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Linking Lit and Methods

Let’s Start with the Purpose of Both

Review of Literature

• Discussion of previous research into your topic

• Shows how your context/questions merge with your field

• Sets up the same/diff aspect of your methodology

• Sets up variables or themes you will study

• Uncovers gaps your research will fill

Methodology

• Lists the how you will

answer your questions

• Specifies context,

population and sample

• Specifies methodology

• Specifies variables,

themes through methods

• Specifies data collection

and analysis

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY

OF HIGHER

EDUCATION DISSERTATION OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNING

DISSERTATIONS AND RECIPIENTS, 1979 – 2004

Monica S. Powell, A.B., M.A.

Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

December 2006

Comparison: Rate on Scale 1-10

Review of Literature

• Introduction

• Nature of the Education

Doctorate

• Dissertation Completion and

Composition

• Assessment and Evaluation of

Scholarship

• Literature Review Conclusion and

Rationale for Dissertation

Methodology

• Purpose of the Study

• Limitations

• Delimitations

• Procedures for Data Collection

• Study Instruments

• Study Population

• Sampling Method

• Procedures for Data Analysis

• Reporting the Data

This study examined a set of acclaimed dissertations and their authors to

determine which factors contributed to their receiving recognition by the

Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).

Purpose of Study This study served numerous purposes including the following:

1. To describe more succinctly the personal and demographic

attributes of dissertation authors that were selected to receive

the Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Award from 1979

through 2004

2. To describe what factors recipients said positively and

negatively influenced the completion of their winning

dissertation

3. To describe what factors recipients said positively and

negatively influenced their doctoral experience

4. To describe the career progression of recipients of the Bobby

Wright Dissertation of the Year Award from 1979 through 2004

5. To describe the scholarly contributions of recipients of the

Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year Award from 1979 – 2004

6. To determine what factors describe the award winning

dissertations

7. To describe a sample of the award winning authors using Gall,

Gall and Borg’s (2003) criteria for evaluating educational

research

Research Questions 1. What attributes and demographic factors describe past winners of the

Association for the Study of Higher Education Dissertation of the Year from

1979 through 2004?

2. What factors had the greatest positive or negative impact on the

dissertation completion process for the Association for the Study of Higher

Education (ASHE) Dissertation of the Year recipients?

3. What factors had the greatest positive or negative impact on the quality

the doctoral experiences for winners of the Association for the Study of

Higher Education (ASHE) dissertation award?

4. What factors describe the career progression of past winners of the

Association of the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Dissertation of the Year

award?

5. What scholarly contributions have past winners of the Association of the

Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Dissertation of the Year award made to

the study of higher education?

6. What factors describe dissertations that were chosen as Dissertation of

the Year by the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) from

1979 through 2004?

7. Using Gall, Gall and Borg’s (2003) criteria for evaluating educational

research, how would a researcher describe a sample of the ASHE award

winning dissertations?

Review of

Literature Introduction

Nature of the Education Doctorate

• Current State of Doctoral Programs in Education

• Demographic trends as well as challenges

• Doctoral Attrition and Persistence

• Mentoring and Advising Concerns

• Academic Issues

• Personal Support Factors

Dissertation Completion and Composition

• Understanding and navigating the journey

• Types of support

Assessment and Evaluation of Scholarship

• Basis for standards/ assessment

Literature Review Conclusion and Rationale for Dissertation

Methodology

Purpose of the Study

• Description of award winning authors and what they said about their journey

• To Determine/Assess the award winning work itself

Limitations (can not be generalized )

Delimitations (all award winners)

Procedures for Data Collection

• Survey the people

• Assess the written work through survey tool

Study Population

Sampling Method

Procedures for Data Analysis

• Sorted through frequencies and variables

• Factors influencing success

• Thematic evolution

Reporting the Data

Comparison: Rate on Scale 1-10

Review of Literature

• Introduction

• Nature of the Education

Doctorate

• Dissertation Completion and

Composition

• Assessment and Evaluation of

Scholarship

• Literature Review Conclusion and

Rationale for Dissertation

Methodology

• Purpose of the Study

• Limitations

• Delimitations

• Procedures for Data Collection

• Study Instruments

• Study Population

• Sampling Method

• Procedures for Data Analysis

• Reporting the Data

This study examined a set of acclaimed dissertations and their authors to

determine which factors contributed to their receiving recognition by the

Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).

What are your thoughts/ Questions regarding correspondence of lit to methodology?

Want to see the results?

55% believed that the use of reference materials or manuals helped

95% indicated that their dissertation topic choice had a positive impact on the completion process,

70% reported that the ease in writing their proposal helped significantly in the completion of their dissertation.

99% reported that research knowledge helped

88% indicated that their major professor had a considerable impact, but that other committee members had limited influence on their ability to bring the dissertation to fruition.

Peers, friends and dissertation support groups were not very important in the completion and defense of their dissertations.

60% reported that the collegial nature of the doctoral environment had limited effect while spouses a considerable effect, parents has virtually no influence on the process.

65% indicated that early collaboration with mentors had a significant or very significant impact on their ability to complete the process

55% were married while completing their dissertation, while 35% were responsible for the care of small children. None of the survey were responsible for caring for elderly parents while completing their dissertation.

55% indicated that some form of stress impact their ability to complete and defend their dissertation. Examples of stress included marital problems, financial concerns, problems with IRB approval and attempting to begin a career while completing a dissertation.

Other Resources

• Lit to Methodology – 3 Award Winners Studied – email Alana for slides

• Logic of Proposal Tool

• Making your lit match your methodology

• Review of Lit in 5 easy steps

• Checklist for lit review

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