Dissertation Process

The documentation of independent research that makes a contribution to knowledge.

(Davis et al., 2012, p. 13)

A doctoral dissertation is a formal document that demonstrates your ability to conduct research that makes an original contribution to theory or practice. It is a partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree (e.g., an EdD, DBA, PhD, PsyD, etc.). The term original, according to the Council of Graduate Schools (1991), ‘implies some novel twist, fresh perspective, new hypothesis, or innovative method that makes the dissertation project a distinctive contribution’ (p. 15).

(Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, 38/205)

Dissertation

A dissertation refers to the documents created for a doctoral degree.

Thesis

A thesis refers to the documents created for a master’s degree.

General Doctral Program Schedule

Coursework (3 – 4 years)
Doctoral Portfolio (end of coursework)
Doctoral Candidate (after successfully passing doctoral portfolio)
Dissertation Proposal (1 – 2 years)
Dissertation Defense (1 – 3 years)
Graduate after successfully passing dissertation defense.

*Average time to complete ranges from 4 to 8 years.

General Outline for a Dissertation

Quantitative Outline

Chapter I: Introduction/Problem Statement

Purpose of the study
Research questions/null hypotheses/hypotheses
Significance of the study
Delimitations/assumptions
Definition of terms

Chapter II: Review of the Literature

Topics/subtopics
Literature Map
Synthesis of Literature

Chapter III: Methodology

Type of research
IRB
Population, sample, power analysis
Instrumentation
Data collection procedures
Statistical analysis procedures, validity and reliability
Assumptions and limitations

Chapter IV: Results

Findings, not inferences

Chapter V: Discussion and Conclusion

Inferences
Implications
Futuer research recommendations
Practical significance
Impact to discipline

Qualitative Outline

Chapter 1: Introduction

Topic and research problem
Rationale/purpose of study
Guiding questions
Theoretical/conceptual framework
Significance of the study
Delimitations
Definitions

Chapter 2: Review of the Literature

Topics/subtopics
Synthesis
Summary

Chapter 3: Methodology

Rationale and assumptions for the qualitative design
Type of design
Researcher’s role
Protection of human subjects (IRB)
Site and sample selections
Data collection techniques
Instrument
Managing, recording, and transcribing or presenting data
Data anlysis procedures, including credibility and dependabilty
Limitations

Chapter 4: Methods for verification/trustworthiness

Coding process
Themes

Chapter 5: Results/outcome of the study

Discussion
Connections to previous research
Implications
Recommendations for future research
Conclusions

(Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, 38-40/205)

The Advisor’s Role

Dissertation Chair

Provide guidance
Respond to the papers given to read within a reasonable time
Be resonably consistent in advice
Protect the student from unreasonable demands
Assist the student at those times when the voice of a faculty member advocate is necessary
Generally aid the student in pursuing the dissertation project.

(Davis et al., 2012, p. 7)

The Student’s Role

Do what is expected on time (or explain why it cannot be done)
Have integrity in research and writing
Keep in communication by scheduling regular meetings (face-to-face or virtual) with the advisor
Prepare documents for comment
Follow a method of presentation that effectively uses the advisor’s and committee’s time
Be reasonable in making demands on the time of the advisor and the committee
Be open to suggestions and to advice, but also show initiative.

(Davis et al., 2012, pp. 7-9)

The advisor gives guidance and advice, acts as sponsor with the committee, and is the one most able to protect the candidate from possible unfair demands by the dissertation committee.

(p. 51)

Every doctoral student working on a dissertation should personally manage his or her project. This means that every student doing a dissertation should develop a plan and a schedule.

(p. 20)

Common Roadblocks for Students to Overcome

APA identified some of the common roadblocks that students must overcome to successfully complete their dissertation:

Not carefully selecting your chair and committee members.
Not understanding the requirements of the program/university.
Not knowing when to say ‘enough!’
Not taking time for yourself.

