Friday, November 8, 2013

Be a puppy!


 
I recently adopted an 8 week old keeshond puppy, Mandy (I'm attaching a photo). Several things have struck me about the puppy personality: enthusiasm, curiosity, and engagement. I think these are key issues for you and your dissertation as well! 

Puppies are enthusiastic about everything; their world is a wonderful place! Take this same approach with your dissertation, think positively; approach each topic area as a challenge, when issues arise, treat them as problems with solutions you can find. The dissertation is a mental challenge; it should push you to try and learn new things. 

Puppies are curious about their world, much to their human's concern. Everything must be explored, tasted, chewed on, or played with- whether it be a toy, the cat, or an electrical cord. Take a curiosity view of your dissertation. Keep asking "why"? Why do I think that this will happen? Why did my participants respond in this way and not that? Previous researchers have always looked at the variable from this way… what happens if were to look at it from that way? Stay curious about your topic, keep asking questions. 

Puppies are very engaged in their world, every moment they are busy exploring, tasting, trying new things. You want to be engaged in your dissertation in a similar way. Always, it should be in the back of your mind, consider how the ideas fit with other areas of your life. When you hear people mention a similar topic, listen in and hear what their views are. Yes, make some time to sit and work on the paper every day, but also play with it at other times- when you are on the bus or train, when you are waiting in line or on hold. Keep engaged in your dissertation. 

In the next week try to keep a "puppy mind" with your dissertation: be enthusiastic, curious and engaged. See what happens! 

Next time we will examine Chapter 2's sections on theory and conceptual model. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu 

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