How difficult is it to write a thesis? Part 1
For many TalTech students May is the time to wrap up their Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis and submit it to their supervisors. Writing a thesis is a great challenge for many — finding a suitable topic, the right supervisor, enough data, supporting literature, withstand all the hours of research, reading, and putting ones findings in paper. Behind each thesis there is a story worth telling. Here is what TalTech students André, Shamaise and Shaymaa have to say about their experience.
André: “In the end it was worth all the effort”
André Lezan Fernandes, from Brazil, studies E-governance technologies and services (MSc)at TalTech
Thesis title: Open government data, corruption and citizen control: a case study in the state of Paraná, Brazil
Supervisor: Keegan McBride, PhD candidate
How did you choose this topic?
When I joined the program, I knew I wanted to do my thesis on a topic related to e-governance and corruption control in the government. As I started working on the thesis, I took this idea and with the help of my supervisor and all the knowledge acquired during the Master’s I started to narrow down my research and from there on I started to write all the rest.
What curious facts, notions or findings did you come across while writing?
I wrote about my home country and it was interesting to discover new things about it that even as a citizen I was not aware of. It helped me to understand more how Brazil works, how things could be optimized and overall, It was a very interesting process , which among other things made me a more informed citizen.
How did the thesis-writing process look like for you?
It’s like travelling to a place that you have only seen on pictures, you don’t know exactly what you will find there or on your way there. The journey process and all the experiences along will make you understand it and make your own conclusions. In a way it felt similar to my experience of coming to Estonia.
Share your experience of writing a thesis?
It is fulfilling and stressful at the same time. Fulfilling because you definitely get a lot of new knowledge in the field of studies that will change your mind and vision on the topic for better. Stressful because you have to write everything academically, that means that you will need to cite many authors, do lots and lots of searches in academic databases and make sure your paper is following all the formatting rules; is not like you read a book and write your thoughts on that, you need authors supporting what you write all the time in the thesis. The process of writing was definitely not easy, especially because I was working full time during all way through. It took me a lot of sleepless nights and weekends to develop my thesis, but in the end, it was worth all the efforts. It was challenging, but in a good way , it’s that stuff that takes a lot of time, but when you see the final result it is such a nice feeling.
Tips:
I think that being organized and having deadlines will help you to force yourself to sit down and write it. Keep your supervisor aware of what you’re doing so there’s no surprises in the end and learn how to use the right tools. I recommend taking some time to learn at a higher level how to use the MS Word or any other writing tool you are using, it saves so much time in the end.
Favourite study place at TalTech:
Anywhere I can put my headphones and listen to Chopin, Debussy, Erik Satie or any other classic music composer.
The best snack while writing:
Water and that’s it! Anything too yummy will make me eat more than work.
Shamaise: “The reality is that time management is the key”
Shamaise Peters, from Antigua and Barbuda studies Law (BA) at TalTech
Thesis title: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Online Dispute Resolution in the EU: their linkage, legal status, and adoption challenges
Supervisor: Maria Claudia Solarte-Vasquez
How did you choose this topic?
I have always had a keen interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution, which is a voluntary process between a mediator and the parties to settle their disputes outside of a traditional court setting. The method is often cheaper than litigation, and as such, the common man will be able to have access to justice. During my legal internship, I was privileged to work in the Labour department and witnessed the process of mediation being executed that produced a more transformative approach of maintaining relations as opposed to litigation which fosters a zero-sum game methodology. Then recently I completed a course at TalTech in Alternative Dispute Resolution taught by my supervisor, and it was through her teachings I was able to connect my interest, and theoretical knowledge gained to select this topic.
What curious facts, notions or findings would you like to share?
