Posted: January 8th, 2023

Dissertation vs thesis: what’s the difference?

Writing Guide: Dissertation vs thesis: what’s the difference?

Whether you are planning to join a graduate program or are already taking classes, you are probably aware that you have to submit a comprehensive paper or project in order to graduate. Some students will write a thesis while others will be faced with a dissertation. Not sure a bout the differences? These two terms are often used interchangeably in some universities and often confused for each other among scholars and professors. However, while both are advanced graduate research papers, these two papers are completely different with definite differences.

Read on to find out the differences between a thesis and a dissertation

Differences in type of degree

The first major difference between a thesis and a dissertation is when they are completed in the academic journey. A thesis is the final project completed by students pursuing a master’s programs. A dissertation project on the other had is written by doctoral students and marks the end of a doctoral study.

Differences in purpose

These two terms also differ in purpose.  A thesis is more similar to a research paper in the sense that it is a compilation of research that seeks to prove a student’s competence in the subject or area of study. A dissertation on the contrary, gives the student an opportunity to introduce new ideas, concepts, or theories into the field of study. The purpose of a dissertation is to introduce a totally new concept, explore, develop and defend it through research.

Differences in data collection process

Both academic papers involve comprehensive research. However, with a thesis project, a student conducts research in way that seeks to prove they have gathered enough information and are knowledgeable in their field of study. This means that the research exclusively comes from secondary sources like books, articles, journal, etc. A dissertation in contrast, is an original research and thus mostly utilizes primary sources inform of interviews, experiments, focus groups, among others to gather information.

Differences in length

A thesis will typically cover about a hundred pages of research or a bit beyond that. A dissertation in comparison, is lengthier sometimes double or triple the length of a thesis. It is also important to note that a dissertation is considerably more intricate than a thesis and will take many months or years to complete.

Knowing the difference between these two academic papers will contribute significantly into the success completion of your paper. However, both papers demand time and effort dedication in the research and writing process. Most of the times, the two papers end up with an oral defence where the student defends their research work before a board of examiners.

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