INF5220 - 9 13th of January 2005

Structure of Master thesis Title 1-page summary or abstract Foreword, acknowledgements Table of contents Introduction Related literature and theoretical focus Presentation of the part of the world to be studied Method Your research results (and discussion) Conclusion References (Annexes, appendices) (Focus for lecture)

Introduction Should orientate the readers and answer the question: ”what is this thesis about?” Here you should present: The area of research (problem domain, topic) The main motivation for doing research (why is your study important) The purpose of your research, possibly including your research questions. What you aim to contribute A brief description of how you attempt to find out (methods) You could also try to answer: What is the target audience? What is your personal motivation for this work? End with sketching the structure of the rest of the thesis

Related literature and theoretical focus (1) A survey of the literature (journals, conferences, book chapters) on the areas that are relevant to your research question. One section per area. The chapter should conclude with a summary of the previous research results that you want to develop further or challenge. The summary could be presented in a model, a list of issues, etc. Each issue could be a chapter in the presentation of results. They should definitely be discussed in the discussion / conclusion of the thesis. Silverman p. 295: What do we already know about the topic? What do you have to say critically about what is already known? Has anyone ever done exactly the same? Has anyone else done anythign that is related? Where does your work fit with what has gone before? Why is your research worth doing in the light of what has already been done?

Related literature and theoretical focus (2) Related literature versus theoretical framework: need not overlap. (could be two chapters or subchapters) Theoretical framework: Give a description of the theory you have selected, (or the theory to which the concepts you have selected ”belong”). Avoid the temptation to explain and illustrate the theoretical concepts with examples from you own empirical work (– save that for later). If your main motivation is theoretical, this chapter must be structured in a way that leads up to your motivation. (For example arguments such as: ”the literature is insufficient (or ambigous)” or ”the theory needs elaboration”)

Presentation of the part of the world to be studied The background information which is necessary (helpful) in order to understand the area, but which is not the kind of information that you want to focus on in your study. Could be from your own empirical work, or from others’ descriptions (research, oublic documents etc). This is not always a separate chapter. This kind of information can be given in the introduction or in the methods chapter (in a section about the case or setting)

Methods Describe your choice of methods between alternatives. The choice should be argued for (justified). You should demonstrate that you are aware of the strength and weaknesses of you research strategy, design and methods. A detailed report of the fieldwork that was actually carried out: What did you do, how did you do it, why did you do what you did? How did you select case and participants (those you observe or interview)? How did you conduct observations (in what kind of situations, at what times, of what activities etc)? Whom did you interview, on what issues, in what kind of situations or settings (during work hours, in an office, at a cafe)? (Silverman suggests a ’natural history’ approach, see page 305 onwards. You may also read: U. Schultze: ”A confessional account of an ethnography about knowledge work” MIS Quarterly vol. 24, no.1, pp.3-42.)

Empirical chapters One or several. Analysis and discussion can be integrated, or discussion can be provided in a separate chapter. The discussion needs to link up to the issues discussed in chapter two. Concepts/theories have to be applied (used).

Conclusion Summary of main problems, findings and conclusions Comparisons with literature in chapter two – how does your findings fit in? What are the contributions (practical, theoretical and/or methodological) What are the implications? Suggest possible directions for further research

Example: defining a research focus Starting point: ”I am interested in working with:” Health Information Systems in developing countries Counter networks Cultivation EPR systems Open Source Software development