2015 McKnight Summer Research & Writing

InstituteEssentials for Dissertation Research

& Writing in the Social and Behavioral Sciences

July 29, 30 & 31, 2015

Marvin P. Dawkins, PhDProfessor of Sociology

University of Miami

Goals and Objectives

► The overall goal of these workshops is to assist participants in making tangible progress toward completion of the PhD dissertation.

► The specific objectives are as follows:1. to acquire and advance knowledge about the

dissertation process;

2. to gain an understanding of the structure of the dissertation and the skills needed to be successful in completing dissertation research and writing;

3. to sharpen skills by engaging in exercises related to dissertation research and writing and by actually working on one’s own dissertation; and

4. to facilitate workshop follow-up meetings (one-on-one) with the workshop leader and other persons experienced in directing dissertation research.

Structure of the Workshops

The workshops are structured to provide an opportunity for interaction and feedback. Therefore, workshop participants are expected to ask questions, make observations and participate in feedback exercises. Responses given in feedback exercises will be discussed in one-on-one follow-up meetings with the workshop leader.

Delimiters

►These workshops are not intended to be a substitute or challenge to the guidance you receive from your dissertation chair and/or other committee members (or to serve as a forum for “bashing” your committee);

►The workshops are based on the assumption that completion of the dissertation is the beginning rather than the end of your development as a researcher or academic scholar;

►Thus, the workshops are also intended to assist participants in making the transition from graduate school to a position in an academic institution, postdoctoral research setting or other appropriate positions in your field.

Content Covered in Each Workshop 2015► Workshop I: July 29, 1:30-4:30pm

� Understanding the dissertation process;

� Preparing for dissertation research: From proposal to dissertation;

� Standard dissertation chapters (& alternative dissertation formats);

� Developing & writing chapters 1, 2, & 3: Some strategies for your introduction, literature review, theoretical considerations and research methodology.

► Workshop II: July 30, 9:00am-12:00pm� Developing & writing chapters 1, 2, & 3 (continued);

� Developing and writing chapters 4 & 5: Some strategies for presenting/reporting results and drawing conclusions.

► Workshop III: July 31, 9:00am-12:00pm� Completing the full draft and submitting the revised full draft of the

dissertation to your committee in preparation for the defense;

� Preparing for the dissertation defense: What actually occurs at a defense;

� Completing post-defense revisions of the dissertation and submitting the final dissertation to the Graduate School.

Wednesday, 7/29/151:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Workshop I:� Understanding the dissertation process;

� Preparing for dissertation research: From proposal to dissertation (& alternative dissertation formats);

� Standard dissertation chapters;

� Developing & writing chapters 1, 2, & 3: Some strategies for your introduction, literature review, theoretical considerations and research methodology.

Pre-dissertation Phase Dissertation Phase Post-dissertation Phase

Selection of Chair and Committee

Development of Proposal

Research Writing Completion

Working with dissertationchair and committee

Defense

Post-defense revisions

Submission ofdissertation tothe GraduateSchool

THE DISSERTATION PROCESSS

Preparing for dissertation research: Essential aids

►A good computer;

►Aids to good writing (e.g., style, transitions, quotations, plagiarism, avoiding plagiarism, and writing clear, concise, and direct sentences);

►Access to a good dictionary (hard copy or online) ;

►Aids to style guides (e.g., APA, CMS, ASA);� e.g., The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Preparing for Dissertation Research: From Proposal To Dissertation

Proposal Completed Dissertation

►After successfully writing the PhD dissertation proposal, how does one successfully write the dissertation?

FROM PROPOSAL TO DISSERTATION

Proposal Completed Dissertation

Dissertation Research

► Writing the dissertation involves:

1. completing the proposed research (conducting the analysis, obtaining and reporting results, and drawing conclusions), while

2. using the proposal to further develop and complete dissertation chapters.

