that many people outside your specific subject area can understand. Ask people both in and outside your field to read it before you send your application. A search committee won’t get excited about something they can’t understand.
  • Write as clearly, concisely, and concretely as you can.
  • Keep it at a summary level; give more detail in the job talk.
  • Ask others to proofread it. Be sure there are no spelling errors.
  • Convince the search committee not only that you are knowledgeable, but that you are the right person to carry out the research.
  • Include information that sets you apart (e.g., publication in  Science, Nature,  or a prestigious journal in your field).
  • What excites you about your research? Sound fresh.
  • Include preliminary results and how to build on results.
  • Point out how current faculty may become future partners.
  • Acknowledge the work of others.
  • Use language that shows you are an independent researcher.
  • BUT focus on your research work, not yourself.
  • Include potential funding partners and industrial collaborations. Be creative!
  • Provide a summary of your research.
  • Put in background material to give the context/relevance/significance of your research.
  • List major findings, outcomes, and implications.
  • Describe both current and planned (future) research.
  • Communicate a sense that your research will follow logically from what you have done and that it will be unique, significant, and innovative (and easy to fund).

Describe Your Future Goals or Research Plans

  • Major problem(s) you want to focus on in your research.
  • The problem’s relevance and significance to the field.
  • Your specific goals for the next three to five years, including potential impact and outcomes.
  • If you know what a particular agency funds, you can name the agency and briefly outline a proposal.
  • Give broad enough goals so that if one area doesn’t get funded, you can pursue other research goals and funding.

Identify Potential Funding Sources

  • Almost every institution wants to know whether you’ll be able to get external funding for research.
  • Try to provide some possible sources of funding for the research, such as NIH, NSF, foundations, private agencies.
  • Mention past funding, if appropriate.

Be Realistic

There is a delicate balance between a realistic research statement where you promise to work on problems you really think you can solve and over-reaching or dabbling in too many subject areas. Select an over-arching theme for your research statement and leave miscellaneous ideas or projects out. Everyone knows that you will work on more than what you mention in this statement.

Consider Also Preparing a Longer Version

  • A longer version (five–15 pages) can be brought to your interview. (Check with your advisor to see if this is necessary.)
  • You may be asked to describe research plans and budget in detail at the campus interview. Be prepared.
  • Include laboratory needs (how much budget you need for equipment, how many grad assistants, etc.) to start up the research.

Samples of Research Statements

To find sample research statements with content specific to your discipline, search on the internet for your discipline + “Research Statement.”

  • University of Pennsylvania Sample Research Statement
  • Advice on writing a Research Statement (Plan) from the journal  Science

Comprehensive Care in Freetown: Ph.D. candidate completes holistic care dissertation research abroad

Elyssa Shroeder

Elyssa Shroeder

It can be tough to leave home for an extended period of time, but after six months in West Africa, it was harder for Elyssa Shroeder to return stateside.

The fifth-year Ph.D. student and doctoral candidate completed her dissertation data collection on child trafficking in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. She partnered with University of Georgia’s Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) to complete her research, which was funded by a Fulbright Research Award . Schroeder was recently hired as the Director of Survivor Engagement at CenHTRO, overseeing all implementation projects related to the care, research, and support of victims and survivors.

Shroeder spent most of her time in Sierra Leone with World Hope International , a nonprofit organization that oversees clean water, global health and protection initiatives across the globe. The nonprofit operates a recovery center for victims of child trafficking and serves as the implementation partner for CenHTRO’s African Programming & Research Initiative to End Slavery (APRIES) .

Shroeder invested much of the past three years in building and strengthening relationships with social workers and other care providers via zoom and an in-person meeting, creating a rapport to complete her community-based participatory project.

“My time over there builds off of an ongoing project that CenHTRO has, which shows that about 30% of children in Sierra Leone are either at risk or victims of child labor trafficking,” Shroeder said. “We know that this is a really big issue, but my research specifically is around holistic social services for trafficking survivors – so that means making sure if you are a victim of trafficking or another kind of related trauma that you have the very best care.”

Child trafficking in Sierra Leone typically takes place in a practice known as “menpikin,” where an extended family member, family friend or other trusted individual takes a child from their home, often under the guise of an educational opportunity. However, the child is often forced into agriculture, fishing, mining, domestic work or other child labor, and in some cases early marriage or sex trafficking. This practice can place children in labor inside or outside of Sierra Leone’s borders.

Shroeder’s research focused around the idea of wraparound care. The Texas native used the example that this approach consists of more than just counseling for a victim; it would include educational opportunities, access to food, health and mental health opportunities for victims and their families – care that meets the needs of several facets of a victim’s life.

Shroeder spoke with social workers, counselors and other staff, studying data sets from multiple years to complete her findings. World Hope International stores data in multi-year files, so Shroeder dissected available, de-identified data from six fiscal years and now awaits future data. During her stay, she led training, consultations and staff retreats, meeting the needs of not only the victims of trafficking but also providers. Through her work, she treated the multiple levels of trauma that come with the nation’s practices.

Today, Shroeder’s impact is ongoing with World Hope International. She continues to work with the staff to improve documentation processes, digitizing the format the nonprofit previously used.

“What I found was that a huge amount of time was going into paper documentation that was not streamlined and wasn’t telling you much of the survivors,” Shroeder said. “What I did was take the feedback from the staff and five years of data analysis to see what the previous files were telling us already and what they weren’t telling us.”

Acquiring a different lens

During her time abroad, Shroeder noticed how societal differences between the U.S. and one of the world’s poorest countries bleed into the social services each nation provides, namely how the U.S. uses micro-focused care as opposed to Sierra Leone’s macro-focused approach.

“In Sierra Leone you really don’t do a lot of individual therapy ever,” Shroeder said. “It’s more focused on issues of injustice at a macro level. So really thinking about the system as a whole reflects on our society being more individualistic where theirs is more based on a community aspect.”

While there is a BSW option at some schools, Sierra Leone’s education system provides no MSW program in the country. Despite the lack of social work programs, Schroeder recognized a cooperative effort between workers in the field, one that fostered education and service.

“I really saw a spirit of learning and an intense desire to engage and collaborate within systems,” Shroeder said. “Instead of having social workers only working with other social workers, it was a lot of social workers working with other professions.”

That collaborative force lives at an unlikely time for the nation. In the past 30 years, Sierra Leone has faced several hardships, including a civil war, Ebola outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic and other sources of collective trauma. Watching the country’s citizens interact was one of the more powerful experiences of Shroeder’s trip.

“What surprised me the most was seeing the incredible resiliency and joy that was present even in the midst of all of this hardship,” Shroeder said. “Even now, there has been some political upheaval and the cost of living is really high – even in the midst of all of it, people do come together to take care of each other, which is really beautiful to see.”

More than research

Shroeder herself engaged with other fields during her time abroad. An avid dancer and instructor in Athens, she attended a local dance competition in Freetown and, by virtue of being the only foreigner in the room, was named a guest judge by the organizers. She learned the competition was arranged to keep at-risk youth off the streets, and she was able to connect with individuals through the event. On her birthday, she rented out Freetown’s only theater, which had recently reopened, and strengthened relationships with community members over Dungeons and Dragons.

It was experiences like these that led Shroeder to a profound realization about the nation she called home for six months. She had learned the theory and concepts behind colonialism from books and lectures, but she said actually seeing the effects of colonialism in Sierra Leone was impactful. She noted the perceptions and opinions that many Americans have about the continent of Africa were untrue and impact many Africans today.

“We have so many ingrained racist and colonialist ideas about Africa and what it looks like,” Shroeder said. “Truly it is a thriving and beautiful place. Even now, their resources are stolen. The most surprising thing to me was really seeing the reality of historical colonialism and ongoing neocolonialism and how that affects the lives of men, women and children in Africa.”

Shroeder uses that fact as motivation to continue her research. Six months is a long time, but not for a research project like hers, she said. Moving forward, Schroeder is in the midst of taking outcomes like depression levels, anxiety levels and how to measure those items in ways that are adapted to their culture.

“My research is still ongoing,” Shroeder said. “I email [the team] weekly if not daily. I hope to go back in January for a final data collection point. It’s still very much ongoing, even though I’m not physically there.”

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  • Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates

Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates

Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on November 21, 2023.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process . It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to your field.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

  • Your anticipated title
  • Your abstract
  • Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review, research methods, avenues for future research, etc.)

In the final product, you can also provide a chapter outline for your readers. This is a short paragraph at the end of your introduction to inform readers about the organizational structure of your thesis or dissertation. This chapter outline is also known as a reading guide or summary outline.

Table of contents

How to outline your thesis or dissertation, dissertation and thesis outline templates, chapter outline example, sample sentences for your chapter outline, sample verbs for variation in your chapter outline, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis and dissertation outlines.

While there are some inter-institutional differences, many outlines proceed in a fairly similar fashion.

  • Working Title
  • “Elevator pitch” of your work (often written last).
  • Introduce your area of study, sharing details about your research question, problem statement , and hypotheses . Situate your research within an existing paradigm or conceptual or theoretical framework .
  • Subdivide as you see fit into main topics and sub-topics.
  • Describe your research methods (e.g., your scope , population , and data collection ).
  • Present your research findings and share about your data analysis methods.
  • Answer the research question in a concise way.
  • Interpret your findings, discuss potential limitations of your own research and speculate about future implications or related opportunities.

For a more detailed overview of chapters and other elements, be sure to check out our article on the structure of a dissertation or download our template .

To help you get started, we’ve created a full thesis or dissertation template in Word or Google Docs format. It’s easy adapt it to your own requirements.

 Download Word template    Download Google Docs template

Chapter outline example American English

It can be easy to fall into a pattern of overusing the same words or sentence constructions, which can make your work monotonous and repetitive for your readers. Consider utilizing some of the alternative constructions presented below.

Example 1: Passive construction

The passive voice is a common choice for outlines and overviews because the context makes it clear who is carrying out the action (e.g., you are conducting the research ). However, overuse of the passive voice can make your text vague and imprecise.

Example 2: IS-AV construction

You can also present your information using the “IS-AV” (inanimate subject with an active verb ) construction.

A chapter is an inanimate object, so it is not capable of taking an action itself (e.g., presenting or discussing). However, the meaning of the sentence is still easily understandable, so the IS-AV construction can be a good way to add variety to your text.

Example 3: The “I” construction

Another option is to use the “I” construction, which is often recommended by style manuals (e.g., APA Style and Chicago style ). However, depending on your field of study, this construction is not always considered professional or academic. Ask your supervisor if you’re not sure.

Example 4: Mix-and-match

To truly make the most of these options, consider mixing and matching the passive voice , IS-AV construction , and “I” construction .This can help the flow of your argument and improve the readability of your text.

As you draft the chapter outline, you may also find yourself frequently repeating the same words, such as “discuss,” “present,” “prove,” or “show.” Consider branching out to add richness and nuance to your writing. Here are some examples of synonyms you can use.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

  • Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, November 21). Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/dissertation-thesis-outline/

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What Successful Purpose Statements Do Differently

  • Darrell Rigby,
  • Dane Smith,
  • Zach First,
  • Anna CochemĂŠ

dissertation statement of research

Strategies from companies that got their guiding mission right.

Sadly, purpose statements at all too many organizations are just empty words. The companies that issue them don’t live up to their lofty promises. But research by Bain & Company identified some companies that are the exceptions. They employ four methods to turn their statements into reality.

