If you read my newsletter regularly (and you should, if I say so myself – my students tell me it’s pretty awesome), you’ll know I’m a big fan of support systems. Whether it’s apps and tools to make life easier, processes we put in place to optimize work, or people we rely on when we […]
Often during dissertation work, we struggle and try really hard to stop our minds from wandering away from our work. When reading something complex and dense, or trying to articulate complicated concepts in our writing, our brains want to focus just about anywhere else—on reading the news, on thinking about lunch, on wondering what our […]
The moral of the story you are about to read: When anxiety strikes, you need to work less to work smarter. I am so thrilled to be able to share this story, because when I first asked the student—let’s call her Anna—if she minded, I was about 50% sure I would not get consent. However, […]
Five experts you can hire to help with your dissertation. Feeling overwhelmed with your dissertation research? You’re not alone. Here’s a list of experts who can help ensure your manuscript is the best it can be. You’ve spent years working toward your degree, thinking about your ideal dissertation topic, and crafting the perfect problem statement. […]
The dissertation problem statement outlines the specific problem you hope to solve with your dissertation study. This may seem like a simple concept, but many dissertation students struggle to move from this definition to a fully fleshed-out section in Chapter 1. This post will walk you though some starting points: the reason for having a […]
Are you preparing to do qualitative coding for your dissertation? Coding is one of those research process that can (sometimes) be made easier with the use of Digital tools, such as coding software. Before you begin, determine whether you should opt for manual vs. software coding. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons […]
Similar to coding quantitative data, qualitative data coding can be used to extract engaging themes and theories from qualitative data. In this post, we’ll take a look at the importance of qualitative data in dissertation research, the various ways to code it, and how to determine the best approach to a data set. What Is […]
With so many conflicting demands, it can be difficult to keep your work-life balance in check while writing your dissertation. However, mastering this balancing act is crucial to your academic success both now and in the future. As one researcher on Twitter shared recently, stats gathered by the Welcome Trust in 2020 indicate that work-life […]
ABD, or “all but dissertation,” is a term used frequently in the US to designate a PhD student who has passed all qualifying degree elements except for the writing, presentation, and defense of the doctoral dissertation. For many students, ABD can stand as both an exciting milestone and a terrifying sinkhole. This is because ABD […]
You’ve done the research, analyzed the data, written the dissertation, and submitted it – now all that’s left is to complete your oral defense (also known as the viva voce, or just the viva). How on earth can you prepare to orally explain to a panel of experts what took you years to research and […]
