I get the distance learning format but I am not sure how the pull off the research and dissertation portion of doctoral learning. Can someone example how the process changes when the learner finishes their coursework and starts their research. Cheers
Read: -- How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation by David Sternberg or -- Successful Dissertations and Theses by David Madsen or -- Authoring a Ph.D. Thesis by Patrick Dunleavy or -- Writing the Winning Dissertation by Allan A. Glatthorn or Any number of other books on the subject. Also consider anything by Cresswell when you start considering methodology. How does the process change? You no longer take courses and you're responsible for your research. Getting your head around the concept of a doctoral dissertation is hard, though, which is why I recommend doing some reading. But here are the basic steps: 1. Proposal. You must propose your research and get it approved prior to executing it. Typically, but not universally, you will submit the first three chapters of the dissertation: a. Introduction to the Topic b. Literature Review 3. Research questions and/or hypothesis and proposed research methodology. 2. Research. Once your proposal is approved, you conduct the research you said you would do. Data collection, data creation, etc. 3. Analysis and reporting. Typically, these are chapters 4 and 5, respectively. (Know that many dissertation--especially qualitative studies--are split into more than 5 chapters--this is just the basic model.) 4. Submit. This is after your advisor has read, edited, commented upon, torn up, etc. your drafts. Many advisors will want to see each chapter as it is written, rather than wait for the entire dissertation draft. Once your advisor feels your dissertation is ready, you will schedule a defense of it and distribute it to the other committee members prior to the defense. 5. Defend. In times past, a dissertation defense was open to all comers. The writer was required to defend his/her research to anyone questioning it. These days, the defense is done with the committee, who should have read the dissertation prior to the day of the defense. In other words, the defense should be pro forma. But one cannot ensure the committee members will read it ahead of time--or even at all. And one cannot ensure the committee won't come up with all kinds of questions, comments, suggestions, obujections, etc. during the defense. So be ready, roll with the punches, take notes, and confer with your advisor afterwards to determine just what you should take seriously and address in your revision. 6. Celebrate. But not too much until your dissertation is accepted by the school and the degree is awarded. Hope this helps. Do read about these things, please.
Excellent post Rich! The following are two books that were required reading for a doctoral research course I took at DSU. Both books were very insightful for what is to come. -- Hunt, A. (2005). Your Research Project: How to Manage It. Routledge. [ISBN: 0415344085] -- Davis, G. B., & Parker, C. A. (1997). Writing the Doctoral Dissertation (2nd edition). Hauppage, NY: Barron's. [ISBN: 0812098005]
