"There are ways to write a passing dissertation without using a thesis statement. Dissertations can be formulated around problem statements, research objectives or research questions (Erik Hofstee, 2006)."
What is your opinion?
Could you bring examples of successful dissertations without thesis statements?
Thanks
Aryan - can you elaborate here? Hofstee's citation is a little dated and may be using language that is out-model or within the context of a specific geography/discipline. All theses require an undermining/overarching study question, statement, hypothesis - or more than one of these. I'm not sure what a 'thesis statement' is. I can only think that you mean the thesis 'abstract' - but might be wrong. I'm also not sure of the 'passing dissertation' context. No one single feature of a thesis/dissertation can determine pass or fail.
Dear Aryan Shahabian ,
Thesis statement style dissertations are consistent with a positivist philosophy where prior knowledge is used to make an assertion that is then tested. There are many other possible philosophical approaches to a dissertation, some of which would not involve making an initial assertion that requires acceptance or rejection. For example, an interpretive philosophy leads to an inductive approach in which knowledge is constructed from the data collected.
Dear Dean Whitehead ,Thank you.
As I understand it, a Thesis Statement (as a part of a dissertation) is a combination of (a) particular claim/s followed by a list of particular arguably provable causes, factors, etc. In some cases a dissertation may shed some light on rather unknown/unclear but important areas related to philosophy or science that makes it valuable; therefore, it can pass academic exams to get a degree (e.g., a PhD) while it may appear unable to end up with "proving" anything in particular.
Dear, Peter Samuels Many thanks for your reply. How do you evaluate my understanding here?
Dean Whitehead Btw, here's a link to Erik Hofstee's paper:
"Extract from
Constructing a Good Dissertation
A Practical Guide to Finishinga Master’s, MBA or PhD on Schedule"
http://www.exactica.co.za/dn/exactica-book-thesis-statements.pdf
It may depend on the discipline in which the thesis or dissertation is written. A thesis statement may be less common in the social sciences than in the hard sciences.
In physics, usually, in a journal publication, the "thesis statement" occurs in the "conclusions". In a dissertation, it is quite common, to present such a statement
in the, rather lengthy, introduction, as well.
In general, there seem to exist different traditions in different fields.
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