Abstract: With the increasing emphasis on practice orientation in professional master’s education, the writing of Master of Social Work (MSW) theses has developed a “practice preference” myth—the presumption that practice-oriented theses are more likely to gain favor from blind reviewers. Based on a content analysis of blind review comments on 398 MSW theses at G University from 2021 to 2025, this study systematically examines the effects of thesis type and various quality evaluation factors on blind review scores and explores whether the assumption of practice preference is consistent with empirical evidence from the blind review process. The findings show that although the proportion of practice-oriented theses has increased year by year, their blind review scores are not significantly higher than those of non-practice-oriented theses, and the hypothesis of practice preference is not supported. Fixed-effects model analysis indicates that the key determinants of blind review scores lie in the academic quality of the thesis itself, with the forward-looking nature of the research topic, the richness of cited materials, and the innovativeness of arguments exerting particularly significant influence. MSW thesis writing should move beyond the uncritical preference for practice-intervention formats, while placing greater emphasis on innovation and practical relevance, strengthening theoretical foundations, enhancing research capacity, and adhering to rigorous academic writing standards.

Key words: Master of Social Work, thesis, blind review scoring, content analysis method