Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation

Randy L. Joyner is an adjunct professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. He is retired from the Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education of East Carolina University, where he directed or served as committee member for 25 dissertations. Furthermore, he has served as a doctoral committee member at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia; and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. He has received several awards for his research: the Delta Pi Epsilon doctoral research award, the Omicron Tau Theta Iota Chapter Research Award, and the Delta Pi Epsilon Alpha Chapter Research Award. The results of his research have been published in numerous national and international journals.William A. Rouse Jr. is the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Affairs in the College of Education, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. He was a public school teacher and a secondary school principal prior to joining the faculty at East Carolina University. He has worked with several school districts’ administrators to refocus their efforts on effective school leadership practices that result in a dynamic teaching and learning environment. He has also worked with a school district to redesign large comprehensive high schools into smaller learning communities resulting in increased student academic performance. In 2004, he coauthored the Outstanding Paper delivered at the Delta Pi Epsilon National Research Conference; his research has been published in national refereed journals.Allan A. Glatthorn (1924–2007) was a major contributor to the third and fourth editions; his research used in the preparation of the first and second editions of Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation: A Step-by-Step Guide was the foundation for the third edition. He was the Distinguished Research Professor of Education (Emeritus) in the College of Education of East Carolina University, where he advised doctoral students, chaired dissertations, and taught courses in supervision and curriculum. He was formerly Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his university assignments, he was a high school teacher and principal. In his work as a professor, he chaired close to 100 dissertations. He is the author of numerous professional books, several of which have been published by Corwin.

Dr. Joyner and Dr. Rouse have again put together an in-depth, comprehensive, and practical guide that is a valuable resource for graduate students. In addition to the excellent information provided in earlier editions, this edition also includes important information related to current and emerging trends in technology and valuable case studies focusing on the most common problems encountered in writing at the master’s and doctoral levels. If you are embarking on a thesis or dissertation, use this most valuable of resources to avoid the pitfalls inherent in the process.

