How to write appendices in a nursing dissertation becomes much easier once you understand their purpose. An appendix is not an extra chapter, and it should not contain important analysis that was left out simply because of the word limit. Instead, appendices provide supporting material that helps the reader check, understand or reproduce parts of your research without interrupting the flow of the main dissertation.
For nursing students, appendix material may include questionnaires, interview schedules, participant information sheets, consent forms, ethics documents, SPSS output, full database search strategies, evidence-extraction tables and critical-appraisal checklists. However, the material you include should always reflect your research design and your university’s requirements.
This guide explains what belongs in a nursing dissertation appendix, how to label and order appendices, how to refer to them in the main text, where appendices should appear, and how to avoid common formatting mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Use appendices for supporting evidence rather than essential arguments.
- Label every appendix clearly and refer to it in the main dissertation.
- Order appendices logically, usually according to the sequence in which they are first mentioned.
- Include only material that is relevant to your research.
- Quantitative dissertations may include supplementary SPSS output.
- Systematic reviews may include full search strategies, appraisal tools and extended evidence tables.
- Primary research projects may include data-collection and ethics documents where appropriate.
- Never assume appendices are excluded from the word count; check your own university guidance.
What Is an Appendix in a Nursing Dissertation?
An appendix is a section placed near the end of a dissertation for supporting material that is too detailed, lengthy or disruptive to include within the main chapters.
Appendices may contain materials such as interview questions, questionnaires, raw data and detailed research protocols (University of Sheffield, n.d.).
However, the main dissertation should still make sense without the reader having to examine every appendix. The University of Sheffield (n.d.) advises that information essential to understanding the work should remain in the main body.
Therefore, this distinction is important.
For example, if you perform statistical analysis using SPSS, the results chapter should still present the statistics needed to answer your research questions. You might then place more detailed SPSS output in an appendix.
Similarly, a nursing systematic review should explain the search strategy, databases, inclusion criteria and study-selection process in the methodology chapter. The complete database-specific search strings can then be placed in an appendix.
If you are still organising the overall dissertation, read our Nursing Dissertation Structure Guide before deciding what belongs in your appendices.
Appendix Versus Appendices: What Is the Difference?
The difference is simply grammatical.
Appendix is singular. Use it when your dissertation contains only one appendix.
Appendices is plural. Use it when you have two or more.
For example, four appendices could be organised as follows:
| Label | Material |
|---|---|
| Appendix A | Questionnaire |
| Appendix B | Participant Information Sheet |
| Appendix C | Consent Form |
| Appendix D | SPSS Output |
Therefore, if your dissertation contains several appendices, use one consistent labelling system.
Avoid mixing styles such as Appendix A, Appendix 2 and Appendix III unless your university specifically requires that format.
Where Do Appendices Go in a Nursing Dissertation?
Appendices normally appear near the end of the dissertation.
For example, a common order is:
- Main dissertation chapters
- Conclusion
- Reference list
- First appendix (Appendix A)
- Second appendix (Appendix B)
- Additional appendices (Appendix C, and so forth)
The University of Sheffield (n.d.) states that appendices are normally located at the end of academic work and should be clearly labelled and referred to from the main text.
However, universities may use slightly different formatting conventions.
Therefore, always check your:
- dissertation handbook;
- module assessment brief;
- university formatting guide; or
- supervisor’s instructions.
In addition, where required, appendices should also appear in the table of contents.
What Should Go in the Appendices of a Nursing Dissertation?
The contents of your appendices depend heavily on the type of nursing dissertation you are completing.
For example, a quantitative study, qualitative project and systematic review will generate different supporting materials.
| Research material | Possible appendix item | What should remain in the main dissertation? |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Full questionnaire or survey instrument | Why it was selected, how it was administered and how variables were measured |
| Interview research | Interview schedule or topic guide | Sampling, data collection and analytical approach |
| SPSS analysis | Relevant or complete output where required | Key statistical results and interpretation |
| Systematic review | Full search strategies and extended evidence tables | Search rationale, study selection and synthesis |
| Critical appraisal | Completed CASP or other appraisal checklists | Important strengths, limitations and implications for evidence quality |
| Ethics | Approval letter, participant information sheet or blank consent form | Ethical principles, consent procedures and safeguards |
| Qualitative research | Selected supporting materials where permitted | Themes, quotations and analytical interpretation |
The important principle is that appendices should support the dissertation rather than replace the dissertation.
