three approaches above. There are four pairs of possible
combinations:
◆analytic plus argumentative ◆argumentative plus analytic
◆analytic plus descriptive ◆argumentative plus
descriptive
In each pair, the first approach listed is the primary or top-level
organizing principle, grouping together sets of chapters. The
other part of the pair is the subsidiary or second-tier organizing
principle, explaining the sequence of chapters within each of
the top-tier groupings. Figure 3.6 shows this distinction in a
diagrammatic way for the two matrix patterns combining
analytic and argumentative approaches. If the analytic dimen-
sion is primary then arguments and interpretations are used in
pairs of chapters pulled together by systematic or causal or
functional criteria. If the argumentative dimension is primary,
then each contrasting broad view is considered in turn, broken
down into its component aspects.
Matrix patterns involving a second-tier descriptive organiza-
tion of chapters are very common in doctoral theses. Here
authors recognize that they cannot just pick up an external or
‘real world’ pattern of phenomena and use it to structure their
thesis without risking a ‘random shopping list’ appearance. So
analytic categories or a consideration of different argumentative
positions are used to provide the primary structure of the thesis.
But within groups of chapters a narrative, or historical, or guide-
book pattern is then followed. (In my experience a descriptive
approach is rarely or never used in a matrix approach as the pri-
mary organizing dimension. People who like using externally
given structures tend just to do a wholly descriptive thesis.)
A matrix approach offers many advantages for doctoral stu-
dents. It almost always generates enough categories to slot your
chapters into. Figure 3.6a shows a six-box pattern combining
a primary argumentative dimension (a liberal view versus a
Marxist interpretation in this case) and a secondary analytic
dimension (compartmentalizing each approach into economic,
political and cultural boxes in this case). Using this kind of
graphical planning device is helpful because it will alert you to
an alternative sequence shown in Figure 3.6b, where you go
across rows first and move down the columns second. Here the
PLANNING AN INTEGRATED THESIS◆ 73