Structure of the PhD ProposalThe proposal document has separate sections and your department may provide guidelines

specifying content and suggested length of each section. A typical proposal will include the following (suggested lengths in parentheses:

1. Problem Statement & Research Questions (1-3 pages)(problem to be investigated; purpose of the study; specific research questions)

2. Significance of the Problem (1-2 page)(discussion of why the problem is important and how proposed study will fill need for knowledge)

3. Related Literature Review & Conceptual Framework (6-12 pages)(review of previous research; identification of theories, concepts and research that provide the best framework to study the problem; hypotheses to be tested)

4. Methods (6-10 pages)(sample; sources of data; data collection procedures; measurement or operational

definitions of variables; instrumentation; study design)

5. Data Analysis (1-2 pages) (plan for analysis of data; statistical techniques to be employed)

6. Limitations and Implications (1 page) (study limitations; expected contribution to knowledge, theory, policy, or practice)

FEEDBACK EXERCISE

►Can you describe your proposed dissertation in 150 words?

►Please take a few minutes to do this.

Structure of the Dissertation: Standard Dissertation Chapters

► While the proposal is usually organized into sections, the dissertation is always organized into chapters.

► The dissertation typically includes the following (standard) chapters:

1. INTRODUCTION

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE*

3. METHODOLOGY

4. RESULTS

5. CONCLUSIONS

*Theory/theoretical framework may be included or treated as a separate chapter

CONNECTING THE DETAILED PROPOSAL TO CHAPTERS I, II, & III OF THE

DISSERTATION

►The detailed dissertation proposal (30+ pages) can be more readily expanded into dissertation chapters 1, 2, & 3.

►Therefore, after successfully completing a sound proposal, writing of chapters 1, 2, and 3 can begin immediately, while simultaneously carrying out the research (e.g., data collection, experimentation, data analysis, etc.) needed to complete chapters 4 and 5.

DEVELOPING AND WRITING CHAPTER I: A CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL CONTENT*

CHAPTER I: Introduction and Problem Statement

Chapter overview� Introduction� Background of the problem� Statement of the problem� Purpose of the study� Research questions� Importance of the study� Scope and delimitations of the studyOutline of other dissertation chapters

*Adapted from: Isaac, Stephen and Michael B. Williams. 1980. Handbook in Research and Evaluation. San Diego: Edits Publishers.

DEVELOPING AND WRITING CHAPTER II: A CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL CONTENT

CHAPTER II: Review of Related Literature

Chapter overview

� Historical background (if necessary)

� Review of existing studies (what has been found; who has done work; when and where latest studies were completed; what methodological and analytical approaches were followed?)

� Arrangement of literature review in terms of historical chronology, questions considered, purposes, qualitative/quantitative approaches, or other logical ordering

� Summary of literature reviewed

� Establish need for additional research (to address gaps, inconsistent findings or absence of research altogether)

� Delineation of various theoretical positions or conceptual frameworks as a basis for generation of hypotheses to be tested

Chapter summary

DEVELOPING AND WRITING CHAPTER III: A CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL CONTENTS

CHAPTER III: Methodology

Chapter overview� Description of methodological approach/design (e.g.

experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, etc.)� Specification of dependent, independent, & control variables in

the context of the design employed � Description of data and data collection procedures� Instrumentation� Operational definition of variables� Possible restatement of research/theoretical hypotheses in

operational form relative to instrumentation or procedures to be followed in hypothesis testing

� Methodological limitationsChapter summary

Thursday, 7/28/119:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

► Workshop II: July 30, 9:00am-12:00pm� Developing & Writing Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (continued);

� Developing and Writing Chapters 4 & 5;

� Strategies for presenting/reporting results and drawing conclusions.