Most large companies like to have purpose statements. They put those statements on websites, in ads, and maybe on the walls of plants and offices. A bold purpose, so their leaders seem to believe, will motivate employees. It will help everyone pull together toward a worthwhile goal.

  • Darrell Rigby is a partner in the Boston office of Bain & Company. He heads the firm’s global agile enterprise practice. He is the author of Winning in Turbulence and a coauthor of Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos (Harvard Business Review Press, 2020).
  • Dane Smith is a Bain & Company partner with decades of experience in helping companies develop purpose-led business strategies.
  • Zach First is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Bain & Company. He leads the firm’s stakeholder strategy work. From 2016 to 2022 he was the executive director of the Drucker Institute. DrZfirst
  • Anna Cochemé is a Bain & Company partner based in Chicago. She is a leader of the firm’s People & Organization practice.

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Bone defect research takes first at 3 Minute Thesis

dissertation statement of research

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) 3 Minute Thesis qualifier competition took place on March 6, in which 10 PhD students challenged themselves to present a distilled thesis within three minutes and with only one slide as a visual aid. Under the pressure of time and conveying their research to a general audience and a panel of five judges, Aditi Dahiya from the Department of Chemistry rose above her competing colleagues to win first place in the qualifying round.

Dahiya’s $1,000-winning presentation, “Healing Bone Using Spices,” focused on bone health issues and “merging natural medicinal compounds, [e.g., turmeric and oregano], with 3D printing technology to forge a tailored approach to bone defect treatments.” She notes that this type of research “could mark a pivotal step towards a more accessible and less invasive treatment modality for bone-related ailments.”

The $750 second place award went to Annesh Mukhopadhyay from the Department of Physics and Astronomy for his presentation titled “Understanding quantum mechanics through Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC).” Mukhopadhyay’s thesis presentation focused on how using an atomic gas, i.e., Bose-Einstein condensate, and cooling it to almost absolute zero to capture images enables the human eye to observe quantum behavior. This research informs the “basic principle behind such complex quantum phenomena” that will add to the future discoveries of quantum mechanics.

Patrick Gambill from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics took third place and a $500 award for his thesis presentation, “Mathematical Games and Redistricting,” that focused on applying mathematics for two-player games to predict potential advantages in bipartisan redistricting. “[T]his math can help us determine which districting plans favor a particular party and what strategies a bad actor might use.”

Aditi Dahiya.

In addition to the three top-place winners, the following doctoral students participated in the rousing qualifier round: Saheed Adeniyi Ogunkoya, Department of History; Matthew Beckman, Department of Chemistry; Andre Diehl, School of Languages, Cultures, and Race; Ela Sehic, Department of Psychology; Molly Sutter, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Jennifer Moran, Department of History; Erik J. Wasleske, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Read about each of the competitors’ thesis presentations .

The CAS qualifier competition’s master of ceremony was Dean Luethi from the School of Music, and the judging panel consisted of Diamond Beverly-Porter, Department of Digital Technology and Culture; Erica Crespi, School of Biological Sciences; Henry Evans, Equity and Outreach; J.J. Harty, Department of Art; and Courtney Meehan, Graduate Studies. Judging evaluated comprehension and content, as well as engagement and communication.

As the first-place qualifying winner, Dahiya will compete in the university-wide  3 Minute Thesis competition  on March 27 in Pullman at 1 pm in VBR 205 where winners will receive $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $500 for third place. The event is open to the community to attend. Watch the complete 2024 College of Arts and Sciences 3 Minute Thesis qualifier competition .

By Christina Mancebo, College of Arts and Sciences

Office of Neuroscience Research

Thesis Defense: Lucas Adams (Immunology Program) – “Structural insights into host-pathogen interactions of coronaviruses and alphaviruses”

“Structural insights into host-pathogen interactions of coronaviruses and alphaviruses”

Thesis lab: Michael Diamond (WashU Medicine)

For inquiries contact Christy Durbin .

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FACT SHEET: President   Biden Issues Executive Order and Announces New Actions to Advance Women’s Health Research and   Innovation

In his State of the Union address, President Biden laid out his vision for transforming women’s health research and improving women’s lives all across America. The President called on Congress to make a bold, transformative investment of $12 billion in new funding for women’s health research. This investment would be used to create a Fund for Women’s Health Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research agenda and to establish a new nationwide network of research centers of excellence and innovation in women’s health—which would serve as a national gold standard for women’s health research across the lifespan.

It is long past time to ensure women get the answers they need when it comes to their health—from cardiovascular disease to autoimmune diseases to menopause-related conditions. To pioneer the next generation of discoveries, the President and the First Lady launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research , which aims to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women’s health research in the United States.

Today, President Biden is signing a new Executive Order that will direct the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to expand and improve research on women’s health. These directives will ensure women’s health is integrated and prioritized across the federal research portfolio and budget, and will galvanize new research on a wide range of topics, including women’s midlife health.

The President and First Lady are also announcing more than twenty new actions and commitments by federal agencies, including through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). This includes the launch of a new NIH-wide effort that will direct key investments of $200 million in Fiscal Year 2025 to fund new, interdisciplinary women’s health research—a first step towards the transformative central Fund on Women’s Health that the President has called on Congress to invest in. These actions also build on the First Lady’s announcement last month of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Sprint for Women’s Health , which committed $100 million towards transformative research and development in women’s health.

Today, the President is issuing an Executive Order that will:

  • Integrate Women’s Health Across the Federal Research Portfolio . The Executive Order directs the Initiative’s constituent agencies to develop and strengthen research and data standards on women’s health across all relevant research and funding opportunities, with the goal of helping ensure that the Administration is better leveraging every dollar of federal funding for health research to improve women’s health. These actions will build on the NIH’s current policy to ensure that research it funds considers women’s health in the development of study design and in data collection and analysis. Agencies will take action to ensure women’s health is being considered at every step in the research process—from the applications that prospective grantees submit to the way that they report on grant implementation.
  • Prioritize Investments in Women’s Health Research . The Executive Order directs the Initiative’s constituent agencies to prioritize funding for women’s health research and encourage innovation in women’s health, including through ARPA-H and multi-agency initiatives such as the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. These entities are dedicated to high-impact research and innovation, including through the support of early-stage small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in research and innovation. The Executive Order further directs HHS and NSF to study ways to leverage artificial intelligence to advance women’s health research. These additional investments—across a wide range of agencies—will support innovation and open new doors to breakthroughs in women’s health.
  • Galvanize New Research on Women’s Midlife Health .  To narrow research gaps on diseases and conditions associated with women’s midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause, such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, and osteoporosis, the President is directing HHS to: expand data collection efforts related to women’s midlife health; launch a comprehensive research agenda that will guide future investments in menopause-related research; identify ways to improve management of menopause-related issues and the clinical care that women receive; and develop new resources to help women better understand their options for menopause-related symptoms prevention and treatment. The Executive Order also directs the DoD and VA to study and take steps to improve the treatment of, and research related to, menopause for Service women and women veterans.
  • Assess Unmet Needs to Support Women’s Health Research . The Executive Order directs the Office of Management and Budget and the Gender Policy Council to lead a robust effort to assess gaps in federal funding for women’s health research and identify changes—whether statutory, regulatory, or budgetary—that are needed to maximally support the broad scope of women’s health research across the federal government. Agencies will also be required to report annually on their investments in women’s health research, as well as progress towards their efforts to improve women’s health.

Today, agencies are also announcing new actions they are taking to promote women’s health research , as part of their ongoing efforts through the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. Agencies are announcing actions to:

Prioritize and Increase Investments in Women’s Health Research

  • Launch an NIH-Cross Cutting Effort to Transform Women’s Health Throughout the Lifespan. NIH is launching an NIH-wide effort to close gaps in women’s health research across the lifespan. This effort—which will initially be supported by $200 million from NIH beginning in FY 2025—will allow NIH to catalyze interdisciplinary research, particularly on issues that cut across the traditional mandates of the institutes and centers at NIH. It will also allow NIH to launch ambitious, multi-faceted research projects such as research on the impact of perimenopause and menopause on heart health, brain health and bone health. In addition, the President’s FY25 Budget Request would double current funding for the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health to support new and existing initiatives that emphasize women’s health research.

This coordinated, NIH-wide effort will be co-chaired by the NIH Office of the Director, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, and the institute directors from the National Institute on Aging; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institute on Drug Abuse; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Institute on Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

  • Invest in Research on a Wide Range of Women’s Health Issues. The bipartisan Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), led out of DoD, funds research on women’s health encompassing a range of diseases and conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently from men. While the programs and topic areas directed by Congress differ each year, CDMRP has consistently funded research to advance women’s health since its creation in 1993. In Fiscal Year 2022, DoD implemented nearly $490 million in CDMRP investments towards women’s health research projects ranging from breast and ovarian cancer to lupus to orthotics and prosthetics in women.  In Fiscal Year 2023, DoD anticipates implementing approximately $500 million in CDMRP funding for women’s health research, including in endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue.
  • Call for New Proposals on Emerging Women’s Health Issues . Today, NSF is calling for new research and education proposals to advance discoveries and innovations related to women’s health. To promote multidisciplinary solutions to women’s health disparities, NSF invites applications that would improve women’s health through a wide range of disciplines—from computational research to engineering biomechanics. This is the first time that NSF has broadly called for novel and transformative research that is focused entirely on women’s health topics, and proposals will be considered on an ongoing basis.
  • Increase Research on How Environmental Factors Affect Women’s Health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating its grant solicitations and contracts to ensure that applicants prioritize, as appropriate, the consideration of women’s exposures and health outcomes. These changes will help ensure that women’s health is better accounted for across EPA’s research portfolio and increase our knowledge of women’s environmental health—from endocrine disruption to toxic exposure.
  • Create a Dedicated, One-Stop Shop for NIH Funding Opportunities on Women’s Health. Researchers are often unaware of existing opportunities to apply for federal funding. To help close this gap, NIH is issuing a new Notice of Special Interest that identifies current, open funding opportunities related to women’s health research across a wide range of health conditions and all Institutes, Centers, and Offices. The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health will build on this new Notice by creating a dedicated one-stop shop on open funding opportunities related to women’s health research. This will make it easier for researchers and institutions to find and apply for funding—instead of having to search across each of NIH’s 27 institutes for funding opportunities.

