| Does anyone set out to write a bad dissertation? | | | | to the academic community as one that proves |
| It hardly seems possible. Most of us probably | | | | you right. What is not valuable at all is a |
| begin our doctoral programs convinced that the | | | | dissertation that's half-baked because it has only |
| ideas we put forth in our dissertations will change | | | | considered some of the available evidence, |
| the face of our disciplines forever! But after years | | | | arguments, and points of view. Don't stack the |
| spent reading hundreds of doctoral | | | | deck in your favor; read everything relevant to |
| dissertations--first as a grad student, then as a | | | | your topic, from every point of view. In the |
| professor, and now as a professional dissertation | | | | process, your ideas will mature. The end result will |
| editor and coach--I can't help but observe: There | | | | be a dissertation that has far greater depth--and |
| are a lot of bad dissertations out there! | | | | credibility. |
| Really great dissertations are pretty rare. They | | | | 6. Presume that if it's not in English or on the |
| require unique insight, groundbreaking research, | | | | Internet, it mustn't be important. |
| rigorous logic, and a touch of artistry. So I'm not | | | | Believe it or not, there's a reason for those |
| sure I could promise to tell you exactly how to | | | | language requirements that doctoral programs |
| make your dissertation great. But I've discovered | | | | impose on us. It's not just that smart people |
| that there are some common threads that run | | | | speak more than one language! The point is to |
| through most of the lousy dissertations I've read. | | | | open the door to valuable literature that is |
| So I thought I could share with you some of | | | | available--but not in English. Relying on English alone |
| what I've learned by reading bad doctoral | | | | means that some literature (and ideas) will be |
| dissertations. That way, if you'd like to write a | | | | completely unavailable to you, and other literature |
| bad dissertation of your own, you'd know how to | | | | will be available only through the interpretation of |
| go about doing it. Or better yet, if you'd like to | | | | a translator. It really is worth the effort to learn |
| write a good dissertation of your own, you'd have | | | | to read the languages in which your most |
| some idea of common pitfalls. | | | | important sources are written. Without them, |
| Here are ten common mistakes you should avoid | | | | your research is incomplete. |
| if you want your dissertation to be worthwhile. | | | | And read books . . . and articles! As lucky as we |
| 1. Surround yourself with like-minded people. | | | | are to have access to so many sources available |
| We all like to be right. And what better way to | | | | on the Internet, we can't forget that there's |
| convince yourself you're right than by being | | | | something print sources have that entirely |
| surrounded by people who agree with you? When | | | | Web-based sources do not: gatekeepers. For a |
| choosing a doctoral program, it's natural to | | | | book or an article to appear in print, someone |
| gravitate toward schools, departments, and | | | | (typically a group of scholars in the field) has |
| faculty who share our views--conservative or | | | | determined that it was worthwhile. They may not |
| liberal, this methodology or that one, a particular | | | | necessarily have agreed with its point of view, but |
| school of thought or perspective or approach. The | | | | they found that it met the standards of sound |
| good news is that, if you manage to surround | | | | methodology, rational argumentation, and |
| yourself with people who think just like you do, | | | | timeliness. On the Internet, anyone may publish |
| you'll encounter little resistance as you write. The | | | | anything at any time--making the quality of Web |
| bad news is that, when you've finished writing, | | | | sources dangerously uneven. Internet research is |
| your research will be much less likely to stand up | | | | here to stay, and that's a good thing. But there's |
| to serious challenge, since you've not had to | | | | no substitute for books and articles written by |
| grapple with opposing points of view along the | | | | reputable scholars in your field. Be sure that |
| way. In short, serious challenge has a way of | | | | Web-based sources do not constitute the bulk of |
| forging strong arguments, and the lack of it has a | | | | your bibliography, or you could find that you've |
| way of making thought go soft. Do yourself a | | | | left the mainstream without even realizing it and |
| favor: Seek out an environment that will provide | | | | stepped away from some of the most important |
| challenge while you're writing, and you'll find that | | | | resources available to you. |
| your dissertation is far better prepared for the | | | | 7. Let your assertions stand by force, not by |
| challenges it will face when UMI makes it available | | | | proof. |
| to the whole world that exists beyond your | | | | Spend enough hours listening to cable news and |
| university. | | | | you may start to get the impression that the goal |
| 2. Choose a topic that is only of interest to you. | | | | of debate is to win, and the way to win is to |
| It's a common joke that "No one knows as much | | | | outshout the other side! Being a geek by nature, I |
| as a freshman." In other words, part of the | | | | sometimes like to play little academic games |
| process of learning is learning how much we still | | | | when I watch T.V., and one of them is "count the |
| need to learn! When we set out to write our | | | | fallacies" in the arguments that T.V. pundits make: |
