In this article, I will try to answer the questions of what the thesis is and what parts it consists of, in the shortest and most concise way.
Let's start with the question of what thesis is...
If the thesis is defined from a somewhat formal point of view, it is a research that can be completed in a certain period of time, which you need to prepare before you can graduate from a master's or doctorate. This research is carried out in a certain systematic or patterns on a subject within predetermined limits or framework, and as a result; There is a certain volume of written work that evaluates previous research, including the student's original comments and contributions. This study, which emerged as a result of the research carried out, is defended in front of a jury, and when accepted, it takes its place among the sources with the name of the thesis. This is the meaning of the thesis in general and from a formal point of view. However, thesis actually means much more than that.
First of all, the thesis means contributing to science with new information, concrete findings or important evidence. In other words, when you prepare a thesis, you add a new information, a concrete finding or an important contribution to the knowledge pool of humanity. For example, you do a study in the field of education and identify a new method to make teaching activities easier and more permanent in schools. You present your findings on this, or you identify a problem that prevents companies in a certain sector from performing better and suggest solutions for it. To give a different example, you empirically examine the role of a psychological factor that you think has an impact on making people or societies happier. You present your results on that. With all these examples, which we can multiply even more, you actually make an important contribution to the knowledge pool of humanity. Therefore, the thesis should not be seen as a study that is completed within a certain period of time and has certain rules. It should be known that what is done actually means what we have just told.
Secondly, after this contribution, your contribution constitutes an important resource for future research, activities within the sector or studies in the field. In other words, with your contribution, you create a source, that is, a reference, for future studies. Therefore, this aspect of the thesis should also be considered.
Third, if we touch on a slightly different aspect, by preparing a thesis, you will have fulfilled this task and fulfilled an important task for the development of humanity in every field. Because in order for the developments in every field to be continuous, someone in the society should be involved in research and development activities. Therefore, preparing a thesis means fulfilling a socially important task. Considering this meaning, the thesis should be prepared with this awareness.
As a result, if we compare the development of humanity to a wall, it would not be wrong to state the thesis as a new brick placed on this wall, a support under the new bricks to be placed on top of it, and an activity to do this instead of someone who has to fulfill this task. Therefore, preparing a thesis should not be seen as a homework work that will be completed in a certain period of time and has certain procedures.
Now, what parts does a thesis consist of?
Unfortunately, we cannot give a single answer to this question. The answer to this question changes depending on the student's different fields such as social sciences, natural sciences, educational sciences, health sciences. Each field has its own rules, which have become customary over time. For this reason, it is best for the student to examine the thesis writing guide of the institute he/she is a student of or the thesis written in his/her field. However, we can draw a general framework. Overall the framework is similar, although there are some minor differences. First of all, we can state it as follows: Each thesis has an introduction, a main section, and a conclusion. They can be divided into different sections or subsections within themselves, depending on the area. However, in the general framework, each thesis has an introduction, a main and a conclusion.
If we examine the different areas; In the field of social sciences or educational sciences, although it differs according to the departments of education, in general,
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK / THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK / CONCEPTUAL EXPLANATIONS / THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
METHODS / METHODS AND FINDINGS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
We see the parts. Or, between the introduction and the method, the subject headings within the study can be the direct chapter titles. For example, if our topic is about job satisfaction and organizational commitment, job satisfaction may be one part and organizational commitment another.
In the field of science, although it differs according to the departments, in general,
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS / GENERAL INFORMATION / LITERATURE REVIEW / PREVIOUS STUDIES
METHOD / MATERIALS AND METHOD
FINDINGS / FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION / CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Or, between the introduction and the method, the subject headings within the study can be the direct chapter titles.
Slightly different in the field of health sciences:
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL INFORMATION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION / DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
We see the parts. Almost all the theses prepared in this area include general information, material and method sections after the introduction.
Thus, we tried to explain which sections are in a thesis by touching on different areas. In addition to these, we should also point out the following. Each thesis must have a summary, sections in English, contents, references and appendices. You can learn what should happen from the thesis writing guide of the institute you are a student of.