Has anybody tried any of the online dissertation services (i.e. dissertations.com)? Any recommendations for a good lit review?
I just got off the phone with a representative of dissertations.com. I asked for a fee quote for a "standard" literature review. It consists of 40 pages (chapter 2 of your dissertation), all of the reference material, and a bibliography. Hard-copy and computer copies are furnished. But, at $4,800 who can afford it?
The ones I use are UMI/Proquest Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations and Firstsearch
The cost of $4,800 is just a small part of the problem. Having someone do or write your literature review (chapter 2) could get you booted from a Ph.D. program. At best, you would be out the money and end up writing a new one on your own. <note: I intend the word "you" to mean anyone> Beyond any issues surrounding academic integrity, you would likely set yourself up for bigger problems with your proposal and dissertation. Without personally doing the literature review and immersing yourself in the material, it would be very difficult to establish your theoretical foundation; develop your research problem/questions; conceptualize your study, your hypotheses and constructs; determine your subsequent methods; devise effective instrumentation; and present a solid study capable of producing useful outcomes that are convincing and generalizable. Additionally, the purpose of your dissertation is to demonstrate scholarly research skills and to contribute new knowledge. Seeking to answer new research questions and/or extending upon previous research is how one accomplishes this. Accordingly, I would not risk my entire dissertation effort based on what another (person or company) feeds to me as a comprehensive, current and relevant review of literature. Frankly, you risk having your proposal rejected if your committee determines your proposed study is a rehash of already plowed ground. Furthermore, I could not imagine defending in front of a committee of experts, who will most certainly probe my understanding of the research referenced (and not referenced) in my literature review, without having solid knowledge of the same. Indeed, it does, and likely will, happen. During my defense, I was asked several times to elaborate on the work of several researchers cited in my literature review, which members of my panel advised they had personally worked with during other studies. The bottom line is that you really need to do the literature review yourself. It might be useful to use other services to assist in locating relevant reference material and studies, or to get additional advice, but it is you that will need to read, synthesize and write the literature review. You will be miles ahead in the long run. On another note: Do not confuse dissertationS.com with dissertation.com. The latter is a recognized and reputable dissertation and thesis publishing service. However, since it appears that your doctoral work is being done at TUI, you will be required to use UMI for publishing and binding your dissertation. If I recall correctly, the cost for UMI to bind and publish was just under $200, plus $35 per hard-bound copy of the dissertation. I believe that TUI requires graduates to provide 5-7 copies. Best wishes with your prospectus, proposal and dissertation. It is a lot of work, but you will find it to be a most rewarding experience. Tom
I must be simple minded, but if someone else does the work on your dissertation, it seems like cheating to me.
Thank you (especially tesch). This is exactly the feedback I was hoping for. My intent was both to educate myself and others about these "services" without projecting bias at the outset.
Mission accomplished! Do not hesitate to reach out and ask questions or enlist feedback along your way. As you move forward through the dissertation process, just remember that the only bad questions are those you do not research or fail to ask. Tom
Hello Michael - While I'd have to agree with your conclusion, I'd like to add a point of my own. The doctoral dissertation process is difficult. It is full of dreary tasks like memorizing the Harvard method of citation, endless spell checking, and measuring margins. On the other hand, it is also entirely possible that in this research process one might actually learn a few things (while in the process of adding to the accumulated knowledge in a given field). One of the ways in which a person learns these things is in the literature review. If it's done properly, the researcher should be "up to date" on everything related to his topic. That by itself is quite an accomplishment and constitutes a large portion of a persons qualifications to teach in that field. If you get someone else to do your lit review, not only are you cheating on your dissertation, you're cheating on yourself and you're cheating on your future students (IMHO). Jack
Nice points Jack. Thank you. I know that the lit review added to the foundation of my thoughts as I wrote and provided much of the basic information I need in other projects.
