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ma_thesis_criteria [2026/04/23 11:58] – dbuima_thesis_criteria [2026/05/19 14:52] (current) – [Helpful Sources] dbui
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 ====== MA Thesis Criteria ====== ====== MA Thesis Criteria ======
 +
 +April 2026
  
 ===== General ===== ===== General =====
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 The thesis raises the claim of a scientific work and as a historical, conceptual or ethnographic examination goes beyond the framework of a project documentation or a workshop report by developing independent and relevant theses for design, economy, society and culture. It is based on profound research and an in-depth, innovative examination of the chosen topic. The thesis raises the claim of a scientific work and as a historical, conceptual or ethnographic examination goes beyond the framework of a project documentation or a workshop report by developing independent and relevant theses for design, economy, society and culture. It is based on profound research and an in-depth, innovative examination of the chosen topic.
  
-The length of the work for an individual project is between 8'000 - 10'000 words. +The length of the work for an individual project is between 25'000 – 35'000 words. In case of a project with 2 or more students, the maximum word count should not exceed 45'000 words.
- +
-In case of a tandem project, the volume is nearly doubled and lies around 15'000 - 17'000 words.+
  
 The work should be designed in a suitable format and submitted in printed and digital form. The work should be designed in a suitable format and submitted in printed and digital form.
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     * Mentors: First Name Last Name, …     * Mentors: First Name Last Name, …
     * Typeface: Name     * Typeface: Name
-  * **Abstract** (50-75 words) - general insight into the topic, project and findings+  * **Abstract** (125 – 250 words) – general insight into the topic, project and findings
   * **Acknowledgments**   * **Acknowledgments**
   * **Table of Contents**   * **Table of Contents**
-  * **Main Content** \\ Format of the organisation is flexible but it needs to feature: +  * **Main Content** – Format of the organisation is flexible but should feature 
-    * **General Introduction** (500 words) +    * **General Introduction** 
-    * **Background Research** (2500 - 3000 words / 4500 - 5000 words)+      * Single-author: 1'250 – 1'700 words, Group: up to 2'200 words 
 +    * **Background Research** 
 +      * Single-author: 7'500 – 10'500 words, Group: up to 13'500 words
       * Current state of the context, historical background, societal, political or economical perspectives       * Current state of the context, historical background, societal, political or economical perspectives
-      * Literature Review - how has the topic been explored, discussed, advanced so far in essays, academic papers, art & design, pop culture, different fields of knowledge (medical, scientific, computer science, engineering, etc) or different cultures +      * Literature Review – how has the topic been explored, discussed, advanced so far in essays, academic papers, art & design, pop culture, different fields of knowledge (medical, scientific, computer science, engineering, etc) or different cultures 
-      * Community outreach - discussions with experts, with stakeholders, participants, etc +      * Community outreach – discussions with experts, with stakeholders, participants, etc 
-      * Identifying assumptions, 1-2 Research Questions + Hypothesis+      * Identifying assumptions, 1–2 Research Questions + Hypothesis
       * Detailing methods to verify hypothesis       * Detailing methods to verify hypothesis
       * Motivation, Intended Outcome and Contribution       * Motivation, Intended Outcome and Contribution
       * Chapter Overview (narrative or organisation of your content)       * Chapter Overview (narrative or organisation of your content)
-    * **Concept** (2000-2500 words / 3500-4000 words)+    * **Concept** 
 +      * Single-author: 5'800 – 8'100 words, Group: up to 10'500 words
       * Concept and Angle       * Concept and Angle
       * Related work pertaining to your concept, including projects that embody elements of the proposed idea       * Related work pertaining to your concept, including projects that embody elements of the proposed idea
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       * Involvement of your stakeholders       * Involvement of your stakeholders
       * Findings and Next Steps       * Findings and Next Steps
-    * **Project Development & Evaluation** (2500-3000 words / 5000-5500 words) +    * **Project Development & Evaluation** 
-      * Used Methods: Brainstorming, Experiments, User Journeys, Personas, Prototypes, A/B-Testing, etc+      * Single-author: 7'500 – 10'500 words, Group: up to 13'500 words 
 +      * Used Methods: Brainstorming, Experiments, Prototypes, A/B-Testing, Fieldwork methods, etc
       * Ethics, inclusion, sustainability, accessibility       * Ethics, inclusion, sustainability, accessibility
       * Evaluation of results by participants/users/prototypes/yourself       * Evaluation of results by participants/users/prototypes/yourself
       * Role of Exhibition and Video-storytelling       * Role of Exhibition and Video-storytelling
-    * **Critical Reflection and Conclusion** (500-1000 words / 1500-2000 words)+    * **Critical Reflection and Conclusion** 
 +      * Single-author: 1'600 – 2'500 words, Group: up to 3'300 words
       * Transfer of Knowledge       * Transfer of Knowledge
       * Critique of process and achievements       * Critique of process and achievements
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 Organised alphabetically by order of source genre: book, book chapter, journal article, conference article, academic thesis, newspaper article, web article, etc. Organised alphabetically by order of source genre: book, book chapter, journal article, conference article, academic thesis, newspaper article, web article, etc.
  
