1. Joan Lofgren, Program Director
BACHELOR’S THESIS
INFO SESSION 2
Joan Lofgren, Program Director
AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Mikkeli Campus BScBA Degree Program
October 16, 2018
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

2. Agenda Purposes of the thesis & requirements Selecting a topic
Key parts of the process
Thesis grading rubric
Academic Integrity
Other issues
Next sessions/key dates
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

3. 1. Purposes of the thesis—to:
Gain experience in academic research
Plan and implement a research project
Understand and apply theoretical approaches
Strengthen academic writing skills
Gain transferrable skills
Ability to work independently
Analytic and problem-solving skills
Competence in field work
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

4. Worksheet tasks 1. Experience in academic research
List examples of academic research that you have carried out here or in previous studies.
2. Transferrable skills
List one or more jobs you would like to get in the future – how would you use research skills or project management skills in the work?
Discuss with your neighbor/s
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

5. Essential Requirements
Basic standards – the thesis must be written in:
the field of international business
English
formal academic style
Academic standards – it must:
rely on academic literature
have a theoretical foundation
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

6. Essential Requirements (cont.)
Management of the thesis project—you are expected to:
meet all deadlines (time management)
maintain communication with your supervisor
participate actively in the thesis meetings and workshops
Personal ethical standards – it must:
be your own work (no plagiarism or “outsourcing”)
give appropriate credit for the work of other scholars
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

7. What is the research process?
International Business research is often positivistic—we believe we can know something by observing it empirically.
We often start with something that can be observed. So the research hourglass is helpful especially when working in a positivist paradigm.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

8. The research hourglass https://explorable.com/what-is-research
Oct. 16, 2018
Joan Lofgren

9. 2. Selecting the Thesis Topic
Current knowledge
Where are you on the research hourglass at present?
Are you familiar with the vocabulary/terminology around this topic?
What will you need to do to specify the topic?
Pair work activity: One person talks about his/her topic for one minute, then the other person in the pair does the same. What did you learn in this exercise?
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

10. Motivation & interest/s
Personal interest
Desire to develop your current expertise
Future professional interest
Interests of key stakeholders
Individual worksheet activity 3: list some points on your personal motivation in the thesis process.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

11. Resources Time – manageable in this time frame?
Financial – need to do field work?
Languages – enough sources available in the ones you read? Do a quick search.
Overall: a suitable topic for you, now?
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

12. Research comfort zone Find a balance. . . Worksheet activity 4:
Creativity versus pragmatism
Ambition versus feasibility
Stepping out of comfort zone vs. personal resources needed for the research
Worksheet activity 4:
Draw your research comfort zone/s in concentric circles
List or draw 1-3 things that you could do in the thesis process that are outside your comfort zone.
Discuss your diagram with a neighbor.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

13. 3. Key parts of the process
Research plan – road map
Thesis outline – evolves with your research
Draft reference list – signposting where you are
Literature review – key in undergrad research
Methodology – driven by research questions
Interpreting findings – humility and hedging
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

14. 3a.Research Plan: The First Step
Interest and relationship to thesis topic -- cf motivation/resources
Research problem – trend, puzzle, something to follow up on
Research question(s) – avoid either/or questions
Research objectives – how you will address the questions
Significance of the research – why should we care?
Methodology – desk or field research?
Literature to be used – diagnostic tool
Critique of a journal article related to your topic – rusty skills?
Action plan – use a Gantt chart! (see next slide)
Deadline for first draft of Research Plan:
December 3, 2018
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

15. Sample Gantt Chart Source: http://slideplayer.com/slide/7687098/
Oct. 16, 2018
Joan Lofgren

16. 3b. Thesis Outline
Helps identify the flow of the thesis and indicates the direction and detail of the thesis to the supervisor.
Should be updated constantly to match your actual research.
Use this thesis outline to develop the table of contents of the thesis.
The electronic form “model outline” is available on Into.
Deadline for first draft of your thesis outline:
Dec. 15, 2018
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

17. 3c. Reference List Purposes include:
Digging deeper into the literature on your topic
Diagnosing problems with your literature review
Serving as a checklist for next steps in lit review work
Deadline for draft reference list:
January 9, 2019
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

