(1) Level of Design
The design of the thesis is very straightforward and minimalist. There are no particular visual elements or creative design features that stand out. The thesis is presented in a black-and-white format, with a focus on the theoretical content rather than visual appeal. The design choices give the work a somewhat utilitarian and sober tone. Even the embedded screenshots of the mobile application developed for the project do not suggest a high level of attention to design. The app itself, based on the screenshots, looks functional but not visually appealing, which suggests that design wasn’t a major priority in this project.
(2) Degree of Innovation
While the app developed in this thesis is not groundbreaking in its concept (there are plenty of apps out there aimed at encouraging environmentally friendly behavior), it does have a unique angle. This app is specifically targeted at residents of Vienna, making it more relevant to its local audience. That’s a nice touch, as it shows some thought into who the app is designed for. Nevertheless, I couldn’t really get the glimpse of why it is specifically suitable for people from Vienna, as this was not discussed in detail.
(3) Independence
The author appears to have worked independently on this project, tackling both the research and app development largely on his own. The thesis is based on his insights and decisions, especially regarding the research questions and the app’s functionality. This shows a good degree of independence, though at times the thesis could have benefitted from more guidance, especially when it comes to organizing the content and presenting the findings more clearly.
(4) Outline and Structure
The structure of the thesis is fairly standard, with seven main chapters:
- Introduction – This gives a solid overview of the topic, breaking it down into various subtopics.
- Background Information – Covers general info on climate change, climate change in Austria, what serious games are, and the role of social dynamics.
- Methodology – Introduces the two main research questions: „How Much Can Mobile Applications Reduce the Carbon Emissions of Their Users?“ and „How Much Can Mobile Applications Motivate their Users to Learn About and Engage More in the Battle Against Climate Change?“. The methodology also explains how the author plans to gather data and what results are expected.
- Implementation of the App – This chapter has only 4.1 as a subtopic, which is essentially bad scientific practice and makes it feel incomplete. More detailed sections on the app’s development process would have been helpful.
- Evaluation of the App – Describes the testing process and results.
- Discussion – Analyzes the findings in more depth.
- Conclusion – Wraps up the research.
Overall, the structure is logical, but there are some inconsistencies. For example, the table of contents only lists subtopics up to the second level (like 1.1), even though there are more subdivisions (like 1.1.1) in the chapters. More attention to detail in organizing the content would have made the thesis easier to navigate.
(5) Degree of Communication
Communication is probably the weakest part of this thesis. The content is not always well-organized, and there’s a lot of repetition, with similar points being made in different sections. For example, the app is discussed in various parts of the thesis, but it’s never really showcased in a way that gives a clear picture of what it does. The author also jumps between topics, which makes it hard to follow the overall flow of the paper. A more logical and cohesive structure would have made the research easier to digest.
(6) Scope of the Work
The thesis is 84 pages long, with a total of 105 pages including references and appendices. It combines both theoretical research and a practical application, which is a positive aspect. However, while the theoretical part is quite detailed, the practical side feels underdeveloped. Given that the app is a key component of the research, it would have been beneficial to include more details on its design, functionality, and impact.
(7) Orthography and Accuracy
There are quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes scattered throughout the thesis, starting already from the acknowledgments. Furthermore for example, mistakes like “there needs to be changes” (p. 7) and “a extensive survey” (p. 39) show a lack of careful proofreading. Some sentences sound not scientific, like “Fortunately there exists a study” (p. 39) or “Obviously it will not be possible for this paper” (p. 46). It often feels like the text was directly translated from German, resulting in some clumsy phrasing, like “had people in it, that just tired die app” (p. 74). These errors make the thesis less polished and detract from the content.
(8) Literature
The thesis references a wide range of sources, including academic papers, books, and websites. Most of the sources are relatively up-to-date and the variety of resources suggests the author engaged with the literature.
Overall, Markus Janik’s thesis shows a solid effort. The app he developed is a useful contribution, particularly for the local Viennese context, but it lacks broader innovation. In my opinion the biggest areas for improvement are in communication, structure, design and accuracy. The frequent spelling mistakes and awkward phrasing give the impression that the thesis wasn’t proofread. Overall, while the thesis has potential, a bit more attention to detail in how the content is presented and structured would have gone a long way in improving the final product.
