The thesis plan contains the following parts
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
- awakens the interest of the reader and describes how the thesis started off
- justifies the choice of topic with reference to a work perspective
- description of the commissioning party’s/organisation’s practical problem in the context of the organisation etc. in question and explanation of how the commissioning party intends to use the thesis (similarly for a project)
- describes the main idea of the thesis, what, how and which sort of knowledge will be acquired
- describes how the topic is related to the principles of the student’s own professional field – starting points, perspective
- describes the initial assumptions and defines the topic with explanation
- describes the general background to the topic and its aims and indicates how the topic perspective and research tasks are part of the general starting point – the objectives and aims of the thesis (concrete aims and significance particularly precisely in the case of a product or development)
- describe as intelligently as possible what is known about the topic based on previous research and why and how you wish to continue with the topic in question
- you can use literature in your introduction when providing explanation or justifying an issue
2 THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS/CONCEPTUAL PREMISES
- this describes the issue that is the focus of the thesis topic, theoretically and conceptually
- describes the issue that is the focus of the thesis topic from a practical perspective
- define the concepts central to the topic in detail – organise the theoretical background into parts that you wish to deal with/describe (remember source references in the text) in the thesis itself
- brief yet detailed description of previous research linked to the issue in question (what knowledge is the topic and the topic definition based on?)
- illustrate the referential framework with a figure
- explain the research perspective of the thesis (this provides guidance on how your work will be carried out)
- (NB differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research in the description of the theoretical background)
- name headings according to the textual content
3 RESEARCH PROBLEMS/- TASKS
- specify the aims and research problems of the thesis (to which questions are you looking for an answer?)
- justify or explain the research problems/tasks so that it is easy to see the link between them and the previously described theoretical background
- (NB in the qualitative research process the research tasks arising from certain premises are described and justified).
4 RESEARCH PROCESS/PRODUCTION PROCESS
- describe and explain how you acquired material and any related issues
- describe and explain indicator(s) used when acquiring material and how it/they were implemented
- describe and justify the choice of focus group and the challenges that this posed
- describe how reliability will be improved
- describe the ethical issues (commissioning, copyright, permits etc.) linked to the topic and how it was attempted to overcome them
- introduce a preliminary plan in how observation material will be dealt with
- explain which statistical and/or qualitative analysis techniques and interpretation models will be used to analyse your material
- when the outcome will be a (different)product, describe product planning by drawing up (using relevant literature)
- a manuscript plan (content, what the product contains, what is in it)
- a production plan (implementation process, how it will be produced)
- a product evaluation plan
- use relevant literature when explaining/justifying
5 CONCLUSION/ASSESSMENT (unless elsewhere)
- reliability (describe how the success of the thesis is ensured, take into account the different criteria for reliability in the process)
- ethical research issues, permits etc.
- mention matters in which the commissioning party can be involved in the requested topic process
- use relevant literature in your explanations/justifications
6 RESOURCES, MARKETING (USES) AND REPORTING
- indicates the preparation schedule to the nearest week
- possible division of tasks and need for special resource
- costs estimate, itemized (specifically for projects and products)
- explain how the thesis will be marketed and used during and after the process (appendix writing plan)
SOURCES
- indicates sources used in a bibliography
APPENDICES
- initial table of contents
- draft of indicator(s) used during material acquisition
- draft application for permission (if required)
The written thesis plan is submitted (not by email) in person to the teacher supervisor and teacher co-ordinator, the peer partner (opponent), the commissioning party and your seminar group by an agreed date.
The thesis plan is discussed during the planning seminar on a given date and you will be informed if your plan has been passed/is incomplete/failed. If you need to make some changes or additions to your plan in order to pass a new thesis plan return date will be agreed at the latest by the end of the seminars to ensure that your thesis will be completed according to schedule.