Quality Criteria of Scientific Contributions

Motivation

• Anyone who wants to acquire a degree at a university is required by law to submit a degree corresponding scientific work
• Dealing with the current state of science; independently developing the topic.
• Covering the problem area, logical revision within a certain time period, research questions answered in sufficient detail.
• For publication of research results
• Reputation of a researcher
• Basic skills for discussion

Differentiation

Requirements of a scientific work

Honesty

• Moral claims are violated by intentional wrong behavior (for example, manipulation of research results, plagiarism)

Objectivity

• Can arise by preference, prejudice, resentment, excessive ambition, hopes and expectations as well as limited viewing perspectives.

• Objectivity is dealt through:

  • Factual representation

  • Correct sources

  • Representative selection

  • Clear description

  • Honest representation

  • Correct interpretation

  • Consideration of objections

• Objectivity describes the level of independence :

  • From the editor of a scientific paper

  • From the evaluator and appraiser

Reliability

• Measuring instruments measure highly reliably with stable results

• Choose precise instruments

• Instruments must function and measure exactly

• Careful selection of appropriate methods

Validitity

• Measure what is to be measured?

• Sources of errors:

  • Search queries that have search results

  • A too small sample or an incorrect sampling selection

• Achieving valid content results:

  • Working on the right content areas

  • Formulate the questions precisely

  • To avoid confusion, important areas must be defined

  • The sample must be representative and large enough

Verifiability

• Verifiability of statements:

  • Reproduction of experiments and solution processes

  • Considering the source of the used materials

  • Verification of the truth and information content of statements

  • Control of logical conclusions

  • Control of sources

  • Control of intermediate and final results

  • Scientific vs. Unscientific

  • What is not verifiable, is not scientific

• Falsifiability of statements:

  • To avoid confusion, define important terms

  • Method of falsification

Relevance

• It is relevant for scientific works:

  • What contributes to scientific progress

  • What creates new knowledge in my subject area

  • What helps to solve practical problems

• Whatever has a high information value is relevant.

Originality

• Quantity versus Quality:

  • To deal intensively with the knowledge and experience of the subject area

  • Acquire timely Know-how

  • Combine the experiences with the personal goals

  • Develop own, orginal solution methods

• Connect knowledge

• Assess results- stay critical

Understandability

• Good font design and an appealing layout

• Consequent content structure:

  • Define the topic, identify the problem context and goal

  • Document procedure, methods used and the end result

  • Summarize significant results, highlight the advantage of the results and perspective

• Suitable linguistic preparation of the text

  • Check spelling and grammar

  • Define unknown important terms

  • Formulate precisely

• Logical argumentation

• Simplicity (Contrary: complexity)

• Conciseness (Contrary: verbosity)