|
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 no-cost ezines: Visit Ben Dean's Live Coaching Workshops in Dallas, Austin, St Louis & Detroit. INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A DISSERTATION
COACH? Email: ben16-76471@autocontractor.com. You will receive an email outlining the application process. Simply 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. A FAVOR ARCHIVE |
Devoted to providing practical strategies for completing
your Doctoral Dissertation.™
Be sure to place us on the white list or approved
list for your incoming email. To subscribe, go to www.abdsurvivalguide.com.
To unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this email. Please
forward this newsletter to your friends!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE - January 13, 2008
January 13, 2008
A Note from the Editor
Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
Happy New Year!
The "New Year" portion of this seasonal wish is going to come true for almost everyone. As long as you are still breathing on January 1 (a blessing in itself if you stop to think about it!) the New Year will arrive. About the only thing you get to decide is whether to have it with or without confetti.
The "Happy" portion of the New Year's wish has less of a guarantee. In fact, there is no guarantee at all. As Benjamin Franklin expressed in his typically pointed fashion, "The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
As the season of gift giving has just passed, it may occur to the ABD that happiness lies in receiving--receiving the Ph.D., of course. However, old Ben would probably issue a rather caustic though clever (as is his style) caution, because simply "receiving" a Ph.D. leaves out the entire "pursuing" aspect of happiness. Sigh. You really do have to catch that Ph.D. yourself, but what about happiness along the way?
This is your life you are living, and nothing should postpone happiness, particularly not while you are working on your dissertation. You are fortunate to be where you are, in the midst of a creative process that allows you to experience the thrill of achievement. Some might refer to it as the "joy" of achievement. And some call it happiness.
Not everyone gets to experience the fulfillment that comes with creative work. It's a privilege, but sometimes the difficulties inherent in the work overshadow the rewards and the enjoyment is lost. To maintain the joy, it is important to recognize your accomplishments daily. Savor the satisfactions and don't magnify the occasional setbacks; they are part of the process as well. It's a long road, but you are among the few privileged to make the trek.
Make it a Happy New Year based on day-by-day progress, because that is how we all get from here to there. It's the minor daily successes that add up to majors. And if you are into New Year's resolutions, may I suggest the January 21, 2007, Editor's Note from the ABDSG Archives. I lay out a method of breaking resolutions down into bite-size bits that can be readily accomplished to bring about the larger, more comprehensive goals. It has worked for my clients and for me as well.
Whatever approach you take to this New Year, there is historical evidence that you have what it takes to make it a good one. What historical evidence? you may ask. Why, your own history, of course. You would not now be in ABD status had you not persevered and proved yourself diligent and capable. Now all you have to do is more of the same (granted--much, much more of the same) and the finish line will get closer and closer.
If you would like to reach that finish line sooner rather than later, you may be interested in Dr. Darin Molnar's feature article about using secondary data sources. In addition, be sure to take note of this issue's Inspirational Quotes. I like the one that reminds us that no matter what we're doing, we're just playing one round, so let's make it a good one!
I think 2008 is going to be a great year!
Inspirational Quotes
Ben Hogan
As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only
get to play one round.
Unknown author
Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided
to look beyond the imperfections.
Theodore I. Ruben
Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction
that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded out best.
Safety Tips for the ABD Hunter-Gatherer: How to Capitalize on Secondary Data Sources to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Complete Your Dissertation on Time, and Create World Peace
Darin R. Molnar, PhD
You've survived the rigors of the proposal process, including the green light from your university's Human Subjects Review Board. You've borne the time and expense of delivering your officially approved survey to your chosen population. Naturally, people will be fascinated by your study and will respond immediately. In fact, you are confident that your response rate will be greater than any previously experienced in the annals of Western academic research.
The responses slowly trickle in over the course of several months. Sweat begins to bead on your forehead. After receiving a mere fraction of your expected results, you wake up one morning to the realization that your dissertation and your entire degree are at risk.
What now?
This is one of many challenging scenarios ABD doctoral students frequently face on the long and winding road to dissertation success. Financial considerations, time and access constraints, changes in dissertation committee composition--all these and more are fully capable of throwing a wrench into your smooth-running doctoral machine. Fortunately, a research resource is widely available to help you overcome unforeseen obstacles in record time: Secondary data sources.
Previously Owned Data
Secondary data sources typically offer complete data sets created, maintained, and distributed by researchers. These data sets come in a variety of types and formats, are available from a host of sources, and span a wide spectrum of costs from free (a very good price) to pricey (out of the typical ABD's budget). Both quantitative and qualitative data sets on subjects ranging from archaeology to zoology may be found on the Internet. A quick query using any Web-based search engine will return several fruitful links for the interested researcher.
Once you've decided a secondary data set is the way to go, sit down with your favorite beverage and a notepad to begin the exciting process of considering what this means to your dissertation study. Addressing several key questions will help you identify potential issues and data sets:
• What type of data set will best serve my study - quantitative or qualitative?
• What characteristics of the data set will help me create meaningful
outcomes?
• Will I have to alter my analysis approach or, heaven forbid, my topic?
• How much money am I willing to spend on a data set?
These are but a few of the questions you must carefully consider before settling on a data set. And this is just the beginning.
Know Your Topic and Your Data Set
You must know your dissertation topic--intimately. If you are at the point where you have decided to utilize a secondary data set, the more you know about the topic of your dissertation, the more successful you will be in finding a data set that fits your study goals.
Several factors can contribute to an ABD doctoral student not fully understanding the research ramifications of the topic he or she has chosen. For example, these factors could be related to the fact that a topic was "suggested" by an advisor and the student did not feel that he could choose a different one.
Another scenario might involve choosing a topic that struck one's fancy yet has not been fully explored (yes, this does happen), especially regarding the use of data collected by an instrument other than the student's first choice.
If you are not crystal clear on how the data you choose will serve your dissertation topic, you are in serious trouble before you even begin reworking your proposal. The type of data and, ultimately, the data set you choose will largely determine the statistical measures you feel are appropriate to address your research questions and hypotheses.
Along with this, you must be sure the coding of the data offers opportunities for accurate analysis. This will allow you to express your study outcomes in meaningful ways and serve to strengthen your final conclusions.
One Researcher's Story
As I navigated the stormy dissertation proposal seas, I was pleased to learn my topic was sound and that the organization from which I would collect my study data was committed to my success; the CEO had looked me in the eye and said so. My proposal was approved and I was ready to begin the data collection process. At that point, organizational access was summarily withdrawn. This left me with that frightening question: What now?
Once I settled down, I realized I had the luxury of enough time to change my topic and still finish the dissertation within university constraints. As I shifted my thinking, I realized choosing a secondary data set would be one of the keys to my study success.
I eventually came to understand that good fortune had smiled upon me because this development also presented the opportunity for me to do the dissertation I had originally wanted to do, not the one I thought I should do.
My new dissertation topic was centered on a leadership approach which stresses the importance of individual values. I had previously been introduced to the World Values Survey through Geert Hofstede's work. Upon further exploration, I discovered that the World Values Survey supplied demographic data sufficient for me to fine tune my final data set to include the values measurements of 3,230 working managers in 23 countries of Europe and the former Soviet Union. I was most definitely onto something.
Considering all this in light of the questions presented above:
• What type of data set will best serve my study -- quantitative or qualitative?