case study acknowledgement sample

Acknowledgement Examples

Examples of Acknowledgement for Project, Thesis and Assignments

Acknowledgement For Case Study

Are you writing a case study and need to provide an acknowledgement section? This blog post is here to help! Here, you will find six examples of acknowledgement for case study, along with tips and advice on how to write your own. By the end of this blog post, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to write an effective and meaningful acknowledgement for your case study. So read on to learn more!

Acknowledgement Writing Tips For Case Study

It is important to write acknowledgements for case study research. The acknowledgement shows appreciation for people who have helped with the research. It also shows how the research has been beneficial.

Here are some tips for writing acknowledgements for case study research:

• Start by thanking the individuals or organizations that have contributed to the research and writing of the case study. This could include the participants who shared their experiences and insights, the organizations that provided access to data and resources, and any mentors or advisors who provided guidance throughout the process.
• Mention any funding or support that was received, including grants or sponsorships that helped to make the case study possible.
• If you have worked with a team of researchers or writers, make sure to mention them and their specific contributions.
• Consider including a quote or personal message from a participant or contributor to add a personal touch to the acknowledgement section.
• Keep it brief and focused on the specific contributions made to the case study, rather than listing every person you have interacted with during the research process.
• Use proper grammar and spelling, and proofread carefully to ensure the acknowledgement section is free of errors.
• Finally, express your gratitude and appreciation for the support and contributions of all those involved in the case study.

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Acknowledgement Examples For Case Study

If you’ve been reading our blog, you know that Case Study Writing is one of the most important writing tasks you have to do as a marketer. But, you also know that case study writing is the one of the hardest writing tasks for marketers. Because of that, we wrote a blog on acknowledgement for case study that goes through the process to make writing a case study easier.

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6+ Examples of Acknowledgement For Case Study

When conducting a case study, it is important to recognize the individuals who have made the research possible. Acknowledgement is an integral part of any case study, as it gives credit to the people and organizations that have contributed to the research. In this blog post, we will look at 6+ examples of acknowledgements for case studies, so that you can see what type of acknowledgements are suitable for your own project. We will discuss the importance of acknowledgement and how to go about writing one. Read on to learn more!

Examples of Acknowledgement For Case Study

How to write acknowledgement for case study.

When writing an acknowledgement for a case study, it is important to be concise and to the point. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Keep it short and sweet

Your acknowledgement should be no more than a paragraph or two. This is not the time to thank everyone who helped you with your research. Instead, focus on expressing your gratitude to those who made the biggest impact.

2. Be specific

When thanking someone, be sure to mention their specific contribution. For example, if you are thanking a professor for their guidance, you might say something like “Thank you for your help in choosing my research topic and for providing valuable feedback on my drafts.”

3. Avoid clichés

Empty phrases like “Your help was invaluable” add nothing to your acknowledgement. Instead, focus on expressing your genuine appreciation in specific terms.

4. Edit carefully

Before you publish your case study, be sure to proofread your acknowledgement carefully. This is a formal document, so you will want to avoid any typos or mistakes.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your acknowledgement is professional and polished.

There are numerous examples of acknowledgement for case study that one can use as a reference. The most important thing is to be sincere in your acknowledgement and convey your gratitude to those who were helpful in writing a case study. The acknowledgement section is an important part of the case study report. In case you are wondering how to write acknowledgement for case study, you can use the following examples.

A student trying to help everyone on writing academic and professional documents and papers with this blog by providing free samples and templates of different sections of papers and documents.

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Acknowledgement For Case Study |PDF

Acknowledgement for a Case Study is vital, as it recognizes the invaluable contributions of individuals involved in the research.

In this introduction, we delve into the significance of acknowledging the support, guidance, and participation of various stakeholders in the case study journey. By expressing appreciation for their contributions, we uphold the principles of professionalism, respect, and reciprocity that are integral to fruitful collaborations.

Table of Contents

List Of Acknowledgement For Case Study

Tips for writing acknowledgement for case study,  acknowledgement examples for case study.

• Example: Acknowledgement

Writing acknowledgements for your case study is vital to express gratitude to those who contributed. Here’s an easy guide:

Commence with Gratitude: 

Begin by thanking crucial figures, such as mentors, advisors, and organizations. A special shoutout to Dr. Eleanor Adams for her invaluable guidance throughout the entire research process. Her expertise and unwavering support have been a driving force behind the success of this study.

Recognize Support: 

Acknowledge financial backing, like grants or sponsorships, that made the case study feasible. This study was made possible through the generous support of the Johnston Foundation , whose commitment to advancing research in our field has been instrumental.

Highlight Team Effort: 

Credit your team’s specific contributions. Kudos to my dedicated research team, Emma Turner and James Rodriguez , for their tireless efforts in data collection, analysis, and providing valuable insights. Their collaborative spirit has truly enriched the depth and quality of our study.

Add a Personal Touch: 

Consider incorporating a participant’s quote. As Participant A eloquently put it, “Sharing my experiences felt like contributing to something meaningful. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this research that aims to make a positive impact.”

Concise Acknowledgement: 

Keep it concise, focusing on significant contributors. Every team member, including the unsung heroes, played a crucial role in making this study a success. The collaborative effort of each individual involved has shaped the narrative and outcomes of our research.

Error-Free Communication: 

Ensure impeccable grammar and spelling. A big thank you to Emma Turner for her meticulous proofreading, ensuring the accuracy and professionalism of our acknowledgments section.

Express Heartfelt Gratitude: 

End by expressing sincere gratitude. This study wouldn’t be what it is without the unwavering support of everyone involved. Each person’s contribution, whether big or small, has left an indelible mark on the success of our case study.

Do Not Forget To Read | Acknowledgement For Presentation |Top Acknowledgement Templates

                                                   Acknowledgement

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Eleanor Adams for her expert guidance in navigating the complexities of this case study. Gratitude to the participants, especially Participant B , whose openness added depth to our research. Dr. Adams’ insights and encouragement have been crucial in shaping the direction and focus of our study.

I extend my deepest thanks to the Johnston Foundation for their generous support. Kudos to my research team, Emma Turner and James Rodriguez , for their dedication to bringing this study to fruition. Emma and James played a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy of our data analysis, providing a robust foundation for our findings.

Special appreciation to Participant C for their candid insights. Thanks to the entire team for their support and constructive feedback. Your time and effort have not gone unnoticed. Participant C’s willingness to share personal experiences added a human touch to our study, making it more relatable and impactful.

A big shout out to Dr. Michael Carter for his mentorship. Kudos to James Rodriguez and Emma Turner for their meticulous data analysis. The collaboration with the XYZ Organization greatly enriched this study. Dr. Carter’s mentorship not only provided academic guidance but also instilled a sense of confidence in navigating the challenges of our research.

Thanks to Professor Sarah Miller for providing the opportunity to delve into this study. Gratitude to Alice Thompson and John Davis for their assistance in data collection. Participants, your cooperation is truly appreciated. Professor Miller’s support went beyond the academic realm, creating a nurturing environment for exploration and learning within our research.

A significant acknowledgement goes to Emma Turner for her meticulous proofreading, ensuring the accuracy and professionalism of our acknowledgements section. Her attention to detail has not only caught grammatical errors but has also contributed to the clarity and coherence of our appreciation. Emma’s dedication to perfection has truly elevated the quality of our acknowledgements.

In conclusion, sincere gratitude is extended to everyone involved in this study. Each person’s contribution, whether big or small, has left an indelible mark on the success of our case study. From the participants who shared their experiences to the team members who diligently worked behind the scenes, this collective effort has shaped the narrative and outcomes of our research.

Example:   

A special mention to Sophie Bennett for her proactive role in coordinating various aspects of our study. Sophie’s organizational skills and commitment to ensuring smooth collaboration have been pivotal. This acknowledgement extends to her for going above and beyond in facilitating communication and coordination among team members.

Acknowledging the invaluable role played by Dr. John Marshall throughout this journey. Dr. Marshall’s mentorship not only provided academic guidance but also instilled a sense of confidence in navigating the challenges of our research. His insightful feedback and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping the direction and focus of our study.

A round of applause for the Greenfield Fund for making this research a reality. To my colleague, Sophie Hernandez , your dedication to the team is commendable. Participants’ stories form the backbone of this case study. Gratitude to everyone involved. Sophie’s leadership and dedication have been a driving force in overcoming challenges and ensuring the smooth progression of our study.

Further appreciation to Tech Innovations Ltd. for their collaborative efforts. The collaboration not only enriched the quality of our research but also broadened the scope of our findings. The commitment of Tech Innovations Ltd. to advancing technology in our field is evident in the success of our collaborative endeavors.

A heartfelt thank you to the Community Advisory Board for their active involvement in shaping the context of our study. Their diverse perspectives and insights have added depth and relevance to our research. The acknowledgement extends to the board for their unwavering commitment to community engagement and their valuable contributions to our study’s success.

How do you write an acknowledgement for a research sample?

Writing an acknowledgement for a research sample involves recognizing and expressing gratitude to individuals or organizations that contributed to the research process . Start by thanking those who provided the samples , mentioning any relevant institutions or funding sources . Keep it concise and sincere , acknowledging the importance of the samples in advancing your research .

How do you thank research participants in an acknowledgement?

To thank research participants in an acknowledgement , express sincere gratitude for their willingness to contribute to the study . Acknowledge the participants’ role in sharing their time , experiences , and insights . Highlight the significance of their contributions to the research and how they have enriched the study’s findings . Ensure that the message is respectful and appreciative of their involvement.

How do you acknowledge participants?

Acknowledging participants involves recognizing their contribution to a research study . Start by expressing gratitude for their participation and cooperation . Mention the specific role they played in providing data , insights , or feedback . Emphasize the importance of their contribution to advancing the research . Ensure that the acknowledgment is sincere and respectful of their involvement.

How do you send an acknowledgement message?

To send an acknowledgement message , start by addressing the recipient with a polite greeting . Express gratitude for their contribution or support , clearly stating what you are acknowledging. Be specific about the reason for the acknowledgment and its significance . Close the message with a polite farewell or thank-you phrase . Keep the message concise and respectful .

How do you write an acknowledgement on a research poster?

When writing an acknowledgement in a research poster , include a section at the bottom or side of the poster dedicated to acknowledgements . Start by expressing gratitude to individuals or organizations that contributed to the research . Keep it brief and focused on key contributors , such as supervisors , collaborators , funding agencies , and research participants . Ensure that the acknowledgement is prominently displayed and easily readable on the poster .

How do I fill out an acknowledgement form?

To fill out an acknowledgement form , start by carefully reading the instructions provided. Enter your personal information , including your name and contact details . Follow the guidelines for acknowledging the specific individuals or entities mentioned in the form. Provide any additional information or details requested. Review the form for accuracy before submitting it.

What is official acknowledgement?

An official acknowledgement is a formal recognition or appreciation of someone’s contribution , support , or assistance . It is often documented in writing, such as in research papers , reports , or formal letters . Official acknowledgements are typically respectful and sincere , expressing gratitude for the specific role or assistance provided . They may also include relevant details , such as names , affiliations , and contributions , depending on the context.

In conclusion, it is evident that the acknowledgement of contributions plays a pivotal role in recognizing the collective effort and gratitude towards those involved in a project. By expressing appreciation for the support , guidance , and contributions received, we not only honor the efforts of individuals and organizations but also foster a culture of collaboration and respect .

The act of acknowledgement serves as a testament to the value of teamwork and underscores the significance of every individual’s role in achieving success. Moving forward, let us continue to embrace the practice of acknowledgement as a cornerstone of professionalism and courtesy , ensuring that all contributions, no matter how small, are duly recognized and celebrated. 

Together, through sincere acknowledgement , we can cultivate a culture of appreciation that propels us towards greater achievements and fulfillment in our endeavors.

