Thesis vs. Dissertation: Understand the Key Differences
Dec 05, 2024
When you begin your advanced academic path, you will frequently meet the terms thesis and dissertation. There are a few fundamental differences between these two academic writings. These variations are mostly related to academic level, goals, formatting guidelines, duration, and structure. Understanding these variations is critical, particularly for academic scholars to gaining their advanced degrees. In this blog, we'll explore the essential factors, similarities, and distinctions between a dissertation and thesis to help you understand their unique features.
What is Thesis?
A thesis is a thorough research paper that students submit for a Master's degree and presents unique research on a particular subject. It shows the student's capacity for independent study, data analysis and the contribution of new knowledge to the subject. Thesis must meet academic standards and contribute to the scholarly debate within a specific field.
What is Dissertation?
A dissertation is an even more comprehensive study effort that is usually required for a Postgraduate or Doctoral (PhD) degree. It also conducts original research and contributes new knowledge or insights to a specific subject of study. A dissertation is typically more in-depth and covers a broader range of concepts and requires a high-level of primary data collecting and research.
Similarities of Thesis and Dissertation
Thesis Format:
Front matter
Title
Abstract
Table of Content
List of Figures
List of table
Body
Introduction
Theory
Materials
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
End Matter
Acknowledgements
Appendixes
Bibliography
Dissertation Format:
Front matter
Title
Abstract
Table of Content
List of figures
List of table
Body
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Literature Review
Section 3: Methodology
Section 4: Result
Section 5: Summary, Discussion, Conclusion
End matter
Appendixes
References
Similarities of Thesis and Dissertation
A thesis and dissertation have some important similarities and crucial distinctions.
Both are frequently substantial academic writing projects, significantly exceeding the usual essay.
Both are considered final projects and are often required to obtain a degree, master's, or PhD. They will be able to graduate without having to write a thesis or dissertation.
Whether you are conducting completely original research or developing an argument based on existing information, you must thoroughly investigate a topic.
Both types of research require great academic writing skills. A thesis or dissertation is the final assignment required to graduate from a program.
A complete and accurate understanding of the study problem is required for both the thesis and dissertation.
Both are academic writing assignments must address specific research issues.
Strong academic writing skills are required for both thesis and dissertation.
When compiling and documenting research data, ethical guidelines are must be followed.
Thesis and dissertation do not accept plagiarism and the findings must be determined by analytical skills.
Prior to final submission, both require extensive dissertation/thesis editing and thorough proofreading.
Formatting Guidelines of Thesis or Dissertation
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Length | 100 – 300 Pages |
| Page Size | 8 ½ * 11 inches |
| Margin | At least 1 inch |
| Spacing | Double spacing for body text, single spacing for table of content. |
| Font Size | 10-12 point size |
| Font Style | Arial, Times New Roman, Century, etc |
When preparing the thesis or dissertation for submission, academic students must meet the following basic formatting guidelines.
Embedded Font
Non-embedded font and non-English characters might not show up as intended. Before submitting your dissertation, student's responsibility to ensure that fonts are integrated correctly.
Thesis Acceptance Certificate
The first page should contain a copy of the Thesis Acceptance Certificate (TAC). It is not allowed to number or count this page. Both the title page and the TAC should have the same author name and date.
Title Page
The title page is the first page of the dissertation; it should accurately describe the dissertation and be as brief as feasible. The title page should have the same author name and date as the TAC.A page number should not be printed on the title page.
Abstract
The copyright page should be immediately followed by an abstract (page iii), which should outline the problem, the methodologies and processes used and the key findings or conclusions of the study.
Pagination
Except for the thesis acceptance certificate, each page should be numbered.
Preliminary pages (abstract, table of contents, list of tables)should be numbered in small Roman numbers.
All pages must include text or graphics.
Count the title page as page 1 and the copyright page as page 2, but do not include page numbers on either page.
Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) should be used for the body of text, beginning with page 1 on the first page.
Page numbers must be centered in the document at the top or bottom.
Every numbered page must be consecutively organized, including tables, graphs, illustrations, and bibliography.
Copyright Statement
Following the title page, a second page should contain a copyright statement that includes the author's name, the year of first publication followed by copyright symbol ©. For e.g., © [year] [Author's Name].
Organization
Dissertations organized into section must have a table of contents and the major headings such as title page, abstract, body and References.
Key difference Between Thesis and Dissertation
| Features | Thesis | Dissertation |
|---|---|---|
| Academic level | master’s degree | doctoral PhD degree |
| Goal | Demonstrates research skill, mastery of a subject | Demonstrates original research, critical thinking |
| Depth | limited scope and focused | Broad and thorough study of research |
| Length | 40 to 100 pages | 100 to 300 pages |
| Duration | usually 1 to 2 years | usually 3 to 5 years |
| Research Contribution | might not require important new findings | need unique ground-breaking inputs |
| Structure | introduction literature review methodology results discussion and conclusion | introduction literature review methodology data collection results discussion conclusion and references |
| Methodology | Less complicated, able to use current techniques | More intricate and frequently entails substantial primary research |
| Oversight | Consistent but infrequent direction | Regular and close oversight Information |
| Result | demonstrates knowledge of the subject and research abilities | pushes the field's knowledge boundaries |
| Data collection | may include a small amount of primary research or secondary data | mostly include gathering and analyzing original data |
Conclusion:
Thesis and dissertations are both significant academic works, but they have different functions and distinct in depth, complexity, and scope. A dissertation is an essential for a doctoral PhD that providing a significant amount of new information to the area, whereas a thesis is usually required for a Master's degree and involves concentrated research on a particular question or topic. Their varying academic degrees are reflected in the variations in their length, depth, technique, and anticipated contributions to the subject. Writing a thesis or a dissertation, students can approach their research with a clear knowledge of purpose and expectation if they are aware of these distinctions.
Many scholars struggle to find the difference between Dissertation and Thesis. To know more about dissertation and thesis