Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation

Ashlesha LokhandeIqtidar ul Hassan

Ch. 1 Laying the Groundwork for the Thesis and Dissertation • In 1997, D’Andrea reported that lack of structure in the

dissertation process may be the key element in the failure of many students to complete their program.

• In 2012, it still is one of the leading obstacles in students completing their program.

• Winning a dissertation begins with establishing a solid foundation.

Understanding the Special Nature of the Dissertation

• Purpose of Dissertation

– Institutional Purpose• To ensure the degree holder has made a contribution to the field of

as well as uphold an honored academic tradition

– Personal Purpose • To earn a degree • A way of learning about yourself • Personal and professional growth

– Communication Purpose • You write to report the research • Not to persuade, entertain, or express personal feelings

The Audience for the Dissertation

You have several audiences:• Yourself (you must be satisfied with what

you write) • Your Committee • The faculty as a whole (institutional

standards must be met) • Other members of the profession

Analyze the Special Characteristics of the

Dissertation • The dissertation is a report of research intended

primarily for a scholarly audience. • It is an objective, documented, and detailed report of

your research. • Dissertations are long (between 125-250 pages). • Dissertations look scholarly (based on previous

research). • Dissertations sound scholarly.

Analyze the Special Characteristics of the

Dissertation.. Continued• Dissertations are organized in a special way– Review of the Literature – Methodology– Results – Summary and Discussions

• Dissertations are organized in a special way• Dissertations tend to follow very specific rules about

matters of style.

Ethical Choices

• Conduct Ethical Research based on: – Equity – Honesty – Humane Consideration

• Secure Informed Consent

Acknowledgement and Reporting Results

• Acknowledge All Those Who Have Contributed or Collaborated.

Never claim credit for work that is not yours, and always give

full credit to those who have helped you.

• Report results honestly and objectively.

• Even negative results are important and add to existing knowledge.

Securing the Needed ResourcesAnalyze Your Needs

• Do you have the time needed to complete a winning dissertation?• Do you have the hardware resources ? (Computer, data storage, and a

laser printer)• Do you have the money for-

– Tuition and Fees– Consulting Fees– Hardware, Software, and Other Equipment – Paper and Other Supplies – Ebooks, Journals, and Monographs – Telephone, Fax, and Postage– Copying– Travel

• Search for Special Support? (graduate Assistantships or Grants)

Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee

• Responsibilities of the Committee include: – Giving you the direction and assistance you

need to complete the dissertation.

– Ensuring that the dissertation makes a significant contribution to professional knowledge.

– Be available to you

Preventing Problems with the Committee

• Choose a committee whose members are compatible with each other and you.

• At every stage in your work with the committee, clarify the nature of the committee’s relationships with each other and with you.

• Determine the specific ground rules by which the committee expects you to operate.

Communication with your committee is the key to a winning

dissertation.

Dealing with Committee Problems

• When committee members do not give feedback promptly – Follow the two week timeline

• Committee members conflicting advice – Let the chair handle it

• Committee members give unhelpful advice– Ask for specifics, or let the chair handle it

• Relationships critically deteriorate – Ask for the face-to-face meeting, handle it in a professional manner.

Solving Personal Problems with the Dissertation

• Some estimates indicate that only 40% of total students even finish their doctoral degree.

• Problems can be during three phases:– Problems near the end of the coursework – Problems at the end of the coursework – Problems after the proposal – Problems after the Defense

Problems Near the End of the Coursework

• Change of plans• Change in careers which does not require a doctorate • Values and priorities change• The decide family, job, personal enjoyment is more

important • Money • Lack of knowledge and insecurities• Fear of dissertation

Problems At the End of the Coursework

• The army of the ABD’s- All But the Dissertation

• Other than the factors listed in the problems near the end of the coursework, the other factors include emotional and psychological ones.

