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Students are typically required to write a thesis or a dissertation to get a graduate degree. The inaccurate use of the terms thesis and dissertation is not uncommon in academia. In the Elizabethan era, a Master’s degree student would prepare a thesis, an original work in which they supported a given argument. A Doctoral degree, on the other hand, involves submitting and defending a dissertation.
A student would read their thesis before the committee, then sit quietly while two faculty members refuted what the student had said step by step. The student’s ability to present themselves properly was the focus here. So, a dissertation is an option for students who want to succeed in their academic careers.
This process seemed more like a review of the literature. The student would do a lot of reading in a specific field and then write down their findings, discussing the many popular and their own viewpoints. The students had to present themselves as well-versed individuals with deep knowledge of the research material. While there is some confusion between the two names, we will address the matter of dissertation vs. thesis in this article and give you clear answers.
The Definition of Dissertation and Thesis
While a thesis and a dissertation have a lot in common (they’re both advanced graduate scientific studies), they’re also two different types of scholarly work with substantial differences in objectives, length, and study requirements. Most significantly, the distinction between a thesis and a dissertation is determined by the student’s educational level.
A thesis is a critically written academic research paper. It is usually submitted by students who have completed a Master’s program. A thesis allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skill in the subject matter that they have studied as part of their curriculum.
A dissertation is a long piece of academic writing that documents your research work over the course of your Ph.D. program. After the submission and defense stages of a student’s dissertation, a researcher is given a Doctoral degree. It contains all details on the Ph.D. candidate’s original study or additional research on a new or current topic.
The Differences Between Dissertation and Thesis
- The most significant distinction between a thesis and a dissertation is when they are written. A thesis, as previously stated, is finished at the end of a Master’s program, but a dissertation is submitted to get a Ph.D.
- A thesis is a research paper that demonstrates the student is well-informed and knowledgeable about the study topic covered in the course. A dissertation, on the other hand, allows the researcher to offer new ideas and theories to their chosen field’s latest research.
- A thesis is a presentation of already learned and existing knowledge, whereas a dissertation is intended to develop an original idea and defend it using theoretical and practical evidence.
- A Master’s thesis is usually around 100 pages long. A Doctoral dissertation, on the other hand, should be significantly lengthier than a thesis and contain background and study data. Your research proposal, grant proposal, literature review, study topic brainstorming, and every other technical detail regarding your research must all be included in your dissertation. A dissertation should be three times the length of a Master’s thesis, including all of the above-stated details.
The Similarities Between Dissertation and Thesis
- Both a thesis and a dissertation are final projects that must be completed to graduate from their respective programs.
- Both the thesis and the dissertation demand a thorough understanding of the study issue.
- Academic writings in both forms must answer specific research topics.
- A high level of academic writing skills is required for both the thesis and dissertation.
- A student should respect ethical norms while collecting and using research data.
- Plagiarism is not tolerated in either situation.
- Both involve critical thinking skills to back up the findings.
- Both the thesis and the dissertation require careful editing and proofreading before submission.
Dissertation and Thesis in Europe
The difference between a thesis and a dissertation has mainly been similar across Europe. A doctorate dissertation is a piece of original study completed to obtain a Ph.D. A dissertation is an important component of a larger post-graduate research program.
However, the dissertation has changed throughout time, as original research now necessitates extensive prior study. As a result, a dissertation will include numerous citations and references to previous work, with the emphasis remaining on the original work done.
Dissertation and Thesis in the USA
The concept of a thesis in the United States is nearly the opposite of that in Europe. Since a thesis is not as long as a dissertation, it has come to be thought of as a pre-Doctoral degree. A thesis is now written to get a Master’s degree. In scientific subjects, a Master’s student takes additional courses and gets hands-on experience working on a research topic, but not to the extent that a Ph.D. student would.
Students’ ideas are encouraged in a Master’s thesis, although the emphasis is on gaining technical expertise rather than conducting original research. For example, Management students just earn Master’s degrees and rarely pursue Doctorate degrees, since it’s not mandatory. In other subjects, such as Chemistry, it is the opposite, with a Master’s degree no longer needed to pursue a Doctorate degree. Almost everyone I know with a Master’s degree in Chemistry got it after dropping out of the graduate program and writing a Master’s paper based on their rushed research.
Final Thoughts
The differences between a dissertation and a thesis are evident. As a result, substituting one term for another is not appropriate in academia. Each must be used according to its intended purpose. Still, they are related and similar in many ways. Writing a thesis or a dissertation should be treated with a great amount of attention. Both of these writings involve having strong soft and tech skills. Acing both types of academic writing requires you to improve your self-discipline and academic writing skills.
Each institution and course have its own set of requirements for the content and format of a thesis or dissertation. Although you can find examples of the basic format of a thesis or dissertation on the internet, the most relevant examples for you will be the latest writings from your own college. Your professor should also be able to assist you. However, you now have a better understanding of the distinction between a thesis and a dissertation.
