The invention relates to a method and a thermal analysis device, comprising a retaining device (6) having a support surface (4) for a sample holder (8) and comprising at least one temperature-detecting means (18), which is associated with the sample holder (8). The invention further relates to a sample holder (8) and a production method for a temperature-detecting means (18) for a thermal analysis device. For this purpose, a heat flow to be detected is conducted to the temperature-detecting means (18) substantially via defined contact points (16) between the support surface (4) and the sample holder (8), wherein the support surface (4) and/or the sample holder (8) has elevations (34) or recesses (10) forming contact points (16), which elevations or recesses define a relevant heat flow zone associated with the support surface (4), wherein a temperature-detection region (20) of the temperature-detecting means (18) is arranged within the relevant heat flow zone. For a production method of a temperature-detecting means designed as a thermocouple (18), which temperature-detecting means comprises at least two elements made of different metals, a first metal element A having a greater expansion coefficient than a second metal element B is inserted in a precisely fitting manner into the second metal element B designed as a hollow profiled element and both elements A and B are heated in a first operation step and then cooled back down in a second operation step.