Research and Dissertation Basics
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Survival Skills for Graduate Students Research and Dissertation Basics Dr. Deborah Lee Professor/Coordinator Graduate Student Services Mississippi State University Libraries
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Transcript of Research and Dissertation Basics
Survival Skills for Graduate Students
Research and
Dissertation
Basics
Dr. Deborah Lee
Professor/Coordinator
Graduate Student Services
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State University Libraries
Survival Skills for Graduate Students: Workshops
Research and Dissertation Basics
Developing a Literature Review
Research Ethics & the Graduate Researcher
Money 101 for Grad Students
Survival Skills
Workshops….
Job Hunting in Academe: Landing on the
Tenure Track
Crafting the Winning Curriculum Vitae
Publishing 101: Navigating the Academic
Publishing Process
Publishing 201: Author’s Rights and Contracts
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State University Libraries
Session Overview
What this session will NOT cover!
Library Resources and Services
Research Strategies
Planning and Completing the Dissertation
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
The Best Dissertation…
…..is a Finished Dissertation!
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Library Services
Research Services (2nd Floor)
– Research Consultations
– Specialized Research/Reference Resources
– Ready Reference
Ask-A-Librarian service:
http://lib.msstate.edu/help/
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Library Services
Instructional Media Center (2nd Floor)
– Free Workshops
– Multimedia Workstations and Instructional Material
– Equipment Checkout
– Videos, CDs, DVDs
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Library Services
Access Services (2nd Floor)
– Inter-Library Loan (Illiad)
– Check out books
Theses-Dissertations (1st Floor)
– Dissertations and Theses
James Nail
Survival Skills
Other Resources
Writing Center
– http://www.writingcenter.msstate.edu/index.html
– Available at multiple locations (including the library!)
– Appointments also available online
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State University Libraries
Survival Skills for Graduate Students: Web Page
Related Library Links
Workshop Materials
Related Campus Materials
Archive of workshop materials and recordings.
http://library.msstate.edu/li/ssfgs/
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Challenges of the Dissertation Process
Why do a dissertation?
– Marks the transition from student to scholar.
Challenges
– New experience
– Very large project!
– Substantively different in scope
– Thesis vs Dissertation
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Managing the Dissertation Process
Managing your topic.
Managing your advisor.
Managing your committee.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Managing your topic.
Too narrow vs too broad.
Significance to the profession.
Flexibility.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Managing your advisor!
Selecting an advisor.
Establish expectations.
Pick a dissertation committee.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Manage your committee.
Selecting committee members.
Establish expectations.
Communicate!
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Plan the Dissertation Process
Develop a timeline.
– Data/Research constraints?
– Graduate date?
– Funding considerations?
Other considerations
– Approvals: human subjects, animals,
dangerous chemicals.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Dissertation Process
Dissertation Proposal
– Statement of the Research Question
– Literature Review
– Methodology
Survival Skills
What will your dissertation look like?
Varies by field, department, and advisor!
Don’t assume; ask and check recent
dissertations produced by your
department/advisor.
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State University Libraries
Dissertation Planning
Format (Traditional)
– Chapter One: Research Question
– Chapter Two: Literature Review
– Chapter Three: Methodology
– Chapter Four: Data Analysis
– Chapter Five: Conclusions
Survival Skills
Format: an alternative approach
Mississippi State University Libraries
Mississippi State University Libraries
“Mastering the Academic Style”
From: Writing the Winning Dissertation, by
Allan Glatthorn (1st edition)
Too Confident: The study proves that schools
are loosely coupled systems.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Too tentative (emphasis added):
One conclusion that might be drawn from this study is that this particular school, on the basis of this investigation, seemed to have elements of organizational structure that might enable it to be characterized in general as a “loosely-coupled system,” although there were clearly aspects of tight coupling manifest in certain parts of the system.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Better…
The findings suggest that most of the
organizational elements of this school
were only loosely linked, so that it might
be generally characterized as “loosely
coupled.”
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Dissertation Advice
Work where you are most productive
(place and time).
Keep your committee informed of your
progress.
Don’t become discouraged---seek help
when needed.
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Completing The Process
Timing Completion
Physical Formatting
Submitting Your Dissertation
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
After the Dissertation
Publishing Your Results!!!!
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Available Handouts
PowerPoint Slides (Available Upon Email
Request)
Library Services Summary
Dissertation Guides Bibliography
EndNote Flyer
Survival Skills
Mississippi State University Libraries
Questions?
– Dr. Deborah Lee, Professor
– (662) 325-0810
Please give us feedback on this workshop!
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