What is a Thesis/Dissertation?
Most of the research carried out by students working for higher degrees is published in the form of a thesis or dissertation. These dissertations are examined and assessed by one or more external examiners.
Theses are valuable sources of information partly because they contain detailed information about the research carried out , and also because they usually contain a "state-of-the art" review often as the introduction. In connection with the review theses usually contain a comprehensive list of references.
If you are working for a higher degree, you want to make sure that no-one else has carried out the same work, and you also want to compare other research on your main topic. It is, therefore, important to check on international theses in your subject field, at a fairly early stage in your research work.
How to find theses?
The most useful tool when looking for theses is:
This is divided into three series:
A. Humanities and Social Sciences
Ann Arbor, Mich., University Microfilms International, 1938- 12
issues per year
B. The Sciences and Engineering
Ann Arbor, Mich. University
Microfilms International, 1938 - 12 issues per year
C. Worldwide 1989-
Ann Arbor, Mich. University Microfilms International, 1989- 4
issues per year.
Parts A and B cover theses from North America, providing comprehensive abstracts. Canadian theses are included in DAI since 1990. Part C is devoted to theses from universities in other parts of the world. It is not as comprehensive in coverage. Countries which have fairly good coverage are Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The latest three months of Dissertation Abstracts is available free on the Web.
Dissertation Abstracts Online is available on STN and the DIALOG information retrieval service.
Dissertation Abstracts is also available on CD-ROM: There are two main products:
Other guides to theses (arranged according to country) are:
Catalogue des thčses de doctorat soutenues devant les
universités franēaises
Paris: Direction des bibliothčques de France, 1885-
Published annually with variable titles.
Since 1982 divided into different parts:
Inventaire des thčses de doktorats soutenues devant les
universités franēaises...sciences
Jahresverzeichnis der Hochschulschriften
Leipzig: VEB, 1887-1990
After 1991 German theses are listed in the Deutsche
Nationalbibliographie Reihe H-
Jahresverzeichnis der schweizerischen Hochschulschriften
Basel: Verlag der Universitätsbibliothek, 1898-
Index to theses accepted for higher degrees by the
universities of Great Britain and Ireland and the Council for
national academic awards
London: Aslib, 1953-
American Doctoral Dissertations
Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1934-
The purpose of a thesis in science and engineering is to present the candidate's original research in a clear and logical way. Many universities have specific rules for theses. Useful information on thesis writing can be found in:
Juska A., Kucinskas V. Metodiniai patarimai rasantiems kursinius, diplominius, magistro baigiamuosius darbus ir daktaro disertacijas. - Klaipeda: Klaipedos universiteto leidykla, 1998. - 55 p.