Foster Innovation and Discovery in Women’s Health

  • Accelerate Transformative Research and Development in Women’s Health. ARPA-H’s Sprint for Women’s Health launched in February 2024 commits $100 million to transformative research and development in women’s health. ARPA-H is soliciting ideas for novel groundbreaking research and development to address women’s health, as well as opportunities to accelerate and scale tools, products, and platforms with the potential for commercialization to improve women’s health outcomes.
  • Support Private Sector Innovation Through Additional Federal Investments in Women’s Health Research. The NIH’s competitive Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program is committing to further increasing—by 50 percent—its investments in supporting innovators and early-stage small businesses engaged in research and development on women’s health. These programs will solicit new proposals on promising women’s health innovation and make evidence-based investments that bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations. This commitment for additional funds builds on the investments the Administration has already made to increase innovation in women’s health through small businesses, including by increasing investments by sevenfold between Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2023.
  • Advance Initiatives to Protect and Promote the Health of Women. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeks to advance efforts to help address gaps in research and availability of products for diseases and conditions that primarily impact women, or for which scientific considerations may be different for women, and is committed to research and regulatory initiatives that facilitate the development of safe and effective medical products for women. FDA also plans to issue guidance for industry that relates to the inclusion of women in clinical trials and conduct outreach to stakeholders to discuss opportunities to advance women’s health across the lifespan. And FDA’s Office of Women’s Health will update FDA’s framework for women’s health research and seek to fund research with an emphasis on bridging gaps in knowledge on important women’s health topics, including sex differences and conditions that uniquely or disproportionately impact women.
  • Use Biomarkers to Improve the Health of Women Through Early Detection and Treatment of Conditions, such as Endometriosis. NIH will launch a new initiative dedicated to research on biomarker discovery and validation to help improve our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions that affect women uniquely, including endometriosis. This NIH initiative will accelerate our ability to identify new pathways for diagnosis and treatment by encouraging multi-sector collaboration and synergistic research that will speed the transfer of knowledge from bench to bedside.
  • Leverage Engineering Research to Improve Women’s Health . The NSF Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) is convening national experts to identify high-impact research opportunities in engineering that can improve women’s health. ERVA’s Transforming Women’s Health Outcomes Through Engineering visioning event will be held in June 2024, and will bring together experts from across engineering—including those in microfluidics, computational modeling, artificial intelligence/imaging, and diagnostic technologies and devices—to evaluate the landscape for new applications in women’s health. Following this event, ERVA will issue a report and roadmap on critical areas where engineering research can impact women’s health across the lifespan.
  • Drive Engineering Innovations in Women’s Health Discovery . NSF awardees at Texas A&M University will hold a conference in summer 2024 to collectively identify challenges and opportunities in improving women’s health through engineering. Biomedical engineers and scientists will explore and identify how various types of engineering tools, including biomechanics and immuno-engineering, can be applied to women’s health and spark promising new research directions.

Expand and Leverage Data Collection and Analysis Related to Women’s Health

  • Help Standardize Data to Support Research on Women’s Health. NIH is launching an effort to identify and develop new common data elements related to women’s health that will help researchers share and combine datasets, promote interoperability, and improve the accuracy of datasets when it comes to women’s health. NIH will initiate this process by convening data and scientific experts across the federal government to solicit feedback on the need to develop new NIH-endorsed common data elements—which are widely used in both research and clinical settings. By advancing new tools to capture more data about women’s health, NIH will give researchers and clinicians the tools they need to enable more meaningful data collection, analysis, and reporting and comprehensively improve our knowledge of women’s health.
  • Reflect Women’s Health Needs in National Coverage Determinations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will strengthen its review process, including through Coverage with Evidence Development guidance, to ensure that new medical services and technologies work well in women, as applicable, before being covered nationally through the Medicare program. This will help ensure that Medicare funds are used for treatments with a sufficient evidence base to show that they actually work in women, who make up more than half of the Medicare population.
  • Leverage Data and Quality Measures to Advance Women’s Health Research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are building on existing datasets to improve the collection, analysis, and reporting of information on women’s health. The CDC is expanding the collection of key quality measures across a woman’s lifespan, including to understand the link between pregnancy and post-partum hypertension and heart disease, and plans to release the Million Hearts Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package. This resource will feature a menu of evidence-informed strategies by which clinicians can change care processes. Each strategy includes tested tools and resources to support related clinical quality improvement. HRSA is modernizing its Uniform Data System in ways that will improve the ability to assess how women are being served through HRSA-funded health centers. By improving the ability to analyze data on key clinical quality measures, CDC and HRSA can help close gaps in women’s health care access and identify new opportunities for high-impact research.  

Strengthen Coordination, Infrastructure, and Training to Support Women’s Health Research

  • Launch New Joint Collaborative to Improve Women’s Health Research for Service Members and Veterans. DoD and VA are launching a new Women’s Health Research collaborative to explore opportunities that further promote joint efforts to advance women’s health research and improve evidence-based care for Service members and veterans. The collaborative will increase coordination with the goal of helping improve care across the lifespan for women in the military and women veterans. The Departments will further advance research on key women’s health issues and develop a roadmap to close pressing research gaps, including those specifically affecting Service women and women veterans.
  • Coordinate Research to Advance the Health of Women in the Military. DoD will invest $10 million, contingent on available funds, in the Military Women’s Health Research Partnership. This Partnership is led by the Uniformed Services University and advances and coordinates women’s health research across the Department. The Partnership is supporting research in a wide range of health issues affecting women in the military, including cancers, mental and behavioral health, and the unique health care needs of Active Duty Service Women. In addition, the Uniformed Services University established a dedicated Director of Military Women’s Health Research Program, a role that is responsible for identifying research gaps, fostering collaboration, and coordinating and aligning a unified approach to address the evolving needs of Active Duty Service Women.
  • Support EPA-Wide Research and Dissemination of Data on Women’s Health. EPA is establishing a Women’s Health Community of Practice to coordinate research and data dissemination. EPA also plans to direct the Board of Scientific Counselors to identify ways to advance EPA’s research with specific consideration of the intersection of environmental factors and women’s health, including maternal health.
  • Expand Fellowship Training in Women’s Health Research. CDC, in collaboration with the CDC Foundation and American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is expanding training in women’s health research and public health surveillance to OBGYNs, nurses and advanced practice nurses. Through fellowships and public health experiences with CDC, these clinicians will gain public health research skills to improve the health of women and children exposed to or affected by infectious diseases, mental health and substance use disorders. CDC will invite early career clinicians to train in public health and policy to become future leaders in women’s health research.

Improve Women’s Health Across the Lifespan

  • Create a Comprehensive Research Agenda on Menopause. To help women get the answers they need about menopause, NIH will launch its first-ever Pathways to Prevention series on menopause and the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Pathways to Prevention is an independent, evidence-based process to synthesize the current state of the evidence, identify gaps in existing research, and develop a roadmap that can be used to help guide the field forward. The report, once completed, will help guide innovation and investments in menopause-related research and care across the federal government and research community.
  • Improve Primary Care and Preventive Services for Women . The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will issue a Notice of Intent to publish a funding opportunity announcement for research to advance the science of primary care, which will include a focus on women’s health. Through this funding opportunity, AHRQ will build evidence about key elements of primary care that influence patient outcomes and advance health equity—focusing on women of color—such as care coordination, continuity of care, comprehensiveness of care, person-centered care, and trust. The results from the funding opportunity will shed light on vital targets for improvements in the delivery of primary healthcare across a woman’s lifespan, including women’s health preventive services, prevention and management of multiple chronic diseases, perinatal care, transition from pediatric to adult care, sexual and reproductive health, and care of older adults.
  • Promote the Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Women. The Indian Health Service is launching a series of engagements, including focus groups, to better understand tribal beliefs related to menopause in American Indian and Alaska Native Women. This series will inform new opportunities to expand culturally informed patient care and research as well as the development of new resources and educational materials.
  • Connect Research to Real-World Outcomes to Improve Women’s Mental and Behavioral Health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is supporting a range of health care providers to address the unique needs of women with or at risk for mental health and substance use disorders. Building on its current efforts to provide technical assistance through various initiatives , SAMHSA intends, contingent on available funds, to launch a new comprehensive Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center. This center will identify and improve the implementation of best practices in women’s behavioral health across the life span; identify and fill critical gaps in knowledge of and resources for women’s behavioral health; and provide learning opportunities, training, and technical assistance for healthcare providers.
  • Support Research on Maternal Health Outcomes. USDA will fund research to help recognize early warning signs of maternal morbidity and mortality in recipients of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and anticipates awarding up to $5 million in Fiscal Year 2023 to support maternal health research through WIC. In addition, research being conducted through the Agricultural Research Service’s Human Nutrition Research Centers is focusing on women’s health across the lifespan, including the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women and older adults.

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Operating Behind Enemy Lines: How Fashion Powerhouse LPP S.A. Masked A Fake Russia ‘Sell-Off’ Using Front Entities And Encrypted Barcodes

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  • LPP S.A. is an $8.4 billion fashion retailer based in Poland that lays claim to being the largest fashion company in Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Until Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russia was LPP’s biggest international market, generating ~19.2% of revenue from 553 stores. LPP had major expansion plans for Russia according to company disclosures and a former executive who told us: “[LPP] had plans to open hundreds of more stores [in Russia] … that was the biggest market that we wanted to grow”.
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a mass exodus of foreign companies from Russia. This resulted in a 46.6% drop in LPP’s share price as investors feared the loss of key growth prospects.
  • Trade relations with Russia pose a serious risk for Polish companies like LPP due to both sanction and reputational risks—97% of Polish citizens have an unfavourable view of Russia post-invasion, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in spring 2022.

As recently as November 2023, former Russian president and close ally of Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, labelled Poland a “dangerous enemy” and insinuated that it could be a candidate for invasion.

  • On April 28 th , 2022, LPP announced plans to distance itself from Russia by divesting its Russia division. A deal progressed rapidly: Weeks later, on May 19 th , 2022, it announced it had concluded negotiations with an unnamed buyer, finalizing a sale on June 30 th , 2022.
  • Despite saying it lost ~20% of revenues from divesting its Russian operations, LPPs total revenue still remarkably grew 13% overall in FY 2022/23. Reported revenue across markets excluding Russia was up 40.5% year-on-year.
  • The market has rewarded LPP’s reported 40.5% core revenue growth—virtually unheard of in the retail apparel industry—by sending the stock back toward all-time highs.
  • We believe LPP was able to post these remarkable results because its divestment of its Russia business has been a complete sham.
  • LPP says it sold its Russian assets (called “Re Trading”) to a vague “Chinese consortium” in a ~$382 million deal. We found that the buyer was a Dubai-based shell called “Far East Services” with no disclosure of its owners or directors.
  • Far East Services was incorporated just one day before LPP announced it had reached an agreement to sell its Russian subsidiary. It has no externally verifiable presence, track record in the fashion industry, or apparent associations with China.
  • A former senior LPP employee told us the deal was “a façade to hide [the] truth of not selling Russian operations”, adding that LPP’s Russian operations are still “directly controlled by LPP HQ and board”.
  • A former manager described LPP CEO and founder Marek Piechocki’s approach: He didn’t “give a f*ck about some war between Russia and Ukraine. This [war] is just temporary.”
  • Operational details offer other clues that LPP retained control of the Russia business. For example, LPP’s Russian stores re-opened the day after its sale contract was agreed; 37 days before the deal even closed.
  • ‘Big Four’ auditor Ernst & Young issued a qualified opinion on LPP´s 2021/22 audited financial statements over accounting issues relating to its Russian assets. 5 days after LPP’s claimed Russian divesture, LPP switched auditors to Grant Thornton, a second-tier audit firm with a history of missing signs of accounting malfeasance.
  • LPP said it would only support the new buyer for a “transitory period”, but evidence suggests LPP continues to sell, and can track and control inventory being sold, in Russia.
  • We dispatched secret shoppers to “Far East Services” flagship stores in Moscow and St. Petersburg in December 2023. Almost all garments we photographed were identical designs and colors to fall/winter collections in LPP´s online catalogues in Poland, indicating that LPP’s products are still somehow making their way into Russia at least 18 months after the claimed divestiture.
  • Further, Russian in-house product codes were an exact match for the product codes in LPP´s Polish catalogue.
  • Barcodes found on Russian merchandise at first seemed mostly out-of-date, issued to random Chinese companies, or counterfeited to mask the products’ true origin.
  • However, LPP presentations shown to us detail how LPP planned to modify barcodes to covertly track Russia merchandise via its own IT systems– concealing its continued control of the inventory.
  • Additional documents show how LPP senior management can encrypt valid barcodes registered to LPP in Poland and disguise them as unrelated Chinese barcodes.
  • We reverse-engineered 65 barcodes at “Far East Services” retail stores in Russia using LPP’s secret methodology. Once decoded, they were a precise match to LPP barcodes registered in Poland. We view this as dead-on evidence of LPP’s elaborate steps to conceal its sham Russia divestiture.
  • “For me the shock is…that this is LPP because they are really, this is the biggest Polish clothing brand owner. So it’s hard to imagine that, that they can do something like that,” a manager at GS1 Global, the Polish branch of the barcodes standards organization, told us.
  • LPP also set out plans in internal documents to hide exports of its merchandise to Russia – cloaking the true ownership of the goods via two front companies set up by key LPP insiders. LPP’s export scheme was put into practice from mid-2022, according to our analysis of over 335,000 thousand import-export records.
  • The first front company – Singapore-based ‘Asia Fashion Import Export’ – was set up the day Russia invaded Ukraine by a key member of Semper Simul Foundation, LPP’s controlling shareholder affiliated with CEO Marek Piechocki.
  • The second front company – ‘Fashion Group Tekstil’ – was a dormant Turkish company until an LPP employee acquired it 7 months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Far East Services”, the buyer of LPP’s Russian assets, later took control of 95% of Fashion Group Tekstil.
  • LPP stepped back and handed a lead supply-chain role to the related-party front companies, based on our analysis of barcodes and import-export records.
  • LPP also appears to be using Kazakhstan as a backdoor to help supply Russia stores. Import-export records show that LPP shipped ~$755 million of merchandise to its Kazakh subsidiary in 2023, despite Kazakhstan only accounting for 1% of LPP’s brick-and-mortar stores.
  • If found to still be operating in Russia, LPP may be in breach of loan and finance agreements with its main creditor, PKO BP Bank, which provided ~62% of its loans and borrowings as of its latest year-end. PKO wrote us: “In principle the bank does not finance entities operating in Russia or in cooperation with Russian contractors.”
  • We suspect LPP has further masked its sham Russia divestment through accounting manipulation. We found that more than two-thirds of the revenue growth in 2022/23, representing $732 million or 20% of total revenue, came from an unexplained “Other” segment, according to the English version of LPP’s annual report. In the previous 3 years, this “Other” segment never represented more than 2% of LPP’s total revenue.
  • Meanwhile, management has extracted cash from their LPP stake through margin loans, a risky form of financing. On December 5 th , 2023, LPP´s controlling shareholder, an affiliate of LPP’s CEO Marek Piechocki, pledged 20% of its stake in LPP, worth $490 million at the time.
  • Overall, we believe LPP devised an elaborate sham ‘divestment’ to continue making money in Russia despite the devastating war, while trying to deceive investors and consumers in Poland, Ukraine, and its other key markets.

