Providing Life Lines for ABD Students - Laureate … Life Lines for ABD Students ... the disease and note the similarities and ... causal-comparative research, ...

Providing Life Lines for ABD

Students

Marilyn K. Simon, Ph.D.

Jim Goes, Ph.D.

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Where are you in your doctoral program?

1. I am in a doctoral program and thinking about my dissertation.

2. I completed all my other course work and requirements and I am getting ready to start my dissertation.

3. I am knee deep into my dissertation and hope to finish at a reasonable time.

4. I have been ABD for a while and I am concerned about my progress.

5. I am thinking of starting a doctoral program and do not want to be ABD for a long time.

6. None of the above

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Research is not a linear path

Harburg, Ernest. (1966). Research Map. American Scientist, 54, 470. (Permission obtained)

Harburg, Ernest. (1966). Research Map. American Scientist, 54, 470.

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Being ABD means

• You have taken all the courses you need to take to earn a Ph.D.

• You have taken your Ph.D. qualifying exam or passed all requirements except the dissertation.

• You have successfully defended your dissertation proposal

• You probably feel you deserve a degree, but ABD is not a real degree offered by any university.

• You need to make it to the finish line and get that doctorate along with those initials.

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Being ABD Ph.D./Equivalent

• Can be Lonely

• Requires motivation

• Requires time management

• Requires support

• Requires dealing with the peaks and valleys of research

• Requires working effectively with your committee

• Requires several lifelines

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Keep in mind…

• You are intelligent enough to have come this far,

there is no reason to be ABD any longer than you

need to complete your work.

• You have already demonstrated that you can

deliver doctoral level work

• The longer you stay ABD, the more difficult it

becomes to move forward.

• There are wonderful rewards waiting for you when

you complete your dissertation and your doctoral

program.

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What do you need to move forward?

A) Better time management

B) Methodological support

C) Data Analysis support

D) Committee support

E) APA support

F) Stress Management

G) More hours in the day

H) A larger sample size

I)??

Lifeline: Time Management

• Time is a finite resource – allocate it intelligently

• Set a realistic date for DCD (Dissertation Completion Date).

• Acknowledge non dissertation related activities that need to be done in conjunction with your dissertation research.

• Set daily/weekly/monthly goals

• Keep a dissertation journal http://tinyurl.com/87b8dr2

• Re-evaluate what you can give up temporarily or permanently to create more time in your schedule.

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Remember your Rocks

• A science teacher asked students to fill a

Mason Jar with big rocks until full.

• Teacher has them add gravel until full.

• Teacher has them add sand until full.

• Teacher has them add water until full.

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Remember your Rocks

• Lesson: In our lives, we have big rocks, gravel,

sand and water. The natural tendency seems to

favor the latter three elements, leaving little space

for the big rocks.

• Make a list of your big rocks. Then make a plan to

ensure that your big rocks are put first. Block out

the time in your schedule for those activities.

Amazingly, the other stuff still gets done.

• Your dissertation is a big rock!

• Your rocks cannot be larger than your jar

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Lifeline: Choose the right methodology for you

• Take the test at http://tinyurl.com/6wmnchs

• Determine your research archetype.

– Conceptual Theorist

– Analytical Scientist

– Particular Humanist

– Conceptual Humanist

T: Choose from 1-4 (1 totally disagree - 4 totally agree)

• T: To truly understand the AIDS epidemic,

one must ascertain the truth about AIDS. A

researcher must look at the data, make

recommendations for further study based on

these findings, and not base conclusions on

information obtained through subjective

means or anecdotal stories that rely too

heavily on his or her personal feelings.(1-4)

• F: To truly understand the AIDS epidemic,

one must look at the individuals afflicted with

the disease and note the similarities and

differences that exist between those

tormented with AIDS. Recommendations for

further study should be based on the

immediate needs of those individuals as well

as how the researcher feels he or she could

best be personally involved. (1-4)

F: Choose from 1-4 (1 totally disagree - 4 totally agree)

• S: To deal with environmental problems, one

should look at the methods available and

determine the most practical way to solve

these problems now, and not spend the time

on some vague plan in the unspecified

future. (1-4)

S: Choose from 1-4 (1 totally disagree - 4 totally agree)

• I: To deal with environmental problems, one

should look at all the possibilities that exist

now and, more important, could exist and

take a broad, long-range view of the

situation. A quick fix to the problem should

be avoided. 1-4

I: Choose from 1-4 (1 totally disagree- 4 totally agree)

Survey Results

• T-value: ___

• F-value: ___

• I-value: ___

• S-value: ___

T+ I = Conceptual Theorist

T+ S = Analytical Scientist

F+ I = Conceptual Humanist

F+ S = Particular Humanist

More information at www.dissertationrecipes.com

Results

• Conceptual Theorist: Holistic and

imaginative; believes in TOE: correlational

studies, factor analyses, descriptive

research, Q-methodology, Delphi study.

• Analytical Scientist: Preference for

exactness, precision, and unambiguous

situations: experimental design, quasi-

experimental design, semiotics, trend

analysis, design-based research.

