Managing Your Dissertation

1
Managing Your Dissertation

• Steve Werner
• Department of Management
• University of Houston

2
Overview

• Critical Early Choices
• Working with the Committee
• The Proposal
• The Proposal Defense
• The Research
• The Defense
• The Paper

3
Critical Early Choices

• The Chair
• The Committee
• The Topic

4
Choosing the Chair

• Someone you can work with.
• Someone who can help you.
• Averting disaster.

5
Someone You Can Work With

• Someone youve worked with in the past.
• Someone you respect.
• Someone you like.
• Someone who compliments your personality.
• Someone who supports your goals.
• Someone whose ground rules you can live with.

6
Ground Rules

• Division of labor.
• Level of involvement.
• Schedules.
• Turnaround time.
• Length.
• Publications.
• Expectations.

7
Someone Who Can Help You

• Someone who knows the field.
• Someone who knows research methods.
• Someone who can publish.
• Someone who can help you get a job.
• Someone who can control the committee.

8
Averting Disaster

• Know the policies.
• Avoid the untenured.
• Avoid the malcontents.
• Avoid the roamers.
• Avoid surprises.

9
Choosing the Committee

• Give input to the chair.
• Faculty who can help.
• Keep the committee balanced.
• Faculty who can work together.
• Faculty who you can work with.
• Faculty who can be supportive.
• Faculty who can be controlled.

10
Choosing the Topic

• Work with the chair.
• Work with committee members who can help.
• Choose something you are interested in.
• Dont choose something your are overly
  emotionally invested in.
• Is it manageable?
• Avoid dead-end topics.

11
Working with the Committee

• Do what they say.
• Follow policies.
• Be enthusiastic
• Be honest.
• Be independent.
• Be disciplined.

12
The Proposal

• Know the policies.
• Know the expectations.
• Get buy-in from all.
• Ask for permission to defend.

13
The Proposal Defense

• Make it easy for everyone.
• Be professional.
• Listen, acknowledge and use comments.
• Dont dig in.
• Defer to the chair.

14
The Research

• Be structured.
• Be efficient.
• Be focused.
• Be motivated.
• Be professional.

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Be Structured

• Create a time line with plenty of padding.
• Follow policies.
• Follow the ground rules.
• Break it up into manageable parts.
• Get something done every day.

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Be Efficient

• Do what they said to do.
• Work how, when, and where you work best.
• Procrastinate by working on other parts.
• Back up everything regularly.
• Only include what is relevant.

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Be Focused

• Prioritize the dissertation as first.
• Dont take a job without finishing.
• Take mental health breaks when deserved.
• Keep stress under control.
• Catch self-destructive behavior before its too
  late.

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Be Motivated

• Go to conferences and talk with others.
• Discuss your work with non-academics.
• Use expectancy theory.
• Use reinforcement theory.

19
Be Professional

• Do not give the committee working drafts to read.
• Be loyal.
• Be politically astute.
• Be respectful.

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The Defense

• Get buy-in from all.
• Ask for permission to defend.
• Know the expectations.
• Expect revisions.
• Dont be arrogant or presumptive.
• Know your dissertation.
• Be confident and poised.
• Rehearse

21
The Paper

• Learn from job talks.
• Start right away.
• Dont expect much help.
• Keep good notes.
• Get help on the revision.

22
Conclusion

• Critical Early Choices
• Working with the Committee
• The Proposal
• The Proposal Defense
• The Research
• The Defense
• The Paper
• Celebrate

23
References

• Ahern, K., Manathunga, C. 2004.
  Clutch-Starting Stalled Research Students,
  Innovative Higher Education., 28 237-254.
• Carlin, D.B., Perlmutter, D.D. 2006. Advising
  the New Advisor, Chronicle of Higher Education,
  September 8.
• Mendenhall, M. 1983. Overcoming Obstacles in
  the Dissertation Requirement Advice to the
  Doctoral Candidate, Teaching of Psychology, 10
  210-212.
• Messner, M.A. 2005. Besides, I Just Dont Like
  You, Chronicle of Higher Ed., May 20.
• Perlmutter, D.D. 2006. Betrayed by Your Advisor,
  Chronicle of Higher Ed., February 24.
• Schiff, F., Ryan, M. 1996. Ethical Problems
  and Advising Theses and Dissertations,
  Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
  23-35.
• Spillett, M.A., Moisiewicz, K.A. Cheerleader,
  Coach, Counselor, Critic Support and Challenge
  Roles of the Dissertation Advisor, College
  Student Journal, 38 246-256.
• Tanner, M.W. Great Expectations Tips for a
  Successful Working Relationship with your Thesis
  Advisor, College Student Journal 635-644.
• Wesley, P. 2006. Review Blasts Professors for
  Plagiarism by Graduate Students, Chronicle of
  Higher Education, June 16 13.
• Wisker, G. 2005. The Good Supervisor. New York,
  NY Palgrave MacMillan.