I’m Matthew Porter , the creative mind behind “ Acknowledgment Templates .” I’ve had a blast creating templates that capture the essence of gratitude in acknowledgment sections. At Acknowledgment Templates, we’re all about turning appreciation into a well-crafted art. Let’s make your acknowledgment section a masterpiece—join me in the creative process at Acknowledgment Templates!

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The Acknowledgements Section

How to write the acknowledgements for your thesis or dissertation

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewers: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | January 2024

Writing the acknowledgements section of your thesis might seem straightforward, but it’s more than just a list of names . In this post, we’ll unpack everything you need to know to write up a rock-solid acknowledgements section for your dissertation or thesis.

Overview: The Acknowledgements

• What (exactly) is the acknowledgements section?

Who should you acknowledge?

• How to write the section
• Practical example
• Free acknowledgements template
• Key takeaways

What is the acknowledgements section?

The acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation is where you give thanks to the people who contributed to your project’s success. Generally speaking, this is a relatively brief, less formal section.  

With the acknowledgements section, you have the opportunity to show appreciation for the guidance, support, and resources provided by others during your research journey. We’ll unpack the exact contents, order and structure of this section in this post.

Need a helping hand?

Although this is a less “academic” section, acknowledging the right people in the correct order is still important. Typically, you’ll start with the most formal (academic) support received, before moving on to other types of support.

Here’s a suggested order that you can follow when writing up your acknowledgements:

Level 1: Supervisors and academic staff

Start with those who have provided you with academic guidance, including your supervisor, advisors, and other faculty members.

Level 2: Funding bodies or sponsors

If your research was funded, acknowledging these organisations is essential. You don’t need to get into the specifics of the funding, but you should recognise the important role that this made in bringing your project to life.

Level 3: Colleagues and peers

Next you’ll want to mention those who contributed intellectually to your work, including your fellow cohort members and researchers.

Level 4: Family, friends and pets

Last but certainly not least, you should acknowledge your personal (non-academic) support system – those who have provided emotional and moral support. If Fido kept you company during those long nights hunched over the keyboard, you can also thank him here 🙂

As you can see, the order of the acknowledgements goes from the most academic to the least . Importantly, your thesis or dissertation supervisor (sometimes also called an advisor) generally comes first . This is because they are typically the person most involved in shaping your project (or at least, they should be). Plus, they’re oftentimes involved in marking your final work and so a kind word never hurts…

All that said, remember that your acknowledgements section is personal . So, feel free to adjust this order, but do pay close attention to any guidelines or rules provided by your university. If they specify a certain order or set of contents, follow their instructions to the letter.

How to write the acknowledgements section

In terms of style, try to strike a balance between conveying a formal tone and a personal touch . In practical terms, this means that you should use plain, straightforward language (this isn’t the time for heavy academic jargon), but avoid using any slang, nicknames, etc.

As a guide, you’ll typically use some of the following phrases in the acknowledgements section:

I would like to express my appreciation to… for their help with… I’m particularly grateful to… as they provided… I could not have completed this project without… as this allowed me to… Special thanks to… who did… I had the pleasure of working with… who helped me… I’d also like to recognise… who assisted me with…

In terms of positioning, the acknowledgements section is typically in the preliminary matter , most commonly after the abstract and before the table of contents. In terms of length, this section usually spans one to three paragraphs , but there’s no strict word limit (unless your university’s brief states otherwise, of course).

If you’re unsure where to place your acknowledgements or what length to make this section, it’s a good idea to have a look at past dissertations and theses from your university and/or department to get a clearer view of what the norms are.

Practical Example

Alright, let’s look at an example to give you a better idea of what this section looks like in practice.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Professor Smith, whose expertise and knowledge were invaluable during this research. My sincere thanks also go to the University Research Fund for their financial support.   I am deeply thankful to my colleagues, John and Jane, for their insightful discussions and moral support. Lastly, I must acknowledge my family for their unwavering love and encouragement. Without your support, this project would not have been possible.

As you can see in this example, the section is short and to the point , working from formal support through to personal support.

To simplify the process, we’ve created a free template for the acknowledgements section. If you’re interested, you can download a copy here .

FAQs: Acknowledgements

Can i include some humour in my acknowledgements.

A touch of light humour is okay, but keep it appropriate and professional. Remember that this is still part of an academic document.

Can I acknowledge someone who provided informal or emotional support?

Yes, you can thank anyone who offered emotional support, motivation, or even informal advice that helped you during your studies. This can include friends, family members, or a mentor/coach who provided guidance outside of an academic setting.

Should I mention any challenges or difficulties I faced during my research?

While the acknowledgements section is primarily for expressing gratitude, briefly mentioning significant challenges you overcame can highlight the importance of the support you received. That said, you’ll want to keep the focus on the gratitude aspect and avoid delving too deeply into the challenges themselves.

Can I acknowledge the contribution of participants in my research?

Absolutely. If your research involved participants, especially in fields like social sciences or human studies, acknowledging their contribution is not only courteous but also an ethical practice. It shows respect for their participation and contribution to your research.

How do I acknowledge posthumous gratitude, for someone who passed away during my study period?

Acknowledging a deceased individual who played a significant role in your academic journey can be done respectfully. Mention them in the same way you would a living contributor, perhaps adding a note of remembrance.

For example, “I would like to posthumously acknowledge John McAnders for their invaluable advice and support in the early stages of this research.”.

Is there a limit to the number of people I can acknowledge?

How do i acknowledge a group or organisation.

When thanking a group or organization, mention the entity by name and, if applicable, include specific individuals within the organization who were particularly helpful.

For example, “I extend my thanks to The Speakers Foundation for their support, particularly Mr Joe Wilkins, for their guidance.”

Recap: Key Takeaways

Writing the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation is an opportunity to express gratitude to everyone who helped you along the way.

Remember to:

• Acknowledge those people who significantly contributed to your research journey
• Order your thanks from formal support to personal support
• Maintain a balance between formal and personal tones
• Keep it concise

In a nutshell, use this section to reflect your appreciation in a genuinely and professionally way.

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Acknowledgement For Case Study

Case studies are valuable research tools that provide in-depth analysis and insights into specific situations, individuals, or organizations. In addition to presenting the findings and analysis, it is common practice to include an acknowledgments section in case studies to recognize and express gratitude for the contributions and support received throughout the research process. In this article, we will explore the significance of acknowledgments in case studies and provide guidance on how to acknowledge the various individuals and organizations that have contributed to the successful completion of the study.

Table of Contents

Participants and Informants

Case studies often rely on the participation and cooperation of individuals who are directly involved in the subject matter. Acknowledging the participants and informants is crucial as their willingness to share their experiences, perspectives, and data is essential for the study’s validity and depth. It is important to respect their privacy and obtain proper consent when mentioning their names or identifiable information in the acknowledgments. For example:

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who participated in this case study. Their valuable insights, openness, and cooperation have been instrumental in shedding light on the topic and enriching our research.”

Expert Consultants and Advisors

Case studies may involve collaboration with expert consultants or advisors who possess specialized knowledge or experience related to the subject matter. These individuals provide guidance, feedback, and expert opinions that enhance the quality and credibility of the study. Acknowledging their contributions demonstrates appreciation for their time, expertise, and valuable input. For example:

“We would like to express our gratitude to [Name], an esteemed expert in the field, for their invaluable guidance and consultation throughout this case study. Their expertise and insights have greatly enriched our research.”

Institutional Support

Institutional support plays a crucial role in the successful completion of case studies. This includes support from academic institutions, research organizations, or funding agencies that provide resources, facilities, and financial assistance. Acknowledging the institutional support showcases the importance of their contributions and highlights the collaborative nature of the research process. For example:

“We gratefully acknowledge the support of [Name of Institution/Organization] for providing the necessary resources and infrastructure that facilitated the completion of this case study. Their commitment to advancing research has been instrumental in our work.”

Colleagues and Peers

Colleagues and peers within the academic or professional community often provide valuable feedback, suggestions, and support throughout the research process. Acknowledging their contributions recognizes their intellectual input and the collaborative nature of the study. It is important to mention specific contributions or areas of expertise to highlight their impact. For example:

“We would like to thank our colleagues and peers who generously shared their insights and expertise during the course of this case study. Their constructive feedback and thoughtful discussions have significantly influenced the direction and quality of our research.”

Ethical Review Boards and Approvals

In case studies involving human subjects or sensitive data, obtaining ethical approvals and adhering to ethical guidelines is of utmost importance. Acknowledging the ethical review boards or committees that provided approvals and guidance demonstrates the commitment to ethical research practices. For example:

“We acknowledge the [Name of Ethical Review Board/Committee] for their careful review, guidance, and ethical approvals, ensuring the protection and welfare of our study participants. Their invaluable contributions have helped maintain the highest ethical standards throughout this research.”

Funding Agencies or Grants

In case studies that received financial support from funding agencies or grants, it is essential to acknowledge their contributions. Funding agencies play a crucial role in enabling research projects by providing financial resources and support. Acknowledging their contributions highlights the impact of their investment in the study. For example:

“This case study was made possible through the generous support of [Name of Funding Agency/Grant]. We acknowledge their financial assistance, which has significantly contributed to the successful completion of this research.”

Final Thoughts

Acknowledgments in case studies provide an opportunity to express gratitude and recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations that have supported the research process. By acknowledging the participants, expert consultants, advisors, institutions, colleagues, ethical review boards, and funding agencies, researchers demonstrate their appreciation for the collaboration, guidance, expertise, and resources that were instrumental in the study’s success. The acknowledgments section is not only a gesture of gratitude but also a way to showcase the collaborative nature of research and the importance of collective efforts in generating valuable insights and knowledge.

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How to Write Acknowledgement in Research Paper

December 27, 2023

In research papers, acknowledgements play a crucial role in recognizing the contributions and support of individuals or organizations who have helped in the completion of the study. They provide an opportunity to express gratitude towards people who provided guidance, resources, or encouragement during the research process.

Acknowledgements serve several important purposes. Firstly, they acknowledge the intellectual and technical support received, ensuring that credit is given where it is due. Secondly, they foster a sense of collaboration and community by recognizing the efforts of others within the research field. Furthermore, acknowledgements help to establish credibility by showcasing the individuals, institutions, or funding bodies that have contributed to the research.

The importance of acknowledgements goes beyond mere courtesy; they are a record of the network of support that exists within the research community. By recognizing the contributions of others, researchers can foster goodwill and build lasting relationships in their field. As such, it is crucial to understand the significance of acknowledgements and to include them thoughtfully and sincerely in research papers.

What to Include in the Acknowledgements

When writing acknowledgements in a research paper, it is important to consider the key elements that should be included. Here are some points to consider when deciding what to include in your acknowledgements:

• Mentors and Advisors: Acknowledge the individuals who provided guidance, advice, or supervision throughout the research process. This could include your research advisor, committee members, or other mentors who played a significant role in shaping your work.
• Funding Sources: Acknowledge any funding bodies or organizations that provided financial support for your research. This could include grants, scholarships, or fellowships.
• Research Participants: If your study involved human participants or subjects, it is important to thank them for their participation and contribution to the research. Ensure that their privacy and confidentiality are maintained by using initials or codes instead of full names.
• Collaborators and Colleagues: If you worked closely with other researchers or colleagues on the project, acknowledge their contributions and highlight their specific roles or expertise.
• Technical and Administrative Support: Recognize individuals or institutions that provided technical assistance, equipment, or administrative support during the research process.
• Family and Friends: It is common to express gratitude to loved ones for their support and understanding throughout the research journey. Although personal acknowledgements should be kept brief, acknowledging their support can be a significant gesture.

Remember to be sincere and genuine in your acknowledgements, recognizing the specific contributions and support each individual or entity provided.

