Research...Beacon at the end of a long, winding tunnel without light...that's what it is. Nothing less. Nothing more...

Once you find the light, the path seems very easy and you berate yourself for not seeing the obvious thing.

But that's working backwards.

Like going to the answers section without solving the riddle...

Or reading a story from the last page...

Thesis is like a story.

Dictionary.com says the word 'thesis' has its origins in greek and latin. It came from settling down.

ps. I can start with research and reach settling down. Beat it!