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THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE™ The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide™ 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. Want to become a coach?New MentorCoach Training Programs launching. Subscribe to our other ezines: INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A DISSERTATION
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE - February 1, 2007
4. Free workshop for women working on their dissertation
February 1, 2007
A Note from the Editor
Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
Colts and Bears--Super! Next stop, Miami!
Colts and Bears? Super what? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you are not a football fan.
On the other hand, if your pulse quickens as you recognize my reference to Super Bowl XLI, you probably fall somewhere between enthusiastic and rabid on the football fan continuum.
Although I'm talking this sports-fan talk as if I actually know what I'm talking about, I confess that I am something of a fair weather fan. I'll watch a game when friends entice me with tickets and a tailgating party. I'll wear the local team colors as appropriate when invited to a gala gathering of team supporters. I'll even join the true and faithful fans at home to view a game from a comfy sofa in front of a TV, as long as the coffee table is laden with lots of munchies. (Pass the nachos, please.) But even then, the game has got to be a good one to hold my interest.
Sometimes my attention strays a bit even when the game is great, as was the recent Colts' playoff game. (My condolences, Patriots.) In that game, my thoughts began to wander because--this is the truth--I began thinking of you, ABDSG readers. Yes, an exciting football game reminded me of the dissertation process, and the analogy is not as farfetched as it may sound. If you don't think you have much in common with football players, let me count the ways:
1) You are both struggling toward the goal, and there are numerous obstacles blocking your advance.
2) Sometimes you get tackled along the way by unavoidable circumstances, and your progress is temporarily thwarted.
3) When things seem to be going well again, you may unexpectedly fumble, producing a setback of your own making. Equally inimical to your progress is interference.
4) Just as you recover a fumble and resume your momentum, your committee may deliver a blitz, spoiling your game plan despite your best defense.
5) You may have to punt (i.e., give up an unsuccessful effort) and try again, with renewed spirit and unwavering determination, at the next opportunity.
6) As pressure mounts, you may decide on a time out to consult with a coach.
7) Whatever happens, you keep focused on completing your drive toward the goal, and you never give up.
See what I mean? You do have a lot in common with this weekend's Super Bowl contenders. However, one major difference is that unlike quarterbacks Peyton and Rex, an ABD cannot pass the ball to anyone else. It's all yours. But at the end of the game, the hard-won trophy will be all yours as well. Never doubt the final outcome. You have demonstrated your ability and your mettle in the past (reality check!), so you know you have the skills and determination to move ahead. This is your season! You're going, going, going all the way….Touchdown!
Inspirational Quotes
Vince Lombardi, one of the most successful coaches in the history of football, is an obvious choice for this issue's INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES:
It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up!
A dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.
---Vince Lombardi
If you would like to avoid a blitz from your advisor, Dr. Patricia Horan has some pointers on one very important phase of your game plan. Okay, okay--no more football talk--but do read Dr. Horan's very informative article, "What Your Advisor Wants to See in the Literature Review Section of Your Dissertation." Good stuff to know.
What Your Advisor Wants to See in the Literature Review
Section of Your Dissertation
by Patricia F. Horan, Ph.D.
As a dissertation advisor for over 20 years, I find that the most challenging section to write is the literature review. This is the section in which you take your readings and build a detailed, logical case for your proposed study. This is also the section that is the least well-defined.
Students know that they must incorporate the innumerable articles and books that they have read, but they are often confused about the format. They have read so much material that it is a daunting task to determine where and how to present the myriad references. The following steps are a general guideline for what your dissertation advisor and other committee members expect to read. However, before taking these steps, check with your advisor to verify their fit to your specific dissertation.
The literature review section should contain literature that supports your problem statement. The beginning of the literature review should elaborate on the themes discussed in the Introduction and Problem Statement chapter of your dissertation.
Let's outline the steps in the literature review:
1. Begin with an elaboration of broad, general issues/themes raised
in the Introduction and Problem Statement. These themes/variables are the
foundation for building the case that your study is an important contribution
to the literature.
a. The beginning of the Lit Review
does not generally have a subheading under the heading Literature Review.
b. Where the Introduction may spend
one to three sentences presenting a theme, your literature review should devote
approximately three paragraphs to three pages to the same theme. The point
is to examine each general theme/variable discussed in the Introduction
and Problem Statement in a comprehensive manner.
c. Include multiple relevant references
for each theme/variable.
