How to Finish Your Thesis/Dissertation?

Deciding to Go to Graduate School Without a powerful drive, the full-time effort and unflagging perseverance required, combined with the gloomy employment situation, will make you miserable. Without a powerful drive, the full-time effort and unflagging perseverance required, combined with the gloomy employment situation, will make you miserable. You will be expected to do more than you have time for, and unless a Ph.D. is something you REALLY want, you probably will not succeed. You will be expected to do more than you have time for, and unless a Ph.D. is something you REALLY want, you probably will not succeed.

Outline of Writing Dissertation The need for a different approach to the dissertation The need for a different approach to the dissertation An overview of the dissertation management approach An overview of the dissertation management approach The dissertation is a knowledge work The dissertation is a knowledge work The selection of an advisor and a dissertation committee The selection of an advisor and a dissertation committee The selection of a dissertation topic The selection of a dissertation topic Investigation existing knowledge on a topic Investigation existing knowledge on a topic The dissertation proposal The dissertation proposal The dissertation time schedule and budget The dissertation time schedule and budget Working with an advisor and a dissertation committee Working with an advisor and a dissertation committee Management of dissertation activity Management of dissertation activity The defense and publishing the result The defense and publishing the result

The Philosophy of the Systematic Approach Structuring of the dissertation project can significantly improve performance. Structuring of the dissertation project can significantly improve performance. The student has primary responsibility for the management of the doctoral dissertation project. The student has primary responsibility for the management of the doctoral dissertation project. Faculty (advisor and committee) are a scare resource. Faculty (advisor and committee) are a scare resource.

Student s responsibility Do what you say will be done when promised. Do what you say will be done when promised. Have integrity in research and writing. Have integrity in research and writing. Keep in communication. Keep in communication. Prepare document for comment. Prepare document for comment. Follow a method of presentation tat effectively uses the advisor s and committee s time. Follow a method of presentation tat effectively uses the advisor s and committee s time. Be reasonable in making demands on the time of the advisor and committee. Be reasonable in making demands on the time of the advisor and committee. Be open to suggestions and to advice, but also show initiative. Be open to suggestions and to advice, but also show initiative.

The Objective of a Doctoral Dissertation Do independent research Do independent research Make a contribution to knowledge with the research Make a contribution to knowledge with the research Document the research and make it available to the scholarly community (write the dissertation) Document the research and make it available to the scholarly community (write the dissertation)

The Life Cycle of a Dissertation Project Selection of general area of research Selection of general area of research Selection of several topics for evaluation Selection of several topics for evaluation Selection and exploration of one topic and completion of dissertation proposal Selection and exploration of one topic and completion of dissertation proposal Completion of detailed chapter outlines Completion of detailed chapter outlines Completion of literature research Completion of literature research Completion of research and analysis Completion of research and analysis Completion of text of dissertation Completion of text of dissertation Acceptance by committee Acceptance by committee

Overall Management Approach Pre-dissertation stage activity Pre-dissertation stage activity Selection of the dissertation topic Selection of the dissertation topic Management of research and writing Management of research and writing

The Dissertation as Knowledge Work The type of work: human mental work. The type of work: human mental work. The objective: to generate useful information. The objective: to generate useful information. Four dominant process characteristics: Four dominant process characteristics: Access data Access data Access knowledge Access knowledge Employ mental model Employ mental model Require significant concentration and attention Require significant concentration and attention

The Selection of an Advisor and a Dissertation Committee The advisor is interested in the topic. The advisor is interested in the topic. The advisor is competent to advise on the topic. The advisor is competent to advise on the topic. The advisor has a reasonable level of expectations regarding what a student can and should accomplish in a doctoral dissertation. The advisor has a reasonable level of expectations regarding what a student can and should accomplish in a doctoral dissertation. The advisor reads and comments on dissertation document within a reasonable time period. The advisor reads and comments on dissertation document within a reasonable time period. The advisor is consistent regarding requirements and advices. The advisor is consistent regarding requirements and advices. The advisor has personal integrity and important responsibility. The advisor has personal integrity and important responsibility. The advisor is interested in the candidate as a person and is interested in the candidate s welfare. The advisor is interested in the candidate as a person and is interested in the candidate s welfare.

Select Dissertation Topic Research needed and interesting Research needed and interesting Theory base for research Theory base for research Amenable to research methods Amenable to research methods Achieve in reasonable time Achieve in reasonable time Symmetry of potential outcomes Symmetry of potential outcomes Matches student capability and interest Matches student capability and interest Attractive for funding Attractive for funding Area for professional development Area for professional development

Investigating Existing Knowledge on a Topic Exploratory investigations, as part of the development and evaluation of possible topics in this area. Exploratory investigations, as part of the development and evaluation of possible topics in this area. Investigation in some depth, sufficient to support a formal research and dissertation proposal. Investigation in some depth, sufficient to support a formal research and dissertation proposal. Complete research that is described in the literature/research section of the dissertation. Complete research that is described in the literature/research section of the dissertation.

The Dissertation Proposal Topic analysis form Topic analysis form Problem, hypothesis, or question Problem, hypothesis, or question Importance of research Importance of research Theory base of research Theory base of research Significant prior research Significant prior research Possible research approach or methodology Possible research approach or methodology Potential outcomes or research and importance of each Potential outcomes or research and importance of each Refine the proposal Refine the proposal Proposal is like a contract Proposal is like a contract

The Section of Proposal Summary Summary Hypothesis, problem, or question Hypothesis, problem, or question Importance of topic Importance of topic Theory base for the research Theory base for the research Prior research on topic Prior research on topic Research approach or research methodology Research approach or research methodology Limitations and key assumptions Limitations and key assumptions Contributions to knowledge Contributions to knowledge Description of proposed chapters in dissertation Description of proposed chapters in dissertation

The Dissertation Time Schedule and Budget Make reasonable dissertation time schedule Make reasonable dissertation time schedule Try your best to do what you planed before Try your best to do what you planed before Modify the time schedule every time period Modify the time schedule every time period

Working with an Advisor and a Dissertation Committee Aids to effective interaction with an advisor and a committee Aids to effective interaction with an advisor and a committee Provide written notes of meeting. Provide written notes of meeting. Provide outlines and issue summaries with each batch of materials the committee is asked to read. Provide outlines and issue summaries with each batch of materials the committee is asked to read. A transmittal note A transmittal note Issue summary Issue summary Outline of each chapter Outline of each chapter The material to be read The material to be read Schedule meetings. Schedule meetings. Provide action agendas for meeting. Provide action agendas for meeting. Provide written responses and periodic progress report. Provide written responses and periodic progress report.

Examples

summary Advisor is a guider to help you. Do not be afraid to meet with your advisor. Advisor is a guider to help you. Do not be afraid to meet with your advisor. There is no advisor who wants to treat his student badly. He is just a mentor in your graduate study. There is no advisor who wants to treat his student badly. He is just a mentor in your graduate study. Keep regular meeting and having progress (if possible). Let your advisor know what you have done between two consecutive meetings. Keep regular meeting and having progress (if possible). Let your advisor know what you have done between two consecutive meetings. Graduate study is just a training process. Enjoy yourself in this lonely tourney. Graduate study is just a training process. Enjoy yourself in this lonely tourney.

Thanks! Question?