Production Thesis

1. Defining a production thesis

A production thesis has two parts: one is a production,and the other is a theoretical analysis of the production. The production must demonstrate psychological insights and qualities; that is, the creative, original piece of the thesis must both be creative and have depth psychological significance. It must be completed during your tenure as a student at Pacifica--in other words, you may not submit a work completed prior to your admission to the program.In all cases, the production must be accompanied by a more theoretical, written analysis that demonstrates how the production, together with the theoretical underpinning, contributes to research in counseling psychology.

A "production" can take many forms and formats. It can be presented as the core of the thesis, or as an appendix. The production can be presented in toto (e.g., a complete novel; a complete movie script) or in part (five chapters of a novel;two episodes of a series). Enough material should be included to give a clear or persuasive sense of the work's longer trajectory. A production may take the form of:

1. Multimedia:
   Hypertext, CD-ROM, art installation with multimedia dimensions, interactive Web site, computer art and animation, video games, interactive programs for children or adults.
2. Media:
   Video, filmscript, film, radio documentary, television series.
3. Art and Literature:
   Painting, sculpture, photoshop art, writing of a novel or script, a collection of poems, a series of short stories.
4. Cultural Intervention:
   Creation and performance of a dance, ritual, story-telling, choreography, opera libretti.

The production or artistic contribution may be presented as the core of the thesis or in an appendix.

The production can be presented in toto ( e.g., a complete novel,a complete movie script) or in part (e.g., five chapters of a novel; two episodes of a series). Enough material should be included to give a clear or persuasive sense of the work's longer trajectory.

The crucial element in all production theses is to be able to demonstrate that the combination of the production along with its theoretical counterpart contributes to the advance of research and a deepened understanding of counseling psychology. The theoretical analysis must contain the following:

1. Title Page
2. Signature Page
3. Abstract
4. Table of Contents (see examples of a.through d. in the Term Paper and Thesis Handbook).
5. Chapter I: Introduction (as outlined in Term Paper and Thesis Handbook)
6. Chapter II: Literature Review--Cover the relevant literature on your topic while situating your specific approach or method. Mention authors, schools, and critique them as pertinent to your topic.
7. Chapter III and subsequent chapters--Here is where you will present your creative piece of work and discuss its significance to counseling psychology. Depending on the medium you are using, some of this material may be presented in the form of a video, CD- ROM, images, artwork, Web site, hypertext, etc.
8. Last Chapter: Summary and Conclusions (as outlined in Term Paper and Thesis Handbook).
9. Appendices-- The production, if short, may be offered in an appendix.
10. References--using APA formatting
11. Autobiographical Sketch

6. Length of the Theoretical Presentation of a Production Thesis.

A traditional thesis is usually between 60-120 pages in APA format. If you are doing a production thesis, the length may be greatly reduced--e.g.,40-60 pages. However, it is impossible to give a precise number of pages for the theoretical presentation of such a thesis, since it depends on the nature and extensiveness of the research involved in the production, and on the kind of production. For example, if your production is a CD-ROM, which already includes all the theoretical material, it may be enough to print out part of your hypertext to satisfy requirements for Chapters I and II. On the other hand, if your production is an art installation in a gallery, with a video or catalogue presentation in an appendix, you may have to write a lengthy theoretical text, perhaps as long as a traditional thesis, to explain how your artistic vision may challenge, expand or inform depth psychology. In all cases, the length, structure, and content of the theoretical presentation of a nontraditional thesis should be discussed with your thesis advisor and the Research Coordinator of your program.

7. Special Equipment Needs and Special Expertise

All needs for special equipment are the responsibility of the student. Also, your thesis may require additional guidance or assessment by people with competencies not possessed by any core or adjunct faculty. In such cases, it is the student's responsibility to seek and, if necessary , to pay outside experts who can advise or guide the production.

8. Samples of Production Theses

Please see the Production-Type Theses and Dissertations webpage of Pacifica's Graduate Research Library at http://www.online.pacifica.edu/pgl/productiondissertations for a sample list of selected Production Theses.