• List of ExhibitsPrefaceAbout the AuthorsPublisher’s AcknowledgmentsPart I: The FoundationsChapter 1. Groundwork for Theses and DissertationsDissertation’s Special NatureSecuring the Needed ResourcesThesis and Dissertation Key DifferencesChapter 2. The Thesis or Doctoral CommitteeRoles and Responsibilities of the CommitteeThe Dynamics of the CommitteePreventing Problems With the CommitteeDealing With Committee ProblemsSolving Personal Problems With the DissertationChapter 3. The Degree-Granting Institution’s RequirementsDegree Completion Time LinesStylesSpecific University Guidelines or RequirementsChapter 4. The Institutional Review BoardKnowledge Requirements (Training)IRB ResourcesCertification Time FrameCase Study I: Selecting Members of the Doctoral CommitteeForming the Committee/Selecting Committee MembersPoints to PonderPart II: Research Problem DevelopmentChapter 5. The Research ProblemMake a Personal Assessment of TopicsReflect and DiscussFix on the Research Topic and Research ProblemChapter 6. The Focused Review of the LiteratureReorganize Your FilesRetrieve All Related AbstractsEvaluate the ResultsCheck for Prior DissertationsRetrieve the Full Texts of the Most Useful SourcesUse Primary SourcesDevelop an Annotated BibliographyChapter 7. Comprehensive Critique of the LiteratureMaintain Good Research Practices Throughout the SearchDevelop a Focused Outline of the SearchEstablish Parameters for the SearchConduct a Comprehensive SearchCritique All Sources RetrievedChapter 8. Focused Review of Available Methodologies for Data Collection and AnalysesQuantitative and Qualitative PerspectivesResearch TypesResearch MethodsMake Preliminary ChoicesChapter 9. Selected MethodologyThe Research Design: Its General NatureThe Research Design: Type-Specific IssuesDevelop Your Research DesignCase Study II: Selecting/Developing a Research TopicDeveloping a Research TopicPoints to PonderPart III: The Prospectus PreparationChapter 10. The Work PlanDevelop a Planning ChartMake the Tentative EntriesChapter 11. The Prospectus OverviewPeer CollaborationWeighing the Advantages and DisadvantagesStructuring the CollaborativeFormalize the Structure and Request Adviser ApprovalHelp the Group Remain ProductiveChapter 12. The Doctoral Committee and the ProspectusDeveloping the Prospectus and Organizing the CommitteeProspectus RationaleProspectus DevelopmentCommittee SelectionCommittee DynamicsDeveloping the Proposal: Writing Chapter 1Developing the Proposal: Writing Chapter 2Developing the Proposal: Writing Chapter 3Developing the Proposal: The ReferencesDeveloping the Proposal: The AppendicesChapter 13. The Prospectus DefenseCoordinate Committee Schedules: Date and TimePrepare for the Proposal DefensePresent the Proposal DefenseFacilitiesDeal With Other Defense IssuesCommittee RequirementsPostproposal StepsCase Study III: Developing the Research ProposalThe Research ProposalPoints to PonderPart IV: The DissertationChapter 14. The Communication Process and the Writing of the DissertationCommunicate Periodically With the ChairEnsure Access to the Research SiteAvoid Premature Data CollectionDevelop a Detailed Planning CalendarChange the Schedule as NeededPrevent Problems With the InterventionUse Computers MindfullyEnsure a High Rate of Return on SurveysMaintain Careful and Duplicate RecordsChapter 15. Academic StyleRecommended Style GuideThe Writing ProcessThe Academic StyleWriting SoftwareChapter 16. The Dissertation OrganizationHow Are Dissertations Organized?What Principles Govern the Organization of Individual Chapters?How Can the Organization Be Made Clear to the Reader?How Is the Dissertation Finally Packaged?Chapter 17. The IntroductionIntroduction to the ChapterThe Background of the StudyThe Problem StatementThe Professional Significance of the StudyOverview of MethodologyLimitations and DelimitationsDefinition of TermsChapter 18. Review of the LiteratureComprehensive Critique of the LiteratureReread All SourcesDevelop the Final OutlineLevels of HeadingsWrite the Introductory ParagraphFirst Section of the ReviewThe Remaining Sections, Including a SummaryChapter 19. MethodologyPrepare to WriteUse an Objective Writing StyleDetermine the Chapter ContentOutline the Chapter and Use Headings AppropriatelyDescribe the Study’s ContextIdentify the Subjects or ParticipantsIdentify the Data Collection InstrumentsExplain the Research Design ProceduresExplain the Data Analysis/Analyses Procedure(s)Write a SummaryChapter 20. Data Analysis/AnalysesPrepare to Present the ResultsDecide on the Contents and Format of the ChapterDetermine the Organization of the ChapterDevelop the Tables and FiguresWrite the Introductory ParagraphWrite the First SectionWrite the Remaining Sections, Using Appropriate HeadingsRevise the Chapter and Submit for ReviewChapter 21. The Results DiscussionReview the Results ReportedDevelop an Outline of the Final ChapterWrite the Introductory ParagraphRestate the Problem and Review the MethodologySummarize the ResultsDiscuss the Meaning of the StudyCase Study IV: Writing the DissertationThe DissertationPoints to PonderPart V: The Dissertation DefenseChapter 22. Defense Committee MeetingPlanningSecure Needed ResourcesEdit the DissertationCheck on Content and OrderWrite the AbstractWrite the Title and Approval PagesWrite the Acknowledgments PageWrite the Table of Contents and Lists of Tables and FiguresInclude the ChaptersFinalize the ReferencesFinalize Any AppendicesSubmit the DissertationHolding the DefenseAfter Your PresentationAfter the DefenseInstitutional Review Board Completion RequirementsChapter 23. The Degree-Granting Institution’s Graduation RequirementsHandbooks: A Source of InformationGraduation RequirementsChapter 24. The Publication of the DissertationAdd to the Research Knowledge BasePresent a Scholarly PaperPublish a Journal ArticleDevelop a Plan to Publish a BookCase Study V: Defending the DissertationThe Dissertation Defense HearingPoints to PonderPart VI: TechnologyChapter 25. Technology and the DissertationUniversity Research LibrariansSoftwareSoftware CapabilitiesCreating ChartsCreating Figures and TablesCollecting and Analyzing DataNumbering PagesEditing the StyleEditing the ContentTelecommunicatingSoftware CompatibilityFormattingPackaging the Final DissertationReferencesIndex