My opinion of Rich Douglas’s Dissertation

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Randell1234, May 23, 2004.

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  1. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I finished reading Rich Douglas’s dissertation last week and thought is was excellent. His descriptions of the different agencies (RA, NA, State Approval, State License) were, in my opinion, fair and accurate.

    The conclusions were in line with some of the things I have heard such as:

    A friend of mine earned a BS from CCU and received tuition assistance from his employer. He told a co-worker about CCU and the co-worker was turned down for tuition assistance because the company found out the school was state approved and not accredited.

    Another friend of mine applied to CCU and tried to receive tuition assistance. When the company heard the name of the school, they thought is was OK. The company checked and found them to be unaccredited and refused to offer tuition assistance.

    My employer has changed their policy to read, “accredited degree” but they do not dictate which agency.

    Basically, his research supports what most people know and what some people know and will not admit- most employers do not know the difference between RA, NA, State Approval, State License, and diploma mill. When they do learn the difference, the acceptance of the degrees from those agencies change.

    I think is would be a great report for people to read before they enroll in a school and it would also be good for HR people to read.

    If HR people read this information it would satisfy everyone. The people that say, “My degree from _________ is just as good (accepted) as an RA degree” would be able to make that statement accurately or they would be proven wrong with regard to their own employer.

    The people that say, “Degrees from schools that are not RA are worthless” would be able to make that statement accurately or they would be proven wrong with regard to their own employer.

    Lastly, I can think of an even better test. Here is the scenario- someone finished their degree from American College of Metaphysical Theology (just an example) and they are very happy; their boss is proud of them for earning a degree. Now ask that person if they would recommend the program to their boss. Would they still think their boss would be proud of them if their boss saw the content of the course.

    Rich, you should post your research for everyone to see, or at least the descriptions on pages 99-101, the last two paragraphs of page 136, Last two paragraphs of page 140, and Chapter 5.

    Thanks again for letting me read it.
     
  2. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I have no reason to doubt that Rich did a very fine job. I don't have to read his dissertation to adjudge that his dissertation measured up. I simply and strongly believe that it did. Period.
     
  3. adireynolds

    adireynolds New Member

    I concur. I also haven't read Rich's dissertation, although I want to. However, he seemed so flooded with requests for copies I was too shy to ask; figured I'd wait until it was on UMI and request a copy that way.

    However, the quality and accuracy of Rich's posts here on DegreeInfo leave me with no doubt that his dissertation would contain the same high standards.
     
  4. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    I absolutely agree. The reason I know this is not only because I trust Dr. Douglas and Dr. Bear, even more importantly it is from an accredited institution so I trust that it meets standard academic expectations.
     
  5. Han

    Han New Member

    I read the dissertation, and had a couple of issues. First, the response rate was very low, and this was explained, but I think could have made the findings different than expected.

    I believe the results, but have a hard time finding the outcome of state versus RA. It goes against my logic, but HR is not always logical. :rolleyes:

    I enjoyed the dissertation, I think the methodology was explained well, and the overall conclusions were supported by the data.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Adrienne:

    Send me a PM with an e-mail address and I'll send it.

    Rich
     
  7. atraxler

    atraxler New Member

    I also finished reading Rich’s dissertation a few days ago. I found it very informative, especially the first two chapters. The methodology is clearly explained and the results of the study are presented in a very professional manner. The dissertation is very easy to read; Rich has done a very good job, in my opinion. Please note that my interest in Rich’s dissertation is not to give it my “stamp of approval,” TUI did that. My interest in his work is purely for personal enrichment.

    After reading the dissertation, I contacted my HR department to inquire about what the policies they follow regarding the verification degrees for hiring and tuition reimbursement purposes. Most of our positions do not require a degree, but for those that do the degree must be from a regionally accredited institution (or foreign equivalent), verified by a background-checking company.

    For tuition reimbursement, my company requires that the school be RA (verified by the HR dept. by contacting the appropriate accreditor). They explained that foreign institutions are only acceptable only if they are RA. For example, Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico is acceptable because it is accredited by SACS. On the other hand, Warwick in the UK, although it has a Royal Charter, is not acceptable.
     
  8. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    I read Rich's dissertation some months ago and found it on par with dissertations that have been accepted at the public and private universities of which I have been affiliated (I now advise primarly masters theses at Cal State, but I have worked with dissertations at other institutions).

    Rich's research is important in that it shows the lack of orientation on accreditation in the field of human resources and the errors in judgement that result from this lack of orientation. It also demonstrates that a relatively small amount of education/information can help to resolve the problem. This has definite ramifications for the professional study and training of human resources professionals (and, likely, many other groups).

    Dr. Douglas graciously gave me permission to cite his work in a paper that I am presenting this October at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) conference in Chicago. Dr. Bear also has allowed me to cite his survey of admissions officers in that presentation.

    Considering that so many dissertations end up not being disseminated at all, I hope that Dr. Douglas' findings are publicized widely and that future studies will add to the knowledge base that he has opened.

