Providing Life Lines for ABD Students

1. Providing Life Lines for ABD Students Marilyn K. Simon, Ph.D. Jim Goes, Ph.D.

2. Where are you in your doctoral program? • A) I am in a doctoral program and thinking about my dissertation. • B) I completed all my other course work and requirements and I am getting ready to start my dissertation. • C) I am knee deep into my dissertation and hope to finish at a reasonable time. • D) I have been ABD for a while and I am concerned about my progress. • E) I am thinking of starting a doctoral program and do not want to be ABD for a long time. • F) None of the above

3. Research is not a linear pathHarburg, Ernest. (1966). Research Map. American Scientist, 54, 470. Permission obtained Harburg, Ernest. (1966). Research Map. American Scientist, 54, 470.

4. Being ABD means • You have taken all the courses you need to take to earn a Ph.D.  • You have taken your Ph.D. qualifying exam or passed all requirements except the dissertation.  • You have successfully defended your dissertation proposal • You probably feel you deserve a degree, but ABD is not a real degree offered by any university. • You need to make it to the finish line and get that doctorate along with those initials.

5. Being ABD  Ph.D./Equivalent • Can be Lonely • Requires motivation • Requires time management • Requires support • Requires dealing with the peaks and valleys of research • Requires working effectively with your committee • Requires several lifelines

6. Remember • You are intelligent enough to have come this far, there is no reason to be ABD any longer than you need to. • The longer you stay ABD, the more difficult it becomes to move forward. • There are wonderful rewards waiting for you when you complete your dissertation and your doctoral program.

7. What do you need to move forward? • A) Better time management • B) Methodological support • C) Data Analysis support • D) Committee support • E) APA support • F) Stress Management • G) More hours in the day • H) A larger sample size • I)??

8. Lifeline: Time Management • Time is a finite Resource • Set a realistic date for DCD (Dissertation Completion Date). • Acknowledge non dissertation related activities that need to be done in conjunction with your dissertation research. • Set daily/weekly/monthly goals • Keep a dissertation journal http://tinyurl.com/87b8dr2 • Re-evaluate what you can give up temporarily or permanently to make more time in your schedule.

9. Remember your Rocks • A science teacher asked students to fill a Mason Jar with big rocks until full. • Teacher has them add gravel until full. • Teacher has them add sand until full. • Teacher has them add water until full.

10. Remember your Rocks • Lesson: In our lives, we have big rocks, gravel, sand and water. The natural tendency seems to favor the latter three elements, leaving little space for the big rocks. • Make a list of your big rocks. Then make a plan to ensure that your big rocks are put first. Block out the time in your schedule for those activities. Amazingly, the other stuff still gets done. • Your dissertation is a big rock! • Your Rocks cannot be larger than your jar

11. Lifeline: Choose the right methodology for you • Take the test at http://tinyurl.com/6wmnchs • Determine your research archetype. • Conceptual Theorist • Analytical Scientist • Particular Humanist • Conceptual Humanist

12. Conceptual Theorists • Holistic and Imaginative. • Prefers a testable framework with large scale correlation. • Many reasons why things happen that can be discerned. • Factor analyses, descriptive research, correlational studies, repertory grid analyses, Q-methodology, Delphi

13. Analytical Scientists • Prefers precision, exactness, unambiguous situations. • Experimental Design, Quasi-experimental Design, semiotics, trend analysis, regression-discontinuity design.

14. Particular Humanist • Prefers personal knowledge to rational knowledge. Believes humans are too complex to study as a whole. Believes you must be passionate about your study. • Case study, appreciative inquiry, grounded theory, phenomenology, Delphi Method.

15. Conceptual Humanist • Prefers holistic knowledge. Human behavior needs to be studied through many points of view. Constantly develop new approaches to study humans. • Grounded theory, phenomenology, grounded theory, evaluative case study, content analysis, Delphi Method

16. Lifeline: Data Analysis - Quantitative • Familiarize yourself with the basics of Statistics – Triola, http://tinyurl.com/74jo5xh • Consider obtaining a statistical coach: www.dissertationrecipes.com • Analysis begins after all data are collected • Deductive – theories/hypotheses are tested. • Remember: the null is the “no” hypothesis – no relationship, no difference, nada. • We always test the null to determine to either reject or fail to reject the null. • Doing statistics means never having to say you are certain.