Results

• Particular Humanist: Humans are too complex to

study as a whole: case study, appreciative inquiry,

action research, semiology, phenomenology,

grounded theory, critical incident technique, and

hermeneutics.

• Conceptual Humanist: Knowledge exists to better

humanity: grounded theory, phenomenology,

evaluative case study, causal-comparative

research, historical research, appreciative inquiry,

content analysis, Delphi method.

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Lifeline: Data Analysis - Quantitative

• Familiarize yourself with the basics of Statistics – Triola, http://tinyurl.com/74jo5xh

• Consider obtaining a statistical coach: www.dissertationrecipes.com

• Analysis begins after all data are collected

• Deductive – theories/hypotheses are tested.

• Remember: the null is the “no” hypothesis – no relationship, no difference, nada.

• We always test the null to determine to either reject or fail to reject the null.

• Doing statistics means never having to say you are certain.

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Lifeline- Data Analysis- Qualitative

• Analysis begins after the first round of data collection and continues until saturation.

• Inductive analysis -- critical themes emerge out of the data.

• Consider qualitative software like Atlas ti or NVivo to help manage the data.

• Open Coding used to identify themes.

• Devise an audit trail to track data.

• Axial coding to link themes together.

• Translate to tell a story.

Questions?

• Questions on methods?

• Questions on data analyses?

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Lifeline: Problem Statement Creation

• Creating a viable problem statement is one of the most important and challenging components of scholarly research. – Ask yourself: What is wrong that needs correcting?

– What research can I do to solve part of a larger problem?

– What is the gap in the literature I could fill by solving this problem?

– What population is involved? How can I access that population?

– What methodology can I use to solve the problem framed?

– How will solving this problem be in accord with the university mission?

– DO Not confuse a problem with a purpose or research question.

– Most problem statements are between 200 and 250 words. Be precise and concise.

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Lifeline: APA Support

• Templates to assist with APA 6th formatting.

• Use Perrla (www.perla.com) and Grammarly (www.grammarly.com)

• Hire an APA/dissertation coach early on. Recommendations at www.dissertationrecipes.com

• Keep track of errors you make – there is no copyright on errors.

• Common errors: in-text citations; headings, spacing; font; tenses, grammar…

• Partner with a student-colleague to review each others work.

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Lifeline: Stress management

We can’t eliminate stress from our lives, but we can learn how to manage it.

•Prioritize. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete in order of their importance. Then, do the most important things first.

•Schedule yourself. Keep a schedule of all your appointments and commitments. Give yourself ample time for each appointment or project.

•Set deadlines. If you find yourself procrastinating, set a deadline for yourself. Post a reminder in a highly visible spot, such as your computer monitor.

•End clutter. Impose a little more order on your life, and you’ll save time. Keep your important documents in computer files – have a dissertation folder.

•Use a cloud back-up system like Carbonite or Dropbox.

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Lifeline: Stress management

• Communicate. If you do not have the information you need to speak up.

• Delegate. At work, if you have the power to delegate tasks, do so. At home, make sure everybody in the household has responsibilities. Even young children can be assigned simple tasks.

• Divide and conquer. Create smaller parts and setting mini-deadlines, you will make the project seem more manageable.

• Plan breaks. Take regular breaks to unwind.

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Lifeline: More hours in the day

• Unless you develop the power to bend the laws of space and time, there will only be 24 hours in your day.

• What you can do is bend the ways you use the hours you have.

• If you look hard enough, you can discover time you didn’t know you had.

• Perhaps you can get up 15 minutes earlier?

• Public transportation to work rather than drive?

• Audio books if you must drive?

• Put your favorite shows on a DVR or TiVo.

• Keep a book or article with you at all times if you get put on hold or have to wait on line for something.

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Lifeline: University Procedures

• Each university has its own special way they like things done. Find out what the expectations are for your dissertation. Speak to a recent graduate if possible.

• IRB – determines whether a study could bring any harm to the participants, the researcher, or the university at large. This affects the reputation of the university.

• Take each component of the application seriously. – You will need to describe in detail the methodology, data analysis,

sample selection, etc.

– Everything must be consistent and precise.

– All permissions need to be obtained prior to data collection.

– Be ready to explain why you are targeting a particular ethnic group (if that is your intent)?

– If you have questions, ask IRB in advance.

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Lifeline: Increase your n (sample size)

• One of the challenges in scholarly research is to have a large enough n (sample size).

• Some common ways to increase survey response: – Make the survey more interesting

– Keep it as short as possible and still get what you want

– Make sure the survey is readable and understandable

• Some not so common ways – Present survey at a meeting where targeted population is

present. Look and act professional.

– Create a web site where survey can be completed.

– Offer a token incentive, e.g. raffle ticket or small gift.

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Keep your eyes on the prize

• Benefits to your professional career

• New opportunities

• Increased job security

• Increased prestige

• Increase lifetime earnings

• Increase your credibility

• There is inherent respect for a person who undertakes and completes a rigorous course of study from a well-respected program.

• There is a ripple effect – you can advance positive social change by obtaining the highest level of education, becoming a social change agent yourself

Questions?

How can we assist you?

Contact us if you have any questions

• www.dissertationrecipes.com

• [email protected]

• [email protected]