layout: true background-image: url(figs/tcb-logo.png) background-position: bottom right background-attachment: fixed; background-origin: content-box; background-size: 10% --- class: title-slide .row[ .col-7[ .title[ # BA Thesis Seminar ] .subtitle[ ] .author[ ### Dennis A.V. Dittrich ] .affiliation[ ] ] .col-5[ ] ] --- # Schedule .col-7[ Session 1: Intro **Session 2: submit working title, supervisor and 2 peer reviewer names}** Submission of Thesis Proposal Session 3: Proposal presentation and peer reviewer comments Submission of revised Thesis Proposal Session 4: Proposal Defense & comments from faculty Submission of (final) Thesis Draft Session 5: Discussion of drafts and peer reviewer comments Submission of printed and electronic version of thesis Session 6: Thesis Defense ] .footnote[See the syllabus for exact dates.] --- # At the end of today's session you should know: 1. Your topic and your research question 2. Grading criteria of the thesis --- .row[ ## How do you read a scientific essay? ] .row[ ## How do you assess the quality of a scientific essay? ] --- # A well written text makes it easy for the reader to answer... .col-7[ * What is the whole text about? * What are the major parts of the text (the points the author wants to make) and their relation? * Which problem or problems does the author want to solve? * So what? Why is it important to know these things? cf. Adler, M.J., and van Doren, C. (1972): How to Read a Book. Simon & Schuster ] --- # What would be your grading criteria? --- # General grading criteria * Structure * Transparency * Clarity * Coherence * Breadth and quality of (academic) sources * Relevance of research question * Analytical sophistication * Methodological soundness * References, Quotation * Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation --- ## My _list_ .row[.col-6[ * Abstract * Introduction 1. Well motivated topic? 2. Is there a hypothesis / research question? 3. Is it clear what will follow? 4. Do I want to read this? * Main Body 1. Is the structure supporting the thesis? 2. Do claims follow logically from the reasoning? 3. Are all claims supported? 4. Are there factual errors? 5. Are technical terms (correctly) defined? 6. Is everything relevant for the hypothesis / research question? 7. Is it clear why something is mentioned? ] .col-6[ * Conclusion 1. Is it clear what this was about? 2. Is there an answer to the research question / hypothesis accepted or rejected? 3. Is there a conclusion? 4. Are limitations mentioned? ]] --- ## My _list_ .row[.col-6[ * References/Quotes 1. everything referenced that should be? 2. Quality of references 3. Breath of references 4. Correctly referenced? * Tables & Figures 1. Headings 2. Source 3. Mentioned in text * Style 1. Rhetoric 2. Clarity 3. Coherence 4. Grammar 5. Spelling 6. Punctuation ] .col-6[ Overall assessment * Degree of difficulty * Methodological soundness * Analytical sophistication * Did I like this? ]] --- # Structure <img src="hourglas.png" width="70%" /> --- # Introduction and Conclusions must match <img src="hourglas2.png" width="100%" /> --- # The Message <img src="messagebox.png" width="70%" /> --- # The Message <img src="messagebox2.png" width="70%" /> --- # The Message <img src="messagebox3.png" width="70%" /> --- # Writing a research question .row[.col-7[ Your question should be: - **Clear**: your audience can easily understand its purpose without additional explanation. - **Focused**: it is narrow enough that it can be addressed thoroughly with the data available and within the limits of the final project report. - **Concise**: it is expressed in the fewest possible words. - **Complex**: it is not fully answerable with a simple "yes" or "no," but rather requires synthesis and analysis of data. - **Arguable**: its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts (do others care about it?) ]] --- # Writing a research question .row[.col-6[ **Bad question: Why are social networking sites harmful?** - Unclear: it does not specify _which_ social networking sites or state what harm is being caused; assumes that "harm" exists. **Improved question: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter?** - Specifies the sites (Facebook and Twitter), type of harm (privacy issues), and who is harmed (online users). ] .col-6[ **Bad question: How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.?** - Too simple: this question can be looked up online and answered in a few factual sentences; it leaves no room for analysis. **Improved question: What main environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors predict whether Americans will develop diabetes, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease?** - Appropriately Complex: is written in two parts; it is thought provoking and requires both significant investigation and evaluation from the writer . ]] --- # Next task .col-7[ Session 1: Intro Session 2: submit working title, supervisor and 2 peer reviewer names} **Submission of Thesis Proposal** Session 3: Proposal presentation and peer reviewer comments Submission of revised Thesis Proposal Session 4: Proposal Defense & comments from faculty (dates tba) Submission of (final) Thesis Draft Session 5: Discussion of drafts and peer reviewer comments submit printed and electronic version of thesis until noon Session 6: Thesis Defense (date tba) ] --- # How to write a proposal? .row[.col-7[ The proposal needs to state clearly the aims of your thesis and how you intend to achieve them. It serves to inform others about your project and it is also the road map you will use to conduct and complete your project successfully. The proposal should be about 3 pages long and include: 1. Author and Title [MANDATORY] 2. Supervisor [MANDATORY] 3. Background/Motivation 4. Research Question/Specific Focus 5. Methodological Approach 6. Expected Results/Main Hypotheses/Main Contribution 7. Structure/Outline (with page estimates for each thesis chapter) 8. Time Plan (for the whole project) 9. Preliminary Bibliography ] .col-5[ Get feedback from your supervisor and student reviewers while writing your proposal! ]] --- # Methodological Approach .row[ .col-6[ In your thesis, are you generating a new model or hypotheses as a result of your research or are you testing hypotheses? In your thesis, when you are building a new model what approach and methods will inform your model creation process? In your thesis, when you are testing hypothesis what methods do you use? ] .col-6[ Please mention in your proposal... * in which classes you have learned the methods and research skills you want to apply for your thesis. * where you have learned methods and research skills that you want to apply for your thesis that you have not learned at Touro, if any. * which new skills you will acquire, if any. * whether or not you already have access to all necessary (re)sources, e.g., literature, software, and data. If you lack access to a necessary resource indicate how and when you plan to get access to the resource. ]] --- # Outlining .col-7[ A topic based outline consists of nouns or noun phrases: 1. Introduction: Computers in the class room 2. Uses of Computers 1. Labs 2. Class room instruction 3. ... **BETTER: A point based outline (you want to make a point, don't you?)** 1. Introduction: Values of classroom computers uncertain 2. Different uses of different effects 1. Networked computer labs allow student interaction 2. Classroom computers do not enhance learning 3. ... .caption[cf. Section IV: PLANNING, DRAFTING, AND REVISING in Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G., and Williams, J.M. (2008): The Craft of Research. 3rd edition. University of Chicago Press.] ] --- # Referencing and Citations .col-7[ Please use the Chicago author-date or APA style for your references (one style consistently throughout the whole document) see ``15: Author-Date References.'' In Chicago manual of style. 17th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2017. ] --- # The next session .col-7[ Session 1: Intro Session 2: submit working title, supervisor and 2 peer reviewer names} Submission of Thesis Proposal **Session 3: Proposal presentation and peer reviewer comments** Submission of revised Thesis Proposal Session 4: Proposal Defense & comments from faculty (dates tba) Submission of (final) Thesis Draft Session 5: Discussion of drafts and peer reviewer comments submit printed and electronic version of thesis until noon Session 6: Thesis Defense (date tba) ] --- ## First Research proposal presentation .row[.col-6[ 5 min presentation of proposal by each student = 5 slides max! * 1 slide your name, thesis title, supervisor name * 1 slide for introduction / motivation * 1 slide aim/hypotheses (what do you expect to find, what do you want to focus on?) * 1-2 slides methods (participants; data collection; search strategy for relevant literature; statistical analysis) ] .col-6[ 2 min discussion/oral feedback from each reviewer: * comment on strengths * comment on weaknesses * suggestions ]] --- # Student (peer) feedback .col-7[ It is important to get feedback from more than one source * Can be written in long form * Can be in bullet points * Comment on strengths * Comment on weaknesses * Add any other suggestions * Send it to the student you evaluate and bring it with you to class when we discuss proposals and thesis draft ] --- # Student (peer) feedback .col-7[ As a reviewer of your peers' proposals, pay special attention to the following: * Does the title convey clearly what the project is about? * Is the topic relevant and justified? * Is the research question specific enough or still very vague? * Does the suggested method / format match the aims of the thesis? * Can you follow the logic behind the suggested structure/outline? * Is the time plan realistic? ] --- --- # The first big challenge .col-7[ Session 1: Intro Session 2: submit working title, supervisor and 2 peer reviewer names} Submission of Thesis Proposal Session 3: Proposal presentation and peer reviewer comments Submission of revised Thesis Proposal **Session 4: Proposal Defense & comments from faculty (dates tba)** Submission of (final) Thesis Draft Session 5: Discussion of drafts and peer reviewer comments submit printed and electronic version of thesis until noon Session 6: Thesis Defense (date tba) ] --- # Thesis Proposal Defense .col-7[ up to 10 min presentation of proposal by each student plus extra time for discussion * 1 slide your name, thesis title, supervisor name * 1 or more slides for introduction / motivation * 1 or more slides aim/hypotheses\\ (what do you expect to find, what do you want to focus on?) * 2 or more slides with methods and first results (participants; data collection; search strategy for relevant literature; statistical analysis) * 1 slide preliminary discussion * What obstacles do you anticipate, if any? How do you intend to overcome them? ]