Structure and Formatting of the Acknowledgements

The structure and formatting of acknowledgements in a research paper play a vital role in conveying gratitude in a clear and organized manner. Here are some guidelines to follow when structuring and formatting your acknowledgements:

• Placement: The acknowledgements section is typically placed towards the end of the paper, after the conclusion but before the references.
• Title: Use a clear and concise title such as “Acknowledgements” or “Acknowledgments” at the top of the section to indicate its purpose.
• Formatting: In general, acknowledgements are written in paragraph form. However, if you have a long list of individuals or organizations to acknowledge, you can also use a bullet-point or numbered list.
• Tone: The tone of acknowledgements should be professional and appreciative. Use a sincere and heartfelt tone to express your gratitude.
• Length: Acknowledgements should be kept concise and to the point. A few paragraphs or a short list of names and institutions are typically sufficient.
• Order: It is customary to acknowledge individuals and organizations in order of their significance and contribution to the research. Start with your most important mentors, advisors, or sponsors, and then proceed to acknowledge collaborators, research participants, and others who provided support.
• Style: Follow the formatting guidelines specified by the journal or academic institution. This may include font type, size, and spacing.

Remember, while acknowledgements provide an opportunity to express gratitude, it is important to maintain professionalism and adhere to the guidelines set by the journal or your academic institution.

Examples of Well-Written Acknowledgements

Example 1: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Professor [Name] for their unwavering guidance, invaluable insights, and constant support throughout this research journey. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in shaping this study. I would also like to thank my research committee members, [Names], for their thoughtful feedback and constructive criticism. I am grateful to [Funding Body/Institution] for providing financial support that made this research possible. Special thanks to all the participants who generously volunteered their time and contributed to this study. I would also like to acknowledge [Support Staff/Technicians] for their technical assistance. Lastly, I am indebted to my family and friends for their unwavering support, love, and encouragement throughout this endeavor.”

Example 2: “We extend our sincere appreciation to Professor [Name] for their mentorship and guidance, which have been invaluable in the completion of this research. We would like to thank [Funding Body/Institution] for their financial support, without which this study would not have been possible. We are grateful to the participants who willingly shared their experiences and expertise, providing the foundation for our research. Our gratitude also extends to our collaborators and fellow researchers who provided valuable insights and feedback throughout the project. We would like to acknowledge the technical support provided by [Support Staff/Technicians]. Lastly, we express our heartfelt thanks to our families and friends for their unwavering support and understanding.”

Remember, these examples are just a guide. It is important to personalize your acknowledgements based on the individuals and organizations that have contributed to your specific research project.

Tips for Writing Acknowledgements

• Be specific: Clearly mention the names of individuals, institutions, or organizations that have made significant contributions to your research.
• Focus on contributions: Acknowledge the specific ways in which each person or entity has contributed to your research, whether it’s through mentorship, funding, technical support, or intellectual guidance.
• Maintain professionalism: While expressing gratitude, maintain a professional tone and avoid overly personal or informal language.
• Be concise: Keep your acknowledgements brief and to the point, focusing on the most essential contributors.
• Follow guidelines: Adhere to any specific formatting guidelines provided by the journal or academic institution.
• Review and proofread: Ensure that your acknowledgements are free of spelling or grammatical errors by reviewing and proofreading them carefully.
• Express sincerity: Convey genuine appreciation and gratitude in your acknowledgements to show the true extent of your appreciation.

Remember, acknowledgements are an opportunity to show gratitude to those who have supported your research, so be sure to express your thanks sincerely and respectfully.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Acknowledgements

• Excessive length: Avoid making your acknowledgements overly lengthy. Keep them concise and focus only on those who have made substantial contributions to your research.
• Forgetting important contributors: Take the time to think through all the individuals and organizations that have played a role in your research and ensure that you acknowledge them appropriately. Leaving out key contributors can be unintentionally dismissive.
• Being vague: Be specific when acknowledging the contributions of individuals or institutions. Avoid using generic statements that don’t adequately highlight the specific ways in which they have supported your research.
• Inclusion of personal anecdotes: While it’s important to express gratitude, acknowledgements should remain professional. Avoid including personal anecdotes or unrelated stories that distract from the purpose of the section.
• Neglecting proofreading: Treat acknowledgements with the same level of attention and care as the rest of your research paper. Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting your final document.
• Inconsistent formatting: Ensure that your acknowledgements follow the same formatting as the rest of your research paper, adhering to any journal or institution guidelines.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your acknowledgements accurately reflect the contributions of those involved in your research while maintaining a professional and concise tone.

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• Acknowledgements for PhD Thesis and Dissertations – Explained
• Doing a PhD

The Purpose of Acknowledgements

The acknowledgement section of a thesis or dissertation is where you recognise and thank those who supported you during your PhD. This can be but is not limited to individuals, institutions or organisations.

Although your acknowledgements will not be used to evaluate your work, it is still an important section of your thesis. This is because it can have a positive (or negative for that matter) influence the perception of your reader before they even reach the main body of your work.

Who Should I Acknowledge?

Acknowledgements for a PhD thesis will typically fall into one of two categories – professional or personal.

Within these categories, who you thank will ultimately be your decision. However, it’s imperative that you pay special attention to the ‘professional’ group. This is because not thanking someone who has played an important role in your studies, whether it be intentional or accidental, will more often than not be seen as a dismissal of their efforts. Not only would this be unfair if they genuinely helped you, but from a certain political aspect, it could also jeopardise any opportunities for future collaborations .

Professional Acknowledgements

This may include, but is not limited to:

• Funding bodies/sponsorship providers
• Supervisors
• Research group and lab assistants
• Research participants
• Proofreaders

Personal Acknowledgements

• Key family members and friends
• Individuals who inspired you or directly influenced your academic journey
• Anyone else who has provided personal support that you would like to mention

It should be noted that certain universities have policies which state only those who have directly supported your work, such as supervisors and professors, should be included in your acknowledgements. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you read your university guidelines before writing this section of your thesis.

How to Write Acknowledgements for PhD Thesis

When producing this section, your writing style can be more informal compared to the rest of your thesis. This includes writing in first person and using more emotive language. Although in most cases you will have complete freedom in how you write this section of your thesis, it is still highly advisable to keep it professional. As mentioned earlier, this is largely because it will be one of the first things your assessors will read, and so it will help set the tone for the rest of your work.

In terms of its structure, acknowledgements are expected to be ordered in a manner that first recognises the most formal support before moving onto the less formal support. In most cases, this follows the same order that we have outlined in the ‘Who Should I Thank’ section.

When thanking professionals, always write out their full name and provide their title. This is because although you may be on a first-name basis with them, those who read your thesis will not. By providing full names and titles, not only do you help ensure clarity, but it could also indirectly contribute to the credibility of your thesis should the individual you’re thanking be well known within your field.

If you intend to include a list of people from one institution or organisation, it is best to list their names in alphabetical order. The exception to this is when a particular individual has been of significant assistance; here, it would be advisable to list them.

How Long Should My Acknowledgements Be?

Acknowledgements vary considerably in length. Some are a single paragraph whilst some continue for up to three pages. The length of your acknowledgement page will mostly depend on the number of individuals you want to recognise.

As a general rule, try to keep your acknowledgements section to a single page. Although there are no word limits, creating a lengthy acknowledgements section dilutes the gratitude you’re trying to express, especially to those who have supported you the most.

Where Should My Acknowledgements Go?

In the vast majority of cases, your acknowledgements should appear directly after your abstract and before your table of contents.

However, we highly advise you to check your university guidelines as a few universities set out their own specific order which they will expect you to follow.

Phrases to Help You Get Started

We appreciate how difficult it can be to truly show how grateful you are to those who have supported you over the years, especially in words.

To help you get started, we’ve provided you with a few examples of sentences that you can complete or draw ideas from.

• I am deeply grateful to XXX…
• I would like to express my sincere gratitude to XXX…
• I would like to offer my special thanks to XXX…
• I would like to extend my sincere thanks to XXX…
• …for their assistance at every stage of the research project.
• …for their insightful comments and suggestions.
• …for their contribution to XXX.
• …for their unwavering support and belief in me.

Thesis Acknowledgement Examples

Below are three PhD thesis acknowledgment samples from which you can draw inspiration. It should be noted that the following have been extracted from theses which are freely available in the public domain. Irrespective of this, references to any individual, department or university have been removed for the sake of privacy.

First and foremost I am extremely grateful to my supervisors, Prof. XXX and Dr. XXX for their invaluable advice, continuous support, and patience during my PhD study. Their immense knowledge and plentiful experience have encouraged me in all the time of my academic research and daily life. I would also like to thank Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX for their technical support on my study. I would like to thank all the members in the XXX. It is their kind help and support that have made my study and life in the UK a wonderful time. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, my wife and my children. Without their tremendous understanding and encouragement in the past few years, it would be impossible for me to complete my study.

I would like to thank my supervisors Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX for all their help and advice with this PhD. I would also like to thank my sisters, whom without this would have not been possible. I also appreciate all the support I received from the rest of my family. Lastly, I would like to thank the XXX for the studentship that allowed me to conduct this thesis.

I would like to thank my esteemed supervisor – Dr. XXX for his invaluable supervision, support and tutelage during the course of my PhD degree. My gratitude extends to the Faculty of XXX for the funding opportunity to undertake my studies at the Department of XXX, University of XXX. Additionally, I would like to express gratitude to Dr. XXX for her treasured support which was really influential in shaping my experiment methods and critiquing my results. I also thank Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX for their mentorship. I would like to thank my friends, lab mates, colleagues and research team – XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX for a cherished time spent together in the lab, and in social settings. My appreciation also goes out to my family and friends for their encouragement and support all through my studies.

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Acknowledgement for Psychology Project (5 Samples)

September 19, 2023

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By Mohsin Khurshid

Acknowledging those who have contributed to your psychology project is a meaningful gesture that reflects your appreciation. Crafting genuine acknowledgments can be a powerful way to convey your gratitude. In this article, we delve into five carefully curated samples to inspire and guide you in creating heartfelt acknowledgments for your psychology project.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Acknowledgement for Psychology Project
• 1.2 Sample Acknowledgement for Psychology Project
• 1.3 Acknowledgement for Psychology Project for College Students
• 1.4 Acknowledgement for Psychology Project Class 12
• 1.5 Acknowledgment Sample for Psychology Project File
• 3 Conclusion

5 Acknowledgment Samples for Psychology Project

Below are five thoughtfully selected samples to inspire your acknowledgment section when crafting your psychology project. These templates offer different styles and approaches, enabling you to express your gratitude authentically and sincerely.

Acknowledgement for Psychology Project

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all who contributed to the fruition of this psychology project. My gratitude goes to my dedicated professor, [Professor’s Name], whose unwavering guidance and mentorship shaped this project’s path.

Additionally, I’d like to thank my fellow classmates who collaborated and shared valuable insights during brainstorming sessions. Their collective efforts enriched the project’s content.

Lastly, my family’s support and encouragement were invaluable throughout this endeavor. Together, we’ve brought this psychology project to life, and I’m truly grateful for their belief in me.

Sample Acknowledgement for Psychology Project

This acknowledgement is a testament to the collaborative effort that fueled the success of my psychology project. I express profound gratitude to my professor, [Professor’s Name], whose expertise and continuous support paved the way for this project’s completion.

I also wish to acknowledge my peers who offered valuable contributions during discussions, enhancing the project’s depth and perspective.

Furthermore, I extend heartfelt thanks to my family for their unwavering encouragement. Their belief in my abilities was a driving force behind this psychology project’s accomplishment.

Acknowledgement for Psychology Project for College Students

In this psychology project, I’d like to acknowledge the instrumental role played by various individuals. First and foremost, my sincere thanks to Professor [Professor’s Name] for their dedicated guidance, unwavering support, and insightful feedback.

To my fellow college students who collaborated and shared their expertise, your contributions enriched this project immensely.

I’m equally grateful to my family for their continuous encouragement, which provided the emotional support needed for the project’s success.

