The Dissertation

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by me again, Jan 22, 2006.

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  1. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

     
  2. eckert16

    eckert16 New Member

    The dissertation should not be taken lightly. Quite a few ABDs are out there.
     
  3. 3$bill

    3$bill New Member

    On the other hand, you don't want to take it too seriously, either.

    Perhaps it's more of a disease in the humanities, but I knew a lot of people who foundered during their dissertations because they saw them as the crown of their academic work and tried to meet unreasonable standards of scope and conclusiveness.

    I think it's more useful to think of it as the beginning of your research career, something to accomplish quickly and satisfactorily, rather than definitively.

    I was very lucky to blunder my way into a limited, easily researchable question that could actually be answered. (It helped that I took a couple of years off to do other things after completing my courses and field exams, so my thinking could ferment and settle.)

    But I think it's a good idea to plan the bejeepers out of it before committing yourself to a topic. Pick a well-defined and limited rather than open ended one.

    I guess I'd suggest looking at the field as a partially-filled in jigsaw puzzle, and look for a small empty space with lots of surrounding pieces already there, so it's easy to locate and plug in the few missing ones.

    These are obvious suggestions, and they only look at one aspect of the choice, but a lot of people start with the most interesting research question that comes to mind, and forge ahead. A year or two later, it's a lot less interesting.
     
  4. foobar

    foobar Member

    I'm certainly not the first to say this but the best dissertation is a finished dissertation. Some of the best advice I was ever given was to leave me ego out of the dissertation process - find a narrow, researchable question and stick with it.
     
  5. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    That sounds like incredibly useful advice. Especially since my (non-finalized) plans have once again drifted back to favor pursuing the PhD once I've completed my masters degree. (Of course, ask me again tomorrow and things might have changed. :eek: ) If and when I research a dissertation topic I'm going to be very inclined to choose a topic that is large enough to satisfy the requirements of a dissertation and my committee (but no larger!)
    This is definitely advice I will take to heart.
     
  6. blahetka

    blahetka New Member

    This is quite true. There are several things that affect those writing the dissertation. One is not formulating a good question, not having a clear direction, and of course, the ever present problem of procrastination.

    One of the things that helped me take things a tad light was a comic strip by Jorge Cham found at http://www.phdcomics.com/ .

    I was fortunate that my chair would remind me that all I needed to do was pass. It did not have to be a magnum opus, a divination of truth, a work that would open the heavens. She was good at keeping me on task and focused.
     
  7. Han

    Han New Member

    I agree, the most difficult part of the process is in the beginning in defining a good research problem and objectives..... and of course, getting it complete!!!

    I know the research portion for mine was reworked and redefined...... it was frustrating, but very important to do up front.
     
  8. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    This inspires me:
    There is hope!!!!! :eek: :)
     

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