Although there is an inextricable link between ADR and ODR, the focus of my thesis was on ODR, which can be construed as the online version of ADR. The aim was to exam the advancement and shortcomings of the EU ODR platform. The scope was based on consumer to business (B2C) transactions that resulted in a dispute. One of the first outstanding piece of evidence that I observed was with the impact consumers have within the EU. According to the European Commission, on a report dated September 25th, 2019 indicated consumer spending accounts for 56% of Europe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) economic development. Also, it was rather alarming when I discovered that 80% of disputes submitted to the ODR platform were closed immediately after 30 days because the trader failed to respond on the platform to the notification of the consumer dispute and in only 2% of cases showed success where the parties were able to agree on an ADR entity to settle the dispute. It was through these facts that propelled my research!
A favourite article or a book you discovered while writing:
It was quite a bit of reading because we had to include at least 20 academic articles, but two favourites were by my supervisor and Pablo Cortes, who wrote extensively on ADR in the EU. The articles by my supervisor were The Institutionalization process of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms in the EU; The Estonian legal developments experience and Reflections on the Concrete Application of Principles of Internet Governance and the Networked Information Society in the European Union Institutionalization Process of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods.
How did the thesis-writing process look like for you?
At first, the process can be challenging and raise a bit of anxiety since there is a varied amount of requirements and prerequisites that must be followed while fulfilling other courses. It requires reading and mapping the critical concepts by authors and formulating a literature review on the essential views that relate precisely to the topic. The reality is that time management is the key, and once a schedule is set to achieve weekly or monthly goals, the process became more manageable and not as challenging as the initial stages.
What was easy?
The library facilities allowed the process to be much easier as locating academic books and articles became seamless to discover as books were readily available at TalTech or the National Library. In cases where books were not physically in Tallinn, an order was placed at a small fee to deliver books directly to Tallinn for a reasonable time. If there are not enough sources to substantiate the research, the value and accuracy of the topic will not be feasible to conduct.
What was challenging?
Although the idea of formulating a research question(s) may appear to be simple, the actuality can differ. The research question and aim must be clearly defined and scoped to include the elements that were promised to be researched and identified. Without these elements, the thesis writing becomes difficult to follow, time-consuming and decreases the overall value of the work. Starting on time will enable you to re-structure or re-write certain aspects of the thesis if required.
Tips for others:
TalTech offers courses on academic writing and methodology, I would advise actively participating in these lectures as it will advance your skillset and capabilities to conduct a research. Learning all the requirements during the period of writing the thesis may become strenuous, and during this period, your energy will be required to construct a reasonable proposition. Also, select a supervisor that you have a professional relationship with because consultations and advice given by my supervisor throughout the process became a critical factor that guided my thesis and vision of composing the framework.
Favourite study place at TalTech:
The 24 hours library has proven to be the most suitable place to complete tasks while having the opportunity to print those necessary materials while studying. The environment is quiet, and the room is equipped with facilities to help the studying process more convenient.
The best snack while writing: Antiguan banana fritters, it is an easy to make snack during extensive writing and needless to say delicious and filling.
Shaymaa: “Give yourself enough time for revision”
Shaymaa Mamdouh from Egypt, studies Cyber Security (MSc)
Thesis title: Analysis of Windows 10 Hibernation file. This was my first topic idea after a discussion with the lecturer of System Forensics course.
Article or a book you discovered while writing: A paper named “Modern Windows hibernation file analysis” is a worth read for specialists in the field.
How did the thesis-writing process look like for you?
Complicated, lots of struggles….
How do you find thesis-writing experience?
Writing thesis in the current situations is very challenging experience, lots of stress but there is also some fun at the same time! I enjoy doing the technical part and it takes me most of the time. Writing part is the difficult one for me! It is extremely hard to concentrate, while home schooling a kid, trying to play and do some activities with him, especially since I am the only person he sees since the beginning of the lockdown. Let alone cooking and other responsibilities at home.
Tips for others: Try to narrow the scope of the thesis as much as possible! Give yourself enough time to read the thesis many times.
Favorite study place at TalTech: The Library
The best snack while writing: Any sweets!