This acknowledgment represents the collective effort and support that propelled this psychology project forward, and I am genuinely appreciative of everyone’s involvement.

Acknowledgement for Psychology Project Class 12

In this Class 12 psychology project, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to those who have contributed significantly. My sincere appreciation goes to my esteemed teacher, [Teacher’s Name], whose guidance and constant support have been invaluable in this endeavor.

I would also like to thank my classmates who shared their perspectives and ideas, enriching the project’s content. Your collaboration made a significant difference.

Lastly, I want to express my deep thanks to my family for their unwavering encouragement. Their belief in my abilities has been a driving force behind the successful completion of this Class 12 psychology project.

Check more Acknowledgment Samples for Class Twelve Projects .

Acknowledgment Sample for Psychology Project File

Presenting this psychology project file, I wish to acknowledge the contributions of those who have made it possible. My heartfelt thanks to my dedicated teacher, [Teacher’s Name], for their guidance, patience, and invaluable insights throughout the project’s development.

I also extend my appreciation to my fellow students who actively participated, sharing their knowledge and ideas that enhanced the project’s quality.

Furthermore, I’m grateful to my family for their constant support and encouragement, which provided the emotional stability necessary for the project’s success.

This acknowledgment signifies the collective effort that has brought this psychology project to fruition, and I am genuinely thankful for everyone’s involvement.

How do I choose the most suitable acknowledgment sample for my psychology project?

Selecting the right sample depends on the tone and style you want to convey in your acknowledgments. Each sample offers a unique approach. Consider your project’s context and the people you’re acknowledging to find the sample that best suits your sentiments.

Can I adapt these samples for acknowledgments in projects outside of psychology?

Absolutely! While these samples are tailored for psychology projects, you can easily modify them to fit acknowledgments in various academic projects. Simply replace psychology-specific details with those relevant to your project.

Do I need to use all five acknowledgment samples in my psychology project?

No, you are not required to use all five samples. These samples provide different styles and expressions of gratitude. You can choose one or more samples that align with your feelings and the individuals you want to acknowledge in your psychology project. The goal is to convey your appreciation genuinely.

In closing, acknowledging the contributions of individuals who have supported your psychology project is not just a formality; it’s an opportunity to convey your appreciation and the collaborative spirit of your academic endeavor. Utilize these diverse samples to create acknowledgments that resonate with your sentiments and effectively express your gratitude to those who have played a part in your project’s success.

6 Examples of Acknowledgement for Case Studies

Acknowledgment is merely recognizing and thanking someone or something for their actions. The character of being identified or acknowledged is known as acknowledgment.

What is the importance of the acknowledgement section?

Acknowledgments in any research proposal or paper tell you who helped contribute or did work on that venture and who assisted in its completion. We write an acknowledgment early in a book or report to thank people or other resources who assisted the writer.

Acknowledgement Section in a Project gives you a portion in your document where you can mention and thank everybody who contributed to completing the research or thesis. It’s the sole section where you can be a little more casual, express yourself, and mention anyone you want. First, however, take this opportunity to thank your instructor or supervisor who has directly assisted you in the project before moving on to the other people.

Who should be acknowledged in a case study?

As with most acknowledgments, you must thank everyone who assisted you in

completing the Case study . In addition, you must express gratitude to everyone who

assisted you in completing the case study. You could also include teachers, classmates,

friends, family, and possibly your research assistants if you have received assistance

You only need a handful of sentences to compose a brief acknowledgment section. You

can appreciate your teacher, supervisor (if there is one), and your

school/college/university for Research opportunities.

However, it is ideal to include your  principal, friends, family, or anyone else

who you believe has assisted you with this project.

You can use the acknowledgments below as a model or encouragement to write your

Acknowledgment.

Writing Guidelines for acknowledgment

A section of acknowledgments is typically included at the commencement of a Completion Of This project, immediately following the Table of Contents.

Acknowledgments allow you to thank everyone who assisted with the research. However, careful consideration must be given to who needs to be appraised and in which order. The general rule is to express your gratitude succinctly and to prevent unnecessary loaded solid language .

Personal pronouns, including ‘I, my, me…’ are nearly always used in the acknowledgments, whereas they are generally avoided in the rest of the project.

Acknowledgement samples of case studies

Check out this post if you need help deciding what phrases to use or how to write an

official acknowledgment.

Refrain from copying these examples exactly word for word, but try to create your version. Also, remember to thank everyone who assisted you with this project. Here are some examples for you to get started.

Sample # 1 of Case Study Acknowledgement

This project was only possible with the contributions and guidance of many people whose names cannot be listed. However, their contributions are greatly appreciated and acknowledged.

However, the group would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness to the following individuals: Ms. ABC, DEF, GHI; Mr. PQR, STU; and Mr. JKL, XYZ, MNO for their unending support, kindness, and understanding during our case presentation.

Thank you to all relatives, friends, and others who provided moral, financial, and physical support in some way.

Above all, thanks to the Great Allah Almighty, the source of all wisdom and information, for his unending love. We appreciate it.

Sample # 2 of Case Study Acknowledgement

To complete my case study, I needed to rely on the assistance and advice of some respected individuals to whom I am eternally grateful. This assignment has given me a lot of pleasure. First and foremost, I thank Mr. ABC, Component 4 Lecturer, IPM, for providing us with a good assignment guideline throughout numerous consultations.

Second, thank my parents for their incredible patience while I worked on this. I also want to thank them for their unwavering support and for facilitating me with everything I ask—finally, Well done, PQR, for his assistance and motivation throughout the process.

I also like to express my gratitude to everybody who helped me write this case study, directly and indirectly. In addition, many people, particularly my classmates, provided helpful feedback and ideas on this case study, which inspired me to improve it. Finally, Thank everyone who helped me, directly and indirectly, finish my Component 4 case study.

Sample # 3 of Case Study Acknowledgement

We want to show our heartiest gratitude to the dedicated team of academics, content area professionals, technicians, specialists, and support personnel who made this case study attainable.

Thank you for your understanding and careful consideration of our composing and layout of the material in this book, ABC, and your crew at the LM campus. We appreciate your effort and assistance in developing these case studies.

Thank you to the BCIT academic staff and other experts who brainstormed, created, and wrote these case studies:

We’d also like to thank DEF, GHI, and MNO for lending their insight and expert knowledge to these case studies.

We are grateful to PQR for his vision and encouragement in getting us started on these case studies and for her eagerness, vitality, and competence in supporting and advising us through our initial case study agility session.

Thank you, in particular, to JKL, STU, and VWX for their assistance, governance, and reassurance in developing these case studies.

Finally, we’d like to thank our families for their encouragement and patience as we worked through the process of creating this resource, as well as the unexpected extra hours of work.

Sample # 4 of Case Study Acknowledgement

To complete our assignment, we needed the assistance and guidance of someone who deserves our deepest gratitude.

The accomplishment of this case study brings us great joy. We want to express our appreciation to Sir PQR of the University of XYZ in ABC for granting us this assignment to broaden our knowledge and provide us with some practical experience.

Sample # 5 of Case Study Acknowledgement

I want to thank Professor ABC and Professor DEF, my case study managers, for their guidance, patience, enthusiastic encouragement, and constructive critiques of this research work.

I’d also like to thank Dr. JKL for her advice and help in keeping my progress on track. My thanks also go to Mr. MNO for his assistance with the climatological data analysis, Ms. PQR, who helped me calculate the air pressure coefficient, and Ms. STU and Mr. XYZ for their assistance with the site measurement.

I’d also like to thank the GHI laboratory technicians for providing the resources I needed to run the program.

Finally, I want to thank my mother for her encouragement and support throughout my studies.

Sample # 6 of Case Study Acknowledgement

I express my wholehearted gratitude to God the Creator for enabling us to complete this Case Study. Then I’d like to thank Dr. PQR, our respectable supervisor and lecturer at the College of ABC Institute, who has regularly encouraged us to complete this case study on time with great accuracy, and friends who have provided me with vital information to achieve this milestone.

The acknowledgment section lists everyone who played a significant role. It would help if you expressed your gratitude to those who helped with this case study in the first person. Next, you must demonstrate the specific role that each individual and party played in completing this case study. This acknowledgment should begin with the individuals who contributed the most and end with those who contributed the least.

6 Examples of Acknowledgement for Business Plan

Example of acknowledgement for business studies project (7 samples).

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16 case study examples (+ 3 templates to make your own)

I like to think of case studies as a business's version of a resume. It highlights what the business can do, lends credibility to its offer, and contains only the positive bullet points that paint it in the best light possible.

Imagine if the guy running your favorite taco truck followed you home so that he could "really dig into how that burrito changed your life." I see the value in the practice. People naturally prefer a tried-and-true burrito just as they prefer tried-and-true products or services.

To help you showcase your success and flesh out your burrito questionnaire, I've put together some case study examples and key takeaways.

What is a case study?

A case study is an in-depth analysis of how your business, product, or service has helped past clients. It can be a document, a webpage, or a slide deck that showcases measurable, real-life results.

For example, if you're a SaaS company, you can analyze your customers' results after a few months of using your product to measure its effectiveness. You can then turn this analysis into a case study that further proves to potential customers what your product can do and how it can help them overcome their challenges.

It changes the narrative from "I promise that we can do X and Y for you" to "Here's what we've done for businesses like yours, and we can do it for you, too."

16 case study examples 

While most case studies follow the same structure, quite a few try to break the mold and create something unique. Some businesses lean heavily on design and presentation, while others pursue a detailed, stat-oriented approach. Some businesses try to mix both.

There's no set formula to follow, but I've found that the best case studies utilize impactful design to engage readers and leverage statistics and case details to drive the point home. A case study typically highlights the companies, the challenges, the solution, and the results. The examples below will help inspire you to do it, too.

1. .css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class]{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;cursor:pointer;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class]{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-1l9i3yq-Link[class][class][class][class][class][data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} Volcanica Coffee and AdRoll

People love a good farm-to-table coffee story, and boy am I one of them. But I've shared this case study with you for more reasons than my love of coffee. I enjoyed this study because it was written as though it was a letter.

In this case study, the founder of Volcanica Coffee talks about the journey from founding the company to personally struggling with learning and applying digital marketing to finding and enlisting AdRoll's services.

It felt more authentic, less about AdRoll showcasing their worth and more like a testimonial from a grateful and appreciative client. After the story, the case study wraps up with successes, milestones, and achievements. Note that quite a few percentages are prominently displayed at the top, providing supporting evidence that backs up an inspiring story.

Takeaway: Highlight your goals and measurable results to draw the reader in and provide concise, easily digestible information.

2. Taylor Guitars and Airtable

This Airtable case study on Taylor Guitars comes as close as one can to an optimal structure. It features a video that represents the artistic nature of the client, highlighting key achievements and dissecting each element of Airtable's influence.

It also supplements each section with a testimonial or quote from the client, using their insights as a catalyst for the case study's narrative. For example, the case study quotes the social media manager and project manager's insights regarding team-wide communication and access before explaining in greater detail.

Takeaway: Highlight pain points your business solves for its client, and explore that influence in greater detail.

3. EndeavourX and Figma

My favorite part of Figma's case study is highlighting why EndeavourX chose its solution. You'll notice an entire section on what Figma does for teams and then specifically for EndeavourX.

It also places a heavy emphasis on numbers and stats. The study, as brief as it is, still manages to pack in a lot of compelling statistics about what's possible with Figma.

Takeaway: Showcase the "how" and "why" of your product's differentiators and how they benefit your customers.

4. ActiveCampaign and Zapier

Zapier's case study leans heavily on design, using graphics to present statistics and goals in a manner that not only remains consistent with the branding but also actively pushes it forward, drawing users' eyes to the information most important to them. 

The graphics, emphasis on branding elements, and cause/effect style tell the story without requiring long, drawn-out copy that risks boring readers. Instead, the cause and effect are concisely portrayed alongside the client company's information for a brief and easily scannable case study.

