Best Practices for Graduation Thesis Instruction for Undergraduate Students: Comparing and Contrasting Experiences of Thesis Writing in Japan and Abroad

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide readers best practices for undergraduate thesis instruction in Japan and abroad through review of literature from 2019 and 2020 on writing graduation theses. Peer-reviewed journals written in Japanese and English were searched in February 2020 related to graduation thesis instruction. The following database were utilized to obtain literature: CiNii for Japanese and ProQuest and ERIC. Reference books related to writing graduation theses published in Japanese and English were also surveyed. Review of literature related to writing thesis for graduation suggest five key points for supervisors and three key points for administrators at any tertiary institution in terms of the best practices to follow to support their students with their graduation theses. Recommendations for future research based on an analysis of current literature on graduation thesis writing are also noted. Faculty and administrators at universities not only in Japan but abroad will acquire a deeper understanding of how thesis writing as a graduation requirement are taught around the world and ideas to apply the best practices at their own institutions.