Tips to write a thesis
1. Research model 4
1.1. Your question / idea / problem / topic 4
1.2. Methods 4
1.3. Theory 4
1.4. Results 4
1.5. Discussion, conclusion, recommendations 4
2. Find a question / an idea / a problem you want to know more about. The deductive approach: From general to specific 5
2.1. Do research on topics you find interesting 5
2.1.1. Possibilities to get inspired 5
2.1.2. Tips to do research on the Internet, for example on google.com 5
2.2. Evaluate results of your research 6
2.3. Choose a topic / question /idea / problem you find particularly interesting 6
2.4. Describe reasons for the question / problem you want to work on 8
2.4.1. Internal reasons 8
2.4.2. External reasons 8
3. Describe how relevant the idea / problem / topic is for whom 10
3.1. How relevant is this idea / problem / topic for you? 10
3.2. How relevant is this idea / problem / topic for users / customers of your work? 10
3.3. Who are the primary customers of your thesis – and what do they need? 11
4. Define your research question 12
4.1. Define a narrow research question 12
4.2. Formulate a scientific research question 13
4.3. Define the title of your thesis 14
5. Find out which methods to use to do your research 15
5.1. What is a scientific method? 15
5.2. Differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods 16
5.3. Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative methods 17
5.3.1. Advantages of quantitative and qualitative methods 17
5.3.2. Disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative methods 18
5.4. Possibilities to combine quantitative and qualitative methods 19
5.4.1. Preliminary model 19
5.4.2. Generalization model 19
5.4.3. Consolidation model 20
5.4.4. Triangulation model 20
5.4.5. Advantages and disadvantages combining quantitative and qualitative methods 21
6. Search for theories 22
6.1. Find about 3 theories 22
6.2. Present advantages and disadvantages of each theory 22
6.3. Compare the theories and choose the one you want to primarily use 22
6.4. Present the current state of research 22
6.5. Websites to use for searching on the Internet 22
6.6. Check that literature is scientific 23
7. Quantitative method: Survey 24
7.1. Define what you want to know 24
7.2. Choose people to send your survey to 24
7.3. Develop survey questions 24
7.4. Develop answering possibilities 25
7.5. Pretest your survey with a small sample 25
7.6. Communicate your purpose to people answering the survey 25
7.6. Analyze responses to your survey 25
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8. Qualitative method: Interviews 26
8.1. Decide on the kind of interview you want to do 26
8.2. Formulate questions to ask interviewees 26
8.2.1. Formulate open questions 26
8.2.2. Formulate concrete questions 27
8.3. Select interviewees 27
8.4. Define length of each interview 27
8.5. Decide on a neutral place for the interview 27
8.6. Plan how you want to communicate during the interview 27
8.6.1. At the start of the interview, communicate your research question to the interviewee 27
8.6.2. Make it clear for the interviewee that you act in the role as interviewer / researcher 27
8.6.3. Ask questions in a non-authoritarian way 28
8.6.4. When asking questions, adapt culturally to the interviewee 28
8.6.5. Listen to what the interviewee is saying 28
8.6.6. React neutrally and as an outsider to answers by the interviewee 28
8.6.7. Make observations during the interview 28
8.6.8. At the end of the interview, ask the interviewee if he/she would like to add anything 28
8.6.9. At the end of the interview, give and receive feedback to / from the interviewee 29
8.7. Transcribe interviews 29
8.7.1. Example of transcription 29
8.7.2. Methods to transcribe interviews 29
8.7.3. Advantages and disadvantages of transcribing interviews 30
8.8. Make categories to analyze interviews 31
8.8.1. Example of category 31
8.8.2. Categories derived according to frequence of words 31
8.8.3. Categories derived according to importance of quotes by interviewees 32
8.8.4.
