Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process / Edition 4

by Kjell Erik Rudestam, Rae R. Newton

Overview

In the fully updated Fourth Edition of their best-selling guide, Surviving Your Dissertation, Kjell Erik Rudestam and Rae R. Newton answer questions concerning every stage of the dissertation process, including selecting a suitable topic, conducting a literature review, developing a research question, understanding the role of theory, selecting an appropriate methodology and research design, analyzing data, and interpreting and presenting results. In addition, this must-have guide covers topics that other dissertation guides often miss, such as the many types of quantitative and qualitative research models available, the principles of good scholarly writing, how to work with committees, how to meet IRB and ethical standards, and how to overcome task and emotional blocks. With plenty of current examples, the new edition features an expanded discussion of online research, data collection and analysis, and the use of data archives, as well as expanded coverage of qualitative methods and added information on mixed methods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452260976
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/13/2014
Edition description:	Fourth Edition
Pages:	376
Sales rank:	238,365
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Kjell Erik Rudestam is Professor of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, where he served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for many years. He was previously a psychology professor at York University, Toronto, and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, after receiving his Ph D in Psychology (Clinical) from the University of Oregon. He is the author of Your Statistical Consultant: Answers to Your Data Analysis Questions, 2nd edition (also with Rae R. Newton), Handbook of Online Learning, 2nd edition (with Judith Schoenholtz-Read), and eight other books, as well as numerous articles in professional journals on topics including suicide, psychotherapy, and family and organizational systems. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 12), a Diplomate of the American Board of Examiners in Professional
Psychology (Clinical), a Diplomate of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Science from The Professional School of Psychology.

Rae R. Newton is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. He recently joined the faculty of the School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University where he serves as a research consultant and statistical advisor to doctoral students and faculty. He received his Ph D in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed postdoctoral training in mental health measurement at Indiana University. His primary interests include longitudinal modeling of outcomes for high risk youth and foster care populations, family violence and statistics education. He is author, with Kjell Erik Rudestam, of Your Statistical Consultant: Answers to Your Data Analysis Questions, now in its second edition and numerous articles in professional journals on topics including family violence, child maltreatment, and measurement. In semi-retirement he enjoys traveling with his wife in their RV and surfing throughout Mexico and Central America.

Table of Contents

Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1: The Research Process
Chapter 2: Selecting a Suitable Topic
Chapter 3: Methods of Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
PART II: Working with the Content: The Dissertation Chapters
Chapter 4: Literature Review and Statement of the Problem
Chapter 5: The Method Chapter: Describing Your Research Plan
Chapter 6: Presenting the Results of Quantitative Studies
Chapter 7: Presenting the Results of Qualitative Research
Chapter 8: Discussion
PART III: Working with Process: What You Need to Know to Make the Dissertation Easier
Chapter 9: Overcoming Barriers: Becoming an Expert While Controlling Your Own Destiny
Chapter 10: Writing
Chapter 11: How to Complete Your Dissertation Using Online Data Access and Collection
Chapter 12: Guidelines for the Presentation of Numbers in the Dissertation
Chapter 13: Informed Consent and Other Ethical Concerns

Editorial Reviews

[S]traightforward, well-written, concise and not too cumbersome….gets to the root of what students need to know. I like the detailed explanations and examples for writing each section of the dissertation.…The text explains and gives examples of how to write the methodology and the results. I also think the student suggestions are very helpful.”

Kaye Pepper

The title is wonderful and attention getting. It’s practical and consistent with the title in terms of compliance with requirements while seeking the path of least resistance toward completion of a quality product.”

Bernie Kerr

This text provides a broad coverage, focused approach for dissertation, balanced approach between quantitative and qualitative designs, and excellent examples.”

Udaya R. Wagle

The text is well organized.…It includes chapters on the presentation of both quantitative and qualitative results which are particularly welcome in Ph D programs that value paradigmatic diversity and do not expect students to conform to the assumptions of a single paradigm such as positivism.”

Karin Klenke

I wish this text was available when I was working on my dissertation as it would have demystified the process greatly!”

Anne J. Hacker

"[S]traightforward, well-written, concise and not too cumbersome....gets to the root of what students need to know. I like the detailed explanations and examples for writing each section of the dissertation....The text explains and gives examples of how to write the methodology and the results. I also think the student suggestions are very helpful."

--Kaye Pepper, University of Mississippi

"I wish this text was available when I was working on my dissertation as it would have demystified the process greatly!"

--Anne J. Hacker, Walden University

"The text is well organized....It includes chapters on the presentation of both quantitative and qualitative results which are particularly welcome in PhD programs that value paradigmatic diversity and do not expect students to conform to the assumptions of a single paradigm such as positivism."

--Karin Klenke, Leadership Development Institute (LDI) International

"The title is wonderful and attention getting. It's practical and consistent with the title in terms of compliance with requirements while seeking the path of least resistance toward completion of a quality product."

--Bernie Kerr, Central Michigan University

"This text provides a broad coverage, focused approach for dissertation, balanced approach between quantitative and qualitative designs, and excellent examples."

--Udaya R. Wagle, Western Michigan University

From the Publisher

The Ph.D dissertation is the rock against which many graduate break and spin into years or even decades as ABD's. Psychologist Rudestam, now Dean at the Fielding Institute, and sociologist Newton (California State U.-Fullerton) distill insights from helping their own students and hearing the stories of others into a guide through the often murky requirements and goals, focusing on students in the social sciences. It is not, they warn, a substitute for courses and texts on research methods or statistics. The first edition appeared nearly a decade ago. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"In nearly each chapter the authors list 'suggestions from students' to provide some relief in the whole process. For the scholar practitioner, the ease with which the whole process is explained will reduce the stress, and yet result in a high standard of research in dissertations. This book is helpful for both the mentor and mentee in Ph.D. or Ed.D. program. "

The School Administrator - Jerry Horgen

"This book was my bible going through my dissertation. The authors’ clarity of writing and comprehensive thought allowed me to easily take the principles off the pages and put them into practice. I highly recommend it!"

Dennis S. Reina

"A must for anyone considering graduate school. While the entire book is extremely helpful, the author's frequent use of charts, tables, lists and questions is an especially effective method to organize and summarize information. This book is also a worthwhile resource for those crafting and writing a thesis or dissertation... a practical and well-designed work that I highly recommend. "

NACADA Journal - Ellen Nagy

"The authors write from the position of the ideal mentor, presenting the issues doctoral students would like their chairpersons to discuss with them, yet rarely have done. Additionally, the student perspective is integrated into the text through numerous examples from a wide range of disciplines."

The Library Quarterly - Marilyn M. Irwin

"A must for anyone considering graduate school. While the entire book is extremely helpful, the author's frequent use of charts, tables, lists and questions is an especially effective method to organize and summarize information. This book is also a worthwhile resource for those crafting and writing a thesis or dissertation... a practical and well-designed work that I highly recommend. "— Ellen Nagy

NACADA Journal

"The authors write from the position of the ideal mentor, presenting the issues doctoral students would like their chairpersons to discuss with them, yet rarely have done. Additionally, the student perspective is integrated into the text through numerous examples from a wide range of disciplines." — Marilyn M. Irwin

The Library Quarterly

"In nearly each chapter the authors list 'suggestions from students' to provide some relief in the whole process. For the scholar practitioner, the ease with which the whole process is explained will reduce the stress, and yet result in a high standard of research in dissertations. This book is helpful for both the mentor and mentee in Ph.D. or Ed.D. program. "— Jerry Horgen

The School Administrator