Dissertations and master’s theses are crucial to the academic careers of PhD and master’s students, respectively. Both documents show that young scholars or scholars in training are competent enough to carry out original and high-quality research on their own.
However, there is often confusion as to what the differences are between the two. In this article, I explain what the differences and similarities between master’s and dissertation programs are and other common questions about the two.
What is a dissertation vs thesis?
Dissertation vs thesis differences lie in the fact that the dissertation is carried out as part of the fulfillment of a PhD study, whereas the master’s thesis is carried out as the fulfillment of a master’s degree. There are other key differences between the two.
A dissertation is usually a longer document with a series of scientific experiments or research papers. Some of these papers may even be individually published in journals as part of the requirements for obtaining a PhD. On the other hand, a master’s thesis usually focuses on a single experiment or study.
However, both programs have the following requirements:
1. The student has to carry out extensive and original research by themselves. This research has to follow the scientific process. This means the methods of collecting data have to be properly recorded and carried out, as well as the analysis.
A master’s or PhD student will receive intensive training as a researcher by their advisor. This involves training on how to collect, collate, and analyze data. This is an essential period in the life of a scholar. It is your chance to prove that you are competent enough to carry out original research on your own.
2. The work has to be published in the form of a lengthy scientific report. For both the thesis and dissertation, the student has to write out a report that takes the form of the IMRaD structure that is typical of scientific publication. IMRaD stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
This structure is typical of lab-based studies and the hard sciences. However, versions of it are also used in the social sciences and humanities. PhDs and dissertations vary in length and depend on the requirements of your advisor and defense committee.
However, even with the scientific report, there are differences between the two programs. In the case of the master’s thesis, the scientific report is continuous and a single document. However, in the case of the PhD dissertation, it is a series of individual reports compiled into one document.
3. Both programs are peer-reviewed. Students in both dissertation and master’s programs have to go through a peer-review process. This peer review process involves what is called a committee. This committee is made up of your advisor and at least two other experts from the field of research you are studying.
Ideally, your committee member would have published several peer-reviewed papers or major books on the relevant field of study. This would ensure that they have the expertise to judge, correct, and advise you on the corrections that are required to improve your scientific report.
The thesis committee will first acquire a copy or draft of your initial manuscript days or weeks before your committee presentation. After the presentation, the committee will then award you a score, which will determine whether or not you’re allowed to graduate.
Differences between a dissertation and a master’s thesis
It has been said that the point of a master’s degree is to demonstrate that the researcher can carry out research at the highest level or standard. On the other hand, the point of a PhD is to show that a researcher can come up with novel research and solutions to existing scientific problems.
Besides that, there are other differences. The master’s thesis is a single continuous document. On the other hand, the PhD, although presented as a single scientific report in book form, is a series of scientific reports. These reports may be related; however, several of them will be independent investigations that would have been published already in peer-reviewed journals.
How long does it take to write a master's thesis?
How long it takes to write a master’s thesis depends on several factors. Ideally, a master’s thesis should take the whole two years of your time at university. However, some have written their theses in one, two, or three months. This is not recommended. Under this type of severe time pressure, many things can go wrong, and you may have to delay your graduation. Therefore, it's best to begin writing your thesis as early as the first semester.
Factors that influence how long it takes to complete your master’s thesis include 1. The type of data you have to collect; 2. How well you planned and prepared beforehand; 3. Your advisor; and so on.
How do you write a thesis statement for a master's thesis?
For a master’s thesis in the sciences, a hypothesis would be more appropriate than a thesis statement. A hypothesis should be formulated after a thorough literature review. However, for the humanities and social sciences, thesis statements may apply. To write a thesis statement, be concise and direct about stating your main idea. This should be done early in the first paragraph of the introduction.
Can I pay someone to write my master’s thesis or PhD Dissertation?
You could, but should you? The point of writing a master’s thesis is to demonstrate your competence and maturity as a scholar. Reputable universities would expect that students write their own master’s thesis. Moreover, there are severe penalties to pay for hiring someone to write a thesis on your behalf, such as your degree being revoked. In short, you could, but shouldn't.
Ethical alternatives to hiring someone to write your thesis include 1) taking specific university courses on how to write your thesis, 2) starting early and planning, and 3) hiring a private coach for intensive lessons on how to write your thesis.
How EminentEdit can help with your thesis or dissertation
At EminentEdit, we understand the importance of completing and submitting your thesis or dissertation on time. We have editors who have published their own theses and are familiar with the process. In my case, not only have I published my thesis, but I have also helped numerous authors and academics to edit their dissertations successfully.
So, we know exactly what it takes to get your thesis ready for submission.
EminentEdit provides editing and proofreading services that are:
More importantly, we are adaptable to your specific needs. | Get in touch with one of our representatives for help in editing your manuscript We know what you want to say. We help you say it better. |
Our services don't just start with proofreading the final product. It also includes help from the very start, such as editing and double-checking your thesis proposal. Our thesis editing services include the following:
Developmental editing to make sure your proposal can be transformed into a thesis that can pass your defense or committee review
Substantive editing to improve the quality of your writing on a sentence level
Extensive commentary and recommendations to improve literature review, structure, and arguments
Proofreading to make sure your writing is grammatically correct with proper spelling and punctuation
Assistance in transforming your thesis into a published scientific paper
So feel free to get in touch through our contact page here: CONTACT US AT EMINENT EDIT. Good luck with your research writing!
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine, M. (2024, November 14). Dissertation vs thesis: What’s the difference? https://www.eminentediting.com/post/dissertation-vs-thesis-what-s-the-difference |
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