Initial Disclosure: After extensive research, we have taken a short position in shares of LPP S.A. (WSE:LPP). This report represents our opinion, and we encourage every reader to do their own due diligence. Please see our full disclaimer at the bottom of the report.

Background: $8 Billion Fast Fashion Retailer Based In Poland

LPP S.A. is an $8.4 billion (PLN 33.1 billion) fast-fashion clothing and home accessories retailer headquartered in the port of Gdansk, Poland.

It was founded as a family-led , wholesale clothing business in 1991 just after the Soviet bloc collapsed and Poland began transitioning to a market economy. It listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2001.

Co-founder Marek Piechocki is LPP’s Chairman and CEO . [1] The Malta-registered Semper Simul Foundation – consisting mostly of Piechocki family interests – is LPP’s controlling shareholder, owning about 31.2% of LPP’s shares with 60.8% voting control. [2] Piechocki’s two sons sit on the management and supervisory boards of LPP. [ Pg. 10 ]

Explaining Semper Simul´s control of LPP, Piechocki said in a media interview in December, 2023:

“The Semper Simul Foundation, which is a significant shareholder of LPP, also invests in other projects. When creating it, I wanted LPP to always be safe and… to be in family hands for generations.”

LPP grew from selling cheap, imported Turkish sweaters to now having 2,206 stores , totalling more than 1.9 million square meters of retail space across 27 countries , per LPP’s most recent results. 

The company sells under its flagship brand Reserved , streetwear brand Cropp , youth casual brand House , women´s collection Mohito , and lower-cost clothing and home accessories brand Sinsay .

LPP doesn’t own manufacturing plants . Rather, it outsources the manufacture of its designs to more than 1,200 third-party suppliers, of which 93% are in Asia.

LPP now lays claim to being the largest fashion company in Central and Eastern Europe.

dissertation statement of research

Part I: Background On LPP’s Russian Business

Until russia invaded ukraine in february 2022, russia was lpp´s biggest international market, generating ~19.2% of revenue from 553 stores in the prior year, former lpp executive: “we had plans to open hundreds of more stores [in russia]. hundreds. that was the biggest market that we wanted to grow”.

LPP opened its first store in Russia in 2002. By the end of its 2021/2022 financial year, LPP had 553 stores in Russia – one-quarter of its 2,244 stores globally at that time.

For the period of February 1st, 2021, to January 31th, 2022, Russia accounted for 19.2% of LPP´s total revenue of about $3.4 billion (PLN 14.02 billion). LPP’s home country of Poland accounted for 39.3% of revenues and 952 stores. [3]

The next largest international market for LPP after Russia was Ukraine, which generated 7.1% of company revenue from 159 stores.

dissertation statement of research

With a population of more than 141 million in Russia versus about 38 million in Poland, LPP viewed Russia as a major target for future growth, as outlined in the company factbook and other presentations for the year 2020/21:

“We see long-term growth potential in Russia, due to large number of towns with population above 1 million.” (Source: LPP Equity Story. August 2021 )

A former senior manager confirmed these growth plans to us:

“The future was like we had plans to open hundreds of more stores [in Russia]. Hundreds. That was the biggest market that we wanted to grow. That was the strategy and that is the way we looked at the map months before the war, that it will be the most important market.”

Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Triggered A 46.6% Drop In LPP’s Share Price Due To Investors Fearing The Loss Of Its Key Growth Prospects

Less than a month after LPP’s 2021-22 fiscal period ended, LPP’s growth plans for Russia were abruptly thwarted by the war.

On February 21 st , 2022, after Russia declared several Ukrainian regions ‘independent’, LPP’s stock began to fall. The plunge accelerated on February 24 th , 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, with LPP’s stock bottoming on March 7, 2022.

During this 14-day period , LPP’s stock price fell by 46.6% as investors feared LPP would lose its key growth market.

dissertation statement of research

Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Sparked A “Mass Corporate Exodus” From Russia Due To The Threat Of Sanctions, Along With Consumer And Investor Backlash

Sanctions, severe reputational damage, international pressure, banking restrictions, and the risk of Russian government interference have all been cited as major risks for companies that have chosen to remain in Russia.

The U.S. and EU announced new sanctions against Russia beginning hours after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 ]

A corporate exodus from Russia quickly followed. On March 1, 2022, CNBC reported :

“The confluence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent barrage of Western sanctions has triggered a mass corporate exodus from Moscow.”

Hundreds of multinationals suspended operations in Russia or entirely divested since the invasion, including at least 19 Polish companies that have withdrawn from Russia, according to one of the most comprehensive databases maintained by the Chief Executive Leadership Institute at the Yale School of Management.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, founder of Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute warned of the PR disaster awaiting those international businesses who opt to remain in Russia:

“When the war ends, they’re going to be seen as Nazi collaborators were seen.”

Trade Relations With Russia Pose A Serious Risk For Polish Companies Like LPP

97% of polish citizens have an unfavourable view of russia post-invasion – pew research center.

Poland – itself once a satellite state of the USSR – has been a member of NATO since 1999 and part of the European Union since May 2004. Its eastern border with Russia-ally Belarus and war-ravaged Ukraine also marks the eastern frontier of both the NATO and EU blocs. [4] [5]

As such, Poland would become the NATO and EU frontline if Russia were to widen its Ukraine war westward.

dissertation statement of research

On February 8 th , 2023, while Putin said in an interview that he had no interest in sending Russian troops to Poland, he also falsely claimed that Poland collaborated with Hitler and pushed “Hitler to start World War II.”

Beyond specific sanctions imposed by the European Union, of which Poland is a member, there is no blanket ban on trade between Russia and Poland and imports and exports have continued, albeit on a much reduced level.

However, since the invasion of Ukraine, 97% of Poles have unfavourable views of Russia, the least favourable country-wide stance of any of the nationalities surveyed, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in the spring of 2022.

dissertation statement of research

Incoming Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to rally international support for Ukraine. At his inauguration in mid-December 2023, he pledged : “Poland’s full involvement with Ukraine in this cruel conflict with the Russian aggressor.”

On April 28 th , 2022, LPP Announced Plans To Distance Itself From Russia By Divesting Its Russia Division

On may 19 th , 2022, it announced it had concluded negotiations with a buyer.

Given the potential post-Russian-invasion consequences, LPP announced that it would progressively suspend operations in Russia and halt supplies and soon after said it would sell-off its entire operation in Russia.

Some timeline basics:

  • On March 4 th , 2022, 8 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, LPP announced that it would suspend operations in Russia and halt supplies.
  • On March 29 th , 2022, the company issued a statement saying it had shut down all Russian stores (~553 stores total ) and completely suspended the transport of goods to its Russian branches.
  • On April 28 th , 2022, just one month later, LPP said it had taken the decision to sell its Russian business.
  • On May 19 th , 2022, just 3 weeks after announcing its decision to sell and despite the ongoing war, LPP said it had concluded negotiations for selling its Russia subsidiary.
  • On May 23 rd , 2022, 4 days later, it signed the sales contract.

In brief, it took LPP only 25 days between deciding to sell its Russian business ( consisting of 553 stores) and executing a sale and purchase agreement. [6] [7]

Bull Case: Despite Saying It Lost ~20% Of Revenues By Divesting Its Russian Operations, LPP’s Total Revenue Still Remarkably Grew 13% Overall In FY 2022/23

Lpp also reportedly increased its number of overall stores outside of russia by 30% in 21 months. its stock has rocketed back near all-time-highs.

In the fiscal year that ended on January 31 st , 2023, despite losing its biggest international market representing 19.2% of revenues and 25% of its stores , LPP remarkably reported 13% overall revenue growth. [ Pg. 91 ] [ Pg. 85 ]

When adjusting LPP’s FY 2022/23 figures to exclude its Russian operations, the rest of the company reportedly increased its revenues by 40% from the prior year, according to restated figures from LPP’s Annual Report. [Pgs. 85 , 92 ]

This meteoric growth was achieved with a more diversified revenue mix by country. Beyond Poland, no country contributed more than 8.4% of total revenues, according to the LPP’s Annual Report 2022/23 .

dissertation statement of research

And somehow, the company has not slowed down. During the first 3 quarters of FY 2023/24 , LPP reported 7% revenue growth year-over-year.

As a further reflection of its growth beyond Russia, LPP reported it had increased its number of total stores by 30% in 21 months, opening 515 stores from January 31 st , 2022, to October 31 st , 2023. [8]

Investors have cheered LPP’s post-Russia reported growth and now see LPP as a competitor to Inditex and H&M. The company plans to expand in Italy, Great Britain, Greece, and Germany, as reported by Forbes.

LPP’s stock price has doubled since reaching a bottom in October 2022, indicating that the market has bought into the company´s claims of growth without Russia.

dissertation statement of research

Part II: LPP’s Divestment Of Its Russia Business Appears To Have Been A Sham

We believe the key reason LPP’s metrics have remained steady despite its claimed Russia divestment is because the company never actually divested its Russian assets.