Should SPSS Output Be Included in a Nursing Dissertation Appendix?
For example, SPSS output is one of the most common materials included in quantitative nursing dissertation appendices.
Some universities specifically allow full statistical output to appear in appendices. University of Manchester public-health dissertation guidance, for example, identifies complete data-analysis output such as SPSS or Stata output as suitable appendix material (University of Manchester, 2022).
However, this does not mean that all statistical results should be removed from the main dissertation.
Therefore, your examiner should not have to search through numerous SPSS output tables to determine whether your research question was answered.
A better approach is to:
- Present the important statistics in the results chapter.
- Create clear dissertation tables for essential findings where appropriate.
- Explain what the statistical tests show.
- Refer to supplementary SPSS output in the appendix.
- Include only output relevant to the analysis you actually report.
In addition, IBM documentation confirms that SPSS Viewer output can be exported into formats including Word, Excel and PDF (IBM, n.d.). This can make it easier to organise statistical output before adding it to your dissertation.
Nevertheless, your university’s required format should take priority over the default SPSS appearance.
If you are unsure which statistical information belongs in your methodology or results chapter, see our Nursing Dissertation Methodology Guide.
How to Include Questionnaires in the Appendices
If your nursing dissertation uses a questionnaire or survey, the complete questionnaire can often be placed in an appendix.
As a result, this allows the reader to see exactly what participants were asked.
For example:
Appendix A: Participant Questionnaire
The methodology chapter should still explain:
- where the questionnaire came from;
- whether it was validated;
- whether you adapted it;
- distribution method used;
- how responses were recorded; and
- approach used to analyse the resulting data.
Therefore, the appendix provides the actual instrument.
It does not replace the methodology.
The University of Sheffield (n.d.) includes sample questionnaires among the types of supplementary information that may be suitable for appendices.
How to Include Interview Schedules
For qualitative nursing dissertations, an interview schedule or topic guide may be included in an appendix.
For example:
Appendix B: Semi-Structured Interview Guide
The appendix might show:
- introductory questions;
- main interview questions;
- possible prompts; and
- closing questions.
However, your methodology chapter should still explain why semi-structured interviews were appropriate and how the interviews were conducted.
You do not automatically need to include complete interview transcripts.
However, full transcripts can be extremely long and may contain confidential information. Their inclusion should depend on university requirements, ethical approval and the data-management procedures used in the project.
How to Include Consent Forms and Ethics Documents
Similarly, primary nursing research may produce several ethics-related documents.
Depending on institutional requirements, these may include:
- participant information sheets;
- blank consent forms;
- recruitment materials;
- ethics approval letters;
- debrief documents; and
- organisational permission documents.
Consequently, these documents may be useful in the appendices because they demonstrate how ethical procedures were implemented.
However, be careful with confidential information.
In particular, do not include unnecessary:
- participant names;
- signatures;
- email addresses;
- telephone numbers;
- patient identifiers; or
- confidential organisational information.
Where appropriate, use blank or properly redacted versions.
The methodology chapter should still explain issues such as:
- informed consent;
- confidentiality;
- anonymity;
- withdrawal;
- data protection; and
- secure data storage.
An ethics appendix does not replace ethical discussion.
What Belongs in Systematic Review Appendices?
In addition, nursing systematic reviews often generate substantial supporting material.
Appendices can help demonstrate methodological transparency without overcrowding the methodology and findings chapters.
Possible systematic-review appendix materials include:
- complete database search strategies;
- search dates;
- database-specific syntax;
- screening forms;
- eligibility forms;
- data-extraction templates;
- extended study-characteristics tables;
- completed critical-appraisal checklists; and
- supplementary evidence tables.
For example, PRISMA 2020 provides reporting guidance and flow-diagram templates for systematic reviews (Page et al., 2021).
PRISMA-S provides further guidance for reporting literature searches in systematic reviews (Rethlefsen et al., 2021).
