What
is a dissertation, and why is required to get a Ph.D.? It might help to take a
step back and consider, what is a Ph.D.? This is a Doctor of Philosophy; it is
a research degree, meaning that during the process of getting the degree you were
trained as researcher. Your dissertation is therefore the demonstration of your
ability to conduct research and to write professionally. It is considered the
terminal (or highest) degree in your professional field. Receiving the degree
places you in an elite group (less than 4% of the US population has a
professional degree), and it is evidence of your professionalism and learning.
Why
are you required to do research to show you are a professional? Conducting a
research project shows your persistence and ability to complete a large
project. It integrates all that you have learned in your education and shows
that you can formulate new questions for future learning. Most degrees simply
show learning; however, a PhD also shows your ability to go further and explore
unknown areas, to develop research that answers questions. It shows that you
are a logical and critical thinker; you can synthesize ideas, data and
information, and write in a technical and professional manner. Being able to
conduct research also shows that you are able to sift through information to
find the current thinking in the field; as well as able to apply theory to your
thinking, practice, investigations, and current events. The dissertation is
considered the first step in your future research plan for the rest of your
professional life. Will you have to stay in this topic area? No, but you will
have the ability to plan and execute future studies.
At
the completion of your project, you are assumed to be able to teach in your
areas of expertise – both content and method at a college or university level.
No licensure beyond the doctorate is required to teach in post-secondary
institutions.
Is
the dissertation "just another paper to write?" No, it really is much
more than that; it is a very formalized document that demonstrates your
expertise in your chosen area of interest. Once you have completed the project,
you are considered an expert in this area. The paper will eventually be
published in the dissertation databases, and will be a part of the professional
literature. Other researchers and graduate students interested in your topic
will read it in the future.
There
are a number of implications of these issues. (a) Your literature review must
be correct and as complete as possible, both to demonstrate your expertise and
also for future researchers. (b) Your research methods must be as accurate and
complete as possible, so others know exactly what you did in your study.
Consider the future researcher who does a study similar to yours but gets
different results. He or she will want to be able to compare the two samples
and methods to determine why the difference occurred. (c) Your paper must be
written in the format required for publication, and the formatting will be
checked before you are allowed to defend the final draft. (d) This paper will
follow you forever. Any future employer or colleague will be able to look up
this document. (e) For many students, your dissertation will be your first
published work. Think of it as your first child, yes, you will make mistakes,
and when you look back at it years later, you will see things you should have
done differently. For your future self, make it as elegant as possible and
something of which you are and will be proud.
Next time I will look at being organized.
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
