Bachelor thesis in the work and organizational psychology

In the following, some information with regard to the supervision of bachelor theses within the field of work and organizational psychology can be found. It provides assistance that should alleviate the collaboration by way of clear regulations and agreements and, in particular, ensure that apart from the students writing excellent theses, they do the latter with as much fun as possible and less(er) stress. But of course: Writing a Bachelor thesis is usually accompanied by changing emotions (even towards the supervisor) - but this is part of it.

Subject

Own fields of interest from the field of work and organizational psychology as well as topics from the department´s thematic priorities are possible as topic of a Bachelor thesis (see "research"). For clarifying the topic and the concrete issue one or two preliminary talks should take place with the supervisor. Moreover, the supervisors try to arrange for a common appointment with the students supervised.

Premises

In any case, an empirical study should not be started until the supervisor has agreed to the procedure and the methods and instruments used. A good result in the teaching sessions of the work and organizational psychology is required (at least 2.0).

In addition, we recommend attendance at the writing workshop (Textlab!) and expect participation in the BA/MA colloquium offered twice a semester.

Prior to the actual work, an exposé of approx. five pages with the following content shall be submitted:

• Planned title of the thesis

• Presentation of the problem or leading question

• Ideas with regard to any theoretical approaches to be included

• Ideas with regard to the empirical approach

• Preliminary references

• Planned structure

• Rough time schedule

This exposé must usually be revised (if need be, even for several times).

Consultation

Any concrete questions about other chapters or the analysis procedure can be discussed during the consultation hours. It is frequently recommended to hand in the relevant questions or text passages well in advance by email. Submitted texts should always include the date, name of the student and page numbers.

A consultation by telephone or email is basically not possible.

Master thesis

"The second part of the Master´s examination is the thesis. It is an examination paper that completes the scientific education. It shall show that the candidate is able to independently work on a problem within a fixed period of time using scientific methods and to appropriately present the results." (§20 (2) of the examination regulations; emphasis M.R.) The Master thesis should normally be an empirical work.

Subject

Any issue that can be worked on within the industrial-organizational psychology is deemed to be suitable as topic of the Master thesis (see "research"). In principle, we assume that the student independently develops a topic which will then finally be fixed in consultation with us.

It is to be expected that we do not supervise certain topics because they do not fall within our fields of work, so that these could not be supervised adequately or only with extraordinary effort. Areas in which the department is interested in research work ca be found under the item "Research".

Premises

The supervision of a Master thesis within the field of industrial-organizational psychology requires following premises:

• the student has completed a degree course with the major field of study in industrial-organizational psychology
• A good result in the teaching sessions of the industrial-organizational psychology is required (at least 2.0).
• Moreover, it is essential that basic psychological knowledge - and, in partiuclar, even methodological and statistical knowledge, data processing skills (e.g. SPSS) as well as principles of scientific work - have already been acquired prior to the beginning of the Master thesis.
• Candidates should regularly attend the research colloquium offered by us and present the progress of their Master thesis there. In addition, this is an excellent opportunity to share the experiences of any other students and to make use of their comments for the own work.
• The participation of the writing workshop (Textlab!), where courses are offered in academic writing, is recommended.

• The students themselves have generally to care about the formal requirements for writing a Master thesis (e.g. deadlines, registration).

Duration

Pursuant to the examination regulations the Master thesis shall be completed within five months (in duly substantiated exceptional cases nine months).

Scope

With respect to the page count there is no clear criterion. At any rate, in our subject area, the scope of the thesis is no criterion for its quality. The following principles should apply:  "Brevity is the soul of wit" (however, please no brevity without wit) and "Economy of explanation".

Consultation

For clarification of the topic, the focus and the research question the student should have one or two preliminary talks with the supervisor. Any concrete question in regard to the content or the approach arising at a later point of time can be clarified during the consultation hours. It is essential for the consultation, however, that a (written) text with respect to the concern is submitted beforhand (even if it merely contains questions directed at us), which should - in the case of more extensive concerns - be handed in at least three days in advance. 

A consultation by telephone or email is possible.

For this preliminary talk or after the first appointment at the latest, a written exposé (=statement) of approx. five pages has to be submitted. This exposé must contain the presentation of the problem and the arising leading question, first ideas of any theoretical approaches to be included as well as the research design and methods and a time schedule at least differentiated by months. Please note that no further supervision is made without such exposé!

Prior to the actual work, a synopsis of approx. five pages with the following content shall be submitted (you will also find extensive information about the synopsis in the respective moodle course):

• Planned title of the thesis
• Presentation of the problem and the leading research question
• Ideas in regard to any theoretical approaches to be included
• Ideas in regard to the empirical approach
• List of literature
• Planned structure
• Rough time schedule.

This synopsis usually has to be revised after the preliminary talks by specifying the issues mentioned in more detail. This paper finally forms the basis of the further supervision.

Every text and thus also the synopsis, should display numbers, a date and the student´s name.

Prior to the empirical phase of the master's thesis, the theoretical part of the master's thesis must be prepared and presented for discussion (in the bacholor's and master's colloquium).

It is indispensable that current literature of the relevant journals is acknowledged and reviewed in the context of a master's thesis. It is also important that literature cited in other texts is checked in order to ensure that it has been cited appropriately.

In any case, an empirical study should only be started if the supervisor has agreed with the approach as well as the methods and tools used (this includes an intern "preregistration").

Experience shows that usually too little time is allocated for the empirical phase, especially for the preparation, analyses, presentation and interpretation of the data.

In our opinion, the feedback of research results to the persons investigated is mandatory for studies in work and organizational psychology and thus also for master's theses. Therefore, this shoud be integrated into the scheduling. Even if this feedback of results is often not part of the text, an assessment and evaluation of the thesis will depend on the feedback of results to the persons examined.

Grading

An excellent thesis involves that the requirements and conditions mentioned are complied with by the students.

For an excellent thesis it is not essential whether the hypotheses have been confirmed, but how well and transparently the topic has been penetrated and presented in writing, whether the hypotheses have plausibly been explained and how far the empirical study has properly been planned and carried out. This also includes that the statistical methods are used in an adequate manner. We do not necessarily expect any multivariate procedures, nevertheless, the procedures applied must be used in a correct way!

Moreover, for an excellent Master thesis it is not sufficient to only list any existing approaches and studies. It is essential that the latter are understood as well as presented and discussed in relation to the selected leading question.