Know How to Differentiate between Thesis and Research Paper The academic world presents many challenges to researchers. Beginning from the term or semester paper at K-12 schools at ‘O’ (ordinary) and ‘A’ (advanced) levels, the density of research increases as disciplinary fields diversify and become more focused for the individual student at undergraduate levels of higher education. At post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels, the quality of research further intensifies and demands originality and innovation. This kind of research presents itself in various forms. The thesis and the research paper are two of the most popular kinds.
Definitions of Thesis, Dissertation and Research Paper Thesis: The etymology of thesis dates back to the Greek word tithenai which means “to place.” This early definition was concerned with topographical and locative origins with an intentional infinitive that indicated “putting forth” of something in a pre-defined place. From there onwards, the early Greek word mutated into „thesis‟ which in Greek meant “to put forth something” like “a proposal”. This meaning sustained through Latin scholarship and through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance into modernity. To put forth a proposal became related to the central theme or statement of a scholarly argument. In the post-Renaissance discourse of scientific experimentation, there arose a tri-partite scheme in which separate „nodes‟ of knowledge or „axioms‟ connected to form the „hypo-thesis‟ or something that was lesser (hypo) than the „thesis‟ but was also a projected mind-picture of the same. The „hypothesis‟ led to the central statement of the scholarly argument. This central theme or statement of a scholarly argument today is popularly known as the „thesis‟. It is around the thesis that all other statements and evidence revolve to prove its validity.