MA Thesis Development 1

6 ECTS

Teachers:

Prof. Dr. Karmen Franinovic, MA Stella Speziali, Dr. Roman Kirschner (writing workshop), MA Verena Ziegler (background and structure workshop), Mentors and Guests

Learning objectives

The module aims to define the individual master project to a stage of a first draft of the written thesis and explorations of the design artefact.

Content

The thesis project lasts for three semesters and will reach its final form in the third semester. It includes a theoretical component (written thesis), a practical component (design artefact) and the presentation of both in an exhibition.

The Thesis Development 1 module in the first semester focuses on defining the master project in terms of topic, scope and approach. This includes literature and project reviews, empirical work and design explorations. The result of the first semester is a first draft of the written thesis as well as first explorations for the design artefact.

Each students will be assigned a personal mentor for the thesis project who can be consulted for mentoring sessions throughout the semester. The mentors will guide the projects and students closely and will help the students to develop their individual projects further, formulate research questions as well as suitable methodologies and approaches.

Schedule

See Semester schedule for class topics and workshops (writing, mapping, contextualising).
Most meetings take place online, except for Final colloquium on 9.6.22. and possibly some workshops.

Thesis structure

Generally, the parts in bold are the ones that should be filled in by the end of 1st semester:

Abstract

Introduction

  • Research questions

  • Methodology and methods

  • Aims and objectives

Background (preliminary)

  • Context of Investigation

  • Theoretical/Epistemological framework

  • Projects and Case Studies

Context Research

  • Field research

  • Experiments

Prototype / Produkt / Installation (draft)

  • First Prototype

  • Iteration

  • Following prototypes

Evaluation of Interactive Experience

  • Methods/Procedure

  • Findings

Conclusion and Future Steps

The document should have 1/3 of the length of the final written thesis (min 6'000, final length 75'000 –150'000 characters). The written part may change depending on the work in the 2nd and 3rd semesters.

Deliverables

Prüfungsreglement 1. Semester | DE
Examination Regulations 1st Semester | EN Translation

Deadline and Deliverables

Thursday 09.06.2022
Upload location on the file server: DDE > MDE_VIA > MA22_Thesis_Projects
smb://fileredu.ad.zhdk.ch/DDE/MDE_VIA/MA22_Thesis_Projects

The disposition should have a length of 6000 characters and should argumentatively discuss: (1) the context and field of investigation, (2) the resulting research questions and theses, (3) the theoretical and epistemological frameworks, methodology and methods for the investigation, (4) the aims and objectives, (5) preliminary background research (eg. literature review, artworks, movies, etc.), (6) refections on preliminary empirical work (eg. design experiments, ethnographic observations, workshops, etc.). It should be accompanied by appropriate illustrations and a bibliography. The disposition can be written in German or English. Further details will be discussed in the module. The disposition has to be submitted as a PDF to the appropriate folder in your individual folders (smb://fileredu.ad.zhdk.ch/DDE/MDE_VIA/Thesis_Projects) by 16.06.2022.

Any empirical work (eg. design experiments, ethnographic observations, workshops, etc.) should be submitted as images or videos and should be reflected on in the disposition. All material has to be submitted to the appropriate folder in your individual folders (smb://fileredu.ad.zhdk.ch/DDE/MDE_VIA/Thesis_Projects) by 16.06.2022.

The abstract should have a length of 750 characters words should be written in both German and English. The abstract should be accompanied by an representative image (300dpi) that captures the thesis project. All material has to be submitted to the appropriate folder in your individual folders (smb://fileredu.ad.zhdk.ch/DDE/MDE_VIA/Thesis_Projects) by 16.06.2022.

Examination

The assessment criteria are:

  • Frequent and punctual attendance (min. 80%)

  • Active participation in the sessions

  • Development and presentation of the thesis project in the form of experiments, observations, etc.

  • Short disposition for the thesis project, abstract and representative image

The grading is A–F.

 

Bibliography

Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers, 7th Edition (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007).

Nigel Warburton, The Basics of Essay Writing (London: Routledge, 2006).

Purdue Online Writing Lab, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Writing Tools

Mellel Word Processor, https://www.mellel.com

Scrivener Writing Environment, https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener

LaTeX, https://www.latex-project.org

Notebooks, https://www.notebooksapp.com

Ulysses, https://ulysses.app

Bookends Reference Manager, https://www.sonnysoftware.com

Zotero Reference Manager, https://www.zotero.org

Mandaley Reference Manager, https://www.mendeley.com

Citavi, https://www.citavi.com



The grading is A–F.