One of the biggest decisions that you’ll make when researching and writing your dissertation is about the theoretical foundation of your research project (also sometimes referred to as the “theoretical framework”).
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“Threats to Validity” – sounds serious, right? It is, but have no fear. As with most parts of your dissertation, the threats to validity section is a small puzzle piece in the bigger picture of your dissertation project. Though it may seem mysterious–and a little dire–the threats to validity section is a normal part of any quantitative study, and one that is easily managed once it is broken down to its essential parts. To do that, we’ll start with the basics.
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A dissertation is a complex document with many moving parts. Several theories and concepts are likely to inform the argument you make in your dissertation, which will draw on many ideas to support the viability of your hypothesis. The conceptual framework is an essential part of your dissertation, one that will shape the focus of your research.
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For most graduate students, the dissertation proposal is a huge milestone on the journey to completing a doctorate. The proposal serves as an in-depth exploration of the question that is the driving force of your research. Writing the proposal offers an opportunity to expand upon the initial ideas explored in the dissertation prospectus at length, and also to set the stage for the research you’ll be completing in your dissertation project.
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For most doctoral candidates, the dissertation defense is the light at the end of the tunnel, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. After years of hard work and sacrifice, a matter of hours stands between you and the title you will hold for the rest of your life. By this point in your doctoral journey, the path ahead should be clear, right? Not so fast.
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Writing a dissertation is an emotional journey as well as a scholarly one. Thousands of people have navigated the treacherous path of the doctoral student and chronicled their journey.
But these aren’t the old days of lengthy journal entries (plus, who wants to write more after they’ve forced themselves to write all day?). This is 2020, and today, we make memes.
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While your dissertation is the star of show, there are many other documents that play small but pivotal roles in your quest for a Ph.D. One of the first that you’ll encounter once you’ve completed your coursework is the dissertation prospectus. It’s a deceptively difficult document to craft, and it sets the tone for your entire doctoral project. The stakes are high, but you can ace the prospectus by planning well and keeping these questions in mind:
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The Purpose of the Study is perhaps the single most important sentence in your dissertation. In conjunction with the Problem Statement, it guides the focus of your research. Your research questions, methodology, and data analysis are all guided by the purpose of the study.
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The road to earning a Ph.D. is long and arduous, but you probably didn’t walk it alone. Though writing a dissertation can feel like a solitary pursuit, when you look back on it you’ll see there are many people who supported you along the way. The dissertation acknowledgements page is a great place to thank those who helped you on your Ph.D. journey. Here are some people you may want to include.
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When thinking about the realities of graduate school, one topic that looms large in the mind of every doctoral student is the dissertation. A dissertation is a complex document that elicits many burning questions, both from doctoral candidates and those outside of academia:
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