Bachelor theses at the Chair of Social Psychology

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Photo: Torsten Silz

Informationen on the supervision of Bachelor theses

• Literature thesis

  The literature thesis comprises an independent summary of the state of research in a thematically defined area on the basis of a systematic review of the relevant theoretical and empirical research literature. The candidate provides an overview of the historical development of research; he/she identifies different positions in the research field and demarcates current trends. The strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical and methodological approaches (including their empirical validity) are systematically worked out on the basis of original literature and evaluated using scientific criteria. Conclusions are drawn with regard to research desiderata and potential applications. The central results of the literature work are summarized in a short “press release” in an addressee-oriented manner.

• Conceptual thesis for the examination of a basic scientific question

  This form of Bachelor's thesis includes all the steps involved in planning a basic scientific research project on topics in social psychology. You will derive further hypotheses from the research literature on the basis of a systematic theoretical and empirical justification and explain what theoretical knowledge gain can be expected for the research area by testing these hypotheses. They develop two alternative research designs for testing the hypotheses and work out the advantages and disadvantages of both designs. On the basis of this consideration, all steps of operationalization (e.g. questionnaire design, sample planning), implementation (recruitment) and data analysis (i.e. the selection of statistical methods is justified, possible limitations are anticipated and preventive measures to mitigate the limitations are proposed) are then worked out for the design considered to be superior. The focus of the work is therefore on the comparison, consideration and subsequent well-founded decision for a study design, which is described in detail. The study design should be described so well that it can be carried out by third parties after reading your work. The thesis is therefore particularly suitable for you if you are interested in planning a study and methods and enjoy working creatively on the basis of scientific criteria.

• Empirical thesis (replication study, primary study)

  This form of Bachelor's thesis involves either the replication of an already published empirical study (original study) or the implementation of a primary study.

  The replication of research findings is an essential part of the research process, as a one-off result can only be interpreted with reservations and does not provide a reliable basis for deriving practical implications. The aim of the replication study format is therefore to repeat an influential study that has already been published. The studies to be replicated are specified by the teaching area and have been selected in such a way that the study design and evaluation methods are appropriate for a Bachelor's thesis and the studies can be conducted online. The replication studies are already fully programmed - the translation and, if necessary, adaptation of the (usually English-language) study materials and the programming of the online study are therefore not part of your Bachelor's thesis.

  When conducting a primary study , all steps of a research process are run through. This means that research questions/hypotheses are theoretically derived in a defined research area, the study is conceived in collaboration with the supervisor (design, procedure, operationalization, etc.) and data is collected in order to test the research questions/hypotheses. The programming of the online study is not part of your Bachelor's thesis.

Supervision

Formalities