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The Dissertation Journey
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The Dissertation Journey
A Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Writing, and Defending Your Dissertation

Second Edition


248 pages | Corwin
The dissertation is a tough mountain to climb; half of all doctoral students never make it to the top. To overcome the practical, emotional, and psychological obstacles along the way, you'll need the right tools and a knowledgeable guide. This informative and inspirational book readies you for each step of the dissertation process, including choosing a topic, selecting the committee, getting acclimated to academic writing, preparing for your oral defense, and publishing your research.

This second edition of The Dissertation Journey offers new and updated features, including:

- A chapter on ethical considerations

- Expanded coverage of digital data collection and using the Internet for research

- More detailed information on conducting the literature review

- A discussion of how to develop a theoretical or conceptual framework

With graphics, checklists, inspirational quotes, illustrations, and sample forms, this valuable resource is your essential guidebook to preparing, writing, and defending your dissertation.

 
Foreword by Kenneth R. Stevenson
 
Preface to the Second Edition
 
Preface
 
A Note to Doctoral Candidates
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Part I: Quests and Questions
 
1. Do You Have What It Takes?
Why Take This Journey?

 
Do You Have What It Takes to Journey to the Peak?

 
Avoiding the Hazards of High Altitude Climbing

 
Procrastination

 
Emotional Barriers

 
Writer's Block

 
What are the Inner Essentials?

 
Summary

 
 
2. What Exactly Is a Dissertation?
What Is a Doctoral Dissertation?

 
Typical Dissertation Structure

 
Studies Using Quantitative Methodology Sample Format

 
Studies Using Qualitative Methodology Sample Format

 
Alternative Formats

 
Components of a Typical Dissertation

 
Major Steps in the Dissertation Process

 
Roles and Responsibilities

 
Summary

 
 
3. What are Ethical Considerations in Research?
Rights of Human Subjects

 
Ethical Considerations in Data Collection

 
Ethical Issues in Data Analysis and Interpretation

 
Ethical Issues in Reporting Research Findings

 
Ethics of Writing Up Research

 
Other Ethical Considerations

 
Summary

 
 
Part II: Preparing for the Climb
 
4. Choosing a Dissertation Topic
Approaches to Choosing a Topic

 
Where to Look for Potential Topics

 
Some Criteria for Topic Selection

 
Replication Studies

 
Replication Studies Do’s and Don’ts

 
Summary

 
 
5. Creating Your Dissertation Team
Peak Principle: Always Climb Fully Equipped

 
Selecting a Dissertation Advisor

 
Selecting the Committee

 
The Care and Nurture of Advisors and Committee Members

 
How to Approach a Potential Advisor

 
What If No One Agrees to Be Your Advisor?

 
Choosing Outfitters and Bearers (Other Specialized Consultants)

 
Where to Locate Specialists

 
Summary

 
 
6. Dissertation Support Groups
Critical Decisions

 
Strategies and Structures of Successful Support Groups

 
Other Considerations

 
Summary

 
 
7. Organizing Yourself
Organize Your Workspace

 
Organize Your Time

 
Working Smart

 
Maintain Balance

 
Strategies for Getting a Life While Dissertating

 
Summary

 
 
PART III: BEGINNING THE CLIMB
 
8. Using the Internet and Technology to Conduct Research
Conducting Literature Searches

 
Online Help

 
Helpful Technology

 
Collecting and Analyzing Data

 
Communicating Via the Internet

 
Using Your Library’s Electronic Search Capability

 
Using Your Instructional Technology Center

 
Additional Online Resources

 
Tips to Keep You Sane and Productive

 
Summary

 
 
9. Reviewing the Literature
Purpose and Scope

 
Preparation

 
Steps in Conducting a Literature Review

 
Techniques for Writing the Literature Review

 
Advice on Writing a Literature Review

 
Literature Review Checklist

 
Summary

 
 
10. Mastering the Academic Style
Qualities of Scholarly Writing

 
Common Writing Problems

 
Tips for Good Writing

 
Further Reading

 
Helpful Web Sites

 
Summary

 
 
PART IV: Climbing to Base Camp
11. Writing the Introduction Chapter

 
Problem Statement

 
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework

 
Purpose Statement

 
Research Questions/Hypotheses

 
Significance of the Study

 
Delimitations

 
Assumptions

 
Definition of Terms

 
Organization of the Study

 
Summary

 
 
12. Selecting and Describing the Methodology
Selecting the Methodology

 
Describing the Methodology

 
Summary

 
 
13. Holding the Proposal Meeting
Before the Meeting

 
During the Meeting

 
After the Meeting

 
Summary

 
 
