This is a guest article written by our colleague Dr. Steve Tippins from Beyond PhD Coaching.
Today we’re going to talk about writing your dissertation’s literature review. This is where you give the background of the literature showing the reader you understand where your topic came from. It’s also where you develop your gap in the literature, which gives you the basis for doing your study.
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The goal of any work of research is to add to the body of knowledge. When thinking about a research question, particularly for a thesis or dissertation, one of your first priorities will be to figure out where to first cast your critical net. The primary goal of this early work is to find a gap in the literature that interests you and seems ripe for further study.
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Embarking on your dissertation is equal parts exhilaration and trepidation. It’s finally your turn to stake out your territory in the body of knowledge and hone your expertise. Naturally, it’s a lot of work, the evidence of which is reflected in your dissertation chapters. These chapters, which comprise the bulk of your dissertation, offer a clear snapshot of your topic, the work that has already been done by other scholars in your field, gaps in the literature, complications, your approach, and more.
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While every part of a dissertation is important, some of the hardest sections to write occur at the beginning. Two early sections of the dissertation–or any scholarly project–are the abstract and the introduction. While there are some similarities between the two, the abstract and the introduction to a dissertation are distinct pieces of writing that require different approaches and perspectives.
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What’s in a name? When it’s the title of your dissertation, everything. Your dissertation title will be a permanent fixture on your CV throughout your career, so it’s a good idea to invest time and thought into it. There are many considerations when it comes to crafting a dissertation title, as well as missteps you’ll want to avoid. A solid dissertation title is a testament to your vision (and, likely, revision), and every scholar wants to get it right.
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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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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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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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