Takeaway: Lean on design to call attention to the most important elements of your case study, and make sure it stays consistent with your branding.

5. Ironclad and OpenAI

In true OpenAI fashion, this case study is a block of text. There's a distinct lack of imagery, but the study features a narrated video walking readers through the product.

The lack of imagery and color may not be the most inviting, but utilizing video format is commendable. It helps thoroughly communicate how OpenAI supported Ironclad in a way that allows the user to sit back, relax, listen, and be impressed. 

Takeaway: Get creative with the media you implement in your case study. Videos can be a very powerful addition when a case study requires more detailed storytelling.

6. Shopify and GitHub

GitHub's case study on Shopify is a light read. It addresses client pain points and discusses the different aspects its product considers and improves for clients. It touches on workflow issues, internal systems, automation, and security. It does a great job of representing what one company can do with GitHub.

To drive the point home, the case study features colorful quote callouts from the Shopify team, sharing their insights and perspectives on the partnership, the key issues, and how they were addressed.

Takeaway: Leverage quotes to boost the authoritativeness and trustworthiness of your case study. 

7 . Audible and Contentful

Contentful's case study on Audible features almost every element a case study should. It includes not one but two videos and clearly outlines the challenge, solution, and outcome before diving deeper into what Contentful did for Audible. The language is simple, and the writing is heavy with quotes and personal insights.

This case study is a uniquely original experience. The fact that the companies in question are perhaps two of the most creative brands out there may be the reason. I expected nothing short of a detailed analysis, a compelling story, and video content. 

Takeaway: Inject some brand voice into the case study, and create assets that tell the story for you.

8 . Zoom and Asana

Asana's case study on Zoom is longer than the average piece and features detailed data on Zoom's growth since 2020. Instead of relying on imagery and graphics, it features several quotes and testimonials. 

It's designed to be direct, informative, and promotional. At some point, the case study reads more like a feature list. There were a few sections that felt a tad too promotional for my liking, but to each their own burrito.

Takeaway: Maintain a balance between promotional and informative. You want to showcase the high-level goals your product helped achieve without losing the reader.

9 . Hickies and Mailchimp

I've always been a fan of Mailchimp's comic-like branding, and this case study does an excellent job of sticking to their tradition of making information easy to understand, casual, and inviting.

It features a short video that briefly covers Hickies as a company and Mailchimp's efforts to serve its needs for customer relationships and education processes. Overall, this case study is a concise overview of the partnership that manages to convey success data and tell a story at the same time. What sets it apart is that it does so in a uniquely colorful and brand-consistent manner.

Takeaway: Be concise to provide as much value in as little text as possible.

10. NVIDIA and Workday

The gaming industry is notoriously difficult to recruit for, as it requires a very specific set of skills and experience. This case study focuses on how Workday was able to help fill that recruitment gap for NVIDIA, one of the biggest names in the gaming world.

Though it doesn't feature videos or graphics, this case study stood out to me in how it structures information like "key products used" to give readers insight into which tools helped achieve these results.

Takeaway: If your company offers multiple products or services, outline exactly which ones were involved in your case study, so readers can assess each tool.

11. KFC and Contentful

I'm personally not a big KFC fan, but that's only because I refuse to eat out of a bucket. My aversion to the bucket format aside, Contentful follows its consistent case study format in this one, outlining challenges, solutions, and outcomes before diving into the nitty-gritty details of the project.

Say what you will about KFC, but their primary product (chicken) does present a unique opportunity for wordplay like "Continuing to march to the beat of a digital-first drum(stick)" or "Delivering deep-fried goodness to every channel."

Takeaway: Inject humor into your case study if there's room for it and if it fits your brand. 

12. Intuit and Twilio

Twilio does an excellent job of delivering achievements at the very beginning of the case study and going into detail in this two-minute read. While there aren't many graphics, the way quotes from the Intuit team are implemented adds a certain flair to the study and breaks up the sections nicely.

It's simple, concise, and manages to fit a lot of information in easily digestible sections.

Takeaway: Make sure each section is long enough to inform but brief enough to avoid boring readers. Break down information for each section, and don't go into so much detail that you lose the reader halfway through.

13. Spotify and Salesforce

Salesforce created a video that accurately summarizes the key points of the case study. Beyond that, the page itself is very light on content, and sections are as short as one paragraph.

I especially like how information is broken down into "What you need to know," "Why it matters," and "What the difference looks like." I'm not ashamed of being spoon-fed information. When it's structured so well and so simply, it makes for an entertaining read.

Takeaway: Invest in videos that capture and promote your partnership with your case study subject. Video content plays a promotional role that extends beyond the case study in social media and marketing initiatives .

14. Benchling and Airtable

Benchling is an impressive entity in its own right. Biotech R&D and health care nuances go right over my head. But the research and digging I've been doing in the name of these burritos (case studies) revealed that these products are immensely complex. 

And that's precisely why this case study deserves a read—it succeeds at explaining a complex project that readers outside the industry wouldn't know much about.

Takeaway: Simplify complex information, and walk readers through the company's operations and how your business helped streamline them.

15. Chipotle and Hubble

The concision of this case study is refreshing. It features two sections—the challenge and the solution—all in 316 words. This goes to show that your case study doesn't necessarily need to be a four-figure investment with video shoots and studio time. 

Sometimes, the message is simple and short enough to convey in a handful of paragraphs.

Takeaway: Consider what you should include instead of what you can include. Assess the time, resources, and effort you're able and willing to invest in a case study, and choose which elements you want to include from there.

16. Hudl and Zapier

I may be biased, but I'm a big fan of seeing metrics and achievements represented in branded graphics. It can be a jarring experience to navigate a website, then visit a case study page and feel as though you've gone to a completely different website.

The Zapier format provides nuggets of high-level insights, milestones, and achievements, as well as the challenge, solution, and results. My favorite part of this case study is how it's supplemented with a blog post detailing how Hudl uses Zapier automation to build a seamless user experience.

The case study is essentially the summary, and the blog article is the detailed analysis that provides context beyond X achievement or Y goal.

Takeaway: Keep your case study concise and informative. Create other resources to provide context under your blog, media or press, and product pages.

3 case study templates

Now that you've had your fill of case studies (if that's possible), I've got just what you need: an infinite number of case studies, which you can create yourself with these case study templates.

Case study template 1

If you've got a quick hit of stats you want to show off, try this template. The opening section gives space for a short summary and three visually appealing stats you can highlight, followed by a headline and body where you can break the case study down more thoroughly. This one's pretty simple, with only sections for solutions and results, but you can easily continue the formatting to add more sections as needed.

Case study template 2

For a case study template with a little more detail, use this one. Opening with a striking cover page for a quick overview, this one goes on to include context, stakeholders, challenges, multiple quote callouts, and quick-hit stats. 

Case study template 3

Whether you want a little structural variation or just like a nice dark green, this template has similar components to the last template but is designed to help tell a story. Move from the client overview through a description of your company before getting to the details of how you fixed said company's problems.

Tips for writing a case study

Examples are all well and good, but you don't learn how to make a burrito just by watching tutorials on YouTube without knowing what any of the ingredients are. You could , but it probably wouldn't be all that good.

Writing a good case study comes down to a mix of creativity, branding, and the capacity to invest in the project. With those details in mind, here are some case study tips to follow:

Have an objective: Define your objective by identifying the challenge, solution, and results. Assess your work with the client and focus on the most prominent wins. You're speaking to multiple businesses and industries through the case study, so make sure you know what you want to say to them.

Focus on persuasive data: Growth percentages and measurable results are your best friends. Extract your most compelling data and highlight it in your case study.

Use eye-grabbing graphics: Branded design goes a long way in accurately representing your brand and retaining readers as they review the study. Leverage unique and eye-catching graphics to keep readers engaged. 

Simplify data presentation: Some industries are more complex than others, and sometimes, data can be difficult to understand at a glance. Make sure you present your data in the simplest way possible. Make it concise, informative, and easy to understand.

Use automation to drive results for your case study

A case study example is a source of inspiration you can leverage to determine how to best position your brand's work. Find your unique angle, and refine it over time to help your business stand out. Ask anyone: the best burrito in town doesn't just appear at the number one spot. They find their angle (usually the house sauce) and leverage it to stand out.

In fact, with the right technology, it can be refined to work better . Explore how Zapier's automation features can help drive results for your case study by making your case study a part of a developed workflow that creates a user journey through your website, your case studies, and into the pipeline.

Case study FAQ

Got your case study template? Great—it's time to gather the team for an awkward semi-vague data collection task. While you do that, here are some case study quick answers for you to skim through while you contemplate what to call your team meeting.

What is an example of a case study?

An example of a case study is when a software company analyzes its results from a client project and creates a webpage, presentation, or document that focuses on high-level results, challenges, and solutions in an attempt to showcase effectiveness and promote the software.

How do you write a case study?

To write a good case study, you should have an objective, identify persuasive and compelling data, leverage graphics, and simplify data. Case studies typically include an analysis of the challenge, solution, and results of the partnership.

What is the format of a case study?

While case studies don't have a set format, they're often portrayed as reports or essays that inform readers about the partnership and its results. 

Related reading:

How Hudl uses automation to create a seamless user experience

How to make your case studies high-stakes—and why it matters

How experts write case studies that convert, not bore

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Hachem Ramki

Hachem is a writer and digital marketer from Montreal. After graduating with a degree in English, Hachem spent seven years traveling around the world before moving to Canada. When he's not writing, he enjoys Basketball, Dungeons and Dragons, and playing music for friends and family.

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A comprehensive analysis of acknowledgement texts in Web of Science: a case study on four scientific domains

• Open access
• Published: 14 November 2022
• Volume 128 , pages 709–734, ( 2023 )

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• Nina Smirnova   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3177-3554 1 &
• Philipp Mayr   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6656-1658 1  

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Analysis of acknowledgments is particularly interesting as acknowledgments may give information not only about funding, but they are also able to reveal hidden contributions to authorship and the researcher’s collaboration patterns, context in which research was conducted, and specific aspects of the academic work. The focus of the present research is the analysis of a large sample of acknowledgement texts indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection. Record types “article” and “review” from four different scientific domains, namely social sciences, economics, oceanography and computer science, published from 2014 to 2019 in a scientific journal in English were considered. Six types of acknowledged entities, i.e., funding agency, grant number, individuals, university, corporation and miscellaneous, were extracted from the acknowledgement texts using a named entity recognition tagger and subsequently examined. A general analysis of the acknowledgement texts showed that indexing of funding information in WoS is incomplete. The analysis of the automatically extracted entities revealed differences and distinct patterns in the distribution of acknowledged entities of different types between different scientific domains. A strong association was found between acknowledged entity and scientific domain, and acknowledged entity and entity type. Only negligible correlation was found between the number of citations and the number of acknowledged entities. Generally, the number of words in the acknowledgement texts positively correlates with the number of acknowledged funding organizations, universities, individuals and miscellaneous entities. At the same time, acknowledgement texts with the larger number of sentences have more acknowledged individuals and miscellaneous categories.

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Introduction

Acknowledgments in scientific papers are short texts where the author(s) express “ gratitude towards different types of support received during the research process ”(Alvarez-Bornstein & Montesi, 2021 ). Kassierer and Angell see acknowledgements as an instrument to “ identify those who made special intellectual or technical contribution to a study that are not sufficient to qualify them for authorship ” (Kassirer & Angell, 1991 , p. 1511). Cronin and Weaver ( 1995 ) ascribe an acknowledgment alongside authorship and citedness to measures of a researcher’s scholarly performance. Together they build “ The Reward Triangle ”: a feature that reflects the researcher’s productivity and impact (Cronin & Weaver, 1995 , p. 173). Diaz-Faes and Bordons argue, “ citations provide a measure of the underlying intellectual influence and foundations of research output ” (Diaz-Faes & Bordons, 2017 , p. 577).

