The difference between a research paper and a thesis
1. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RESEARCH PAPER AND A THESIS
The common aspectof a researchpaper,a termpaperand a thesisisthat theyare all academic
documents.Althoughthereissome overlappinginthe requirements,theydifferbypurpose,style and
specificcomponents.
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Research Paper VSThesis
One of the differencesbetweenaresearchpaperanda thesisisthe purpose as a thesisisa document
writteninsupport of obtaininganacademicdegree orqualification.Itisusuallylongerthanresearch
paperand thuscompletedinanumberof years.A thesis,alsocalleddissertation,isusuallyassociated
withpostgraduate studies,i.e.researchortaughtMaster’s degree,PhDorM.Phil level andiscarriedout
undera supervisionof aprofessororan academicof the university.Supervisorisapersonwhose jobis
to oversee andguide the progressof thesiswriting.One of the supervisor’sassignmentsistoenable the
developmentorenhancementof the student’swritingandpresentationskillsandcapabilityof
independentresearch.Inmostuniversitiesthe supervisorhasthe obligationtomeetwiththe student
on regularbasisanddiscussthe progressof the thesiswriting,includingthe taskof readingthe draftof
the thesisandmake suggestionsforchangesandimprovementswhere necessary.Insome institutions
there hasbeena move towardssupervisoryteamswhichconsistof yoursupervisorpluscombinationsof
co-supervisors,mentorsandindependentacademicswithorwithoutknowledge of yourresearcharea.
One of the aspectsof thesiscompletionisthe oral examinationtakingplace aftersubmittingyourthesis
at the university.The oral examinationmeansusuallythe presentationof yourthesisinfrontof an
examinationboardandansweringtheirquestionsaboutthe topic.The final resultsof yourthesiswillbe
givenafterthe oral examination.
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A researchpaperisusuallybeenwrittenasapart of a subjectanddoescommonlynotaccount as a
separate subjectormodule andthusdoesnot require anindividual supervisor.
A thesisanda researchpaper,bothrequire the demonstrationof extentacademicresearchandthe
evidence of capacityforcritical analysis.The completionof thesishoweverrequiresalsothe inputof
original workandauthor’sfindingsinthe fieldof chosentopic.Whenchoosingatopicfora thesisthe
author mustthustake intoconsiderationthe expectationof originalityinthe fieldorthe inputof some
relevantnewinformationorideas.
Sometimesitisalsoacceptedthatthe authorsimplyprovidesconstructive critical analysisof existing
theoriesorviewpointswithoutnecessarilyofferinganynew ones.In shortacademicrequirementsfora
thesis,especiallythe demandof originality,are muchhigherthanfora researchpaper.Each university
setsitsown rulesandregulationsforpresentationstyle andthe lengthof athesisdependingonthe
researcharea. In some universitiesthe rulescanbe stricter,foreseeingveryspecificstyle andformat
requirements.There are howevercertaincomponentsthatare alwaysprerequisiteinthesis
2. presentationstyle,suchastable of contentsorabstract. You may include adedicationor
acknowledgementanddependingonthe researchfield,graphics,tablesorresearchmethods.Allthe
aforementionedcomponentsmightnotbe expectedinaresearchpaper.However,asbothare
academicdocumentsbibliographytogetherwithaccurate referencingmustbe presented.