Part I Concepts
5.2 Choose Problem to Focus on Within the Subject Area
choose a project which combines more than two areas, since they can become too complex to handle.
In addition to the above guidelines, ask yourself whether you:
● Have previously in your studies encountered subject areas or courses that you felt were especially interesting
● Would like to work within a particular subject area in the future
5.2 Choose Problem to Focus on Within the Subject Area 31
area. It is also much more difficult to identify relevant problems if you are unfamiliar with the area in general.
Once you have found a problem, you need to investigate whether it is worthwhile to explore further. Try to write down your arguments for why it is important to investigate the problem. If you find clues in the existing literature that the problem is still not solved, then you are on the right track. On the other hand, if you find no supporting clues in the literature, you have to develop all the arguments yourself.
Your initial ideas can be further refined by asking yourself – what type of project would I really like to do? Should it be, for example:
● A descriptive project
● A theory oriented project
● An applied project
● A comparison of theory and practice
Keep in mind that most thesis projects use elements from more than one of the above categories. Use the categories to identify the main characteristic of your approach.
In the subsequent sections, we take a closer look at each of these project types.
5.2.1 Descriptive Projects
Descriptive projects present the state-of-the art for a given subject. A descriptive project can be set up in different ways. Here we outline two common types of descriptive projects.
In the first type, the aim is to categorise and compare previous work within a subject area. This may include objectives such as (1) categorising previous work, (2) selecting comparison criteria, and (3) comparing previous work with respect to the comparison criteria. This type of survey is useful when you want to identify how a subject area has evolved over time, what its current status is, and how it may evolve in the near future.
In the second type of project, the aim is to gain an understanding of the current status of the subject, and to identify important factors. This may include objectives such as (1) selecting questions, (2) interviewing people, and (3) identifying impor- tant factors from the interviews.
When you choose to do a descriptive project, it is important that you do not write a report which is simply a summary of all the literature you have read in the field.
Instead you need to, e.g. highlight your analysis of the literature.
5.2.2 Theory Oriented Projects
Theory oriented projects often deal with extending or comparing existing theoreti- cal models without testing them in practice. Here we outline two common types of theoretical projects.
In our first example of a theoretical project, the aim is to extend an already existing theory or model; to extend the relational data model with support for business rules.
This may include objectives such as (1) identifying the details of the extension (e.g.
what types of business rules), (2) introducing the extension to the original theoreti- cal model, and (3) comparing the original theoretical model with the extended version.
In our second project example, the aim is to compare the support for business rules in two different data models. This project is an example of a comparison between two theoretical models; This may include objectives such as (1) selecting comparison criteria, and (2) analyzing the two data models with respect to the com- parison criteria.
When you choose to do a theoretical project, it is important that you are aware of how the theoretical ideas may be applied in practice. Although a theoretical project does not involve implementing or otherwise testing the theory in practice, it is nevertheless important that the theory/model is correct.
5.2.3 Applied Projects
Applied projects often deal with conducting experiments and building proof-of- principle implementations, and gathering experiences from them. Here we outline one common type of applied project.
In this type of applied project, the aim is to gain experience from implementing an algorithm for caching of web data. This may include objectives such as (1) setting up a simulator, (2) implementing the new algorithm, (3) testing and analyzing the results obtained, and (4) suggesting improvements to the algorithm.
An applied project should not be a consulting job. If it were, it would probably satisfy the company where the project is carried out, but in most cases would not meet the requirements of a thesis project. There is a tendency for such projects to be carried out in isolation from the related theory. One way around this is to take a practical problem, e.g. from a company, and put it into a theoretical context. It then becomes easier to demonstrate the importance of investigating the company’s problem.
5.2.4 A Comparison of Theory and Practice
Projects which combine theory and practice may contrast the theory with current practice in companies or organisations. Here we outline one example project.
In this example project, the aim is to contrast the current theory relating to object-oriented modelling, with how companies and organisations use object- oriented modelling in practice. This may include objectives such as (1) selecting
companies or organisations, (2) selecting comparison criteria, (3) investigating the details of the theory with respect to the comparison criteria, (4) investigating how companies or organisations work with object-oriented modelling with respect to the comparison criteria, and (5) a comparison of the results obtained from (3) and (4).