Guidelines for Thesis Candidates

I supervise thesis projects on the following topics:

• computer-assisted rehabilitation
• Basic IT education in special education schools
• Teaching media literacy
• Evaluation of educational software
• General topics in media education

A prerequisite for acceptance into the examination is participation in one of my courses prior to the exam or a solid understanding of the subject matter from other sources. As part of my work at the "Netzwerk Medien" Center, I primarily supervise empirical theses that focus on the use of (new) media in special education schools. In certain cases, it is also possible to write literature-based theses on the topics listed above.

A thesis involving empirical research requires a different approach than a literature-based thesis. It describes the theoretical framework, the methodology, and the results of a study that you have conducted in a school with a group of students based on a specific research question. You will receive intensive supervision from us throughout this process. The study period at the school is usually about six weeks and is sometimes scheduled before the official topic for the thesis is assigned, depending on the school’s vacation schedule.

You will receive a general outline for empirical research, an experimental design prepared by the research center, and the materials to be studied. Together with me, you will develop the research question and receive support in finding a suitable school.

The study is conducted as an experimental control group study.

An example:

Starting point: The goal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of computer-based math support. First, a group of about 40 students is assembled. This group is then pre-tested for their math skills using an appropriate test. The students are then evenly divided into two groups based on their test results. Before the study begins, both groups have “equal” math proficiency. The training is now carried out. Over a period of approximately four weeks, the students in the experimental group are exposed to the training program for about 15 minutes each day. The students in the control group receive computer-based instruction that is unlikely to affect their math performance (e.g., dyslexia training). The total training duration per student is typically about 300 minutes. After the training, a post-test on arithmetic is administered. If the arithmetic training were to have the desired effectiveness, the experimental group should now differ statistically significantly from the control group in their post-test performance. We will perform this statistical analysis. You will then describe the theory, the study, and the results in your thesis and provide an outlook with recommendations for further research.

You can obtain further information during my office hours.