The principles of pragmatics are not applicable in everyday conversations alone, but in dissertation writing as well. In fact, applying pragmatic theories can go a long way in improving the quality of the paper and making it easier for the audience to comprehend. Among its many theories, Grice’s Cooperative Principle stands at the forefront of useful guidelines in writing dissertations.
 
A British philosopher of language, Paul Grice came up with the following conversational maxims of discourse :

The Maxim of Quality
In dissertation writing, it is the maxim of quality that will give the study its credence.  This cooperative principle is all about the pursuit of truth. Graduate students should never write anything in their research that they believe is false. This means that there is no room for manipulation just so the researcher can prove that the hypothesis is true. To apply this maxim to the dissertation is to ensure that the study will include all the findings even though it would run counter to the student’s theories. The maxim of quality also states that the researcher should not argue for something that is lacking in evidence. The graduate student should make no claims, especially if no sufficient data or evidence will prove it authentic. These two concrete actions should be the ruling guidelines of researchers when working on their dissertations and their study will be highly credible.

The Maxim of Quantity
Whereas the maxim of quality lobbies for veracity, the maxim of quantity revolves around the pursuit for information. Thus, graduate students should bear in mind that when they discuss a concept or a theory in their dissertation, they should make it as informative as necessary. The amount of discussion for each concept is directly proportional to its significance on the study and its level of difficulty. Never gloss over a topic, which entails a thorough discussion. In the same way, never waste the reader’s time in discussing trivial matters.

The Maxim of Relevance
To sustain the maxim of quantity, the maxim of relevance underscores the significance of information. Applying this maxim in dissertation means that the researcher will state or discuss only the ideas and issues related to the topic. If the concept is immaterial to the study, there is no need to mention it as this will simply lead to the flouting of the maxims of relevance and quantity.

The Maxim of Manner
Grice’s Maxim of Manner puts clarity as one of the topmost criteria that students should consider when writing their dissertation. In the professors’ language, this means “eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation” meaning “avoid ambiguity, adopt clarity.”
In its simplest sense, this principle discourages the researcher in being roundabout in the dissertation or in stating vague claims or arguments. The core of a good study is if lay people are able to understand what the research is all about and if they are able to apply the concepts and theories in their everyday lives.
 
The maxim of manner also promotes brevity. Thus, if the researcher can state something with fewer words, do so.  Trying to stack up on word count can only cause them trouble, as this can be a pitfall for run on sentences and comma splices. Therefore, be concise and succinct.
Lastly, the maxim of manner espouses order.  Students ought to present their dissertations, or any other study for that matter, in a logical manner. The organization of the paper says a lot about the writer’s thought process. Hence, be sure to present the ideas and arguments in a rational and coherent manner. Use transitions to stitch the study together. These devices will make the paper seem to flow like one.