Acknowledgements page: Expressing Gratitude & Recognition
A reader recently asked, What should I put on the acknowledgements page of my dissertation? So here’s our answer. The acknowledgements page of your dissertation is a significant section where you have the opportunity to express appreciation, gratitude, and recognition to individuals, institutions, and organizations that have supported and contributed to your research journey. In this post, we consider what to include on the acknowledgements page and how to craft a meaningful and heartfelt acknowledgments page for your dissertation.
Five types of acknowledgements
1. Personal Acknowledgements:
- Supervisor and Committee: Begin by acknowledging your dissertation supervisor and committee members for their guidance, mentorship, feedback, and support throughout the research process.
- Academic Advisors: Acknowledge any academic advisors, mentors, or consultants who provided valuable insights, expertise, and encouragement during your dissertation journey.
- Peers and Colleagues: Express gratitude to peers, colleagues, and fellow researchers who offered collaboration, feedback, discussions, and camaraderie during your research endeavours.
2. Institutional Acknowledgements:
- University or Institution: Acknowledge your university or academic institution for providing resources, facilities, funding, and opportunities that facilitated your research and academic pursuits.
- Departments and Programs: Recognize specific departments, programs, research centres, or laboratories that supported your dissertation work, provided access to data or equipment, and facilitated collaborations.
- Libraries and Archives: Thank libraries, archives, and online repositories for their collections, resources, and services that were instrumental in your literature review and data collection efforts.
3. Funding Acknowledgements:
- Funding Agencies: If your research received funding or grants from external agencies, foundations, or sponsors, acknowledge them for their financial support and contributions to your research project.
- Scholarships and Fellowships: Acknowledge any scholarships, fellowships, or awards that provided financial assistance and allowed you to focus on your dissertation research.
4. Professional Acknowledgements:
- Employers or Organizations: If you conducted research as part of your professional responsibilities or in collaboration with external organizations, acknowledge them for their support, resources, and cooperation.
- Participants and Contributors: Acknowledge individuals or groups who participated in your research studies, provided data, interviews, surveys, or contributed in any other way to your research outcomes.
5. Personal Gratitude:
- Family and Friends: Express heartfelt gratitude to your family members, friends, and loved ones for their emotional support, understanding, encouragement, and patience during your academic journey.
- Mentors and Inspirations: Acknowledge any personal mentors, role models, or inspirations who influenced your academic and professional development and contributed to your growth as a researcher.
Crafting Your Acknowledgements:
- Be Specific: Mention individuals and institutions by name and specify their contributions or support to your research.
- Be Sincere: Express genuine gratitude and appreciation in your acknowledgements, acknowledging the impact and significance of each contribution.
- Be Concise: While expressing gratitude comprehensively, keep your acknowledgements concise and focused, avoiding excessive detail or irrelevant information.
- Be Professional: Maintain a professional tone and language in your acknowledgements, adhering to academic conventions and standards of respect and gratitude.
Summary:
The acknowledgements page of your dissertation is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank those who have played a role in your academic and research journey. By including personal acknowledgements, institutional recognition, funding acknowledgements, professional gratitude, and personal expressions of thanks, you can craft a meaningful and impactful acknowledgements section that reflects the support, collaboration, and contributions that have shaped your dissertation work.
