The Group Dissertation
by Kathleen
Kralik, Ph.D.
===================================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
Devoted to practical steps for completing
your doctoral dissertation.
www.ecoach.com
=======================================================
To subscribe, visit www.ecoach.com
INDEX
1. Ben's Note
2. The Group Dissertation by Kathleen Kralik, Ph.D.
3. Words of WisdomSUMMARY
In this issue, Kathleen Kralik, Ph.D. shares some
ideas for creating a supportive group to help
you complete your dissertation.We round it out with Words of Wisdom.
<> ===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>
Ben's NoteJune 26, 2003
Dear ABD Survival Guide Reader,
Wow- can you believe June is almost over?
I know many of our (former) readers looked
great in their caps, hoods, and gowns, as
they graduated and completed their doctoral
programs over the last month.I'd like to welcome all our new subscribers
and let you know that I'm glad you've joined
us.I, and my staff here at the ABDSG, look forward
to helping you complete your dissertation
as soon as possible- not just for the
satisfaction of it, though this is wonderful-
but, also, because we look forward to seeing
how good *YOU* look in *YOUR* cap, hood, and gown.In this issue, Kathleen Kralik, Ph.D. shares
some tips for using supportive groups to help
you complete your dissertation.We round it out with Words of Wisdom.
See you in two weeks.
Warmly,
Ben======================================================
PROPOSAL: The Group Dissertation
By Kathleen M. Kralik, Ph.D.
======================================================It's been awhile since I did my dissertation; the
nightmares continue and I wake up relieved that it's
" ...really over. I never have to do that again
unless I want to--which I don't!"My contemporaries and I were typical grad students in
that we had been high achievers while the structure
was still there (i.e. in classes). But when it was on
our shoulders to work independently, everything else
was more fun. Needless to say, not much got done; but we
had a great time and enjoyed each other's company.My faculty advisor for my thesis was a true slave driver/
task master, who had weekly meetings with those of us doing
research with him. It scared us to death; but if we had a
deadline, we did all we could to avoid the "wrath of Khan"
so to speak.Long after I left, my former program, which also had
problems getting people to finish Masters theses and third
year candidacy exams, reportedly started standardizing the
process by keeping the group on-task. A set date
was established by which all were expected to take the
candidacy exam.It would go against all kinds of grad school traditions
and probably defeat some of the purposes of the dissertation
project (e.g. as rite of passage; experience with seeing an
entire project through fairly independently, from start to
finish) to make it a structured class assignment. Not
practical, either, for those who may be doing the dissertation
at a distance.Wouldn't it be great to combine the positive aspects of each of
these approaches: social support; accountability, and a shared
timeline?Building on the recent suggestion by Deah Curry, Ph.D.,
in this newsletter (http://www.ecoach.com/News/032003.htm,
I offer the following:
1)Dissertation groups can be formed--established informally
by the students themselves; but structured sufficiently so that
everyone functions like a team. The group meetings are a
priority;
and everyone has a task due each meeting (No excuses!).
Individuals at the same place in the thesis or dissertation
process (regardless of where they are in the academic program)
can constitute the group.2)The accountability to one's peers--those who have
proverbially "been through the fire" with us--may be the most
critical aspect of such a group process. Ideally, group members
would like and respect each other; criticism would be
constructive and focus on problem-solving rather than on shooting
down ideas or taking out frustrations on each other.3)Alternatively, students in the same class can be in the
same group; with a group for each classsupporting each other
in the process of narrowing down a research. The pace is such
that everyone tries to finish tasks, as much as possible, on the
same time line.4)Another idea would be for a student association of sorts to
have regular (frequent) meetings open to all students at
different
levels in the process. Even new grad students (with high hopes)
can begin attending, seeing the struggles of the peers ahead of
them in the process; learning from their mistakes and providing
(like any good support group) a yard stick for those
further along in the process to see how far they have come.5)Students could have a more formal venue for bartering
services--doing what is typically done among friends anyway--
without so much anxiety. Students who enjoy and are better at
some tasks can do those for self and others (e.g. data
collection);
while those with skills elsewhere (e.g. data analysis) could do
what they enjoy and do easily and well.6)Students at a distance (e.g. on internships, etc.) can take
turns sponsoring "telephone bridge groups" wherein a line is
rented,
to which all call in at a designated time (I learned this at
Ben's
coaching workshop!) and hold each other accountable as mutual
coaches
to provide support, a sounding board, brainstorming, or whatever
it
takes to keep the process of each and every one of them "on
track".Hindsight is 20-20, as they (Who?) say. I wish my peers and I
had
thought of this "back in the day". Hopefully, others can learn
from
negative examples as well as positive examples!=======================================================
About Kathleen M. Kralik, Ph. D.
