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WRITING THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONBy Gordon Davis & Clyde Parker

PPT by Steven Pentland

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OVERVIEW

Systematic approach to writing Be Organized!

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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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CONGRATS DR. _________ !

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INTERMISSION…

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-21-2013/the-weakest-link---a-few-glitches