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Dissertation and Thesis: Used Interchangeably, but Not the Same
It is often that the terms dissertation and thesis are used interchangeably on the internet. However, dissertation and thesis are not the same, although they are both requirements for receiving a degree. In that regard, this article outlines several differences between dissertation and thesis.
Similarities
The main similarity between dissertation and thesis is that both are requirements for receipt of an academic degree. At this point the similarities end, as dissertation and thesis are submitted in partial fulfillment of graduation requirement for different academic degrees. Usually, the dissertation is a requirement for doctoral degree, while a thesis is for master’s degree, although it might be submitted for other degrees as well.
Differences
The main difference between a dissertation and a thesis lies in their content, in terms of original contribution. Doctoral dissertations usually imply original research, which topic and content should be significant and contribute to the selected field of study. Theses or Master’s theses (they might be used interchangeably), demand less original contribution, and as thesis is a requirement for a lower academic degree, the research is less complicated than that of a dissertation.
Outlining the difference between dissertation and thesis, thesis, as an academic requirement, should not be confused with a thesis statement, which is an indication of the paper’s purpose and contained in most forms of academic assignments.
The second difference between a dissertation and thesis lies in the format of the work. It should be noted that different educational institutions outline different format requirement, but nevertheless, there are common differences, which can be seen in the length of the work and the structure. It should be noted that in some countries the differences between dissertation and thesis are vague, where the differences lie in the degree, while both dissertation and thesis can be used interchangeably.
The main point is that both works are indications of serious academic achievements, and thus, require intensive preparations.