How to Write an Appendix in a Dissertation: A Complete Student Guide
The appendix is one of the most underestimated sections of a dissertation. Students often see it as an afterthought — a place to dump extra material that didn’t fit in the main body. In reality, a well-structured appendix adds depth, clarity, and credibility to your research. It gives examiners access to the detail behind your work while keeping the main text focused and readable.
When written correctly, appendices demonstrate transparency and professionalism. They allow you to show your working process, provide supporting evidence, and make your dissertation easier to follow. This guide explains in detail how to write appendices in a dissertation, what to include, how to structure them, and common mistakes to avoid.
Discover our complete dissertation guide series: [Abstract], [Introduction], [Literature Review], [Methodology], [Results], [Conclusion], [Discussion], [References], and [Appendix].
What is an Appendix in a Dissertation?
An appendix (plural: appendices) is a supplementary section at the end of a dissertation that contains additional information not essential to the main argument but useful for context, clarification, or transparency.
Think of the appendix as a storage space: it holds documents, data, and materials that support your research but would clutter the main chapters if included directly.
For example:
- In a quantitative dissertation, the appendix might include extended SPSS outputs or full regression tables.
- In a qualitative dissertation, the appendix could contain interview transcripts or coding frameworks.
- In mixed methods, you may include both.
The key principle is: appendices should support, not distract from, your main text.
Purpose of an Appendix
The appendix serves several academic functions:
- Clarity – Keeps the main text concise by moving technical details to the end.
- Transparency – Demonstrates research rigour by providing evidence (e.g., questionnaires, transcripts).
- Verification – Allows examiners to check the accuracy of your analysis.
- Professionalism – Shows that you have managed your research materials systematically.
Without appendices, a dissertation may appear vague or incomplete, especially if readers cannot see the tools or data used in analysis.
What to Include in a Dissertation Appendix
Not everything belongs in an appendix. Materials should be directly relevant and supportive. Common inclusions are:
1. Research Instruments
- Survey questionnaires.
- Interview guides.
- Observation protocols.
Including these allows examiners to see exactly what participants were asked.
2. Raw Data or Extended Results
- Complete datasets (if not too large).
- Large statistical tables.
- Detailed calculations not shown in results.
This ensures the reader can verify findings without crowding your main results chapter.
3. Transcripts
- Full interview or focus group transcripts.
- Extracts too long for inclusion in discussion.
In qualitative research, transparency in coding requires transcripts to be available in an appendix.
4. Supporting Documents
- Ethics approval letters.
- Participant consent forms.
- Recruitment materials (e.g., adverts, emails).
These demonstrate compliance with ethical standards.
5. Supplementary Figures and Visuals
- Detailed graphs or charts not central to arguments.
- Photographs from fieldwork.
- Maps or diagrams.
These enrich your dissertation while keeping the body streamlined.
What Not to Include in an Appendix
Students sometimes overload appendices with irrelevant material. Avoid including:
- Lecture notes or background reading.
- Duplicate information already in the body.
- Personal reflections not part of methodology.
- Unnecessary raw data (e.g., every SPSS output if only a few are relevant).
A good test: ask yourself, “Will this appendix help the reader understand or verify my research?” If not, leave it out.
Structuring Appendices in a Dissertation
Structure is essential for clarity. Disorganised appendices frustrate examiners.
Guidelines:
- Start each appendix on a new page.
- Label them sequentially: Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C.
- Give each appendix a descriptive title (e.g., Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire).
- Maintain consistency in formatting (font, margins, spacing).
- Ensure appendices are listed in the table of contents.
Example:
- Appendix A: Interview Guide
- Appendix B: Full Interview Transcript (Participant 1)
- Appendix C: Ethics Approval Letter
Formatting Rules for Appendices
Universities often provide formatting guidelines. General rules include:
- Font & Spacing: Match the dissertation (e.g., Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced).
- Tables & Figures: Number separately within appendices (e.g., Appendix Table 1).
- Referencing: If you cite sources in an appendix, they must appear in the main reference list.
- Page Numbers: Continue dissertation numbering, don’t restart.
- Clarity: Ensure all materials are legible (scanned documents should be high quality).
How to Refer to Appendices in the Main Text
It’s not enough to add appendices — you must guide the reader to them.
Bad example: “See appendix.”
Good example: “A copy of the full survey used in this research is provided in Appendix A.”
Always:
- Refer to the appendix by letter and title.
- Make references relevant to context.
- Avoid over-reliance (don’t keep sending readers to appendices instead of explaining results in the body).
Examples of Appendix Materials
Example 1: Survey Questionnaire
Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire on Student Motivation
- Includes all items used in the quantitative analysis.
- Presented exactly as given to participants.
Example 2: Ethics Approval Letter
Appendix B: Ethics Approval from University Board
- PDF scan of the approval letter.
- Shows adherence to ethical standards.
Example 3: Interview Transcript
Appendix C: Transcript of Interview with Participant 5
- Full transcript to support thematic analysis.
- Protect participant anonymity by using codes instead of names.
Digital Appendices in Online Submissions
With online submissions now common, appendices may include digital files. Examples:
- Audio or video recordings of interviews.
- Large datasets in Excel or SPSS format.
- High-resolution images or maps.
When submitting digitally:
- Follow university rules for file formats (PDF, DOCX, XLSX).
- Label files clearly (Appendix A – Transcript 1.pdf).
- Reference them in the main text just like traditional appendices.
Checklist for Writing a Dissertation Appendix
Before submission, ask:
- Is every appendix relevant to the dissertation?
- Is each appendix clearly labelled and referenced?
- Does formatting match the rest of the dissertation?
- Are all scanned or digital materials legible?
- Have I avoided unnecessary duplication?
Common Mistakes in Dissertation Appendices
Students often lose marks due to avoidable errors. The most common are:
- Overloading with raw data: Hundreds of pages of SPSS outputs that examiners won’t read.
- Missing references in text: Appendices included but never mentioned in the dissertation.
- Poor labelling: Generic “Appendix” headings without clear titles.
- Inconsistent style: Fonts, spacing, and numbering different from main text.
- Including essential content: If it’s vital to the argument, it belongs in the main body, not the appendix.