17. Lifeline- Data Analysis- Qualitative • Analysis begins after the first round of data collection and continues until saturation. • Inductive analysis -- critical themes emerge out of the data. • Consider qualitative software like Atlast Ti or NVivo to help manage the data. • Open Coding used to identify themes. • Devise an audit trail to track data. • Axial coding to link themes together. • Translate to tell a story.

18. Lifeline: Problem Statement Creation • Creating a viable problem statement is one of the most important and challenging components of scholarly research. • Ask yourself: What is wrong that needs correcting? • What research can I do to solve part of a larger problem? • What is the gap in the literature I could fill by solving this problem? • What population is involved? How can I access that population? • What methodology can I use to solve the problem framed? • How will solving this problem be in accord with the university mission? • DO Not confuse a problem with a purpose or research question. • Most problem statements are between 200 and 250 words. Be precise and concise.

19. Lifeline: APA Support • Templates to assist with APA 6th formatting. • Perrla • Hire an APA/dissertation coach early on. • Keep track of errors you make – no copywrite on errors. • Common errors: in-text citations; headings, spacing; font; tenses… • Partner with a student-colleague to review each others work.

20. Lifeline: Stress management We can’t eliminate stress from our lives, but we can learn how to manage it. • oPrioritize. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete in order of their importance. Then, do the most important things first. • o   Schedule yourself. Keep a schedule of all your appointments and commitments. Give yourself ample time for each appointment or project. • o    Set deadlines. If you find yourself procrastinating, set a deadline for yourself. Post a reminder in a highly visible spot, such as your computer monitor. • o   End clutter. Impose a little more order on your life, and you’ll save time. Keep your important documents in computer files – have a dissertation folder. • O Use a cloud back-up system like Carbonite or Dropbox.

21. Lifeline: Stress management • o   Communicate. If you do not have the information you need to speak up. • o   Delegate. At work, if you have the power to delegate tasks, do so. At home, make sure everybody in the household has responsibilities. Even young children can be assigned simple tasks. • o   Divide and conquer. Create smaller parts and setting mini-deadlines, you will make the project seem more manageable. • o   Plan breaks. Take regular breaks to unwind.

22. Lifeline: More hours in the day • Unless you develop the power to bend the laws of space and time, there will only be 24 hours in your day. • What you can do is bend the ways you use the hours you have. • If you look hard enough, you can discover time you didn’t know you had. • Perhaps you can get up 15 minutes earlier? • Public transportation to work rather than drive? • Audio books if you must drive? • Put your favorite shows on a DVR or TiVo. • Keep a book or article with you at all times if you get put on hold or have to wait on line for something.

23. Lifeline: University Procedures • Each university has its own special way they like things done. Find out what the expectations are for your dissertation. Speak to a recent graduate if possible. • IRB – IRBs determine whether a study could bring any harm to the participants, the researcher, or the university at large. This affects the reputation of the university. • Make sure you take each component of the application seriously. • You will need to describe in detail the methodology, data analysis, sample selection, etc. • Everything must be consistent and precise. • All permissions need to be obtained prior to data collection. • Be ready to explain why you are

24. Lifeline: Increase your n (sample size) • One of the challenges in scholarly research is to have a large enough n (sample size). • Some common ways to increase survey response: • Make survey interesting • No longer than need be • Make sure the survey is readable • Some not so common ways • Present survey at a meeting where targeted population is present. • Create a web site where survey can be completed. • Provide a token incentive – raffle ticket small gift.

25. Remember the Benefits of obtaining a doctorate • Benefits to your career • New opportunities • Increased job security • Increased prestige • Increase Lifetime earnings • Increase your credibility • There is an inherent respect for a person who undertakes and completes a rigorous course of study from a well-respected program. •  There is a rippling affect – you will be more able to advance positive social change by obtaining the highest level of education.