CONTENTS
List of figures and tables = ⅹ
Preface = xi
Acknowledgments = xv
PART I
Getting a sense of the terrain = 1
1. Comparing a dissertation to a long term paper = 3
Writing a dissertation = 4
Writing a term paper = 7
2. Jumping through hoops, going on a journey : personal metaphors for the process = 11
Metaphors for dissertation writing = 11
Reflecting on the reflections = 14
3. The stages in writing a dissertation : an overview = 17
Institutional stages in the process : labels of progress = 17
The Coursework Phase = 19
The Examination Phase = 21
The Dissertation Phase = 22
Noncompleters in doctoral programs = 27
4. Pithy insights and suggestions for success = 29
Dissertation topic selection = 30
The dissertation committee = 30
Organization = 31
Writing = 32
The university community = 32
Personal stance = 33
PART II
Preparing for your study = 35
5. Identifying your dissertation topic and your research questions = 37
Creating a setting for working on your dissertation = 40
Identifying your research problem or question = 42
Alternative starting points = 46
6. Forming your dissertation committee = 48
The dissertation committee structure = 48
Characteristics to consider in selecting your committee chair = 50
Selecting the chair of your dissertation committee = 52
Selecting the readers on your doctoral committee = 54
7. Roles and responsibilities of dissertation committees = 56
University concerns = 57
The university's commitment to your dissertation work = 57
Staring to work with your committee = 59
Working with your committee = 65
The complexities of the committee's power = 67
8. Creating a professional setting : student-colleagues and other important resources = 70
Student-colleagues = 70
The university community = 73
Professional conferences and colleagues = 75
9. Developing a productive setting = 79
The doctoral student's mind-set = 80
Your dissertation work = 86
The other people in your life = 92
PART III
Doing your study = 95
10. Writing your dissertation proposal while designing your dissertation research = 97
Purposes for wrkting a dissertation proposal = 98
Contents of the dissertation proposal = 99
Steps toward approval of your proposal = 110
11. Conducting your study = 111
Collecting and storing your data = 112
12. Analyzing and interpreting your data = 116
Preliminary organization of your data = 117
Starting your analysis = 117
Why is explicit documentation important? = 118
Direct connection to your research questions = 119
Reducing your data = 120
Interpreting your findings = 123
Knowing what you found = 123
13. Presenting your findings : drafting and editing your dissertation = 126
Creating a compelling argument for your findings = 127
Concluding sections = 130
14. Defending your dissertation : preparing for orals = 133
The purpose = 134
The players = 135
The process = 138
The outcome = 141
Appendix A : A doctoral students' expectations of doctoral studies = 143
Appendix B : Suggested readings on the doctoral dissertation = 152
Appendix C : Suggested reading on the academic world = 153
Appendix D : Suggested reading on research methodology = 155
Appendix E : Sample checklist of activities = 156
References = 158
Index = 160
