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| Preface and Acknowledgments | |
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| About the Authors | |
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| Establishing the Foundations | |
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| Laying the Groundwork for the Thesis and Dissertation | |
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| Understanding the Special Nature of the Dissertation | |
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| Making Ethical Choices With Respect to the Dissertation | |
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| Securing the Needed Resources | |
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| Understanding the Key Differences Between the Thesis and the Dissertation | |
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| A Look Ahead | |
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| Finding a Research Problem | |
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| Make a Personal Assessment of Topics | |
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| Conduct a Broad Scan of the Literature | |
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| Reflect and Discuss | |
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| Fix on the Research Topic and Research Problem | |
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| Conducting a Focused Review of the Literature | |
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| Reorganize Your Files | |
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| Retrieve All Related Abstracts | |
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| Evaluate the Results | |
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| Retrieve the Full Texts of the Most Useful Sources | |
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| Use Primary Sources | |
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| Develop an Annotated Bibliography | |
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| A Concluding Note | |
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| Making a Preliminary Choice of Methodology | |
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| Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives | |
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| Research Types | |
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| Research Methods | |
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| Make Preliminary Choices | |
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| Organizing and Scheduling Your Work | |
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| Develop a Planning Chart | |
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| Make the Tentative Entries | |
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| Developing the Prospectus and Organizing the Committee | |
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| A Rationale for the Prospectus | |
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| Developing the Prospectus | |
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| Choosing and Organizing the Committee | |
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| Using Peer Collaboration | |
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| Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages | |
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| Structuring the Collaboration | |
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| Prepare for Comprehensive Examinations | |
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| Formalize the Structure and Request Adviser Approval | |
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| Help the Group Remain Productive | |
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| Using Technology | |
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| The History of Technology and the Dissertation | |
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| Preparing Yourself | |
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| Word Processing | |
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| Spreadsheets | |
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| Data Bases | |
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| Reference Formatting | |
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| Information Retrieval | |
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| Cautions in Using the Technology | |
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| Learning From the Pre-Proposal Conference | |
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| Schedule the Conference | |
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| Examine the Research Problem | |
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| Examine the Methodology | |
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| Review Your Schedule | |
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| Determine the Nature of the Proposal | |
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| Follow Up on the Conference | |
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| Developing and Defending the Proposal | |
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| Conducting a Comprehensive Critique of the Literature | |
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| Maintain Good Research Practices Throughout the Search | |
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| Develop an Outline for the Search | |
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| Establish Parameters for the Search | |
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| Conduct a Comprehensive Search | |
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| Critique All Sources Retrieved | |
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| A Concluding Note | |
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| Detailing the Methodology | |
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| The Research Design: Its General Nature | |
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| The Research Design: Type-Specific Issues | |
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| Develop Your Research Design | |
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| Developing and Defending the Proposal | |
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| Develop the Proposal: The Big Picture | |
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| Develop the Proposal: Writing Chapter 1 | |
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| Develop the Proposal: Writing Chapter 2 | |
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| Develop the Proposal: Writing Chapter 3 | |
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| Develop the Proposal: The Appendix | |
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| Hold the Proposal Defense | |
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| Researching and Writing the Thesis or Dissertation | |
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| Carrying Out the Research Design | |
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| Communicate Periodically With the Chair | |
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| Ensure Access to the Research Site | |
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| Avoid Premature Data Collection | |
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| Develop a Detailed Planning Calendar | |
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| Change the Schedule as Needed | |
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| Prevent Problems With the Intervention | |
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| Use Computers Mindfully | |
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| Ensure a High Rate of Return on Surveys | |
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| Maintain Careful and Duplicate Records | |
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| Mastering the Academic Style | |
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| Follow the Recommended Style Guide | |
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| Use the Writing Process | |
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| Master the Academic Style | |
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| Organizing the Dissertation | |
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| How Are Dissertations Organized? | |
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| What Principles Govern the Organization of Individual Chapters? | |
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| How Can the Organization be Made Clear to the Reader? | |
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| How Is the Dissertation Finally Packaged? | |
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| Writing the Introductory Chapter | |
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| Introduction to the Chapter | |
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| The Background of the Study | |
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| The Problem Statement | |
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| The Professional Significance of the Study | |
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| Overview of Methodology | |
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| Delimitations and Definitions | |
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| Writing the Review of the Literature | |
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| Update the Comprehensive Critique of the Literature | |
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| Reread All Sources | |
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| Develop the Final Outline | |
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| Use Levels of Headings That Reflect the Outline | |
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| Write the Introductory Paragraph | |
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| Write the First Section of the Review | |
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| Write the Remaining Sections, Including a Summary | |
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| Some Specific Reminders | |
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| Evaluate and Revise | |
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| Explaining the Methodology | |
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| Prepare to Write the Chapter | |
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| Use an Objective Style in Writing the Chapter | |
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| Determine the Content of the Chapter | |
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| Outline the Chapter and Use Headings Appropriately | |
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| Describe the Context for the Study | |
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| Identify the Subjects or Participants | |
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| Identify the Instruments Used to Collect Data | |
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| Explain the Procedures in Carrying Out the Design | |
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| Explain How the Data Were Analyzed | |
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| Write a Summary | |
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| Presenting the Results | |
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| Prepare to Present the Results | |
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| Decide on the Contents and Format of the Chapter | |
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| Determine the Organization of the Chapter | |
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| Develop the Tables and Figures | |
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| Write the Introductory Paragraph | |
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| Write the Remaining Sections, Using Appropriate Headings | |
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| Revise the Chapter and Submit It for Review | |
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| Write the First Section | |
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| Summarizing and Discussing the Results | |
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| Review the Results Reported | |
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| Develop an Outline of the Final Chapter | |
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| Write the Introductory Paragraph | |
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| Restate the Problem and Review the Methodology | |
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| Summarize the Results | |
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| Discuss the Meaning of the Study | |
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| Preparing the Dissertation for Defense | |
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| Secure the Needed Resources | |
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| Edit the Dissertation | |
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| Check on Content and Order | |
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| Write the Abstract | |
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| Write the Title and Approval Pages | |
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| Write the Acknowledgment Page | |
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| Write the Table of Contents and Lists of Tables and Figures | |
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| Include the Chapters | |
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| List the References | |
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| Include Any Appendices | |
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| Submit the Dissertation | |
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| Defending and Profiting From the Dissertation | |
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| Holding a Successful Defense | |
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| Prepare for the Defense | |
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| Hold the Defense | |
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| After Your Presentation | |
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| Publishing From the Thesis or Dissertation | |
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| Add to the Research Knowledge Base | |
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| Present a Scholarly Paper | |
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| Publish a Journal Article | |
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| Develop a Plan to Publish a Book | |
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| Solving Problems Throughout the Dissertation Process | |
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| Solving Problems With the Committee | |
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| Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee | |
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| The Dynamics of the Committee | |
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| Preventing Problems With the Committee | |
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| Dealing With Committee Problems | |
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| Solving Personal Problems With the Dissertation | |
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| Problems Near the End of Course Work | |
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| Problems at the End of Course Work | |
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| Problems After the Proposal | |
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| Problems After the Defense | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |