USPQP040 Diploma Thesis Seminar I

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/7/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. PaedDr. Vlasta Cabanová, PhD. (seminar tutor)
PaedDr. Monika Homolová, PhD. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Šárka Honová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Kateřina Janků, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. et Mgr. Marta Kolaříková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. PaedDr. Milan Kubiatko, PhD. (seminar tutor)
PaedDr. Yveta Odstrčilíková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. PhDr. Tibor Vojtko, Ph.D., MBA (seminar tutor)
doc. Mgr. Eva Zezulková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Eva Zezulková, Ph.D.
Institute of Special Education – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Contact Person: Mgr. Denisa Janků
Prerequisites (in Czech)
FAKULTA(FVP) && TYP_STUDIA(N) && FORMA(P) && ROCNIK(2)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to support the student in preparing their master’s thesis and in preparing for its defence as part of the final state examination.
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will acquire:


Professional knowledge:

  • understands the theoretical basis of the topic of their master’s thesis
  • is able to describe the structure of their master’s thesis and its content
  • is familiar with the current format and template for writing theses at the Faculty of Public Policies of Silesian University (FVP SU)
  • is familiar with the topic and is able to analyse its theoretical foundations
  • understands the criteria and methodology of research
  • is able to properly develop the methodological section of the empirical part of their thesis
  • is able to characterise the aims, methods, and techniques of research

Professional skills:

  • is able to independently prepare a master’s thesis project
  • is able to search for relevant academic literature on the chosen topic
  • is able to conduct a literature review
  • is able to analyse and compare theoretical foundations
  • is able to develop a research methodology
  • is able to obtain data and information for a specific research project and process them appropriately
  • understands the clear links between the aims and outcomes of the master’s thesis

Professional competences:

  • is able to express their own views on a selected topic in special education
  • is able to appropriately defend the structure, procedures, and overall coherence of their own thesis
  • is able to engage in self-reflection and defend their thesis
Syllabus

The content of the master’s thesis seminar consists of individual consultations between the thesis supervisor and the student aimed at supporting the preparation of the master’s thesis.

