What is the difference between a thesis and research paper?
Ask your Program Advisor for his/her own opinion on this. A research paper is usually a thorough investigation of existing literature on a specific topic, structured and presented in academic style. The paper generally contains a breadth and depth component: the first describes where the topic falls within a wider framework, and the second details work done on the specific topic. A thesis does this too, and in doing so identifies something not known, not thoroughly tested, or lacking in the literature: an opportunity for the student to contribute to the body of knowledge on that particular subject. The contribution is often small and may involve field work, a survey, hypothesis testing, statistics, new use of existing data, or other qualitative and/or quantitative analysis. The thesis is carries 6 credits rather than 3 but is usually more than twice the work. Students expecting to get a PhD, become a professional researcher, or who want a particularly rigorous capstone experience shoul
