Category Archives: PhD

Dissertation Made Easy –27– Getting Through To Non-Communicating Chair

Many doctoral candidates share the common complaint of committee members not responding to their attempts of contact. That can be tough and cause great setbacks and costly delays. If your goal is to be a Doctoral Candidate, by all means just deal with it. If your goal is to soon be DR. ____ then you need to take action to… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –26– Getting With The Right Group

Sometimes people get involved in work groups without fully exploring what they are seeking and comparing that to what the group can and will offer. This is another instance where something as great as dissertation camaraderie can be detrimental to your progress. The first thing you need to know about a group you want to form or join is its… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –21– Getting To Candidacy

When you get started with your coursework it’s tough to know where to go and how to start. Where as in undergrad courses are often offered a few times per year, by the time you get to doctorate level it’s definitely not like that. You will find that many course that you need are offered only once per year. To… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –18– Getting Out of Revision Junction

Lately I’m hearing a lot about the struggles of students stuck in eternal revision junction. Generally if you are having trouble getting your work approved by your committee there is something that is missing. Nine out of ten times it’s a gap in communication. Either they don’t get your ideas or you don’t get their instructions. Sit down and hash… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –17– The Waiting Game

Waiting is one of the most nerve wracking and potentially time consuming parts of the dissertation journey. You hurry to get your document in and now have to wait for someone to get back to you. The first thing you need to do to help you through this part is know your school’s policy. Most institutions allow faculty two weeks… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –16– Narrowing Down to The research Question

Most people start off with a general idea of what they want to study but nothing concrete. Wanting to do some big save the world project that encompasses everything under and above the sun the ideas seem to get broader instead of narrower. There is one very easy starting step to coming to your research question- What do you want… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –15– Not Neglecting Family & Friends

If you are a doctoral Candidate or even if you are still in classes and have not risen to candidacy yet, there is no doubt that you are busy. If you are working at the time that complicates matters even more. Since you don’t get additional hours in your day spending time with family and friends which doesn’t come with… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –13– Quantitative or Qualitative?

Study design is a very important component of the dissertation journey. The decision between qualitative and quantitative can be challenging but it does not need to be. The question that students ask often is which is easier. The answer is: Both and Neither. They both had the potential to be as easy as they can be a nightmare. A quantitative… (more…)

Dissertation Made Easy –11– Conquering Your Lit Review

Getting through the literature review is half the dissertation battle. If you work smart you’ll get it done in no time.

Dissertation Made Easy -10- Getting Started With A Topic

Many students struggle with getting started on their dissertation because they want to study EVERY topic- Pick one now and get to the others after gradation.