Are two qualitative studies enough for a thesis? on PostgraduateForum.com

Are two qualitative studies enough for a thesis?

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Hi,

I know this is a difficult question to answer without knowing the content and results of both studies, but I'm just wondering whether two qualitative studies would be sufficient for a thesis?

The first study chapter is around 16,000 words and the second study chapter is around 20,000 words. My overall word count limit is strictly 70,000.

The initial plan was to do another study, but I'm just wondering whether two studies would be sufficient for a thesis?

chickpea 820 posts
9 years ago

I'd definitely talk this one over with your supervisor. My thesis is quite heavily reliant on a qualitative study (it also has a quantitative one, and a small qualitative follow-up to that one) but one thing I have been talking to my supervisor about is the need to get an external examiner who has qualitative experience/knows how much work has gone into it.

Hugh 1264 posts
9 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
I'd definitely talk this one over with your supervisor. My thesis is quite heavily reliant on a qualitative study (it also has a quantitative one, and a small qualitative follow-up to that one) but one thing I have been talking to my supervisor about is the need to get an external examiner who has qualitative experience/knows how much work has gone into it.

Thanks Chickpea. I'll have a chat with them, although I have developed a questionnaire based on my qualitative study, and it'd feel a bit of a waste if it wasn't used. Although the development and validation of questionnaire could be a study in itself?

chickpea 820 posts
9 years ago

The development and validation of a questionnaire sounds to me like the basis for a chapter - I'm including a chapter on the development and pilot testing of the materials I'm using in my quants study.

Are two qualitative studies enough for a thesis?

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