Theses

For academic theses, it is customary to prepare a detailed written proposal—known as an exposé—in advance. The exposé serves to convince potential advisors of the relevance of the topic to be explored and to spark their interest. At the same time, it helps the authors themselves identify a research gap in their chosen field, assess potential risks to achieving the research goal, and realistically estimate the time and effort required.

The following nine points will help you create a well-founded exposé:

1. Research Question: What (scientific-theoretical) problem is at the heart of the work?
   What is the thematic focus of the study?
2. State of the art: What scientific findings are already available?
   Where are there research gaps or unresolved issues?
   Are there contradictory or competing explanatory approaches that require clarification?
   Which key publications are relevant to the topic?
3. Research question: What central research question is to be answered?
   What sub-questions can be derived from it?
4. Research significance: What scientific, societal, or ethical significance does answering the research question hold?
   What added value can the study provide?
5. Objective or Hypothesis: What is the study intended to achieve, prove, or disprove?
   Formulating the main and working hypotheses helps to further specify the research problem.
6. Theoretical framework: Which explanatory approaches, theories, or models serve as the basis, and why were they selected?
   What constitutes the theoretical framework of the work?
7. Method: What methods or procedures are used to investigate the problem or answer the research question, and why?
   In empirical studies, the research design must be explained and justified, along with how the statistical data will be collected.
8. Materials: What literature sources and secondary statistical data are available?
   What primary data is to be collected?
   What preliminary work has already been done?
9. Preliminary Outline: In what order, within what thematic contexts, and to what extent should the individual aspects of the problem be addressed?

For empirical theses, we recommend a robust methodological approach. The Design-Based Research (DBR) and Design Case Study approaches are particularly valuable in this context. These methods make it possible to significantly enhance the quality and depth of the work and to gain practical insights.

• Design-Based Research: Design-Based Research – Methodological Choice and Design by Peter Reimann
   
• Design Case Studies: Engaging with Practices: Design Case Studies as a Research Framework in CSCW by Volker Wulf et al.

We work in a variety of application areas. Within these areas, certain focus areas have emerged where we are currently active. If you are interested, you can get involved in the following projects:
 

• Health5G (https://health5g.net): The Health5G project aims to demonstrate the technical and structural feasibility as well as the added value of 5G technology for the socially significant field of healthcare. The focus is not on a widespread introduction of new technology, but rather on the targeted demonstration and evaluation of its potential using concrete care processes. Using the example of the “patient journey” of geriatric patients, new models of innovative patient care are being tested via a 5G campus network: (1) A mobile patient bed equipped with modern sensor technology supports fall and pressure ulcer prevention—and accompanies the care process from admission to discharge, (2) Additionally, 24-hour monitoring of vital signs via wearables (blood pressure, respiration, heart rate) is being tested,(3) Telemedicine applications via smart glasses and mobile ultrasound are also being tested over the 5G network.
  
   
• ROBUST (https://www.robust-vdek.de): The ROBUST project (Robot-Based Support for Prevention and Health Promotion in Inpatient Care Facilities) focuses on the development of robot-assisted interventions for health prevention. To this end, activating and health-promoting group programs for residents of care facilities are being developed and scientifically evaluated.
  
   
• Technologies related to Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs): Several projects and research areas focus on Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs)—technologies that are revolutionizing interaction with digital information and merging virtual and real worlds. Potential research approaches include:
  • User Experience (UX) Design
  • Interaction techniques
  • Accessibility & Inclusion
  • Health & Safety
  • Application areas (e.g., healthcare, education, training, industry)
    
• Robot platforms: NAO, Pepper, Temi & Double: A thesis may also address the following topics:
  • Optimization of navigation & spatial perception
  • Development of new applications for care, education, or entertainment
  • Human-robot communication
  • Expansion of “intelligent” capabilities
  • Personalized human-robot interaction
    The possible applications are as diverse as the potential areas of life where robots can be used.
    
• Movesense Sensors: You can also explore topics in the following areas:
  • Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
  • Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL)
  • Computer-Supported Collaborative Systems (CSCS)
  • IT in Healthcare

Whether you’re interested in user-centered interfaces, software development, application design, or empirical user research—a thesis in this field offers you the opportunity to delve deeply into the subject and develop solutions with real societal value.