Bachelor theses

Bachelor thesis in the work and organizational psychology

In the following, some information with regard to the supervision of bachelor theses within the field of work and organizational psychology can be found. It provides assistance that should alleviate the collaboration by way of clear regulations and agreements and, in particular, ensure that apart from the students writing excellent theses, they do the latter with as much fun as possible and less(er) stress. But of course: Writing a Bachelor thesis is usually accompanied by changing emotions (even towards the supervisor) - but this is part of it.

Subject

Own fields of interest from the field of work and organizational psychology as well as topics from the department´s thematic priorities are possible as topic of a Bachelor thesis (see "research"). For clarifying the topic and the concrete issue one or two preliminary talks should take place with the supervisor. Moreover, the supervisors try to arrange for a common appointment with the students supervised.

Premises

In any case, an empirical study should not be started until the supervisor has agreed to the procedure and the methods and instruments used. A good result in the teaching sessions of the work and organizational psychology is required (at least 2.0).

Prior to the actual work, an exposé of approx. five pages with the following content shall be submitted:

Planned title of the thesis

Presentation of the problem or leading question

Ideas with regard to any theoretical approaches to be included

Ideas with regard to the empirical approach

Preliminary references

Planned structure

Rough time schedule

This exposé must usually be revised (if need be, even for several times).

Consultation

Any concrete questions about other chapters or the analysis procedure can be discussed during the consultation hours. It is frequently recommended to hand in the relevant questions or text passages well in advance by email. Submitted texts should always include the date, name of the student and page numbers.

A consultation by telephone or email is basically not possible.

Master theses

Master thesis

"The second part of the Master´s examination is the thesis. It is an examination paper that completes the scientific education. It shall show that the candidate is able to independently work on a problem within a fixed period of time using scientific methods and to appropriately present the results." (§20 (2) of the examination regulations; emphasis M.R.) The Master thesis should normally be an empirical work.

Subject

Any issue that can be worked on within the industrial-organizational psychology is deemed to be suitable as topic of the Master thesis (see "research"). In principle, we assume that the student independently develops a topic which will then finally be fixed in consultation with us.

It is to be expected that we do not supervise certain topics because they do not fall within our fields of work, so that these could not be supervised adequately or only with extraordinary effort. Areas in which the department is interested in research work ca be found under the item "Research".

Premises

The supervision of a Master thesis within the field of industrial-organizational psychology requires following premises:

the student has completed a degree course with the major field of study in industrial-organizational psychology
A good result in the teaching sessions of the industrial-organizational psychology is required (at least 2.0).
Moreover, it is essential that basic psychological knowledge - and, in partiuclar, even methodological and statistical knowledge, data processing skills (e.g. SPSS) as well as principles of scientific work - have already been acquired prior to the beginning of the Master thesis.
Candidates should regularly attend the research colloquium offered by us and present the progress of their Master thesis there. In addition, this is an excellent opportunity to share the experiences of any other students and to make use of their comments for the own work.
The participation of the writing workshop (Textlab!), where courses are offered in academic writing, is recommended.
The students themselves have generally to care about the formal requirements for writing a Master thesis (e.g. deadlines, registration).

Duration

Pursuant to the examination regulations the Master thesis shall be completed within five months (in duly substantiated exceptional cases nine months).

Scope

With respect to the page count there is no clear criterion. At any rate, in our subject area, the scope of the thesis is no criterion for its quality. The following principles should apply: "Brevity is the soul of wit" (however, please no brevity without wit) and "Economy of explanation".

Consultation

For clarification of the topic, the focus and the research question the student should have one or two preliminary talks with the supervisor. Any concrete question in regard to the content or the approach arising at a later point of time can be clarified during the consultation hours. It is essential for the consultation, however, that a (written) text with respect to the concern is submitted beforhand (even if it merely contains questions directed at us), which should - in the case of more extensive concerns - be handed in at least three days in advance.

A consultation by telephone or email is possible.

For this preliminary talk or after the first appointment at the latest, a written exposé (=statement) of approx. five pages has to be submitted. This exposé must contain the presentation of the problem and the arising leading question, first ideas of any theoretical approaches to be included as well as the research design and methods and a time schedule at least differentiated by months. Please note that no further supervision is made without such exposé!

Prior to the actual work, a synopsis of approx. five pages with the following content shall be submitted (you will also find extensive information about the synopsis in the respective moodle course):

Planned title of the thesis
Presentation of the problem and the leading research question
Ideas in regard to any theoretical approaches to be included
Ideas in regard to the empirical approach
List of literature
Planned structure
Rough time schedule.

This synopsis usually has to be revised after the preliminary talks by specifying the issues mentioned in more detail. This paper finally forms the basis of the further supervision.

Every text and thus also the synopsis, should display numbers, a date and the student´s name.

