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Contents Preface 000 About the Authors 000 1. The Nature of Theses and Dissertations 000 Functions of Theses and Dissertations 000 Academic Disciplines 000 The Book?s Structure 000 STAGE I: PREPARING THE WAY 000 2. Sources of Guidance 000 Academic Advisors 000 Your Supervising Committee 000 Your Fellow Graduate Students 000 Experts Outside Your Department 000 You Yourself 000 The Professional Literature 000 Planning Checklist 000 3. Searching the Literature 000 Functions of Literature Reviews 000 Efficient Ways of Searching the Literature 000 Searching the World Wide Web 000 Errors of Judgment 000 Planning Checklist 000 STAGE II: CHOOSING AND DEFINING RESEARCH TOPICS 000 4. Sources and Types of Research Problems 000 Sources and Kinds of Problems 000 How to Distinguish a Good Topic from a Bad One 000 Planning Checklist 000 5. Building and Adapting Theories 000 The Need for a New Theory 000 Building a Classificatory Theory 000 Building an Explanatory Theory 000 Adapting and Revising Theories 000 Planning Checklist 000 6. Stating the Problem and Its Rationale 000 Stating Your Research Problem 000 Defining Key Terms 000 Providing a Rationale 000 Planning Checklist 000 STAGE III-A: COLLECTING INFORMATION 000 7. Types of Research Methods and Sources of Information 000 Specifying the Desired Data 000 General Research Methods 000 Matching Methods to Research Questions 000 Planning Checklist 000 8. Data Collection Techniques and Instruments 000 Observations 000 Content Analyses 000 Interviews 000 Questionnaires 000 Tests 000 Planning Checklist 000 9. Things That Go Wrong 000 Shattered Expectations 000 Uncooperative Participants 000 Negative Results 000 The Meaning of ?Enough Subjects? 000 Nothing Short of Perfect 000 STAGE III-B: ORGANIZING INFORMATION 000 10. Classification Patterns 000 Some Examples of Classification Schemes 000 Key Features of Classification Schemes 000 Planning Checklist 000 11. Summarizing Information Verbally, Numerically, Graphically 000 Narrative Summaries 000 Statistical Summaries 000 Tabular and Graphic Summaries 000 Planning Checklist 000 STAGE IV: INTERPRETING THE RESULTS 000 12. Modes of Interpretation 000 Meanings Denoted by Types of Guide Questions 000 Conclusion 000 Planning Checklist 000 STAGE V: PRESENTING THE FINISHED PRODUCT 000 13. Writing the Final Version 000 Fulfilling Requirements and Preferences 000 Creating a Readable Document 000 Planning Checklist 000 14. Mounting a Persuasive Defense 000 The Question of Validity 000 The Question of Significance 000 Who?s in Charge? 000 The Intrusive Advisor 000 Insisting on a Different Approach 000 Professorial Debates 000 Proper Proofreading 000 15. Reaching a Wider Audience 000 A Variety of Publishing Opportunities 000 Further Guides to Publishing 000 Planning Checklist 000 Appendix: Outline of a Dissertation Proposal 000 References 000 Index 000
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication:
Dissertations, Academic -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Report writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.