How to Write a PhD Thesis: Conducting Your Research

A thesis, or dissertation, presents the writer’s research and findings on a chosen subject in their field of study. Writer’s usually do one of two things when writing a thesis- they either report on a study or a research project they've done with their thesis, or their thesis is an extensive analysis of a topic. Writing a PhD thesis is hard for many students because it’s their first time having to write one. A PhD thesis will take a student much longer than any thesis they’ve written in the past. Students must put a lot of time and care into writing their PhD thesis. Here are tips on writing your thesis and doing the needed research.

Code of Practice

As you are working on your thesis, keep in mind that there is an accepted code of practice for research that a PhD thesis needs to follow. Most of this is taught to you through workshops or through actively taking part in research projects.

Experiments

Depending on what your area of study is, you will have to do experiments as part of your research. Usually students in science and engineering have an experimental section in their PhD thesis. Here is what to take note of in your thesis:

• An explanation of the methodology and the experimental design used. Everything must be explained and justified.
• Negative results. This is something that heavily depends on your field of study. Usually negative results should not be noted in your thesis as they do not help produce a strong thesis. But if you are a medical student, then it is part of tradition and you, in a sense, have a duty to report negative results.

Research

You should do extensive research of your thesis topic. Go to a library and check out any book that might be helpful, look through articles and journals, and use every resource you have to read up on your topic. It’d also be useful to look at:

• Papers appearing in the top conferences and journals in your field over the last couple of years.
• Award winners and honorable mentions over the last few years.
• Your advisor’s thesis so you can understand how much work they expect from you. Ask them what they’d do differently if able to rewrite their thesis and what parts they are proud of, etc. and take notes.

When it comes to research, reading isn’t the only thing you can do. Depending on your area of study and on your topic, you can conduct experiments, reflect on your own experiences and practices in the field, make observations, and interview people. There are plenty of different research methods for your thesis; you just have to pick the right one for your field and your topic.