Syllabus

Title
1402 Thesis Seminar: How to Write a Thesis
Instructors
Univ.Prof. Dr. Anne d'Arcy, Ass.Prof. Dr. Otto Janschek
Type
AG
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/16/19 to 09/27/19
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Master Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Thursday 10/10/19 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM TC.2.02
Thursday 10/17/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D5.1.001
Friday 10/18/19 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM D5.1.001
Thursday 11/07/19 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM D4.0.133
Thursday 12/19/19 09:00 AM - 06:30 PM Ort nach Ankündigung
Contents

Pre-course assignment

Read Bryman/Bell (2015), Ch 1-6. We expect you to be familiar with the core concepts from these chapters (quiz in the first unit).

Part 1:

Input lectures and discussion

- What is research?

- The importance of scientific analysis

- What is a research question and how is it identified?

- The research process

- The scientific discourse: presentation & publication of new ideas, research ethics

Part 2:

Methods and data: Elaborate the main methods used in empirical research (assignment 1, group presentations)

Part 3:

Assignment 2Learn from examples: Choose a paper and write a comment (individual assignment)

Learning outcomes
  • Students get a first rough idea of what is scientific research
  • Students understand the concept of a research question and how and why different research designs are used to answer certain research questions
  • Students can identify major steps in assessing a scientific paper and can develop a research question based on prior research papers and an adequate research design
Attendance requirements

≥ 80 % Attendance Requirement

Teaching/learning method(s)

Input presentations by instructors, individual assignments, group work.

Compulsory attendance for input lectures (part 1), for group presentations (part 2) and individual presentations (part 3).  One to one consultation for the individual assignment (part 3) will be individually scheduled with the lecturers.

 

Assessment

Pre-course-assignment/multiple-choice quiz: 10% Attention: For all four masters thesis courses, the quiz will take place on October 10, 2019, 8:00 a.m.

Group Assignment “Part 2”: 30%

Individual Assignment “Part 3”: 60%

For this course, only one of two grades (pass/fail) will be awarded.

A "pass" grade requires a minimum score of 50% for each assignment and 75% in total.

Prerequisites for participation and waiting lists
  • Writing skills
Recommended previous knowledge and skills
Availability of lecturer(s)
Last edited: 2019-06-19



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