"I do not believe I have ever seen a work of this kind that so thoroughly and so carefully examines the important consideration of working with the students′ advisor, relationships with the students′ supervisory committee, and the oral defense. Students using this text will certainly applaud this work." M. Scott Norton, Professor Arizona State University Having problems getting your dissertation finished? Here is the help you need! Getting your doctorate part-time or via the computer makes it difficult to schedule meetings with your advisor, use the library′s resources, or discuss your topic ideas and dissertation difficulties with fellow students. Problems unique to nontraditional graduate students are alleviated with this easy-to-use dissertation guide. In sections devised to follow the conventional structure of a dissertation, Bryant organizes the book to help you locate vital information quickly and efficiently. Practical, targeted, and no-nonsense, this book includes suggestions and tips for: Finding a topic, a theory, and a research method Creating a dissertation support group, plus an appendix listing activities for a support group Using a research library from off campus Developing a productive relationship with your advisor The Portable Dissertation Advisor also contains an annotated bibliography of research books, a list of doctoral studies written about writing dissertations, and an assessment tool for you to evaluate your study.

Written for the doctoral graduate student, this book gives you the vital support to write your dissertation when you can't be on campus full-time!

This is a must-have preparation and reference guide for students embarking on the challenging journey of completing a thesis or dissertation. The authors, who are both “students of thesis and dissertation travel,” combine their expertise and insights to offer wise travel guidance designed to enhance both the success and satisfaction of this likely once-in-a-lifetime journey. The various chapters provide a realistic preview of how to prepare for and how to complete each stage of this travel journey successfully. Individual chapters on each of the major tasks each serve as an important reference for students to review as they progress, thus providing a guide which will be consulted many times throughout their program. The book provides advice on the most common aspects of the thesis or dissertation process, and it is written in a user-friendly manner designed to engage students and to enhance their comfort level as they journey through their candidacy. The importance of each task in the thesis or dissertation journey is addressed, along with its role in contributing to a successful outcome, and is accompanied by advice and suggestions from previous travellers. The challenges inherent in all stages of the journey are examined, along with proactive strategies for avoiding potential “bumps in the road.” You will not want to depart on this monumental travel adventure without this valuable survival guide!

Leading the thesis or dissertation process can be a challenging and rewarding experience. However, serving as a doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis Chair is often a role assumed with very little faculty development and a lot of guesswork. Many new (and yes, even experienced) Chairs rely on the secondhand advice of seasoned faculty or on their own lived experiences as graduate students (both good and bad). This can lead to confusion, frustration, and contentious relationships. Without a chairperson who is invested and who has a clear set of best practices, both the Chair and the student are left guessing as to the best course to proceed This book provides a clear set of best practices for the dissertation or thesis chairperson by providing hands-on tools, real-life illustrations, and practical advice for any faculty member guiding and coaching the student through the thesis or dissertation process.

Dissertation Research Methods: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Up Your Research in the Social Sciences focuses specifically on the methodology for planning, writing and submitting your dissertation thesis. Written by two methodology experts in the social sciences, the book provides a step-by-step guide through each stage of the dissertation process. It covers all aspects of the methodological considerations needed, from choosing a topic or research question, developing a literature review, identifying research gaps, accessing potential study participants, utilizing the right sampling strategies, analyzing data and writing up findings. Readers are introduced to the main research methods normally used in dissertations and their characteristics, and they are guided to choose an appropriate research method for their study, provide a substantial description of the selected method and articulate strong arguments in support of it. The book is filled with templates, exemplars and tools to help students write about methodology in their thesis and to equip readers to successfully troubleshoot any methodology challenges they may face. This compact book will be of use to all graduate students and their supervisors in the Social Sciences and Education and Behavioural Sciences who are looking for a guide to working with robust and defensible methodological principles in their dissertation research and theses.

A doctoral dissertation is arguably the most important journey that students will embark upon in their professional careers, so smart travelers will want E. Alana James and Tracesea H. Slater’s Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster: A Proven Map to Success at their fingertips. James and Slater identify the key places and challenges that create extra stress during the dissertation process, and offer effective strategies and tools to address those challenges and ensure academic success. Their map walks readers through each step of the process, including: • determining the research topic, • choosing appropriate methods, • turning a hypothesis into a study, • completing a literature review, • writing and defending a proposal, • collecting and analyzing data, • writing up the study, and • ultimately defending the dissertation. Building on years of experience with doctoral students, the authors provide a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use tool that encourages student reflection; includes student stories, hints, and writing tips; and provides end-of-chapter checklists and ideas for incorporating social media. With the proven techniques and guidance of this indispensable and applied book, doctoral students will finish their thesis or dissertation—faster!

This book is not a technical manual to help doctoral students through the minutiae of conducting in-depth qualitative or quantitative research. Instead, this how-to manual will focus on the practical aspects of writing and organizing a dissertation, in particular, the psychological and social hurdles that are involved. The author uses a conversational and encouraging tone along with plenty of graphics, quotes, illustrations, and sample forms to guide doctoral students through the process of preparing, writing, and defending their dissertations. Features } checklists, organizing graphics, in-depth list of resources for further inquiry, quotations, illustrations, and other user-friendly elements } full of easily accessible, practical advice that is administered in small bites. } conversational, warm, and personal writing style unique to this genre.