During the planning and initiation phase of the thesis work, you continue writing the research plan, expanding it further. You complete at least the first version of the introduction chapter, develop a preliminary table of contents, strengthen the theoretical framework, and refine the research problem and questions.
The introduction includes justification for the significance of the topic and presents the chosen perspective. You carefully and convincingly delineate the scope of your work. You also introduce the client organization.
For instance, in the case of theses related to the social and healthcare sector, research permits have been applied for and approved.
The thesis work is an independent research and development project aimed at enhancing your knowledge and expertise in your chosen subject area. Even during the planning phase, it is important to consider the overall coherence of the project.
After the approval of the topic, the work consists of the following components:
|
Setting the research problem and research questions: Define the research problem and the research questions that you will focus on in your work. This step is possible after you have thoroughly acquainted yourself with the relevant literature and research on the topic. Formulate your research problem in the form of questions. This will help you clarify the fundamental question to which you are seeking an answer or solution. You can derive more specific questions or objectives from your research problem, which support and aid in its resolution. Even in project-based theses, there should be a clear and concise practical problem for which you seek a solution in your work. During the planning phase, assess the current state of the subject matter to be developed and determine the direction for the project's progression by designing the implementation approach and/or the stages of the development project along with their timelines. |
| Familiarizing yourself with the topic: Familiarize yourself with the theory, research, and other knowledge related to your topic. |
| Performing the actual work: Carry out the necessary research or development activities to achieve your objectives. |
| Addressing the research problem: Analyse your findings and address your research questions. |
| Writing the written report: Prepare a written report that describes the progress of your work, the results, and the conclusions. |
As a rule, the language of the thesis must be the language of the degree. However, in some situations, the language of the thesis may be other than the language of the degree (e.g. when completing a double degree or if the language of the "client" of the thesis topic is other than Finnish, etc.). In practice, the policy is particularly related to Finnish-language degrees and the writing of a thesis in English. The student always agrees on the language at the beginning of the thesis process, there must be a supervisor for the thesis, and the language choice cannot be changed in the middle of the process. The final decision is made by the party responsible for the degree (Head of Degree Programme).
