5.6 Q&A Thesis content

5.6.1 Project objective

1. How are problem definition, project objective and aim related?
An aim refers to an ultimate goal (e.g. a sustainable world). An objective refers to a (feasible) result of your project (e.g. reduce CO₂-emissions of a company). The project objective is the response to your problem definition.

5.6.2 Theory and methods

2. How do I distinguish a theory from a method?
The term theory is frequently misused. A theory explains how something works. What is usually meant is a method or methodological framework, which explains how you want to answer your (sub)research questions: More

3. What should a methodology chapter contain?
A methodology chapter explains why you choose which methods (tools) to carry out your study. Literature study is one of these methods. Instead of a chapter, you can also choose to include a methodology section in your introduction chapter.

5.6.3 Research questions

4. How to formulate thesis questions?
Students usually stumble (several times) over their thesis questions.
It starts with the formulation of the main research (or design) question. This should contain a combination of the following: Goal of the project, main direction/scope, main topics, process steps and methodology. In a case study-based research, it is common to have a title with 2 lines, starting with the generic questions and then mention the specific company (or agency) application.

In a design project, the subquestions may for instance deal with the following (this is not a template):
1) Systems & scope
2) Tools; choices
3) The current state (service level; data, causes)
4) Design criteria
5) The impact of alternative designs
6) Evaluation.

In a research project, the design of alternatives is usually found in the recommendations for future research.
Study a few project reports from the Delft student repository or use the papers from your literature review to hone your questions.

5.6.4 Literature review

5. What is the purpose of a literature review (chapter 2)?

• Understand the size and significance of the problem (is it a more general issue?) and how to find direction and scope your project;
• Learn from professionals dealing with a similar research challenge;
• Identify your research gap (finish with research gap table with a final row containing your contribution);
• Find out how your project could help to reduce this research gap (what kind of solutions can you offer? How to find the most effective one?);
• Choose suitable theories and develop conceptual frameworks and hypotheses;
• Use proper definitions and terms;
• Make a motivated choice of methods (qualitative, quantitative, simple, more complex?) and required data.

The way to speed up literature research is to read review papers. The best ones are written by PhD-students or very senior researchers: More

5.6.5 Verification and validation

6. What are the differences between verification and validation?

You can find more information here.

As student, your tasks in this are relatively simple and straightforward. In a professional software company they are quite complex (1, 2).

5.6.6 Summary, Conclusions and Discussion

7. What is the difference between a summary, an executive summary and conclusions?

A report summary is 1-2 pages of text meant for readers who tend to read your thesis report completely. It is found at the beginning of your report.

An executive summary is usually made for commercial / consultancy firms. It could be up to 8 pages containing not only plain text, but also figures and tables. It is added on demand of these commissioners. The main reason is lack of time to read your whole report. It replaces the standard short summary and can also found at the beginning of your report.

Chapters usually start with a subresearch question, which is answered in the chapter conclusion. They may also contain a bridging sentence for the next chapter.

The final conclusions can be found at the end of a report.

Conclusions should be as short as possible. You provide an answer to a (sub)question, but should not repeat how you arrived at this conclusions. Conclusions are usually far too long due to this mistake: More

8. Results - Conclusions - Discussion - Recommendations. Acknowledgement?
Use this logical sequence. Recommendations start scientifically and finish practically. In your Acknowledgement, you may reflect on you study.

5.6.7 Design- and thesis project

9. How are TIL Design- TIL Thesis projects related?

Commonalities:

• Deal with a challenge from practice;
• Develop concrete solutions;
• Balance between science and practice;
• Attainment level is comparable;
• Assessment is similar;
• Tasks to be carried out (overall).

Differences:

• A thesis project is individual work;
• A thesis project does not have to be based on systems engineering. A limited number of lecturers is familiar with SE;
• A thesis project takes at least twice the time. You plan your work differently. You can dive deeper into certain topics and results. This holds in general, because you cannot control all conditions, like data availability;
• In a thesis project there is a higher risk of floating. This is why we advice to spend one month at the external organisation and then have your kick-off meeting based on a good kick-off document;
• A final thesis report contains your scientific paper.

Some differences are relative and depend on many factors. How concrete is the goal of the project? What is your ambition level? What do the external party and your supervisors demand from you? How do you operate under stress? Do you match with your supervisors? Etc.

5.6.8 Science or consultancy?

10. My TU Delft supervisors mention that my document or approach resembles consultancy, what to do?
Scientific- and consultancy-style projects usually differ in terms of the attention given to literature research versus practice, exploration versus filling-in, goal orientation/directness, writing style etc.

It is usually difficult to distance yourself from your commissioner, at least in the beginning of a project. You can manage this by studying (literature) and working a few days at home or at the university and have more regular communications with your TU Delft supervisors.

Start in general terms (theory, methods, earlier cases), then select and focus on a case study. Answer the questions. Finish with dedicated and generic recommendations.

Define your main research question in scientific terms. Ask yourself: What problem do I want to address? Why is this scientifically interesting? (Because other researchers did not deal with it or not in this way -> research gap (table)). Can you relate the problem with a certain theory (maybe from a different field or application)?

Example of a consultancy-style main research question: We have a problem with transport belt X, tell us what the causes are and how we should handle them.
Or: We have congestion on the E9 highway, should we use tolls to relieve it?

Example of a scientific-style main research question: In our factory we like to reduce energy consumption by 50%, can you tell us what areas to consider and how to choose the best option(s)?
Or: We have congestion on the E9 highway, could you suggest some options to relieve it without substantial network impacts?

It becomes apparent that consultants on average liket to reduce uncertainty and play it safe, while scientists like to explore many options, which do not necessarily have to reduce a problem: yes/no versus yes or no, but / maybe etc. You will experience this also early on in your project when the scope is discussed. Your professors will always question any limitation, while your commissioner is less likely to do so. The issue is urgent, so low hanging fruit becomes a prime target, while more structural causes may be ignored, probably because such solutions may meet more resistance from specific stakeholders. Hence, the problem may linger on below the surface.

If these comments mainly refer to your writing style, then the tips on writing are very useful. Reading a few scientific papers may (also) help you to improve the way you express yourself.

Btw. There is nothing wrong with consultancy, as you can experience after your graduation: https://hbr.org/1982/09/consulting-is-more-than-giving-advice