Blog Index

2015, Current to 12/31

Topic	Dates of Posts
Dissertation, general	1/7, 3/6, 11/20, 12/16
Dissertation calculator	3/9
Selecting a Topic
Committee Members	9/14, 10/14, 12/18
URR
Center for Research Quality
Overview of Process
Premise
Prospectus
Proposal
Research questions	6/19
Research design	6/15, 6/22, 6/26
Theory	6/15, 6/17
C. 1	3/11, 3/13, 3/16, 3/18, 3/20, 9/18, 9/21
C. 2 (literature related)	1/9, 3/23, 3/25, 3/27, 4/3, 4/8, 9/23, 10/21
C. 3	4/10, 4/13, 4/15, 4/17, 4/20, 4/22, 4/24, 4/27, 4/29, 5/4, 5/6, 5/8, 5/11, 5/13, 5/15, 5/18, 9/25
Defense	9/28
IRB	6/24 10/5
Data Collection	6/24, 11/23, 11/27, 12/4, 12/7, 12/9
Quantitative	5/4, 5/8, 5/11, 5/13, 5/15, 7/1, 7/6, 7/8, 7/13, 7/15, 7/17, 7/20, 7/22, 7/24
Qualitative	1/5, 1/12, 10/19
Mixed Methods	4/10, 5/6, 5/8, 5/11, 5/13, 5/15
C. 4	5/20, 5/22, 5/25, 5/27, 6/3, 6/5, 10/7
C. 5	6/5, 6/8, 6/10, 6/12, 10/9
Appendixes
Final Defense	10/12
Career
Goal Form
Motivation	1/21, 3/2, 7/3, 7/10, 9/2, 9/4, 9/7, 9/9 9/11
Organizing	7/27, 7/29, 8/3, 8/5, 8/10
Secondary Data
Support, Getting	1/26
Resilience	2/6, 2/16, 2/18, 2/20, 2/23, 2/25, 3/4
Writing	1/14, 1/23, 2/9, 12/11, 12/14
Other	1/16, 1/19, 1/28, 1/30, 2/4, 2/11, 2/13, 4/1, 4/6, 6/1, 8/12, 8/14, 8/19, 8/21, 8/24, 8/26, 8/31, 9/16, 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/26, 10/28, 11/2, 11/4, 11/6, 11/9, 11/11, 11/13, 11/16, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, 12/21, 12/23, 12/25, 12/28

 Previous Years

Topic	Dates of Posts - 2013	Dates of Posts - 2014
Dissertation, general	7/5, 8/16, 8/19, 9/27, 10/2	6/25, 12/5
Dissertation calculator		9/5
Selecting a Topic	4/23, 7/8, 7/10	4/28, 5/9, 8/25
Committee Members	4/17, 5/3, 6/10, 7/19, 8/21	5/7, 10/8, 12/22
URR	5/8, 5/27
Center for Research Quality	12/9
Overview of Process	4/19, 9/18, 12/13
Premise (no longer used)	4/17, 9/6
Prospectus		4/4, 4/7, 4/9, 4/11, 4/14, 4/18, 4/21, 4/23, 4/25, 4/28, 5/2, 5/5, 8/27
Proposal	4/22, 9/9	9/8, 11/3, 11/5
Research questions	10/9	4/18
C. 1	5/6, 10/21, 10/23, 10/25, 10/28, 11/1	11/7
C. 2 (literature related)	4/26, 5/29, 6/3, 6/12, 6/17, 6/28, 9/16, 10/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/9, 11/15	6/9, 6/11, 6/16, 9/10, 9/15, 9/17, 9/19, 9/26, 9/29, 11/10, 12/26
C. 3	5/1, 10/16, 10/28, 11/18, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/11, 12/16, 12/18, 12/20, 12/23, 12/27	1/3, 1/6, 1/13, 11/12
Defense	4/23, 5/8
IRB	5/10, 10/14	1/10, 1/15, 1/17, 1/20, 1/22, 1/24, 1/27, 1/29, 2/3, 2/5, 2/7, 2/10, 2/12, 2/17, 2/19, 2/21, 2/24, 10/13, 10/15, 10/17, 10/20, 10/22, 10/24, 10/27
Data Collection	5/13, 5/15, 10/16
Quantitative	5/17, 7/24, 7/26, 7/29, 7/31, 8/2, 8/5, 10/4, 10/7, 11/20, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/18, 12/23, 12/27	1/3, 2/26, 3/12, 7/9, 7/14, 7/16, 7/18, 7/21, 7/23, 7/25, 7/28
Qualitative	5/20, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/11, 12/16	1/6, 3/14, 10/29, 12/12, 12/15, 12/17, 12/19
Mixed Methods	5/22, 11/18, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/11, 12/20, 12/23, 12/27	1/3, 1/6
C. 4	5/17, 5/20, 5/22, 7/17	3/5, 3/10, 3/12, 3/14, 3/17, 3/19, 3/21, 11/14
C. 5	5/24, 9/20, 10/11	3/21, 3/24, 3/26, 3/28, 11/19
Final Defense	4/23, 5/27/ 9/11
Career	7/12	8/18, 8/20
Goal Form	8/12	5/23, 5/26, 6/2, 8/15, 11/24
Motivation	6/5, 6/26, 7/1, 8/16, 8/23, 9/2, 9/18, 10/18, 11/8, 11/27	1/1, 6/4, 6/6, 7/4, 7/11, 9/22, 10/10, 12/3
Organizing	4/22, 10/2	8/1, 8/4, 8/6, 8/8, 8/11, 8/13, 12/8
Secondary Data	5/31	2/24
Support, Getting	4/26, 6/5, 6/24, 8/16	5/21
Writing	4/26, 4/29, 6/12, 6/21, 7/3, 8/9, 8/14, 9/4, 9/23,9/25	5/16, 5/19, 6/16, 6/18, 6/20, 7/2, 7/7, 8/27, 12/10
Other	4/18, 6/7, 6/14, 6/19, 6/24, 6/26, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/19, 7/22, 8/7, 8/16, 8/19, 8/26, 8/28, 8/30, 9/2, 9/13, 9/18, 10/18, 11/27, 12/13, 12/25	2/14, 3/3, 3/7, 4/16, 5/12, 5/14, 5/28, 6/2, 6/13, 6/23, 6/27, 8/22, 9/1, 9/3, 9/12, 10/3, 10/6, 11/17, 11/26, 12/1, 12/24, 12/29, 12/31