Problems After the Proposal • I’m tired• The data gathering is not going well• I keep finding references in the literature I want to

cite • I will be the last in my cohort to finish • I now feel I chose the wrong topic • I have writer’s block • I am worried sick about the defense

Problem After the Defense

“Postpartum depression”

• No increase in respect • Trauma of job hunting • You are no longer the center of attention in the

household • It really wasn’t worth it after all

Ch. 2- Dealing with Institutional Requirements

• Take the time to understand the institution’s requirements for your research.

• Styles:– Traditional five chapter model:

• Chapter 1: Introduction • Chapter 2: Review of the Literature • Chapter 3: Methodology • Chapter 4: Results • Chapter 5: Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and

Summary

– Non traditional four chapter model

Specific University Guidelines or Requirements

• These requirements can be found in the graduate handbook. • Formatting

– APA– MLA– CMA

• Submission- – There are two formal submissions: The proposal defense and the

formal defense

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• The purpose of the IRB training and approval process is to inform researchers of best practices in research methods related to the protection and welfare of the participants and the researchers.

• IRB approval process is required at the beginning and the conclusion of the study.

• Once the study is completed, the principal investigator has to send a “closure form” to IRB within 6 months.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• Complete IRB training modules • Once you complete the training modules with a

minimum of 80% score, you receive a certificate of completion.

• You have to take IRB refresher training every three years. (You have to keep track of the timeline)

Degree Completion Timelines

• Each institution has a completion time limit.

• Usually it is 6-10 years.

• Depending on the circumstances, you can request an extension.

Ch. 3- Finding the Research Problem

• Research Topic- A general area of study

• Research Problem- A more narrowly defined issue that represents only one aspect of the research topic

• Problem Statement- The carefully worded research issue as it appears in the dissertation. (It is narrower than a research problem)

Research Topic• Research topic should be based on:

– Professional Significance – Continuing Professional Interest – Personal Interest – Career Advancement – Professional Knowledge, Experience and Skills – Likely Support – Time Required – Accessibility

Broad Scan of Literature

• Keep a research journal • Develop a good filing system• Secure an approved manual style • Hold on to useful sources • Get full bibliographic information • Begin your search record

Broad Scan of Literature • Read to Inquire

– At this stage, your chief purpose in retrieving and reading sources is to help you make a final decision about the topic and frame the research question.

• Concentrate on research Reviews – A research review is a scholarly article on a topic that

reviews the major research studies about that topic to give readers a broad picture of what is known.

Research Topic and Purpose

• Fix on the research topic and research problem.

• Get help from University librarians

Conducting a Focused Review of the Literature

• It will help in developing a PROSPECTUS & a PROPOSAL

• Reorganize files (organize by the

division of the research problem) • Retrieve all related abstracts– ERIC

• Evaluate the results– Check the author– Check the title– Check the date– Note the source– Check the document type– Read the abstract– Code each source as “must-have”, “maybe”, and “no”

• Check for prior dessertations

• Use primary sources• Develop an annotated bibliography– Explain search and retrieval process– Bibliographical information– Summary and evaluation of source (Page 70)

• Technology Technique – RefWork

Making a Preliminary Choice of Methodology

Research Perspectives, Research Types and Research methods• Perspectives

– Quantitative– Qualitative– Mixed Method

• Quantitative primary, qualitative first• Quantitative primary, quantitative first• Qualitative primary, quantitative first• Qualitative primary, qualitative first

– Project Based Studies

• Research Types– Studies Primarily Quantitative in Nature

• Experimental research• Quasi- experimental research• Causal comparative research• Correlational research• Descriptive research• Evaluation research

– Studies Primarily Qualitative in Nature• Case Study research• Ethnographic research• Action research

• Research Methods– Tests and measurements– Interviews– Observations– Surveys – Documents (Page 79)

• Technology Techniques– SPSS– NVivo

Organizing and Scheduling Your Work

• Develop a Planning Chart and Make Tentative Entries – Administration– Course Work– Literature Review– Writing– ResearchThesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide - Electronic Method

Developing Prospectus and Organizing the Committee

The Prospectus provides a primary and tentative view of your research problem and the methodology • Prospectus Development

– Research topic and research problem– Methodology– Preliminary calendar of completion (Page 91)

• Technology Techniques– Skype– Zoom us