000			06660nam a2200169Ia 4500
020			_a141294225X
082			_a001.42 _bLUN
100			_aLunenburg, Fred C.
245			_aWriting a successful thesis or dissertation : tips and strategies for students in the social and behavioral sciences
260			_aThousand Oaks _bCorwin Press _c2008
300			_axvii,333,ip.
500			_aCONTENTS Preface xi Acknowledgments xv About the Authors xvii PART I. GETTING STARTED 1. Selecting a Suitable Topic 2 Sources of Topics 3 Textbooks 4 Professional Journals 4 Dissertations 5 Theories 6 Current Employment 8 Existing Database 8 Criteria for Topic Selection 10 Interest 10 Significance 11 Available Data . 11 Knowledge and Skills 12 Manageability 13 Funding 13 Summary 15 2. Selecting a Chair and Committee 16 Criteria to Consider in Selecting a Chair 17 Expertise 17 Accessibility 17 Feedback 18 Success 18 Personality Styles 19 Attitudes Toward Methodology 19 Composition and Role of the Committee 20 Composition 20 Role 21 Research Prospective Committee Members 21 Your Own Experience 22 Other Students 22 Dissertations 22 Web Sites 23 The Desirable Student 23 Quality Product 23 Follow-Through 23 The Committee's Time 23 Personal Integrity 24 Polished Drafts 24 Summary 25 PART II. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 3. Quantitative Research Designs 28 Descriptive Research Design 30 Instrumentation 31 Data 32 Longitudinal Studies 32 Cross-Sectional Studies 33 Correlational Research Design 35 Bivariate Correlation 37 Regression and Prediction 38 Multiple Regression 39 Canonical Correlation 40 Discriminant Analysis 41 Factor Analysis 42 Path Analysis 42 Cross-Lagged Panel 44 Other Correlation Coefficients 45 Advantages and Disadvantages 45 Causal-Comparative Research Design 45 Weakness Controlled 46 Quasi-Experimental Research Design 49 Nonequivalent Control Group Design 49 Time Series Design 52 Experimental Research Design 54 Factorial Experiment 54 Theory Development 59 Summary 61 4. Basic Statistics 62 Descriptive Statistics 63 Measures of Central Tendency 63 Measures of Variability 64 The Normal Curve 65 Measures of Relative Position 65 Measures of Relationship 66 Inferential Statistics 67 The Null Hypothesis 68 Tests of Statistical Significance 69 Effect Size 69 Statistical Analysis 70 The t Test 70 One-Way Analysis of Variance 72 Post Hoc Procedures 73 Factorial Analysis of Variance 74 Analysis of Covariance 75 Multivariate Analysis of Variance 76 Nonparametric Tests 76 Chi Square 77 Other Nonparametric Tests 78 Multivariate Correlational Statistics 80 Multiple Regression 80 Discriminant Analysis 83 Canonical Correlation 83 Path Analysis 84 Factor Analysis 85 Structural Equation Modeling 86 Summary 87 5. Qualitative Research Designs 88 Phenomenological Research Design 89 Techniques/Approaches/Methods 90 Case Study Research Design 96 Ethnographic Research Design 99 Grounded Theory Research Design 102 Mixed Methods Research Design 106 Summary 109 PART III. THE DISSERTATION CHAPTERS 6. Writing the Introduction Chapter 112 Background of the Study 113 Statement of the Problem 114 Purpose of the Study 116 Significance of the Study 117 Definition of Terms 118 Theoretical Framework 122 Models 123 Research Questions (or Hypotheses) 126 Types of Research Questions 126 Specifying Research Hypotheses 127 Limitations 133 Delimitations 134 Assumptions 135 Organization of the Study 135 Summary 136 7. Writing the Literature Review Chapter 137 Searching the Literature 138 Handbooks and Encyclopedias 138 Annual Reviews 138 Review Articles 139 Abstracting and Indexing Services 139 Government Documents 140 Major Public Search Engines 141 Writing the Literature Review 142 Organize Your Material in a Funnel 143 Be Selective 144 Make an Outline 146 Write the Introduction 147 Use Headings 150 Use Transitions 150 Write a Summary 152 Be Careful Not to Plagiarize 153 Synthesizing the Literature 154 Historical Context 154 Gaps in the Literature 155 Different Approach 156 Trends and Themes 157 Reporting Practical Significance 158 Reconciling Conflicting Theories 159 Using Tables 160 Inconsistent Findings 162 Continuing Line of Inquiry 163 Summary 164 8. Writing the Methodology Chapter 165 Introduction 166 Selection of Participants 167 Who Participated in the Study? 167 Sampling Procedures 169 Selecting a Nonrandom Sample 174 Sampling in Qualitative Research 176 How Many Participated in the Study? 178 Instrumentation 180 Validity 181 Reliability 182 Locating Instruments 191 Qualitative Instrumentation 192 Data Collection 194 Data Analysis 200 Summary 204 Conclusion 204 9. Writing the Results Chapter 206 Introduction 209 Descriptive Statistics 210 Testing the Research Questions (or Hypotheses) 213 Assumptions of Statistical Tests 216 Clarity and Consistency 217 Tables 218 Figures 220 Presenting the Results of Qualitative Research 221 Additional Analyses 222 Summary 223 Conclusion 224 10. Writing the Discussion Chapter 225 Introduction 226 Summary of the Study 226 Discussion of the Findings 228 Guidelines to Structure Your Discussion Section 229 Sampling 230 Instrumentation 230 Research Design 230 Implications for Practice 236 Recommendations for Further Research 238 Conclusions 240 Summary 242 PART IV. THE DEFENSE AND AFTERWARD 11. The Proposal and Final Oral Defense 244 Prepare a Well-Written Document 245 Know the Format 245 Prepare Your Presentation 246 Practice Your Presentation 248 Anticipate Questions 248 Final Oral Defense 249 Tips for Avoiding Common Mistakes 251 Summary 253 12. Presenting and Publishing Your Dissertation 254 Presentations 254 Paper Presentation 255 Poster Session 260 Job Interview 261 Academic Journals 262 Select a Suitable Journal 263 Prepare the Manuscript 265 Submit the Manuscript 265 Books 266 Chapters in Books 269 Popular Press 269 Internet Publishing 269 Desktop Publishing 270 Planning the Writing Process 270 Summary 272 Appendix A: Initial Letter Soliciting Participation 273 Appendix B: First Follow-Up Letter 274 Appendix C: Second Follow-Up Letter 275 Appendix D: Dissertation Proposal Outline (Correlational) 276 Appendix E: Dissertation Proposal Outline (Analysis of Variance and Regression) 280 Appendix F: Dissertation Proposal Outline (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) 284 Appendix G: Dissertation Proposal Outline (Qualitative) 288 Appendix H: Qualitative Research Critique 293 Appendix I: Agreement: Guidelines for Chairing a Dissertation 295 Appendix J: Checklist for Dissertation Quality 299 References 305 Index 321
700			_aIrby, Beverly J.
890			_aCalifornia
891			_aDoctoral Programme (Ph.D.), CEPT Uni.
999			_c37832 _d37832