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Carl B. Forkner, Ph.D.

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The Mountain & the Elephant The Roadmap Allow me to Introduce… Literature Review: The River Flows… Methods and Vision The “Fun Part”

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Does the task look enormous?◦ …probably because it is!

A matter of perspective!◦ It is all about how you look at the situation…

How do you conquer the dissertation?◦ Just like how you eat an elephant…one bite at a time!

But the most important question to ask about what your study may find:

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So What?

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The Journey Requires a Support Team◦ Your Dissertation Chair is critical—he/she is your GPS

◦ …to a Lesser Extent: Your Committee Members

◦ Cohort, Friends and Family

NOW you are Ready to Ascend…

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Doing a dissertation is like painting your house…◦ …quality is a factor of planning and preparation…

Most dissertations have five pre-determined chapters:1. Introduction

2. Literature Review

3. Methodology

4. Analysis and Results

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

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Two Critical Starting Points:◦ The Purpose of your Study

◦ Your Research Questions

Big Little …or… Little Big?◦ In general terms, Quantitative or Qualitative?

Before you go any Further: Conceptual Framework

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SCOPEis Important

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Mitigated by Exclusion

Quantitative orQualitative Methodsused to Test Data

May amplify/reduce Confounding Factors

Factors not able tobe measured,mitigated, orexcluded, but mayinfluence relationshipbetween variables

Identified factors that wereeither controlled or providedcontrol/consistency.

Dependent Variable

Influencing Variable

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You need to Control the Flow of the River of Knowledge

The “Funnel Effect”

Filing it all away…

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Your Broad Topic

Your Target Point/Concept

Graduate Student Writing

Writing Assessment

PredictiveWriting Assessment

Assessment Instruments

Automated Writing Assessment

AES Applications Current Trends

Gaps in the Literature

How this Study Fills the Gap

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Technology is Your Friend (usually)…

Basic Folders:◦ 1 – Introduction◦ 2 – Literature Review◦ 3 – Methodology◦ 4 – Data and Results◦ 5 – Conclusion and Recommendations

Subfolder Organization:◦ Follow Your Funnel Outline

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Literature Review Materials:◦ Organize by section of study◦ Within each section, organize by type of study

Article

Book

Dissertation

Presentation

…etc…

◦ Make the file name reflect the document TYPE (Author Date) Title of Publication: BOOK (Sanford 1967) Why Colleges Fail

DISSERTATION (Forkner 2013) Writing Assessment as a Predictor of Performance

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Technology Tools that Help…◦ EndNote (Thomson-Reuters) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Provides sortable bibliographic reference database capability

Variety of conventions (APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc.)

Formats pre-programmed for variety of source types

Customizable fields

Can link the document (on your hard drive) to the reference

◦ SPSS (IBM)

Powerful software for organizing and analyzing quantitative data

◦ NVIVO (QSR International)

Powerful software to organize qualitative study notes and observations

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Beyond Understanding the Theoretical Framework…◦ What research methods are right for your study?

◦ How will you use your research methods to derive results?

An overview illustrates how methods and data support answering research questions and hypotheses

The most important question is the one you asked when deciding on the study’s topic:

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So What?

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Quantitative Methodology:◦ Researcher’s philosophy or knowledge claims for methods choice

◦ Theoretical framework: RQ’s, testable hypotheses

◦ Research design strategy: Type, assumptions, rationale

◦ Sampling design: Population, method, size, cost

◦ Measures: Variables, constructs, instruments, validity, reliability

◦ Data collection procedures

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Qualitative Methodology:◦ Researcher’s philosophy or knowledge claims for inquiry choice

◦ Theoretical framework: Initial RQ and objectives

◦ Research design strategy: Type, assumptions, rationale

◦ Sampling design: Selection criteria and setting

◦ Measures: Researcher’s role

Includes qualifications, assumptions, and credibility

◦ Data collection procedures, including researcher participation

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Bringing it Together:◦ Pilot testing (if needed)

◦ Data analyses

Quantitative: Coding, cleaning, statistical procedures

Qualitative: Coding, multiple sources, corroboration, triangulation

◦ Limitations of methods and strategies for minimizing impact

◦ Expected findings and ethical issues

◦ Timelines for each research activity

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Mixed Methods:◦ A variety of options combining quantitative & qualitative

◦ Complex methodology involved

◦ Best advice: Work with your Chair to determine if it is right for you!

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After your proposal survives the IRB…◦ Collect your data

◦ Analyze and derive results

◦ Form your conclusions

◦ Make your recommendations on the topic

◦ Show your Chair and Committee how much you have learned

For that moment in time when you defend your dissertation, YOU are the world’s foremost expert in your topic!

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Carl B. Forkner, Ph.D.

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Latham, J. (2005). Conceptual Framework Fundamentals. Developing a Conceptual Framework. http:///www.drjohnlatham.com/Conceptual_Framework.html

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