-Accepted styles: APA, CMS, or other or refer to the document ba_thesis_viad_2017.pdf for details for each type of reference. The important part is when you choose your style to be consistent and homogeneous throughout.+Accepted styles: APA, Chicago, or others. The important part is when you choose your style to be consistent and homogeneous throughout.
  
 Usually, you can follow this guideline: Last name, First name. Date. Title. Publisher. Usually, you can follow this guideline: Last name, First name. Date. Title. Publisher.
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 For web URLs, you need to feature the link, the author(s) of the article/reference featured in the link, the date it was created, AND the date you retrieved the information. For web URLs, you need to feature the link, the author(s) of the article/reference featured in the link, the date it was created, AND the date you retrieved the information.
 +
  
 ==== Additional elements ==== ==== Additional elements ====
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     * [[https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles|>> In-Text Citation Guide]]     * [[https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles|>> In-Text Citation Guide]]
     * [[https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/clip-art-references|>> Image Citation Guide]]     * [[https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/clip-art-references|>> Image Citation Guide]]
-  * **CMS Style** +  * **Chicago Author Date** 
-    * [[https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html|>> Reference & In-Text Citation Guide]] +    * [[https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html| >> Reference Guide]]
-    * [[http://cmosshoptalk.com/2016/03/15/how-do-i-cite-an-image/|>> Image Citation Guide]]+
  
 ---- ----
 +
  
 ===== Authorship and Plagiarism awareness, AI Declaration ===== ===== Authorship and Plagiarism awareness, AI Declaration =====
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 [[https://paul.zhdk.ch/draftfile.php/3734/user/draft/644275371/20240306_Merkblatt_KI-2.pdf|Use of LLM & ML tools]] [[https://paul.zhdk.ch/draftfile.php/3734/user/draft/644275371/20240306_Merkblatt_KI-2.pdf|Use of LLM & ML tools]]
  
-A word about plagiarism (german excerpt):+A word about plagiarism (german excerpt from ba_thesis_viad_2017.pdf):
  
 Gemäss Allgemeiner Studienordnung (ASO) § 16 haben Studierende ihre Leistungen eigenständig zu erbringen. Die Verwertung nicht deklarierter fremder Arbeitsergebnisse (z.B. Plagiate) gilt als unredlich. Unredliche Leistungen werden als nicht bestanden bewertet. Ein Ausschluss des fehlbaren Studenten, der fehlbaren Studentin von der ZHdK ist gemäss ASO § 24 Abs. 2 möglich. (Beschluss der Hochschulleitung 11.05.2011) Gemäss Allgemeiner Studienordnung (ASO) § 16 haben Studierende ihre Leistungen eigenständig zu erbringen. Die Verwertung nicht deklarierter fremder Arbeitsergebnisse (z.B. Plagiate) gilt als unredlich. Unredliche Leistungen werden als nicht bestanden bewertet. Ein Ausschluss des fehlbaren Studenten, der fehlbaren Studentin von der ZHdK ist gemäss ASO § 24 Abs. 2 möglich. (Beschluss der Hochschulleitung 11.05.2011)
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 ===== Examples of how to combine theory and practice in a thesis ===== ===== Examples of how to combine theory and practice in a thesis =====
  
-  * Making Spaces: How Design Worksbooks Work +  * {{::gaver_-_2011_-_making_spaces_how_design_workbooks_work.pdf|Making Spaces: How Design Workbooks Work.}} 
-  * Attention To Detail: Annotations of a Design Process +  * {{::jarvis_et_al._-_2012_-_attention_to_detail_annotations_of_a_design_proce.pdf|Attention To Detail: Annotations of a Design Process}} 
-  * The Presence Project+  * {{::gaver_-_2020_-_the_presence_project.pdf|The Presence Project}}
  
  
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