Philosophy of Social Science Examinable Individual Semester Assignment:
Analysing a Past Master’s Thesis
Your task
You should analyse a past master’s thesis according to social- scientific precepts represented by the criteria given below. The results should be presented in a structured report of c. five to eight pages (c. 2,000 words exclusive of tables, figures and bibliography).
What you have to do in detail
- Critically analyse the thesis 1. according to the following criteria and 2. from either a positive or a negative perspective (“praise or negative criticism”) – one of the pair should – overall take the positive and the other the negative approach:
“For this Analysis Just the Negative Aspects!!!!!”
- Research topic and research question
- Research design
- Theoretical basis of the thesis
- Methods used to collect and analyse the data
- Your assessment of the results of the research according to social-scientific standards
- Your evaluation of the coherence of the theory selected, the methods used and the empirical results, as expressed in the discussion of the results in particular.
- Your evaluation of the thesis as a “product”, including any recommendations it makes, its appearance, organisation, reader-friendliness, and so forth (note, for example here that positive criticism can be about recommending more)
- Write a report (max. eight pages of A4 (2.5 cm margins) at Times New Roman 11 point) giving the results of your
Evaluation Criteria: Analysis of a past master’s thesis
Indicative Criteria (NB: these may or may not be used)
- Comprehensive analysis according to basic social-scientific precepts
- Results of the analysis are presented convincingly and in an understandable fashion
- Evaluations are well justified
- Coherent and persuasive use of English
- Correct use of English and appropriate presentation of report
Word Count: 3200-3300
No. of Pages: 12