Managing Your Dissertation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

About This Presentation
Title:

Managing Your Dissertation

Description:

Someone whose ground rules you can live with. Ground Rules. Division of labor. ... Don't be arrogant or presumptive. Know your dissertation. Be confident and poised. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:181
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 24
Provided by: Wer76
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Managing Your Dissertation


1
Managing Your Dissertation
  • Steve Werner
  • Department of Management
  • University of Houston

2
Overview
  • Critical Early Choices
  • Working with the Committee
  • The Proposal
  • The Proposal Defense
  • The Research
  • The Defense
  • The Paper

3
Critical Early Choices
  • The Chair
  • The Committee
  • The Topic

4
Choosing the Chair
  • Someone you can work with.
  • Someone who can help you.
  • Averting disaster.

5
Someone You Can Work With
  • Someone youve worked with in the past.
  • Someone you respect.
  • Someone you like.
  • Someone who compliments your personality.
  • Someone who supports your goals.
  • Someone whose ground rules you can live with.

6
Ground Rules
  • Division of labor.
  • Level of involvement.
  • Schedules.
  • Turnaround time.
  • Length.
  • Publications.
  • Expectations.

7
Someone Who Can Help You
  • Someone who knows the field.
  • Someone who knows research methods.
  • Someone who can publish.
  • Someone who can help you get a job.
  • Someone who can control the committee.

8
Averting Disaster
  • Know the policies.
  • Avoid the untenured.
  • Avoid the malcontents.
  • Avoid the roamers.
  • Avoid surprises.

9
Choosing the Committee
  • Give input to the chair.
  • Faculty who can help.
  • Keep the committee balanced.
  • Faculty who can work together.
  • Faculty who you can work with.
  • Faculty who can be supportive.
  • Faculty who can be controlled.

10
Choosing the Topic
  • Work with the chair.
  • Work with committee members who can help.
  • Choose something you are interested in.
  • Dont choose something your are overly
    emotionally invested in.
  • Is it manageable?
  • Avoid dead-end topics.

11
Working with the Committee
  • Do what they say.
  • Follow policies.
  • Be enthusiastic
  • Be honest.
  • Be independent.
  • Be disciplined.

12
The Proposal
  • Know the policies.
  • Know the expectations.
  • Get buy-in from all.
  • Ask for permission to defend.

13
The Proposal Defense
  • Make it easy for everyone.
  • Be professional.
  • Listen, acknowledge and use comments.
  • Dont dig in.
  • Defer to the chair.

14
The Research
  • Be structured.
  • Be efficient.
  • Be focused.
  • Be motivated.
  • Be professional.

15
Be Structured
  • Create a time line with plenty of padding.
  • Follow policies.
  • Follow the ground rules.
  • Break it up into manageable parts.
  • Get something done every day.

16
Be Efficient
  • Do what they said to do.
  • Work how, when, and where you work best.
  • Procrastinate by working on other parts.
  • Back up everything regularly.
  • Only include what is relevant.

17
Be Focused
  • Prioritize the dissertation as first.
  • Dont take a job without finishing.
  • Take mental health breaks when deserved.
  • Keep stress under control.
  • Catch self-destructive behavior before its too
    late.

18
Be Motivated
  • Go to conferences and talk with others.
  • Discuss your work with non-academics.
  • Use expectancy theory.
  • Use reinforcement theory.

19
Be Professional
  • Do not give the committee working drafts to read.
  • Be loyal.
  • Be politically astute.
  • Be respectful.

20
The Defense
  • Get buy-in from all.
  • Ask for permission to defend.
  • Know the expectations.
  • Expect revisions.
  • Dont be arrogant or presumptive.
  • Know your dissertation.
  • Be confident and poised.
  • Rehearse

21
The Paper
  • Learn from job talks.
  • Start right away.
  • Dont expect much help.
  • Keep good notes.
  • Get help on the revision.

22
Conclusion
  • Critical Early Choices
  • Working with the Committee
  • The Proposal
  • The Proposal Defense
  • The Research
  • The Defense
  • The Paper
  • Celebrate

23
References
  • Ahern, K., Manathunga, C. 2004.
    Clutch-Starting Stalled Research Students,
    Innovative Higher Education., 28 237-254.
  • Carlin, D.B., Perlmutter, D.D. 2006. Advising
    the New Advisor, Chronicle of Higher Education,
    September 8.
  • Mendenhall, M. 1983. Overcoming Obstacles in
    the Dissertation Requirement Advice to the
    Doctoral Candidate, Teaching of Psychology, 10
    210-212.
  • Messner, M.A. 2005. Besides, I Just Dont Like
    You, Chronicle of Higher Ed., May 20.
  • Perlmutter, D.D. 2006. Betrayed by Your Advisor,
    Chronicle of Higher Ed., February 24.
  • Schiff, F., Ryan, M. 1996. Ethical Problems
    and Advising Theses and Dissertations,
    Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
    23-35.
  • Spillett, M.A., Moisiewicz, K.A. Cheerleader,
    Coach, Counselor, Critic Support and Challenge
    Roles of the Dissertation Advisor, College
    Student Journal, 38 246-256.
  • Tanner, M.W. Great Expectations Tips for a
    Successful Working Relationship with your Thesis
    Advisor, College Student Journal 635-644.
  • Wesley, P. 2006. Review Blasts Professors for
    Plagiarism by Graduate Students, Chronicle of
    Higher Education, June 16 13.
  • Wisker, G. 2005. The Good Supervisor. New York,
    NY Palgrave MacMillan.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com