Acknowledgments as a rule contain information about technical, instrumental and financial support together with intellectual and conceptual support (Diaz-Faes & Bordons, 2017 ; Giles & Councill, 2004 ). The latter fall into the category “ peer interactive communication ” (PIC) (McCain, 2018 ). Giles and Councill ( 2004 ) argue that PIC acknowledgments, in the same way as citations, may be used as a metric to measure an individual’s intellectual contribution to scientific work. Acknowledgements of financial support are interesting in terms of evaluating the influence of funding agencies on academic research. Acknowledgments of technical and instrumental support may reveal “ indirect contributions of research laboratories and universities to research activities” (Giles & Councill, 2004 , p. 17599). Thus, acknowledgments not only give information about funding, but they are also able to reveal hidden contributions to authorship and the researcher’s collaboration patterns, context in which research was conducted, and specific aspects of the academic work.

In this paper, acknowledgement texts from four scientific domains (economics, social sciences, oceanography and computer science) were gathered from the Web of Science (WoS) database containing the collection of funding acknowledgments. The following acknowledged entities were extracted from the acknowledgement texts and distinguished into six categories: funding agencies (FUND), grant numbers (GRNB), corporations (COR), universities (UNI), individuals (IND), and miscellaneous (MISC), as Fig.  3 demonstrates. An acknowledged entity is an object of acknowledgment. Acknowledged entities could be names and surnames of individuals (also including abbreviations of the names), names of institutions and organizations, and numbers and identification numbers of grants, as Fig.  3 shows. A comprehensive analysis was performed on the acknowledgement texts and extracted acknowledged entities.

Most of the previous works on acknowledgement analysis were limited by the manual evaluation of data and therefore by the amount of processed data (Giles & Councill, 2004 ; Paul-Hus et al., 2017 ; Paul-Hus & Desrochers, 2019 ; Mccain, 2017 ). Furthermore, to our knowledge, previous works on automatic acknowledgment analysis were mostly concerned with the extraction and analysis of funding organizations and grant numbers (Alexandera & Vries, 2021 ; Kayal et al., 2017 ) or classification of acknowledgement texts (Song et al., 2020 ). Moreover, large bibliographic databases such as Web of Science (WoS) Footnote 1 and Scopus selectively index only funding information, i.e., names of funding organizations and grant identification numbers. Therefore, to our knowledge, there are no previous works on acknowledgement analysis, which examines a large quantity of acknowledged entities other than funding organizations and grant numbers (Smirnova & Mayr, 2022 ). In the present paper, we have used a NER model, specifically trained to extract six types of entities described above and conducted an extensive analysis of the great amount of the obtained acknowledged entities. Acknowledged entities are potentially a great tool for the  analysis of different aspects of the scientific society. Thus, Thomer and Weber ( 2014 ) argue that using named entities can benefit the process of manual document classification and evaluation of the data. Petrovich ( 2022 ) used the Acknowledged Entities Network (along with other acknowledgement related networks), containing funding agencies, congresses and conferences, institutions and persons, to develop a method for mapping scientic and scholarly social networks.

Research questions In the present paper, we will investigate two broad research directions: the general acknowledgment trends among different disciplines and the relationships between different variables: entity types, acknowledged entities, scientific domains, length of the acknowledgement text, number of citations.

The first research direction will focus  on the research question (RQ) 1:

RQ1: What are the general acknowledgment trends among different disciplines, i.e., which are the most acknowledged organizations, individuals, universities, or corporations? Do they vary between disciplines? How do acknowledgment patterns differ among disciplines and what do they have in common? Does the lenght of acknowledgement vary between scientific domains?

The second research direction will address the research questions 2 and 3:

RQ2: Are there correlations between the acknowledged entities and the scientific domains?

RQ3: Do highly-cited papers have more funding entities acknowledged than paper with fewer citations?

Previous works in acknowledgment analysis show that acknowledgement patterns diverge in different scientific domains (Paul-Hus et al., 2017 ; Diaz-Faes & Bordons, 2017 ; Baccini & Petrovich, 2021 ). In this paper, we expect to find correlations between the scientific domain and the type of acknowledged entity. We assume [similar to Paul-Hus et al. ( 2017 ); Diaz-Faes and Bordons ( 2017 )] that social sciences and economics will show the highest number of acknowledgments of peer-interactive communication (acknowledged individuals). Computer science and oceanography are expected to have a high percentage of acknowledged entities carrying information about funders (names of funding organizations and projects, grant numbers) and affiliated universities. Generally, more entities are expected to fall into the FUND and GRNB categories, as WoS stores only acknowledgements containing funding information. It is also expected to find a correlation between acknowledged entity and label, i.e. precise entities will have a precise label, and consequently, there should be a correlation between acknowledged entity and scientific domain.

Background and related work

Currently, there are several major bibliographic databases (Singh et al., 2021 ). The following major bibliographic databases can be distinguished: Web of Science (WoS), SCOPUS and Dimensions. WoS provides subscription-based access to publisher-independent global citation databases Footnote 2 . WoS contains publications from different scientific fields, and the WoS Core Collection consists of a number of databases.

From 2008 on, WoS started indexing funding information (mainly funding agencies and grant numbers) in its databases Footnote 3 . WoS uses information from different funding reporting systems such as researchfish Footnote 4 , Medline Footnote 5 and others. The funding information indexed in WoS is distinguished into three different fields: “Funding Text” (FT), “Funding Agency” (FO) and “Grant Number” (FG). The FT-field contains the full text of the acknowledgement, the FO-field contains the names of organizations acknowledged for their funding contribution, and the FG-field contains grant numbers affiliated with the funding organizations identified in the FO-field (Paul-Hus et al., 2016 , pp. 170-171). Figure 1 demonstrates an example of funding information indexed in WoS.

An example of funding information indexed in WoS

Research in the field of acknowledgements analysis has been carried out since the 1970s. The first typology of acknowledgements was proposed by Mackintosh ( 1972 ) (as cited in, Cronin, 1995 ). The acknowledgement texts found in American Sociological Review were examined and distinguished into three categories: facilities, access to data, help of individuals. McCain ( 1991 ) proposed a five-level typology based on the analysis of acknowledgement text from the genetics domain: research related information, secondary access to research-related information, specific research-related communication, general peer-communication, technical or clerical support. Cronin ( 1995 ) distinguished acknowledgements to the three broad categories: resource related, procedure-related and concept related. Mejia and Kajikawa ( 2018 ) analysed acknowledgement texts from the WoS Core Collection from the robotic research field. Aim of the analysis was to characterize funding organizations by the types of the sponsored research field. Mejia and Kajikawa ( 2018 ) developed a four-level classification of research fields: change maker, incremental, breakthrough and matured. Incremental and matured research fields showed the highest number of acknowledged funding organizations. The authors claimed that the classification of funding agencies may benefit the development of funding strategies of policy makers and funding organizations. Paul-Hus and Desrochers ( 2019 ) created an extended classification of acknowledgments stored in Web of Science (WoS). About four thousand acknowledgment sentences were manually coded into 13 categories. The analysis of coded data reveals three distinct axes: the contribution, the disclaimers, and the authorial voice (Paul-Hus & Desrochers, 2019 , p. 5).

Lewison ( 1994 ) analysed WoS SCI papers funded by the Biotechnology Action Programme (BAP) in the period 1986–1993. The aim of the analysis was to investigate the level of multi-nationality of the publications compared to other European Community biotechnology programs. Tollison and Laband ( 2003 ) examined asterisk footnotes from three major journals of economics, to investigate acknowledging behaviour in economics. Analysis shows that the most famous economists are acknowledged the most. Giles and Councill ( 2004 ) proposed a method for the automated extraction of acknowledged entities from the text and analysis of acknowledgment texts. Research papers from the computer science domain deposited in the CiteSeer digital library were used as the data source. Extracted acknowledged entities were linked to the source articles and to the data from CiteSer’s citation index for further analysis. Based on manual analysis of the most acknowledged entities, Giles and Councill developed a four-level classification: funding agencies, corporations, universities, and individuals. Wang and Shapira ( 2011 ) investigated the connection between research funding and the development of science and technology. Articles from the field of nanotechnology published in the period 2008–2009 were included in the study. The analysis showed that “ most of nanotechnology funding is nationally-oriented ” (Wang & Shapira, 2011 ). International collaborations are mainly indicated by the funding of individual international researchers. Rigby and Julian ( 2014 ) studied WoS collection of acknowledgement texts containing funding from European Molecular Biology Organisation or the Human Frontier Science Program published in the period from 2008–2012. Analysis of the patterns indicating over-finance of the particular project, i.g., projects funded by more than one funding organization in a similar area, has greater citation impact. Paul-Hus et al. ( 2016 ) made an overview on the funding data stored in WoS. Data from all WoS Core Collection databases was used for the analysis: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI). SCIE provides a multidisciplinary search across scientific journals, SSCI covers journals in social sciences disciplines, and AHCI contains publications in the fields of arts and humanities Footnote 6 . The aim of the research was to help other researchers understand the potential and limitations of funding information. The analysis was performed on all publications included in WoS for the period from 2005 to 2015 and comprised more than 43 million documents. The analysis of distribution of funding texts by year showed that the full coverage of funding text data starts from the year 2009, therefore the collection of funding texts published before 2009 is incomplete. Funding information is not included in every WoS core collection database. SCIE is mostly covered in terms of funding text data. Funding texts are also included in the SSCI starting from 2015, and the AHCI has no funding information indexation. Consequently, very little funding data was found for many humanities fields. Most funding information was found for publications written in English. Publications in other languages had an extremely low contribution of indexed acknowledgments texts. The main limitation of WoS data is that only acknowledgments containing funding information are included. It may bias the analysis of non-funding types of contribution. Acknowledgment patterns are argued to be domain-specific. Paul-Hus et al. ( 2017 ) conducted an analysis of acknowledgments from research articles and reviews stored in WoS. The dataset was restricted by articles published in 2015. The aims of the study were to distinguish types of acknowledged contributions, and to find out how they vary by discipline. The results matched the observations of previous research (Paul-Hus et al., 2016 ). The highest percentage of publications that included acknowledgments came from the biomedical and natural sciences, followed by clinical medicine. The lowest percentage of funding texts came from the social sciences. Thus, differences between frequencies of types of acknowledged entities across disciplines were found. For example, technical support was mostly acknowledged in publications in the natural sciences. Earth and space, professional fields, and social sciences tend to acknowledge peer contribution. Biomedical research showed a higher percentage of funding information. Acknowledgments in Biology are mainly focused on logistic and fieldwork-related tasks. Diaz-Faes and Bordons ( 2017 ) observed the prevalence of PIC acknowledgments in the humanities domain. Tian et al. ( 2021 ) analysed an acknowledgement network to estimate the influence of the acknowledged person. The acknowledgement network for the analysis was created using the WoS collection of acknowledgement texts from the field of wind energy published between 2008 and 2010. The study showed that  the acknowledged individual’s centrality positively moderates the citation count. On the opposite authors’ centrality in the collaboration network is negatively associated with the relationship between acknowledged individual’s centrality and citation count of a paper. Baccini and Petrovich ( 2021 ) studied acknowledging behaviour by analysing WoS articles from top-five journals of economics. Acknowledgements were assessed from two perspectives. According to the normative account, acknowledgements serve to recognize the contribution of other collaborators. According to the strategic account, acknowledging influential scholars increases the visibility and quality of the paper. The authors argue that both accounts “ should be conceived as partial accounts of the various motivations behind the acknowledging behaviour of researchers ” (Baccini & Petrovich, 2021 , p. 34). Their study showed the variations of acknowledgement behaviour among different fields. Rose and Georg ( 2021 ) examined informal collaborations in academic research. The authors developed a dataset containing 5000 acknowledgements from 6 high-ranking journals in economics. The dataset analysis revealed generational and gender differences in informal collaborations. The authors argue that “ information derived from networks of informal collaboration allows us to predict academic impact of both researchers and papers even better than information from co-author networks. ”

Materials and methods

Acknowledgement texts from the WoS Core Collection were used for the following analysis. As WoS contains millions of metadata records, the data chosen for the present study was restricted by year and scientific domain. Records from four different scientific domains published from 2014 to 2019 were considered: two domains from the social sciences (social sciences and economics), oceanography and computer science Footnote 7 . Four different domains were selected to analyse the interdisciplinary differences in acknowledgement behaviour. Social sciences and economics are closely associated domains, while oceanography is a branch of natural science and computer science is a broad technical scientific domain. In the MinAck project Footnote 8 , which is the context of this research, it is of interest to study the differences between closely and widely associated scientific domains. For the present study, the acknowledgments corpus was restricted to approximately 200,000 entries. Therefore, approximately 50,000 records were taken randomly from each scientific domain which resulted in the total amount of records in the acknowledgments corpus of 196,875 entries. Table  1 represents the total number of articles (research articles, reviews) in the corpus from each scientific domain restricted by these criteria.

