w riting the d octoral d issertation by gordon davis & clyde parker ppt by steven pentland 1
TRANSCRIPT
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DISSERTATION MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
# Tasks
1 Early selection of general area for dissertation research
2 Early selection of advisor and committee supportive of probable dissertation area
3 Course work designed to support probable dissertation area
4 Setting up of dissertation ideas file
5 Familiarity with library research tools available at my school in my area of interest
6 Familiarity with computer search tools available for my area of interest
7 Identification of several possible topics
8 Exploratory search of literature and prior research on possible topics
9 Preparation of several topic analyses10 Evaluation of topic with advisor
11 Selection of topic and preparation of a proposal
12 Refining of proposal until accepted
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Proposal defense (or committee review) to arrive at understanding that if research defined proposal is done in a scholarly way and written up in suitable dissertation form, it will be accepted
14 Preparation of time schedule15 Review of critical dates with advisor
16 Establishment of research log or journal and research document filing system
17 Establishment of backup file for all drafts of chapters
18 Use of communication/documentation methods
19 Use of aids to advisor/committee review of drafts
20 Journal articles(s) planned and outlined21 Defense Complete
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EARLY SELECTION OF GENERAL AREA FOR DISSERTATION RESEARCH
Pre-dissertation development Large and General
E.g. Mgmt student could select planning Early Investigation of Topic Area Attention to Research Skills in Area
E.g. methodology, experiment design, analysis type
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SELECTION OF ADVISOR AND COMMITTEE SUPPORTIVE OF DISSERTATION AREA Advisor
Supervises work Mentors and guides student Competent to advise on topic
Committee Can provide assistance planning and performing
research Diverse areas of knowledge (Complement advisor) Minor Advisor
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COURSE WORK DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROBABLE DISSERTATION AREA Select courses (minor) to support dissertation Use time in courses to support dissertation Build relationship with course instructors
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SETTING UP OF DISSERTATION IDEAS FILE Keep track of possible dissertation ideas Use journal or text document to note ideas Track publications that inspire ideas Organize journal periodically
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LIBRARY AND COMPUTER RESEARCH TOOLS Publication Search
www.library.arizona.edu (access to databases) www.scholar.google.com (link UA account to
Google) Publication Management
EndNote Mendeley Zotero
What other tools are useful?
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IDENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE TOPICS Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Topic
Research needed and interesting Theory base for research Amendable to research methods Achievable in reasonable time Symmetry of potential outcomes Match student capabilities and interest Attractive for funding Area for professional development
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IDENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE TOPICS CONT. Sources of Potential Topics
Current Events Past Dissertations Authorities in the Field Practitioners in a Field Generally Accepted but Unproved Suppositions Weakly Proved Assertions Theories and concepts without supporting
research Approaches to testing of important results
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EXPLORATORY SEARCH OF LITERATURE AND PRIOR RESEARCH ON POSSIBLE TOPICS Elements in a Search Strategy
List of key terms associated with research Reference databases
Utilize Doctoral Dissertations Research is current Extensive bibliographies http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/diss
ertations/
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UTILIZE MIS JOURNALS Information Systems Research Management Science Journal of Management Info. Systems Decision Sciences Communications of the ACM Decision Support Systems European Journal of Info. Systems ACM Transactions Journal of AIS Information Systems ACM Computing Surveys Journal of Information Systems Journal of Strategic Info. Systems Information and Management
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TOPIC ANALYSIS
Concise in order to analyze multiple idea Problem, Hypothesis, or Question Importance of Research Theory Base for Research Significant Prior Research Possible Research Approach or Methodology Potential Outcomes of Research and Importance
of Each
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DISSERTATION PROPOSAL
Expansion of topic analysis Sections
Summary Hypothesis, problems, or question Importance of topic Theory base for research Prior research on topic Research approach or research methodology Limitations and key assumptions Contributions to knowledge Description of proposed chapters in dissertation
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EVALUATION OF TOPIC WITH ADVISOR
Explore several ideas with advisor Select topic to pursue further Create initial proposal Review until scope and quality is suitable Iterative process to refine topic
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PREPARATION OF TIME SCHEDULE
RangeStandard Low High
Paper Length 225 100 450
Work Months From Formulation to Acceptance 15 11 22Breakdown: (Work Months) Topic Refinement 2 1 3
Search prior research in depth 1 1 3
Research and analysis activity 7 5 12Writing, editing, proofing 5 3 8
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PREPARATION OF TIME SCHEDULE
Topic Refinement 13%Search prior research in depth 7%
Research and analysis activity 47%Writing, editing, proofing 33%
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PREPARING THE TIME ESTIMATE
Refining of Dissertation Structure Further Search of Literature Research Activities – 1k to 5k work-hours
Preparing instrument for collecting data Obtaining subjects Testing data collection Collecting data Analyzing data
Writing, Editing, Rewriting, Proofing – Up to 4 hours per page
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ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH LOG AND RESEARCH DOCUMENT FILING SYSTEM
Record keeping is essential given the complexity and time period of a dissertation Keep diary or journal – work performed, decisions
made, suggestions from advisor or committee Organize by subsections Citation Organization Backup documents
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USE OF COMMUNICATION METHODS
Managing Up! Provide outlines and summaries with each batch
of materials the committee is asked to read Provide written notes of meetings Provide action agendas for meetings Provide written responses and progress reports
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DISSERTATION DEFENSE
Panel – advisor, committee, & outside academics
Prepare short presentation – problem, current research, methodology, results, contribution of dissertation
Be prepared to discuss limitations Determine work needed for approval and
work for future research
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JOURNAL ARTICLE(S) PLANNED AND OUTLINED
Good opportunity to bring attention to your work
Plan for journals during the dissertation process
Condense into publication suitable for journal
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INTERMISSION…
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-21-2013/the-weakest-link---a-few-glitches