PhD: original contribution doubts

I am having some trouble in defining what can be an original contribution to the field. Can I use someone else's dissertation theme and apply it to a specific location.



Let's say I found a dissertation titled "the effects of psychology on value investing stocks". Can I do a theses about "the effects of psychology on value investing stocks at the NYSE" or something like that? With authorization form the author, is it OK to use any material from his/her dissertation on mine?^



Thank you for any input.

 

Good question - the answer depends on your program. Some schools have higher expectations for originality than others.

I can tell you that in my experiences with NSU and a couple of other institutions, the idea of replicating an existing study in a new setting and, perhaps, slighlty extending previous work is pretty common.

In my case I tested an economic model of outsourcing originally done by a fellow at MIT. I tested the theory in a new setting using, with his permission, the original survey. Further, I extended the analysis by adding additional questions and looking at strategic and political explanations as well.

I will hasten to add that I did my own literature review and identified a number of sources above and beyond the work done at MIT.

Coming up with your own brand new theory is tough, especially when you are working part-time. If at all possible, consider using existing validated instruments.

Regards - Andy

 

I agree with Andy. My dissertation was based on an area that was recommended for future studies by another PhD.

 

Update something ...... "What has been is what will be and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9.

You might look for something hidden under the rocks in other studies or in the literature of a professional organization. That is what I did.

Most importantly, as others have stated, do you own lit review.

Good luck!

 

It's okay to kick the can down the road just a little bit...it's what this is all about. Original: has someone done your study before you? Significant: does it add new knowledge?

A relevant DL example: Sosdian and Sharp did the seminal study on degrees earned from nontraditional schools. It is now 26 years old, however, and much has changed. (Not only are there many new modalities, many more DL schools have been accredited. Also, their study didn't look at all at unaccredited schools.) It would be reasonable to replicate their study exactly--no changes. The fact that there has been so much time and so many changes makes it so; the same questions are relevant today, but the authors' results might not be so applicable any more. Now, there study was far more extensive than that found in most doctoral dissertation (theirs wasn't one), and it was funded. But even taking a portion of their survey instrument and getting contemporary results with it might be both original and significant, since the data would almost assuredly be different. (Even if it turned out the same, it would be significant to establish that.)

 

This is a VERY interesting thread. Is there a forum for doctoral students anywhere concerning the dissertation process as opposed to dicussing any particular discipline?

 

phinished.com

 

Here's another site .

 

I think what you are talking about is a common practice in many settings. For my own dissertation I looked at a dissertation that looked at teaching philosophy among police educators and a study on teaching style among construction educators. I decided to use pieces of both and do a study on tecahing style and philosphies of rehabiliation educators. My study has now been replicated at least three times in other teaching fields.

 

There's also a good book that I found that covers the whole PhD process from selecting your committee, doing a dissertation, and finding a job afterwards. It's called Getting What You Came for: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Master's or a Ph.D. by Robert Peters. I've looked through a few different grad school guides, and this one is the best so far.