Extraction and classification of the acknowledged entities was performed using the Flair-NLP framework (Akbik et al., 2019 ). The reason to use our own software is mainly contingent on problems with WoS funding information indexing: only information about funders is included, i.e., individuals are not indexed. Furthermore, the existing indexing of funding organizations is incomplete as Fig.  2 demonstrates. Furthermore, indexed funding organizations are not divided into different entity types like universities, corporations, etc.

An example of WoS indexing problems. Entities indexed in WoS are marked yellow and with a dotted underline. Funding agencies not indexed in WoS are marked blue and with a double underline. Individuals (also not indexed in WoS) are marked green and with a wavy underline

The choice of categories was inspired by Giles and Councill’s ( 2004 ) classification: funding agencies (FUND), corporations (COR), universities (UNI), and individuals (IND). For the present study, this classification was enhanced with the MISC (miscellaneous) and grant numbers (GRNB) categories. The GRNB category was adopted from WoS funding information indexing. The entities in the miscellaneous category could provide useful information but cannot be ascribed to other categories, e.g., names of projects and names of conferences. Fig.  3 demonstrates an example of acknowledged entities of different types.

An example of acknowledged entities. Each entity type is marked with a distinct color

The Flair Named Entity Recognition (NER) model with Flair Embeddings Footnote 9 (Akbik et al., 2018 ) was used to build a NER tagger (Smirnova & Mayr, 2022 ). The Flair Embeddings model uses stacked embeddings, i.e., a combination of contextual string embeddings with a static embeddings model [in our case GloVe (Pennington et al., 2014 )]. Contextual string embeddings is a character based contextual string embeddings method proposed by Akbik et al. ( 2018 ). This approach will generate different embeddings for the same word depending on its context. Our model was trained with a training corpus of 654 sentences extracted from the acknowledgement texts stored in WoS. Selection criteria for the training corpus were similar to the ones used for the acknowledgments corpus, i.e., records were restricted by year, scientific domain, article type, and language. The total accuracy Footnote 10 of the model is 0.77. The model is able to recognize six types of entities: FUND, GRNB, IND, COR, UNI and MISC. Some entity types (IND and GRNB) showed very good F1-Scores Footnote 11 over 0.9 Footnote 12 (Smirnova and Mayr, 2022 ).

Data disambiguation

After reviewing the first analysis of entities retrieved from the acknowledgements corpus, we realized that acknowledged entities need to be disambiguated for a more plausible analysis. Some entities have more than one writing variant as Example  1 demonstrates. Ideally these variants should be reduced to one representative.

National Science Foundation.

National Science Foundation (NSF).

The second problem that arose was that some different entities have identical abbreviations as Example  2 demonstrates.

Australia Awards Scholarship         AAS

African Academy of Sciences         AAS

Misspelling problems (Example  3 ) were existent for all entity types.

National Nature Science Foundation of China

Natural National Science Foundation of China

To solve these problems, we created a disambiguation dataset containing frequent funding organizations and universities and their abbreviations. We analysed not-disambiguated data to find as much as possible variants of one entity, as Table  2 shows.

Furthermore, all entities in the model output dataset of FUND, UNI and MISC categories were compared to the entity names (column “text” in Tabel  2 ), and abbreviations (column “abbreviation” in Table  2 ) from the disambiguation datasets using the Levenshtein distance. The Levenshtein distance is a similarity measure that shows how similar two strings are Footnote 13 . We used the Python fuzz.ratio function Footnote 14 which calculates the Levenshtein distance similarity ratio between the two strings. The disambiguation corpus containing entities from the FUND category was used for the FUND and MISC categories. Meanwhile, the disambiguation corpus containing names of universities was used for the UNI category. For entity names, entries with the fuzz.ratio value more than 93 were replaced with the unified writing variant (the column “disambiguated form” in Tabel  2 ). Thus, for entities in Example  3 , it would be “National Science Foundation (NSF)”. For abbreviations, entries with fuzz.ratio value of more than 99 were considered as different variants of one abbreviation. As in this case, only entities with different upper- and lower-case writing should have been marked as one entity. Entities, for which no matching patterns were found, remained unaltered.

The problem of various writing variants of the same entity also occurred in the COR category. In this case, a different approach was used. Tests showed that all variants of one entity could be found the most successfully using the fuzz.partial_ratio function. The partial_ratio picks the shortest string from the two compared strings and matches it with all substrings of the same lengths from the second string. All the entities labeled COR were compared to each other using fuzz.partial_ratio. Entries with a partial ratio value greater than 96 were identified as one entry. That fuzz.partial_ratio value was determined by running tests on different writing variants of different COR entities.

The problem with abbreviations that are similar for different entities was solved during the creation of the disambiguation dataset. Duplicated abbreviations were excluded from the disambiguation dataset. That way, if only the abbreviation (e.g., AAS) was in the output of the NER model (without its full name), then it would not be altered and would be placed in the original format into a disambiguated corpus.

To solve the misspelling problem, all entities were compared to each other within their entity types (e.g., FUND with FUND, MISC with MISC, etc.) using Levenshtein distance. Entities with the Levenshtein distance of more than 90 were identified as the same entity. For the IND category, entities with the Levenshtein distance equal to 100 were identified as one category; as in this case, only entities which differ only in upper- and lower-case writing variants (e.g., John Doe vs. john doe ) were considered as different writing variants of the same entity.

Additionally, the top 30 most frequent entities were manually reviewed. Entities mistakenly classified to the wrong categories were placed to the appropriate category in the whole dataset Footnote 15 . Furthermore, the IND category had some entities like Drs. or J. , which do not carry meaningful information, as Table  3 demonstrates. For that reason, individuals containing less than 4 characters (with spaces) were removed from the dataset. The same procedure was conducted with the grant numbers.

Prior to extracting data for the acknowledgement corpus, we performed a preliminary analysis of the entries stored in WoS Footnote 16 . Only articles from four scientific domains published between 2014 and 2019 in English were considered. As Fig.  4 demonstrates, not every WoS entry has an acknowledgement text. This corresponds to the findings of Paul-Hus et al. ( 2016 ). Thus, oceanography has the smallest amount of articles, but at the same time is the best covered area in terms of availability of acknowledgement texts: 75 % of all articles posses an acknowledgement text. Moreover 73 % of these articles have indexed funding information. The computer science domain includes the largest amount of entries, 42 % of which are in possession of an acknowledgment text. At the same time 84 % of these articles have an indexed funding information, which makes the computer science domain to the best covered domain in terms of funding information indexing. In both economics and social science only 28 % of all records include acknowledgement text and only 65 % of these records have indexed funding information.

Analysis of WoS entries from four scientific domains published between 2014 and 2019 (publications in English)

Acknowledgment trends

Figure  5 shows the distribution of entities of different types between scientific domains. The distribution of entities demonstrates clear differences among scientific domains. Therefore, IND is the most frequent entity type in economics, while oceanography demonstrates a highest mean number of acknowledged individuals per acknowledgement text among the highest standard deviation (as Fig.  6 A and Table  9 demonstrate), which means that the numbers of acknowledged individuals in some acknowledgement texts are significantly more or less as mean values. In general, all scientific domains (Fig.  6 ) show the highest standard deviation for the numbers of acknowledged individuals. In computer science as opposed to other disciplines the highest mean number of acknowledged entities belongs to grant numbers. Overall, all disciplines showed high dispersion of number of all acknowledged entities relating to the mean values. FUND is the most frequent in social science and oceanography, at the same time GRNB is the most frequent entity in computer science. However, social science and oceanography domains show similar frequency patterns of FUND, IND and GRNB categories: FUND is the most frequent category followed by IND and GRNB. COR is the most underrepresented category in all scientific domains. UNI and MISC have similar distributions in economics, social sciences and computer science: more entities fall into the UNI category than into the MISC category. On the other hand, oceanography shows the opposite pattern. From all scientific domains, computer science demonstrates the lowest number of acknowledged individuals and the highest number of grant numbers.

The distribution of acknowledged entities between disciplines

Mean number of acknowledged entities (with the standard deviation) per paper in different disciplines. Note: the scale of the y-axis is non-uniform due to clearness

Overall, oceanography showed the highest number of acknowledged entities, followed by economics, computer science and social sciences, as Fig.  7 A demonstrates. Oceanography and economics, and social sciences and computer science have minor differences between the numbers of acknowledged entities, while there is a bigger gap between the two pairs. As Fig.  7 B shows, FUND is the most frequent entity followed by IND, GRNB, UNI, MISC and COR. IND and GRNB are the second most frequent categories. The COR category has the lowest number of occurrences.

The general distribution of acknowledged entities categories. A represents the total amount of acknowledged entities among disciplines and B represents the general distribution of acknowledged entities

Analysis of the lengths of acknowledgement texts showed that in general in all four scientific domains an acknowledgement consists of two sentences, which comprise 38 (computer science), 39 (social sciences), 50 (economics), and 55 (oceanography) words Footnote 17 . Thus, as Fig.  8 demonstrates, the oceanography domain has in general longer acknowledgement texts with longer sentences followed by economics, social sciences and computer science.

Median number of sentences ( A ) and median number of words ( B ) in acknowledgment texts in different scientific domains

Figure  9 depicts the development of the lengths of acknowledgement texts in four scientific domains from 2014 till 2019. Changes in the number of sentences were observed for all scientific domains. Thus, in economics (Fig.  9 B) the number of sentences increased from 2 in 2014 to 3 in 2015 and then decreased to 2 again in the following years. In social sciences (Fig.  9 C), oceanography (Fig.  9 A) and computer science (Fig.  9 D) the similar pattern can be observed: the number of sentences decreased by 50% in computer science and social sciences and by 33% in oceanography starting from the year 2018. Number of words also decreased in all scientific domains. Thus, the highest percentage decrease of 22% showed social sciences, followed by economics (19%) and oceanography (12%). The lowest value of decrease of 10% is in the computer science domain. The highest range in the median number of words was observed in economics and social sciences in 2014. The smallest amount of variations showed computer science. In general, from 2014 to 2019 the value range decreased in all disciplines.

Development of the lengths of the acknowledgement texts from four scientific domains in 5 years (2014–2019). The figure shows median and 95% confidence interval for each unit

Figures  10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , and 16 demonstrate the top 30 acknowledged entities of different types except GRNB. Some interesting trends can be observed as described further below.

Figure  10 shows the top 30 most frequent entities that fall under the FUND category. All scientific domains, except social sciences, have similar top first funding organizations: the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), whereas the top first funding organization in social sciences is the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) is the second most frequent funding organization in all disciplines, except computer science, which second most frequent funding organization is Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) took the third place. Mainly, the major funders such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Institutes of Health, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), etc. can be found in the top 30 funding organizations list.

