Doctoral Applied Research Project vs Dissertation

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by fritzy202, Sep 8, 2012.

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  1. fritzy202

    fritzy202 New Member

    Hi All,
    Ok, so once again I'm thinking about completing my doctoral degree. I think it is money wasted at my age, but I can't help but think I can do this and I want to prove to myself that I really can. I really don't like writing big papers and I'm not a huge fan of research just for the sake of writing a paper so the dissertation doesn't sound appealing and a few people I know that just completed theirs said they would never do it over again, it wasn't worth it.

    I teach at a community college, but would like to teach at a university, on the side. I have my MHA which when I started it was a terminal degree. Now U of P and a few other schools have come out with their DHA. I really don't want to get into administration which is the only benefit of a doctorate where I am, but I think I might have a hard time at the university level without it.

    I have found two programs at AT Still that seem reasonable to me, but one is a traditional dissertation and the other is an applied research project. Has anyone been through these programs or similar to know what the difference is? If I can do a project such as create a new program of study feasability study and write the new program or something similar I would do that in a heartbeat. That I would like. I don't mind research for something meaningful or useful that I can apply. That is why the project is appealing to me.

    Any thoughts about the difference? Would it be worthwhile to pursue if I only want it to add some part-time DL teaching? Could I teach with my MHA, healthcare experience and 12 yrs teaching experience at the university level? As much as I would like to prove to myself I can do it, my current student loan debt is high from the last 2 yrs so if I can teach without adding to it that would be best.

    Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions!
     
  2. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Can't really answer your questions but I can tell you that Nova has a Doctor of Health Science or something like that.
     
  3. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Valdosta State University's DPA requires a project instead of a dissertation too, whatever that means. Anyone know about the requirements of these "projects?"

    I've always thought it interesting that many of the newer medical doctorates don't require any dissertation at all. I recently looked at online doctorates for those who already have master's degrees in nursing (DPA) and physical therapy (DPT). Both programs only required the completion of 36 hours of additional course work. That's it. They're really little more than master's degrees. Holder's of these earned doctorates can then use their credentials to teach. Go figure.
     
  4. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Comparison of Dissertation and Research Project

    A dissertation should:

    ~Summarize and integrate pertinent research and theory in its topic area. Review of related research should concentrate on work that has been published in the past five years.
    ~Make a contribution to knowledge in the topic area. For example, this can be done by: conceptualizing an issue or problem in a novel and useful manner; collecting new data through quantitative or qualitative research; demonstrating the applicability of a new method or treatment; synthesizing and interpreting existing data to gain new insights; or expanding the application of a theory or previous conclusions to a new area.
    ~Show how a topic area is illuminated, expanded, or changed by the development of a new perspective.

    A research project should:

    ~Embody a comprehensive instructional approach in which applied research interacts with real work business challenges.
    ~Demonstrate how grounded scholarly content is supportive of practitioner-researcher development. For example, this can be done by: extending the application of an existing process or theory; developing new applications for existing business theory; proposing counter arguments to existing theories or principles; or developing and demonstrating how improvements and cost-effectiveness can be integrated into existing business methods and procedures.
    ~Illustrate how exposure to applied research principles and techniques prepares business professionals to adapt and apply the skills of applied research in their profession.
     
  5. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    You obviously didn't think this one through! These are post professional degrees you are talking about. In other words, a person who has been practicing as a physical therapist, nurse practitioner, audiologist, pharmacist, etc. for many years is going for a post masters doctorate and not a first professional doctorate. Who do you want to teach you? A person who has a brand new first professional doctorate or a person who has years of experience in the field then gets a post professional doctorate? There are way too many inexperienced doctorates out there trying to teach but have no real world experience! I think these post master's doctorates are an ingenious way to get the experience back into academics. Go figure?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 9, 2012
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I like NMTTD's unpacking of the distinction between the two types of doctoral degrees.
     
  7. Delta

    Delta Active Member

  8. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

  9. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    I think I thought it through just fine, thanks. I know exactly what they are.

    They are still doctorates that don't require any sort of dissertation, thesis, or what have you. I just find this to be interesting...that's all.
     
  10. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Get your facts straight! Post master's doctoral degrees require some sort of capstone doctoral project or dissertation! Just go to the websites and look at the curriculum!
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  12. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Turnitin? I've heard of it but in this case, Google. :wiggle:
     
  13. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Okay, Mr. Delta. This thread is starting to degenerate into something not-so-nice. I always accept correction if it's done in a reasonable way but telling me to "get my facts straight!" and that I "didn't think this one through!" is probably a bit uncalled for.

    Just for the record, I double-checked the DNP program I originally referred to. You're right (sort of)...it does require the completion of a one-semester project, although I would hardly compare something like that to a dissertation that may take several years to complete.
     
  14. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    First of all, I apologize if I am sounding "not so nice". I am defensive because I am in the process of getting a DNP and it is very rigorous! I guess it depends on what school you attend. There are top notch schools like Yale, MGH, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, George Washington University, etc that have a rigorous doctoral project or "applied" dissertation. There are also many other schools that appear to be a pathway to earn a title. So on that note, I'll agree with you. :)
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Let someone with an earned doctorate weigh in.....

    A dissertation builds upon the theoretical knowledge in one's academic discipline by either (a) bringing theory to data (deductive research) or (b) bringing data to theory (inductive research). In either case, the theoretical knowledge of one's discipline is advanced. This is the real basis of the Ph.D. (Of course, one hopes the theoretical advances will be used by practitioners to advance practice, too.)

    A doctoral "project" doesn't do those things. It instead allows the practitioner/candidate to demonstrate his/her ability to (a) identify a problem in practice, (b) develop methods to research said problem and (c) research the problem and offer solutions. The Ph.D. does all of this, too, but does it in the much more demanding arena of theoretical contribution.

    Admittedly, I didn't fully understand this when undertaking my Ph.D. I learned it somewhere else.
     
  16. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    SO sorry. Didnt realize I had to cite and reference my posts on an internet forum. I was unaware that the standards for posting here mirrored classroom discussion posts. I will keep this in mind next time.
     
  17. Personally, I think the whole "citing the reference" in your situation was a bit overblown. It wasn't as if you were trying to pass it off as something you had created (well not in my viewpoint). No disrespect, but to me it was clearly a copy and paste job. As soon as I read it I was like "Hmmm...this seems like it's on a website somewhere" lol. Don't take it personal. Some people just have their way of doing things...even on a open/public forum. Next time just throw a link in at the bottom.
     
  18. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    That is okay, we are all given one free pass at something like this...next time is a different story ;)
     
  19. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Exactly!! I assumed everyone would be able to tell it was copied and pasted. I absolutely wasn't trying to pass it off as mine. I have no idea about any of that kind of stuff. I mean, I'd love to get a doctorate, but I already know I don't have it in me. 1 or 2 masters degrees, but that's about it.
     
  20. $5 bucks says that when you get through that masters program you will start thinking twice about that doctorate. You never know what you can do until you try.
     

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