DEVELOPING AND WRITING CHAPTER IV: A CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL CONTENTS

CHAPTER IV: Results

Chapter overview� Findings are reported to furnish evidence for each question asked

in the problem statement or for each hypothesis posed

� Appropriate headings are established to correspond to each main question or hypothesis considered

� Findings are presented in tables, charts, graphs and other forms

� Findings are summarized

� The reporting of findings is kept separate from interpretation and discussion of results of the analysis

Chapter summary

DEVELOPING AND WRITING CHAPTER V: A CHECKLIST OF TYPICAL CONTENTS

CHAPTER V: ConclusionsChapter overview

� Brief summary of everything covered in chapters I, II, & III followed by a more detailed summary of the findings reported in chapter IV

� Discussion of major research findings in light of previous research and the contribution of this study to the advancement of theoretical knowledge

� Conclusions drawn (including study’s generalizability)

� Limitations of study and directions for future research along with implications for theory, policy or practice (may also include recommendations)

Specific objectives of workshop II:

1. To advance knowledge and skills in writing dissertation chapters;

2. To provide an opportunity to engage in practice and feedback exercises to sharpen skills related to specific strategies associated with each chapter.

Writing research purposes and research questions*

Example A (as a purpose statement)1. The purpose of this research is to determine what traditional

graduate training programs in nursing are doing to provide practical training on ethical issues regarding euthanasia.

2. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of public support for a bond issue to construct additional public libraries.

Example B (as a research question)1. What are traditional graduate training programs in nursing doing

to provide practical training on ethical issues regarding euthanasia?

2. What is the level of public support for a bond issue to fund construction of additional public libraries?

*Adapted from: Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. 2005. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and behavioral Sciences. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.

Writing the Literature Review

► Example (hypothetical overview):

This chapter reviews the literature related to the research on conduct disorders among young children. It is organized into four sections: (1) the historical concern for children’s development, (2) family socialization and social development of the child, (3) the relationship between maternal bonding and conduct problems, and (4) extra-familial factors which influence conduct behavior among small children. At the end of each section, theories that have relevance to the research are discussed.

Writing the Literature Review

Organizing the research studies for writing the literature review

Different methods for writing the literature review

-Study-by-study review method

-Integrative review method

How to present, report and interpret results

►An important skill in achieving the central research goals of describing, explaining, or predicting relationships between two or more variables is the ability to clearly present, reports and interpret results that have been produced by the analysis of empirical data.

How to present, report and interpret results

� Restate the research question(s) or hypothes(e)s

� Present results of the analysis in tables, figures, charts, etc.

� Identify variables in the relationship(s)

� Report the findings in the table(s), figure(s), etc.

� Interpret the findings in relation to the research question(s) or hypothesis(ses)

Illustrations

FEEDBACK EXERCISE

Writing the Conclusions Chapter V

►Briefly restate the dissertation’s purpose, major question(s), the methodology, and the findings.

►Discuss the study’s findings relation to previous research and in terms of implications for theory, policy and/or practice.

►Draw conclusions and discuss limitations and need/directions for future research.

►Make recommendations.

Friday, 7/29/119:00 a.m. – 12:00

Dissertation Research & Writing in the Social & Behavioral Sciences

Workshop III:Dissertation Drafts, Defense, and Delivery to the Graduate School

Marvin DawkinsProfessor of Sociology University of Miami

Preparation for the Defense

►Meeting with dissertation chair and other committee members.

►Distribution of dissertation draft before defense.

► Structure of a dissertation defense.

► Style of presentation developed for delivery in the defense.

►Anticipating questions.

►Mental preparation.

►Gathering essential documents to be signed by members of the committee.

Preparing Dissertation for Delivery to the Graduate School

►The “Dissertation Editor.”

►Following guidelines published by the Graduate School.

►Electronic submissions.

Planning Future Publications Based on the Dissertation

►A Discussion:

� Book or articles?

� Sole or co-authorship?

� From dissertation to proposal for postdoctoral research?

� How much of future research publications should be based on the dissertation?

WORKSHOP CLOSING►If you have questions or just want to say

“Hi,” I can be reached by email, phone, or mail:

Marvin P. Dawkins, PhD

Professor of Sociology

Department of Sociology

University of Miami

P.O. Box 248162

Coral Gables, FL 33124

mdawkins@miami.edu

(305) 2846127