Research is answering questions. This is true no matter the field or discipline. Because every DHI thesis makes an original contribution, every DHI thesis answers a question. As you design your thesis, you will formulate a question and determine the best method to answer it.
Different disciplines ask different questions and use different methods to answer them. In this section you will learn about the different types of questions and methods scholars use.
Keep in mind, even if you are not pursuing a typical academic research project, all DHI theses are grounded in good questions and methods. Creative and applied projects will borrow or adapt these from different academic disciplines.
Read this linked introduction to conducting research. It’s a general introduction to research that outlines four types of research: exploratory, descriptive, predictive, explanatory. As you read, consider what types of research allow you to make an original contribution.
Research Paper Review
Go back to your files and find a research paper you did for a class. Find a paper you did relatively recently. Read it over carefully. (I know this can be painful!)
Answer the following:
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What kind of research did you carry out (exploratory, descriptive, predictive, explanatory)?
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What was your research question?
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What was your hypothesis (in some fields this might be called an “argument” or “thesis statement”)?
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What methods did you use?
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Further Reading & Resources
Lipson, Charles. How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper. 2d ed. University of Chicago Press, 2018.
