Dissertation vs Thesis: The Key Differences to Know

Thesis vs Dissertation: Difference in Meaning

When determining the difference between a thesis and dissertation, it is essential to understand their meaning first.

The word "thesis" is typically used to refer to a research paper completed as part of a Master's degree program. It demonstrates student's understanding of their field of study and their ability to apply this knowledge in an original way. For a master's paper, students choose a specific topic or theory within their field of study. The first step is to thoroughly review existing research on the topic. Purpose of this research is to build an argument and use information gathered to support claims being made.

Dissertations, on the other hand, are longer and more extensive written works that are completed as part of a doctoral degree program. They are meant to contribute new knowledge to the field and are typically based on original research that students have conducted.

Overall, the main distinction in dissertation vs thesis is a degree level for which they are written and the purpose they serve.

Main Characteristics of Dissertation vs Thesis

There are various characteristics that can help you understand the difference between a dissertation and a thesis. Below are highlighted features of both PhD and master’s papers. They help to identify whether a project is a PhD dissertation or thesis.

Thesis:

• Shorter and more focused written work completed as part of a master's degree program.
• It is usually based on original research that students have conducted, but it may also involve synthesizing existing research and theories.
• Aims to illustrate how students understood their study field and the ability to apply acquired knowledge.
• It is typically examined by a panel of experts in the field.

Dissertation:

• Long and extensive written work completed as part of doctoral degree program, such as PhD.
• Normally involves primary research by students to produce original work.
• Aims to contribute new knowledge to the field of study.
• Typically examined by a committee of professors and other experts.

The characteristics that differentiate dissertation vs. thesis are plenty and there are nuanced aspects to them, but the above ones will make a good starting point.

What Is the Difference Between a Thesis and a Dissertation?

For you to understand whether a project is a thesis or dissertation, you must know some of the aspects that differentiate them. Main distinction is associated degree programs for projects. Thesis is written by those taking a master of education program while dissertation is for those taking a doctoral degree program. More distinctions between PhD dissertation vs thesis are highlighted below.

1. Theses aim to demonstrate student's knowledge and understanding of their field, while PhD papers aim to contribute new knowledge to the field.
2. While PhD papers involve students performing their own research followed by individual analysis of the findings, master’s papers are usually characterized by synthesis of existing studies.
3. After completing theses, a group of experts from your field of study come together to examine them. However, PhD papers are reviewed by a committee of professors from any field of study related to your research.
4. Theses are typically between 50 to 100 pages in length, though they may be longer. On the other hand, doctoral dissertations usually exceed 100 pages due to the extensive amount of background information and research included.
5. One other key difference between a thesis and a dissertation is that the latter typically requires an oral defense - once completed, the work is submitted to the committee, and students then schedule time for presentation. Theses do not necessarily require that.

Structural Difference Between Thesis and Dissertation

Have you been wondering what is the difference between thesis and dissertation structure? This article addresses your issue by highlighting structural distinction between dissertation and thesis. Here are some of the most significant ones:

1. Master’s papers are typically shorter, and they are usually around 50-100 pages long. PhD papers, on the other hand, are normally longer, having more than 100 pages. The long length of these papers is attributed to the need of providing an extensive, comprehensive research and explaining how you arrived at particular conclusion or finding.
2. Theses involve analyzing a research topic, commenting on gathered information, and relating the topic to a specific subject. Generally, they involve expanding upon subjects that are relevant to your area of specialization. On the other hand, in a dissertation, you are supposed to develop and prove your own unique concept, theory, or hypothesis as guided by others’ research.
3. Theses typically have a more formal structure. They usually consist of an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and thesis conclusion. PhD papers may have similar structure, but they also include additional chapters or sections, such as theoretical framework or case study.
4. Another dissertation and thesis difference lies in their format. Format of theses or PhD papers can vary depending on university or faculty, but in general, theses are written in a more formal style. PhD papers may be more conversational in tone and may use a more direct writing approach.

Thesis vs Dissertation: Key Similarities

One of the primary questions asked concerning theses and dissertations is whether they are the same entity. And this is fairly justified due to the amount of similarities they share.

1. Both thesis and dissertation are long, formal documents that require a great deal of research and writing.
2. The two research projects are typically considered for advanced degrees, such as master's degree or a PhD.
3. A thesis and a dissertation involve presentation of original research and findings.
4. Proper ethical practices should be followed when gathering and organizing research data, and plagiarism is not tolerated in either type of work.
5. All these projects are usually organized into chapters, with an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion.
6. They require strong analytical skills applied in the body section to support conclusions reached.
7. Both dissertation and thesis must have extensive citations and bibliographies, and both must be written in a proper, clear, scholarly style.
8. These types of written work should be carefully edited and critically proofread before final submission.
9. They take the student’s time and account for the largest part of their course.

So, is a thesis and dissertation the same? No, but they really do have a lot in common. Both works are complex and require immense effort. This is the primary reason why so many students prefer asking for thesis writing help. 

Difference Between Thesis vs Dissertation Depending on Location

There exist distinct views on what is the difference between a dissertation and a thesis based on a given location – for instance, USA or Europe. Current globalization has made these two terms blend since we have access to varying definitions. As a result, it is becoming difficult to recognize the difference between them. Is a dissertation the same as a thesis? This question can be answered by exploring the two concepts in the context of the UK and USA.

Dissertation Versus Thesis: UK

In most cases, UK students must write a PhD thesis or dissertation. Cultural influences from the United States have influenced the definition and usage of these two concepts in the UK. Since the seventeenth century, the word “dissertation” has been extensively used in the UK to refer to research projects done at the end of a Master’s degree. However, from the 20th century, the US started reversing usage of these terms. So, currently, in Britain, there is often observed some confusion between a thesis and a dissertation. Doctorate thesis is an original research that students do to obtain a PhD. On the other hand, dissertations are typically part of a broader postgraduate research project. Therefore, students in the UK write a dissertation for Master’s or undergraduate level.

Dissertation vs Thesis: USA

In the USA, definitions of these two concepts are opposite to ones in Britain. Students in the US write thesis at the end of a bachelors or master’s degree while dissertation is written to complete PhD. Researchers in America argue that since theses are longer, they should be associated with a Master's degree, which is a preliminary degree before PhD. A master’s thesis vs dissertation research in the US indicates that thesis is limited to secondary data while the latter makes use of novel data. Further research on doctorate dissertation vs thesis in America points out that PhD papers are more in-depth than thesis. Although student’s ideas in master’s projects are welcomed, they do not direct the project the same way they would in a doctoral program. 

Also, your work should be authentic and contain original ideas. With a thesis helper at your fingertips, this will be much easier.

Bottom Line on Thesis Versus Dissertation Differences

Thesis or dissertation for PhD are the most important part of a doctoral research degree since you are required to produce an original contribution for your field of study. Most people confuse concepts of doctoral thesis vs dissertation. Through this article, we have elaborated the distinction to help you understand them better. Main difference between a thesis and a dissertation is the level of degree for which they are written and purpose they serve. When determining what is a thesis or dissertation, it is important to check if the piece of research expects you to synthesize existing research or requires an original study. Another key difference lies in the examination process and length of time to complete these papers, though it definitely takes much determination to complete either one of these projects. It is important to note that you can write several theses or dissertations. The number of times you will write them depends on the number of master’s or PhD courses you take.