Assessment criteria for the doctoral thesis
The scope and quality of the doctoral thesis shall correspond to at least four years’ full-time third-cycle studies. The contribution of the doctoral student shall be clear and sufficient. Note that it is not the number of articles that is decisive but rather the overall quantity and quality of the work.
The background information
The background information shall:
- firmly anchor the specific research field in a wider context
- include a relevant, selective and current literature review
- establish the knowledge gaps in the specific research field
- explain the motives for the studies
- define the relevant problems that form the basis to the posed questions
The hypotheses and questions
The hypotheses and questions shall:
- be precisely worded
- well-defined
- current
- be clearly established in the specific research field within Informatics.
The methods
The methods shall be:
- adequate
- reliable
- described at a sufficient level of detail.
They shall also be justified, and their advantages and disadvantages shall be discussed.
The results
The results shall be:
- processed using adequate methods
- described and presented clearly
- interpreted in a well-balanced way
- if applicable, be repeatable and permit transferability
The discussions and conclusions
The discussions and conclusions shall:
- give a summary of the findings and show a perspective on the interpretation
- link the various parts of the studies together
- critically review the achieved results
- discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the studies
- set the findings in relation to literature of the research field
- discuss the studies’ implications for the research field and how the findings may be applied
- identify new or remaining gaps in the research field
Furthermore, the doctoral thesis shall include an ethical discussion where applicable.
Assessment criteria for the verbal defense
The author of the thesis shall demonstrate:
- broad knowledge within their research field
- deep and current knowledge within their specific research field
- familiarity with research methodology and an ability to assess strengths and weaknesses in methods used
- ability to formulate, plan and address a research question using adequate methods
- familiarity with the compiled scientific literature of the specific research field
- capacity to perform scientific analysis and synthesis during an academic discussion
- ability to present their research results with authority and respond to questions and criticism in an objective and adequate way
- knowledge of good research practice and ability to make assessments of research ethics
- ability to incorporate their own results into a wider context and reflect on the implications of the research for society
- ability to express themselves regarding how their own research contributes to the development of knowledge