9.1. Research based development vs. project work

Students work on various projects since the first year of their studies. Project work prepares students for their thesis work, especially in terms of project planning, implementation, and reporting. Many students choose a practical project for their thesis, eg. practice-based thesis, because they have previous experience of a project-type learning assignments. During their studies, projects are often carried out in small groups and the knowledge base in project reports is less detailed than in a thesis.

Difference between project work and a ‘practice-based thesis’

The duration of a project is pre-defined with start and end dates. Project work is based on an assignment, which defines the precise objective of the project, i.e. the concrete problem to be solved. The objective is to provide the client with a solution to the given mandate, cf. for example the mandates and solutions of Jamk InnoFlash.

A practice-based thesis is also based on a mandate or commission of a working-life client. It produces outputs/results and development proposals for the client. In addition, the thesis must meet the Jamk thesis criteria and it must demonstrate the student’s expertise and university-level competence.

Figure 1: The intersection of research and development in theses (adapted and translated from Roikko & Rantanen 2009.)

In a Bachelor’s thesis, a student demonstrates their ability to produce a thesis in their professional field that develops themself, the work community and the field. They demonstrate mastery of critical, research-based working methods and the ability to work independently. They present goal-orientedness when carrying out specific research or development project in working life. The student demonstrates the ability to communicate orally and in writing the research or development project results and their potential for different stakeholders.

According to the thesis definition, the practice-based thesis must reflect the student’s independent work, developmental, critical and research-based approach. Also practice-based thesis can be classified as a research or development project. In addition, the thesis is a presentation of the student’s communication skills.

Master’s degree students demonstrate their ability to apply research knowledge and use selected methods to analyse and solve problems in their thesis as a working-life development project. They demonstrate the ability to work independently and in a demanding professional task.

Master’s thesis emphasise the application of evidence-based knowledge and the reasoned and independent use of the chosen methods. The Master’s thesis demonstrates the student’s ability to carry out demanding expert work as a developer of working life.

The differences between a project report and a thesis can be examined by comparing the basic structures of the reports. A project report is often a short and concise report of why and how the project was carried out and what the results of the project were and how they can be used. Project reports also include financial and publication reports.

Theis reports are more comprehensive and include the theoretical background (knowledge base ie. literature review), methodological descriptions and reasonings, descriptions of data collection and analysis, description of the results or output, and a discussion. The discussion examines the results or output in relation to the knowledge base and the objectives of the thesis. In addition, the discussion of a thesis includes an examination of the reliability and ethics.

Figure 2: Comparison of the structure of the project report and the different types of thesis

Literature

Kananen, J. 2015. Kehittämistutkimuksen käytännön opas: Miten kirjoitan kehittämistutkimuksen vaihe vaiheelta.

Kehittämistutkimus opetusalalla. 2013. Toim. J. Pernaa. Jyvaskyla: PS-kustannus.

Ojasalo, K., Moilanen, T. & Ritalahti, J. 2014. Kehittämistyön menetelmät : uudenlaista osaamista liiketoimintaan. Helsinki: SanomaPro. 3 uud. p.

Silfverberg, P. 2007. Ideasta projektiksi: projektityön käsikirja. Helsinki: Edita Publishing Oy.

Toikko, T. & Rantanen, T. 2009. Tutkimuksellinen kehittämistoiminta. Tampere: Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy.