Blog Index

2017, Current to 11/30

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

Previous Years

Topic	Dates of Posts - 2014	Dates of Posts - 2015	Dates of Posts - 2016
Dissertation, general	6/25, 12/5	1/7, 3/6, 11/20, 12/16	4/8, 4/11, 5/11, 6/20, 8/29, 9/2
Dissertation calculator	9/5	3/9	4/15
Selecting a Topic	4/28, 5/9, 8/25		9/7
Committee Members	5/7, 10/8, 12/22	9/14, 10/14, 12/18	8/10, 9/19
Mentor Interviews			9/21, 9/23, 9/26
URR
Center for Research Quality
Overview of Process
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		2/3
Proposal	9/8, 11/3, 11/5		2/5
Research questions	4/18	6/19	4/13
Research Design		6/15, 6/22, 6/26
Theory		6/15, 6/17	2/1, 4/27, 5/2, 5/4
C. 1	11/7	3/11, 3/13, 3/16, 3/18, 3/20, 9/18, 9/21	3/23, 10/1, 10/3, 10/5, 10/7, 10/10, 10/12
C. 2 (literature related)	6/9, 6/11, 6/16, 9/10, 9/15, 9/17, 9/19, 9/26, 9/29, 11/10, 12/26	1/9, 3/23, 3/25, 3/27, 4/3, 4/8, 9/23, 10/21	1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/11, 1/13, 1/15, 1/20, 1/22,1/25, 2/10, 3/7, 3/9, 7/11, 7/13, 8/22, 10/14, 10/17, 10/19, 10/21, 10/24
C. 3	1/3, 1/6, 1/13, 11/12	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	3/21, 3/25, 10/26, 10/28, 11/7, 11/9, 11/11, 11/14, 11/16, 11/18, 11/21, 11/25, 12/2, 12/3, 12/5, 12/7, 12/8
Defense		9/28
IRB	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	6/24 10/5	3/28, 4/4
Data Collection		6/24, 11/23, 11/27, 12/4, 12/7, 12/9	6/3, 6/6, 6/8, 6/10, 6/13, 6/15, 6/17
Quantitative	1/3, 2/26, 3/12, 7/9, 7/14, 7/16, 7/18, 7/21, 7/23, 7/25, 7/28	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	11/9, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/21
Qualitative	1/6, 3/14, 10/29, 12/12, 12/15, 12/17, 12/19	1/5, 1/12, 10/19	5/16, 5/18, 5/20, 5/23, 8/1, 11/2, 11/4, 11/16, 12/3, 12/5, 12/7, 12/19, 12/26
Mixed Methods	1/3, 1/6	4/10, 5/6, 5/8, 5/11, 5/13, 5/15	11/2, 11/4, 11/18, 11/25, 12/5, 12/7, 12/16, 12/19
C. 4	3/5, 3/10, 3/12, 3/14, 3/17, 3/19, 3/21, 11/14	5/20, 5/22, 5/25, 5/27, 6/3, 6/5, 10/7	9/16, 12/12, 12/14, 12/16, 12/19, 12/21, 12/26
C. 5	3/21, 3/24, 3/26, 3/28, 11/19	6/5, 6/8, 6/10, 6/12, 10/9
Appendixes
Final Defense		10/12
Career	8/18, 8/20		9/9
Goal Form	5/23, 5/26, 6/2, 8/15, 11/24
Motivation	1/1, 6/4, 6/6, 7/4, 7/11, 9/22, 10/10, 12/3	1/21, 3/2, 7/3, 7/10, 9/2, 9/4, 9/7, 9/9 9/11	5/9, 7/1, 7/4, 7/6, 7/8, 7/15, 7/20, 7/22, 7/25, 8/8, 8/15
Organizing	8/1, 8/4, 8/6, 8/8, 8/11, 8/13, 12/8	7/27, 7/29, 8/3, 8/5, 8/10	2/22, 2/24, 2/26, 3/4
Secondary Data	2/24
Support, Getting	5/21	1/26	8/17
Resilience		2/6, 2/16, 2/18, 2/20, 2/23, 2/25, 3/4	5/25, 5/27
Writing	5/16, 5/19, 6/16, 6/18, 6/20, 7/2, 7/7, 8/27, 12/10	1/14, 1/23, 2/9, 12/11, 12/14	3/11, 3/14, 3/16, 6/24, 7/18, 8/3, 8/5, 8/12, 8/26
Other	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	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	1/1, 1/17, 1/29, 2/12, 2/15, 2/17, 3/2, 4/1, 4/6, 4/18, 4/20, 4/22, 4/25, 5/6, 5/13, 6/1, 6/22, 6/27, 7/27, 8/17, 8/19, 8/24, 9/12, 9/14, 9/19, 9/28, 11/23, 11/28, 12/23, 12/30

Next time we finish our exploration of Chapter 5- Implications and Conclusions. 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

Chapter 5- Limitations and Recommendations

The next two sections in Chapter 5 are Limitations and Recommendations. These sections ask you to take a step back and evaluate your study. Keep in mind that all studies have limitations; it is just part of the process. Describe the limitations to generalizability and/or trustworthiness that arose from execution of the study. Resist the temptation to simply copy from Chapter 1, carefully think about who participated in your study and what that means in terms of generalizability. An example might be if you did your study in a rural area, it may not be generalizable to urban areas. Again, this is fine – but you need to recognize it.  Your new limitations should be used to rethink what was written in chapter 1 for the proposal.