Top 30 acknowledged entities which fall into the FUND (funding organization) category. A represents entities from oceanography, B from economics, C from social science, and D from computer science

Figure  11 shows the top 30 most frequent entities which fall into the UNI category. The Academy of Finland is the first top university in social sciences and computer science. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is in the second position for oceanography and in the third position in computer science. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is in the top position in economics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in oceanography.

Top 30 acknowledged entities which fall into the UNI (universities) category. A represents entities from oceanography, B from economics, C from social science, and D from computer science

Figure  12 depicts the top 30 most frequent entities which fall into the COR category and entities from this category tend to be scientific domain specific. Thus, the top two most frequent corporations in computer science (NVIDIA Corporation and Google) are companies from the software and computing field. The top first and third entities in oceanography (Petrobras and Shell) are companies from the petroleum industries. Pfizer (a pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation) made the top third in economics, computer science and social sciences. The top second in social sciences and the top third in economics is Novartis, a pharmaceutical company. The World Bank is the most frequent entity in economics and social sciences. The top third for social sciences is Merck & Co., Inc, which is also a pharmaceutical corporation.

Top 30 acknowledged entities which fall into the COR (corporation) category. A represents entities from oceanography, B from economics, C from social science, and D from computer science

Overall, the distribution of acknowledged entities in oceanography, economics and computer science has the following pattern: the top first most frequent entity has the greatest number of occurrences, other entities starting from the top second occur massively less frequently. On the other hand, the distribution of entities in social sciences is more uniform. That distribution pattern can be observed (more or less defined) almost for all entity types in all scientific domains and correspond with the Giles and Councill’s ( 2004 ) findings and follows a power law, which postulates that “ few entities are named very frequently and a great many entities are named only rarely ” (Giles & Councill, 2004 , p.17601). Nevertheless, it was observed that some entities do not follow the power law mentioned above. This applies to the entities of UNI category from economics domain (Fig.  11 B) and IND category from computer science domain (Fig.  15 D).

Relationships between analysed variables

A Chi-square test of independence was conducted to examine the relationship between an entity, entity type and scientific domain. As Table  4 demonstrates, the relation between these variables was significant. The P-value of all pairs of examined variables tend toward zero.

However, a weak association in a large sample size may also result in a very low P value Footnote 18 . To assess the strengths of association between an acknowledged entity, entity type and a scientific domain the Cramer’s V test was conducted. The results of the analysis are represented in Fig.  13 . Analysis was performed on the disambiguated data (see Section  3 ). Table  5 demonstrates the degrees of freedom for the analyzed variable pairs.

A large association indicates that by knowing the value of one category, the value of a second related category can be predicted. No association, on the other hand, indicates that the categories are not related. As expected, there is a large association between the acknowledged entity and the entity type (the Cramer’s V is equal to 0.98). The variable pair entity type and scientific domain showed a small association of 0.18. Furthermore, a large association between the entity and scientific domain was discovered (0.85). Thus, a precise acknowledged entity would, with high probability, have a precise label and would belong to the precise scientific domain.

Distribution of the Cramer’s V values between scientific domains, entity types and acknowledged entities

Relationships between different numerical variables (number of citations, number of acknowledged entities, number of words and number of sentences in the acknowledgement texts) were examined with the use of the Pearson correlation coefficient (Pearson’s R) Footnote 19 . As Fig.  14 demonstrates, no correlation between number of citations and number of acknowledged entities was found: values of the Pearson’s R for all variable pairs is under 0.1. Furthermore no correlation was found between the number of citations and number of words and sentences in the acknowledgement text.

High correlation was observed between number of words and number of acknowledged funding organizations (0.5), individuals (0.6), universities (0.5) and miscellaneous entities (0.6). The number of sentences showed a high correlation with the number of acknowledged individuals (0.5) and miscellaneous entities (0.5) and a moderate correlation with the number of acknowledged funding organizations (0.3) and universities (0.3). Clearly, the number of sentences in the acknowledgement text is highly correlated with the number of words (0.8).

Additionally, a high correlation (0.6) was discovered between the number of grant numbers and number of acknowledges funding organizations. A moderate correlation of 0.4 was observed between the number of acknowledged universities and the number of individuals and miscellaneous entities along with between the number of acknowledged individuals and miscellaneous entities.

Correlation between number of citations of the article, number of acknowledged entities of different types, number of sentences and number of words in the acknowledgement text

The ANOVA test was performed on the analysed variables. The P value is very low (0.000), which means that the results are statistically significant.

As we expected, the relations between entity types and scientific domains were found. A strong association was found between acknowledged entity and scientific domain, and acknowledged entity and entity type, as we anticipated. Nevertheless, an association between scientific domain and entity type was minor. Furthermore, social sciences was expected to have the highest number of acknowledged individuals [as in Paul-Hus et al. ( 2017 )] and economics [as in Diaz-Faes and Bordons ( 2017 )], the results partly coincided with our expectation: our analysis showed that individuals were most acknowledged in economics. Social sciences and computer science in general showed a smaller number of acknowledged entities than economics and oceanography. This can possibly be explained by the fact that the acknowledgement corpus generally contains fewer acknowledgements from these two scientific domains than from economics and oceanography (Table  1 ).

The prevalence of the FUND category is not surprising as WoS stores only acknowledgements containing funding information. Unexpectedly, the IND category was the second most frequent category: GRNB was expected to be one of the most frequent categories. Interesting trends were observed in the COR category. The most research in social sciences and economic domains is funded by pharmaceutical corporations and banks, while the top corporations acknowledged in the oceanography domain come from the petroleum industry. The top corporations in computer science are in the software and computing field.

Generally, the number of words in the acknowledgement texts positively correlates with the number of acknowledged funding organizations, universities, individuals and miscellaneous entities. At the same time, acknowledgement texts with the larger number of sentences have more acknowledged individuals and miscellaneous categories. Correlations between frequencies of entities of different types were found. Thus, acknowledgement texts with more acknowledged funding organizations would posses more grant numbers. Acknowledgements with more acknowledged individuals will have more acknowledged universities and miscellaneous entities and vice versa.

Our analysis revealed that oceanography in general have the longest acknowledgement texts, while computer sciences domain the shortest ones. Generally number of words in an acknowledgement text decreased from 2014 to 2015 in all scientific domains.

Giles and Councill’s ( 2004 ) analysed the correlations between the number of acknowledgements received by an individual and that individual’s h-index. H-index is an index used to assess an individual’s scientific research output (Hirsch, 2005 ). Giles & Councill ( 2004 ) used computer science research papers from the CiteSeer digital library as a data source. We tried to replicate the Giles and Councill’s ( 2004 ) study, but faced difficulties in referencing an acknowledged individual name and a real person Footnote 20 . To solve this problem additional disambiguation techniques should be developed. Many acknowledgement texts contain name of a person together with the person’s institutional affiliation (usually names of universities or corporations), therefore it is possible to identify the acknowledged person through the name of person’s affiliation. The Flair framework additionally provides the position of the acknowledged entity in the text (i.e. index range of the characters). Thus, an acknowledged university or corporation, which is in the close index range with the acknowledged individual would highly likely be the the person’s institutional affiliation.

Additionally, we would propose to include an ORCID of the acknowledged individual while writing an acknowledgement text, to make the identification procedure easier.

The analysis of the automatically extracted entities revealed differences and distinct patterns in the distribution of acknowledged entities of different types between different scientific domains. The extracted funding information poses various possibilities and challenges for further research. Thus, grant numbers, funding organizations and corporations might give an insight on the impact of funding sponsorship on scientific research. Names of individuals might assess one’s scholarly performance, and the miscellaneous category might reveal other non-sponsorship variables that might influence academic research.

One of the future research aims might be the analysis of correlations between the acknowledged entities and such characteristics as journal impact, other scientific domains, researcher’s productivity and impact. Furthermore, some funding organizations might find the extracted acknowledgements information useful in order to track if funding recipients acknowledge funding in their publications. The disambiguation of acknowledged entities poses further interesting challenges, since in the present paper only a superficial disambiguation of the data was conducted which was necessary for the analysis and visualization of the results.

The main limitation of our study was the peculiarities of the WoS funding information indexing. The WoS includes only acknowledgements containing funding information; therefore, not every database entry has an acknowledgement. That can explain the prevalence of the funding agencies over other types of entities.

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The model can be tested via an online demo https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1Wz4ae5c65VDWanY3Vo-fj__bFjn-loL4?usp=sharing .

In our case accuracy computes as average of F1 scores of each entity type ( https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/generated/sklearn.metrics.f1_score.html ).

Precision, Recall, and F1-Score are metrics to evaluate the model’s accuracy. Precision calculates the percentage of items that the model marked as positive that are actually positive, i.e., the percentage of labels assigned by the model that matches the gold standard. The gold standard consists of a set of human annotations. Recall measures how many items that should have been marked as positive were actually marked as positive. The F1-Score is “ a weighted harmonic mean of precision and recall ” ( https://web.stanford.edu/~jurafsky/slp3/4.pdf ).

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• Acknowledgements

This work was funded by German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) via the project “Mining Acknowledgement Texts in Web of Science (MinAck)” https://kalawinka.github.io/minack/ . Nina Smirnova acknowledges support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under grant number MA 3964/7-2, the Fachinformationsdienst Politikwissenschaft-Pollux. Access to the WoS data was granted via the Competence Centre for Bibliometrics https://www.bibliometrie.info/en/index.php?id=home . Data access was funded by BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany) under grant number 01PQ17001.

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Appendix 1: List of WoS disciplines used for the present paper

Appendix 2: top 30 acknowledged individuals and miscellaneous entities.

See Figs. 15 , 16 .

Top 30 acknowledged entities which fall into the IND (person) category. A represents entities from oceanography, B from economics, C from social science, and D from computer science

Top 30 acknowledged entities which fall into the MISC (miscellaneous) category. A represents entities from oceanography, B from economics, C from social science, and D from computer science

Appendix 3: Mean number of acknowledged entities per paper in different disciplines including standard deviation

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Smirnova, N., Mayr, P. A comprehensive analysis of acknowledgement texts in Web of Science: a case study on four scientific domains. Scientometrics 128 , 709–734 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-022-04554-9

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University: IOWA STATE University Author: Full Thesis Sample: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8730&context=etd

Acknowledgement Samples for Thesis – Sample 13

University: IOWA STATE University Author: Jenna Mertz Full Thesis Sample: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8273&context=etd

Acknowledgement for Thesis – Sample 14

University: Nottingham University Author: Jean D. M. Underwood. Full Thesis Sample: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11711/1/325961.pdf

Acknowledgement Samples – Sample 15

University: The University of Western Ontario Author: Katie Hart Full Thesis Sample: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9356&context=etd

Acknowledgement Samples for Thesis – Sample 16

University: Author: Sristi Karmacharya Full Thesis Sample: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/15029/1/FulltextThesis.pdf%20

Thesis Acknowledgement Samples – Sample 17

University: Brunel Business School Brunel University Author: Kinana Ahmad Jammoul Full Thesis Sample: http://107.170.122.150:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/95/Shristi%20Karmacharya%20Thesis%209881.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

You can take inspiration from these acknowledgement samples to write your own acknowledgement for your project. All these acknowledgement samples are taken from publicly available documents and you can use these as a sample to take inspiration for your project acknowledgement.

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Jump into these quick guides to write a strong thesis statement in no time. We have included tons of good (and bad) examples to show you how to do it right. A simple formula is included in each article to help you create your strong thesis statement with suggested wordings.

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6 thoughts on “15+ Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation”

Thank you for creating this. It help us a lot, specially students.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT

Thank you for sharing. Quite helpful.

A profpund geatitude for your sample research acknowledfement! It is of great help in the success of my thesis study. God bless!

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