Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences

by Fred C. Lunenburg

• ISBN13: 9781412942256
• ISBN10: 141294225X
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781452294315
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-12-14
• Publisher: Corwin Pr
• More Book Details

Summary

This comprehensive manual offers direction for every step of the thesis or dissertation process, from choosing an appropriate topic to adapting the finished work for publication.

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Authors

Getting Started

Selecting a Suitable Topic

Sources of Topics

Criteria for Topic Selection

Summary

Selecting a Chair and Committee

Criteria to Consider in Selecting a Chair

Composition and Role of the Committee

Research Prospective Committee Members

The Desirable Student

Summary

What You Need to Know

Quantitative Research Designs

Descriptive Research

Correlational Research

Causal-Comparative Research

Quasi-Experimental Research

Experimental Research

Theory Development

Summary

Basic Statistics

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics

Summary

Qualitative Research Designs

Phenomenological Research

Case Study Research

Ethnographic Research

Grounded Theory Research

Mixed Method Research

Summary

The Dissertation Chapters

Writing the Introduction Chapter

Background of the Study

Statement of the Problem

Purpose of the Study

Significance of the Study

Definition of Terms

Theoretical Framework

Models

Research Questions (or Hypotheses)

Limitations

Delimitations

Assumptions

Organization of the Study

Summary

Writing the Literature Review Chapter

Searching the Literature

Writing the Literature Review

Synthesizing the Literature

Summary

Writing the Methodology Chapter

Introduction

Selection of Participants

Instrumentation

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Summary

Conclusion

Writing the Results Chapter

Introduction

Descriptive Statistics

Testing the Research Questions (Hypotheses)

Additional Analyses

Summary

Conclusion

Writing the Discussion Chapter

Summary

Discussion

Implications for Practice

Recommendations for Further Research

Conclusions

Summary

The Defense and Afterward

The Proposal and Final Defense

Prepare a Well-Written Document

Know the Format

Prepare Your Presentation

Practice Your Presentation

Anticipate Questions

Final Oral Defense

Tips on How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Summary

Publishing Your Dissertation

Presentations

Job Interview

Academic Journals

Books

Chapters in Books

Popular Press

Internet Publishing

Desktop Publishing

Planning the Writing Process

Summary

Initial Letter to Participants

First Follow-up Letter to Participants

Second Follow-up Letter to Participants

Dissertation Proposal Outline (Correlational)

Dissertation Proposal Outline (Analysis of Variance)

Dissertation Proposal Outline (Multivariate Analysis of Variance)

Dissertation Proposal Outline (Qualitative)

The Qualitative Research Critique

Agreement: Guidelines for Chairing a Dissertation

Checklist for Dissertation Quality

References

Index

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