Scene: It's a beautiful sunny day in the forest.  A rabbit is sitting
outside his burrow, tippy-tapping away at a typewriter.  Along comes a
fox.

Fox: What are you working on, Mr. Rabbit?

Rabbit: I'm working on my thesis.  It's about how rabbits eat foxes.

(Incredulous look from the fox.)

Fox: That's ridiculous.  What kind of thesis is that?

Rabbit: But it's true!  Here, come see.

The rabbit goes into his burrow, and the fox, bewildered, follows him in.
Ten minutes pass, and the rabbit emerges alone, and resumes tippy-tapping
at his typewriter.  Along comes a wolf.

Wolf: Hey rabbit.  What's that you're typing away at?

Rabbit: It's my thesis.  I'm writing about how rabbits eat wolves.

(Loud guffaws from the wolf.)

Wolf: What a stupid thesis!  You'll never get it published!

Rabbit: Sure I will.  Here, I'll show you.

The rabbit goes into his burrow, and the wolf, still laughing, goes in
with him.  Ten minutes pass, and again, the rabbit emerges alone, and
resumes typing.

Scene: The inside of the rabbit's burrow.  In one corner is a pile of fox
bones.  Next to it is a pile of wolf bones.  In the other corner sits a
lion, belching and picking his teeth.

The Moral of the Story:

- it doesn't matter what your thesis is
- it doesn't matter what kind of data you use
- what does matter is who you have as your thesis advisor!