Doctoral thesis
A doctoral thesis ”is a coherent work based on independent research, which makes an original contribution to scientific knowledge”. The work must be academically honest and fulfil the ethical norms regarding documentation, references, relations with other research, and possible experimental conditions (Good scientific practice and procedures for handling misconduct and fraud in science, National Advisory Board on Research Ethics, 2002.)
A doctoral thesis is assessed according to the following criteria:
Choice and definition of topic, research problem, and questions: the scope of the study and the topic must be appropriately defined, and the topic must be of importance.
Acquaintance with previous research: the work must be a meaningful continuation to previous research or open up a new research area.
Command of theory, conceptual clarity, and definitions: the concepts must be well defined and the study lucid on how the chosen methods are connected with the topic. It should become clear to the reader what the study is about.
Treatment and scope of material: the material must be qualitatively relevant and quantitatively sufficient.
Methods used in the study: the researcher must present the methods and justify their use.
Theoretical and practical significance of results: the analysis must be logical and take different points of view into consideration. The results and conclusions must be assessed in relation to previous research.
Consistency and clarity of presentation: the thesis must be consistent in its presentation, its structure must be logical, and the language clear. The basic idea should not be drowned in a mass of information. The researcher must master the terminology and language of the field.
Public defence of the dissertation: the researcher must be able to present and defend the thesis in public.
Principles for Applying the Assessment Scale
Approbatur
The thesis has serious defects, but it meets the minimum requirements of a doctoral thesis.
Lubenter approbatur
The thesis has several significant defects in respect of the assessment criteria, and not enough compensating special merits.
Non sine laude approbatur
The thesis has defects in respect of the assessment criteria, and not enough compensating special merits.
Cum laude approbatur
The thesis reaches a good average level. The concepts and language are clear. The research problem, methods, and conclusions are well-founded and the research is based on relevant material. Special merits of the work can compensate for possible weaknesses in respect of some of the assessment criteria.
Magna cum laude approbatur
The thesis is better than average. The thesis has clear merits in respect of the assessment criteria and no defects annulling the merits.
Eximia cum laude approbatrur
The thesis has several significant merits in respect of the assessment criteria and no defects annulling the merits.
Laudatur
The thesis is ambitious in every way and has distinct merits in respect of all the main assessment criteria.
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Kriterier för granskning och bedömning av en doktorsavhandling
