Section outline

• Select section Chapter 1: Preliminary remark

  Chapter 1: Preliminary remark

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  • Select activity Preliminary remarkThese guidelines1 are aimed at s...

    Preliminary remark

    These guidelines¹ are aimed at students at the UAS Grisons who are writing a scientific coursework or degree thesis as part of their degree programme. It provides assistance and includes recommendations on the search for a topic, the formulation of an individual thesis, research questions and core objectives, research practice, the structure and writing of the thesis/coursework, the use of artificial intelligence as well as correct citation and plagiarism avoidance. In addition, the formal criteria of a scientific paper can also be found in the guidelines. If there are any subject specifics, they can be taken from chapter 8.

    
    

    If you have any uncertainties or questions, your supervising teacher(s) will be happy to help you.

    
    

    ¹ _{Special thanks go to the teams of authors from the ZBW (Elmar Brunner, Brigitte Hofstetter & Raphael Wälter), the library (Marcel Hanselmann, Matthias Künzler, Ruth Nieffer, Catharina Wasner & Bruno Wegmann), the IMP (Matthias Künzler & Yvonne Herzig) and Selina Schädler from the SII, whose guidelines served as a template and inspiration for this university-wide guide.}

  • Select activity Nachrichten

    

    Nachrichten Forum
  • Select activity Guidelines for scientific work (PDF-version)

    

    Guidelines for scientific work (PDF-version) URL
• Select section Chapter 2: Scientific work explained

  Chapter 2: Scientific work explained

    What I can take from this chapter

  • The importance of the systematic, objective and comprehensible treatment of a question in scientific work
  • The quality criteria for scientific papers and understand their significance
  • The differences between theoretical and empirical scientific work

  
  

     The basics of scientific work

  • 2.1 What is a scientific work?
  • 2.2 What quality criteria must a scientific paper fulfil?
  • 2.3 Theoretical and empirical work
• Select section Chapter 3: Planning and preparation phase

  Chapter 3: Planning and preparation phase

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • A few tips for finding and narrowing down a topic
  • The differences between thesis and hypothesis
  • The definitions and tips for formulating research questions, theses and hypotheses
  • The purpose and structure of a research proposal

     The preparatory work (topic, research question, research proposal)

  • 3.1 Topic, research question and thesis
    • 3.1.1 How do I find a topic?
    • 3.1.2 From the research question to the (hypo)thesis
  • 3.2 Research proposal
• Select section Chapter 4: Research

  Chapter 4: Research

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • The research procedure and tips for finding the right search terms
  • Additional material for determining information needs, designing search queries with boolean operators or wildcards etc., and obtaining full texts access
  • The ability to categorise found sources as reputable / dubious or high-quality / low-quality
  • The reflective use of the "Internet" as a source for scientific work

  
  

     The research (source search and assessment)

  • 4.1 How do I carry-out my research?
  • Additional material: Determine information needs
  • Additional material: Designing search queries
  • Additional material: Access to full texts
  • Additional material: Customising the search
  • 4.2 What are high quality and citable sources?
  • 4.2.1 Criteria for high quality sources
  • 4.2.2 The internet as a source
• Select section Chapter 5: Writing phase

  Chapter 5: Writing phase

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • The general structure, understanding of the individual elements of a scientific paper, and the declaration of own work
  • The correct use of the first person ("I") and guidelines for employing gender-inclusive language in scientific papers
  • An overview of dos and don'ts in scientific papers.

  
  

     The writing (structure, writing style, dos and no-gos)

  • 5.1 Structure of a scientific paper
    • 5.1.1 Opening credits
    • 5.1.2 Text part
    • 5.1.3 Credits
  • 5.2 Writing style and gender-appropriate language
    • 5.2.1 "I" use in scientific texts
    • 5.2.2 Gender-sensitive language
  • 5.3 Dos and No Go's
• Select section Chapter 6: Formal requirements

  Chapter 6: Formal requirements

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • References / suggestions for formatting and layout of a scientific paper
  • References and explanations for embedding and referencing figures and tables in a scientific paper

     The formal requirements (form, layout, figures & tables)

  • 6.1 Structural format and layout
  • 6.2 Figures and tables
• Select section Chapter 7: Citation and references

  Chapter 7: Citation and references

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • The basic understanding of plagiarism and the aim of citations in scientific papers
  • Additional material on citation styles (APA, DGPs and IEEE) and literature management programmes (Citavi, Mendeley and Zotero)
  • Reference schemes and concrete examples for citation (short references) according to the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA, 7th edition)
  • Reference schemes and concrete examples for the bibliography (full references) according to the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA, 7th edition)
  • How to deal with missing information in the citation and in the reference list
  • The specifics of handling and using artificial intelligence in scientific work and referencing it in the reference list

  
  
     Citation, reference list and dealing with AI
  

  • Additional material: Citation styles
  • Additional material: Literature management programmes
  • 7.1 Quoting and paraphrasing
  • 7.2 Reference list
    • 7.2.1 Missing references
    • 7.2.2 Sorting
  • 7.3 List of aids
  • 7.4 Dealing with and using artificial intelligence
    • Additional material: Webinar "Dealing with AI when writing scientific work" (only in German) and Q&A-section
• Select section Chapter 8: Subject specifics

  Chapter 8: Subject specifics

    What I can take from this chapter
  

  • The specifics of academic work in my degree programme (if available)

  
  

     Subject specifics

  • 8.1 Subject specifics Architecture (bachelor and further education)
  • 8.2 Subject specifics BSc Civil Engineering
  • 8.3 Subject specifics BSc Photonics / Mobile Robotics
  • 8.4 Subject specifics Management (further education)
• Select section Chapters 9 & 10: Reference list for the guide / appendix

  Chapters 9 & 10: Reference list for the guide / appendix

  • 9. Reference list for the guide
  • 10. Appendix (Examples of cover pages)
• Select section Feedback

  Feedback

  • Select activity Feedback on the (online-)guidelines

    

    Feedback on the (online-)guidelines URL