Features of a Master’s Thesis vs PhD Dissertation
Features of a Master’s Thesis vs PhD Dissertation
| Master’s Thesis | -Original and novel testing of ideas and a hypothesis -An independent work or experimentation -Demonstrated competence and understanding of industry techniques as well as their limitations -Thorough knowledge of the literature -Ability to use synthesize and criticize the literature for the research topic -Ability to present the work in an academic capacity (conference, seminar, recitation, defense, etc.) |
| PhD Dissertation | -All of the above characteristics -A novel contribution to the scientific literature not published previously -Original research produced directly by the author (graduate student) -A clear research question/hypothesis clearly answered (or falsified) -Advances in methods, observations, interpretation, etc. |
Content and Structural Differences
So how is dissertation writing different from thesis writing?
Now that you know the definitions of a dissertation and thesis, let’s dive into some clear ways in which they differ in structure and other main characteristics.
How long is a thesis vs dissertation?
Length is the most obvious factor in differentiating between writing a thesis or dissertation.
Generally, a doctoral dissertation has greater breadth, depth, and intention than a master’s thesis since it is based on original research. While the standard length of a master’s thesis is around 100 pages, a doctoral dissertation can be upwards of 400-500 pages.
While most students can finish their PhD dissertation or thesis in as little as 1-2 years, it can take as long as 7 years depending on the school, program, and dissertation topic. As doctoral programs have their own formatting requirements, check with your school or university to find out what you need for your own dissertation or thesis. Most dissertations are organized into chapters, but the number of chapters varies as well.
Differences in research methods
A thesis and dissertation are both graduate-level research reports. This means they require students to investigate and report on a specific topic. But what is the difference in the scale of research between a master’s versus doctoral degree? The answer comes down to how much and what type of data you collect.
Data sources for a thesis vs dissertation
A master’s thesis is limited to secondary or reported knowledge. This knowledge has already been published, analyzed, and scrutinized in the literature. A thesis does not typically offer anything new in that regard. Your purpose is usually to write a comprehensive literature review on a novel or underreported topic using already-reported data.