Therefore, your appendices can be particularly useful for demonstrating how your search and evidence-selection process was conducted.
For more detail on developing searches, see our How to Develop a Systematic Review Search Strategy guide.
Should the Full Search Strategy Go in the Appendix?
For example, in many nursing systematic reviews, the full search strategy is suitable appendix material.
For instance, the methodology chapter might include a representative search such as:
“nurse-led education” AND “type 2 diabetes” AND “self-management”
However, a complete search strategy can be much longer.
For example, the actual database search could include:
- subject headings;
- MeSH terms;
- CINAHL headings;
- synonyms;
- truncation;
- Boolean operators;
- field searching; and
- database-specific syntax.
However, putting every line of a lengthy search strategy into the methodology chapter can reduce readability.
Instead, you might write:
The complete CINAHL search strategy is provided in Appendix A.
Then include the complete strategy in the appendix.
Should the PRISMA Flow Diagram Go in the Appendix?
Importantly, in most systematic-review dissertations, the primary PRISMA flow diagram is important enough to remain in the main dissertation.
It shows the reader how records moved through:
- identification;
- screening;
- eligibility assessment; and
- final inclusion.
PRISMA 2020 uses the flow diagram to document the movement of records through the review-selection process (Page et al., 2021).
Therefore, hiding the main flow diagram in an appendix may make the methodology harder to understand.
However, supplementary screening records or very detailed exclusion tables could be included in appendices if required.
Your university guidance should determine the final placement.
Should Critical-Appraisal Checklists Go in the Appendix?
For example, completed critical-appraisal tools can be suitable appendix material.
For example, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme provides checklists for several research designs, including:
- qualitative research;
- cohort studies;
- randomised controlled trials;
- case-control studies; and
- systematic reviews.
(Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, n.d.)
You could therefore include completed appraisal records in an appendix.
However, simply attaching completed CASP checklists does not demonstrate critical thinking.
Your main dissertation should still discuss significant issues such as:
- selection bias;
- sample limitations;
- measurement validity;
- confounding;
- methodological weaknesses;
- transferability; and
- overall confidence in the evidence.
Therefore, the appendix provides the detailed appraisal record supporting that discussion.
How to Include Evidence Tables
Similarly, evidence tables can become very large, particularly in systematic reviews.
For example, an evidence table might include:
- author and year;
- country;
- study design;
- sample;
- intervention;
- comparator;
- outcomes;
- findings;
- limitations; and
- appraisal score or judgement.
Therefore, you may summarise the most important study characteristics in the main dissertation while placing an extended evidence table in the appendix.
However, do not move all evidence synthesis into the appendix.
The findings and discussion chapters still need to explain what the included studies collectively show.
How to Label Appendices Correctly
Use a clear and consistent system.
For example, you could use the following labels:
| Label | Contents |
|---|---|
| Appendix A | CINAHL Search Strategy |
| Appendix B | MEDLINE Search Strategy |
| Appendix C | Data Extraction Form |
| Appendix D | CASP Appraisal Tables |
The University of Sheffield (n.d.) recommends using numerical or alphabetical ordering and ensuring headings correspond with references made in the main text.
If you use letters, continue using letters throughout.
If you use numbers, continue using numbers throughout.
Do not change systems halfway through the dissertation.
How to Order Appendices
As a result, the clearest approach is usually to order appendices according to the point at which they are first referred to in the dissertation.
For example:
In the methodology chapter, you first mention your questionnaire.
Therefore:
Appendix A: Questionnaire
Later you mention your participant information sheet.
Therefore:
Appendix B: Participant Information Sheet
You then discuss consent.
Therefore:
Appendix C: Consent Form
This makes it easier for the examiner to move between the main text and supporting documents.
How to Refer to Appendices Within the Dissertation
Importantly, every appendix should have a clear purpose.
Therefore, refer to it at the relevant point in the dissertation.
The University of Sheffield (n.d.) recommends signposting appendices from the body of the work.
For example:
The complete CINAHL search strategy is provided in Appendix A.
Or:
Participants completed a 20-item questionnaire measuring demographic characteristics, clinical experience and confidence in medication administration (see Appendix B).
