Thesis or Dissertation Process

The Dissertation Defense: The Final Hoop to Jump

Published: 15 April 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Thesis and Dissertation Survival, Thesis or Dissertation Process
Tags: dissertation defense

You are almost there. You have completed your coursework. You have passed your comps. You have finished writing your dissertation. Now, the only obstacle between you and the prestigious title of Doctor is your dissertation defense. Many people often get really nervous about defending their dissertations, but in most cases, if your committee is allowing you to defend your dissertation, chances are that your committee will approve of your work.

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What is a Research Proposal?

Published: 5 October 2012
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Thesis and Dissertation Survival, Thesis or Dissertation Process
Tags: research proposal, research proposals, what is research proposal

If you have never written a research proposal before, you might be wondering why it is an important and necessary part of the dissertation process. This is your first chance to present your thesis or dissertation ideas in written form to your professors and committee members and to demonstrate to them that you have organized your research around a set of clearly defined research questions about a specific topic. After…

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Collecting Dissertation Data

Published: 5 October 2012
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Thesis and Dissertation Survival, Thesis or Dissertation Process
Tags: dissertation data

Once you have successfully defended your dissertation proposal and have had your study approved by your university’s institutional review board, you are ready to start collecting data for your study. There are many data collection methods, but how you ultimately choose to collect data will depend on the design of your study. Below are some common methods of collecting dissertation data and the types of projects for which these methods…

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Choosing Your Team: Selecting a Chair and Academic Committee

Published: 5 October 2012
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Thesis and Dissertation Survival, Thesis or Dissertation Process
Tags: academic committee, faculty chair

To receive graduate degrees, graduate students will likely be required to write dissertations or theses under the direction of faculty chairs or advisors and to present that work to an academic committee who decide whether or not the students pass examination and qualify for graduation. Typically, graduate students are allowed to choose their own chairs and committee members. Committee members and chairs play an important role in the success of…

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