Overcoming Dissertation Roadblocks

University (UNT) and Departmental (LT) Policies

University of North Texas (UNT)

Toulouse Graduate School

University Policies

Theses and Dissertations

University of North Texas (UNT)

Toulouse Graduate School

Guidebook:

Preparation and Filing of Dissertations and Theses

University of North Texas (UNT)

College of Information

Department of Learning Technologies

Doctoral Handbook

Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Topic

(Davis et al., 2012, p. 58)

Research needed and interesting.

5. Symmetry of potential outcomes.

2. Theory base for research.

3. Amenable to research methods.

4. Achievable in reasonbale time.

6. Matches student capabilities and interest.

7. Attractive for funding.

8. Area for professional development.

Selecting a Dissertation Topic

Deciding if a particular topic has the potential for becoming a dissertation is one of the biggest challenges faced by doctoral students. There a no hard-and-fast rules in selecting a topic; however, the following are some criteria that will help in making your decision:

(Roberts & Hyatt, 2019, 47/205, 62/205)

It needs to hold your interest over a long period of time. It takes longer than you anticipate to write an acceptable dissertation.
It must be manageable in size. Most students begin with a topic that is too large. Remember you can’t do it all. Your goal is to add a small but significant piece to the knowledge base and graduate! Save the Nobel Prize-level research to do as a postgraduate.
It must have the potential to make an original and significant contribution to knowledge. Can you find a hole, a gap, a missing piece in the knowledge base you can fill and would be useful to theory or practice?
Is should be doable within your time frame and budget. Given your current situation, is it a feasible topic to undertake? Conducting a longitudinal study may not be advisable, based on your time to completion.
It must be based on obtainable data. You must be able to collect new data or there must be available data for the study from an appropriate sample size in a reasonable period of time.
It should be of interest to an advisor or committee. The signatures of these indivdiuals determine whether or not you become ‘doctor.’

100 PhD Rules of the Game to Successfully Complete a Doctoral Dissertation

General advice (Overall; Rules 1-19)
Finding a supervisor (Rules 20-29)
Choosing a topic/research question (Rules 30-39)
Working with your supervisot (Rules 40-44)
Conducting the research (Rules 45-56)
Writing the dissertation (Rules 57-94)
Publishing doctoral research (Rules 95-99)
Concluding rule (Rule 100)

Brennan, N. M. (2019). 100 PhD rules of the game to successfully complete a doctoral dissertation. [100 PhD rules of the game] Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(1), 364-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-01-2019-030

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2166938508/fulltextPDF/ABACA7138EBB45BBPQ/1?accountid=7113

Rule 15: Take responsibility for your research.

Doctoral students, not their supervisors, are responsible for their research (Kavanagh, 2013)

Rule 23: Choose a supervisor who shares your research interests.

The relationship with your supervisor must be sustained over a long time. A doctoral dissertation takes 4-6 years to complete. It is essential you get on well with your supervisor.

Rule 50: Become a world expert on your theory.

What theories have you considered? What theories are you using and why? What theories are you not using and why not? Do not use too many theories. However, theories can sometimes work well inconcert. The theoretical thread should go right the way through the research (Shepherd and Suddaby, 2017).

Rule 51: Become a world expert on your method and methodology.

Mzake sure you know your method with depth. Justify why you chose your method. What other methods could you have chosen? Can you justify why you did not adopt those other methods? What are the controversies and debates on that method in the literature? How is your research positioned concerning the controversies/debates?

Rule 57: Start writing your dissertation on the first day of your doctoral studies.

Writing is a discipline and a habit. Get into the habit of writing from the start. The more you write the better you write (see Brabazon, 2010; Cochrane, 2005; Dunleavy, 2003).

Rule 80: Write to tell a story.

It is more important to tell a compelling story. Sequence it to make the story compelling, rather than to reflect the chronology of what you did.

100 Research Rules of the Game

See also Brennan’s (2018) article on ‘how to make your research world class; how to successfully publish in top international refereed journals.’

Brennan, N. M. (2019). 100 research rules of the game: How to make your research world class; how to successfully publish in top international refereed journals. [100 research rules of the game] Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(2), 691-706. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-02-2019-032

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2230562165/fulltextPDF/9563B01190104D50PQ/1?accountid=7113