Book recommendation: Dr. Bronet’s “Writing a Thesis Based on Surveys”

At SSBM Geneva, innovation in education extends beyond the classroom — it’s about creating tools that empower students to excel in their academic journeys. One shining example of this commitment is the new book Writing a Thesis Based on Surveys, authored by one of our esteemed faculty members, Dr. Jose Ramon Bronet.

How did your experience as a researcher and SSBM faculty member influence the content of the book?

My research background influenced this work significantly. The first thing I did was conduct a literature review to see if something like this already existed — and when I discovered a clear gap, I decided to fill it.

At SSBM Geneva, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with outstanding colleagues who shaped my thinking. I’d like to acknowledge Dr. Jaka Vadnjal, whose insights and support were instrumental during the writing of this book.

Many students struggle with survey-based research — what key challenges does your book aim to address?

The book simplifies scientific and mathematical concepts such as the margin of error, correlation coefficients, and when to use Pearson, Kendall Tau, or Spearman methods. These topics are often scattered across multiple sources, making the process unnecessarily complex for students.

It also tackles practical questions — like how long a survey should be and why — helping students understand what makes a survey scientifically valid and effective rather than just lengthy or convenient.

What common mistakes do students make when conducting survey-based research?

• Weak grasp of statistics — many students misunderstand core concepts like margin of error and confidence level.
• Confusing qualitative and quantitative research — for instance, applying the concept of saturation (a qualitative idea) to quantitative studies.
• Stopping at descriptive analysis — relying only on averages or standard deviations without exploring deeper techniques such as correlation, which often reveals the most meaningful insights.
• Unclear on correlation methods — knowing what correlation is, but not when to apply Spearman, Kendall Tau, or Pearson.

My book turns these pain points into accessible explanations with clear examples, so students can apply the right methods with confidence.

What advice would you give to students preparing for their final defence?

The book is designed with the end in mind — a successful defence. It includes sections titled Essential Tips, Pro Tips, and Defence Tips, offering concise, actionable guidance for every stage. Here’s one real example from the book:

“Defence Tip;
During the defence of your thesis, you are expected to know why you selected a particular number of respondents as your objective. You should be able to explain the concept of confidence level, understand what the margin of error (MoE) represents, and demonstrate how to calculate it. Calculating the margin of error is a basic statistical skill expected of any PhD student conducting research that relies on surveys. A PhD candidate who cannot calculate the MoE would generally not be considered to have passed, as it demonstrates a significant lack of understanding of fundamental statistical concepts crucial for research in most disciplines — especially when using survey data.”

This is just one of many tips included throughout the book — each designed to make sure students not only write a solid thesis but also defend it with confidence and scientific rigor.