You have done some literature searches and have piles of
articles. Now what?? First, make an outline of c. 2, include the information
provided in the checklist. Then start adding in your theory(s) to the outline
and your variables. The more detail you can provide the better! Remember, start
from the most general topics and work to the more specific. So if you are
interested in resilience and aging, the outline would look something like this:
II. Resilience
III. Aging and resilience
Once you have an outline you should consider sending it to
your chair for feedback – is there anything else he or she thinks you need? Now
you are ready to start writing, which of your items on the outline do you feel the
strongest with? I suggest starting on that topic.
There are a number of approaches with this type of writing.
One is start off with a brain dump of everything you know off the top of your
head, then go back and find empirical support and add citations. This works
well if you have been reading a lot in the area or you have a background on
this topic. If you don't have this background then you need to begin general
and work to the specific on the topic. Start off with definitions, then look at
where the theory/ variable developed. You want to explore the last 5 years of
research literature that relates to your topics. Finally, make sure that you
tie the literature back to your study. How will your study address any gaps or
problems you have discovered? Why is it important to include this variable in
your study? Next, pick another topic and go through the same process.
Keep in mind that you are building a case as to why your
study is needed. You are trying to prove to your reader that what you are
studying is important and relevant.
Next time, in honor of Friday the 13th, I will
look at some Walden dissertation trivia. 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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