2. Next, with appropriate subheadings, specifically discuss each of
the variables that are related to the Problem Statement you identified in
the Introduction and Problem Statement chapter.
a. Discuss each variable in turn.
b. Make sure you include many references
for each variable.
c. Include the following at the end of
the section for each variable:
i.
a summary of findings across references
ii.
your own general conclusions about the relevance of that variable for
your investigation
iii.
a lead into the next variable to be discussed
d. Place the variable(s) most relevant
to your investigation at the end of the discussion of specific variables.
e. If you are using an unusual format
for manipulating your data, include (in this variable section of your literature
review) how and why you will be analyzing your data in this manner.
i.
Address how this form of analysis will get at your problem statement.
ii.
Fewer references are needed here.
3. Finally, draw general conclusions about the relevance of all the variables for your investigation. You want to make your own statements regarding which variables your literature review identified as significant, as well as statements regarding how these variables may interact.
4. Use these general conclusions as a basis for your investigation, with a reminder of the contributions that your study will make. The goal is to impact the reader with the importance of your study and the fact that it is worthy of doing.
After completing these steps, you will have a comprehensive, well-organized, descriptive delineation of previous works. Your summaries of investigations related to each of the themes clarify the variables relevant to your study. Your statements of how each theme builds the case for your investigation provide the original analysis critical for a dissertation. Your advisor will thank you for delivering a well-argued background and justification of your research. A happy advisor goes a long way towards a satisfied student with the motivation to continue to write the next sections.
Pat Horan, Ph.D. was a faculty member at North Carolina State University for 20 years. She retired to pursue her love of coaching on a full time basis. In addition to working with ABD students, she is a life coach with a specialty in coaching clients with diabetes. She can be reached at phoran@nc.rr.com and (919)-469-2665. Sliding scale clients are accepted.
Free workshop for ABDSG readers
Take A Bite out of Discouragement!
A Telephone Group For Women Anywhere
To Provide Connection
Companionship And
Comeraderie
PREVIEW SESSION
February 5, 2007
12:00 p.m. EST
Four Registered Sessions in February and March
2/12/07, 2/19/07, 2/26/07 and 3/05/07
ALL to meet at 12:00p.m. EST
GROUP LEADERS:
YEHUDIT L. YOSEF, M.S.W., LIFE COACH
JERUSALEM
LYNNE BERRETT, M.S.W., LIFE COACH
NEW YORK
Come join us on a telephone bridge line for a free four-session group
we are offering to a small group of women living anywhere and feeling
isolated in their surroundings. This is a unique opportunity to make an enormous
positive difference in your life and the lives of others.
Completing the dissertation can be a lonely process. The stress of balancing
family, fiscal, and academic responsibilities can take a heavy toll on women
and their families. The purpose of our group is to bring together women from
all over the world for mutual support.
Be prepared: we like to use visualizations and playful exercises to
make the group dynamic and meaningful. We hope you will join us in
creating a safe place to build a new community!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
YEHUDIT AT:
yehudit@dynamicsolutionsforwomen.com
Dr. TRACY STEEN, Editor, ABDSG
Tracy Steen, Ph.D. , is a clinical psychologist and dissertation
coach in Philadelphia, PA. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan
and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in positive psychology at the University
of Pennsylvania. Dr. Steen draws on her research background in positive psychology
in her coaching work with writers, helping them to remove internal obstacles
so they can find more engagement and flow in their work. You can contact Dr.
Steen with questions about this newsletter or about coaching in general at
tracy@mentorcoach.com. You can
also visit her website at www.tracysteen.com
YOUR OWN COACH
If you are considering whether to get your own coach to help you
reach your academic goals, send any email to the following: ben16-76471@autocontactor.com
BEN DEAN, Publisher, ABDSG
Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
He began writing the ABDSG in 1997. Over the years, the ABDSG has provided
thousands of hours of pro bono coaching and teleworkshops to ABDs all over
the world. Ben is also the founder of MentorCoach (www.MentorCoach.com),
a virtual university focused on training accomplished helping professionals
to become extraordinary coaches. Finally you must subscribe to the Coaching
Toward Happiness eNewsletter! It's on applying the new science of
Positive Psychology to your work and life (131,000 readers). Ben lives in
suburban Maryland with his wife, Janice, their two children, and Norman, their
Norwegian dwarf bunny. They all love coaching from the beach!
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