tips on thesis research and writing

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Tips on Thesis Research and Writing

Dr. Don JengIIMBA, NCKU

What Is a Thesis?An argumentAn exposition of an original piece of researchThe product of an apprenticeshipProbably the largest (most self-indulgent) piece of work you’ll ever doSomething that could be published

A thesis must form a distinctive contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality shown by the discovery of new facts and/or by the exercise of independent critical power

2 Dr. Jeng, IIMBA, NCKU

2008/11/30

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How Do I Get Started?Do it today (never tomorrow!)

Decide your titleW it titl Write your title pageLiterature reviewStart a binderLook at some theses in your areaPlan your argument…

You can change things later But you can’t change it unless you have something to change!


Steps in Constructing a ThesisFirst, analyze your primary sources

Look for tension, interest, ambiguity, controversy, and/or complicationThe statement author madeIs a point made and later reversed?How does author prove the statement? The research method, date collection, date analysis?

Once you have a working thesis, write it downThere is nothing as frustrating as hitting on a great idea for a thesis, then forgetting it when you lose concentration. g g yBy writing down your thesis, you will be forced to think of it clearly, logically, and concisely. You probably will not be able to write out a final-draft version of your thesis the first time you try, but you'll get yourself on the right track by writing down what you have.


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Steps in Constructing a Thesis (Continue)Keep your thesis prominent in your introduction

A good, standard place for your thesis statement is at the end of an introductory paragraphy p g pReaders are used to finding theses there, so they automatically pay more attention when they read the last sentence of your introduction

Anticipate the counter-argumentsOnce you have a working thesis, you should think about what might be said against it. This will help you to refine your thesis, and it will also make you think of the arguments that you'll and it will also make you think of the arguments that you ll need to refute later on in your essay.Note every argument has a counter-argument. If yours doesn't, then it's not an argument—it may be a fact, or an opinion, but it is not an argument.


Plan Your Argument

One sentence for each Example

Introduction(area of study)

The problem(that I tackle)

What the literature saysabout this problem

How I tackle this problemp

How I implement my solution

The result


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Plan Your Argument: ExampleOne sentence for each Example

Introduction( f t d )

“The success of a software development project depends on capturing stakeholders’ needs in a specification ”(area of study) capturing stakeholders needs in a specification ...


“However, specifications often reflect the analyst’s own bias, rather than the inputs of the many different stakeholders…”


“Current methods described in the literature fail to address identification and integration of multiple views.”

How I tackle this problem“By treating the specification activity as a dialogue between stakeholders, we can model each perspective separately.”


“We provide a set of tools for exploring disagreement between perspectives, and use these tools as the basis for a computer supported negotiation process.”

The result“This approach is shown to significantly improve traceability and validity of specifications and overall stakeholder satisfaction.”


Plan Your Argument: Another ExampleOne sentence for each Example

Introduction( f t d )

“A Master degree is examined by submission of a thesis...”(area of study)


“Many students fail to complete their theses within theregulation two years…”


“Empirical studies indicate that late submission is highlycorrelated with delaying the start of the write-up…”

How I tackle this problem“A model of Master study that encourages an early start tothe thesis writing task is clearly desirable…”


“Such a model encourages the student to plan a structurefor the thesis and collect material for each chapterthroughout their study…”

The result“Application of this model dramatically improvessubmission rates.”


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Some CaveatsA thesis is never a question

Readers of academic essays expect to have questions discussed, explored or even answered explored, or even answered. Without an argument, a thesis is dead in the water.

A thesis is never a listNot a list of descriptionThe thesis should be tensioned and advanced an argument

A thesis should never be vaguegA thesis should be as clear and specific as possible


Plan Your ThesisConvert these arguments into a chapter outline

One chapter per sentence

S bi d i h di i i f h hStart a binder with a division for each chapterCollect material in this binderSet out clearly what each chapter should say

Don’t be afraid to change your mindAs you write the thesis, your ideas will evolveDon’t wait for them to stop evolving:Don t wait for them to stop evolving:

It’s much easier to change an outline that you’ve written down than one you haven’t.


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Don’t Omit Any of These

Title (and title page) - conveys a messageAbstract - for the librarianContents Listing - shows the right things are thereAcknowledgements - get your supervisor on your side!Introduction - says “I am going to look at the following things”.Significance – show why your research is important?Review of Previous Work - show you know the subjectPhilosophy of Approach - show you can pick out important ideas succinctlyPlan of Attack - show you approached the problem in a systematic way


Don’t Omit Any of These (Continue)

Description of the work - details, so that others can follow what you didCritical analysis of the results - show you know its limitationsContribution – what does your research contribute to the area of study?Future Work - show you know what’s missingConclusions - repetition of the intro, but with reference to the detaildetail.References - Cover the field; examiners will look for the key referencesAppendices – Nitty-Gritty details that would clutter your eloquent description


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BibliographyKeep a database of complete references

Use a consistent citation styleU t l E E d tUse a tool. Ex. EndnoteAttention to detail is importantGet the spellings rightKeep complete references

page numbers, volume numbers, editors names, locations and dates for conference proceedings, etc.