LPP Says It Sold Its Russian Assets (“RE Trading”) To A “Chinese Consortium” In A ~$382 Million Deal

The buyer entity is a dubai-based shell with no disclosure of owners or directors.

LPP did not initially name the buyer of its Russia business and described it only as a “Chinese consortium.” The buyer was later described as an “Asian investor” in LPP’s 2022-23 annual report.

The transaction had “two elements” described as (i) the sale of the stores and (ii) the sale of goods. No cash was initially exchanged.

The first element, the stores, were sold for ~$135 million ( PLN 601 million ), to be paid in instalments within 4 years. The second element represented ~$247 million (PLN 1.1 billion) of old inventory, with the balance to be paid out by the end of May 2023. [ Pg. 10 ]

The new buyer also has the option of selling the company back to LPP by the end of 2026, giving LPP a chance to retake ownership of its Russia business after the war ends. [9]

LPP CEO Piechocki described payment for its Russian subsidiary as “ still ongoing ” in a December 2023 interview with Poland´s economic newspaper of record :

“It is still ongoing, the first large instalment will be in December (2023) … The business is sold, but payments are still to be received. I will tell you in January (2024) whether they are coming in.”

The New Buyer, “Far East Services”, Was Incorporated One Day Before LPP Announced It Had Reached An Agreement To Sell Its Russian Subsidiary

Russian corporate records show that the buyer was Far East Services-FZCO, a Dubai-based shell with no disclosure of owners or directors. [ Pgs. 2-3 ]

Far East Services – FZCO was incorporated in Dubai on May 18 th , 2022, one day before LPP announced it had concluded negotiations for selling its Russian assets, according to the UAE national economic register .

dissertation statement of research

Russian corporate records show Far East Services-FZCO took control of 95% of shares of LPP´s Russia subsidiary RE Trading on June 30 th , 2022. [10] [ Pgs. 2-3 ]

dissertation statement of research

The remaining 5% was transferred to Anna Pilyugina , according to the Russian government news agency TASS . [11] Pilyugina has been “general director” of LPP´s Russian subsidiary RE Trading since at least 2013, according to the Russian business registry. [ Pg. 2 ]

Pilyugina’s minority stake was later transferred to another Dubai free zone entity, General Consulting Services-FZCO, on March 2 nd , 2023, according to Russian corporate records. [12] [ Pg. 3 ]

dissertation statement of research

Far East Services Has No Externally Verifiable Presence Or Track Record In The Fashion Industry Or Associations With China

One would expect that a consortium that defines itself as “one of the largest companies in the fashion industry” operating 500+ stores in Russia would have some type of documented online presence about its track record. However, this is not the case with Far East Services, also known as FES Retail.

The website associated with FES Retail doesn’t name any executives at the company. The FES Retail domain was registered in June 2022, from Russia, after LPP announced the sale of its Russian operations.

Other than the news articles relating to the purchase of LPP’s Russian business and an announcement to close 50 stores, FES Retail hasn’t clearly communicated its strategy, plans, or corporate initiatives for the business, per a March 11 th , 2024 search on Yandex, a Russian search engine.

Oddly, 17 Russian certificates of conformity issued to Re Trading after LPP sold it still used an LPP email (more on this later). From these certificates we also found an address for FES Retail in Dubai registered to a post office box.

dissertation statement of research

The P.O. box matches the address of a distribution company in Dubai, Worldwide Distribution Center FZCO.

dissertation statement of research

We talked to Khamid Ismatullaev, the founder and managing director of Worldwide Distribution Center. He told us that he didn’t recognize the name Far East Services nor has any business relationship with it:

“I don’t recognize a company called Far East Services.” “We don’t ship to Russia any product, because Russia is sanctioned. So, I’m not able to. I’m not allowed to sell from the manufacturers.”

We find it odd that the “Chinese Consortium” behind FES Retail has no verifiable presence, no track record of operating in the fashion industry, and no clear association with China.

“Sources In The Company Indicated That The ‘Chinese Consortium’ Is LPP Structures In China” – Kommersant, Russian Business Newspaper

In a brief article published on July 4 th , 2022,  after Russian authorities had approved the sale, Moscow-based business newspaper Kommersant cited unnamed company sources alleging that Far East Services was just a shell masking LPP´s continued ownership of its Russian subsidiary:

“LPP spoke about plans to sell its Russian business to a consortium from China back in May. Then Kommersant’s sources in the company indicated that the ‘Chinese consortium’ is LPP structures in China, where about 30% of the group’s products are produced. According to its own data, LPP has maintained an office in Shanghai since 1997.”

A Former Senior LPP Employee Told Us The Deal With Far East Services Was “A Façade To Hide [The] Truth Of Not Selling Russian Operations”

The employee said that lpp’s russian operations are still “directly controlled by lpp hq and board directly”.

Given that Dubai´s corporate secrecy laws make it impossible to verify the owners or constituent entities of Far East Services, we reached out to former LPP employees to learn more. [13]

The reply by email from one senior employee, formerly based at LPP headquarters, was categorical:

  • “1. LPP has never sold RE Trading to 3 rd party owner . All you can see, agreements, statements, changes in public records and etc., are only a facade to hide [the] truth of not selling Russian operations.
  • Whoever is the registered owner of RE Trading is linked through second layer legal bonds.            
  • All operations of RE Trading are directly controlled by LPP HQ and Board directly .                            
  • All the above is not disclosed to shareholders, creditors (banks) and especially to financial institutions and especially regulatory offices like Revenue and Financial Supervision Authority.”

The former employee said plans to create a new corporate structure to handle the Russia business and pass it off as an independent buyer had been developed at the highest legal and financial levels in LPP:

“The main architect for legal setup is Sławomir Łoboda. He is Vice President as well as Legal counsel for LPP and Piechocki family. Łoboda was the one who was traveling to Kazakhstan, Turkey and Singapore as well to China. He was accompanied by Przemysław Lutkiewicz, the CFO, and by another lawyer Adam Gosz.”

In addition to being a board member of LPP, Loboda is also listed as one of the beneficiaries of the Malta-registered Semper Simul Foundation – LPP´s controlling shareholder, which is predominantly comprised of members of the founding Piechocki family. [14] [ Pg. 4 ]

Gosz lists his role at LPP as leading counsel on matters including “information and regulatory obligations” and “proceedings before the Polish Financial Supervision Authority”, per LinkedIn . He lists his job at LPP concurrently with his employment at Loboda´s private law firm .

Former Senior Employee: “They Are Using The Same Suppliers” And “They Are Using The LPP Funding Structure To Finance The Supply Of Goods”

The former senior employee said all key decisions relating to business in Russia continued to be overseen by LPP, even after the claimed divestiture:

“From the very beginning, the entire setup was made to fully control all of the Russian operation from LPP HQ. All collections are designed in Gdansk (or Krakow). Yes, they are using the same suppliers and [what´s] more, they are using the LPP funding structure to finance the supply of goods.”

Former Manager Described CEO Marek Piechocki’s Approach: He Didn’t “Give A F*ck About Some War Between Russia And Ukraine. This [War] Is Just Temporary.”

A former departmental manager we contacted was also convinced that the new buyer, Far East Services, was closely related to LPP. 

They said detailed knowledge was probably limited to a few top decision-makers but they were aware that LPP bosses had been devising a strategy of what to do in the event of war since at least December 2021.

The former manager described the risk of losing revenue from Russia as an “existential life threat” for LPP and said they believed CEO and co-founder Marek Piechocki – whom they said they knew personally – would look for a long-term, “PR-proof” solution:

“Marek [Piechocki] has both Chinese way of thinking as well as Anglo-Saxon way of thinking. This is a unique mentality in Poland. This guy is like Polish Steve Jobs…so his understanding is that ‘I don’t give a fuck about some war between Russia and Ukraine. This is just temporary. What should I do in the perspective of 100 years? What decision will be the best for this company…if my kids look at my life or my grandkids look at my life, how, what did I do 100 years before?’” [15]

Former LPP Russian Employee Noted An Odd Absence Of Due-Diligence On The Deal: “We Never Saw Any Chinese People In The Office”

Just as senior employees based in the Poland HQ doubted that LPP had in fact divested its Russia business to a Chinese consortium, others in Russia shared similar perspectives.

One former Moscow-based employee told us that LPP stores closed gradually during March 2022, and during March and April, all staff were furloughed:

“We didn´t work. We waited for some announcement, for some plan what we will do next.”  

They said rumors began circulating that a “Chinese corporation” was about to buy them out.

Most employees were notified of the sale via a corporate memo, they said. This screenshot copy was posted on Telegram on July 4, 2022, by Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak, saying it had been passed to her by a company employee.

dissertation statement of research

The statement is addressed to “Dear Colleagues!” from RE Trading general director Anna Pilyugina . The message states RE Trading has been acquired by FES-Far East Services and is “now directly connected with China and the countries of the Far East.”

Contrary to almost every major buyout deal, which would be subject to extensive on site due-diligence, the former Moscow employee said they never saw any sign of the new owners or their representatives in the Moscow head office. Nor, they say, were there any changes in management structure to indicate that RE Trading was part of a larger, international company:

“ We never saw any Chinese people in the office . And you can imagine, if you sold some big financial active [asset] which is this company – this company has still like 500 stores in Russia. When you´re selling the business probably as a buyer, you want, you would like to see something by your [own] eyes. We didn’t we didn’t see any, any Chinese people.”

They added that they believed the Russia business continued to be directed by LPP from Poland, albeit with a greater degree of autonomy in running day-to-day operations:

“In my logic, you should be in the office. You should be in the place when you buy such a big business. And as a person [personally], of course, I think that owners are still in Poland and they just squeezed the amount of people which communicate with Russian subsidiary office. Just this amount of people are squeezed to the most trustworthy ones because it could be really dangerous for the Polish company also because their government don’t want to make any operations with Russia.”

Operational Details Offer Clues That LPP Retained Control Of Its Russia Business

For example, lpp´s russia stores re-opened the day after its sale contract was agreed, a full 37 days before the deal even closed.

Per its March 29 th , 2022, press release , LPP said it had “closed all stores in Russia”. The closures were confirmed by local Russian vloggers as well as through our conversation with a former employee. LPP then inked its sale contract with the then-unnamed buyer consortium on May 23 rd , per LPP’s annual report. [ Pg. 116 ]

Normally, in a change of control transaction, companies wait until a deal is closed before handing over control of its physical locations, leases, employees, payroll, inventories, and all the other elements of a business.

Contrary to this, LPP’s Russian stores opened the very next day after its sales contract was agreed to , a full 37 days before the deal closed on June 30 th , 2022.

On May 24 th , 2022, the day after LPP inked its sale contract, a YouTube video published by Russian vlogger Sergei Baklykov shows LPP stores had re-opened in St Petersburg´s prestigious Galeria shopping mall still under the LPP brand names.

Beyond the oddly rapid reopening timing, we would have also expected the stores to open under a new brand name, given LPP’s own May 19 th , 2022, announcement that made clear that the buyer would have “no rights whatsoever to utilise trade names and trademarks of clothing brands owned by LPP SA” as part of LPP’s claimed full exit of the Russia market.

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“Just two days ago when I filmed here it was closed. But today five brands of Polish company called LPP Group they are re-opened again after two month of being on pause,” Baklykov states in the video.

At the time this video was published, Russian authorities could still have rejected the transaction, especially given that the buyer had only been in existence 6 days and had no visible track record of operating a fashion empire responsible for 6,500 jobs in Russia.

