Preparing, Starting, and Conducting a Thesis Study: Do this before you start!
Writing a thesis study is the pinnacle of your academic education. This guide explains how to decide your thesis question and plan for, begin, and conduct your thesis study.
Best practices
Your relationship with your supervisor is crucial to your academic success.
Build relationships
It is essential to develop a good working relationship with your supervisor , secondary supervisors, other Ph.D. students, and support staff. There will be days when you feel frustrated and want to give up. Talking to your peers will provide encouragement. This is also a great way to troubleshoot any problems you may have been unable to resolve. For example, if an experimental technique is not working, other students may be experiencing the same issue, and collaboration can quickly resolve it.
Relationships with support staff are just as valuable as those with academic staff. Treat them with respect, and they will be willing to go the extra mile for you (e.g., fixing the copy machine when they are about to go home). Without a doubt, the most important relationship is with your Ph.D. supervisor. As an expert in their field, they have a working knowledge of your subject area and are up to date with the latest developments. You will meet regularly for formal one-on-one meetings to discuss your research progress, where you will receive guidance and constructive feedback. Informal discussions are also appropriate when you have an immediate concern, so feel free to pop by their office or drop a quick email if you need some advice. Remember, your success reflects on theirs, and they expect you to come to them if you have a pressing issue.
Participate in department or research group activities
Build relationships with fellow Ph.D. students and staff members in your department by attending research seminars, field trips, and journal clubs. Also, attend any organized social events; they are great networking opportunities.
What if I don’t get along with my supervisor?
Your relationship with your supervisor is crucial to your academic success. They are the first point of contact if you encounter problems with your thesis study, and you should be comfortable working with them. Address any communication issues as soon as possible. Often, they may be unaware that there is an issue and will appreciate you bringing it to their attention. Usually, a frank and open discussion will resolve the problem. For example, let your supervisor know if you feel that you are not receiving enough feedback or that they are micromanaging you. Do not feel intimidated—supervisors were also Ph.D. students at one time!
If you can’t resolve the issue between yourselves, ask one of your secondary supervisors, another staff member, or your head of department to act as a mediator. A change in supervisors must be the last resort. You are likely to encounter this person again; be cordial, and don’t burn bridges.
Steps for writing a thesis study
Refine your research question.
Once you have identified a field that interests you, narrow it down to decide exactly what you want to research. Research questions can be practical (e.g., a process that does not work properly or an issue faced by a specific group of people) or theoretical (e.g., relationships or opposing theories that have not been evaluated).
Your supervisor may already have projects in mind where they need a Ph.D. student to build on existing work in their research group. Alternatively, you might identify a gap or contradiction in the literature that you think requires further investigation, or you might be continuing your existing research by building on the findings of your Master’s degree.
Plan your thesis study
Planning is the cornerstone of successful research. You may have already written a research proposal , which you can use to plan your research steps. Perform a literature review to familiarize yourself with your field of research. If you are aiming for a Ph.D. degree after your Master’s degree, you may already have done this, but you should still check for new publications in the field since your last literature review.
Plan your thesis study using the SMART objectives:
- Your research question must be specific and not vague.
- Your research results must be measurable, either quantitatively or qualitatively, in a practical and cost-effective manner.
- You need to complete your thesis study within the set timeframe and budget.
- Don’t set a goal that you are incapable of achieving. Ensure that your objective addresses your thesis question.
- Create an achievable timeline and set specific milestones with dates (e.g., collect all specimens by 7 July).
Find a suitable working environment
You will need a suitable working environment for drafting your thesis paper. Your workspace should have all the resources (e.g., computer, stable internet connection) for you to plan and write up your work and should be as free from distractions as possible. If you can, plug a second monitor into your laptop so that you can read your references while writing. This will also save a lot of time and money on printing. A coffee maker is an added bonus!
Start your thesis study
Complete your induction.