| dissertations, we're like freshmen starting out in | | | | ad hominem arguments, red herrings, |
| school--we don't yet know how much we don't | | | | non-sequiturs--they sometimes make for |
| know, because we've not yet had the chance to | | | | entertaining T.V., but they never result in a solid |
| explore fully what others have done. At this early | | | | argument. If your dissertation is going to |
| stage of the dissertation project, it's possible to | | | | withstand serious critique and make a contribution |
| convince ourselves that a topic is fascinating | | | | to your field, every assertion must be justified |
| when, in fact, that topic has become passe | | | | and every argument must be fallacy-free. |
| because of the treatment it has already received; | | | | 8. Turn in your first draft. |
| it's also possible to get occupied with questions | | | | The revision process is about polishing your work. |
| that are divorced from the real concerns in the | | | | Weak arguments get strengthened, fuzzy ideas |
| field at present. Two of the best sources for | | | | get clarified, redundancies get eliminated, language |
| ensuring that your dissertation topic is relevant | | | | gets tightened. If you're like most doctorandi, |
| and worthwhile are recent dissertations and | | | | you're always rushing toward the next deadline. |
| current periodicals. Immerse yourself in these | | | | When running out of time, the easiest thing to cut |
| resources at the beginning of your project. Even | | | | out is the revision process. Resist that temptation. |
| if you just read the titles, you'll be more likely to | | | | 9. Don't bother with input from others. |
| situate your work in the context of what other | | | | You've probably had only a course or two in |
| scholars are doing right now. | | | | statistics; why not let a professional statistician |
| 3. Keep the scope of your study broad and the | | | | help you with the statistical portions of your |
| terms vague. | | | | work? You may not be confident of your APA |
| Doctoral-level work requires examination of a | | | | formatting (or whatever style sheet you're using); |
| topic at great depth. And in this kind of research, | | | | why not let a professional editor proof your text? |
| the number one enemy of depth is breadth. An | | | | What about just having someone in your |
| essential key to writing a good dissertation is to | | | | department give you feedback on the cogency |
| have a clear and precise focus for your work. | | | | of your arguments? There's nothing like a fresh |
| Other interesting ideas will emerge along the way; | | | | set of eyes to catch the things that you're too |
| resist them--for now. When you've finished your | | | | close to see anymore. Staying well within the |
| dissertation, you can return to those other ideas | | | | bounds of academic integrity, don't be afraid to |
| for the articles and books you'll write in the next | | | | reach out for help with the aspects of your work |
| stage of your career. | | | | in which you're not an expert, so that the |
| 4. Don't constrain your creativity with an outline. | | | | expertise you do have is presented as effectively |
| For years, teachers have been telling you to | | | | as it can be. |
| outline your papers before you write. And for | | | | 10. Prove your point at all cost. |
| years you've probably been ignoring them. But | | | | What's wrong with being wrong? The process of |
| here you are, starting your doctorate--obviously, | | | | determining that fact will be a valuable contribution |
| it was advice you didn't need! Dissertation writing | | | | to your field. Academic work is a process of |
| is different. You're going to write hundreds of | | | | discovery, and sometimes that means discovering |
| pages over a period that may take years; it will | | | | that our initial hypotheses were wrong. The |
| be easy to get lost along the way, especially as | | | | honest presentation of the sound methodology |
| your ideas evolve. Planning ahead is the only way | | | | leading you to that conclusion will be worthwhile |
| to ensure that your dissertation will be focused, | | | | reading for your colleagues. Any effort to get |
| well-structured, and clearly argued; it's also the | | | | around the facts will show bias--the single |
| only way to ensure that it will ever end! A careful, | | | | greatest threat to a worthwhile dissertation. In |
| detailed outline is indispensable. You may amend it | | | | academia, there's no failure where there's genuine |
| as you progress with your research, but don't | | | | learning. By contrast, there's nothing but failure |
| omit it or abandon it. As a dissertation writer, the | | | | when points are "proven" by doctored results, |
| outline is your yellow brick road! | | | | ignored evidence, faked methodologies supplied |
| 5. Confine your bibliography to sources that | | | | after the research has actually been done, and |
| support your point of view. | | | | forced arguments designed to cover up the truth |
| Contrary to popular opinion, the purpose of a | | | | and arrive at a preferred conclusion. You can start |
| dissertation is not to prove a pre-determined | | | | your project with this confidence: If you carry out |
| point; it is to study a worthwhile question. After | | | | your research with integrity, follow a solid |
| all, if the answer can be determined before the | | | | methodology, consider all relevant points of view, |
| research is even done, then what's the value of | | | | and report honestly what you find, then whatever |
| the work? In the end, a dissertation that | | | | conclusion you reach will be worthwhile. And if you |
| disproves your initial hypothesis is just as valuable | | | | don't, it won't. |