The swift re-opening seemed to indicate both an extremely high level of trust and a perfectly smooth operational handover between LPP and the buyer, a combination of elements that don’t generally exist in the business world.

Other operational oddities also indicate that LPP retained surreptitious control. For example, after the sale, RE Trading applied for Russian certificates of conformity, required to export certain products to Russia, using an LPP E-mail. [ Pg. 2 ]

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‘Big Four’ Auditor Ernst & Young Issued A Qualified Opinion On LPP’s 2021/22 Audited Financial Statements Over Accounting Relating To Its Russian Assets

Then, 5 days after lpp’s claimed russian divesture, lpp downgraded auditors to grant thornton, a second-tier audit firm, grant thornton’s uk ceo and member of its board of governors: “we are not doing what the market thinks. we are not looking for fraud…we are not set up to look for fraud”.

As one would expect from one of the top 10 largest companies trading in the Warsaw Stock Exchange, LPP used to be audited by E&Y, a ‘Big Four’ audit firm.

However, On April 20 th , 2022, E&Y issued a qualified opinion on LPP’s 2021/22 financial statements. The basis for this qualified opinion was LPP’s decision to book an early impairment of its Russian assets. The company only corrected its 2021/22 financial statements in August 2023 after the Polish Financial Supervision Authority insisted. The restated financials recognize the impairment of LPP’s Russian assets in the corresponding period in which Russia invaded Ukraine (i.e. FY 2022/23).

After this disagreement, on July 5 th , 2022, 5 days after officially selling its Russian operation, the Supervisory Board of LPP downgraded the company auditors to Grant Thornton, a second-tier audit firm.

The outgoing CEO of Grant Thornton’s UK operation and a former member of Grant Thornton’s Board of Governors , David Dunckley infamously said in a 2019 parliamentary testimony:

“We are not doing what the market thinks. We are not looking for fraud and we are not looking at the future and we are not giving a statement that the accounts are correct…we are not set up to look for fraud.”

We think Grant Thornton is a perfect choice for companies looking for an auditor that will ignore signs of malfeasance.

Part III: Evidence Suggests LPP Continues To Sell, Track, And Control Russia Inventory

Lpp said it would only support the new buyer for a “transitory period”, despite these terms, lpp´s recent fall/winter collections were on sale in russia and inventory is controlled and tracked from its poland hq, according to internal documents and barcode evidence.

Under the terms of the sale contract , LPP agreed to support Far East Services for a “transitory” period while it set up its own stock purchases, logistics, and IT procedures. LPP did not specify the duration of the transition.

The purchase agreement, initially announced on May 19th, 2022, expressly prohibited FES Retail from using LPP trademarks in the future but did permit the clearance sale of LPP-branded stock already in Russia at that time:

“The Company [LPP] notifies that, as agreed by the parties to the transaction in question, the buyer will buy no rights whatsoever to utilise trade names and trademarks of clothing brands owned by LPP SA, yet it shall acquire the right to make clearance sales of all the stock owned by the Russian company.”

Given the wording of that agreement, we would expect Far East Services and RE Trading to function independently of LPP after a limited transition.

If LPP had genuinely divested its Russia business, after a period of clearance sales of existing LPP inventory, we would expect to find fresh stock and products with different designs, different in-house product reference codes, and valid barcodes offered for sale in the Russian stores.

That’s not what we found.

Our analysis of FES Retail products, corporate filings, export records, and a handful of internal documents indicate that LPP staff covertly devised alternative methods to ship LPP goods to Russia whereby it can still control operations from LPP’s headquarters. We describe our findings in the next 2 sections.

Examples: Products In LPP’s ‘Divested’ Russian Stores Were An Exact Match With Styles And Product Codes From LPP’s Recent Fall/Winter Catalog Collection

For example, we found this woven jacket and skirt for sale in the RE store in St Petersburg for about $60.60. It had the in-house product code 9105E-55X.

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The same outfit can be found in Reserved’s Polish online store . The product code used by LPP is also 9105E-55X and matches the one from the dress available in Russia.

It was discounted at the US dollar equivalent of $24.80, from its normal price of $54.60, which is $6 cheaper than in Russia.

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We found this “black sweater with a fire motif” for sale at a CR store in St Petersburg, for the US dollar equivalent of $28.12. [19] It had the in-house product code 3422W-33X.

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As with the previous example, an identical sweater with the exact same in-house product code 3422W-33X was available at CROPP’s Polish online store , where it sold for the equivalent of $28.76. [20]

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And, at the XC store in Moscow we photographed this black and white woven miniskirt for sale for about $19.50. It had the in-house product code 5829X-MC1.

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An identical miniskirt was for sale on LPP´s House brand online store in Poland for $22.34. As with almost all the garments we compared, the in-house product code in the Russian store matched the online Polish in-house product code. [21]

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These are just a sample of the almost 70 items we identified in the Russian stores that shared identical designs and matching in-house product references with those in the Polish online store. For further details, see Appendix A. [22]

Barcodes We Found On Russian Merchandise Were Mostly Out-Of-Date And Seemed To Have Been Issued To Random Chinese Companies Or Counterfeited, Masking The Products’ True Origin

Barcodes – also known as EANs or GTINs – are a voluntary standard that have become ubiquitous in the retail industry. The only standards body authorized to license barcodes is GS1, a global network with in-country branches.

The use of accurate and valid barcodes is “especially important to the apparel industry ,” according to the GS1 UK branch , adding:

“GS1 standards make it possible to provide trusted information about a product throughout its lifecycle. This improves transparency and traceability.”

LPP has multiple, active registrations with GS1 Poland and is expected to adhere to global standards. RE Trading is also a GS1 member and so we would, likewise, expect them to abide by the agreed norms. [23] Global standards indicate that for branded items, such as those sold by LPP and FES Retail, the brand owner is responsible for licensing the barcodes from GS1. [ Pg. 215 ]

But almost all the barcodes we documented during our store visits in Moscow and St Petersburg were not in fact registered to LPP, RE Trading, or FES Retail, according to GS1 database searches.

Instead, they appeared to have been registered to a random array of Chinese companies, many with little or no apparent link to the garment trade. These include technology, food, grease, chemical, luggage and toy manufacturers, based on our search of the GS1 global database. [24]

About 2/3 of those barcodes appeared “inactive” and “no longer being kept up-to-date by the original manufacturer or distributor”, per GS1. The remainder were listed as “active” but registered to liquor, food, and nut manufacturers. Details in Appendix A.

The overwhelming majority of the items we inspected in the Russian stores began with the “695” prefix, one of several country codes issued by the GS1 branch in China .

For example, the tag below, from a pair of women´s red cigarette pants at a Moscow MO store, shows barcode number 695 5524186447.

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When we tried to verify the barcode on one of the GS1 databases , we found that the record was “inactive.” Furthermore, the company that had originally registered the GTIN was Chongqing Wuweitang Food Co., Ltd.

The search result stated the sequence was “no longer being kept up-to-date by the original manufacturer or distributor,” indicating that the sequence is no longer valid.

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We obtained similar results with the vast majority of the tags we reviewed.

“Maybe They Just Do Not Want To Show That They Are From Poland And That Their Products Still Exist In Russian Market. Anyway, It Looks Like They Are Using GTINs [Barcodes] Illegally” – Executive at GS1 Poland Branch

The GS1 standards organization describes barcodes as “fingerprints for your products and locations, giving everyone confidence that your products and locations are uniquely identified along the supply chain”. GS1, via its Hong Kong branch, warns :

“Unauthorised barcode number sellers undermine the integrity of the GS1 system, create confusion in the market and disrupt the functioning of supply chains.”

We described our findings, initially without mentioning LPP specifically by name, to a manager at the GS1 Poland branch. The response was direct:

“ Maybe they just do not want to show that they are from Poland and that their products still exist in Russian market . Anyway, it looks like they are using GTINs illegally and just have taken the Chinese numbers without any rights.”

Internal Documents Show How LPP Modified Barcodes To Covertly Track Russia Merchandise Via Its Own IT Systems– Concealing Its Continued Control

In powerpoint presentations, lpp bosses explained how to encrypt valid barcodes registered to lpp in poland into unrelated chinese barcodes.

LPP sold more than 430 million clothing items worldwide in 2022/23, per its factbook. For LPP, like other major retailers, barcodes (also known as GTINs and EANs) are a key tool for inventory and cost management systems from the factory to the shop floor.

We believe that as LPP planned to continue to supply its Russia stores, it needed a method to manage the inventory and supply chain via the company´s own IT systems while at the same time conceal that LPP had not genuinely divested from Russia.

During our investigation, a former LPP employee shared 3 PowerPoint presentations – entitled “Roadmap for systems modifications” – prepared by members of LPP´s IT department in November and December 2022 and in February 2023. [25]

The former employee suggested these documents might have evidence that LPP continued to control the Russia business despite claims it had divested.

At first they were incomprehensible, filled with undefined acronyms, incomplete names and company jargon. Their significance only became apparent after we had gathered barcode data from the stores in Russia and examined thousands of import-export records, as detailed later.

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A few lines from the presentation dated December 5th, 2022, show how LPP devised a system to encrypt its Polish-registered barcodes to mask the source of the merchandise being sent to Russia, while at the same time ensuring that those barcodes could still be handled by LPP´s IT system. [ Pg. 3 ]

This strikes us as dead-on evidence that LPP devised a complex system to conceal its fake divestment from Russia.

In the PowerPoint presentation dated December 5 th 2022, LPP IT experts specifically mentioned “EAN number 695” – the same China country prefix we found on the overwhelming majority of the barcodes from stores in Moscow and St Petersburg. [26]  [ Pg. 3 ]

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A few lines later in the same presentation, LPP´s developers described how to disguise or encrypt the regular, LPP-registered barcodes (EANs) that LPP was using in its other markets to create seemingly new barcodes with no apparent connection to LPP for merchandise destined for RE Trading stores in Russia. [ Pg. 4 ]

The proposed encryption would still allow LPP’s systems and scanner to handle disguised barcodes, according to one of the presentations. [ Pg. 4 ]

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Dozens Of Barcodes We Documented In FES Retail´s “Divested” Stores In Russia Are A Precise Match To LPP´s Registered Barcodes In Poland When Decrypted Using LPP’s Secret Formula

We believe this is direct evidence that lpp continues to manage the inventory in its russian stores and that it took elaborate steps to conceal the sham divestment.

The presentation referenced LPP’s barcode encryption “formula”. A translation of the presentation says:

“Please make sure that by changing only the first 3 digits without changing the check digit, our systems and scanners will be able to handle them [new EANs]” [ Pg. 4 ]

Generally, the first 3 digits of a 13-digit barcode are a country prefix .

As mentioned, most of the products we documented from our secret shopping in Russian FES Retail’s stores use the prefix “695,” associated with China, the country of the claimed acquirer of LPP’s Russia business.

Meanwhile, LPP products are registered with the “590” country prefix for Poland , according to a search by party name in one of the GS1 databases .

The “ check digit ” is the last digit of a barcode sequence and it “makes sure the barcode is correctly composed,” according to GS1. This number results from a calculation using all the other numbers in the barcode.

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As an example, we applied the partial formula indicated in LPP’s PowerPoint presentations, to decrypt the barcode found on the women´s red cigarette pants purchased by one of our secret shoppers from a MO store in Moscow.

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Step 1 – We took the barcode shown – 6955524186447 – and replaced the Chinese prefix “695” with the Polish prefix “590” and removed the final “check digit” – that gave us 590552418644.

