Thesis for Master Degree in Micro data analysis

At the end of the thesis work the student shall be able to

• analyze strengths and limitations of tools and techniques necessary for systematic decision making
• perform data and information modeling from different perspectives and ontologisms and identify and formulate research problems
• take a critical approach to modeling and analysis and to be able to justify and communicate the obtained results to a wide range of audience (managers, people involved in decision making, experts in the area, fellow students, journalists)
• apply hybrid approaches which combine quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques for problem solving
• design, develop, and if necessary deploy robust analytical models in organizations within a certain time frame
• provide critical review and constructive criticism on work done by another person or party
• identify learning needs to carry out an advanced investigation
• assimilate and review relevant literature in the field of micro data analysis
• conduct research in the field of micro data analysis in a technically and ethically sound manner

The thesis may have the characteristics of a methodological study and contribute to the development of methods and techniques in Micro data analysis. It may also be a practical or empirical work aiming at improving the Business Intelligence chain or a part of it within an organization.

The thesis will be assessed in four parts. The first is the written form. The second is the process leading to the written form, jointly with the assigned supervisor. The third is the verbal presentation and defense at the final seminar. The fourth part is that each student serves as an opponent to another student of another work at the final seminar. Attendance is compulsory at all seminars.

The student performs an independent project under supervision.

The student proposes the plan for thesis work during the beginning of the second year of master studies. The students will meet a two member committee on an individual basis and several issues such as research interests, topic for thesis, nature of thesis (industrial based or academic based), type of data, issues concerning data collection will be discussed and finalized. The student will also identify the need for further learning in order to successfully complete the thesis work.

Further the subject representative will set the date for kick off, half-way seminar and the final seminar. All the students shall submit their thesis reports one week in advance before the final seminar. The student will present the thesis verbally at both seminars. Finally, each student will be appointed as an opponent to another student before the final seminar. According to this arrangement, each student is supposed to read and comment on his/her opponent’s work and present it verbally during the final seminar.

The student is supervised from the kick off to the final seminar.

The Swedish grades U–VG.

Assessment is individual and based on the material at hand at the final-seminar.

The degree thesis will usually be written individually. However students will be encouraged to work in pairs whenever the demands placed on the project are considerable. Huge scale data collection, information organizations, information-sharing across departments within an organization serve as typical examples for such demands.