Thesis instructions in Master's Programme in Social Research

Students use the skills they have accrued in their studies in drawing up a master’s thesis and continue honing their skills in scholarly work and scientific writing. After having completed a master’s thesis, students will be proficient in conducting independent research. They will know how to limit their research topics, set and justify the research problem as well as design the research premises and implement them. Students will know how to select and apply key theories, concepts, research methods and topical debates in the field in a fit-for-purpose, critical and creative way. They will know how to analyse the material as a whole and create new knowledge based on existing knowledge, conceptualise the results, discuss them with regard to literature in the field as well as how to analyse the scholarly significance and practical consequences of the research outcomes. Students will know how to manage their research project, assess the consequences of their choices to the end result of the process as well as how to receive and give feedback.

A master’s thesis is a scholarly work and consequently, first and foremost, an exercise in the research process. A thesis may consolidate existing knowledge or contain new knowledge and raise new questions for further research. Regardless of the scholarly significance of its results, a master’s thesis is an act of scientific research.  A meaningfully set research problem is an important starting point for research, whether it produces expected or unanticipated, abundant or scarce results.

In writing a thesis, it is important to understand the social, communal nature of the production of knowledge. A master’s thesis, like any other study, is part of this communal, self-adjusting production of knowledge. Positioning one’s own research as part of a certain scientific debate is a key function of the master’s thesis. Another key task is the systematic use of a certain scientific methodology or methodologies to answer the research question.

See also detailed instructions on the master’s thesis (social sciences) (in Finnish only PDF).

The master's thesis is a 30-credit written work with a recommended length of 50–70 pages (approximately 15,000–20,000 words in Finnish). Master’s theses are usually monographs.

A successful master’s thesis limits the research focus accurately and purposefully with regard to the scope of the thesis. Likewise, the material used must be limited to fit the purpose, in particular for a qualitative thesis where the amount of the material affects the workload as a whole. It is recommended that existing material is used. Furthermore, it is recommended to carry out the thesis as part of a topical research project in the field in order to ensure that teaching and research support each other. The project context also provides additional support for the thesis author. The thesis supervisor advises what guidelines have been decided on in the field.

A completed master's thesis can be roughly divided into three main parts: 1) formulation of the research question based on previous research and concepts, 2) analysis and results, and 3) conclusions and discussion. A rough guideline is that parts 1 and 3 together make up about half and part 2 the other half of the completed text. The list of references is included in the recommended length of 50–70 pages.

Below is a simple outline of the thesis content. The content of the various parts and the stages of the process will be discussed in closer detail below in conjunction with the progress of the thesis seminar and the tasks related to the seminar.

Outline of the table of contents at heading level:

1. Introduction
2. Prior research, theories and concepts; research questions
3. Material and methods
4. Analysis and results
5. Conclusions and discussion

References

In place of the "empty" headlines presented here, the thesis may use, in particular in sections 2–4, substantive headlines, in other words, headlines that refer directly to the subject of the study, the methodology used and the phenomena studied.

A short introduction presents the motivation for the topic of the thesis and a brief summary of the subject matter of the thesis. The following chapter provides a more detailed literature review leading to research questions and further opens the theoretical/conceptual perspective of the study; this section may use sub-chapters. The search for prior research should be targeted at research that is relevant to one’s own research topic. Consequently, the first part of the thesis should be structured so that a well-formulated research topic is approached through a literature review and the clarification of conceptual and/or theoretical points of departure; in this way the research question becomes justified in relation to prior knowledge.

The chapter on methodology describes the material and method used and the course of research. The analysis (or, in particular in quantitative research, the chapter on the results) presents the answer to the research question derived through a method of analysis. In qualitative research, the analysis, interpretation and a discussion based on literature are usually interlinked; in quantitative research, the results are usually presented separately from prior research and interpretation. The conclusions and discussion are written in relation to the analysis, prior research and concepts presented in the first part of the thesis: how the analysis is related to prior knowledge and what kinds of questions it raises for further research. Finally, the method used, the reliability and the general applicability of the results (in quantitative research), the limitations affecting the interpretation of results, the ethical aspects raised during the research and the possible social relevance and practical applicability of the results are reflected upon. The section with the conclusions and discussion also includes a subsection on the limitations of research.

An abstract form (Word file) is attached to the master's thesis.

See the instructions and timetable for submitting a master’s thesis for examination on the Instructions for Students website by selecting the thesis instructions for your home faculty.

Alternatively, the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) may be used when writing the master’s thesis, which are available in English. Different fields of study may also have their own instructions on the form of the thesis. In particular, the rules for the proper noting of references should be reviewed at the very beginning of the seminar.

The master’s thesis, like other research, follows the principles of the responsible conduct of research. The researcher must be honest, careful and precise both in relation to their material and research results and in evaluating research by others and their results.

Data protection: Lists containing information about multiple individuals, such as addresses, dates of birth, email addresses or information created during research, are subject to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679), according to which this likely constitutes a register, which requires a permit for its establishment. The Personal Data Act (523/1999) provides for matters related to the collection, storing and processing of personal data.

Consent from the research subjects: Various permits are usually required for carrying out research. For example, research conducted in schools, youth centres, healthcare centres and other public institutions requires the consent of both the research subjects and the institutions. In the case of minors, consent is given by the guardian of the research subject. Research done in closed internet forums requires the consent of the forum administrator. The consent of the subjects must be based on accurate and truthful information about the purpose and objectives of the study. In order to obtain consent, a written form may be drawn up explaining the purpose and the use of the material.

Research may not cause harm to the subjects or third parties. Guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK.

Plagiarism: Information produced by others must not be taken into your own name. Fabrication of fake observations, misrepresentation of observations, unauthorised quoting or misappropriation are not acceptable and can lead to the rejection of the thesis. Self-plagiarism is also plagiarism. However, personal texts, images or other unpublished material produced during studies can be used as part of the master’s thesis when applicable. Read more about plagiarism.

Publicity of the thesis: Theses become public as soon as they have been approved. No confidential material should be included in the thesis. A confidential master’s thesis can be written only in few exceptional cases, which must be agreed separately with the supervisor and for which a written request must be submitted to the faculty.

A Supervision and material agreement (Word) (in Finnish) will be concluded in conjunction with Master’s Thesis Seminar I.