Step 2 – We recalculated the check digit, using the GS1 website .

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Step 3 – We added the new “check digit” to create the decrypted 13-digit barcode – 5905524186443.

Step 4 –  We verified our new, modified barcode in one of the GS1 databases to see if we could find a match.

We found that the decrypted barcode is currently valid and is registered to LPP S.A. for exactly the same model of Mohito brand women´s red cigarette trousers that we had purchased at the MO (formerly Mohito) store in Moscow.

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The above online certification shows the barcode is active and registered to LPP and also lists an in-house product code that is identical on both the item in Russia and in Poland. This means that even though the Russian barcodes look completely different from the Polish ones, they refer to the same item in the LPP inventory, once decrypted through LPP´s IT system.

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Below is a summary of our decryption method for the barcodes we found in Russia.

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Using the same method, we decrypted 64 other barcodes attached to garments in Russian stores. See Appendix A.

Once decrypted, the barcodes from “divested” Russian FES Retail stores, which at first sight looked like mostly out-of-date Chinese barcodes, were a perfect digit-for-digit match to “active” barcodes currently registered to LPP in Poland, and which correspond to specific items of clothing.

“For Me The Shock Is…That This Is LPP Because They Are Really, This Is The Biggest Polish Clothing Brand Owner” – Manager Of GS1 Poland, The Barcodes Standards Organization

In a follow-up phone call with a manager at the Poland branch of GS1, the barcode standards organization, we showed them the specific barcode evidence. They were shocked:

“For me, the, the shock… is that this is LPP because they are really, this is the biggest Polish clothing brand owner. So it’s hard to imagine that, that they can do something like that.”
“The fact is that it’s really hard to imagine that such company does such illegal things because we cooperate with LPP for a long time and they are really, they as far as I know, they really care of the reputation and the whole aspects related to ESG and such cases. So it’s really hard to imagine that they, they do this on purpose.”

We telephoned Jacek Kujawa, the former vice-chairman of LPP´s board and former head of LPP´s Silky Coders IT department. His LinkedIn profile shows he worked for the company since 2004 until his resignation in October 2023 in matters of investment, expansion of distribution and information technology.

We asked him if his department had helped LPP fake barcodes used on products for sale in Russia. He hung up the first call and on a brief second call, before again hanging up, he said:

“I said you there is no, there is no possibility that I speak about LPP. But I’m sorry, I’m sorry I cannot continue this call.”

In conclusion, we believe that LPP – long after its claimed divestment – continues to sell its products at FES Retail stores in Russia.

Part IV: Post-Divestment, LPP Laid Plans To Triangulate Exports Of Its Merchandise To Russia Through Two Front Companies Set Up By Key LPP Insiders

Lpp documents dub the scheme to hide its involvement in trade with russia as the “big bang”.

After finding that the products in LPP’s “divested” Russian stores match the designs, product codes, and decrypted barcodes of LPP’s Polish products, we also wanted to understand how the products are shipped to the Russian outlets.

LPP does not own manufacturing plants . Instead, it sources its clothing from more than 1,200 suppliers, known as ready-made-garment (RMG) manufacturers, based mostly in Asia. [27]

The 3 LPP IT department PowerPoint presentations in November and December 2022 and February 2023, which we referred to in Part 3, also left clues as to how LPP could covertly continue to ship merchandise from its manufacturers to Russia after claiming to have divested its business there after June 30 th , 2022.

The November 21 st , 2022, PowerPoint presentation entitled “Roadmap for systems modifications” is dated 6 months after LPP said it had executed the sale contract for its Russia business. The document maps out two models for exporting goods to RE Trading — LPP´s supposedly divested Russia subsidiary. [ Pgs. 6-7 ]

Using the first “business model”, which LPP developers refer to as “Model no. 2”, LPP would continue to purchase the goods from its third-party manufacturers. LPP developers refer to LPP in this model as “first buyer entity”. [28] [ Pg. 6 ]

LPP would then resell the goods to a second buyer who would handle export to Russia as an export intermediary, per the presentation. That model would necessitate LPP invoicing the intermediary entity for the cost of the goods and for the cost of transport via its subsidiary LPP Logistics, according to the presentation. [ Pg. 6 ]

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Using the second model, which LPP developers refer to as “Model no.5”, LPP would no longer directly purchase or export – under its own name – goods sent to RE Trading, the purportedly divested Russian subsidiary.  The purchasing would instead be carried out by front companies. [ Pg. 7 ]

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The PowerPoint presentation refers to the transition from the first to the second model as the “Big Bang”. [ Pg. 3 ]

That switch would mean that LPP would not appear on paperwork as the purchaser of merchandise and would also eliminate its name from most of the paper trail. As a result, it would help conceal LPP´s involvement in on-going trade with Russia. [ Pg. 7 ]

The presentation does not spell out in full the names of the intermediary or front companies LPP was planning to use but gives the abbreviations – FGT and AFIE. It refers to Russia by the internationally standardized country code RU. [29] [ Pg. 3 ]

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We decoded the names through an analysis of export records. The FGT and AFIE initials used in the presentation match Fashion Group Tesktil (FGT) and Asia Fashion Import Export (AFIE), two entities associated with LPP that have been surreptitiously sending export shipments to RE Trading after LPP claimed to have divested its Russian operation.

Our research indicates that these 2 entities are front companies meant to mask the export of LPP’s goods to Russia.

Front Company #1: Asia Fashion Import Export PTE Ltd. (AFIE)

Asia fashion import export was set up by a key member of semper simul foundation, lpp’s controlling shareholder, the day russia invaded ukraine.

Internal LPP presentations used the initials “AFIE” when describing one of the intermediary entities used to ship LPP clothing to Russia. [ Pg. 2 ] We believe this referred to Asia Fashion Import Export Pte. Ltd., based on the matching initials, the timing of the company incorporation, and an analysis of export data.

Asia Fashion was incorporated, originally under the name Pretty Wardrobe Pte. Ltd., in Singapore on February 24 th , 2022, the day Russia invaded Ukraine. [ Pg. 1 ] Its founding shareholder and director was Anita Chew Peck Hwa, according to Singaporean corporate records. [ Pg. 1 ]

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Anita Chew Peck Hwa, is also known as Anita Ricquier, according to records from UK’s Companies House . [ Pg. 7 ]

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Since at least April 2021, Ricquier has been listed as a member of the supervisory board of the Malta-registered Semper Simul Foundation, LPP’s controlling shareholder, per a beneficial owner report filed with Poland´s Central Register of Beneficial Owners. [30] [ Pg. 1 ]

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This foundation “is closely associated with Mr. Marek Piechocki,” LPP’s CEO and Founder, according to LPP’s annual report, and given her position in the foundation, Ricquier clearly appears to be a trusted confidante. [ Pgs. 64, 67 ]

Anita Ricquier is also the founder and managing director of Singapore-based corporate services company Camelot Trust , which was the original registered office for Asia Fashion Import Export. [31]

On May 10 th , 2022, nine days before LPP announced it had reached a deal to sell its Russia business, the company changed its original name from Pretty Wardrobe to Asia Fashion Import Export. [ Pg. 1 ] The sole shareholding was transferred to a different individual associated with ~30 Singapore-registered companies also registered at Camelot Trust’s main office address, according to Singaporean Corporate Records . [ Pg. 3 ] [32] [33]

Front Company #2: Fashion Group Tekstil Limited (FGT)

Fashion group tekstil was a dormant turkish company until it was acquired 7 months after russia’s invasion of ukraine by an lpp employee in turkey, 7 months after the acquisition, far east services obtained control of 95% of fashion group tekstil.

Internal LPP presentations also used the initials “FGT” when describing another of the intermediary entities used to ship products to Russia. We believe this referred to Fashion Group Tekstil, based on an analysis of export data, Turkish corporate filings, and the first name of the company´s manager being cited in the documents. [ Pg. 2-4 ]

Fashion Group Tekstil was incorporated in Turkey on September 11 th , 2014, under a different name, per Turkey’s official Trade Registry Gazette. [34] [ Pg. 1 ]

The company had no registration records, implying no activity, until September 15 th , 2022, based on a review of corporate documents by a Turkish corporate lawyer we hired.

On that day, all the company shares were transferred to an individual named Emine Demet Ata and the company was renamed Fashion Group Tekstil Limited, per Turkey’s official Gazette. [ Pg. 1 ]

The new owner, also known as Demet Ata, was a key Turkey-based employee of LPP at that time she acquired the shares of Fashion Group Tekstil, according to her LinkedIn profile . [35]

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One of the internal presentations we obtained, dated December 5 th , 2022, described the next steps to be “modelled and submitted to Demet” involving “the communication process between LPP, the supplier and the Turkish company in terms of placing and executing orders, deliveries and payments” related to FGT. [ Pg. 3 ]

This indicates clear coordination between LPP and FGT under Demet Ata at the time of the presentation. [ Pg. 3 ]

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On April 13th, 2023, Far East Services, the Dubai-registered entity that had purchased LPP´s Russia business a year earlier, took a 95% stake in Fashion Group Tekstil, via a fresh capital injection, with Demet Ata retaining 5%. [ Pg. 1 ] Demet Ata retained her duties as manager for Fashion Group, and no other company representatives are listed in Turkish corporate records. [ Pg. 3 ]

No Far East Services executives are named on that document, which had been signed by a Turkish proxy lawyer, according to other details on the document, reviewed by the Turkish corporate lawyer we hired.

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LPP´s Export Triangulation Scheme Was Put Into Practice From Mid-2022, Based On Our Analysis Of Over 335,000 Import-Export Records

Lpp stepped back and handed a lead role to the related-party front companies.

Using data from international trade aggregator Tradesparq, we analysed more than 335,000 import-export records from January 1 st , 2021, to December 31 st , 2023, showing shipments of LPP merchandise to Central Asia, including imports to Russia by RE Trading – the subsidiary LPP claimed to have divested. [36]

These records clearly demonstrate that the two models LPP secretly devised, as referenced in PowerPoint presentations described above, were progressively implemented in the second half of 2022 and through 2023.

Both front companies, set up by LPP insiders and also described above – Fashion Group Tekstil and Asia Fashion Import Export – played a central role in that scheme, Tradesparq export data reveals.

Trading data from Tradesparq show exporter, importer, brand, value, and producers of the goods shipped to RE Trading.

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The implementation of the scheme seemed to be aimed at obscuring LPP´s continued role in producing and supplying goods to RE Trading in Russia, after it claimed that it had suspended shipments and subsequently divested.

Between June 30 th , 2022, the date on which LPP officially completed its purported divestment, and December 31 st , 2022, RE Trading imported $335.9 million of goods. And, from January 1 st 2023 to December 31 st , 2023, RE Trading imported $370.6 million of merchandise, per our analysis of Tradesparq data.

