This presentation provides guidelines for writing a master thesis.

1. Thesis clinic 2014
Erik van ’t Klooster
eklooster@rsm.nl
www.getupandgo.nl
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

2. •Main principles
1.Introduction
2.Theoretical framework
3.Research method
4.Analysis (Results and Discussion)
5.Conclusion
Overview

3. Main principles

4. 1.Every decision you make in your master thesis should be underpinned.
2.Try to find a conceptual model that for 80% represents your main idea and fine-tune it with other models / ideas from other authors.
3.The chronological literature review (theoretical framework) is the foundation for the rest of your thesis. When this foundation is unstable it will lead to additional challenges in the subsequent chapters. In contrast, when this foundation is solid, the other chapters will be relatively easy to write.
Main principles

5. Introduction

6. 1.1st page is your first impression. Articulate clearly the sense of urgency of your topic and the specific problem you are tackling.
2.Include the main research question & approx. 5 sub-questions that guide your research to find an answer to the main question.
3.Main research question: make specific, in terms of (a) theoretical concepts, (b) perspective (e.g. consumer)and (c) sector.
4.The research questions can evolve a little bit during the research due to new insights from the literature review & design of the conceptual model.
Introduction

7. Theoretical framework

8. –Theoretical background
•Important definitions
•Origin of the research area
•Research streams and justification for the one you choose
Mix theoretical backgrounds of relevant academic articles into your own.
–Chronological literature review
–Conceptual model and hypotheses
Theoretical framework

9. –After reading several academic articles it will become clear what the most important article / conceptual model is that you will build your research upon. In the chronological literature review you summarize the main articles related to this model that have appeared over the years and improved it over time.
–Often the innovation of your thesis lies in the combination of this main model and an additional model. Hence, your theoretical framework builds upon two pillars which are eventually integrated in your conceptual model.
Chronological literature review

10. –For each article you discuss (as brief as possible, but still complete):
•Objective
•Main concepts studied
•Research method
•Sample
•Results
•Relevant findings from the discussion
–Your literature review ends with a conclusion which summarizes the similarities and differences with regard to these aspects.
 reveals research gap  justification conceptual model
Chronological literature review

11. IV 1
IV 2
IV 3
IV 4
IV 5
IV 6
DV 1
DV 2
Concept D
Concept B
Concept A
Concept C
IV = Independent variable / DV = Dependent variable
Conceptual model

12. Conceptual model and hypotheses

13. • Concept
• Variable
• Item (represented by specific survey question related to a variable)
Shaffer, M., D. Harrison and Gilley (1999) Dimensions, Determinants, and Differences in the Expatriate
Adjustment Process. Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 30, No. 3: pp. 557-581.
Conceptual model

14. –First you present the conceptual model. Next you explain it in terms of hypotheses (including underpinning).
–A hypothesis predicts a relationship between two concepts
–Try to specify the relationship, i.e. positive or negative influence.
–Don’t forget to propely define the dependent concept!!!
Conceptual model

15. Research method

16. –Based on methods proposed and explained in previous research.
–Additional resource:
•Malthora, N.K. & Birks, D.F.(2007) Marketing Research: An Applied Approach, 3rd edition, Essex: Prentice Hall Inc.
Research method

17. –Research design (survey, interviews).
–Sample (underpin, based on previous research).
–Measurements
•For each concept, what questions are you borrowing from previous articles and which questions did you design yourself?
•As a check, include an academic version of your survey in the appendix, where every question is followed by a reference (e.g. see thesis Kimberley Duijvestijn).
–Pre-test
Research method

18. Questions?
Erik van ’t Klooster
eklooster@rsm.nl
www.getupandgo.nl
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University