Thesis design

Slides

pages content
1-3 Headers
4 Exercise
5-8 Thesis support intro
9 Bigger Picture
10-16 Thesis Design intro
17 Assessment Thesis Design
18 Structure Thesis Design
19-20 Examples
21 Master Thesis
22 Data science
23 Thesis Examples
24 Checklist
25-40 Formalities
41-47 Additional Information

Check-in

Go the rounds or go out in pairs. Interview each other (2 minutes per person):

  1. What is your research field of interest?
  2. Do you have an UvA supervisor in mind?
  3. Will you do an external or internal project?

Exercises

Strengths and Learning Goals

Everybody has their qualities, imperfections and skills. It can be helpful to write them down. It has value to know thyself. We encourage you to create study groups with other students and it will help to know each other’s strengths. Please answer the following questions for yourself and then you can share them with the rest of the group.

  • a. What do other people compliment you for? What are you good at?
  • b. What element of the thesis project are you looking forward to?
  • c. What element of the thesis project are you not looking forward to?
  • d. What do you hope to get out of the thesis and your research?
  • e. Formulate your own personal learning goal for the research project.

Checklist Thesis Design

If you cannot answer a question with unambiguous affirmation, write down which elements of your thesis design are in need of improvement.

  • a. Is all clear and neat? Do you have a justified evaluation?
  • b. Is the research problem properly addressed?
  • c. Does answering the research question help in understanding the research problem or even in solving the research problem?
  • d. Is the research problem grounded in the literature and has each section of the thesis design relevant literature assigned to it?
  • e. Is there a clear overview of the resources being used?
  • f. Are the methods which are used described in enough detail, so that your supervisor can picture what will be done exactly?
  • g. Is the evaluation appropriate in relation the research question?
  • h. Is the risk assessment complete and realistic? Is the back-up plan executable?
  • i. Is the project plan complete and does it cover all sections?
  • j. Is the plan realistic? Does it give a clear picture of what will be done when? Is it possible for your supervisor to evaluate whether you are on track?