Your thesis work begins with familiarizing yourself with the topic and creating a project plan. The plan is also referred to as a research plan and thesis work plan. You familiarize yourself with the topic by searching for information from previous research and literature related to the subject. This way, you gain an understanding of the significance, timeliness, novelty or added value of the work, and how the topic fits into the research field. Scientific research is characterized by the accumulation of knowledge. New research builds heavily on previous research. (Metsämuuronen 2006, p. 31.) If your work is purely a development task, you need to find out from the literature how similar targets have been developed in the past.
Before writing the plan, it is advisable to review the guidelines for information retrieval, sources, and referencing techniques.
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The project plan includes the following sections: 1. Introduction: What is the topic? Why is the research being conducted? What kind of client and project is the thesis work focused on? |
You present the plan as agreed and/or submit it to your supervisor for review and approval. Your supervisor familiarizes themselves with the plan and grants permission to proceed to the implementation phase or may request you to make further revisions to the plan.
Typically, a kickoff meeting is held with the student, supervisor, and client. At this stage, you also need to determine whether you need to apply for research permits or establish confidentiality agreements, for example, with the client. These agreements are stored in Wihi.
In the introduction, your goal is to introduce the topic and arouse the reader's interest.
The structure of the introduction is as follows:
• Related national and/or international background
• Justification why this particular thesis is important
• Presentation of a potential partner
• Description of the operating environment (if relevant).
This is an important chapter, these are the questions you are seeking to answer with your thesis. There is no need for sources in this chapter.
Purpose
Describe why this thesis topic was chosen and what is expected of this work.
For example:
• The purpose of the thesis is to find out / describe / map / understand
Goal
Describe the benefits of the thesis from the perspective of developing the field, who will benefit from the finished work/thesis results, and what can be done based on the results.
For example
• The aim is to produce information that can be utilised in nursing... in the development of practices....
Research questions/assignments
Refine the purpose of the thesis with a few research questions or assignments (1-3).
For example:
• How do employees assess their competence...
• How does the immediate supervisor perceive...
• What are the problems with nursing record-keeping?
In this chapter you describe the theoretical background. Use an investigative and argumentative approach, not just a summary of literature.
• Define the key concepts and their connection to your thesis
• What is already known about the subject based on previous research
In this chapter, you present the chosen research and development strategy and the rationale for the choices
• Introduction to the data collection method
• Presentation of the data analysis method
• Introduction to the development method
• Each point is justified by reference to the research literature.
In this chapter, you demonstrate your familiarity with research integrity and reliability. How to ensure different perspectives related to research integrity in your work: such as the research permit process, processing of personal data and data protection, confidentiality, data management plan (attached).
You evaluate the reliability and validity of the thesis after the work has been completed, how do you ensure in the planning phase that the result is as reliable and valid as possible?
In this chapter, you will present the schedule plan step by step and how resource needs are considered (staff time, facilities or external funder requirements).
This chapter sets out the following:
• Documentation and publicity of the work
• Planned publication: trade journal, Energy online magazine, presentation of results e.g. conference/commissioning organization.
• Copyright of the thesis, responsibilities of the UAS, thesis author and supervisor. These can be copied from the agreement template. If an assignment agreement is done, this is not necessary.
The attachments shall contain:
• Possible interview outline / set of questions
• Cover letter
• Informed consent form for participants
• Data management plan (when deeded)
• Any attachments required by the client
