Master Thesis IS (IS)

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

A master thesis has to be conducted as an individual project about a topic within the realm of Information Systems, approved by the track coordinator. In cases where the topic is beyond the field or if students wish to perform a joined project, then the Board of Examiners shall approve the proposed project before the start of the thesis trajectory. The master thesis has to be written in English.

The most common research types are:

• Empirical research, as used in social and economic science.
• Analysis of existing theories regarding an Information Science issue.
• Design/Prototype/Evaluation of a complex information, knowledge or media system, or a new algorithm for such a system.
• Report with policy recommendations regarding a complex organisational issue, where the recommendations are explicitly based on theories of the information science domain.
• Experimental evaluation and/or specialisation of an algorithm for a specific application domain. 

During the master thesis defence the candidate presents the research, after which the examination committee will ask questions. The conduction of the master research, the master thesis, the presentation and defence are all taken into consideration for deciding on the grade. A specific assessment form will be used for this. Deviations from the agreed research period will also be taken into consideration and will affect the grade.  

Study materials

Other

• The literature the students identified during the literature study.

Objectives

At the end of the course, the student is able to:

• show the state-of-the-art knowledge in the area of the research project based on the relevant literature by applying in a practical situation;
• process the research data and to critically judge the obtained results in relation to the goals and the line of research; 
• describe and critically discuss the above activities in a written report in form of a 10 page conference paper, in which the methodology is accounted for and the original phrasing is substantiated;
• present and discuss the results with a scientific and non-scientific audience in a public defence.

Teaching methods

• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting
• Lecture

Independent research, individual guidance, 1 regular class meeting.

Learning activities

Attendance

In OER-B of the programme no requirements regarding attendance are mentioned.

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Valeria Krzhizhanovskaya