Another example might be:
Supplementary SPSS normality testing is presented in Appendix C.
Avoid writing only:
See appendix.
If your dissertation contains several appendices, identify the exact one.
Do Appendices Count Towards the Dissertation Word Limit?
There is no universal rule.
Some universities exclude appendices from the dissertation word count.
For example, Leeds University Business School explicitly excludes appendices from its dissertation word count (University of Leeds, n.d.).
University of Manchester programme guidance also provides examples in which appendices are excluded from the word count (University of Manchester, 2022).
However, you should not assume your nursing programme uses the same rules.
Different:
- universities;
- faculties;
- programmes;
- modules; and
- assessments
may use different word-count policies.
Before submitting your dissertation, check:
- Your module handbook
- Your dissertation assessment brief
- Programme-specific guidance
- University formatting regulations
- Supervisor guidance if clarification is required
Most importantly, do not move important discussion into appendices simply to reduce your dissertation word count.
Leeds University Business School specifically warns against using appendices for substantive material that should form part of the main argument (University of Leeds, n.d.).
Worked Example of Nursing Dissertation Appendices
Imagine you are completing a systematic review examining:
The effectiveness of nurse-led education for improving self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes.
For example, a possible appendix structure could be:
| Appendix | Contents | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix A | CINAHL search strategy | Shows exact search terms, headings and Boolean operators |
| Appendix B | MEDLINE search strategy | Demonstrates how the search was adapted across databases |
| Appendix C | Eligibility screening form | Shows how inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied |
| Appendix D | Data extraction template | Shows which data were extracted from included studies |
| Appendix E | Critical appraisal record | Supports quality assessment reported in the review |
| Appendix F | Extended evidence table | Provides detailed characteristics of included studies |
The methodology chapter should still explain and justify each of these procedures.
The appendices provide the supporting record.
Example of Appendices for a Quantitative Nursing Dissertation
Suppose your dissertation examines:
The relationship between nursing students’ clinical-placement experience and medication-administration confidence.
For example, your appendices might include:
| Label | Material |
|---|---|
| Appendix A | Participant Questionnaire |
| Appendix B | Participant Information Sheet |
| Appendix C | Consent Form |
| Appendix D | Ethics Approval |
| Appendix E | SPSS Descriptive Statistics |
| Appendix F | SPSS Correlation Output |
| Appendix G | SPSS Regression Output |
Your results chapter would still report the important findings.
For example:
Clinical-placement experience was positively associated with medication-administration confidence.
You would then provide the relevant test statistic, confidence interval and p-value in the main results chapter.
The complete SPSS output could be placed in Appendix F.
Common Mistakes When Writing Nursing Dissertation Appendices
1. Moving Important Analysis Out of the Main Dissertation
If a result is necessary to answer your research question, it belongs in the main dissertation.
Do not expect the examiner to find your argument by searching through an appendix.
2. Including Appendices That Are Never Mentioned
Therefore, every appendix should relate directly to something discussed in the dissertation.
An appendix containing documents that are never referred to can appear unnecessary.
3. Including Every SPSS Table
However, more output does not necessarily improve a dissertation.
Avoid adding dozens of irrelevant SPSS tables simply because the software generated them.
Include output relevant to the analysis you actually conducted and reported.
4. Using Inconsistent Labels
Do not write:
- Appendix A in the contents page;
- Appendix 1 in the methodology; and
- Annex A at the end.
Use one naming system consistently.
5. Assuming Appendices Never Count Towards the Word Limit
Word-count rules differ.
Always check the instructions for your specific dissertation.
6. Including Confidential Participant Information
Never expose information that should remain confidential.
This is particularly important in nursing research involving patients, healthcare professionals or clinical organisations.
7. Using Appendices as a Place for Deleted Paragraphs
An appendix should not become a storage area for material removed from the main dissertation to satisfy the word count.
Instead, supporting evidence belongs there.
Essential discussion does not.
8. Including Material Without Explaining Its Relevance
If you include a search strategy, questionnaire or statistical output, explain its role in the main dissertation.
Readers should understand why the appendix exists.
