Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences.

Different test variants

This part of any development is so important that there is an entire development model based on it: Test-Driven Development.

The following test variants are possible:

• Mockup tests for early validation of an idea
• Unit tests to check absolutely certain properties (invariants)
• Usability tests
• Practical tests
• In some cases: compatibility tests

In a full development process, all variants would be carried out – in a thesis, this is usually too time-consuming. Therefore, perform one or two variants and discuss the rest only briefly.

Clarify with your supervisors in advance what is expected of you.

Scope

The scope of this chapter will vary greatly depending on the thesis.

For theses focusing on usability, the test section may be the most important part of the work. In this case, do not present the findings of the tests individually, but summarize them, and for larger sample sizes, determine statistical measures such as means and standard deviations.

Note that you will probably not be able to collect enough data to make statistically significant statements.

This is why a written evaluation and analysis is important.

Extensive tables and figures should be placed in an appendix.

Objective: It should be clear that the validation of the resulting system was taken seriously, and one can assume that there are only few errors.

Common mistakes

• Expecting to be able to create error-free hardware or software.
• Providing a detailed presentation of all responses from usability tests – it is better to place these in the appendix or on a CD.
• Neglecting the topic of “testing.”

This section is, depending on the thesis, a mandatory part of the structure of a scientific paper.

Frequently asked questions

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Body Section: Discussion

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Purpose of the discussion In the discussion, you assess what your results mean, to what extent you have achieved your objectives, and what recommendations may arise from your results. By evaluation, we do not mean your …

• evaluation
• reasoning
• results

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, VT, WT

• Genres & Structures

Contributors: Autorengruppe Leitfaden efi, Maria Noll, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode, Dennis Christoph Wolff

Body Section: Summary, Conclusion and Outlook

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. The title of this section is “Summary and Outlook” or “Summary, Conclusion, and Outlook” – not “Ending.” How it’s done In the final part of your paper, you answer the questions posed in the introduction. You …

• conclusion
• continuation
• end
• recap

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, VT, WT

• Genres & Structures

Contributors: Autorengruppe Leitfaden efi, Maria Noll, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode, Dennis Christoph Wolff

This article was published in August 2025 and last updated in November 2024.