  1. Refinement of the thesis topic, with an emphasis on its relevance and current nature; introduction to the requirements for theoretical study and the key literature.
  2. Formulation of the main aim of the thesis, the research problem, specific objectives, research questions, and, where applicable, hypotheses. Outline of the content of the theoretical framework.
  3. Organisation of the research, selection of methods and techniques for collecting research data, establishment of a timetable for the research phase, and selection of the research framework.
  4. Preparation for data collection to address the research questions and, where applicable, test the hypotheses. Ongoing study of theoretical sources for the development of the theoretical part of the thesis.
  5. Updating the timetable for the research phase and finalisation of the research framework. Pilot testing of research instruments.
  6. Refinement of the research methodology and content of the theoretical part; formal editing and citation according to the required standards.
  7. Implementation of the research according to the established timetable, updating the timetable, and refinement of the research instruments.
Literature
    required literature
  • SD2/2026 Kvalifikační práce a její obhajoba
  • MPD 1/2026 Zpracování kvalifikačních prací na Fakultě veřejných politik v Opavě
  • Seznam literatury odpovídající tématu diplomové práce po konzultaci s vedoucím práce.
  • KAPOUNOVÁ, J., KAPOUN, P. Bakalářská a diplomová práce: od zadání po obhajobu. Praha: Grada, 2017. ISBN 978-80-271-0079-8.
  • KRČ, M. Metodologie vědecké práce. Brno: Petr Brázda, 2019. ISBN 978-80-87387-65-8.
  • NOVOTNÁ, H., ŠPAČEK, O., ŠŤOVÍČKOVÁ JANTULOVÁ, M. (eds.). Metody výzkumu ve společenských vědách. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, 2019. ISBN 978-80-7571-025-3.
  • OCHRANA, F. Metodologie sociálních věd. Praha: Karolinum, 2021. ISBN 978-80-246-4968-9.
    recommended literature
  • HENDL, J. Kvalitativní výzkum: základní teorie, metody a aplikace. Praha: Portál, 2016. ISBN 978-80-262-0982-9.
  • CHRÁSKA, M. Metody pedagogického výzkumu: základy kvantitativního výzkumu. Praha: Grada, 2016. Pedagogika. ISBN 978-80-247-5326-3.
  • KAJANOVÁ, A., DVOŘÁČKOVÁ, O., STRÁNSKÝ, P. Metodologie výzkumu v oblasti sociálních věd. České Budějovice: Jihočeská univerzita, 2017. ISBN 978-80-7394-639-5.
  • MERTENS, D. M. Research and evaluation in education and psychology: integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2020. ISBN 978-1-5443-3376-2.
  • PITNEY, W. A., PARKER, J., SINGE, S. M., POTTEIGER, K. Qualitative research in the health professions. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated, 2020. ISBN 978-1-63091-596-4.
  • SZOTKOWSKÁ LACKOVÁ, E. Bakalářská a diplomová práce je hra, aneb, 10 + 5 tipů, jak napsat závěrečnou práci rychle, efektivně a bez stresu. Písek: Genius Institut, 2019. ISBN 978-80-270-5293-6.
  • ŠANDEROVÁ, J. Jak číst a psát odborný text ve společenských vědách: několik zásad pro začátečníky. Praha: Slon, 2005. ISBN 80-86429-40-7.
    not specified
  • EGER, L., EGEROVÁ, D. Základy metodologie výzkumu. Plzeň: Západočeská univerzita, 2017. ISBN 978-80-261-0735-4.
  • HENDL, J., REMR, J. Metody výzkumu a evaluace. Praha: Portál, 2017. ISBN 978-80-262-1192-1.
  • MAREŠ, J., VLČKOVÁ, K. K metodologickým standardům kvantitativních studií v pedagogice: Jak psát o výzkumných zjištěních? Pedagogická orientace. 2013, roč. 23, č. 4, s. 455-477. ISSN 1211-4669.
  • PUNCH, K. F. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Praha: Portál, 2015. ISBN 978-80-262-0980-5.
  • SPOUSTA, V. Vádemékum autora odborné a vědecké práce humanitního a sociálního zaměření. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2009. ISBN 978-80-7204-617-1.
  • ŠEĎOVÁ, K., ŠVAŘÍČEK, R. Jak psát kvalitativně orientované výzkumné studie. Kvalita v kvalitativním výzkumu. Pedagogická orientace. 2013, roč. 23, č. 4, s. 478-510. ISSN 1211-4669.
Teaching methods
  • Interview
  • Discussion
  • Productive work with text
  • Working with a graph/diagram/concept map
    • Assessment methods

    Requirements: The student prepares a master’s thesis under the supervision of their thesis supervisor. The course is conducted in the form of individual consultations arranged with the thesis supervisor, with a minimum of two consultations per semester. The student submits the text for review on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the assigned instructions and within the agreed deadlines set out in the general schedule. The thesis supervisor guides the student towards the study of relevant academic literature and provides professional guidance through the successive stages of developing the theoretical part of the thesis on the assigned topic, the research methodology, data analysis, and the conclusions of the master’s thesis addressing a current topic in the field.


    The inclusion of fictitious sources in the thesis assignment and in the final version of the thesis may constitute grounds for not being awarded credit in the courses related to the preparation of the thesis. 

    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Teacher's information
    The student prepares a master’s thesis under the supervision of their thesis supervisor. The course is conducted in the form of individual consultations arranged with the thesis supervisor. The student submits the text for review on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the assigned instructions and within the agreed deadlines set out in the general schedule. The thesis supervisor guides the student towards the study of relevant academic literature and provides professional guidance through the successive stages of developing the theoretical part of the thesis on the assigned topic, the research methodology, data analysis, and the conclusions of the master’s thesis addressing a current topic in the field.
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2025.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fvp/winter2026/USPQP040