 

Next time, we begin 2016. 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

Reflection 4: Your Dissertation

Our final reflection for 2015 is on your dissertation. Consider why you are working on it… isn’t it to graduate and have a Ph.D. after your name? Then let's spend some time in reflecting on how you can work on that in the year ahead.

 

Get out your journal and consider your work habits in the past year. How often did you work on your project? Did you schedule specific times or was it an occasional thing you did when you had to? How did that work for you? What would you like to improve?

 

I strongly recommend that you consider working out a schedule of specific times when you will work on your dissertation every week. Set yourself a weekly goal of completing specific tasks on your project. Make it a priority; keep seeing yourself in the graduation photo, receiving your doctoral hood. Only you can make this happen!

 

Next time, we will finish 2015 with a final blog index for the year. 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

Reflections 3: Personal Time

Our third reflection as we wind down 2015, is on personal time. We all need time to get away from obligations and focus on ourselves. It is not selfish to give yourself a chance to renew your energy; rather some personal time gives you the motivation to complete your other obligations.  

Take some time to journal about what you would like to improve upon with your personal time. Perhaps, like Mandy in the photo, the chance for quiet naps would be perfect. Getting outside and having a chance to exercise may be what you need, or perhaps giving yourself some time to read a novel or spend time with friends would bring you some joy.  

Consider in the year ahead how you can build in time to meditate and simply have time to think and dream. Building into your schedule a little "me" time will do wonders for your outlook and reduce your stress. 

Next time, we will complete the series on reflections by considering your dissertation. 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

Reflections 2: Work

Our second reflection for the end of 2015 is on work. Work is an integral part of your life, no matter your vocation; it is an important element to consider.  Inevitably, there are some aspects that are nonnegotiable – you must travel to your place of work, and you must be there a certain number of hours. 

Are there times in your work day, that you can use for other purposes? For example, you may be able to use your commute as personal time to journal, listen to CDs, or read articles. You might be able to take a walk during your lunch hour to give yourself some much needed exercise.  

Other points that you may wish to consider and journal about, are there ways that your work life can influence or help your dissertation? Perhaps it would be worth discussing topics in your workplace that could use some research with your supervisor. Perhaps you could be involved in some projects that would let you utilize your research skills and keep them sharp. 

Next time, we will reflect on personal time. 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

Reflections 1: Family

As 2015 winds down, it is worthwhile for you to reflect on different aspects of your life and how these aspects relate to your dissertation plans and progress. Over the next few posts remaining in 2015, we will consider these; I encourage you to take some time with each and write about them in your journal. 

Today, let's consider your family. In 2015, how have you done with balancing the demands of your family life? What crises have arisen? What successes and new developments have taken place? Consider how you might improve things in 2016. Perhaps you can dedicate certain hours of the week just for certain family members (e.g., partner/spouse and children). A date night with your spouse can do wonders for communication and support. Setting aside time for weekly family meetings, where everyone can share their ideas and issues, can lead to more time available for other things in your life (like your dissertation). 

Next time, we will reflect on work. 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

One of many

One difficulty many students have is accepting that although their dissertation is a major priority in their life, for their faculty mentor, they are just one of many students. It is important to realize that your mentor's time is divided among not only all of his or her doctoral students, but also other obligations and commitments.  

My message today is to be patient with your mentors, give them a reasonable amount of time for reviewing documents, answering emails and questions. Use your waiting times productively by going on to the next step in your paper/ process, such as the next chapter, preparing for a defense or IRB application.  

Next time, I will begin a series of reflections to wrap up 2015. 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