NCU dissertations

Ted Heiks · Jul 19, 2005

Re: Re: Re: Re: but have you controlled for discipline?

Originally posted by Anthony Pina

"Hard sciences" (note the parentheses) is just a common term to differentiate a specific group of disciplines from the "soft" social sciences. Is was not meant to serve as designation of difficulty (you notice that "soft" sciences are not called "easy" sciences).

Academic rigor in a discipline, or the dissertations generated by it, varies, of course, from discipline to discipline and from college to college. I have seen some very rigorous history, business, education and psychology dissertations that rival some "hard science" dissertations that I have read.

By the way, Northcentral University was awarded accreditation by NCA in 2003.

Cheers.
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Thanks, Dr. Pina, I'm aware that "hard science" vs. "soft science" generally measures the level of quantification in the discipline and not "hard" vs. "easy."

decimon · Jul 19, 2005

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: but have you controlled for discipline?

Originally posted by Ted Heiks

Thanks, Dr. Pina, I'm aware that "hard science" vs. "soft science" generally measures the level of quantification in the discipline and not "hard" vs. "easy."
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Hard versus soft science? I would risk my life to a hard science product like a 747 but not to any sociological equivalent.

Ted Heiks · Jul 19, 2005

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: but have you controlled for discipline?

Originally posted by decimon

Hard versus soft science? I would risk my life to a hard science product like a 747 but not to any sociological equivalent.
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Hmm. You got me on that one. What do you mean? Certainly, every time someone takes things on faith and assumes that av 747 (or other airplane) is actually going to fly, they do indeed risk their life on a hard science product. Is there a such a thing as a sociological (or other soft science) product at all, much less one that one could risk one's life on, if willing.

Ted Heiks · Jul 19, 2005

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: but have you controlled for discipline?

Originally posted by decimon

Hard versus soft science? I would risk my life to a hard science product like a 747 but not to any sociological equivalent.
Click to expand...

Hmm. You got me on that one. What do you mean? Certainly, every time someone takes things on faith and assumes that av 747 (or other airplane) is actually going to fly, they do indeed risk their life on a hard science product. Is there a such a thing as a sociological (or other soft science) product at all, much less one that one could risk one's life on, if willing.

tesch · Jul 20, 2005

Originally posted by aceman
Hello All,

I JUST got off the phone with Dr. Robert Haussmann. He is a full-time faculty member of NCU in the psychology department. He has been there since 1999. He informed me that the process of dissertations has changed considerably since accredidation. He specifically states that the amount of time dedicated to the process has increased from 7 to 8 courses. He added that some students are in the "old way" of doing coursework while ALL the newer students are under the newer format). He also informed me that the length (as well as the quality) of the dissertations have increased since 2003 (I have NOT verified this - but it would be interesting to see if this is statistically true).

Also, being a newer school, I would assume that a process would evolve that would refine their "products" (as I stated earlier - it would be a cool analysis to see if there is a divide between the two time periods).

Anyhow, I thought this was interesting enough to follow up on it.

peACE,

ACE
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Here are the descriptive stats based on year....

http://www.newknowledge.us/dissertation_compare/NCU_year.htm

Tom

bing · Jul 20, 2005

I was thinking about this topic today a bit in a meeting with some university researchers. They were talking about grants and the PhD students at the school.

I was wondering if the lack of research grants have anything to do with length of dissertation at these non-traditional schools. Any comments from those in the know?

decimon · Jul 20, 2005

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: but have you controlled for discipline?

Originally posted by Ted Heiks

Hmm. You got me on that one. What do you mean? Certainly, every time someone takes things on faith and assumes that av 747 (or other airplane) is actually going to fly, they do indeed risk their life on a hard science product. Is there a such a thing as a sociological (or other soft science) product at all, much less one that one could risk one's life on, if willing.
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The point would be that the hard sciences produce things that can be determined to work or not. What is the measure of success in the soft sciences?

aceman · Jul 20, 2005

Originally posted by tesch

Here are the descriptive stats based on year....

http://www.newknowledge.us/dissertation_compare/NCU_year.htm

Tom
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Hey Tom,

Hats off to you - that explains what is happening on the surface - a GREAT benchmark. I am eagerly awaiting dissertations from this "new cohort" that he informed me of. Is there anyone here from NCU who knows of the difference between the "old" method and the "new one" and would comment on it?

peACE,

ACE

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