Overview of Dissertation Process EdD Instructional Leadership for Nurse Educators Dr. Natalie Adams

What is a Dissertation? Contributes to the research and literature in your field An academic work intended to demonstrate your ability to undertake research and scholarship in your field Self-directed, independent project Demonstrates your ability to build theory, text ideas, and discover new knowledge Marks the transformation from student to scholar

More on Dissertations Focus on a topic that is important to be studied and worthy of substantial inquiry Represents the student’s ability to identify a problem; develop an understanding of the relevant literature and previous research in an area of inquiry; formulate cogent research questions or hypotheses; report and discuss results of investigation; and derive conclusions, implications, and recommendations from results (UA Graduate School Catalog)

Nuts and Bolts Typically is 5 chapters: Introduction, Review of the Literature, Methodology, Discussion of Findings, and Implications/Conclusions/Recommendations Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval 5 members serve on your dissertation committee; one outside person Dissertation proposal (typically first 3 chapters) must be formally approved by dissertation committee before one can conduct the research

Dissertation Process – Backing it Up Take courses – (plan of study); during this time you should begin developing ideas for a dissertation Choose dissertation team – last year of courses Comprehensive exams – in your last semester of coursework Prospectus meeting – you will work on prospectus in NUR 696 in final semester; meet with committee to discuss ideas Proposal meeting – Formal meeting; paperwork required; advance to candidacy Dissertation Defense – defend your dissertation; public is invited

Practical Advice Completing a dissertation is what defines a doctoral degree, not the completion of coursework; don’t be ABD Choose your topic wisely; be passionate about it Use coursework assignments to begin exploring possible dissertation topics Choose dissertation committee wisely Don’t wait until your last semester of coursework to begin developing ideas for dissertation Talk to your professors about possible dissertation topics