The Elements of an Effective Dissertation and Thesis A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting it Right the First Time

by Calabrese, Raymond L.

• ISBN13: 9781578863518
• ISBN10: 1578863511
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-10
• Publisher: R&L Education

Summary

Here is a student guide to writing an effective doctoral dissertation or a master's thesis. This book disaggregates the elements of the dissertation and provides the student with a description, definition, and example of each dissertation element. The author presents multiple viewpoints that include both quantitative and qualitative approaches. When using this book, the student, based on departmental norms, will understand what belongs in the dissertation and thesis and where it belongs. The elements are presented in a traditional five-chapter format for ease of use and not for indicating a preferred format for the dissertation. There are over 100 examples of completed dissertations from well-known universities and colleges. This book allows the student to concentrate on what makes sense and what is important to completing his or her research.

Author Biography

Raymond L. Calabrese is professor of education at Wichita State University in Kansas

Table of Contents

Preface: How to Use This Book	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Dissertation Title	p. xv
Dissertation Abstract	p. xvii
Introduction and Rationale	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Background to the Study	p. 3
Problem Statement	p. 3
Purpose of the Study	p. 5
Significance of the Study	p. 6
Overview of Methodology	p. 8
Research Questions	p. 9
Research Hypotheses	p. 10
Objectives and Outcomes	p. 11
Limitations	p. 12
Delimitations	p. 13
Assumptions	p. 14
Definition of Key Terms	p. 15
Organization of the Dissertation	p. 16
Review of Literature	p. 19
Introduction to the Literature Review	p. 20
Body of the Literature Review	p. 22
Competing Perspectives	p. 23
Conceptual Framework	p. 24
Theoretical Framework	p. 25
Synthesis of the Research	p. 27
Critical Analysis	p. 27
Conclusion of the Literature Review	p. 28
Other Important Terms and Issues	p. 29
Theory	p. 29
Scholarly Publications	p. 30
Relevant Research	p. 30
Criteria for Selection of Research Included in a Literature Review	p. 32
Organizing the Literature Research Search	p. 36
Methods	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
Research Perspective	p. 39
Research Design	p. 40
Research Questions and Hypotheses	p. 41
Subject, Participants, Population, and Sample	p. 43
Unit of Analysis	p. 46
Research Variables	p. 47
Research Instrument	p. 48
Pilot Study	p. 50
Data Collection Procedures	p. 51
Data Collection and Statistical Analysis	p. 53
Setting and Environment	p. 55
Bias and Error	p. 57
Validity	p. 58
Trustworthiness	p. 59
Reliability	p. 61
Summary	p. 63
Results	p. 65
Introduction	p. 66
Organizing the Results Chapter	p. 67
Methodology Summary	p. 71
Population, Sample, and Participants	p. 73
Results	p. 73
Summary of Results	p. 75
Summary and Transition to Chapter 5	p. 77
Interpretation and Recommendations	p. 79
Introduction	p. 80
Summary of Results	p. 82
Discussion of Results	p. 83
Summary Statement	p. 85
Implications for Further Research	p. 87
Implications for Practice and Recommendations	p. 88
Relationship of Results to Theory	p. 91
Limitations	p. 92
Summary and Conclusion	p. 94
Advice on References and Plagiarism	p. 97
References	p. 101
About the Author	p. 123
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