PART V: FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE PEAK
 
14. Analyzing and Presenting the Results
Understanding the Data

 
Writing the Introductory Paragraph

 
Tables and the Narrative Description

 
Presenting the Findings

 
Further Reading

 
Summary

 
 
15. Summarizing and Discussing the Results
Reflect on Findings

 
Chapter Organization

 
Questions to Ask About Summarizing and Discussing the Findings

 
Summary

 
 
PART VI: FINAL ASCENT AND VIEW FROM THE TOP & BEYOND
 
16. The Oral Defense: D-Day
A Defense Scenario

 
Helpful Hints: Prior to the Oral Defense

 
During the Oral Defense

 
After the Oral Defense

 
Summary

 
 
17. The Next Peak
The Descent

 
Letting Down

 
Mount Analogue

 
Helping Others

 
Mentoring

 
Disseminating Your Study's Findings

 
Summary

 
 
Parting Thoughts
 
Appendices
 
References
 
Index

Supportive text for students which comfortably guides them by answering or addressing common concerns and queries.

Ms Louise O'Boyle
School of Art and Design, Ulster University
March 26, 2014

This is the best/most suitable text for our doctoral in education program.

Mr Carlos Gan
Virtual Learning, Brandman University
September 12, 2013

Excellent resource for students throughout their doctoral courses.

Professor Malia Hoffmann
Educational Technology, Marian University
December 20, 2012

Excellent book for 1st dissertation study

Ms Sheila Stott
Sch of Health,Community & Educ Studies, Northumbria University
September 24, 2012

Great advice for students; easy to read -- an excellent resource

Dr Delores McNair
Educational Administration & Leadership, University of the Pacific
August 23, 2012

This is an accessible read which aims to translate the mammoth task of successfully achieving a Doctorate into practical steps by offering succinct advice and illustrating workable strategies. UK readers need to be mindful that this is written from a US perspective; however this is somewhat helpful as it enables an opportunity for contrast and comparison.

Mrs Sally Goldspink
Allied Health & Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University
July 19, 2012

This fills a lot of the research gaps, for example, the differences between a conceptual framework and a theoretical framework.

Dr Denis Feather
Dept. of Strategy and Marketing, Huddersfield University
May 5, 2012

We felt that the current text we adopted is a better text for our students at this time. This book is also published by Corwin Press, "Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation" by Lunenburg & Irby

Dr Susan Rogers
Education Dept, Baker University
April 13, 2011

This book is a great book especially for the graduate or post graduate level, but this is a little too advanced for level 5 /4 although it will be useful for lecturers teaching.

Mr David Corry-Bass
CCLD / H&SC , South Leicestershire College
April 5, 2011

A practical, structured and helpful guide for postgraduate students embarking on a dissertation.

Dr Allan Osborne
School of Built Environment, Northumbria University
March 16, 2011
Key features
  • Features checklists, organizing graphics, in-depth list of resources for further inquiry, quotations, illustrations, and other user-friendly elements.
  • Full of easily accessible, practical advice that is administered in small bites.
  • Conversational, warm, and personal writing style unique to this genre.

This updated and expanded edition includes new information vital to navigating the dissertation process as well as an expansion of current topics for greater clarity and utility. New features include a discussion of the central ethical issues involved in conducting research relative to human rights, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, respect for the research site, writing, and disseminating the research. The book also contains new information about the process, importance, and purpose of developing a theoretical or conceptual framework. It includes responses to questions such as, "What is a conceptual or theoretical framework?", "How does a conceptual framework differ from a theoretical framework?", "Why do you need a conceptual/theoretical framework? ", and "How do you find a conceptual or theoretical framework?" Also provided are examples from dissertations for greater understanding.

Completely revised and updated chapters on using technology and reviewing the literature have been added. Because more and more researchers use the Internet and technology for all phases of dissertation writing, the author has incorporated new Web-based technologies, including new information about search engines, evaluating web sites, and social networking on the Web. A completely revised and expanded chapter on reviewing the literature has been added in which the author expanded the steps in conducting a literature review from four to eight and added considerably more detail to the process. An updated listing of secondary sources and style manuals widely used in the social sciences has been incorporated, and a thorough update of all web sites and references, including new editions of works, has been made as well.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword by Kenneth R. Stevenson

Preface


Carol M. Roberts

Carol Roberts is a professor emerita from the University of La Verne, where she taught Leadership in the Doctoral Program. She advised doctoral students, chaired dissertations, and taught a variety of leadership courses, primarily in personal leadership, communication, conflict, and coaching. She has served as a consultant and seminar leader specializing in organizational and team development, strategic planning, conflict resolution, coaching, and personal mastery. Dr. Roberts has been a consultant and trainer for the Administrator Trainer Center and Effective Schools Program, the California School Leadership Academy, and the California... More About Author