18. 3d. Purposes of the Literature Review—to:
Assess the situation
Chart what is already known about the topic.
Identify possible gaps in the current research.
Facilitate problem definition
Immerse yourself in the subject
Become proficient in the language of this field.
Transferrable skill for later studies/working life.
Develop your own framework for analysis
Conceptual frameworks developed by others
Adapt? Develop a new one of your own?
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

19. Keep in mind re: the lit review
What it is. . .a survey of scholarly books, articles and other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, theory or methodology
What it is not. . . a list of article summaries (he said this, she said that, they said another thing) – you structure the discussion, the themes, the headings.
More discussion of the lit review coming on Nov. 20.
Deadline for first draft of Literature Review:
February 3, 2019
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

20. 3e. Common methods used Case studies Survey Semi-structured interviews
Questionnaire (using eg Webropol, SurveyMonkey)
Structured/standardized—directly administered/online
Closed vs. open-ended questions
Questions must be approved by supervisor before administering
Semi-structured interviews
Experts – for background
Small set for rich description, some generalization if clear pattern emerges
Content analysis
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

21. 3f. Interpreting findings
Common pitfall: over-generalizing based on your findings
Learn to use hedging language
Listen to your supervisor if they alert you to problems in the interpretation.
Your interpretation will be determined in part by your methods.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

22. 4. Thesis Grading Rubric
Intended to promote consistency in assessment.
Shows areas for improvement in final draft.
Grade of 0 in one attribute results in failing grade for the thesis (at final stage).
Note weighting.
Project management is also essential.
The rubric is available on Into:
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

23. 5. Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is a core value in any university.
Dishonest academic work of any kind strictly forbidden and is subject to severe disciplinary action.
Each student has the final responsibility for her/his learning and for knowing what is permitted and what is not permitted.
The Academic Integrity Confirmation form you signed in your first year of studies is still in force.
Oct. 16, 2018
Joan Lofgren

24. Turnitin
We will again use Turnitin as a writing support tool, and to check for plagiarism in the thesis process.
A high similarity percentage doesn’t automatically mean plagiarism has occurred – it could mean there is too much direct citation, not enough paraphrasing.
More information on Turnitin will be provided in a later info session (Nov. 28, 2018).
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

25. 6. Other issues Role of the thesis supervisor
Meets with students to discuss their work, mainly individually but also as a group if the supervisor so wishes.
Academic expert and mentor
Provides advice on literature and methodology
Provides feedback on work submitted
Evaluator of thesis
Reads and evaluates thesis
Submits thesis grades for whole process.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

26. Keep in mind. . .
Your thesis supervisor has commitments at home (not the same as teaching here).
Asking questions:
First try to find out the answers yourself.
Don’t expect instant answers to your questions.
Ask questions early enough to allow time to discuss them.
No answer yet? A polite reminder is ok after about a week or so (ask your supervisor about this when you first meet/Skype).
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

27. Initiative, taking opportunities
Your performance matters!
Non-starters must drop out of the process.
Performance review by supervisor late Feb.
Overall performance affects grade
Information Specialist Jaana Santala available for info retrieval sessions.
All relevant documents on Into.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

28. Contacting the staff
Mari Syväoja: contact about any general issues in the process.
Joan Lofgren: contact about academic concerns or other issues not easily addressed by your supervisor or Mari.
Mari or Joan: If you are considering dropping out of the process, please contact one of us immediately.
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

29. 7. Next sessions Info Session 3: Monday, October 22, 16.00-18.00
Includes open-ended Q&A on topic selection
Info Session 4: Wednesday, October 31,
Thesis groups and topics announced
Info Session 5: Tuesday, Nov. 20,
Info on Literature Review workshops shared by Prof. Butt.
Info Session 6: Wednesday, Nov. 28,
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

30. Key Dates Full Draft of Thesis: March 18, 2019
Final thesis & related documents: April 8, 2019
Presentation slides: April 11, 2019
Thesis Presentation Seminar
April 12, 2018
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018

31. Good luck!
Joan Lofgren
Oct. 16, 2018