2008 FAU Student Advisory Council’s 7th Annual Research Symposium Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Doctorate: The Products, the Pacing, and the Process Valerie Bryan, Ed.D, Educational Leadership Deb Duay, Ph.D, Educational Leadership 2008 FAU Student Advisory Council’s 7th Annual Research Symposium

Pacing is important Chronicle of Higher Education reports, despite a dearth of comprehensive national statistics, several studies have indicated that the attrition rate in doctoral programs could be as high as 50 percent (Smallwood, 2004). According to Council of Graduate Schools, time-to-degree has been rising nationally, with the median placed at 7.6 years.

Journey begins Required coursework Individual projects in classes may suggest where you do or do not want to go with your dissertation it is never too early to think about your topic Team projects often give an opportunity to explore areas outside of your direct view and may offer new perspectives Readings for classes are excellent sources of ideas for your dissertation and support for your topic Case Study Example 1 Case Study Example 2

Directed Independent Studies IRB may not be required if not human subject oriented Create mini-literature reviews on units of literature that will relate to dissertation statement of purpose Design literature matrixes for future tables, contrasts and correlates for study purpose Create definitions of areas under study to later use in Chapter I Development of instrumentation (questionnaires, surveys, conceptual framework, etc.) Case Study Example

IRB Approved Field Projects Field testing or Pilot testing various components or approaches that will be used (or not) in the dissertation Instrumentation (Search of questionnaires) Methodology (qualitative or quantitative or mixed) Appropriate subjects to use or not to use IRB process through trial and error Technological aids (Podcasts, Wikis/Blogs, Atlas.Ti, SPSS, Clickers, Snap.com, ProQuest, Digitool, EZProxy, 360 Search, STAT-USA) Case Study Example 1 Case Study Example 2

Student Productivity & Mentoring BEFORE your dissertation: Present a research paper at a national conference Submit a research article for publication Publish a research article in a refereed professional or trade journal Present at a SAC research venue What a wonderful way to practice in a safe environment to get prepare for a proposal paper and defense or for the writing of the dissertation, and the defense

Possible Side Effects Rate of progress to degree may increase Research productivity may increase Socialization may increase With faculty With mentors With peers Satisfaction may increase Job productivity may increase Life Stressors may decrease

Mentoring is essential . . . mentoring is: a more intricate, long-term, one-on-one relationship that goes well beyond simply providing information. True mentoring is a complex process between professor and college adult learner that supports a mutual enhancement of critically reflective and independent thinking" (Galbraith, 2003,p. 16). a series of mentor-mentee dialogues noted for collaborative critical thinking and planning, mutual participation in specific goal setting and decision- making, shared evaluation regarding the results of actions, and joint reflection on the worth of areas identified for progress (Galbraith, 2003,p. 11).

Your Interaction with Your Mentor (s) Discussed academic issues outside of class with faculty/mentors helps to confirm your purpose and create your pace Received some type of feedback about progress from mentor (beyond grades or work) Socialized informally with a mentor if possible Discussed your career plans and ambitions with a mentor Discussed personal problems or concerns with a mentor, in limited amounts, when the world is crashing in

Student Productivity: Unpacking the Dissertation AFTER your dissertation Can submit ALTERNATE versions to multiple conferences, journals or other publications Alternates can be produced by mergers, contrasting, correlating, slicing Dissertation Journal Article Refereed Conf Conference Article Case Study Example

References Galbraith, M. W. (2003). The adult education professor as mentor: A means to enhance teaching and learning. Perspectives: The New York Journal of Adult Learning, 1(1), 9-20. Lage-Otero, E. (2006). Doctoral dissertation - looking back, looking. Tomorrow’s Professor Blog. Retrieved March 26, 2008 from http://amps-tools.mit.edu/tomprofblog/archives/2006/05/720_doctoral_di.html#more Smallwood, S. (2004, January 16). Doctor dropout. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 50.