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05 May 2024
Useful tips and tools for your thesis at a glance
If you are about to begin your graduation assignment, you are entering a crucial phase. Many students face difficulties in getting started correctly. For instance, how do you select the appropriate topic? And how can you avoid making your research too broad? Additionally, formulating an effective main question may be a stumbling block. If you are encountering these challenges, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will share valuable tips for your thesis and explain various aspects, such as selecting a suitable topic and considering important elements while formulating your main question. Moreover, we will discuss the process of selecting relevant literature and designing your research.
Always start with preliminary research
Before beginning your research and writing your thesis, it is crucial to conduct preliminary research. This involves several steps, such as selecting a client, identifying the topic, performing a problem analysis, formulating your central question and sub-questions, and establishing your research design.
Brainstorm about your topic
After you have selected your topic and discussed it with your graduation supervisor, it is time for the first step: a brainstorming session about the topic. The objective of this step is to gather as many ideas as possible related to the topic and to explore the scope of your research. Brainstorming can be done in various ways, such as creating a mind map. Utilize this mind map to delve deeper into your topic and establish connections.
Formulate your problem analysis
Formulating the problem analysis is the most crucial part of your research. Only with a well-defined problem analysis can you determine the direction of your research. Therefore, take ample time for this step. During this phase, you need to make choices because you cannot investigate every aspect. It is essential to delineate your research by clearly determining what will be included and what will not.
Important questions to consider when formulating your problem analysis are:
- Does the research align with the context of your education?
- Do you have a clear understanding of the problem and its underlying reasons?
- Is your problem analysis concise and comprehensive, supported by relevant sources?
Be critical when defining the problem
Your client often already has a specific problem, question, or wish. Your role is to identify and provide a solution for this problem. It is important to approach this critically, as you are not accountable for any commercial or organizational issues. Your focus should be on determining the knowledge gaps within the organization that need to be filled in order to solve the problem. This forms the basis of the problem statement.
To begin, it is essential to understand why and for whom this problem exists. By doing so, you can gain insight into the problem and analyze its underlying factors. Utilizing the 6W model can assist you in identifying the true nature of the problem.
Formulate your objective
The objective stems from the analysis of the problem, and there is a clear correlation between the two. When identifying your objective, it is crucial to question why you are conducting this research. The objective serves as the purpose of your research; it signifies what you intend to accomplish through your study. It is important to understand that your research findings do not directly solve the practical problem, but rather provide information that others can utilize to address the issue.
Formulate your main question
The central question, also known as the main research question, is the most significant inquiry addressed in your thesis. How should you formulate this question? Here are some guidelines you can adhere to:
- Goal-oriented: Ensure that you clearly articulate the purpose of your thesis in your main question. This will provide direction to your research and clarify the steps you intend to undertake.
- Not too broad: It is crucial to meticulously define your primary question, similar to how you accomplished during the problem analysis. Ensure that the question remains focused and specific.
- Neutral: Formulate your primary question objectively, without incorporating personal viewpoints. Avoid using biased terms and strive to maintain a neutral tone in your wording.
- Single: The primary question should consist of a single inquiry. You can utilize sub-questions to address various aspects, but they should not be included within the main question itself.
Formulate your sub-questions
Once you have formulated the main question, it is time to create sub-questions. Sub-questions are derived from the main question and address specific aspects of it. In fact, these sub-questions help in answering the main question. By answering all the sub-questions, the main question will also be automatically answered. Sub-questions often serve as the foundation for the chapters of your thesis.
Hypotheses instead of sub-questions
In addition to sub-questions, you can also work with hypotheses. Hypotheses are preliminary statements that you want to investigate in your thesis. They indicate what you expect to find during your research. In scientific research, you test these hypotheses that you have formulated prior to conducting your research.
Determine your research method
After formulating your central question and hypotheses, you should select the most appropriate research method. You must choose a method that aligns well with the research questions being asked. Possible options include qualitative research, quantitative research, or a combination of both, known as mixed-methods research.
Search for literature
To support your studies and generate your own findings, you rely on literature written by other authors. This necessitates conducting a literature search, wherein you seek out publications that possess substantial scientific rigor. These may consist of books, dissertations, scholarly articles, conference proceedings, theses, policy papers, or reports. This initial step establishes the basis for your theoretical framework and enables you to proceed with your research.
Avoid plagiarism
Plagiarism involves copying texts, audiovisual material, ideas, or arguments from others and claiming them as your own. To avoid this, it is important to provide proper source references. The APA style is commonly used in many courses. If you are studying law, you should consult the Guidelines for Legal Authors.
Writing process of your thesis
And now we will begin writing your thesis. But how should you structure it? The structure of a research report is not fixed. Each course has its own guidelines regarding the specific components they expect.
Writing your thesis involves several phases: gathering ideas, selecting a topic, starting the writing process, revising your text, and making it accessible to others. By consciously going through these writing phases, your final product will improve and become more comprehensive.
Do you want to start your thesis optimally prepared?
In this article, you will find all the tips and tools you need to successfully tackle your graduation assignment! Are you ready to get started? Follow our article and navigate through all phases of the thesis writing process. Unsure where to begin when choosing a topic? Are you struggling with keeping your research concise? Or finding it difficult to formulate a strong main question? Don’t worry! Our experienced thesis coaches will guide you through the entire process. Request your free consultation today and find out how we can assist you.
Contact Jouw Scriptiecoach if you need immediate help with your thesis.
Do you need immediate help with your thesis? Then request a free consultation now. During the consultation, we look at how best we can help you and which supervisor would be most suitable for your subject. You’ll also receive an immediate estimate of the number of hours we’ll need to get you across the finish line. Then you can easily purchase the hours online, and once the payment has gone through, we immediately connect you to your thesis supervisor. They’ll contact you quickly (often on the same day) so that you can get back to working on your thesis as soon as possible.