The world of academia is filled with myriad tasks. Thesis and dissertations are surely the most extensive and intricate among them all. The contrast between thesis and dissertation is a major cause of difficulty for students. Both are long-form scholarly writings, but some significant distinctions must be understood.
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The Major Similarities
The purpose of both a thesis and a dissertation is to allow the student to study or research a public health issue, utilising the ideas and methodology established during the Diploma in Public Health course. A thesis or dissertation requires students to grasp skills such as developing research proposals, identifying resources, and conducting investigations.
Whether you are working on a thesis or a dissertation, you get to master an array of effective skills such as 🡪
- Conducting literature review and analysis
- Developing convincing research proposals specific to the purpose of a research question
- Finding the right and relevant learning resources necessary to carry out effective & insightful research
- Selecting a suitable research approach (qualitative or quantitative) for the topic at hand.
- Reporting on the project’s objective, background, methodology, findings, conclusions, and suggestions.
- Evaluating the project’s impact on public health in New Zealand and beyond.
However, certain differences exist between the scope of a thesis and a dissertation.
The Scope of a Thesis
A thesis represents a full year’s worth of research for a master’s student. Thesis writing requires in-depth data collection and analysis. Most data collected for developing a thesis is primary data, that is, data collected by the researchers through interviews, surveys, & research. Some researchers also permit using secondary sources from prominent and authoritative information sources.
The length of theses varies across topics and the methodologies & methods implemented. A typical thesis can be over 200 pages and around 50 to 60000 words, including tables and appendices.
The Scope of Dissertation
Dissertations generally comprise half the requirements for a master’s degree. Most do not require primary data collection, focusing on analysing secondary data from major information sources. Critical literature reviews, formal systematic reviews, and critical discussions and debates are critical aspects of a dissertation.
The length of a dissertation also varies according to the chosen topic & methodology. The typical length of a dissertation is around 80-100 pages and approximately 20-30000 words, including tables & appendices.
More Similar Than Different
Students and early career researchers often use the terms thesis and dissertation interchangeably. Historically, dissertations are research works submitted as part of the requirements for getting a master’s degree, while theses have generally been primary requirements for PhD degrees. However, for some reason or another, the terms ended up being reversed.
If we look into the etymology and ontology of theses and dissertations, we will be hard-pressed to find any concrete distinctions between them. It is thus all about different terms but common implications. For researchers, considering the differences between the two is an utter waste of time.
- Both theses and dissertations are extensive treatises on the research & investigation of a specific research topic.
- Both are opportunities for students to explore a subject and engage in and showcase critical cognitive skills. Researchers get to dig deep, think critically, and use their mental acumen to uncover valuable insights, making a mark on the research domain.
- A master’s degree assesses a student’s understanding of their subject of study. A master’s dissertation or thesis is mostly the student’s examination of the available literature on the subject, supplemented by some unique contributions.
- A doctoral student’s work for a PhD degree is focused on original research. The student proposes a hitherto unexplored issue in their field, develops a theory, and conducts independent research to confirm or deny it. A doctorate thesis must provide a significant contribution of new knowledge to the topic of study. The final work may be referred to as a dissertation or thesis.
- In nations where the academic system is based on the British system of university education, ‘dissertation’ refers to the body of work completed at the end of an undergraduate or master’s degree. In contrast, ‘thesis’ refers to the work produced at the end of a PhD program. The terms are commonly used in reverse in nations and institutions that follow the American educational system.
- Words can be used differently between institutions and departments within a university! A university may use specific terminology and criteria for academic treatises produced as part of master’s or PhD programs. Each university department will have its standards for utilising the terms ‘dissertation’ or ‘thesis’. The bottom line is to adhere to the language used by the university and department you are working in.
- The nature of the data collected is a key distinguishing factor between a thesis and a dissertation. Thesis employs primary or original data for analysis, while dissertations employ secondary data. Though this rule is not hard & fast, it is generally followed across colleges and universities worldwide.
If we disregard all nuances, features, and purposes and focus solely on the end objectives, theses and dissertations are not different. Both are substantial in scope and two of the highest forms of scholarly writing. Most importantly, both theses and dissertations offer opportunities for learners to participate in research, explore and review different kinds of literature, interpret investigations and findings, and demonstrate their abilities and knowledge to a research community.
And, with that, we wrap up this write-up. Hope this was an interesting & informative read for everyone. Thesis, dissertation or capstone project – any research endeavour can be hectic and challenging. If you need expert professional help, MyAssignmentHelp.co.uk is one of the UK’s oldest research help services that can provide urgent assistance from post-doctorates.
All the best!
