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Key Differences Between Research Papers and Thesis
Whether you are a student or a researcher you must have come across two terms, research paper and thesis. But what do they mean? For many students, there is confusion between research and thesis, but these are two very different tasks that require a great deal of complicated studies and writing.
However, there is a brief difference between research and a thesis, a research paper is typically a shorter selected topic of study and is different from a thesis which is much longer, larger, and more comprehensive research done for a degree. To excel in academia, it is helpful to gain an understanding of these matters which are productive for the accomplishment of objectives.
In this blog, you will learn about the differences between a thesis and a research proposal, between a research paper, thesis, and dissertation, and other frequently asked questions like what does thesis mean in research?
What is a Research Paper?
A research paper is an academic paper that contains an analysis, an interpretation, or an argument for a specific topic derived from the student’s investigation. Some teachers use it extensively as a learning material in high school, college or university level classes.
Characteristics of a Research Paper
A research paper is a type of academic paper of intermediate length compared to a thesis, it is usually limited to between five and twenty pages. It is marked by a particular subject or question, on which the student will need to research on her own, using only various credible sources, including peer-reviewed articles and journals, books, and other relevant and credible reports.
The paper means critical evaluation, discussion, and interpretation of the findings are involved in addition to knowledge synthesis. A general structure of a research paper involves an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
We can consider that it has a positive role in academia because it provides new ideas, reasons, or approaches to the subject. Sometimes, the research findings may be presented in journals or at conferences to present the findings to other scholars.
Example of a Research Paper
When you are giving your literature review for “The Effectiveness of Social Media on Mental Health,” your positive case will contain:
- Existing research on social media usage and mental health.
- Data that has been collected through surveys, such research studies or case analysis.
- Discussion of findings and possible implications.
What is the Thesis in Research?
A thesis is an extended written document that contains arguments based on research that has been carried out by the author in a bid to meet the requirements of a master’s degree or other postgraduate programs.
Characteristics of a Thesis
A master’s thesis is an extensive work that is more elaborated than a research paper and usually consists of 50-100 pages. This calls for the analysis of a particular research question or issue, proving the student’s capability of carrying out original research work.
Certain aspects of thesis writing work, which should be coordinated throughout the work, include literature, method, retrieval, and assessment of data. A thesis is different than other forms of research papers in that they offer new information thereby causing a paradigm shift.
This process involves seeking the guidance of a faculty who guides the student and provides feedback on the progress of the research. The thesis must be defended by the academic committee before it is approved based on the research validity/accuracy, methodological approach, and relevance of the research study.
Example of a Thesis
Here, if your thesis is concerning “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare,” your research ought to encompass:
- A review of AI applications in medical diagnostics.
- Case studies of AI-based patient care.
- Original data collection and analysis from hospital records or patient feedback.
Key Difference: A research paper consists of information only that is found from other sources while thesis consists of information that is from research done by the author.
Difference Between Research and Thesis
A research paper and a thesis differ in purpose, scope, methodology, academic level, and evaluation process. A research paper mainly synthesizes evidence from other sources; a thesis involves researching a selected subject area. When it comes to length, research papers are shorter, taking only between 5-20 pages while a thesis is much longer and can take anything between 50-100 pages.
As for the research methodology, the research paper involves only the analysis of the given sources and articles, while the thesis involves the collection of primary data with or without conducting experiments and doing a deep analysis. While research papers are common at the high school, college, and university levels, a thesis is particular for Master’s and postgraduate levels.
Furthermore, the assessment procedure also varies as compared to the research papers that are marked by professors with regards to their content and structure of the arguments, a thesis has to undergo the process of defense in front of several professors and academicians to check the strength of the paper, the research method employed, and contribution made by the thesis to the subject.
Research Paper vs Thesis vs Dissertation
Many students also wonder how a dissertation compares to a research paper and thesis. Let’s break it down:
| Feature | Research Paper | Thesis | Dissertation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Analysis of existing research | Original research | Extensive research study for PhD |
| Length | 5–20 pages | 50–100 pages | 150–300+ pages |
| Academic Level | High school, undergrad | Master’s | PhD |
| Data Collection | Uses existing sources | Original research | Advanced experiments & data |
| Final Submission | Graded by professor | Defended before a committee | Defended & published |
Note: A thesis is required for a master’s degree, while a dissertation is required for a PhD.
Conclusion
The identification of the differences between research and thesis is an important step for students and researchers. Although both are genres that enrich academic writing, the former belongs to a specific type of writing genre. A research paper is shorter, evidence-based, and more structured to present the information in high school, college, or university.
On the other hand, a thesis is a more comprehensive, scholarly paper that includes an original research study usually for the completion of a master’s program. Furthermore, one must separate between thesis and research proposal.
A research proposal contains a detailed description of the research study before it is conducted while a thesis is the report of the findings made during a certain research study. Of concern to students pursuing postgraduate programs, it is equally important to understand the difference between a research paper and thesis and a dissertation because dissertations are larger research studies for doctoral programs. Research papers and theses are quite similar in terms of their requirements such as the enhanced ability in the analysis and the critical thinking as well as the proper format of the paper.
These differences increase the level of readiness of the learners toward meeting academic writing and research tasks. In every level of education—college, master’s, and even PhD, some specific important characteristics or requirements need to be met to achieve good results. Thus, the students will be in a position to independently search for and use relevant information in their areas of specialization.
