In groups, consider the following questions:
- What did James do or not do that postponed his completion of the dissertation?
- Should his advisor have done anything differently?
- How does a dissertation affect family members?
- How did Ted "build" his dissertation?
- What are the consequences of delay in completion?
- What are the advantages of planning and careful management?
- WHY write a thesis or dissertation...or any research for that matter?
A thesis or dissertation is a large project that doesn't fit into the regular, semester long course requirement. For this reason, there is a high rate of mismanagement and, therefore, noncompletion.
Three propositions to a systematic approach (Davis and Parker):
- Structuring of the dissertation project can improve performance (by means of topic analyses, proposal documents, plans, schedules, and so on).
- The student has primary responsibility for the management of the doctoral dissertation project.
- Faculty (advisor and committee) are a scarce resource.
Getting started: Most of you have probably already chosen a topic and advisor. You may have already had your proposal approved (congrats!). Keep in mind from the start, though, the importance of staying focused--both inside and outside of the actual paper.
- Clarifying your research interests
- Getting practical in choosing your topic
- Narrowing your topic
- Being strategic in choosing your advisor
- Creating and maintaining the advisory relationship
- Building a support structure to avoid isolation and to stay on track
Writing Process: Last class we talked about the writing process and considered the actual work load of each part. Compare the chart below with your writing process.
Approach: When it comes to a formula for writing a thesis or dissertation, there is no "right" answer. However, the majority are four to five chapters long. Your proposal will generally consist of the first two to three chapters. There are two types of theses/dissertations: qualitative or quantitative. Take a moment to review the following link on qualitative or quantitative research. Which one best suits your research? Your personality and writing style?
Qualitative versus Quantitative Research
- With a partner, Open a new Google doc. (As we progress through the semester, be sure to name your Google docs appropriately so that you can find them in your notes.) Insert a table so that you have two columns--one for each of your topics and research approaches. Now, try to list three reasons why that approach seems appropriate for your topic.
- While many feel that you can only choose one, savvy researchers find ways of integrating both research methods. How might you do that?
