Thesis meaning (what is it, concept and definition)

What is a Thesis:

A thesis is a conclusion, proposition, opinion or theory that is supported by reasoning. A thesis is also a scientific work, usually to obtain the title of doctor at a university.

Thesis comes from the Latin thĕsis , which in turn derives from the Greek θέσις ( thésis , 'establishment', 'proposition', 'placement'), originally from tithenai ('to archive'). This word has the peculiarity of not varying in its plural form.

Thesis

A thesis is a research work that is done at the end of a university career. Expand or deepen an area of ​​human knowledge by providing a novelty or a critical review applying what has been learned in the race, using scientific methods.

Steps for a thesis

To carry out a thesis, a series of steps is normally followed. These may be more depending on the nature of the thesis but they are summarized in:

• the search and choice of a topic, the formulation of a project or preliminary project, the execution of the project, the elaboration or development of the thesis, and the defense of the thesis.

Thesis structure

A graduate thesis usually follows a series of research protocols that indicate the structure it must have. The structure of the thesis must include the following sections:

• content index, acknowledgments and dedications, summary, index of tables and figures, general introduction, background and theoretical foundation, development of the topic (general description, subjects and groups of subjects involved, expected benefits, general and specific objectives, justification), methodology (data collection method and instruments used), results and analysis of results, conclusions and recommendations, research limitations, bibliographic references and appendices (graphics, images and additional data).

See also:

• Parts of a thesis. Research protocol.

Thesis project

A thesis project is a document prior to preparing a thesis. In this type of project, the fundamental characteristics of a thesis are usually established, such as the approach or research methods.

It is used as a reference, planning and orientation to carry out the thesis.

The thesis project is presented to the director or advisor of the thesis and usually includes the frame of reference that includes the title, subject, objectives, justification and theoretical framework, methodology, chapters and bibliography.

Thesis examples

Currently, there are various databases that can be accessed through the Internet to read thesis examples. One of them is the Central Library of the Autonomous University of Mexico that has the largest collection of theses in Mexico, approximately 150,000 of them in digital format that can be accessed through this link.

Another database with theses available on the Internet is that of the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (Mexico). More examples of theses in various languages ​​can be found at DART-Europe, an association of research libraries that offers access to European doctoral theses.

Acknowledgments in a thesis

Usually, in a thesis there is a section called 'acknowledgments' in which the support of people who have contributed or collaborated in some way in preparing a thesis is recognized.

It usually includes the director of the thesis and other professors or people in general who the author of the thesis wants to highlight or thank. Sometimes this section appears as a paragraph at the end of the introduction.

Thesis, antithesis and synthesis

According to the Hegelian dialectic, in any search for reality by the human spirit, one can witness the emergence of a thesis first, then a denial of the thesis called antithesis, to reconcile in the synthesis and start again with another thesis.

Thesis, antithesis and synthesis are the 3 elements that constitute the logical process of the dialectic of the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831).

Isolated theses and jurisprudence

In Mexican law, isolated theses and jurisprudence are different sources of interpretation of a law.

Isolated theses indicate the criterion of the Collegiate Court or non-compulsory SCJN whose purpose is to define a precedent of orientation and training.

On the other hand, jurisprudence is the interpretation of mandatory laws issued through the nation's Supreme Court of Justice.