Bachelor Thesis

Introduction

The bachelor thesis is a major independent project, where students are required to formulate a problem statement within BI's subject areas and take full responsibility for conducting a research or investigative project. The thesis is written individually or in groups of up to three students.

All bachelor theses must contain at least the following:

• introduction: background and motivation for the thesis, problem formulation with limitations, and information about the structure of the thesis.
• literature review: the theoretical foundation of the thesis.
• methodology chapter: explaining in detail how data has been collected, analyzed, and interpreted.
• presentation of data findings.
• analysis of data findings.
• discussion of analysis results.
• Conclusion: answering the research problems and recommendations for further reseach

Any deviations from this structure must be approved by the supervisor. Certain types of theses may contain additional chapters.

Course content

Students choose their own topic and research question. The research question must be approved by the supervisor. The course is conducted for all students through a combination of common lectures, teaching sessions, and individual guidance in smaller groups.

The common teaching includes:

• general scientific principles for investigations
• qualitative and critical interpretive methods, including text analysis, source criticism, participatory observation, and interviews
• quantitative methods
• methodological triangulation
• literature and information searching
• evaluation, use, and citation of sources
• effective strategies for planning, writing, and revising texts
• assessment of the text's structure, logic, readability, use of concepts, etc.

Teaching and guidance in smaller groups are organized by each supervisor:

• All students are entitled to a minimum of 3 individual guidance sessions.
• Additionally, the supervisor may organize seminars, workshops, and/or discipline-based teaching.
• If the supervisor does not conduct seminars, workshops, or discipline-based teaching, the students are entitled to 5 individual guidance sessions.