That means in the entire period since divestment until the end of 2023, RE Trading imported to Russia a total of at least $706.5 million of merchandise. The producer of the goods in 99.6% of these shipments was either listed as LPP or Asia Fashion Import Export. [37]

In the three calendar quarters prior to the claimed sell-off, LPP directly exported almost two-thirds of the goods to its then-subsidiary RE Trading, per Tradesparq. [38] But post ‘divestment’, LPP largely ceased exporting directly to Russia under its own name and instead exports seem to have been triangulated via the front companies we described – Asia Fashion Import Export and Fashion Group Tekstil. [39]

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In the period from June 30 th , 2022, to December 31 st , 2023, LPP was listed as “exporter” for just 0.53% of the value of exports to RE Trading; Fashion Group Tekstil accounted for 27.2% and Asia Fashion Import Export for 14.6%. The exporter for 46.2% of the value of exports in that period was listed as “blank” but almost certainly shipped by LPP or Asia Fashion Import Export given that those 2 entities were listed as “producer” of 99.9% of these goods, per Tradesparq. [40]

LPP Was Effectively Replaced By Front Company ‘Asia Fashion Import Export’ As “Producer” Of Goods Sold In FES Retail Stores, According To Export Records

The second phase of the plan devised by LPP´s IT department progressively obscured LPP´s role as “producer” of the goods being supplied to RE Trading in Russia, per the Tradesparq data.

As mentioned, between June 30 th , 2022, and, December 31 st , 2023, LPP and Asia Fashion Import Export – the front company set up by a key LPP insider – were listed as “producers” for a combined total of 99.6% of the value of imports received by RE Trading, per Tradesparq records. [41]

A more detailed examination shows that LPP in fact handed over its role as primary “producer” of the goods to Asia Fashion Import Export in March 2023, per Tradesparq data. [42]

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Further confirming our export data findings, our secret shoppers photographed labels like the one below on garments they purchased at stores in FES Retail stores. These labels show Asia Fashion Import Export as the “manufacturer” of the garment. [43]

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In short, the export data clearly indicates that after the claimed divestment, LPP continued to ship its products to stores in Russia via the triangulation scheme it referenced in presentations we obtained. [ Pgs. 3, 6-7 ]

Later, it handed over responsibility for production of the merchandise to a related-party front company.

LPP Appears To Be Using Kazakhstan As A Backdoor To Help Supply Russia Stores

Lpp shipped ~$755.5 million of merchandise to its kazakh subsidiary in calendar year 2023, but kazakhstan only accounts for 1% of lpp´s bricks-and-mortar stores and no online sales.

In 2018, LPP began operations in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian nation of 19.5 million people on Russia´s southern border.

Currently, Kazakhstan has 23 physical stores out of LPP’s 2,206 global total stores, as disclosed in LPP´s third-quarter 2023/24 results.

In 2020/21, the last year LPP appears to give a country-by-country revenue breakdown, Kazakhstan generated approximately $7.7 million sales ( PLN 29 million), ranking it 18 out of 23 countries where LPP had a presence at that time, according to LPP’s 2020/21 Annual Report .

Before the invasion of Ukraine, stores in Kazakhstan were stocked from LPP´s distribution center in neighboring Russia, according to the company’s 2020/21 factbook – the last edition that details supply logistics to Kazakhstan. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, LPP began exporting directly to its subsidiary in Kazakhstan, LPP Kazakhstan. [ Pg. 14 ]

In contrast to the small footprint of LPP’s sales infrastructure in Kazakhstan, the volume of LPP’s exports there seems wildly disproportionate. Between January 1 st , 2023 and December 31 st , 2023, LPP exported $755.5 million of merchandise to Kazakhstan, per Tradesparq data.

LPP filings give no indication of high-volume exports being shipped into Kazakhstan and the Central Asian nation is not listed among LPP´s top markets . Thus, LPP provides no clear explanation for the trend.

As part of the Eurasian Economic Union, once goods have been processed at the point of entry in Kazakhstan, they can be moved freely without further customs checks or duty payments into Russia.

Western companies have shifted supply routes to Russia, following the outbreak of war, and are redirecting goods especially via Turkey and Kazakhstan, according to a Reuters investigation .

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There is growing evidence and concern from the U.S. Treasury Department that Kazakhstan has become the “ Kremlin´s Secret Ally ”, helping Russia circumvent wartime sanctions, moving banned goods in and helping hundreds of thousands of Russians move money out.

In brief, we suspect the sudden spike in LPP’s shipments to Kazakhstan is because the final destination is actually Russia.

Part V: Conflicting Financial Disclosures, Bank Covenant Implications And Share Pledges

Lpp reportedly lost 19.2% of its revenue due to its russia divestiture but claimed it boosted sales by 40% in non-russian markets in 2022/23 – covering the shortfall by a large margin, more than two-thirds of the revenue bump appears to have come from unexplained $732.5 million “other” sales detailed in final quarter of 2022/23.

As mentioned earlier, LPP’s future growth plans, prior to the invasion, had focused heavily on Russia, which accounted for 19.2% of group revenues in 2021/22 .

Yet post ‘divestiture’, LPP’s 2022/23 financials defied the odds, reporting non-Russia revenue growth that is virtually unheard of in the world of retail – amply covering the Russia shortfall:

“In 2022/23, the Group’s revenue was generated from the sales of five brands in their on-site and online stores. At the same time, they were 40.5% higher than the sales recorded by the Group a year ago on continuing operations (without recognising the revenue from Russia).” [44]

As mentioned, even including the Russia shortfall in 2021/22, prior to restatement, LPP´s 2022/23 revenue increased 13.5% year-on-year. 

But conflicting financial disclosures obscure the source of the increased revenue in 2022/23.

In LPP´s English-language version of its annual report , comparing 2022/23 to restated 2021/22 figures, more than two-thirds of the revenue bump – approximately $732.5 million (PLN 3.172 billion) – comes from “other” sales, not accounted for under LPP´s five brands. [45]

dissertation statement of research

In the 3 years leading up to LPP’s divestment from Russia, its “Other” brands segment never represented more than 2% of LPP’s revenue. But after the Russian divestment, the segment suddenly spiked to 20% of total group revenue. [ Pg. 33 ] [ Pg. 31 ]

dissertation statement of research

Value Of “Other” Sales Booked In Q4 2022/23 Closely Matches 2022 Annual Revenue From LPP´s Divested Russia Operations

The amount only appears in lpp´s english-language report, conflicting with the polish version.

There are no further explanations about specifically what is included in “Other” sales.

But the lion´s share of “Other” sales, about $697 million (PLN 3.018 bln), was only disclosed in the final quarter of 2022/23. [46]

dissertation statement of research

That amount matches almost exactly the 2022 annual revenues of RE Trading – LPP´s “divested” Russian subsidiary – according to RE Trading financial report available in the Russian corporate registry. [ Pg. 4 ] In Q4 2022/23 alone, PLN ~3.018 billion was reported in “Other” revenues. By comparison, RE Trading´s 2022 revenues were disclosed PLN 3.015 billion (RUB ~47.78 billion). [47]

That figure is either an astonishing coincidence or an indication that LPP may have camouflaged Russian revenues and continued consolidating them into group accounts for 2022/23.

Further obscuring the reality of accounting procedures and exactly what is included in “Other” sales, LPP´s English-language disclosures conflict with its Polish-language disclosures – both posted on the same corporate website .

The Polish version shows a much lower value  of “Other” sales at the end of 2022/23. The English version show 15x more. [48] By contrast, the Polish version shows higher values for brand sales throughout the year. But both versions show the same total revenue.

There is no immediate explanation for the difference in presentations.

dissertation statement of research

If Found To Still Be Operating In Russia, LPP May Be In Breach Of Loan And Finance Agreements With Poland´s Largest Bank

“in principle the bank does not finance entities operating in russia or in cooperation with russian contractors” – pko bp bank.

LPP had credit facilities with 6 banks of $546.3 million ( PLN 2.3 billion) as of October 31 st , 2023, “used for bank guarantees, letters of credit for trade finance or as working capital overdrafts”, per its third-quarter results. [ Pg. 43 ]

Additionally, it had a total $928 million ( PLN 3.9 billion) in “trade and other liabilities”. Of that, $617.6 million ( PLN 2.6 billion) comprised supply chain finance programs with 5 banks, (1) HSBC Polska SA, (2) Santander Polska SA, (3) Bank Pekao SA, (4) PKO BP SA, and (5) BNP Paribas, per filings. [ Pgs. 26, 43 ]

We contacted those entities to ask about bank policy and possible covenants on loans and financing facilities for Polish companies trading with Russia post-invasion, without mentioning LPP by name.

PKO BP is Poland’s largest bank and its main shareholder is the Polish state. [ Pg. 61 ] It was also LPP´s main creditor , providing ~62% of loans and borrowings as of the end of 2022/23, per filings. 

In an email response to Hindenburg, a spokesperson for PKO BP bank said per bank policy it did “not finance entities operating in Russia” and expected its clients to disclose if they had trade relations in Russia :

“PKO BP complies with all the international sanctions imposed on Russia, its citizens and Russian enterprises. In addition, PKO BP has devised and adopted an internal credit policy according to which in principle the bank does not finance entities operating in Russia or in cooperation with Russian contractors.”
“Our clients have to disclose to us if they have ongoing trade relations with subsidiaries or significant trading partners in Russia, even if those subsidiaries are not sanctioned.”

On December 5 th 2023, Semper Simul Foundation Pledged 20% Of Its Stake In LPP

At the time of the transaction, the shares pledged were worth $490 million.

On December 5 th , 2023, Semper Simul Foundation, an entity closely associated with Marek Piechocki and LPP’s largest shareholder, established a pledge of 120,000 shares of LPP, according to a current report issued by the company.

Semper Simul Foundation’s stake in LPP consists of 578,889 shares— or 31.2% of the company.

The 120,000 shares pledged represent 20.7% of Semper Simul’s total stake in LPP. On the day of the transaction , the shares pledged were worth ~$490 million. [49]

Share pledges (aka margin loans) are when shareholders use shares as collateral for debt. They are a risky form of debt because if the collateral (shares) drops in value, it could trigger a margin call from creditors, which could create the risk of a forced sale of shares, adding downside pressure to the stock price. [50]

This is not the first time the Semper Simul Foundation has obtained a margin loan. In August 2021, BNP Paribas acted as mandate lead arranger (MLA), security agent and calculation agent for a “Margin Call Facility” of $91 million to Semper Simul Foundation. [51] [ Pg. 37 ] It appears that this facility was used to increase Semper Simul’s stake in LPP using leverage.

dissertation statement of research

Overall, we think LPP devised an elaborate sham ‘divestment’ strategy to continue retailing in Russia while trying to fool investors and consumers in Poland, Ukraine, and its other markets into thinking otherwise.

While we cannot anticipate the impact this will have on LPP’s brands, we suspect a mass-deception meant to fool most of its consumer base won’t be viewed positively.

We also suspect LPP’s financials have falsely reported the Russia divestiture while it surreptitiously continues operations, giving investors a false impression that LPP has experienced rapid growth following its Russia sale. We suspect this issue may be of interest to regulators, bank lenders, and auditors (if auditor Grant Thornton decides that auditors do in fact have a responsibility to investigate malfeasance).

In December 2023, We Documented 65 Items In The FES Retail Stores In Russia That Are Identical To LPP’s Current Polish Offerings

Below is a table containing the data from 65 garments that our secret shoppers documented in FES Retail stores in Russia in December 2023 and the corresponding, identical product from LPP´s Fall/Winter inventory available from the online store in Poland.

Links to images of each of the 65 items found in Russia, their corresponding LPP products, and the GS1 registrations for the encrypted and decrypted barcodes associated with each product can be seen in this presentation .

Our secret shoppers initially documented a total of 76 garments, each with different and clearly marked in-house product codes and barcodes. But we excluded 11 of those because they either had LPP labels that could possibly be attributed to old inventory or had no matches to available Fall/Winter inventory on LPP online stores.

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  25. Operating Behind Enemy Lines: How Fashion Powerhouse LPP S.A. Masked A

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