Is writing a R package equivalent to a journal paper or PhD thesis chapter?

Question

I am a PhD student in Management, at Autonomous University of Barcelona.

While working on my thesis, I found that there is no piece of code or software related to a specific but important topic of efficiency analysis and benchmarking. I am really eager to invest part of my time and write a package in R in order to help other researchers as well as deeply learning the topic through coding. Moreover, when I publish my paper I can motivate interested researchers to use that piece of code and re-evaluate my work or extend it.

Now my question is whether writing such package equivalent to a chapter of thesis /a scientific paper. Based on the answer, I will decide whether to work on it right now or to defer doing so.

I will be grateful for any help you can provide.

Answer 1

Writing useful software is not equivalent to writing and article or a thesis chapter (which are generally not equivalent to one another either). It may, however, be equally valuable for your career, depending on what you want in your career.

The real question is whether people will find it highly valuable. If they will find it valuable, then it can be worth something to you. If you want it to readily count towards a conventional academic career, then after the software is done you can write a journal article about it, and people can cite that. If you search for "analysis software" in Google Scholar, you'll find many highly cited works of this sort, showing that it is certainly possible, even if not the straightest and most conventional road to take.

Answer 2

Writing an R package is not necessarily the equivalent of a PhD thesis chapter or a journal paper. The best to answer those questions would be your current PhD advisors. However, for your own career it all depends on what will be the respective quality, impact, or influence of your R package vs. your completed PhD thesis. A successful R package does give one incredible credibility within the quantitative fields, sometimes even as much or more so than a PhD. Let's put it this way if two PhDs are pretty much equal in every respect but one has demonstrated a superior knowledge and impact on the R community with an innovative and successful R package related to his field of expertise; the PhD with the R package will be considered a lot more valuable than the one without. Given that, I don't think your question is either do this or do that. I think you should do both. Complete your work to earn your thesis in the most traditional way. But, also take the extra effort to develop that R package in a manner most relevant to your field with also general application. This is going to take you more time. But, it is so worth it. If you don't do it now when you have the liberty of contemplating budgeting the time for it, you may regret it later when professional time pressures may prevent you to ever again reopen this opportunity.

Answer 3

As a PhD advisor I would count R package as a journal paper. At least if I would have to make an evaluation of your thesis :-).

The answer, however, depends on your university. Why don't you write a package an publish it in a journal? Using it as part of your thesis is of course permitted. And if you get other users on board, everyone can see the importance of your work.

Although this is not established as a standard, I would encourage you to do so.

Answer 4

Writing software is not equivalent to writing a thesis, because the thesis is a theory defended by a practical demonstration.

It could be equivalent to the research project about which a thesis is written. Any novel elements could be the parts presented as the question to prove. (algorithms, architecture, or even methodology)

(Your committee may actually allow you to pretend otherwise, but that really is more of a non-thesis option if you never actually write a thesis and defend it.)

The classical approach to this question is to write up and present a research proposal to your panel. If they accept it, it becomes your official thesis topic. Obviously, as already suggested, most bounce the ideas off of their adviser and peers before the formal proposal.