Something of interest

“When considering what a thesis can accomplish, I think of this really on three levels of accomplishments. At the most basic, minimum level, the thesis should demonstrate an ability to do a research project that formulates questions, does a literature review, designs a study, and executes it. It should demonstrate mastery of a topic and of at least basic abilities. I think the minimum goal is to write a review article. That’s where the conceptual framework comes in. It’s a way to organize the literature. Then, of course, to demonstrate writing skills, language skills, as it is part of the minimum requirement.

As the achievement becomes a more advanced accomplishment, then I would expect the document to identify a relevant problem of some significance in the world, one which is troubling or novel, which can be in the form of a research question. In this middle ground, there is also the requirement to demonstrate the ability to carry out a rigorous methodology.

And then the skill that’s really difficult, and that therefore indicates a more advanced kind of accomplishment, would be to articulate and justify a research model or set of hypotheses. Another way to think about the highest level is to be able to say something of interest, both to academics and practitioners.”

(Steven Floyd)