The Recommendations section asks you to think through what the next research steps may be. Remember that science is based upon building upon others' research – this is your chance to influence the future! Describe recommendations for further research that are grounded in the strengths and limitations of the current study as well as the literature reviewed in chapter 2. Think about your research methods, what alterations do you suggest for future researchers? What aspects still need to be studied? Are there changes in theory that you think need to be made? Your study is now part of the literature in the field, what areas are left to explore? Think of this section as a time capsule that you are leaving for future researchers/ students, leave them with a good picture of what you see as needing additional study.

Next time I will post an updated blog index. 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

Welcome to winter quarter!

As you begin the quarter, take a few minutes to consider a realistic goal for what you can achieve. I recommend laying out week by week what you can accomplish, be sure to include holidays and vacations. For each week set yourself a “deliverable” – a definite measurable accomplishment. For example, writing 3 pages, reading 5 new articles, etc.

If you have not already done so, begin to establish some good dissertation habits, such as carrying articles to read during down and waiting times, and planning some special dissertation time to work. Many students find it helps to go to a library or quiet coffee shop where you won’t be disturbed. Make your dissertation a priority; otherwise you are just wasting your money.

Would you really like someone to lay out what is expected to complete your dissertation? I have done that for you! Check out my book on Amazon: Finding Your Way to a Ph.D.: Advice from the Dissertation Mentor It is free on kindle if you are a prime member. 

Next time we will return to Chapter 5- Limitations and Recommendations. 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

Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to think about how that relates to your dissertation. As a dissertation student, you have come so far in your education! The doctorate is considered the terminal degree, meaning, there are none higher than that. Just making it to the point of working on the dissertation is a great achievement- take a moment and realize how far you have come!

Only 1% of the population has a doctoral degree, you are very privileged, you are bright and capable, or you would not have gotten this far. Think of all of the faculty who have given you their time, effort, and wisdom to help you get here… they stretch out far beyond graduate school… all the way to high school, elementary school, and kindergarten. Send them blessings.

Think about all of your classmates and friends who have helped you reach this point. All of the people who have shared your frustrations and your joys, who have been there for support. Send them thanks.

And finally, think about your family members who have given up so much for you to achieve this goal. They have given you time to work, held you in crisis, and celebrated with you in your accomplishments. They may be your cheerleader, or your silent supporter, but you know they are behind you. Take a moment to let them know you appreciate them.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Next time we will continue our review - Chapter 3: Threats to Validity. 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

Chapter 5- Interpretation of Findings

The section of Chapter 5, Interpretation of Findings is one of the most important ones in the entire paper. You should take your time and carefully consider this section. It is here that you put your study in the context of the greater literature- what have you added to the literature? What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Begin this section with a description of the ways in which your findings confirm, disconfirm, or extend knowledge in the discipline. You will need to do this by comparing your findings with what has been found in the peer-reviewed literature described in Chapter 2. Yes, you will have to go back to Chapter 2 and see what other studies reported- describe how yours are the same or different. This is not something that can be done in a paragraph or even a page. Discuss each of your themes/ findings and determine how they fit in the literature.

Next, you turn to your theories, analyze, and interpret your study's findings in the context of the theoretical and/or conceptual framework, as appropriate. This section needs to be in-depth, what did your theory predict? How do your findings relate to the predictions? Do we need to rethink the theory? How? What needs to be added? Just be very sure that your interpretations do not exceed the data, findings, and scope. You can always mention areas that still need to be studied.

What do you do if your study did not work as expected? For example, you got non-significant results or your interviewees did not say what you expected them to. Discuss what was expected based upon the literature, and then speculate as to why your results may not have come out as expected. Did you have a small sample? Were your subjects from a different area/population than previous studies? Think about theoretical implications of your findings- what does it mean to the theory that things didn’t work out? Should we consider changes in the theory? Any advice for future researchers in this topic area?

 

Next time we will examine Chapter 5- Limitations and Recommendations. 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

In today's Mandy break photo she is reminding you that when you are tired, you really need to take a nap!

Chapter 4 – Summary and Chapter 5- Introduction

As with the other chapters in your dissertation, Chapter 4 ends with a summary. This summary should be structured around your research questions. So list each question and summarize the answers you found in your study. You will then end with a transition to Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 is the final chapter of your dissertation, while the end is in sight the work is not yet done! The chapter begins with a summary of the purpose of your study and why it was conducted. Resist the temptation to simply copy from earlier sections! You now have a very different view of the study then you did before you started, so take some time to rethink why you did it this specific study and summarize it. Next, you will summarize the findings from Chapter 4, again it should not simply be copied- reword it.

Take a moment and think through what your results mean in the context of the literature. What have you added that we didn’t know before? Even if your study didn’t work, we know things that we didn’t know before you did it- whatever you tried doesn't apparently work. Keep these thoughts in mind and next time we will go on to Interpretation of Findings.

Next time we will examine Chapter 5- Interpretation of Findings. 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

In today's Mandy break photo, she is reminding you that saying please and being polite makes things go easier!