Advice on writing a final thesis

In order to ensure that your final thesis at the Chair of Methods in Empirical Social Research is supervised in an appropriate and helpful manner, we recommend that you prepare a 6 to 10 page exposé on the topic you envisage. This exposé will provide you with an orientation framework for your work, which, according to experience, will make it much easier for you to write your thesis.

Please send the exposé to Prof. Natalja Menold (at least two weeks) before the registration for the final thesis, so that you can receive feedback and advice in time.
You will receive assistance with the conception of your thesis and the preparation of the exposé when you present your topic in the research colloquium of the Chair. The colloquium is intended to support graduate students in their final theses by providing a platform for exchange with other graduate students and with the staff of the Chair.

For each thesis, at least two presentations in the research colloquium are mandatory. First, you have to present your concept in the colloquium before you start working on your thesis. This will give you valuable input on what you may consider when working on the topic. As soon as the results of your work are available, a second presentation in the colloquium is recommended. You will present your findings and receive valuable advice on how to present them in the written part of the paper.

Should further questions arise while you are working on your thesis, you are welcome to make use of additional sessions at the colloquium to discuss your work.

In order to ensure mutual support, regular participation in the research colloquium is mandatory for all graduate students!

Registration for the research colloquium is done in OPAL.

The exposé (maximum 10 pages) should contain the following elements:

· author of the final thesis
· working title of the final thesis
· short introduction into the topic
· precise formulation of the research question(s)
· theoretical references and links
· short outline of the methodological approach and the field or data access
· basic structure
· main literature
· time schedule
· The exposé must demonstrate that the thesis can be completed in the given period of time.
· outstanding problems, if any

Information on the assessment of theses

(This catalogue of criteria summarises essential aspects that are used as a basis for the assessment of theses. It cannot replace a discussion with the supervisor on the content).

Basics

The final thesis is an academic paper in which the candidate must prove that they are able to independently work on a sociological problem according to academic standards within a given period of time.

The most important criteria for assessing an academic paper are:

• sociological relevance (in theoretical, methodological and practical terms)
• critical and independent presentation of the state of the academic discussion regarding the research question and the topic
• methodological approach and methodological reflection on one's own work (especially with regard to the selection and implementation of methods, including evaluation of results and retrospective criticism of methods)
• consistent line of argumentation/reasoning
• comprehensible, concise, and precise presentation
• academic originality (novelty of the topic, the research approach, and the results)
• complexity of the topic
• quality of the survey carried out, if any

Content and form

Structure

• should be clear and concise
• should in itself make the argumentation comprehensible
• contents of the same level of argumentation should be at the same level of subdivision
• should not be over-divided

Content

Introduction

• should lead to the practical topic
• demonstrates the sociological relevance of the topic
• should delimit and define the topic and indicate the specific questions
• explains the focus on certain aspects of the topic
• gives an overview of the structure of the thesis

Main part

• contains the systematic discussion of the topic
• structure and content of the individual paragraphs correspond to the intended sequence of arguments
• chapters and paragraphs are connected by suitable transitions, so that the argumentative coherence becomes apparent
• in sections addressing the theoretical aspects of the topic, the relevant theoretical approaches and controversies are discussed
• relevant publications are received and adopted
• there is a clear separation between the presentation of the relevant specialist literature and your own opinion on it

Conclusion

• contains a summary of the results
• answers the questions raised in the introduction
• illustrates the limitations of your own paper
• gives an outlook on further research questions

Citation

• uniform citation according to the rules of academic work
• proof of all literal and analogous quotations
• complete bibliography of all sources used in the text
• in the bibliography no titles that are not referred to in the text of the paper

Graphic representations

• each representation (graphics, table) should be understandable on its own due to its heading, caption, and source reference

Style

• clear and precise language
• no colloquial language
• spelling, grammar, and punctuation according to the Duden rules

Documentation in the annex (data, questionnaire, coding scheme, etc.). Premise: Traceability of the procedure.

We would also like to refer you to the Study and Examination Regulations.

Empirical theses

In addition to the general assessment criteria outlined above, own empirical studies in the context of final theses must meet the following requirements: theory-based questions or hypotheses, a comprehensible operationalisation of the theoretical terms, description and reflection of the research design, evaluation techniques appropriate to the question posed, separation of empirical results and their evaluation in the presentation.