How to evaluate thesis research in psychology?

The criteria of evaluating a thesis refers to checking the certain different essential aspects of a thesis research on the subject, here it is psychology. Though most of the time, every teacher or examiner has a certain different methodology for assessment of the thesis, there are also some common ground points that every examiner looks for while assessing thesis research on psychology.

Assessment of a thesis occurs in two steps, first is the examining of the thesis and is followed by the oral examination. The common key aspects that are included in most of the criteria for the assessment of thesis research are and should be focused on, both by the student and the examiner are as follows:

Presentation

The presentation and the clarity aspects are very important while assessing thesis research. presentation makes the first impression and is very crucial for a proper introduction. Whereas, the clarity aspect of a thesis refers to its language being clear, not overlapping each other, and having a good flow while reading. The key points to look out for in presentation and clarity aspects of thesis research in psychology are:

The text should be easy to read, should not cause any difficulty to the reader.

The sentences in the text should connect and form a proper reading flow as if they are telling a story.

The submission should be written in a way that the reader is to be able to find their way around locating tables and figures. While also being able to cross-reference them with ease. This will make it more reader-friendly.

Unnecessary repetitions and duplications must be avoided.

Make sure to include the bibliography as per the method that is in your project’s guidelines. While also being complete and accurate.

Make sure to keep the word limit in check and never over-stretch it. The mean figure for the word limit of a PhD thesis research is around 75-80,000 words. Make sure to never cross the 1,00,000 mark in the word limit.

Proper integration and logical coherence

One of the key ways by which thesis research is made interesting as well as engaging to read is composing it like a story. Similar to a story, the sentences should be aligned in such a way that not only would they be in chronological order but also would be connected with each other. This is done with the help of forming logical and rational links between the component parts of a thesis. It can also be achieved with the help of forming a series of empirical studies or analyses by building them onto one another. Opting for either of these ways will result in forming an intellectual wholeness in your submission.

Contributory factor

The main aim of a Ph.D. thesis or dissertation is to provide a noticeable contribution to its respective field of study. This is also a very important assessment factor. The key point that is noted while assessing it is that it should be approximately equivalent in quality and quantity to that of at least two articles of a fully refereed journal, that is standardly acceptable.

Its only alternative is for the thesis research to be substantial enough for it to form the basis of a research monograph or a book, that meets the standards of an established academic publisher’s system of critical peer review.

Innovativeness and Ingenuity

The very basic requirement that thesis research in psychology, or any other subject, needs to fulfill is for it to be an original work. But the originality would not depend on a single mind in most cases as most of the researches is done in a group where everyone has different ideas. But in some cases, the whole project can be an original idea of a single person.

Review of its relevant literature

The candidate who is doing thesis research is expected to properly demonstrate in their work that they studied all of the relevant existing literature on the topic. This will show that they have a thorough knowledge of their field of study and consist of the required understanding of its main theoretical and methodological issues.

The students should make sure that the literature review should not just be a catalog of literature but should consist of a critical and analytical approach, with the proper understanding of the errors and differences in opinion of its sources. A proper literature review should be penetrating, succinct, and challenging to the reader.

Research problem’s statement

The literature review would have revolved around a research problem about a further investigation on it. If written well, then the main target would be clear to the reader from the literature review even without reading the statement. But as a countermeasure and a confirmation of your targeted question, make sure to write a well-versed statement of your research problem.

A well-versed statement of the research problem should of a clear and succinct tone and language, respectively. Along with consisting of a specific set of hypotheses, predictions, and questions about the topic that the research is designed for addressing