For Students

If you wish to write your thesis with our research group, please follow these steps:

1. Requirements for Writing a Thesis with the Research Group Digitalization and the Public Sphere

To write your thesis with our research group, you should have successfully participated in one of our seminars. Exceptions may apply if your topic closely aligns with our research interests.

You can either propose your own topic or choose from a list of suggested topics (which we update periodically). Regardless of the choice, it’s crucial to follow the steps below!

Interested students should apply at least 6 weeks before their desired start date (refer to step 3).

We encourage students with a solid empirical background to consider doing a replication study. This is especially beneficial for those planning to pursue a Master’s program or doctoral studies. If you're interested in this option, please let us know.

2. Before You Submit Your Application

a. Find a Research Question

It is crucial (and often challenging) to identify a well-defined research question that can be effectively addressed within the relatively short writing period. Your thesis should focus on a specific topic, which can be explored through various research methods. The research question you choose should be clear enough to allow for a focused investigation, and it can be approached from a theoretical perspective (using existing frameworks and arguments), an empirical perspective (gathering data and analyzing it through statistical methods), or through a systematic literature review by synthesizing existing research on a topic).

Regardless of the approach, a strong thesis will integrate both theoretical understanding and empirical analysis. The balance between these components may vary depending on the topic, but having both allows you to demonstrate your ability to engage with theory and conduct research effectively.

We strongly recommend that you write your thesis in English.

b. Do a Short Literature Search

To refine your topic and identify relevant literature, we recommend two approaches:

i. If you already have a research question in mind:
Describe it briefly (in 1–3 sentences) in your own words. Then, search for recent studies (e.g., published after 2005) related to your topic on GoogleScholar or in another database. Focus primarily on journal articles, as these are generally more infomative than working papers.

ii. If you're still exploring topics:
Browse recent articles published in top-ranked journals in political communication and related fields. Look for articles that spark your interest, and use these to identify a potential research question or topic. As you go along, you may refine your topic into a systematic literature review or you might come up with your own idea for a research question.

Suggested journals to begin with include:

• Political Communication
• International Journal of Press/Politics
• New Media & Society
• Information, Communication & Society
• Journal of Communication

You can access many journals through the university network, which provides access to publications behind paywalls. For off-campus access, we recommend downloading the VPN client from the university computer center.

3. Submit Your Application

Please complete the idea sketchpdf, 177 kb · de and send it to Prof. Humprecht.

This form is designed to give us an overview of your preferred topics and writing period. Details such as your thesis title and timeline can still be adjusted and discussed after submission.

4. Decision and Supervisor Assignment

We will review your idea sketch within 2 weeks. If accepted, your supervisor will contact you to schedule a meeting and discuss the next steps.

Please familiarize yourself with the following documents before proceeding:

• General Information PDF (194 KB)pdf, 194 kb · de
• Guidelines for Thesis Preparation PDF (231 KB)pdf, 172 kb · de
• Examples of Thesis Exposés PDF (345 KB)pdf, 345 kb · de
• Guidelines for Formatting Seminar Papers and Theses PDF (159 KB)pdf, 159 kb · de
• Sample BA Thesis PDF (2 MB)pdf, 2 mb · de

If you plan to conduct a systematic literature review, please consult the [specific guidelines herepdf, 737 kb · de (PDF, 737 KB)].

5. Present Your Progress at the Colloquium

Participation in our colloquium is a requirement for writing your thesis with us. We will add you to the Moodle course, where all necessary information will be available.

During the colloquium, you will present your project (e.g., progress, approach, initial results, open questions) to receive feedback. This will help refine your thesis for the remainder of the writing period.

If you encounter any issues or challenges during your thesis work, please contact your supervisor immediately. While we recommend having your thesis proofread, please note that your supervisor is not responsible for proofreading your work, either in part or in full.

The colloquium will be held in English.

6. Hand In Your Thesis

You must submit your thesis by the deadline indicated on your registration form.

For submission instructions, refer to our thesis submission guidelines de.