Hello everyone. My name is Meredith Baker-Rush, a mother of
two young children, a speech pathologist, and a doctoral candidate with a focus
in health psychology. I just recently completed my first 9000 course and based
on my work with Dr. Stadtlander, I was asked if I would share some insights to
the dissertation process. I must disclose that I am new to the process and by
no means am I an expert on a dissertation or your particular steps that would
expedite the process. However, I have had the honor of discovering little tips
along the way that may serve helpful to those who are just beginning the
process, those in mid-stream, and even possibly those at the end of the
dissertation process. Hence, I was asked to share them with you and I am more
than happy to do so.
“What would you tell someone about to start the process of
writing their prospectus?”
1. Pace yourself.
2. Life happens while you are trying to write and that is OK
3. Respect that those “life events” are part of the process.
Accept them rather than curse them.
4. Sleep
5. Read your writing aloud to someone who knows nothing
about your topic. I have found many errors and areas that needed further
explanation that way!
6. Set up an organization system early and stick with it.
Don’t change midstream!
7. Don’t disregard those other important things in your life
(e.g. family time, exercise, sleep). They have equal importance in this
process.
"How do you establish your quarterly goals or
expectations?”
For my first quarter, I started by using the research
centers Ph.D. Dissertation Process and Documents. You can go to http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/PhD-Dissertation-Program.htm
for this information. The “Prospectus Development” section and “Dissertation
Checklists” were priceless. They allowed me to hold true to the structure and
content required. I downloaded those aspects that were appropriate to my study
and I printed a copy that I hung on my computer hutch keeping the information
in plain sight. I wrote out an outline of my study details and compared it to
the outline. Then I rationed the work over a period of 12 weeks understanding
that some weeks would be more productive than others. I wrote my schedule of
planned dissertation activities and then held myself accountable on a weekly
basis. I choose weekly in efforts to avoid guilt if I did not work on writing
one day.
I must be honest that the process of deciding a quarterly
plan was a job in of itself. However, having a solid direction of what to do
made the process smoother and almost a step by step process. It was if I wrote
my own PSYC 9000 syllabus and assignment timeline. I was in communication with
my chair and made a contentious effort to follow up and follow through with any
plans my chair and I agreed to.
“How do you handle the feeling of isolation while writing a
dissertation?”
I would encourage a support group that has other people who
are also writing their dissertations. While family may be supportive and
encouraging, they do not understand the process or the work involved. In my
humble opinion, writing a dissertation is the hardest form of personal
sacrifice and dedication I have ever had to endure. If it was not for the
support system I have in place, I have no idea how I could manage the feelings
when I “get lost” in the literature, struggle with APA formatting, or even just
sharing the stress of life while juggling the demands of higher education.
In summary, we have heard through our coursework that we
must find our own scholarly voice. In the same token, we must also find our own
scholarly way of writing and formatting our life to meet the challenges of a
dissertation without sacrificing our other important life elements (family,
work, rest, health etc.). I hope my “dissertation tips” will serve helpful for
you, but please remember, find your own way while tapping into those resources
available to you. We all direct our own journeys. I wish you happiness and
success in your journey and hope to one day meet you and say “hello my friend,
Dr. ______.”
Respectfully,
Meredith Baker-Rush
Next time I will give you a dissertation calculator. 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
