O0PP 2015 - Master thesis seminar

The master thesis is the first long piece of research done and written by the master students. The aim of this course is to work collectively on the research design elaborated by the students for their master thesis, the planning of their research operations, and the writing of their master thesis. Using exemplary articles or book chapters chosen by students, the seminar will focus on the various steps of such a research. Divided in six sessions of two hours each, it will focus on 1. The puzzle: from the broad topic to building a puzzle; 2. State of the art: from a list of references to a dynamic use of the literature review; 3. Research questions and hypotheses: operationalizing theories, between hypothetico-deductive and theory guided inductive approaches; 4. and 5. Choice of case(s), data and method(s): from studying a mechanism, a case or a series of cases or data to defining the type(s) of case(s) and data and adopting the adapted method(s), qualitative (4.) and/or quantitative (5.); and 6. the presentation of the findings. Students will be asked to choose articles or books that present research they want to be inspired from for their own research. Each session will analyze one of the steps of the research, reflecting on the practice read in the literature chosen by the students, and then implemented by the students in their own research project. Students will be sending for each session a proposal (depending on the session on their own puzzle, research questions and hypotheses, choices of case(s) and methods) to be discussed by peers during class.

No requirement

Interactive sessions where “exemplary” articles and short papers sent by students in advance are discussed in class

Students are expected to write a short (one to maximum two pages) paper in advance before each session: 50% of the grade will be based on the 6 short paper and their presentation during classes.

The final paper will be made of the aggregation and revision of these short papers into a complete master this project paper (50% of the grade).

Students are expected to choose, read and analyze one academic paper/book chapter for each session, and to prepare a max. two pages paper showing how they will develop the specific step of the research studied in the session in their own project.

Sessions will be based on interactive discussion (each student sending in advance and presenting their own paper, discussed by the other students).

For their final paper, students are expected to write their complete research project.