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Step One: Topic
What is a thesis?
A thesis is an original contribution to knowledge in psychology. By coordinating
thought on a topic, area, or problem in psychology and by producing and
examining relevant evidence, a thesis makes an effort to go beyond what is
now known, believed, or argued in the field. The written thesis must embody
currently accepted standards of method in the discipline and must reflect
a reasonably sophisticated understanding of the contemporary literature of
the field. Finally, it ought to reflect creativity, intelligence, and effort.
A thesis may be contrasted with an essay (such as the Sophomore Essay
you have written) in several ways. While an essay is a review, evaluation,
and synthesis of the ideas of others, and may even include original thoughts
and suggestions for future research, a thesis contains a much larger original
contribution by the author, and almost always entails original research above
and beyond a preliminary (although thorough) review of the relevant literature.
Thus the setting for essay work is apt to be the library, while that for thesis
work is more likely to be a laboratory, a computer terminal, or a real-life
environment.
Undergraduates have done some rich and interesting thesis research in the
past. Of course most theses, like most projects of seasoned investigators,
will not arrive at major scientific breakthroughs. As an undergraduate, you
will likely have only limited experience with research. You will work with
limited resources, in a bounded period of time, and in the midst of other
important and competing senior-year commitments. A psychological study
is a surprisingly complex undertaking. Much can go wrong, and inevitably
something always does. So your thesis planning has to mix practical thinking
with scientific vision. Your supervisor and reader will usually be quite concerned
that you have considered both the practical and the visionary in your
preparation for your thesis research. A judicious balancing of these approaches
will help you produce a project that is interesting and meaningful enough to
warrant the great time and effort it will require of you.
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