Dissertation DayChapter 3 – The methodChapter 4 – The resultChapter 5 – The discussion

Methods

•Re-introduce the problem •Provide overview of methodological approach• Identify research design (Justify)• Indicate the epistemology and theoretical perspective shaping the study•Define parameters of the study (who, what, where, when, how,)

Research Questions• Research Questions Basis for selection of the

research design and methods• State questions operationally• Are scores on the Dangerfield Self-Esteem

Inventory correlated with scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills? Does this vary by groups?

• Reminder: Mixed Methods must have both quantitative and qualitative research questions

Research Procedures

• Participants• Apparatus or Materials• Procedures• Data Analysis

Research Procedures• Introduce the epistemology guiding inquiry (Qual)• Explain theoretical perspective driving the

research and why selected (Qual)• Indicate design and why selected• How were sites, cases, and informants selected? • What verification procedures were used in the field?• Describe interview protocols, guides, rubrics used to

assist in data collection• Explain how you plan to manage your data• Explain how you plan to analyze and interpret

your data

Methods – don’t forget to…• Summarize potential risks to human participants

and how you will accommodate for that• Limitations and Delimitations

Chapter 4 Reporting findings

Organization• Assumptions/preliminary analyses• Research Questions – use them as organizers• When reporting findings, start with descriptive

and work towards conceptual

Presentation of Findings• Raw data ≠ Findings• Use exemplary quotes (sparingly)• Do not tell the reader; show the reader• 1st pass (open) coding, 2nd pass (axial) coding, 3rd pass,

etc. • Move from descriptive to conceptual• Use graphical displays when possible to demonstrate

hierarchy and relation

Verification (Validity)• Transparency – how are you establishing that

through reporting findings?• Thick description – how to you use that?• Triangulation – how can you give the reader

confidence in the integrity of your findings?

Maintain the integrity of the design• Grounded theory must result in a theory• Ethnography must be revelatory of a group/setting• Phenomenology but give insight into an event or

experience• Narrative inquiry must give insight into the lived

experience of a person/people

Embedded Unit

Embedded Unit

CONTEXT

CASE

CONTEXT

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)Single Case Designs Multiple Case Designs

Chapter 5It is not just a conclusion!• Must accomplish…• Locate findings in the literature (ch 2)• Locate findings in the problem (ch 1)• Implications of findings • …on theory• …on future research• …on practice• …on procedures• …on policy• …on people (e.g., teachers, students, policy makers,

faculty, higher education administrators, etc.)• End Strong!! Use declarative language