Writing a Thesis

1. Writing a Thesis Karen M. Olsen February 7, 2012

2. Agenda • Requirements of a master thesis • Finding a topic • Be prepared – take Methodology for master thesis STR402/405! • Spring (Norwegian) or Fall (English) • Examples of topics of master theses • Thesis content • What to put on the application for advisor

3. Requirements of a master thesis • A larger unified piece of work • Provide a contribution • 30 Study points (1/2 year’s work) • Ca. 50-80 pages • You may write individually or in groups of 2 students Standard (mal): http://nhh.no/no/forskning-og-fagmiljø/biblioteket/elektronisk-publisering.aspx

4. Finding a topic • Look in textbooks, DN, the Economist, Financial Times, etc • Look for on-going research projects, examples.. • Crisis, restructuring, growth (Krise, omstilling, vekst) (SAM, ECO and STR) • FOCUS – Future-Oriented Corporate Solutions (STR, BUS, INB) • Beyond Budgeting (BUS) • CSI – Center for Service Innovation (MBM) • etc.

5. How to write a master thesis? STR402/405 • Basic methodological preparations • What does a master thesis look like? • What are the requirements to conduct a scientific piece of work? • What is methods? • What does a methods chapter in your thesis contain? • How will you learn about this? • Read about methods and analyze examples • Practical experience through exercises • Develop a project description Mainly students in STR and MBM, butalso ENE, BUS, SAM and INB

6. The process of writing the thesis Research question Theory Model Design Data collection Data analysis Reporting

7. Collect your own or use existing data? • Collect own data • Experiments, surveys, qualitative interviews, observation, etc • Use existing data - possible sources • Official registers (SSB, stock exchange, Brønnøysund, etc) • Surveys of firms, employees or customers • Data collected in previous research projects • Norwegian Social Science Data Service www.nsd.no • Data collected by firms

8. Examples of topics of master theses • Trust during a change process • Analysis of existing survey data (part of Statoil/Hydro merger project) • Middle managers’ skills at Merger Integration. Case study of Statoil(Hydro) • Collected own data: Participated at workshops (part of Statoil/Hydro merger project) • How expectations about income influence social preferences • Conducted experiment of NHH students (part of on-going research project)

9. Examples of topics of master theses (cont.) • Predicting bankruptcies after the financial crisis. Do financial- and industry variables play a different role? • Analysis of existing data from Brønnøysund (part of Krise, omstilling, vekst-project) • Experiential Aspects of Consumption. How experiences influence satisfaction and loyalty • Collecting own data through experiments (part of CSI project) • Job satisfaction among employees of Temporary Help Agencies • Analysis of existing survey data collected in previous research project

10. Thesis content • Introduction • Theory • Methods • Findings • Conclusion

11. Introduction (ca 3-5 p) • What is this thesis about ? • Know which research question(s) you will be answering • Why is this interesting? • You need a hook • Give the reader a general idea of what to expect • Position your question into a larger picture • Give a taste of what is to come • Briefly describe how thesis is organized

12. Theory (ca 15-25 p) • Which theory are you basing your model/ hypotheses/analysis on? • LIMIT your focus! You cannot draw on all theories • Make sure your theory is appropriate for your RQ • Develop & construct your own arguments • Develop a conceptual framework or model • If empirical – most are • Quantitative: Formulate hypotheses (proposition) • Qualitative: Clarify what we do not yet know from theory (which you will examine)

13. Methods (ca 15-20 p) • Research design • Survey, case study, experiment, official registers. Why? • Data collection. How? Did you collect own (primary) or use secondary data? What types of data? Quantitative or qualitative? • Type of data analysis Factor analysis, regressions, coding & categorizing • How did you secure validity & reliability? • Discuss how you handle the weaknesses in your design

14. Findings (ca 15-25 p) • Show your data - presentation and illustration • Descriptive statistics • Correlation tables, Tables & figures • Quotes/citations, Narratives/case stories • Pictures, photographs, etc. • Describe what you found - analysis & discussion • Make use of your theoretical constructs and frameworks • Do findings match your expectations from theory? Why / why not? • Do you need additional theory to explain your findings? • Can you find explanations in your data? • Do not overstate your findings – but present them clearly Use your theory to discuss and explain

15. Conclusion (ca 5 p) • Return to your question. What were your main arguments and what is your answer? • Your answer should follow from the analysis & discussion • No surprises in your conclusion • What are the implications of your findings? • Practical implications for organizations, managers, employees, governments or others? • Theoretical/research implications? • Be clear on your findings but also on the study’s limitations • All studies have limitations • Reflect critically on your findings and study

16. What to put on the application for advisor (March 15th) • Try to explain as accurately as possible what you intend to do • Your choice of words will decide which advisors are relevant • BUT: topic is not ”cut in stone”