    Tony Pina
    Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino

    I have been telling certain anti-Douglas folks that they will be very disappointed if they try to use his dissertation to prove some kind of inadequacy in either Rich or Union. Sorry, guys, the dissertation's good...
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Some very kind things have been said here about my work. I appreciate that.

    One person dead-set on getting it to conduct his own "analysis"--someone who promised to post his comments--has announced elsewhere he has changed his mind. After the great lengths he went to in order to get it, I'm surprised. Then again, not really. :rolleyes:
     
  10. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member


    Be careful where you're sticking your nose. You don't know who's been there before you.

    Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone said that he split an infinitive on page 152. Oops there aren't 152 pages.

    A perfect paper is subject to critical analysis and all I see is toothless drivel. Do Douglas a favor and provide a real critique.
     
  11. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    You are right, Dennis, there aren't 152 pages--there are 175.

    Summarizing some of the significant findings of a study is hardly "toothless drivel". It is unnecessary for Rich to submit to a second dissertation defense on Degreeinfo. If you think that you have the credentials and experience in the topic to be qualified to pick apart his literature review, research design, data analyses and conclusions, go right ahead. I'm eager to see what you would classify as a "real critique".

    If the goal of your post was to insult eight Degreeinfo forum members, then you have achieved your goal. Congratulations.

    Perhaps you would like to post your own dissertation. I would be most happy to provide a "real critique" for you.

    Tony Piña
    Faculty, Instructional Technology
    California State University, San Bernardino
     
  12. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    I would love to provide a critique but having never prepared a dissertation I am unqualified and anything I said would be challenged on those grounds.

    I just want to know whether the only assessment of the dissertation was that Rich is such a nice guy and anything he would produce is good. That's what the people I apparently insulted said.
     
  13. Thorsen

    Thorsen New Member

    I'd like to read it simply because I would like to know more about the subject matter. Once it is posted somewhere (or if it already is) could someone provide a link?
     
  14. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    My understanding is that there is a guy in New Zealand who is publicly offering to distribute free “copies” to anyone who asks; he claims to have already sent out several "copies." Whether he is authorized to do so, or whether what you will receive (if anything) is a genuine copy of Dr. Douglas’ dissertation, I simply don’t know.
     
  15. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    It would be out of character for you to post anything substantive. If you did post something substantive, I believe that it would be addressed fairly on it's own merits. May I reference the reponses to your warrantless attacks against Gus's refusal to provide details of his academic accomplishments as evidence that many others would agree me?

    This is not true.

    I'm about the only one that mentions anything about Rich's character but say, "even more importantly it is from an accredited institution so I trust that it meets standard academic expectations."

    I suggest that you consider why you told this untruth.
     
  16. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    That's only an excuse, Dennis, and it's not true (that never having done a diss you wouldn't be "allowed" to speak about Douglas' diss). I never finished a diss, but nobody got after me when I read Neil Hayes' diss and praised it--tho *not* the "schools" with which he was associated.

    You have chosen to enroll in a doctoral program at CCU which is not RA and IIRC does not require a dissertation. I failed to complete a dissertation in an RA doctoral program. In other words, Douglas has managed to complete something I could not complete and you dared not attempt.

    Why the animus against his achievement or other people's responses to it?
     
  17. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Gus shouldn't worry about his academic accomplishments - he needs to file his annual report.

    "I don't have to read his dissertation to adjudge that his dissertation measured up." This isn't a comment on character???

    All I wondered was why the love-in with no critique?? I don't recall criticizing Rich, just his public.
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I have most certainly NOT authorized Neil Hayes to distribute copies of the dissertation to anyone. He claims to have received a copy from the Union library. While they say this isn't true, I have no way of disproving his assertion. No matter, of course, since I've made it available to so many people by electronic means.

    I find it interesting that he feels so free to distribute a copyrighted document (I hold the copyright) without authorization, and to announce it to everyone. Shame normally keeps such behavior under wraps. I would suspect they have some notion of copyright in New Zealand, no?

    As for the authenticity of the copies he's distributing, who knows? When he stole a copy of my Program Summary, he couldn't even tell it wasn't a dissertation. Who's to say what he's sending out?
     
  19. Rich's Dissertation...

    I've never weighed in on this topic before, and will probably regret doing so given the polarization around this matter... but what the heck!

    Rich, I'm sure your dissertation is excellent. I think there is just a lot of jealousy and weird personal vendettas going on around it.

    On the other hand, it is not a state secret is it? I mean, I know you have the copyright. Why not just post it publically, even here at degreeinfo, and let everyone see it? That ought to put the matter to rest once and for all, and I'm certain some people will love it and some will hate it like all writing since the beginning of the alphabet.

    Just my two cents worth.....;)
    - Carl
     
  20. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    No animosity - just had trouble controlling the gag reflex.

    I guess there are 3 kinds of movie fans.

    There are those who watch and simply enjoy.
    There are those who watch critically.
    There are those who never see a movie and yet offer an opinion.

    So it goes with dissertations, except degreeinfo lacks critics.
     
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