New Ph.D. students undergo an induction program. This involves:
- Meeting academic staff, support staff, and fellow Ph.D. students
- Receiving details of meetings, journal clubs, and seminars held by the department or your research group
- Receiving training on health and safety and the standard operating procedures (SOPs ) of the lab where you will be working
- Completing any other relevant courses (e.g., radiation safety course, training on animal handling)
Start writing
The sooner you start work on your thesis study, the better. Before you begin, you may need to write grant applications, research proposals , or an application to upgrade your Master’s degree. You will need to perform a literature review to complete these activities. Some of this information will be used later when you write the Introduction section of your thesis study.
Conduct your research
Start your research for your thesis study as soon as you can. Although your final results may only be generated in year 2 or 3 of your study, with good planning, you can begin preliminary experiments or pilot studies early. Get into the habit of regularly and meticulously recording all experiments in your lab notebook as you go, analyzing the outcomes, and saving all data.
What if my study focus changes?
Your research focus may change during the course of your investigations. This happens more than you think. Because you will be investigating new concepts and ideas or untested hypotheses, expect difficulties and setbacks. For example, your focus may need to change due to problems with experimental techniques, unexpected results, limited financial resources, or unforeseen limitations.
What if my research is poor or doesn’t work?
Expect to encounter problems early in your research. This is part of the research process. Use these experiences to explore other approaches. Remember that negative results are still results. You may even end up including them in your final thesis.
Speak to your supervisor if your research is not going according to plan. They have vast experience and may suggest alternative approaches to solve your problem. Try problem-solving with fellow Ph.D. students or researchers in your lab. Some of the best ideas come from a good brainstorming session.
Thesis studies are hard work, but nothing beats the satisfaction of completing your PhD! Spend time formulating your thesis question. Careful planning is vital so that you complete your thesis on time. Ensure that you have the necessary approvals and certifications to conduct your research. Check out our site for more tips on how to write a good thesis/dissertation, where to find the best thesis editing services , and more about thesis editing and proofreading services .
Editor’s pick
Get free updates.
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular insights from the research and publishing industry!
Review Checklist
BEFORE YOU START
Chose a topic that interests you
Pick a supervisor
Meet with your supervisor to discuss your proposed research
Define your research question
Define your study objectives
Plan your research methodology
Write a timeline for your project and include specific milestones
Find a suitable workspace
STARTING YOUR RESEARCH
Obtain the necessary ethical approvals from your institution
Research participants must be fully aware of why you are conducting your research, how it will be done, and the end-use of the results. Participation must be voluntary, and participants can withdraw from the study at any time
If your research involves animals, you will need to follow the relevant institutional guidelines for animal care
Complete all training/certification necessary to perform your research
Write research applications and grant proposals
Perform a literature review
CONDUCTING YOUR RESEARCH
Adhere to all institutional protocols
Ensure that all participants have given written consent
Repeat experiments to ensure reproducibility
Record everything in your lab notebook
Regularly update your supervisor of your progress
Store all electronic data safely and make more than one backup (e.g., a USB drive and cloud storage)
Stick to your timelines
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
How do I choose a suitable research topic? +
Most importantly, chose a subject that interests you. You will be working on this project for a number of years, and if it does not excite you, you will not feel motivated and will find it hard to finish.
How do I choose a supervisor? +
As an undergraduate, you may have already formed good relationships with some of the academic staff at your institution. Your supervisor should be an expert in your academic field. They should have a publication record and supervision experience. If you are unsure, chat with other students about their experience with the supervisor(s) that you are considering.
What should I use as a starting point to perform my literature review? +
There are many literature databases (e.g., Google Scholar , PubMed , Scopus , Web of Science , Cochrane Library , and Embase ) as well sources of gray literature (information produced by government agencies and the for-profit sector that is not controlled by commercial publishers) that can be used.
Should I reference as I write? +
Although it may seem tedious, commit to referencing your writing as you go. An easy way to do this is to use reference managers, such as Mendeley , Zotero , or EndNote .
IMAGES
VIDEO