Prior to the empirical phase of the master's thesis, the theoretical part of the master's thesis must be prepared and presented for discussion (in the bacholor's and master's colloquium).

It is indispensable that current literature of the relevant journals is acknowledged and reviewed in the context of a master's thesis. It is also important that literature cited in other texts is checked in order to ensure that it has been cited appropriately.

In any case, an empirical study should only be started if the supervisor has agreed with the approach as well as the methods and tools used (this includes an intern "preregistration").

Experience shows that usually too little time is allocated for the empirical phase, especially for the preparation, analyses, presentation and interpretation of the data.

In our opinion, the feedback of research results to the persons investigated is mandatory for studies in work and organizational psychology and thus also for master's theses. Therefore, this shoud be integrated into the scheduling. Even if this feedback of results is often not part of the text, an assessment and evaluation of the thesis will depend on the feedback of results to the persons examined.

Grading

An excellent thesis involves that the requirements and conditions mentioned are complied with by the students.

For an excellent thesis it is not essential whether the hypotheses have been confirmed, but how well and transparently the topic has been penetrated and presented in writing, whether the hypotheses have plausibly been explained and how far the empirical study has properly been planned and carried out. This also includes that the statistical methods are used in an adequate manner. We do not necessarily expect any multivariate procedures, nevertheless, the procedures applied must be used in a correct way!

Moreover, for an excellent Master thesis it is not sufficient to only list any existing approaches and studies. It is essential that the latter are understood as well as presented and discussed in relation to the selected leading question.

Degree Theses

Selection of completed Bachelor Theses

Here you will find a selection of 'very good' to 'good' bachelor theses (grade: 1,0 - 1,7) written in the department of Work and Organizational Psychology.

Year 2023

The relationship between emotional work strategies and recreation among employees working in the hospitality industry. (Emma Marie Thomsen)

Year 2022

The relationship between servant leadership and recreational experience among office employees - a quantitative study. (Malin Horst)
The relationship between personality and recreational experiences: A quantitative analysis according to the DRAMMA model. (Larissa Sabadill)
Emotional work in nursing - A quantitative analysis of the relationship between strategies of emotional regulation and mental health of nursing staff during the Corona pandemic. (Dagmara Ciesielska)
Working Out Loud: A quantitative analysis of the relationship between the quality of collaboration and psychological empowerment. (Sarah Wittenberg)

Year 2021

Stress and recovery of educators: An occupational psychology study. (Annabell Schmidt)
The relationship between sporting activity and employee irritation, taking into account recreational experiences - a quantitative stydy. (Katharina Sophie Jürgens)
The Home Office: The relationship between work intensification and physical discomfort and irritation, taking into account personal resources and social support. (Kayonzo Pommerenke)
Online study during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Sophie Kuhlmann)

Year 2019

Transformational leadership and readiness for change. (Carlos Westerbecke Romero)
Agile teams at 'Hochbahn': An empirical study of the role of leaders in agile working methods.
(Birk Schmidt-Bonde)

Year 2018

Work and Health (Hannah-Pia Johannsen)
Mental stress at the workplace - a quantative survey of family businesses in the Kiel-region (Caterina Hein)
Transitional justice in Colombia. On the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the
FARC. (Lisa Anna Pregla)
Mindful leadership - the positive impact of mindfulness training during times of transformational change in organizations. (Annabell Curtius)

Year 2017

Motives for voluntary work among students. (Verena Chemnitz)
Burnout among healthcare workers - effects of illness-related absenteeism of Hospital Nursing Staff on patients, collegues and employers. (Friederike v. Tetzlaff)
Insufficient recovery in a world of work without boundaries. (Frida Osbahr)

Year 2016

Priming effects of food advertising on eating behaviour. (Clemens Jacker)
Burnout risk among educators (Sabrina Kristin Petersen)
Advancement / promotion competences of women in leadership positions through coaching
(Luisa Simonsen)

Year 2015

Impression management in the recruitment interview - The influence of 'integration' and 'selfpromotion' on the interviewer and his/her assessment. (Hanna Marie-Lena Kreutzer)
Intragenerational differences within generation Y? An empirical comparative study between students and trainees on work-related motivational factors. (Isabelle Roshop)
An investigation of gender-specific socialization and work motivation - A survey of students at comprenensive schools. (Christine Kaehler)

Year 2014

Performance evaluation in leadership at a distance. (Ronny Döring)
Alternating telework as an ideal form of work for working mothers? An empirical study with the AVAH method. (Hanna Sellner)
Experiential knowledge in the conflict field of Family and work - prerequisite for supprtive leadership behaviour? (Katharina Schlierkamp)
Stressors at the workplace - A qualitative study on stressors perceived by employees of e pediatric and adolescent medical practice. (Friederike Netzow)

Selection of completed Master Theses

Here you will find a selection of 'very good' to 'good' master theses (grade: 1,0 - 1,7) written in the department of Work and Organizational Psychology.