Dissertation

A dissertation (abbreviated diss.), officially also inaugural dissertation, inaugural or introductory dissertation, is an academic work to obtain a doctoral degree at a scientific university with the right to award doctorates. In order to obtain a doctorate, in addition to the publication of the dissertation (university thesis), either an oral examination (rigorosum) or an oral defense of the dissertation (disputation) is necessary.

Explanation

A dissertation is a piece of scholarly writing that accounts for research work throughout the doctoral program. A researcher earns the Ph.D. after submitting and defending his/her dissertation. It includes all information about the original research or expanded research on a new or existing topic conducted by the Ph.D. candidate. In Germany, for example, a doctoral degree can usually only be used after the dissertation has been published.

Students may present a new theory or hypothesis in their field or present research disproving a previously presented theory. Alternatively, they may tackle a new angle, taking the established research in a new direction. The traditional order is to take doctoral courses, complete the qualifying exams and then write the dissertation. However, there are exceptions to this. At some universities, the dissertation process is integrated into the coursework. This allows students to get a jumpstart on their research while working toward the completion of their course requirements. As a result, they may graduate more quickly. The process of writing a dissertation begins in a way similar to the process for a master’s thesis. Students select their topic and then conduct a literature review, which is a thorough analysis of the existing research on that topic. From there, students can work on developing a new theory, debunking a previously established theory or finding a new angle on an existing theory. The dissertation defense is often one of the most intimidating aspects of the doctoral degree program. However, students work closely with their selected committees throughout the dissertation process. This means you can rest assured that if your committee has allowed your work to proceed to the point of the dissertation defense point, then your dissertation will almost certainly be accepted, and you will be granted your degree after your successful defense.

A thesis and a dissertation are both extensive research papers, and both require literature searches and novel findings, but the two differ in various ways. Their definitions also differ across regions. Typically, in North America, a thesis (preliminary degree on the way to a doctorate) is required for the completion of a master’s degree, while a dissertation is required for the completion of a doctoral degree. The former is long, while the latter is longer and more intensive. The goal of a dissertation is not only to prove the student’s own knowledge and skills but also to add to the existing body of knowledge in their field. Both forms of scholarly written pieces must address specific research questions. Academic writing skills are imperative for a thesis as well as a dissertation.

Requirements

A dissertation requires:

• The skillful defense of an academic argument (the stance or main point of the paper)
• Analytical reasoning and critical thinking
• In-depth expertise about the subject area
• A significant investment of time (years for dissertations and months for theses)
• A willingness to rewrite and edit based on feedback from professors, peers or committee members

Dissertation (UK exception)

The word dissertation has taken from the root Latin word ‘dissertare’ which means to continue to discuss. While the word thesis is taken from the Greek word ‘tithenai’ which means to place. Both these words explain different meanings but are we really talking about or referring right when we say dissertation or a thesis? And do these words really impact you while you are writing a thesis or dissertation? The terms dissertation and thesis are often used interchangeably. Many people may get confused with the actual difference and might ask - “how is your thesis going on?” while you are writing a dissertation or vice versa. Plus, it makes it more confusing when different countries and institutions use these terms interchangeably. Let's know the difference between dissertation and thesis in the UK:

A thesis in the UK is often meant as unpublished work submitted for a doctoral degree. On the other hand, a dissertation in the UK means a work presented at the undergraduate or master's level. The thesis is an original research work that helps candidates to earn a PhD degree while the dissertation is a part of a master's degree involving a broader research project. As the thesis requires original research work, it takes up a lot of time and plenty of background research on the subject. Therefore, a thesis contains extensive citations and references to all the work done. But the main focus remains to present original work.