=======================================================
Kathy Kralik is a private practice clinical psychologist,
speaker, author, and coach who believes it is unwise to
reveal her graduate university, since writing this article.
She has a private practice in Arkansas.She can be reached:
By email: Kittydalin@aol.com.
=======================================
Words of Wisdom from New Ph.D.'s.
=======================================
**I think the biggest difference between people who
finish and people who don't is the support system.
For me, I stayed on campus and came in every day.
I rarely worked from home. I know that doesn't or can't
work for everybody, but part of being on campus meant
that I could find other students (even the few other
ABDs) to commiserate with, find faculty to help when
needed, and generally be part of the academic
life. I could see other people making progress
and get encouragement more readily than if I'd been
sitting home alone with my cats and my computer.**...the writing process is a long one and involves many
layers. What you start out with will be transformed and
may look very different in the final version. The only
way to get to the final version is to keep writing,
step away and let your ego drip out and then return to
the writing.===================
Your Own Coach
===================
If you are considering whether to get your own coach
to help you reach your academic goals, send any email
to: ben16-76471@autocontactor.com
=============================
BEN DEAN, Publisher, ABDSG
===============================
Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of
Texas at Austin. He is the founder of MentorCoach
(www.MentorCoach.com), a virtual university
training accomplished mental health professionals
to become extraordinary coaches. With
Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Ben is also the founder of
Authentic Happiness Coaching
(www.AuthenticHappinessCoaching.com), a virtual
university training educators, consultants, trainers,
therapists, parents and other professionals to apply
the principles of Authentic Happiness in their own
lives and in the lives of their clients, students, and
children. Ben lives in suburban Maryland with
his wife and two young children, Walnut, their
hamster, and Rubin, their cocker spaniel.
==================================
RACHNA D. JAIN, Editor, ABDSG
==================================
I'm a dissertation coach and licensed psychologist
based in Maryland, with a doctorate from the
University of Denver. I'm the Editor of the
ABDSG, as well as the Author of "Get It Done!
A Coach's Guide to Dissertation Success"
If you'd like to learn more about me or my book, please
visit my website: www.ExcelWithEaseCoaching.com
If you have questions about this newsletter, you
can direct them to me: rachna@mentorcoach.com
I'm excited to be working with you to meet your academic
goals. You can do it!
================================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
================================================
" The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide"(tm) focuses
on ways to help its readers more readily overcome the
roadblocks that often seem to stand in the way of
completing the dissertation. It is read throughout the
world.
=======================
VIRTUAL ABD ASSISTANCE
=======================
Would you like a "virtual assistant" who did whatever you
needed to help you move forward on your scholarly work or
on other parts of your life. If you'd like to learn more
about how a virtual assistant could help you, contact the two
that Ben works with: Cathy Anway or Sunny Bain. Both are
conscientious, skillful, and extraordinarily competent.
Cathy Anway can be at Cathy@mentorcoach and Sunny Bain can
be reached at sunny@mentorcoach.com
===============================================
INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A DISSERTATION COACH?
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
=================================================
Email ben16-76471@autocontactor.com
You'll receive an email outlining the application process,
follow the instructions and submit the form. Your application
will then be forwarded to potential coaches so that you might
arrange a free, initial consultation.
Various fee plans are available.
ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
=====================
First, congratulations!!!! Yeaaaaaa!!!!
Second, please send any email to: FreeAtLast@mentorcoach.com
Within seconds, you'll receive a note from Ben.
A FAVOR
------------
There are more than a million graduate students in the US alone.
Although we have subscribers worldwide, we have barely scratched
the surface. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it
with your endorsement to your friends, ABD list servers,
sympathetic faculty and administration, and, editors of print
publications (who will have our full permission to reprint these
newsletters- for free--if they wish).
ARCHIVE
-------------
Past issues of this newsletter are available at
http://www.ecoach.com/.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------
If you've received this copy from a friend or colleague and would
like your own subscription, you can sign up for it directly at
http://www.mentorcoach.com/abd/subscribe.htm
If you would like to have your name removed from the subscription
list, please unsubscribe at
http://www.mentorcoach.com/abd/subscribe.htm
CONTACT INFORMATION
----------------------------------
Ben J. Dean, Ph.D
MentorCoach(tm)
Voice: 301-986-5688
Fax: 301-913-9447
Web: www.ecoach.com/
Web: www.mentorcoach.com
(c) Copyright 2003 Ben J. Dean. All rights reserved.
Rachna Jain, Ph.D.
mailto:rachna@mentorcoach.com
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
---------------------------------
The above material is copyrighted, but you may retransmit
or distribute it to whomever you wish as long as not a single
word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact
information. However, you may not copy it to a web site.
Reprint permission will be freely granted, upon request, to
student newspapers, universities, and other non-profit
educational organizations. In addition, advance written
permission must be obtained for any reprinting of this
material in modified or altered form.