F d h h l f lFind out what the rules are for citation style


ReviewingGet other people to read your drafts

Peers will give friendly comments (and may have the most time!)time!)Supervisor will steer youOther academics (committee members) will spot things your supervisor has missed.

Above all:Get the bugs out before the examiners see it at your final

fdefense.


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SummaryStart writing today (never tomorrow)Make up a title page for inspirationWrite down your argument succinctlyTurn the argument into a chapter planMaintain a binder of stuff to put into these chaptersDon’t be afraid to change the plan


The Examiner’s ViewUh oh, not another thesis to read...Your examiners are busy peopleExamining theses is a chore, but:

“It might help me keep up to date with an area of research”“It might inspire me”“I might learn something”“I might gain a new colleague”


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Examiner’s First QuestionWhat’s this one about?

Examiners have little time available, so they want to extract the most juice in the shortest time

Typical scanning order of a new thesis:Abstract: What’s it about?Bibliography: Does it cite the right things? Conclusions: What was achieved? Do I believe it?Contents listing: Are all the pieces there? Is the argument clear?

These may be enough to decide whether it’s worth a Master.Then:1. What questions now spring to mind?2. ...read through...3. Were the questions answered?


Corrections“Now there must be some corrections…”

Some examiners don’t feel they’ve done the job unless they find some corrections to do.

Typical correctionsTypical correctionsTypographical / grammatical errorsPoor presentationMissing statements / references Superfluous / redundant statements)Missing pieces of workMajor parts missing … for example:

research questionscritical review of literatureresearch methodologypresentation of resultsvalidation of resultsdiscussion and conclusion


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What the examiners are looking for (1)Review of literature

To what extent is the review relevant to the research study?H th did t li d i t “H i ll I k b t ”?Has the candidate slipped into “Here is all I know about x”?Is there evidence of critical appraisal of other work, or is the review just descriptive?How well has the candidate mastered the technical or theoretical literature?Does the candidate make the links between the review and his

h th d l li it?or her methodology explicit?Is there a summary of the essential features of other work as it relates to this study?


What the examiners are looking for (2)Methodology

What precautions were taken against likely sources of bias?Wh t th limit ti i th m th d l ? I th did t What are the limitations in the methodology? Is the candidate aware of them?Is the methodology for data collection appropriate?Are the techniques used for analysis appropriate?In the circumstances, has the best methodology been chosen?Has the candidate given an adequate justification to the methodology?


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What the examiners are looking for (3)Presentation of results

Have the hypotheses in fact been tested?D th l ti bt i d l t t th ti d?Do the solutions obtained relate to the questions posed?Is the level and form of analysis appropriate for the data?Could the presentation of the results been made clearer?Are patterns and trends in the results accurately identified and summarized?Does the software appear to work satisfactorily?


What the examiners are looking for (4)Discussion and Conclusions

Is the candidate aware of possible limits to confidence/reliability/validity of the work?confidence/reliability/validity of the work?Have the main points to emerge from the results been picked up for discussion?Are there links made to the literature?Is there evidence of attempts at theory building or reconceptualisation of problems?A th l ti ? A th ll d d i th lt ?Are there speculations? Are they well grounded in the results?


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Thesis defense“Let’s see, what can I ask the candidate?”

The examiners may have decided before the exam whether to pass you by reading your thesispass you by reading your thesis.

The exam is to check it’s your work...Talk fluently about the work

Show you’ve thought about it (which you have!).This is easy

Your own research, nobody knows more then you!

d h l if hi h ’ l i h ...and a chance to clarify things that aren’t clear in the thesis.

These are areas where corrections are likely.


SummaryKnow your audienceHelp them understand:

K hKeep it short;Use signposts;Get the contents right.

Make sure you’ve covered the bases


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Find the ReferencesLiterature review

Find the articles that published in high level journalsP di h l i flProceeding papers has less influencesHow?

Google Scholar (# of citations)NCKU library (books, journals, and online resources)

Refer some GOOD theses in your areaMIT: http://dspace.mit.edu/Others?


Thesis Proposal DatesDecember 15, 2008January 12, 2009February 23, 2009March 16, 2009 (Not recommended)


tips on thesis research and writing

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