Final Checklist for Nursing Dissertation Appendices
Finally, before submitting your dissertation, ask yourself:
- Does every appendix support something discussed in the dissertation?
- Can the dissertation still be understood without reading the appendices?
- Have I referred to every appendix in the main text?
- Are the appendices ordered logically?
- Does each appendix have a clear title?
- Are the labels consistent with the table of contents?
- Have I included only relevant SPSS output?
- Have I included complete search strategies where required?
- Are appraisal documents relevant and clearly labelled?
- Are confidential or identifying details removed?
- Did I check whether appendices count towards my word limit?
- Am I following my university’s formatting requirements?
If the answer to each question is yes, your appendices are likely to be well organised and useful to the reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many appendices should a nursing dissertation have?
There is no ideal number.
Include only the appendices needed to support your research.
A dissertation using one questionnaire might require only a small number of appendices, whereas a systematic review may need several.
Can I put SPSS output in the appendix?
Yes, where your university permits it.
Important results and interpretations should still appear in the results chapter. The appendix can contain supplementary or complete SPSS output where required.
Do I put questionnaires in the appendix?
Usually, a full questionnaire can be included where relevant and permitted.
The methodology chapter should still explain why the questionnaire was chosen, how it was administered and how the resulting data were analysed.
Should interview questions go in the appendix?
They can.
A semi-structured interview schedule or topic guide is often appropriate supporting material for an appendix.
Should consent forms be included in appendices?
They may be included where required.
Use blank or appropriately redacted versions rather than documents containing unnecessary participant identifiers or signatures.
Do references come before or after appendices?
References commonly appear before appendices.
However, follow the exact sequence specified by your university.
Does each appendix start on a new page?
Starting each appendix on a new page is a clear and commonly used approach.
Nevertheless, dissertation formatting requirements differ, so check your university template.
Does the PRISMA diagram belong in an appendix?
Usually, the main PRISMA flow diagram should remain in the dissertation because it is important for understanding study selection.
Supporting screening information may be placed in appendices where appropriate.
Should I include CASP checklists in the appendix?
Completed critical-appraisal checklists can be included, particularly when they support quality assessments discussed in the main dissertation.
However, your critical analysis must still appear in the main text.
Related Nursing Guides
- How to Write Recommendations in a Nursing Dissertation: Examples and Structure
- Nursing Dissertation Abstract: Structure, Example and Checklist
- Nursing Dissertation Chapter 2 Structure: Literature Review Checklist
Conclusion
Knowing how to write appendices in a nursing dissertation is mainly about deciding what the reader needs in the main argument and what can sit behind it as supporting evidence.
Keep essential research methods, findings, analysis and interpretation within the main dissertation. Then use clearly labelled appendices for relevant supporting material such as questionnaires, interview schedules, SPSS output, full database search strategies, evidence-extraction tables, critical-appraisal records and ethics documents.
Most importantly, your dissertation should remain understandable without relying on material hidden in the appendices.
Finally, check your university’s dissertation handbook before submission because appendix formatting, placement and word-count requirements can vary between institutions and programmes.
References
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (n.d.) CASP Checklists. Available at: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/ (Accessed: 24 August 2026).
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Page, M.J., McKenzie, J.E., Bossuyt, P.M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T.C., Mulrow, C.D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J.M., Akl, E.A., Brennan, S.E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J.M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M.M., Li, T., Loder, E.W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinness, L.A., Stewart, L.A., Thomas, J., Tricco, A.C., Welch, V.A., Whiting, P. and Moher, D. (2021) ‘The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews’, BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71.
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University of Leeds (n.d.) Dissertation Format Regulations. Leeds University Business School. Available at: https://students.business.leeds.ac.uk/assessment/dissertations-and-projects/regulations-on-dissertation-format/ (Accessed: 24 August 2026).
University of Manchester (2022) Programmes in Public Health and Primary Care Dissertation Handbook 2022–23. Manchester: University of Manchester.
University of Sheffield (n.d.) How to Format Your Work. StudySkills@Sheffield. Available at: https://sheffield.ac.uk/study-skills/writing/reference-proof/format (Accessed: 24 August 2026).
