Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster

A Proven Map to Success

by E. Alana James and Tracesea Slater

Do You Know How To Develop Your Research Design and Methodology?

Research Design: Part 1

•  Explanation of topic •  Discussion of the context for the study •  Links or references to previous research •  Theory or point of view •  Rationale for the importance of the problem

Each and every one of these subheadings offer you an excuse for continuing to tease out your ideas in your research journal.

Research Design: Part 2

•  The logic of the design •  Questions and/or

hypotheses •  The methodological

model to be employed •  Scope •  Procedure(s) for data

collection

•  Data analysis techniques

•  Statistical and narrative analyses

•  Limitations •  Contribution or

significance •  Conclusion

Interaction between parts of the research design

Methods Versus Methodology Sort the articles you read into a table focused on methods / methodologies

Reference Methodology Methods Finkelstein, L. M., Allen, T. D., &

Rhoton, L. A. (2003). An Examination of the Role of Age in Mentoring Relationships. Group Organization Management, 28(2), 249-281.

Mixed Methodology Quantitative surveys backed up with a variety of qualitative: observational data, interviews, etc.

Godshalk, V. M., & Sosik, J. J. (2000). Does Mentor-Protégé Agreement on Mentor Leadership Behavior Influence the Quality of a Mentoring Relationship? Group Organization Management, 25(3), 291-317.

First separated paired mentoring teams into 3 classifications and then surveyed regarding transformational qualities of mentors

Quantitative: multivariate analysis of variance

Dingus, J. E. (2008). "I'm Learning the Trade": Mentoring Networks of Black Women Teachers. Urban Education, 43(3), 361-377.

Qualitative comparative case studies examining mentoring networks

Interviews and qualitative surveys

Turning Ideas into Methodology

•  Research framework consists of many parts, each dependent on the logic of the sections before it

•  Charting your ideas can help you assess logical development and the strength of your research design

•  Compare your ideas to model dissertations for points of comparison

Considerations of Purpose

•  Personal and professional purposes •  Your purpose must align with the desires of stakeholders to

ensure you have the permissions needed to complete your study

•  Purpose is your reason for going forward with 1) this particular research design and 2) in this particular context

•  It is also the reason that participants may feel compelled to participate and give you data

•  Your purpose needs to align with the methods you will be using

Creating a Problem Statement

•  A Problem statement should be specific and brief (no more than ½ page long. A good problem statement: –  Demonstrates the problem’s importance with a

compelling opening statement –  Explains the problem in the perspective of the

larger field of study –  Shows how the problem generalizes to or across

other issues/fields –  Limits the problem through its focus in/on your

study –  Is brief Gives the reader a perspective on the whole

study being proposed –  Sets the time frame and scope of the project

(Krathwohl & Smith, 2005, p. 49)

Stage 2 of Developing Research Questions

•  Look at your research questions again in light of your recent research design work

•  Think about your instruments and/or interview protocols and how well they will work toward answering your research questions

•  If appropriate (quantitative research), develop a hypothesis and examine your research questions and instruments in light of this hypothesis

 

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Where Should I Go to Dig Deeper? Suggested Resources to Consider

•  Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. London: Pearson Education. Pages 75 through 80 go in-depth and with great detail into the audience identification, explanation of deficiency of evidence, guidelines, justification for and writing strategies of problem statements.

•  Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pages 112 though 126 gives several examples and a detailed discussion of purpose statements specifically targeted to a number of particular methodological formats.

•  Herr, K., & Anderson, G. L. (2005). The action research dissertation: A guide for students and faculty. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. The only book to date that considers constraints of action research for dissertations and thesis development.

•  Krathwohl, D. R., & Smith, N. L. (2005). How to prepare a dissertation proposal: Suggestions for students in education and the social and behavioral sciences (1st ed.). Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Part 2, pages 45 through 118 offer another in-depth look at the logics behind these same methodological design considerations.

•  Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Gives a good overview of various types of qualitative research methodologies.

•  Maxwell, J. A. (2012). A realist approach for qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: SAGE. Two excellent resources by one of the acknowledged great authors on qualitative research design.

•  Piantanida, M., & Garman, N. B. (1999). The qualitative dissertation: A guide for students and faculty. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 cover similar design considerations from other angles and with more depth. This is an excellent secondary resource for consideration.

•  Robson, C. (2002). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. Pages 79 through 220 discuss methodological-design issues for social sciences and practical research in detail. General designs, fixed designs, flexible designs, and those for a particular purpose are all covered.

•  Thomas, R. M. (2003). Blending qualitative and quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Pages 100 through 145 outline several specific types of studies targeted to fulfill a variety of social science issues. Included are evaluating teaching, political marketing, ESL curriculum, juvenile delinquents lifestyles, cheating, conducting a public opinion poll, and so forth.

•  Weiss, C. H. (1998). Evaluation: methods for studying programs and policies (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Outlines the specific research methodology appropriate to study a program or a policy that has already been implemented and is ready for review.